Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I stood, wobbling. “I think we need to abandon ship.”
Fox wrapped an arm around me, and we jumped from the sinking kayak together. He didn’t let go as he swam toward the shore.
“Fox, I’m fine! I can swim on my own.”
But he kept going, like he was a lifeguard and I was a drowning swimmer. The entire scene was pretty comical. He didn’t even let go a few strokes later, when I told him I could feel the bottom under my feet. After a few minutes more, we were back at the shore, and Fox finally released the death grip he’d had on me. Our clothes were soaked as we climbed to our feet, and I couldn’t help but laugh because—hell, it was funny.
“I’m going to call you Mitch from Baywatch,” I said.
“It’s not funny.”
“Seriously?” I bunched up the hem of my shirt and twisted, wringing it out. “It so is.”
Fox looked me up and down. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.” I laughed. “Maybe a fractured rib from your death-grip rescue, but otherwise I’m all good.”
“Sorry.” He frowned. “I’m going to change.” He didn’t wait for me to respond before turning toward his house.
I yelled after him, still laughing. “I was joking. My ribs are fine. Come over when you’re done. I’ll put dinner in the oven.”
I figured Fox’s grumpy mood would be cured once I put the food I’d made earlier today in front of him. When I was at the Laurel Lake Inn with Opal last week, I’d mentioned that I’d love the recipe for the pork Fox loved so much. Not long after, she’d disappeared for a few minutes and came back with a sticky note and winked. Apparently, her sister’s best friend’s husband worked in the kitchen, so all she had to do was ask.
I put the roast into the oven and hopped in the shower. But when an hour passed and Fox still hadn’t come over, I texted him.
Josie: Hey. Dinner will be ready in about forty-five minutes.
I waited a few minutes, but no return text came in. In fact, my message didn’t even show as read. When the alarm I’d set for the roast went off forty-five minutes later, I took it out of the oven and picked up the phone to call Fox. Could he have fallen asleep? Or shoot—maybe his phone had been in his pocket when we jumped into the lake and now it was dead. His phone rang and rang, eventually going to voicemail.
I bet it was in his pocket. That must be it.
So I slipped on my shoes and walked out the front door. But I stopped short when I realized Fox’s pickup truck wasn’t in his driveway anymore.
Where the heck did he disappear to?
CHAPTER 30
* * *
Drunk on Love
Josie
“Hello?” I answered on the first ring.
“Hi, honey. It’s Opal. Any chance you know where the boss is?”
My shoulders slumped. “No. I was actually hoping you were him. I don’t think he came home last night.”
“Where’d he go?”
I shook my head. “I have no idea. He didn’t say. I’ve texted him a few times, but he hasn’t answered. I think his phone might have broken.”
“He was supposed to meet the fire chief this morning for a final inspection at the school. It’s not like him to blow off something like that.”
I’d grown more and more worried every hour since the first text I’d sent Fox had gone unanswered. But now I was really freaking out. “I’m nervous something might’ve happened to him.”
“When did you last see him?”
“About seven. He was kind of grumpy when he left, but he knew I’d made dinner.”
“Did you two have a fight?”
“Not really. He was kind of annoyed with me. I wanted to go look for a duck that we found injured on the lake a few weeks back, and he didn’t. But I wouldn’t say we had a fight.” I shrugged. “At least I didn’t think we did. But you know how Fox is; he doesn’t say too much. Maybe he was more pissed than I thought.”
“The man does have a temper. He probably just needed to blow off some steam.”
“Maybe…” Though I didn’t feel like that was it.
“I’ll make some calls. I’m sure he’ll turn up soon. Don’t you worry, honey.”
“Will you call me back if you find out anything?”
“Sure thing.”
I’d barely slept all night, waiting for him to come home. Around two, I’d gone upstairs to bed, but I’d left the window open so I could hear if his truck came back. I’d doze for a few minutes, then worry I’d missed the sound of him pulling in and have to get up and look out the window.
There was no way I could sit around here waiting any longer. I needed to do something. So I grabbed my purse and decided to drive around. Laurel Lake wasn’t that large, and his big truck was easy enough to spot.