Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 521(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 347(@300wpm)
Like touching me had shocked him too.
His anxious expression vanished as he carried the wrapped burger into the kitchen and deposited it in the fridge.
“In case you want to spite me and eat it later,” he said, a hint of a smile curling his lips.
The sight of it made my knees go soft.
How the hell did he do that? He pissed me off and turned me on at the same time, and it felt like I’d been dropped on stage after forgetting all the choreography.
Oh, God, I couldn’t stay here.
Not in this kitchen with this irritatingly attractive bad boy assigned to watch over me, both a badge and a gun at his hip to prove it. It left me with no choice but to run, and my heart didn’t slow its furious tempo until long after I’d made it back to the safety of my room.
7
JASON
Laurel rocketed out of the kitchen like she couldn’t tolerate another moment with me. As I watched her flee, I should have felt guilt about driving her away . . . but all I felt was relief. How many more times was I going to be a fucking idiot and put my foot in my mouth?
Her eyes had a gravity that I couldn’t escape, and even though she was out of sight, she was anything but out of my mind. Yeah, she was upset I hadn’t gone in to wake her, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I told myself the less I was around her, the better.
I cursed Bill, and myself, for getting me into this situation. I’d really like to punch something or someone right now, but I was well aware of the consequences of doing that. It was how you pulled protection detail, how you got stuck with a ballerina with haunting eyes and the uncanny ability to get under your skin.
Since she was gone from my computer, I sat down and pulled open the case file to check for new developments. A little while later, Derrick reappeared and shot me a sideways glance as he slid into his seat behind his computer.
“Caroline is on her way,” he said. “And the laptop bricked before they got much from it. There was some sort of command sent that corrupted the hard drive. IT said they’d never seen anything like it.”
It was a considerable setback. “Well, shit.”
“They got fragments of an email which are promising.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched, looking tired.
At least Laurel’s hard work escaping with the laptop hadn’t been for nothing.
I immediately squashed the thought. I didn’t want to think about her.
As if on cue, something large and heavy thudded to the floor in her room.
“What the hell was that?” I asked.
“Why don’t you go find out? Maybe you can tell her she looks like she’s wasting away again.” Derrick gave me a pointed look, and I had to choke back the urge to tell him to go to hell. He didn’t move, wordlessly telling me it was my responsibility to go check on her.
Tension corded the muscles in my hand as I knocked on her door.
“Come in,” she answered.
As soon as I did, I went stock-still. Holy shit.
She’d changed clothes. Now she wore a tight black leotard and a pair of sheer black leggings that hugged every inch of her perfect legs. There was nothing left to the imagination, no denying how gorgeous she was, and it hit me like a fist to the center of my chest. I forced myself to drag my gaze up and stay professional.
She was bent at the waist and had her hands under the foot of the bed, struggling to lift it.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I want to move this, so I have more space.”
“Space to do what?”
She straightened, and her expression said it should be obvious. “Practice.”
I looked at the bed, then back to her. The mattress and frame were certainly heavier than she was. Why hadn’t she asked for help?
Because she’d rather struggle by herself than have to deal with an asshole like you.
This was the least I could do.
I strode to the side of the bed, making it clear I’d help her when I put my hands on the frame, and she nodded in acceptance. Then she lifted the foot of the bed as I pushed from the side, and the wooden headboard chattered along the wall as we slid it into the corner.
“Thanks,” she said quietly.
Her footfalls were silent as she moved to the center of the room and began rolling back her shoulders as if she were warming up. I should have taken that as my cue to go, but I stood there like a fool, studying her.
Her blonde hair was pulled up into a knot on her head, and it made her look elegant and regal. It unfortunately also emphasized the dark bruise on her neck where she’d been strangled. There was the other one on her arm where she’d been grabbed too, and I clenched my jaw.