Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Zoey glances back and forth between us with wide eyes. “What, no! I’m not. That’s not why I’m here. I mean, if I was, I’d tell you. But as far as I know, I’m not.” Her rambling is adorable, but considering the situation, I don’t tell her that. Ma looks like she’s about to murder me.
“Your father is going to…hell, your grandmother! You just wait.” Mom sighs. “Your father will probably give you a high five.” She groans and rolls her eyes because we both know it’s true. Dad fell in love with Mom the moment he saw her.
I chuckle and shrug. “Mom, I’m almost twenty-three. Grandma is gonna ask us when we’re having babies.” I look at Zoey. “She has five kids and twelve grandchildren, yet she’s been asking for great-grandchildren since I turned eighteen.”
Mom pinches the bridge of her nose, knowing I’m right, and she can’t argue it. Grandma might give me shit for not having a proper Southern wedding, but now that I’m married and more Bishop babies are a real possibility, I’ll be in the clear for eloping.
“If I were you, Zoey, I’d double up on birth control because these Bishop men knock up their women just by looking at them.” And with that, my mother walks away, making me cringe at the thought.
“Nope, she’s wrong. Don’t need birth control now because that was definitely a boner killer.”
Zoey laughs, a blush creeping up her neck and cheeks.
“Well, since you’re staying here for a bit, you want a small tour of the ranch?” I ask, taking her hand. “We’ll probably find my dad out in one of the pastures.”
“Sure, I’d love that. I got in late last night and have only had time to unpack and shower so far,” she replies as I lead her to the side-by-side.
“You ever ride in one of these before?” I ask, helping her up and buckling her in.
“Nope. Should I be scared?”
I grip her chin. “Depends.” Then I flash her a wink and walk to the driver’s side. Seeing and kissing her again have instantly changed my mood. I can’t blame her for being scared at first and understand why she thought an annulment was our only option, but now that she’s here, I’m not taking this second chance for granted.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ZOEY
I’ve been shaking with nerves since the moment I decided to drive to Texas. What if Riley didn’t want me here? What if it was nothing more than a fling, considering how quickly he signed and sent those papers back? What if I walked away from a man who would’ve truly loved me?
It took me two weeks to finally say to hell with it and pack up my car. My parents know I love being adventurous, I always have. I’m not like my sister, who thrives on stability. I like the unknown, and although that almost made me not come, I was so glad I did the minute Riley kissed me.
I hang on for dear life as he drives us around, showing me the barns, the horse stables, their training facility, and where he mainly works. I looked up the ranch before I arrived, so I know it’s huge, but it already looks like a place I could happily wake up to every day.
Riley radios his dad to find out his location and then tells him to stay put. My nervousness increases because the last thing I want to do is piss off both his parents. I know his mom’s in shock, and it’ll probably take some time for her to warm up to the idea, but having one parent on our side would be nice.
“Good thing you knew to wear boots today,” he tells me with a grin. “It’s a little muddy out here.” He parks the vehicle and takes my hand. Though it’s a simple gesture, butterflies flutter in my stomach.
“I hope your dad likes me,” I say weakly.
“Well, it can’t go any worse than it did with my mom.” He chuckles, and I smack his arm with my free hand.
“That’s not reassuring!” I scold but laugh at his goofy grin.
“Hey, Dad!” Riley calls, grabbing his attention. The poor guy is standing in mud up to his knees working on a fence. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”
As soon as his dad turns around and smiles at us, I blink and do a double take. Lord, the two look almost identical. His father’s hair isn’t as dark, but their facial features are the same. If that’s what Riley will look like in twenty years, then I better take his mom’s advice to heart. I’m surprised she only had two children.
“Hey, kiddo. What’s up?” He steps out of the mud, walking toward us.
“This is Zoey,” Riley says, gesturing to me. “Zoey, this is my dad, Alex. But he prefers to be called Old Man.”