Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Don’t think you can stay silent over there, Raine,” Harlow persisted. “We saw you in that hospital room with all those male visitors. What the heck, girl? You’re keeping secrets. And they aren’t national ones. Those are girlfriend secrets.”
Raine flushed a soft shade of pink. “Seriously? There’s such a thing as girlfriend secrets?”
“Yes, and you have to confess to your besties,” Stella added. “You’re so used to keeping your high-clearance bullshit secrets that we don’t want anything to do with anyway, that you just don’t talk about the important things.” She settled on the low cushions close to Raine’s chair rather than taking a seat.
Harlow followed her. Shabina handed Raine a tray with her plate and placed a fresh glass of water with fruit in it on the end table beside her, grateful Raine was in the hot seat and not her. She would have no idea what to say if her friends asked her about men. She didn’t date. She didn’t look at men as a rule. When someone asked her out, she considered the invitation carefully because she was always trying to be normal, but in the end, she always found herself giving a reason as gently as possible as to why she couldn’t go.
They settled comfortably in her large great room to eat, rather than the dining room. They were used to eating there. Vienna lifted Raine’s bad leg onto an ottoman to prop it up to add to her comfort. The laughter and camaraderie were exactly what Shabina needed. The dark, ominous feeling inside didn’t go away completely, but it lifted so she felt she could breathe again. She could think more clearly.
“In all honesty,” Raine replied after thinking the question of men over, “I don’t have time to entertain the idea of dating. I hurt too much. Dr. Briac Brannan—you remember him from when he came to Vegas and helped us out with Rainier’s wound? He came to see me several times when I was in the hospital. He’d wanted to go hiking in Yosemite with me as his guide and I’d agreed to that, but…” She shrugged and nodded at her leg. “He said he was still coming. He took the vacation time and wants to see me. He’ll be coming up this week. I told him to stay in one of your cabins, Stella. Sunrise Lake is the halfway point between Yosemite and Knightly. He’ll have easy access to both places.”
Harlow groaned. “That doesn’t say a thing about the way you feel about him, Raine.”
“I love talking to him. He’s intelligent and doesn’t make me cringe when he opens his mouth. He doesn’t pretend to know everything and spout off about how superior he is.” She sighed. “Physically? I’m not all that attracted. I wish I were, and I’d hoped if we went hiking and I saw him in that setting, I’d feel something, but so far, nothing.”
“Anyone else? What about that Lucio Vitale?” Zahra asked. “Sam’s father’s bodyguard. He seemed very interested in you.”
Raine shook her head. “Not a chance. I knew him a long time ago. He was a self-centered jerk then, using everyone he could to make his way up the ladder. I would never trust him. He’s doing his best to act like a lamb, but he isn’t.”
“Sometimes there’s great chemistry with enemies,” Vienna said.
“Nope, no chemistry with him.” Raine took a drink of the fruit-infused water. “Shabina, if you get any better at cooking, I’m moving in with you.”
Shabina sent her another smile. “That’s so lovely of you to say.” Cooking was one of her favorite things to do. Knowing others enjoyed what she made for them gave her huge satisfaction.
“What about Rush?” Vienna asked. “Do you have chemistry with him?”
Raine scowled at her. “Rush is a doctor. He likes to be very bossy. That isn’t the same thing as someone who is trying to date me, which he isn’t. He isn’t like your Zale, Vienna. I thought the two of you were getting married immediately. What happened to those plans?”
Shabina thought it very clever the way Raine managed to turn the tables on Vienna. All eyes had instantly turned to Vienna.
“That’s right,” Stella said. “Zale put that ring on your finger and insisted the two of you were getting married without waiting for anything.”
Vienna lifted her chin. “I know. And I agreed. I did.” She flashed a quick grin at Raine. “We have amazing chemistry. But he’s still under contract with my dear old estranged father, Elliot Blom, head of the Special Activities Division, who has no intention of claiming me. I think he hopes Zale will forget all about me if he keeps him busy enough.”
“I don’t even have words to describe your father,” Stella said. “I’m so grateful I met Sam after he was out of that business.”