Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Still didn’t excuse talking about a young girl like that.
“What things?” he asked.
“Things that aren’t my secrets to tell. But you should go easy with her. Caren is strong and tough on the outside, but I think that tough shell could be easily broken. And you could hurt her if you’re too rough.”
Fuck. Did he know how to be anything but rough?
“All the more reason for me to protect her.”
Lacey groaned. “All right, so maybe looking out for her is okay. Railroading her is not. I know that’s hard for you not to do. But she’s not moving in with you or letting you meet everyone she goes out for dinner with, whether they’re a date or not.”
“They could be dangerous!”
“I will talk to her about getting Black-Gray to run background checks on anyone she dates.”
“What? Why would they do it when we can do it at Raptor Inc!” he said.
“Maybe because you’re a psycho?” she asked dryly. “I’ll also ask her if I can give you her phone number so you can check in once in a while. All right?”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “Now, go get packed.”
“Oh, I don’t have to pack much. Bye, big cousin.”
Huh? What did she mean she didn’t have to pack much?
Actually, maybe he didn’t want to know.
Caren’s phone buzzed and she checked her messages.
Lacey: I’ve leashed the lunatic.
She snorted. Then she felt guilty for heaping this on Lacey when she was about to leave for her honeymoon.
Also, she had her doubts that she’d truly leashed this particular lunatic.
Caren: I’m sorry I got you involved. You have enough to do. I was just ranting. Um, how did you leash him?
Lacey: It’s my fault he sicced himself onto you! He seems to feel bad about the past and that as my friend he should watch out for you.
Caren: I told him not to worry about the past.
Lacey: So did I. But Travis can get really focused on something and find it hard to let go.
Caren: Hmm. OCD maybe?
Lacey: OPN more like it.
Caren: I don’t know that one.
Lacey: Overprotective Neanderthal.
Caren: Ahh, yeah. I can see that. How is he leashed?
Lacey: Welll, I had to compromise a bit. I told him you’re definitely not moving in. Nor are you getting him to vet any dates. I told him that Black-Gray would do that. His head nearly exploded. And before you tell me off, you don’t actually have to get them to do that.
Caren: It’s all right. I’m not going on any dates anyway.
Yeah. She was off men entirely. They could be scary on a scale that would probably make Travis Andrews fearful.
Then again, maybe not.
Lacey: Never say never. Maybe you’ll meet a hot, sexy cowboy and move to Dallas permanently.
And pigs could fly. But she wasn’t going to burst Lacey’s dream. Even Lacey didn’t know the truth of what happened during her last assignment. The only person who knew the full truth was her agent. And she’d had to tell him everything so he’d back off about her going back out on assignment quickly.
She’d just worked on a few local things. Staying in the states made her feel safer for some reason.
Which was silly. There wasn’t any real threat.
He’d let her go.
He didn’t even know her real name.
But for some reason she was still scared to leave the states. Caren shook off her foreboding. This was crazy.
She wasn’t in any danger.
Maybe you should have told someone about him. Lacey or Travis.
Why would she tell Travis?
Nope. She wasn’t doing that. It would probably just make him crazier.
Caren: What was the compromise?
Lacey: That you’d let me give him your number so he could check in with you.
Caren groaned.
Lacey: Just hear me out. I know that Travis can be bossy and overbearing. I’ve experienced it most of my life. But he’s also caring and protective. He’s a good guy to have on your side, because he is loyal and he will do anything for the people he cares about.
Caren had to fight the tears that came into her eyes. This was ridiculous. Why was she upset?
Because for years she’d longed to have Travis Andrews on her side. To have the Andrews boys look out for her. Because they were kind of a package deal. Look at them now, they all worked for Raptor Inc, the security business that Travis owned. They were all members of Whip It, according to Lacey.
She wouldn’t be surprised if they lived close to each other.
And when you had the Andrews brothers on your side then you were invincible.
Yeah, for years she’d wanted that and never had it. She’d learned to live without it. However, it seemed that young girl was still inside her, longing for someone to love and take care of her.
Fuck.
She needed to build up her walls again.
Because that sort of longing was dangerous for someone like her.