Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
I looked over to find Brooke leaning against the doorframe, a mug of coffee in her hand and a playful smile lighting her face. “Good morning, sunshine.”
What followed was not my finest moment. I scrambled from the bed like a baby giraffe discovering its legs for the first time. And there was a noise—something between a gasp, a hiccup, and a cat in heat—that I’d probably never hear the end of from my best friend.
But who gave a shit? My best friend was there, and she’d brought my best girl with her.
“Oh my God,” I croaked.
Hooking Zoey around the waist, I lifted her to sit on my hip, peppering kisses across her chubby cheeks. She laughed hysterically as I carried her across the room to wrap Brooke in a one-armed hug. The three of us became a tangle of affection.
“You’re going to make me spill my coffee,” Brooke said, but she was holding on to me just as tightly.
“What are you doing here?” I froze, my life coming back to me like a blast of cold air. Setting Zoey on her feet, I backed away from them. “Wait, you can’t be here. It’s not safe.”
“Relax.” She took a long, pointed sip of her coffee. “Bossy McAsshole arranged everything.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You know. Captain Control Freak. Agent Overkill. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Dic—” She shot Zoey a tight smile. “Your bodyguard, Lofton. Devon called.”
I stared at her. “What? When?”
“Around ten last night.” She paused. “I guess midnight your time. This time change is killing me. Anyway, he said you needed a little normal and asked if I could make it happen. He offered to cover the flights, by the way, so don’t let him bill you for that. I only booked first class because it was on his dime.”
Emotion lodged in my throat. “He said I needed normal?”
“Yep. We caught a red-eye and slept on the plane.” She lifted her coffee into the air. “But don’t worry, caffeine to the rescue.”
Oh my God.
Devon.
I’d had a rough night, confided in him, and he’d not just listened, he’d taken it upon himself to ease that pain.
And let me just tell you, he’d knocked it out of the park by bringing in Brooke and Zoey. I’d missed them so much. After everything Zoey had been through and then Leo pointing out that they were safer when they were away from me, I hadn’t allowed myself to even think about seeing them until whoever was after me was behind bars.
But Devon had told me the farm was secure.
And he’d brought them there.
So I could have normal.
My chest got tight, my nose stinging as I drew in a shuddering breath.
“Don’t,” Brooke said immediately, pointing at me. “Do not cry. We just got here and I am not emotionally prepared.”
“I’m not crying,” I lied.
“Tofton.” Zoey patted me on the leg and then handed me a dirty tissue she’d produced from rainbow backpack. “It’s okay to cry. That just means your body is getting the scared out.”
Brooke smiled warmly at her daughter. “Did Ms. Connie teach you that?”
Zoey nodded, eyes wide with wonder. “Yeah. Then she let me dump a whole cup of water on the table and the glitter went everywhere just like the sad.” She threw her hands out in front of her as if she had been Moses parting the Red Sea.
Brooke never tore her eyes off her daughter as she spoke to me. “Ms. Connie is Zoey’s therapist. I think she likes hanging out with her more than me most days.”
“Ohhhh,” I breathed, relief and understanding dawning on me. “I am so glad you found someone. Please send me the bill.”
She curled her lip. “Would you stop with that nonsense? You don’t have to pay for everything. Besides, I’ve been lounging by a pool without so much as opening my computer for the last few weeks. As your friend, I would highly advise you to dock your assistant’s pay this month. Though, as your employee—who you got horribly addicted to Louboutin and the deeply irresponsible belief that I can afford them—please don’t.”
I barked a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe, but now you’re not crying anymore.” She bumped me with her shoulder.
I nodded, swinging my smile between them. “Mission accomplished.”
Zoey inched over and plucked the tissue from my hand, shoving it right back in her bag. “Can I ride Snickers after breakfast?”
My head snapped back. “Crap, I haven’t even fed the horses yet. What time is it?”
Brooke glanced at her watch. “Ten twenty-seven.”
My eyes nearly bulged out of my head. Shooting to my feet, I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. “What happened to my alarm? Is Dad up?”
“Yeah, he was eating breakfast when we got here. Not to brag or anything, but old Larry only called me a shitty bitty once. He fawned all over Zoey, though, even made Jenn give her a lollipop.”