Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Darcy comes back down the stairs, her perky breasts bouncing with each step. I try not to stare or salivate, but her natural innocence is difficult to ignore.
“Here,” she hands me a pair of old jeans. “Hopefully they fit. They were my Pa’s when he was younger, so they might smell a little musty.”
“You sure? I don’t want to take you dad’s stuff.”
“No, it’s okay. Better to make use of it.”
I take the old jeans gently, grateful for Darcy’s generosity. “I’m sure they’ll do just fine.”
I start to head out again.
“Oh Ranger, just a second.” Darcy retreats into the kitchen and returns a moment later, bearing a flashlight and a bottle full of fresh water. “Here. In case you get thirsty and so you can see out there. Stars are pretty but they don’t give off all that much light.”
“Much obliged, Darcy.”
We stand there facing each other for a minute. A primal part of me wants to reach out and kiss the girl, but I catch myself. I clear my throat but she speaks first.
“Goodnight, Mr. McLeod. Sleep tight.” Her voice has a layer of huskiness to it, and I step onto the now cool front porch to put some distance between us.
I turn around to look at Darcy through the screen. “Goodnight, Miss Fields.”
I turn on the flashlight and make my way toward the barn and hear Darcy close the front door firmly behind me.
Once back out in the barn, I settle onto my straw bed and take deep breaths of the cool night air. It was a damn shame that I’d fallen off my horse, but maybe this whole thing is going to work out just fine.
I fall asleep dreaming of brown hair, sparkling chocolate eyes, and the creamy white bosom that belongs to Darcy Fields.
3
DARCY
The sun peeks through the window of the master bedroom, shining brilliantly across the floorboards to where I lie awake in bed.
Ding! Six in the morning. Like clockwork.
Ever since I was a kid and started helping Pa out with chores each morning before school, I’ve woken up at six sharp without an alarm clock. But I enjoy the early mornings. I like waking up with only the gray light of dawn as the chickens start to cluck in the yard. And as a farmer, early hours are just part of the lifestyle.
Yet I stretch languidly across the full bed, none too eager for another full day of back-breaking work. In just a minute, I’ll change, go make coffee, and work again until almost seven at night. But for now, I’ll relax and not think about a thing –
My lazy wakeup routine is interrupted by sounds coming from the yard. Pausing my morning ritual, I jump out of bed to see what the commotion is all about.
Ranger.
I can’t believe I forgot he was here! Okay, fine I didn’t forget, especially since I dreamed about him all night. I feel my face go hot as I recall the vivid scenarios, involving those mischievous blue eyes, hard body, and massive tool between his thighs. Thank god he’s not up here to see me.
I shake away the last remnants of my naughty fantasies and gaze out the window at my even more impressive reality.
The huge man is in the yard, sleeves rolled up and wearing the old pair of jeans I’d given him last night. I knew they’d be a bit tight, but the jeans hug his muscular thighs in an almost comic way. His ass looks especially good, in fact, and I’m immediately embarrassed for noticing.
He’s hammering some boards together for what looks to be a replacement for my broken porch step. I watch him work for a moment, appreciating his hard muscles as they ripple beneath his fitted flannel shirt. His hands are strong, the kind that could lift logs and also hold a girl tight.
Stop it, Darcy. You don’t even know him!
Chastised, I slip on loose overalls and a tank top before heading downstairs. Taking a deep breath, I unlock the front door and open it and the screen.
Ranger looks up from his work. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I always wake up at six.” I smile. “Farm life.”
Ranger nods and gestures to his woodworking project. “Figure first things first, fix the step I destroyed last night.”
I laugh. “It’s not entirely your fault. It’s been kind of wrecked for a while now.”
The handsome cowboy smiles ever so slightly and starts to work again. Even though it’s early in the day, little droplets of sweat have started to build up on his brow. I bet he tastes salty. The thought comes from out of nowhere and I blush hard.
“You okay, Miss?” Ranger is staring at me.
To deflect, I laugh quickly and change the subject. “Want some coffee? And maybe some breakfast?”
“Sure thing. Holler if you need help. Otherwise, I’ll work to get this finished up before then.”