Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113272 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 378(@300wpm)
“Arabella is fine,” Eli said. “Do you really think we’d harm her, Duncan?”
Duncan? Was this their brother? Who was married to Laken?
“Of course I don’t,” Duncan said impatiently. “But we’re doing checks on all of Haven’s residents who live alone. I’ve got to go check on Abe, her neighbor, next. So just let me see her and I’ll move on.”
“Jesus, you’ll give him a heart attack, knocking on his door at five in the morning,” Eli told him.
“Actually, he probably won’t hear you,” she said, making them all turn.
Shoot. Maybe she should have thought before saying anything.
All three men stared at her. Duncan held such a powerful flashlight that she could see all of their faces. Duncan looked at her with curiosity. Kellan with cool composure.
While Eli looked a bit . . . mad.
Suddenly, the power flicked on, making her cry out in surprise and Horse let out a howl.
“Jesus, that’s a big dog. Are you sure it’s not part-horse?” Duncan asked.
She smiled at him. “That’s his name.”
“What? Big Dog?” Duncan asked.
“No, although that could have been an option. His name is Horse.”
She couldn’t look at Eli or Kellan. Because she couldn’t believe what they’d just done. That Eli had held her on his lap and kissed her while Kellan directed them.
At the time, it had felt magical. Amazing.
Like nothing she’d felt before. Her entire body had been on fire and she’d wanted more.
Who knew how far she would have gone if they hadn’t been interrupted?
But she couldn’t trust her own feelings towards these two men. And she couldn’t place herself into a position of being vulnerable. Where she might get hurt.
She’d promised herself that she wouldn’t do that. That she would protect herself even if it meant that she had to keep up some walls.
Only, she kept feeling like her walls were crumbling.
Her heart started racing. And it felt like the walls of the hallway were beginning to press in on her.
“Hey, baby? Are you okay?” Eli asked.
“Arabella? What’s wrong?” Kellan demanded.
“Shit, she’s not breathing properly!” Eli said.
“Arabella,” Kellan said firmly, taking hold of her right hand and squeezing. “I need you to listen to me and do as you’re told.”
Do as she was told?
The surge of temper actually cleared some of the panic in her mind. Or maybe that was due to the way he was holding her hand. “Take a deep breath in, now let it out slowly. That’s it. Follow my directions. Deep breath in slowly, two three, out slowly, two three. And again. In, two, three, out, two, three. It’s okay, Horse.”
She suddenly realized that strange noise was Horse. And that he was licking her free hand. She glanced down at him and felt her breathing ease. Putting her hand on his head, she let him ground her. She wasn’t certain when she’d let go of his collar, but he’d stayed beside her the entire time, helping her.
Lord, he really was her best friend. She was so lucky that she’d found him.
Finally, her breathing eased and her heart stopped racing so hard. She closed her eyes for a long moment, then opened them.
That was embarrassing. She tried her best to hide her horror at what had just happened but knew she’d likely failed when she saw the concern in their faces.
Well, Kellan looked as calm as always
“Are you okay?” Duncan asked.
“I’m fine. Sorry. I just . . . it’s been a lot.”
Duncan nodded. “I get that. The storm and the power going out would be scary and a lot to deal with.”
And yet neither of those things were the reason she’d had a panic attack.
Nope. That was all due to the two men standing right there, staring at her.
“Do you need anything? You probably don’t know if any repairs are needed yet, but is there anything else?” Duncan asked.
“Ahh, no. I think I just need to try and get some sleep and then I’ll assess everything. Thank you for checking on me.”
“Of course. If there is anything you need let me know. I’ll give you my number. Do you have your phone?”
“Um, yes, I’ll find it.”
“Hey, if she needs anything we’re here and we can provide it,” Eli protested.
“That what you want, Ms. Bridges?” Duncan asked.
“Call me Arabella and I . . . I want to be on my own.”
She didn’t look at either of them as she said that.
“Of course,” Duncan said. “You heard her, you two need to leave.”
“No, what I need is to talk to Arabella,” Eli insisted, storming past Duncan to force his way between them. “Look at me, baby.”
Yeah, she wasn’t doing that.
She knew that she’d likely cave if she did. Her shields were down and she needed to shore them back up. To work out how she was going to keep them out.
“I would like you to leave, please. What happened . . . it shouldn’t have. It won’t happen again. I appreciate your help, though. Come, Horse.”