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)
I’m not a Ranger any longer. I’ll leave that be and let them handle it how they see fit. I’m also not a head doctor, so I got no fucking clue if her knowing the truth would only make it worse.
Roger cuffs her, putting her into the back of his cruiser. “The FBI is coming to pick her up. I didn’t want to put that in the email I sent you. I guess there are some shady dealings with not only her time on the force but with her brother too.”
“All right.” I merely shrug, not sure what they will tell him. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
As much as that sucks, it might give Kindred a little relief knowing that Beckett isn’t a girl who simply lost it because her brother died.
“There is more to this story?” Roger asks.
“This isn’t my story anymore.” I glance toward the inn, where I know everyone is peeking out, being nosy as hell.
“You think you can move that crowd along? The Feds will be here soon, and they’ll want to process her room and, I’m sure, have a million questions.”
“I’ll try, but I make no promises,” I tell him, heading back up the sidewalk.
“I get it.” Roger chuckles, coming from a small town too. He leans up against his cruiser to wait as I head back inside the inn.
The second I'm through the door, Kindred is throwing herself at me. I catch her, pulling her closer. She buries her face in my neck. I run my hand up and down her back. She lifts her head to whisper into my ear.
"There was a third option, and we got it wrong."
“You can't predict crazy,” I tell her. “The Feds are on their way. She’s in deep shit. We need to clear people out.”
“I got it.” She presses a kiss to my neck as I put her back down onto her feet.
“Listen up!” Kindred claps her hands together. “Christmas has come early, the Feds are on the way.” They will talk about this for the next year, maybe two. She peeks over her shoulder at me. “It’s better to just tell them, or they’ll be trying to sneak back in.”
“The Feds!” Tinsley says excitedly.
“Y’all have to clear out,” I inform them. They all groan.
"Guys, we have a wedding tomorrow, and it's Christmas Eve," Kindred reminds them. "We can all gossip then." Candy nods adamantly next to her.
This night could have ended in disaster, but instead, all of us will get to go home safe and sound. I’ve never been more thankful for anything in my life.
Chapter Twenty-Six
KINDRED
Alaugh bubbles free when Cash spins me around and pulls me back to dip me backwards.
“You’re full of surprises.” When he asked me to dance, I didn’t expect this, but clearly my man is a quick study. More than that, I know he wants to make me happy. I want to give him the same too. We deserve this type of happiness. We’ve both waited so long to be together. I mean, it’s totally his fault for being so stubborn, but that’s beside the point.
“My girl wants to dance. I'll dance because I’m not letting anyone else spin you around this dance floor.” He pulls me closer as the song changes over to another slow one, but this one is more romantic. I probably shouldn't enjoy his possessiveness, but I do. I know it’s only because we have a trust that goes both ways.
“It all came together,” I say, seeing everyone around the room. I think most of the town is here, and if not, they are traveling to see family. This was a very last-second wedding.
“If I have learned anything about New Hope, it’s that if it’s possible, they will find a way to make it happen.” This is true. Our little tight-knit community shows up for one another. Whether it’s in happy, sad, criminal, or any other situations, there is always someone to lend a hand.
“I love that you’ve fallen in love with this town too.” I always knew I would spend my life here.
It was never a question in my mind. I wanted that small-town life with kids and fundraisers and chasing the dog down the driveway because the cat scared him. It may be cliché, but I saw it all around me growing up here.
My grandmother raised my brother and me after our parents' passing. When she was younger, she’d grown up in New Hope but had moved away. Then she got custody of my brother and me, and she moved us back here. I was too young to remember those things. New Hope and my grandmother were all I ever knew.
I would see all the families around town and want that for myself. I think I wanted it so badly I'd started to wiggle my way into everyone's lives, wanting to make the whole town a family, my family. That’s exactly how I see each and every one of them.