Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
The nice guy who usually manned the register was our waiter. He came over to set up our utensils, his eyes on me the entire time. Tierney watched the scene in amusement as I flushed pink. He wasn’t necessarily my type—I didn’t even have a type—but I’d never had an admirer. And, yes—the fact that his existence pissed Tiernan off wasn’t exactly unwelcome right now.
“This is good, thank you,” Tierney told him after he finished setting up our table. When he left, she shook her head with a smile. “He’s got it bad for you, sis.”
“He’s just being nice.”
“Sure. And Tiernan is just being supportive of the U.S. Arms Sales and Defense Trade.” She snorted. “A true patriot.”
“I’m going to the restroom,” I announced, standing up.
“All right. Holler if you need anything.”
I walked into the shop and took the narrow aisle toward the restroom, slipping inside and doing my business. After washing and drying my hands, I cracked open the door and stepped outside. Nice Guy was standing on the other end, in a small, darkened corridor that led to the shop’s stockroom.
I smiled politely, trying to sidestep him. He blocked my way, shoving his body between me and the path.
“I can’t stop thinking about you,” he admitted, putting a hand on his chest.
I stared up at him. Unease prickled the back of my neck, and I became short of breath. I shook my head, pointing at my ring finger, and tried to sneak away from him again.
He moved quicker, this time placing his big hands on my shoulders.
Panic flared inside me.
“Come on, now. I see the way you look at me. The attraction is definitely two-sided.” He winked. “And that prick can’t satisfy you, I can tell.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. I only had eyes for my husband. Even if I did look at him before, which I didn’t, I now clearly wanted to run for the hills and beyond.
I stared at him angrily, my fists clenching next to my body.
“Word on the street is you can’t speak.” He grinned, putting his hand on my cheek, crowding me so my back slammed against the restroom’s door. “That’s why he married you. Because you can’t fight back. Well, how about we make this our little secret?” He leaned down, grabbing a handful of my ass.
My gun. My gun was in my bag outside. I cursed myself for not taking it with me. I pushed at him with a roar, but before I could put my hands on his chest, he was yanked back with force.
Tierney was holding him by the hair, the edges of his scalp burning pink, murder in her eyes. She looked so much like her twin brother in that moment, I whimpered.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Tierney barked. “Assaulting a pregnant woman.”
She slapped him hard.
He snarled, rubbing at his cheek. “She was asking for it, walking around with her tiny little pink babydoll dresses three times a week. Prancing around without buying shit.”
“Oh, God.” Tierney shook her head, looking aghast. “You’re insane.”
“I didn’t even touch her!”
“He touched my ass,” I tattled.
Tierney screwed her fingers into her eye sockets. “Shit. Tiernan is going to have a field day. Enjoy your last few hours on earth, scumbag.” She shooed the guy, who scrambled, ran to the register, grabbed his messenger bag, and fled.
“Jesus Christ.” She put a hand on my shoulder. “You all right?”
I nodded, even though I had no idea if that was true.
Tiernan was right—I was never to move around without my gun again. Next time, I was taking my bag with me.
“Let me take you back outside. I’m so sorry.” Tierney ushered me back to our table. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” I said honestly. “This guy is going to get fired, and I’m never going to see him again. Besides, he barely touched me.”
When we sat down, the baby fluttered in my lower stomach again. I instinctively pressed a hand to let him know that I noticed, and that I was here, waiting for him.
“This is starting to feel real, isn’t it?” Tierney smiled.
I nodded.
“How do you feel about it?”
“Frightened,” I admitted. “Excited. Worried. Oddly enough, I’m not mad anymore. I am mad at my rapist, of course. I want him to die a painful death. But not the baby. Once I decided to keep him, I promised to love him without prejudice.”
Easiest decision I’d ever made. My papa never loved me because of who he thought I was, even though none of it was my fault.
“I’ll love him for you, too.” Tierney leaned in to put her hand on my stomach, her expression sobering all at once. “I could never have a baby, you know.”
“Of course you will.” My eyes softened. “I will speak to Achilles myself. He will—”