Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97364 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“You’ve still got it.” I grin when he struts out of the bathroom, buttoning the last button to his crisp, white dress shirt. I hand him a cup of tea.
“Thanks.” He grins his cocky grin because no one has to tell him he still has it. “So what’s on our agenda for today?”
“Our agenda?” I eye him over my steamy cup of tea.
“What is this?” He wrinkles his nose.
“Herbal peppermint.”
“Herbal? Really, Ruby?”
I shrug. “Caffeine is not on my anti-cancer diet.” My anti-cancer diet is nothing more than nutritional theories from a handful of holistic experts—ideas that appeal to my common sense and have no negative effects on my overall health.
“I’m terrified to think of what else you’ve banned from your life.” He puts the cup on the worktop then looks in the fridge with an even bigger scowl on his face. “You didn’t answer me. What’s on our agenda today?”
“I answered you by suggesting there is no our agenda. I have to work and you …” I purse my lips for a few seconds. “I’d say your agenda will simply be to stay out of trouble and inside the confines of the law.”
He slips on his black beanie, positioning it just right. “That’s not so easy when I haven’t swotted up on American laws.”
“They’re quite simple. Don’t steal anything or kill anyone, and if you drive today, remember to stay right.”
“That’s so wrong.”
I nod with a grin. “It really is, but … their country, their rules.”
“Your country too.”
“Yes, and I’m trying to fit in, but the southern accent is dreadfully painful to master. I can’t make the y’all sound quite right.”
Oscar laughs. “Don’t.” He shakes his head.
My nose wrinkles. “It’s bloody awful, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Don’t change a thing. You’re absolutely perfect.” He gives a resolute nod.
“Thanks. I have to go.”
“It’s raining.”
“I have an anorak and a change of clothes in a carrier bag.”
“Scarlet.” He frowns. “You are not riding that mangled, rusty excuse for a bike in the rain.”
“It’s only a thirty-minute ride.”
“Here. He pulls a wad of money from his pocket. “Call a taxi.”
“There’s enough here to buy a small car.”
He shrugs. “So, do that.”
“No. I’ve got this.” I put the money on the worktop next to him.
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“Hmm … wonder where I would have learned that?”
“Scarlet.”
I sigh and turn, skimming several notes off the top. “Just taxi fare.”
“We’ll share one. I do have a few places to go.”
“To get a bed?” I ask while calling a taxi.
“Yes. You shoved me onto the floor last night.”
“It’s not really a mattress for two.” Unless it’s Theo and me on top of each other. God … will my mind ever stop going to him? The taxi company answers, and I make my request.
*
“This is your job?” Oscar asks as the taxi pulls up to the Moores’.
“Yes. I assist Mrs. Moore while her husband fucks about.”
The taxi driver shifts his gaze to me in the rearview mirror. Sure, this one understands my English perfectly.
“Sorry?” Oscar squints at me.
“It’s complicated. Their son, Nolan, owns the house on Tybee Island that I stayed at with Theo.”
“Theo?”
I glance up after grabbing my umbrella off the floor between us. “Uh … yeah. Theo is the man.”
“The bloke that left you.”
I sigh. “Something like that.”
He gazes back out the window. Then he hands the driver some money. “Thank you. I’ll be getting out here too.”
“Wait!” I start to protest, but not before Oscar steps out of the taxi and runs around to open my door.
“No. Absolutely not.”
“Hurry, Ruby, before we get soaked.” He grabs my hand and yanks me out of the taxi, practically dragging me to the door while my other hand fumbles with the umbrella. It finally opens up after we’re already on the porch.
I frown.
“It’s just a little water.”
“That was my point when I said I would ride my bike.”
He shakes his head. “That would have been a lot of water.”
“I had a change of clothes,” I grit through my teeth.
“Ms. Stone, good morning.”
Both of us turn to the door. Apparently our bickering served as our announcement.
“Hi, Sofia.” I smile and step inside. “I’d like you to meet my … er … dad.” I bite my tongue instead of sticking it out at him. He hates to be called anything but Oscar.
“Welcome, Mr. Stone.”
He leans in and kisses Sofia on each check. “You as well, Sofia. Call me Oscar, please.”
She nods. “Both Mr. Moore and Nolan left this morning for a quick trip. They’ll be back in a few days. Mrs. Moore is in the dining room. Can I get you both some breakfast? Coffee? Tea?”
“No we’re—”
“I’ll have a cup of coffee … with caffeine. Thank you, and anything you happen to have to eat would be lovely as well. Scarlet’s fridge is a bit … disappointing.”
I roll my eyes.
“Very well.” Sofia returns a smile and a polite nod.