Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 910(@200wpm)___ 728(@250wpm)___ 607(@300wpm)
“I’ve missed you,” she said without meaning to.
This wasn’t going how she’d planned. Was this really a smart idea? They could hurt her again.
“God, Boo, I’ve missed you too,” Slade told her. “So fucking much.”
She nodded, not saying anything else. She’d already said enough. Except . . .
“What happened to your face?” she asked.
His cheek was red and swollen. As though someone had hit him. But who would do that?
“Walked into a cupboard. I’m fine.”
She knew he was lying. But she didn’t have the energy to argue with him right now.
Slade was still hugging her as Maggie and her men came into the room. He drew back and she glanced over to find Maggie staring at them all in shock.
Indie gave her a knowing look. Maggie had gone to them. She’d told them everything.
About Billy.
The truth about how she hadn’t stolen those plans.
Why?
“What the heck? What’s going on?” Maggie asked.
Indie drew back and wiped her cheeks. “Slade came to . . . to apologize.”
“All of us did,” Quaid told Maggie.
So he’d talk to her, huh?
“Right.” Indie nodded. “Um, I . . . can I have a minute with Maggie?”
All seven men looked at each other with frowns. But they all left and Maggie moved toward Indie, taking her hand. She wasn’t sure how to explain this.
“Are you all right?” Maggie asked.
“Yeah. I just . . . it’s all slightly overwhelming. Maggie, I love you, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. All the sacrifices you made—”
“Worth it.”
Indie gave her a sad smile. “I know you mean that. But I . . . I don’t think I can move to Escana. I know it would likely be the smart move, but this is home. And Slade . . . he’s promised to make things up to me. Starting by moving me in with them. Are you . . . are you angry?”
“Angry? No. Of course not.” Maggie hugged her carefully. “A bit sad. But I get it. I mean . . . would your decision also have anything to do with wanting those three hunks of spunk?”
Three?
Oh, was she not counting Slade?
Probably because he’s your sort of stepbrother.
But she didn’t have sisterly feelings toward him.
“No!”
It was Maggie’s turn to give her a knowing look. But she didn’t say anything. Instead, she helped her pack her things. Well, Indie lay there while Maggie did it all. Not that she had much.
“Well, I guess this is goodbye,” Maggie said.
“Not forever,” Indie said with alarm.
“Of course not!” Maggie said. “Maybe I should stay for a while and keep an eye on you.”
“You’ve done enough for me. Go with those three back to Escana.”
“I’m always here for you. No matter what. It’s the two of us. Got it?” Maggie said fiercely.
Indie smiled. “Right. Soon to be three.” They both put their hands on Indie’s tummy.
“Three of us,” Maggie said. “Always.”
26
“Ireally can walk,” she told Spencer as he wheeled her through the hospital.
“Not happening,” he replied cheerfully.
Monica had wanted to call for an orderly, but the guys didn’t want her waiting around.
And she wasn’t really keen on spending any more time in the hospital than she had to. So she’d let Spencer lift her into the wheelchair. Rock had produced a blanket out of somewhere and tucked it around her legs.
Quaid was carrying most of her things. Which wasn’t much. It was scary how little had survived Billy’s rampage. Maggie had found her backpack which he obviously hadn’t found. She’d tucked it away in a cupboard since she hadn’t wanted to look at it after they’d kicked her out of the penthouse.
She didn’t remember him trashing the place, but apparently he’d gone through like a hurricane. Maybe she’d blacked out at some stage.
That was a terrifying thought.
Slade carried it over his shoulder and she had to resist the urge to grab it from him. What if he looked inside it?
Relax.
Slade wouldn’t do that to you.
He wouldn’t invade your privacy like that.
Right?
“I can take the backpack,” she said to him.
Slade raised his eyebrows. “No.”
She huffed out a sigh. “You guys can’t boss me around all the time.”
Quaid frowned down at her. “You need to do as we say and let them take care of you.”
Them? Not him?
And did he really get to tell her what she had to do?
“I don’t need to obey you, Quaid Ashworth!”
His frown deepened and he opened his mouth. But Slade cleared his throat and shot both of them a look, silently telling them to behave.
She frowned at Quaid and he raised an eyebrow, his gaze promising all sorts of things that she didn’t want to think about right now.
“It’s not about being bossy,” Slade told her. “It’s about looking after you.”
“I haven’t had anyone other than Maggie look after me in a while,” she said, deflating.
Rock made a sound like he was in pain and she shot him a worried look.