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)
“Speaking of my family…” Riley begins. “We’re throwing my little sister, Rowan, a surprise birthday party tomorrow. I’d love to bring you with me. I have a big family, so single introductions could take us a few days, or rather weeks.”
I smile nervously, but nod in agreement. “Meeting everyone is a big deal. I’ll either be known as the wife who made Riley Bishop the happiest man alive or the one who broke his heart.”
He turns and studies my face as if he’s wondering the same thing.
“I’d much prefer the former, but we’ll cross the bridge of the latter if we need to, but hopefully that won’t happen.”
We both know I’m only here temporarily. If things work out between us, I’ll still have to go home and confess everything to my parents before I pack up my life and move. It’d be a huge step, but I’m willing to risk it all to see if he’s the one.
Riley drives us back to the B&B and comes to my side to help me out. He’s a gentleman down to his core, which isn’t something I’m used to. The few men I’ve dated were always so damn self-absorbed and arrogant, but Riley is a different breed.
“So since this is officially your first full night here, what do you say we go out? There’s this ridiculous country bar outside of town called the Honky Tonk, and you can’t really visit the ranch without experiencing it,” he tells me as if he has to sell it to me, but the truth is, I’d go anywhere with him.
“The Honky Tonk? That’s the actual name?” I ask, chuckling. “I can only imagine what the inside looks like.”
“Well, come with me tonight, sweetheart, and you’ll find out.”
“I’m in.”
“Good. Now, normally I’d walk you to your room and kiss you goodbye until I can pick you up later, but I’m certain half my family is in there waiting to hound us, so it might be best for you to sneak in through the back.”
“Ah, good idea.” I snicker.
He interlocks his fingers with mine and leads me to the steps of the back porch. “I’ll pick you up at eight.”
Then he cups my cheek and molds our lips together. My eyes close, inhaling his scent, and being this close to him causes my body to buzz.
He pulls away, and I frown. Riley notices and chuckles at my sad face. “I’ll be back. Eight o’clock.” He winks, then takes off.
When I walk in, I chuckle because Riley was right. A crowd is in the living room, and somehow, I’m able to sneak upstairs without any of them seeing me. Since I have a few hours before he picks me up, I decide to take a long, hot shower.
At five until eight, there’s a knock on my door, and heat coils low in my stomach at the anticipation of seeing him again. As soon as I open the door, my breath hitches at the sight of him. Dark jeans, boots, a plaid button-up, and he’s wearing a black cowboy hat.
My eyes linger a little too long because a moment later, he clears his throat, making my gaze shoot back to his.
“I brought you something,” he says, holding up a pair of women’s cowboy boots.
“For me?” I ask, moving to the side so he can come in.
“Well, my sister said you could borrow them. If you like them, we’ll go in to town and buy you a pair.” He sets them down, then turns to face me. His eyes wander down my body before he closes the gap between us. “Or perhaps we should just skip tonight altogether because I only have so much willpower…”
The way he eye fucks me causes my cheeks to heat again. Riley circles his arms around my waist and pulls us flush together. “You look really beautiful, Zoey. I missed you.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tilt my head. “It’s only been a few hours,” I remind him with a cheeky smile.
“The past month,” he confirms, and when his eyes darken, it sends a shiver through me. “I tried to get you out of my head, telling myself I was crazy because we had only known each other less than two days. But my stupid heart wouldn’t listen, and anytime Diesel made me listen to his dumb chick playlist, it only made it worse because it’d remind me of dancing with you.”
I bite down on my lower lip, his confession taking me off guard. His words come out so smoothly and effortlessly, and I don’t know how to respond. “Diesel has a playlist with chick music?”
Riley growls, then slides a hand down to my ass and squeezes me through the denim. “That’s the part you’re focusing on, huh?”
I chuckle at how easy it is to get him worked up. “I thought about you too. A lot.”