Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
The one to hold her fears.
The one who stood in front of every threat.
She climbed out, and I let my palm slip to her defined cheek before I glided my fingers into the silky strands of her white hair.
Doing nothing but staring down at her beauty.
Wanting to keep all of it for myself.
“We’d better get Finn inside,” I said, voice rough.
Piper barely nodded. “Yeah. We should.”
In it was an agreement.
The we a clear issuing of surrender.
I stepped back for the rear door and opened it to a sleeping Finn.
My chest squeezed. A tightening so fierce that I felt it twine with my spirit.
The child’s face lax with exhaustion from playing nonstop all afternoon and evening, though I could still see a halo of joy radiating from his being.
The fun he had.
The way he fit right in with Maci and Nolan like he’d been there all along.
Like he belonged there.
And I was struck with the urgency to make it real.
Not some temporary transition as Piper was finding her way.
I…my throat nearly closed off as the realization hit me.
I wanted this.
Forever.
Finn only gave a tiny moan as I unbuckled him and pulled him into my arms. He snuggled right into them, his chubby cheek pressed to my shoulder as I shifted around and nudged the door shut with my hip.
When I turned around, I was slammed all over again by the way that Piper looked at me.
It felt like every edge of her face had been carved into my existence.
Scored and inked.
“Let’s get inside. It’s cold out here,” I muttered.
She barely nodded, and she turned and followed the path that wound from the parking spot around to the porch.
I followed close behind, my footsteps heavy against her dainty thuds.
My breaths serrated and harsh as I panted them into the back of her neck.
Chills lifted across her flesh, and energy scattered between us.
She tapped her keycard against the reader and the door gave, and she let us into the quiet stillness of their cabin.
The colorful lights on the tree still twinkled in the muted glow of the room. Tranquility holding fast to the atmosphere.
Piper started for the stairs, and I followed close behind. Breathing her in as she led me up and into her room.
I carefully laid her son into the small crib that sat on the far right wall, and Piper came forward, pulled off his shoes and jacket, then covered him with a soft blanket.
Her touch was tender as she ran it over his head before she shifted back to look at me.
This woman who I wanted to see everything that I was.
This woman I wanted to reveal myself to.
Wholly and completely.
“Piper.” I whispered her name like supplication.
A claim and a demand and a prayer.
Her chin trembled as she swallowed. “How is it possible you brought me to this place? To the place where I feel this?”
Her hand fisted over her heart.
I knew exactly what she meant.
“I—”
The confession I was getting ready to make froze on my tongue when my phone suddenly blared from my pocket.
Frustrated, I pulled it out.
My stomach twisted when I saw it was Jonah.
“Jonah,” I grunted as I answered it.
Jagged breaths flooded into my ear.
“Found someone hiding in the woods. He took off on foot when I saw him. Heading west back into the trees.” Jonah was clearly running as he shouted the words into the phone. “I’m on him, but the fucker is fast.”
Dread spiraled, and a vat of adrenaline dumped into my veins.
“Don’t lose him. I’m on my way.”
“Yes, sir.”
I ended the call and stuffed my phone back into my pocket.
Worry took over every line on Piper’s face. “What’s going on?”
“Trespasser on the property.” I gripped her by the outside of the arms. “Stay here and make sure the doors are locked.”
Without saying anything else, I turned and jogged down the stairs, taking them three at a time. Agitation buzzed through my body. Mind speeding through every scenario and situation.
Violence churned into a boiling point when I thought of the intel Cash had given last night.
How close Pierce Renfry was to our small town.
If it was him…
Horror ripped and tore, and I increased my speed.
Piper scrambled down behind me, frantic hands on the railing and her spirit screaming with dread.
“Theo,” she wheezed. She attempted to keep it quiet, though it felt like that single word was being shouted directly into my soul.
I flew back around, and desperation gushed out with the command, “Stay here.”
Her face pinched, though she stopped as I jerked the door open and flew out into the frigid night.
I only slowed long enough to make sure the door was locked behind me. That Piper and her family were secure behind it.
Then I hurtled across the porch, boots hitting hard against the walkway, my breaths salient as I expelled them from my clutching lungs.