Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118780 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 594(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
“You are not quitting because of me!” I screech at the top of my lungs.
“Cool it, Rowan.”
Cool it! Cool it! Did he just say that to me?
“I’m not marrying a Security Analyst.”
He shrugs callously. “I’ll find something else, then.”
Is it possible for one’s skull to explode?
“Ford Whitman, you are not quitting your job. You’re a cop until you move to SWAT. Then you’ll spend your days and nights saving the city and come home to me.”
His face transforms into a mask of anger. He tosses his pants to the side and stalks over, swinging me through the air to my back, and hovering over me.
“He fucked with your security system. It was a warning how easily he could get to you. The trail back to him was layered and deep. Poor college kid took a payment, thinking he was part of a think tank to intercept security signals and repair any glitches.”
“I—"
“The man who abducted you was a drug runner from Mexico climbing the ranks of his organization. He’s a rapist, murderer, and child molester.”
“But—”
“The bastards that beat us were the same. Rap sheets a mile long. Always a technicality getting them out of the system. Blood money transferring hands, witness statements discarded—you name it, it happened. So those fuckers are working the streets, distributing illegal shit all over the place with a network that webs through the country. And they FUCKING TOUCHED YOU!”
Rage ripples from him, permeating and stifling in the air. “You shot a man because of me.”
“You killed them!” I shout before he can cut me off again.
He jars, and I think fast. “And I’d shoot that man again and again if it meant saving you. Because since the moment we met, you’ve saved me.”
His body goes still.
“You are my hero, Ford. Have been since the night you came to my house last year when Craig hit me.”
A low, deep rumble echoes in his chest. Fury flares in his eyes.
“That night, I was ashamed. One look and my heart was frantic. You were beautiful, strong, and so angry. That anger was for me. Something inside me finally saw my worth.”
His hand cups the back of my head and sifts through my hair. “I failed you.”
“How?”
“That night on the patio, when you told me about your grandmother, I vowed to protect you.”
“Ford, you can’t make those promises. Life is hard. What happened is not your fault.”
“You saw me violently kill a man. Then shoot a man already down. Can you ever forget that?”
“Can you?”
“Do it again without blinking.”
“Good. I wanted to kill them myself. Luckily, you saved me the trouble.”
He studies me, his eyes dimming back to a deep green, turning thoughtful. “The chance of a Security Analyst being kidnapped and beaten are slim.”
“BORING!” I sigh dramatically.
His lips twitch, telling me I may have gotten through.
“I’m really okay, honey.”
“I’ll go with that. But shit like this can fester and take you down in a tailspin. Anytime the lines get blurry, talk to me.”
“Are you in that tailspin?”
“It’ll take some time for me.”
I know he’s not referring to his wounds.
“We’ll get through it together.”
“Together,” he repeats.
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll set up a desk for you in the salon so you have eyes on me all the time.”
“Not a bad idea.”
“Ford, I’m kidding. Shayla would drive you crazy.”
He finally gives me his lopsided grin, sending my insides swarming.
“Being a protector is part of you. Please, never give that up for me.”
“You’re everything.”
The simple statement has my eyes stinging.
“You’ll tell me if it ever gets to be too much.”
“It won’t because it’s you. And I’m madly, head-over-heels, unconditionally in love with you.”
His gaze is light with a different kind of heat. The kind that makes my toes curl and body hum.
“Walk into a room and get hard for you every time. Sweet, shy, and so fucking smart I don’t know half the stuff you talk about with your formulas. But when you throw attitude, my cock goes to granite.”
“I may have acted a teeny bit irrational.” Jumping on the bed in outburst comes to mind.
He bucks his hips, the thick bulge rubbing my thigh.
“We have big plans today.”
“They can wait.” He nuzzles my neck, nipping the skin.
“Your parents will be here soon.”
“We have an hour.”
“Talon gets released today.” My excuse is throaty and half-assed.
Desire pools low in my stomach, winding its way through my system.
“You denying me?”
“I’m postponing. You should rest. We’ve had a lot of sex the last few days. Plus, we need to get our tree.”
His eyes glitter and my resistance goes up in smoke. “After I fuck you, I’ll buy you a dozen trees.”
Before I can respond, his mouth closes over mine and all banter is gone.
This is the day I learn throwing attitude works to my benefit.
37
FORD
“Tell me the truth. Is it too much?” Rowan frets looking between the men sprawled out on the couch.