Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Kestrel nodded. “I agree. It’s not like we can put up metal detectors at the gates, check every car for weapons, or question every person who comes to visit as if they’re being grilled by the CIA. No one would come.”
Celeste stood on wobbly feet, worry eating at her. “See? It’s not safe for the guests. I should go somewhere else.” She pointed at her laptop on Magnus’s desk. “If I take that with me, they’ll track me away from here and not endanger the guests.”
Hawking made a strange noise and stiffened. “She has a good idea.”
“You can’t be serious,” Sadie shouted, throwing her arms in the air. “You can’t just let her leave. Have you all lost your minds?” She jerked her gaze around from one man to the next.
Rocco grabbed her around the waist and lifted her clear off the floor. “Sadie, sweetheart, stop.”
“But, Daddy…”
Hawking tightened his grip on Celeste. “My Little girl isn’t going anywhere. That’s not what I mean. But we could take her phone and the computer somewhere else, or at least the trackable components.”
Celeste finally understood what his intention was. “That might work,” she murmured. “Everything on my computer is also on that external hard drive.”
Magnus nodded. “Did you have that backed up, too, Little girl?”
She smirked and rolled her eyes. “Of course. I have two clouds.”
“Good girl,” Magnus said. “I made several copies too.” He actually smiled at her proudly, and she was pretty sure he didn’t smile often.
Hawking kissed her neck. “Smart woman.”
She shivered at the touch of his lips. She kind of wished no one else was in the room and she could turn and kiss him properly. Based on the low groan coming from his lips, she guessed he felt the same way.
Rocco clapped his hands together. “Let’s eat. We can meet in the morning to come up with a plan for relocating Celeste’s computer. In the meantime, it stays off, and she works on a spare computer without interacting with the company’s server.”
Everyone nodded their agreement, and Hawking slipped his hand over Celeste’s to guide her to the enormous table in the great room.
“Wow. This basement is amazing,” she said in wonder as she looked around. The entertainment center was huge. So was the sectional in front of it. Most of them could easily sit around the giant-screen television and watch a movie.
She must have been lingering and drooling over the idea because Sadie leaned close to her and said, “They have all the cool animated movies, too. Maybe we can watch one after dinner.”
“Or,” Rocco interrupted, “maybe you’ll be in bed early with a sore bottom for eating gummy bears without permission.”
Celeste sucked in a breath and held it, her face heating with worry that Sadie would be mad at her for tattling. She had no experience in this department.
But Sadie didn’t look at her at all. She thrust out her bottom lip and pouted. “Daddy, how did you find out?”
Rocco chuckled. “The wrappers were still in your pockets when I changed your clothes, Cookie.” He cupped her face and kissed her like he didn’t mind a bit that she’d been naughty.
He’d changed her clothes for her? Celeste stared at them in awe, just now realizing that Sadie was no longer dressed in the professional attire she’d been wearing during the workday. She had on a comfortable outfit of leggings and a T-shirt. The T-shirt read, I’m naughty, and I know it.
Celeste had to cover her mouth to stifle a giggle.
“What’s so funny, CB?” Hawking whispered in her ear as he guided her closer to the big table.
“Sadie’s shirt,” she whispered in return.
He chuckled. “Did you look at any clothes while you were not shopping this afternoon?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.” She had, but she hadn’t put them in the cart either. There was no way she could afford any of that. It had been a frivolous few hours during which she’d left her head and pretended she didn’t have a monstrous problem looming over her. She’d also left her senses and pretended money was no object, and she could outfit a playroom for a queen as though it could be plucked from trees.
Celeste had made good money as a research scientist. She had an advanced degree and amazing qualifications. She’d lived frugally and had put most of her money in savings. But she didn’t have access to that money right now, and she wouldn’t dare use her credit cards, so that meant she would be relying on cash until it ran out. No way could she buy cute T-shirts, nor would she let Hawking purchase things for her.
“Oh,” Sadie exclaimed as they all took their seats. She jumped down from her chair, rushed across the room, and pulled an envelope out of her purse. Seconds later, she returned and handed it to Celeste. “Mr. Kingsley said to give you this.”