Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69310 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
I’d glazed over my past, too, when she asked, but mine wasn’t that interesting. Well, until now. But she seemed to already know that part and wasn’t curious.
She lifted a hand to stifle a yawn. It was well after midnight. I’d been glancing at the clock, wondering if the man had kept his fingers.
“They will probably be gone most of the night,” she told me, stretching her arms over her head now. “I don’t know about you, but the wine has gotten to me. I’m ready for bed.”
I nodded, reaching to pick up my empty glass. “Yeah, it’s late,” I agreed, then stood up.
Slash, who had been sleeping at my feet, lifted his head to stare up at me.
Noa took her almost-empty bottle of wine and also stood up. I’d emptied mine earlier and taken it to the recycle bin when I went to the bathroom.
“I’ll take your glass,” she told me. “No need for both of us to go to the kitchen. I’ll most likely see you in the morning. I’m not real keen on getting up in the middle of the night and leaving, so Ransom will probably come in and crash here.”
I handed her my glass. “Okay, well, I enjoyed your company,” I said.
She smiled, and her gray eyes were warm and friendly. “Me too. Hopefully, they don’t bang around when they get back and wake you up.”
“Oh, I won’t hear them if they do. You can’t hear anything up there.”
She scrunched her nose. “Up where?”
I pointed to the ceiling. “Fourth floor.”
She looked up as if she could see it from here, still frowning. “I thought that was just an attic.”
I let out a small laugh. “There is one up there, but also a small bedroom and bathroom. I suppose it is meant for prisoners,” I quipped.
“I’m sorry he put you up there,” she said, sounding like she meant it. “Why don’t you get your things, and I’ll take you to another room?”
I shook my head. Nope. I was not dealing with that in the morning. Hale would be furious, and I just needed to keep my head down until he let me go home.
“That’s okay. It’s not uncomfortable, and like I said, it’s quiet up there. If they do come in loudly, I won’t wake up.”
She thought about that for a moment. “Maybe I should sleep with you then,” she replied with a grin. “All right, well, if you are sure. I’ll see you tomorrow, I think.”
I nodded and headed toward the door. Slash scrambled to his feet and began to follow me.
“Oh, and, Bay, I hope you get to go home soon.”
Turning around, I smiled back at her. I did, too, but I wasn’t as upset about being here as I had been. Tonight had been different. Hale had been…enjoyable company. Charming even. If I was here for a little longer, that would be fine. This house was better than any luxury resort I’d ever visited. Not that I had been to many.
I’d clearly had too much to drink.
Bending down, I rubbed Slash’s head. “Good night, boy. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He didn’t seem to like that, but he understood. When I straightened and headed out the door, he didn’t come with me. Such a smart boy.
I was there again. In the closet. My knees pulled up to my chest and arms wrapped around my legs tightly as I buried my face in them. It was okay. Nothing was in here with me. I was fine. I was fine. She would let me out soon. I just had to stay in here a little longer. Soon, I’d get out, and she’d feed me dinner. Then I could go to bed.
A loud knocking on the door startled me, and my head snapped up as I stared at it in the darkness. Why was Claudine knocking? She never did that. She just opened the door when I was allowed to come out.
I gasped as my eyes flew open, and the moonlight from the one window illuminated the room. I wasn’t in a closet. I was at Hale’s, and I sat up, staring at the door. There was someone knocking. That part hadn’t been a bad dream. Tossing back the covers, I climbed out of bed and hurried to the door.
Was something wrong with Noa? Why would she come up here?
Jerking the door open, I found her looking slightly disheveled and as if she, too, had just been woken up unexpectedly.
“Noa?” I asked, searching her face for any cause of alarm.
“I’m sorry to wake you up, but you’re, uh, needed downstairs.”
I was needed? I stood there, waiting for more, but she didn’t say anything. Was Hale back and taking me home? In the middle of the night?
“They’re here, and Hale requested I come get you,” she explained.
Was he mad about something?