Total pages in book: 188
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 185811 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 929(@200wpm)___ 743(@250wpm)___ 619(@300wpm)
It just wasn’t fair. Nobody should be that good looking. If they were, they should be an off-limits pastor or something. Not a guy in anger-management classes.
He looked around the room and zeroed in on her.
No. Definitely no, no, no. But he walked through the circle and instantly sat by her side, warming her entire body like he’d tossed an electric blanket over her.
Ivar watched him, shrugged, and then followed to sit on his other side. He leaned over and whispered loudly. “Want me to flank her?”
Heat burst into her face. They were talking about her?
“No. Just be quiet,” Noah snapped, his big hands wrinkling the papers he’d gathered from his seat.
Ivar’s chuckle was a surprise from the serious guy.
Noah looked at her. “Did you get fired?”
She blinked, her eyes widening. “How did you know that?”
Before he could answer, Tabitha and Raine strode into the room and took their seats. The stunning woman was dressed in black slacks with a green designer sweater, and the tough looking soldier was more dressed up today in dark slacks and a button-down shirt.
“You came back,” Noah said darkly.
Abby shivered. What was that tone about?
The shrink cleared her throat. “You’ve all been ordered to appear here twice a week for the next month. Of course he returned.” She smiled at Raine, her gaze more cautious than pleased.
The dark-haired guy looked directly at Ivar. “My job isn’t done here.”
Abby swallowed and looked past Noah to Ivar. “I think you guys should tell us what’s going on. It seems like there are odd undercurrents here.”
Noah’s eyebrows lifted. “Aren’t you a brave one today?”
Well, yeah. She shrugged. “It just feels off.”
“Yeah?” Noah asked. “Tell me about it. In fact, why don’t you tell all of us why you were fired the day before last?” His masculine voice was all grit.
Mariana’s eyes widened. “You were fired? Wasn’t staying employed a condition of your probation?”
Nausea ticked through Abby’s stomach. “Yes,” she sighed. “The manager said the owner had gotten complaints about me, about my being forgetful with orders and rude with customers.”
“Who complained?” Noah growled.
Growled. It actually sounded like a growl. Was it because his voice was so hoarse? Abby licked her lips and ignored the heat springing through her belly from the rough tone. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me who complained, not that it matters.” She already knew but couldn’t prove it, and who cared? If the owner wanted her fired, she was fired.
Mariana flipped open the top file on her lap. “Have you tried to find another job? It looks like you only have a week, or your probation gets violated.”
Bile now rose up to Abby’s throat, and she swallowed it down. Her head ached. She would not cry in front of these people. In front of anybody. Worst case scenario, she could handle jail for a year. Right? “Yes, but I haven’t found anything,” she murmured.
Noah straightened. “If you ask me, your ex-husband got you fired and has some sort of hold on the town. What does he do, anyway?”
“He’s a lawyer,” she said, holding her papers tighter. “I’ll find a job. I have to.”
Tabitha leaned forward, her black eyes sparkling. “Tell the truth, just for one second. Did your ex get you fired?”
“Yes,” Abby said instantly. Who cared if they didn’t believe her?
Tabitha looked beyond tiny next to the large Raine. “I’ll hire you.”
Abby jerked and sat back. What? “You will?”
“Sure. I’m trying to get that plant back to operation, and I could use an assistant. You’re hired.” Tabitha smiled. “I don’t suppose you have any sort of connection with the manager at the First Pine Bank in town, do you?”
Noah sat back, not sure he liked the new developments taking place. “She is not helping you rob a bank,” he snapped.
Abby laughed instantly, the sound melodious. Soft and soothing and sweet. “You’re funny.”
Funny? Nobody had ever called him funny. Or anything nice, really. He gave the demoness a hard glare that promised retribution if she got Abby into danger.
Tabi cocked her head. “You making a claim, male?”
“No,” he gritted out.
“Fine,” Tabi murmured. “No, we’re not robbing the bank. Work on your sense of humor.” Delight and challenge filled her dark eyes. “In fact, let’s start with you today, Noah. You seem angrier than necessary.”
Oh, the little shit.
The shrink leaned forward. “You actually do, Noah. Let’s talk. What is making you angry?”
He forced a smile to curve his lips to keep from throwing his shoe at the demoness. “Well—”
His words caught in his throat when Benny dodged into the room, his shoulders barely clearing the door frame. The massive vampire looked around, spotted Mariana, and shoved between two chairs to hand over an envelope to her. “You look like you’re in charge.”
She stared at him, her mouth open.
Yeah, most humans reacted the same way to Benjamin Reese. Noah stood. “Benny? What the hell?”