Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 161(@200wpm)___ 129(@250wpm)___ 107(@300wpm)
Shane is alert and wary, but he also relaxes enough to enjoy both my company and the food.
“Dessert,” a waiter says, placing the cheesecake I ordered in front of me.
I cut a piece and taste it immediately, groaning at the flavor as it melts in my mouth. “This is so good.”
Shane eyes me, an amused smile on his face.
“What?” I ask, laughing. “I worked up an appetite earlier.” I pointedly refer to our session in the shower. And in the bed.
His eyes heat at the reminder. “I just enjoy watching you eat.”
“Want a bite?” I scoop a piece onto my fork and hold it out for him.
He shakes his head. “No sweets for me.” He pauses, a killer smile edging his lips. “Except for you. Then I’ll let myself indulge.”
I laugh, as amused as I am secretly thrilled by his comment. “I see. So that’s how you keep that killer body.” I nod in approval.
At the compliment, he sits up a little straighter in his chair. “Are you trying to get me to drag you back to the room again?”
I twirl the fork in my hand. “I wouldn’t object,” I murmur, only partly teasing.
He glances up, his gaze catching the waiter’s.
“Check, please.”
* * *
Shane
I walk by Talia’s side, keeping an eye out for anyone suspicious-looking…but I don’t see anything to alert me. Which doesn’t mean I let my guard down. Although her locket seems like the obvious choice for a bug, that is almost too easy. My gut doesn’t like the odds that we lost the people following her or their ability to track Talia.
Once back in the room, I double-lock the door and put a finger over my lips, indicating she shouldn’t talk just yet. I head straight for my bag and begin a thorough scan of the room and all likely places a bug could have been placed while we are at dinner.
Large pharmaceutical companies have big money at their disposal. A maid or a front desk clerk could be bribed to let someone into the room and search for the formula…which we kept with us during dinner.
While Talia watches, bottom lip pulled between her teeth, I work my way around the room. When I reach the bed, I run the wand around the headboard, and damned if I don’t get a loud beep when I scan the main piece.
I pat behind the wooden board and find the sucker, pinned to the back. Fuck. I hold up the small bug and place a hand over my mouth, indicating she should be quiet.
So it wasn’t the locket, I think in frustration. She dumped the memento for no reason, and it is my fault. Guilt grips me hard, but I need to handle this situation before I can deal with our emotions.
I leave the offending bug on the dresser, grab Talia’s hand, and lead her to the bathroom, where I run the shower for extra noise.
“Don’t panic,” I say, looking into her wide eyes as I speak in hushed tones.
“They broke into our room while we were at dinner?” she asks, appalled.
“Probably paid someone to let them in,” I say. “But that doesn’t explain how they keep finding us.” I scowl, frustrated that they’ve gotten the better of me at every turn.
She shrugs. “I’m at a loss, too. But it wasn’t the locket,” she whispers, sad at the memory of what she had to leave behind.
My gut twists as realization dawns for her that she threw away her last link to her mother for no reason. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. Let’s just focus on what we can control. What do we do now?” I ask about the bug.
“I have an idea.”
She straightens her shoulders, bucking up as she always does, and I am so damned proud of her in this moment.
“I’m listening.”
I speak in a low whisper. “We’re going to go back out there and lay out our plans for tomorrow, except we’re going to lead them somewhere else completely.”
I pull out my cell and begin to search hospital names in the area. “We don’t want them near Dr. Goodwin, so you’re going to mention that we’re meeting him here.” I show her the name of a medical center on the other side of town.
I’m not convinced the ruse will take care of the problem, however, because these assholes have managed to catch up with us every time.
She blinks in surprise. “What if they follow us anyway?” she asks, her brain following the same line as mine.
“We’re going to specifically mention that you don’t have the whole formula, the man you’re meeting does, but it won’t be with him.” I don’t want to set Goodwin up as an immediate target, either.
Hopefully, the plan will buy us time to meet with the good doctor, drive to the cabin, get our hands on the rest of the cure, and turn it over to Dr. Goodwin’s ex-wife.