Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Amka held up a hand as she and the animal landed on the sofa. “No. He’s fine. Let him be.”
Tika barked once, sharp and proud, then dropped to her lap with a huff. His fur was damp, his paws filthy, and he smelled like pine needles and the wind. She ran her hands along his sides anyway, checking for wounds. Nothing but brambles.
“You didn’t call him home,” she said.
“I don’t need to. He comes home when he’s ready.”
She looked up at Christian. He was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes shadowed but steady. That hit her strange. She stared at him, then at the dog sprawled over her legs, then back again. She saw them both. “You’re the same,” she said. “You and him.”
Christian raised an eyebrow. “Because we have different colored eyes and growl?”
“No,” she said. “Because you don’t belong in a cage, and God help anyone who threatens what you care about.”
Christian didn’t respond. But his mouth twitched like maybe he wanted to.
“And the eyes,” she added, softer. “People look at both of you and only see the wild.”
He almost smiled again. “You saying I need obedience training?”
The idea made her laugh, and at the feeling, her entire body relaxed. Finally. “No. I’m saying I get it. Would never cage either of you.” She went with her heart and said what she thought. It was all she had, and she’d give it to him. “Thought you should know that.”
The silence that followed wasn’t awkward. Just real. Like something had settled between them.
Then she remembered. She sat up straighter, nearly pushing Tika off her lap. “I needed to show you something earlier.”
He tensed. “What?”
“Somebody left a note by the back door. I didn’t recognize the handwriting.”
“Where is it?”
She should’ve shoved it in her pocket. “I put it under the invoices and forgot all about it after the explosion.”
His mouth firmed. “What did it say?”
“The note said that the town would hate me if they found out about Hank, that Flossy should be in prison, and that I need to give them fifty thousand dollars for their confidentiality. No. That Jarod and I need to have fifty grand. That he has insurance money and I own the tavern.” She gulped. “Somebody is blackmailing me. Again. But also Jarod. Is this someone new, or could it be the person he trusted to have the video?”
Christian’s face didn’t change, but she saw the shift in him. The way he pulled inward, calculating. Fierce. Before he could speak, his phone buzzed from his back pocket. A quick expression of annoyance darkened his handsome face before he pulled it out. “What?”
The man really didn’t like the phone, now did he?
“Doing what?” He remained still in that way he had. “From credit cards? Yeah? What about video?” He listened again. “Canvas? Yeah. I guess it’s worth a shot. Thanks for tonight. You were on it.” He clicked off.
Amka tilted her head.
“Background from Jarod’s credit cards came in. All of those trips to Anchorage? He stayed at the Wallace Motel most every time, and he ate meals out. With somebody. This was all last year, so it’s doubtful we’ll find any CCTV, but Dutch has a couple of troopers hitting the motel and each of the restaurants to see if we can find who Jarod ate with.”
That didn’t sound helpful. “Nothing else?”
Christian studied her. “He spent a lot of time at a couple of strip clubs.”
She rolled her eyes. “I couldn’t care less. I’d just like to know if the person trying to kill me thinks I know something about Jarod, because I don’t.” Frustration crawled with pinpricks beneath her skin. It wasn’t fair. “We’re no closer figuring out who wants me dead, or who has the video of Hank’s death.” Her entire life was at risk from both situations.
“I know.” Christian eyed the window as energy rolled off him.
She looked out at the darkness. “You can go, C. I’m safe here. Nobody knows where we are.” This place was probably the safest place in Alaska right now. “Go. Take Tika if you want.”
He clenched his jaw so hard a muscle rippled near his cheekbone. “I’m not leaving you.”
Sweet. The dangerous man had such a sweet side. He’d probably be insulted if she told him that. So she stood. “When you sleep outside, where do you go?”
He didn’t answer. Just stood there looking at her, a glitter in his eyes. A deep one.
“Christian?”
“There’s a ridge up behind the cabin. Protected from the wind with views in every direction. Set into the hill.”
So nobody could surprise him. From any direction. “It sounds nice.” She dropped the blanket and walked over to him, taking his hand. He let her. “Do you have to sleep alone out there?”
His chin slowly lifted. “You are not sleeping outside just because I have issues.”