Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57726 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“You have an hour to get here,” the principal announced coldly.
Scythe growled. His voice was rough with anger. “Reconsider your decision about the substitute or all your secrets will unravel.”
Winnie panicked. What was he doing? Scythe didn’t understand how vindictive her principal was. She shook her head frantically, mouthing, “Stop!”
“Who is this? Is that supposed to be a threat, Winnie? I’ll start writing that third letter.”
“You will not, Lori,” Scythe told her.
“My name is Lorraine Oberson. Who are you?”
“The man who’s stopping this now. Arrange for a sub, Lori.”
Winnie’s finger hovered over the disconnect button. What on earth was Scythe doing? This was her career. Something in his expression made her trust him. She held her voice, hoping for a miracle.
Silence followed. When she spoke next, Winnie’s principal’s voice came in a stutter. “I—I don’t know what game you’re playing, b—but you can’t th—threaten me.”
“My word is my vow, Lori. If you come after Winnie or harass her in any way, I will turn your life upside down. Call the sub, Lori.”
What did Scythe have on her? She was caving to his pressure.
“I’m reinstituting a substitute for you, Winnie,” the principal said after another pause.
“Make it a good one,” Scythe said firmly and disconnected the call.
“What have you done?” Winnie asked, so anxious she caught herself tugging the side of her hair.
Scythe gently pulled her hands free and held them in his. “Your principal has several secrets she doesn’t want to have publicized. She’s going to leave you alone.”
Winnie stared at him in disbelief. Her mind whirled inside her skull as she tried to understand his words. “What kind of secrets?”
“I will tell you everything later. I don’t think this is the time to deal with this. Do you?”
Winnie’s phone dinged, and she checked the screen. Opening the device, she pulled up her email and skimmed it before meeting Scythe’s gaze again. “My sub confirmation came through. She approved it.”
“You’re going to contact your district’s human resources department later today and set up a leave of absence for the death of a parent,” Scythe told her, “but first, you’re going to go back to bed and rest for a few hours. There’s nothing you can do until the funeral home opens.”
“I’ll never be able to sleep.”
“You will. Come on, Chipmunk.”
Chapter 11
Winnie woke up wrapped in Scythe’s arms. The muscular man dominated the double bed in the guest room. She yawned in disbelief, noting the clock. She had slept and so had he.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to study him while he slept, Winnie was amazed he was interested in her. Scythe’s powerful frame was trim, seemingly without an ounce of extra padding anywhere. He must work out a lot or his job involved physical activity. What did Scythe do? Just help out at Inferno?
His arm tightened around her, squeezing Winnie tight against him, dragging her from her thoughts. He opened his gorgeous blue-green eyes to meet her gaze. “You’re supposed to be sleeping.”
“I did sleep. It’s almost ten now. I need to get up and attack everything that needs to be done.”
“In a minute. First, I need a kiss.” He towed her easily on top of his body with one arm.
“Scythe! Let me down. I’m too heavy. I’ll squish you.”
“Right. Look how hard I’m breathing. Maybe you should give me mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
Winnie shook her head at his request and dropped a quick kiss on his lips. Scythe looked up at her with still puckered lips. Sighing like it was a huge imposition, Winnie pressed her mouth to his. Scythe drew his tongue along the seam of her lips, and Winnie allowed him in.
His flavor seduced her. He didn’t taste like toothpaste or a snack he’d had late last night but his own unique essence. She squirmed on top of him as he explored her mouth. Enjoying herself, Winnie only lifted her lips from his when she had to breathe.
“You’re good at that,” she admitted. “I don’t know how I ever gave you a C+.”
“I’m A+ material with the right woman,” he teased before grinning at her.
“I hope you believe I’m the right woman.”
“You’re absolutely the woman I’ve searched to find. And the Little girl I need to make my world complete. How about coming home with me after we go meet with your school district?”
“Can I decide later? I don’t know how I’ll get through all these tasks on the list. I may work until I have to fall into bed.” Winnie slid off Scythe to rest on the mattress with her torso propped up on his so they could discuss everything.
“That’s not healthy. Assign a few things to me that don’t require your personal touch, and I’m sure Belinda will help when she wakes up,” Scythe said.
Winnie mentally reviewed the things she needed to do. The funeral home would release her mother at some point when the investigators were satisfied that her death was natural. No one thought the decision would require more than a day when they reviewed her mom’s medical files.