Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
“It’s true. If not for my Niki coming into my life, I don’t want to think of how things could have played out for me over the last month.” I nod in understanding. I’m glad she has Niki. She’s tender-hearted and pretty much on her own. It was time someone took care of and cherished her.
“I’m glad Bam has the Riders. He would have been alone without them. In a sense it’s a family.”
“They saved Niki’s little sister. She was kidnapped years ago, and if not for the Riders, I don’t want to even think about what might have happened to her.” Her whole face goes soft, making me smile because Bam too has talked about Niki’s little sister.
“Oh shit.” I missed that story.
“Like I said, it was years back, but it’s how Niki got involved with them.” I take a bite of my food. “I heard you’re trying to figure out who—” Andy glances around, making sure we don’t have an audience, but no one is close. “Ended him.” She’s careful not to say Cole’s name just in case someone does overhear.
“Remember I told you I was looking into people just disappearing?”
“Oh shit, so they really were missing?”
“Well, it looks like I was right,” I tell her. “Niki didn’t mention any of this to you?”
“No, but I don’t push for details when it comes to his”—her brows rise—“job?”
“I’d call it a job.” I shrug. It’s more of a job than I’ve got, but I have had a few pieces I wrote up and got paid for.
“Yeah, well, I don’t really push for information. He likes to keep things separate, and I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I think I feel that way because I know if I did ask, he’d tell me.”
“How do you do that?” I shove another bite into my mouth.
“Do what?”
“Not be nosy? I’d die. I’m getting all antsy thinking about it.” I shift in my chair. Andy laughs.
“I think different personalities fit together. It’s why you’re with Bam and I’ve got Niki.” She has a point. Niki is more reserved. Bam, not so much, which works for me; hell, everything about him works for me.
“Well, I’m nosy enough for the both of us,” I say, praying she asks me for the details of what I’ve discovered. Andy is super smart, and I’m hoping to get her perspective on things. But I also don’t want to involve her if she really wants to keep Niki’s work and their life together separate. “I was thinking maybe I could fill you in on some details and you could weigh in on them. Let me know if you think I’ve missed anything.”
“You think it’s safe to do that here?” Andy whispers as she glances around again. I can tell I’ve piqued her curiosity.
“I don’t want to drag you into this if you don’t want to be involved. I respect you wanting to keep your private life with Niki and his work separated. I just thought a fresh set of eyes might help me see if I’ve missed anything,” It’s really Andy’s choice. Even though I’m dying to tell her. “As far as it being safe here, I highly doubt the people or person causing these disappearances frequents the library.” We both burst into laughter.
“Okay, hit me with what you’ve got,” Andy says after we get ourselves together.
I do exactly that. I start by going through my notebook with her, giving her a rundown of everything and everyone we think is involved in this. She listens, asks questions, and takes everything in. I have to admit that it feels good to have a girl’s point of view. We are so engrossed in our conversation that we don’t notice how fast the time goes by.
“I hope you took some time to have something to eat.” Bam’s deep voice has both of our heads lifting from the outline we were going over. It’s not until Bam and Niki approach our table that we realize we have been at it for a couple of hours.
My eyes scan over him quickly, looking for any injuries. Immediate relief fills me, knowing that they’ve made it out of Pipefitters territory unscathed.
I’m about to answer, but before I can, Bam leans down, taking my mouth in a kiss. All of my thoughts quickly make their escape from my brain as I get lost in the kiss.
“I don’t think that’s allowed in the library.” Andy giggles, breaking me from my spell.
Bam looks so damn proud of himself for his PDA moment.
“I guess they’re just letting anyone into the library these days,” I tease as Bam scoops me up out of my chair and then sits down with me in his lap. Niki does the same for Andy.
I rest my head on Bam’s shoulder, knowing there is nowhere else I’d rather be.