Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122440 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 612(@200wpm)___ 490(@250wpm)___ 408(@300wpm)
Raine reached out to her, touching her hand. That small gesture sent a ripple of emotion through her. She sometimes was starved for touch since she avoided it so much. That was such a dichotomy: needing human touch, craving it, and yet avoiding it completely if she could.
She stopped herself from continuing when she heard bitterness creeping into her voice. She had promised herself she wouldn’t allow her father’s or mother’s hypocrisy to affect her any longer. She’d built a good life for herself, and she’d done so without their help. She was happy in Knightly with her friends and the beauty of nature surrounding her. She didn’t need the doors in her past creeping open and letting that battered child or shocked teen out. Not when she’d finally found some peace.
“I think meeting here for Harlow’s night is a good thing,” Raine said. “Whether I’m out of traction or not doesn’t matter. I’ll love the company and welcome the distraction.”
Harlow heard the sincerity in her voice and was glad. She hated deceiving everyone, not telling them Wilder was in her home, but right now, Rainier and Wilder believed someone was hunting him. The fact that he’d been ambushed on an assignment he’d been sent out on was proof that someone in the organization was betraying them. It was terrifying to think it could be his own boss.
She had an intense need to keep Wilder safe. She didn’t want to delve too deeply into the why of it, but she knew she’d do anything to make certain no one was able to harm him. Sooner or later, one of her friends would stop by her house, and the truth would come out. She could try to explain at that time.
“Zahra, thank you so much for taking care of my Daisy. I would be worried sick if you hadn’t volunteered.”
“No worries. My little Misty loves her, and they play endlessly, wearing each other out. You know how energetic Misty is.” Zahra gave an exaggerated sigh. “I detest running, but I have to run at least three times a day to keep her happy and healthy. Daisy loves it. I do not.” She sprawled dramatically into a chair. “I have to take them along the canal in order to have a long enough run. We’re going to get attacked by a bear one of these days. I tell the two little monsters it isn’t safe, but they don’t listen. They run rings around me.”
“You’re obsessed with bears,” Shabina said. “Bears leave people alone for the most part. Unless it’s a mom with cubs or you’re between it and its favorite food.”
Zahra rolled her eyes. “People are their favorite food. They try to trick you by backing away part of the time, but I’m not fooled, and as much as you’ve gone backpacking, you have to know I’m right.”
“Bears want nothing to do with humans,” Stella assured.
Zahra’s mouth did her famous pout, which only made her look adorable. “I appreciate your attempting to make me feel safe when I have no choice but to risk my life for my little Misty.” Her gaze shifted to Raine. “And Daisy.”
Raine kept a straight face. “Thank you, Zahra. I know Daisy can be a little holy terror if she doesn’t get her exercise. If she gets to be too much, let me know. Rainier said he could have his men take turns running her.”
Zahra looked outraged. “No way are they going to look after Daisy. She wouldn’t like being with strangers. She misses you like crazy as it is. I’m not about to let those men who think the only dogs in the world are Belgian Malinois take care of her. Smaller dogs are just as worthy.”
“That’s true,” Raine soothed. “Daisy is very good at talking. If she doesn’t like someone, she has no problem growling her little head off. And no one can get near the house without her alerting me.”
Harlow refrained from saying the smaller dogs couldn’t take down a bear because that would become an entirely different conversation.
“We’d better go before we get kicked out of here and told not to come back,” she said, leaning down to brush a kiss on Raine’s forehead. “You hang in there. We’ll be back in a couple of days.”
“Are you coming back to the café with us?” Shabina asked.
“One of Rainier’s men returned my camera, so I’m going to spend time in my studio. I desperately need to. You know how I need that…” She broke off. She’d almost said alone time, but she quickly changed it. “Creative time. That part of my brain goes crazy if I don’t feed it.” That much was true. She really needed to work in her studio. The moment she was in possession of her camera, she was excited to see the various shots she’d gotten.