Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“You are a scary person, Gemma,” Max said with a frown. “But I do get your point. The vandalism feels petty.”
“Or someone’s looking for something.” Shane couldn’t come up with anything else. “I get the truck. They might be looking to make us more vulnerable. Being without a way to move around could do it.”
Nate sighed, fingers drumming along his desk. “All right, that’s a possibility. They could be trying to herd you into a place you can’t get out of, but I don’t buy it. It would be way too easy to pick you up. You usually work with Bay, right? Trev and Jamie send their guys out in pairs mostly.”
Shane nodded. “Unless it’s a real easy job, yes, but the G is still big. Unless they have someone on the inside, they won’t know where we are, and Trev’s got wildlife cams all over the place. They’re not monitored all the time, but he likes to keep eyes on everything.”
“And it doesn’t explain why they trashed my sister’s lovely house that is far too small for large men, and I’m going to have to add on to,” Max complained. “At least I’ve now got two young, strong backs to work the land. You and Bay need to understand that marrying Brooke means you work at Harper Stables.”
“You have to pay them, Max,” Gemma began.
“I’m paying them with my sister,” Max insisted.
Gemma’s shoulders squared. “You know this isn’t the seventeenth century, right?”
“He’s fucking with you.” He was starting to understand Max. “When he gets worried he gets even more obnoxious than usual. He’s worried because while we put together the truck getting vandalized and even the theft of the safe out at the G, it’s hard to…” Shit. He figured it out. “Right after we made things official with Brooke, a woman hit on me at The Trading Post.”
“We all know that.” Max waved him off. “Teeny said you looked like a deer in the headlights, and if Nell hadn’t come along, she would have sent Marie in to save you. You had zero interest in that tourist.”
Max was missing the point. “What if she wasn’t a tourist?”
Nate picked up his phone. “How long does Teeny keep those tapes? We might be able to ID her on facial rec. I’m going to assume she asked some very specific questions.”
“Oh.” Max seemed to catch on. “You think she was sent in by Kingman to figure out where you would be. Well, that makes way more sense. I was sitting around trying to figure out how all these beautiful women decided to hit on you and Bay. I do not get it.”
Nate seemed immune to Max’s sarcasm. “She asked where you worked?”
“She asked a lot of questions, but she specifically wanted to know where we were staying. I’m going to admit I didn’t want to start a relationship with the woman of my dreams by having to explain why I was flirting, but I was also trying to not be rude. I was surprised she still wanted to talk to me after I told her I had a girlfriend.”
“Because she didn’t care about that. She wanted to know where to look,” Gemma surmised. “And then you weren’t there and you were at the G. I wonder…” Gemma pulled out her phone, and her thumbs worked the small keyboard. She nodded as she stared at the screen. “Kingman was in DC last week. There’s talk about him running for Senate. He’s planning to primary the sitting senator. I mean it’s a great time to clear up all those loose ends.”
“Then maybe we should think about stashing all three of them.” Max seemed to focus, going serious. “I’ll talk to Stef about hiring a bodyguard. Maybe we should think about sending them down to Dallas.”
“Whoa. I don’t think I need to be sent anywhere. Brooke can’t leave. She’s got the play.” It was moving fast for him. “We aren’t even sure the incidents are related.”
“They all involve the three of you, and while I’m confused about how he’s going about it, I think he’s either looking for a way to make it seem like an accident or waiting for the right time. I would rather be safe than sorry.” Nate stood. “Do we have any idea where Brooke and Bay are?”
Shane stood, too. “I have to get back to the G. We’ve got a bunch of stuff planned with Nell and Henry this afternoon. Trev expects me back to help. I think Lucy’s coming out, too. Noah’s teaching them about cattle today.”
He didn’t want to leave Bliss. He didn’t want Brooke to have to leave. She was just settling in.
Would Bay even believe him, or would he think this was another way to get out of town?
Damn it. He wasn’t like that. Bay was the one who felt the deep need to roam around. Shane wanted a home, wanted roots. He didn’t mind travel, but he wanted a place that was his. Someplace where no one could toss him out like trash or forbid him entry.