Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104350 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 417(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
She blinked. “Um, why?”
“You have a very feminine, graceful, confident walk. Makes me hard every time.”
Not really knowing how to respond to that, she just drawled, “Okay.” Walking into the bathroom, she closed the door. There was a freestanding bathtub and a walk-in shower—both of which she intended to enjoy while here. Plush towels hung from the chrome bars near the sink counter, on which there was a tray of complimentary hygiene products and plastic-wrapped water glasses. It was like being in a hotel.
Once clean and dressed, she returned to the bedroom to find Tao still in bed, eyes closed. It occurred to her that it was little wonder he was so tired, given that he’d been working late shifts all week. “I’ll be downstairs.”
“I won’t be long,” he said drowsily.
Riley suspected he’d fall back asleep, but she didn’t say so. She simply grabbed her cell from the nightstand and made her way downstairs. In the kitchen she pulled a can of Mountain Dew out of the fridge. It was simply too hot for coffee. Slipping out of the patio doors, she squinted at the bright sun. The air was dry and the breeze was light, but Riley had never minded the heat.
Crossing the deck, she happily settled on one of the sun loungers and called Makenna.
“Morning,” Makenna greeted her.
“You sound surprisingly chirpy.”
“I’m going shopping with Jaime today, so all is good.” There was a grunt in the background, and Makenna sighed. “Stop whining, Ryan, no one’s forcing you to come.”
Riley smiled, knowing how much Ryan hated shopping. He hated leaving Makenna’s side even more, however, so he often accompanied her.
“One day,” began Makenna, “you really do have to come with us, Riley.”
“I prefer shopping online; you know that.”
“Yes, but I strongly believe I can make you see the sheer joy of physical shopping.”
“Never gonna happen. Now, are they there?”
“Sure.” There was a short pause. “Savannah, it’s Riley.”
“Hi, Riley,” said Savannah through a mouthful of food.
Chest tightening, Riley smiled. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”
“Okay, but Dexter keeps stealing my bacon and putting it in his pocket. He put a crayon in my porridge.”
Riley did her best to keep the smile out of her voice. “Well, that’s not nice.” Though Riley suspected that Dexter had given Savannah the crayon in exchange for the bacon, figuring it was a good deal.
“When are you coming home?”
“I’ll be back sometime tomorrow. Hopefully not too late.”
“Dexter, stop trying to snatch the phone!” hissed Savannah.
“Let him talk to Riley, Savannah,” said Makenna.
Savannah huffed. “Fine.”
After a moment there was another voice—this one soft and angelic. “Riley?”
“Hey, big guy, you haven’t been putting food in your pockets again, have you?”
“No.”
“You sure?”
“Sure.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.” Having drained the can of Mountain Dew, Riley placed it on the table beside the lounger. “I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”
“’Kay.”
Riley heard Makenna’s voice in the background, asking Dexter for the phone. There was a sort of shuffling noise and then Makenna spoke. “Always quite the chatterbox, isn’t he?”
Riley chuckled, but that chuckle died when she heard feet rustling in the trees up ahead. Whoever was approaching wasn’t trying to hide; they were making plenty of noise so as not to take her by surprise.
A tall, lean figure was soon strolling toward her. Honestly, she wasn’t feeling up to conversation yet, but she was curious about whether he’d come to reprimand her for arguing with Cynthia. So she sat up and crossed her legs, half lotus, on the lounger. “I’ll speak to you again tomorrow morning,” she told Makenna.
“Okay, have fun with your uncles.”
“Will do.” Ending the call, Riley looked at her visitor. “Morning, Sawyer.”
He stopped in front of her, his smile strained. “Can we talk?”
“Sure, why not?”
He sat on the edge of the other sun lounger, leaning forward with his hands clasped. “A wolf, Riley. Really?”
She rubbed at her temple. “Please tell me you haven’t come to moan about Tao being here. Wolves aren’t so bad, you know.” But Sawyer had never liked them. “The Phoenix wolves have been good to me.”
“I know. I’m grateful that they took you in. I heard about the shelter and the bastard wolf from another pack who tried to take it over. I’m glad the Phoenix wolves gave you a place to stay so all that shit didn’t touch you.”
“How exactly did you hear about all that?”
“Max keeps me updated on how you’re doing.”
That ruffled her raven’s feathers. Her business was her own. Max shouldn’t be repeating it.
“Like I said, I’m grateful to them, but you don’t belong with them. You belong here. And I don’t like the guy, Riley. Not just because he’s a wolf.” Sawyer rolled back one shoulder. “Something about him just rubs me the wrong way.”
“You mean because he doesn’t feign respect if he doesn’t feel it? Don’t be so arrogant that you think you should be awarded respect for being an enforcer, Sawyer. Tao won’t care what position you hold. If he doesn’t like you or have any regard for you, he won’t pretend to.”