Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
My smile widened at that question. “You might be smarter but it’s hard to say because I only just met you.”
He laughed louder this time, doubling over, but that answer seemed to satisfy him. “Smarter,” he said through his laughter. “I’m smarter than papa?”
I nodded, working hard to suppress my laughter.
That was when I heard it. Voices. They were off in the distance but not so far that I couldn’t tell they were human voices. One male and one female, or just high-pitched.
My body reacted before my mind caught up. I took in a sharp inhale, my muscles tightened while my heart slammed against my ribs. I stopped abruptly and instinctively drew Mattie closer, my hand firm on his shoulder. Protect him at all costs. I had no idea where that thought came from but it was a welcome reminder.
The voices drifted again, carried on the breeze. Unfamiliar.
My thoughts raced, wondering who it could be. Security patrol? No. They’d announce themselves and I hadn’t met any female guards. Enzo? He was inside. Luca? Back in California.
Fear crawled up my throat in slow and icy steps. I scanned the tree line, trying to pinpoint direction without making it obvious. My heart raced so quickly that it muffled the voices that seemed to be getting closer.
Mattie noticed immediately. “What’s wrong, Ren?”
“Nothing,” I answered too quickly to be believable. “I’m just listening.” I put a finger to my earlobe, encouraging him to do the same.
Mattie strained his head toward the noise, his eyes widening when he heard the voices. “Who is that?”
I shrugged and pulled him closer just as two figures emerged from the trees with backpacks, ball caps, and hiking poles in each hand. They were dusty and sunburned—so ordinary I was immediately suspicious. “Hey,” one of them called out. “Sorry to bother you, but we seem to have gotten turned around.”
Yeah, right. They were definitely turned around, but I had no idea where the property ended or began, or what was on the other side of the property line. “This is private property,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Where are you trying to go?”
The woman smiled—too bright—and slid a glance to her male counterpart. “The map says this trail cuts through to the creek.” She held up the paper map in her hand, which was suspicious as hell.
“This is my house,” Mattie called out, his tone friendly and his smile wide.
Shit. My stomach clenched at the way he’d accidentally given away too much info. I kept my smile fixed in place, working hard to look like nothing at all was wrong. “I’m not sure exactly how to get there, but the Lucky Star Creek is on the other side of the lake.” I lifted my phone like I was trying to look at the map, instead snapping a quick photo of the hikers.
The man nodded. “Ah, okay. Thanks. I guess we’ll head out.” Neither of them asked more questions; they didn’t even flick a gaze to the giant house behind us, and they didn’t come one step closer.
I nodded. “Good luck,” I called out, waving at their retreating forms. I held my breath until they disappeared back into the trees, and that’s when I realized my hands were shaking violently.
Mattie tugged on my shirt. “Why are you so scared, Ren?”
I crouched to his level so we were eye to eye. “I wasn’t scared. Just surprised.”
He studied me with unsettling perception before he shrugged. “Okay.” I wished I could accept the hikers’ words so easily. “You seemed scared,” he added.
“I wasn’t expecting to see anyone so close, that’s all.” I took his hand, and we walked back to the house, much faster than we’d left.
As soon as we were safely inside the house, I left Mattie with math problems and went straight to Enzo. I found him in his office, where he spent most of his day. “I need to tell you something,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt.
He looked up at me in the doorway, and he was on his feet instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“Hikers,” I said. “Two of them breached the treeline. They said they were lost and they were probably harmless.” I tried to sound convincing but failed miserably. “I took a photo,” I told him almost as an afterthought and shoved the screen in his face.
His brows lifted in surprise. “Good thinking.” He took the phone, examined the photo, and then tapped the screen several times before he handed it back. “Thank you, Ren.”
I nodded. “Mattie’s fine,” I added quickly. “He was completely unaware that anything was wrong, except with me.” I tried for a smile that was shaky at best.
Enzo’s gaze softened as he pulled me into the warm embrace of his strong arms. “To be a kid again,” he said with a short laugh.
It felt too good to be in his arms, and I should’ve pulled back immediately. I shouldn’t have inhaled his expensive, masculine scent, and I definitely should not have closed my eyes. It was all too much. I was surrounded by Enzo, and it was…too much.