Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“No, you wouldn’t, but I’ll keep it to myself.” Nick heads into his house.
"You got a problem with people knowing about us?" Cash asks, but I can see a trace of hurt in his eyes.
"I kissed you in the bar," I remind him.
"You were drunk."
"I don't care. I honestly thought you wouldn't care for PDA." He can be so reserved, or so I thought.
"If you're letting me touch and kiss you, I'll be doing just that."
"All right, Sheriff. Before you get more handsy, let me grab my things." He steps back so I can move past him, and he gives me a small smack on the ass.
"You're itching to be glitter bombed," I tease.
"I'm used to it at this point."
"Thanks for letting me know. I'll have to come up with something new." He follows me to my front door, and I slide my key into the lock.
Cash's hand covers mine before I can turn it, halting me. I can tell from his expression and the way he's tilting his head that he's listening for something. He presses his hand to my stomach to push me back a couple of steps to unlock the door himself.
Neither of us are prepared for what's on the other side.
.
Chapter Seventeen
CASH
“The fuck is going on?” Ethan, Kindred’s brother, asks. He’s standing in the living room that has been trashed, with shit thrown everywhere. The word "whore" is written on one wall.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“Holy shit.” Kindred pushes past me to get into the house. I let her through, knowing her brother would have cleared the house already. “Is it the same throughout the rest of the house?”
“No, I think I spooked them, and they took off,” he tells us.
My blood is boiling. Who the fuck would do this?
“Whore? Really. I mean, at least be creative.” She rolls her eyes. “I’m a virginal whore.” Kindred's eyes widen, and she slams her hand over her own mouth, not meaning to say that last part. I would smile, but right now is not the time.
I thought she might be. I have never seen her date in the time I’ve been here. There also aren't any old stories about it, and this town loves to talk. I don’t care either way. That’s the past.
Doesn’t mean I wouldn't bash one of their faces in, but it doesn’t change that from this moment on, she’s mine and mine alone. That’s what matters.
“I think I need to be filled in on a few things. I also saw the two of you sucking face outside.”
“The second isn’t your business until Kindred wants to make it your business. As for the first part, we all need to talk.”
Kindred shuts the door. “Yeah, I might need to mention a few things that have happened.” We both swing our full attention over to her.
“You’ve been keeping shit from me?” I know I’m a hypocrite. I didn’t tell her about the tire slashing.
“It wasn’t that I was keeping it. It’s that it didn’t really register that I should mention it, but with this, I’m thinking they could be connected now. I don’t know.”
I can see the sadness start to sink in on her beautiful face as she takes in what’s been done. I walk over to her and pull her into my chest. She lets herself face-plant there. Ethan picks up the coffee table that was flipped and rights the cushions.
“All right. You go pack up some stuff while your brother and I clean up some of this mess. You’re going to be staying with me until we figure all of this out, so make sure you bring what you need.” I kiss her on top of her head. When she lifts it from my chest, I can see she has tears in her eyes. It fucking shreds me.
She lifts on her tippy toes and gives me a kiss before she heads out of the room into her bedroom. I know she needs a minute to collect herself. We can discuss what we need to about what’s been going on when we get to my house. I don’t trust to have the conversation here.
“Are you going to say something?” Ethan asks.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure here.” I glance around the room. Why hadn’t the alarm gone off? The cameras outside don’t stand out, but if you’re really searching for them, you could find them. Whoever slashed her tires knew they were there.
"What about you and my sister?"
"What about it?" We stare at each other. Ethan shakes his head, his features set in rigid lines. Then a slow-ass smile starts to take over.
"Just wondering what took so long." Now he full-on smirks. I'm not completely shocked he knows. It's hard for me to keep my eyes off Kindred.
"I'm not good with the ladies like you are."