Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 538(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Ethan let go of her once she was out of the SUV and she swayed slightly. More to do with the loss of his touch than the fatigue that flooded through her.
“You need to get more sleep,” he told her, moving closer to her. “An early night for you.”
Lord, he was bossy. Although she couldn’t argue that she was exhausted. Perhaps she did need a day off.
But what would she do with a day off? Read the entire day?
Actually . . . that did sound nice.
As they reached the foyer, Seth met them. She could hear some raised voices coming from within the house.
“Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?” Seth said to Ethan.
“Sure. Cate, are you all right?”
“Of course.” Not really. “Go.” She was going to retreat into her bedroom and away from those voices.
However, luck wasn’t on her side. As she passed through the open-plan living room, Samantha spotted her.
“Cate! You’re back. We need to talk.”
Was it rude to just keep walking?
Hmm. Probably.
“Cate, are you okay?”
That was Rhodes. She might be able to ignore Samantha, but she’d never ignore her brother.
Turning, she smiled at him. He looked tense. Was he pale? Was having Samantha here good for him?
Cate needed to talk to him. She’d been selfish, thinking only of herself.
“Cate, we need to talk about schedules,” Samantha said with a sickly sweet smile.
Gross.
Cate nearly threw up a little in her mouth.
“I’m sure you can understand how much of an inconvenience it was for me this afternoon to have to rearrange my plans.”
“You were going to yoga,” Cate pointed out.
“Yoga is important. It helps me keep in shape.”
“They have yoga classes online. You can do it in the comfort of your own home. Well, Rhodes’ home.”
Samantha sniffled. What was wrong with her? “Are you saying I’m not welcome here?”
Cate’s eyes widened. How did she know?
“No, Samantha. That’s not what Cate is saying at all,” Rhodes said, placing his hand on Samantha’s shoulder.
She immediately turned into him, pressing her face into Rhodes’ chest.
Rhodes gave Cate a pointed look. What did he want?
She felt Ethan step up beside her just as worry started filling her. What did Rhodes want?
Why didn’t he just tell her?
“What’s the matter? Has something happened? Has there been another threat?” Ethan asked sharply.
“Samantha was upset she couldn’t go to yoga and I pointed out that she could do an online class here. Somehow, that led her to believe that I don’t want her here. I’m not sure how, exactly.”
“I think it’s because you pointed out that this is my house, not hers,” Rhodes told her.
“But it is.”
Rhodes patted Samantha’s back. “Sammy, Cate didn’t mean to make you feel like you aren’t wanted.”
Cate glanced up at Ethan, at a loss.
He leaned in to speak quietly to her. “I think he wants you to tell Samantha that she is welcome here.”
“Oh. He wants me to lie?” she asked.
His lips twitched before he got them under control. “Hmm. But personally, I wouldn’t. I think this is all just an act.”
“But she’s not a very good actor.”
“Probably not a good idea to tell her that.”
“Oh, I thought she might have known, given the reviews of her last film. But perhaps she doesn’t read reviews. And maybe they were too harsh. It’s probably unfair of me to judge it on reviews. I should watch the movie myself.”
“I wouldn’t bother, it wasn’t that good,” he muttered.
“Are the two of you finished whispering?” Samantha said. “Some of us have busy lives. I really don’t think that Cate should get to monopolize so much of Ethan’s time when I am the one this stalker threatened.” She stared up at Rhodes, her lower lip popping out. “Don’t you want me protected?”
“Of course I do,” Rhodes replied. “But my sister needs protection too. And she has had this meeting on her calendar since Ethan arrived. She can’t just cancel a meeting, Samantha.”
“Well, then perhaps she should share her schedule so things can be better organized.”
Rhodes looked over at Cate. “That’s not a terrible idea. Do you mind?”
“I suppose I could tell you when my upcoming appointments are.”
“And where you’re going and when you’ll be back,” Samantha said quickly.
“Why would you need to know where she’s going?” Ethan asked. When Cate glanced up at him, his face looked as cold as granite. Emotionless.
“In case I need you to come back quickly, of course,” Samantha replied.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Ethan replied. “And just so you know, business meetings take precedence over yoga classes.”
Wow. She’d never seen someone’s face grow so red.
“I’m going to go have a swim.” Samantha turned and stomped off.
Rhodes sighed.
“Well, that went well,” Ethan said.
“I don’t think it did,” she replied. “She seems very upset.”
He hummed. “Fortunately, the world doesn’t revolve around her.”
Rhodes sighed. “No, but she is being threatened because of me. And that’s caused a lot of disruption to her life, so perhaps we can all be a bit understanding? For my sake, if nothing else.”