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)
“I’m so sorry. Stupid decision on my part, but I think Mama already had it figured out. She’s as smart as a whip, and not much gets past her. Though you’re the first girl I’ve ever brought to lunch, so I should’ve expected her to suspect something. I was just so excited for them to meet you, I didn’t think it through.”
“It’s fine. At least they know, and we can move on, I guess.” River isn’t happy, and I hate knowing I disappointed her.
We get out and walk toward the back porch of the B&B, and I don’t want to leave her, not in this state, but I have to get back to work, or I’ll never hear the end of it. Just as the thought crosses my mind, I get a phone call. I pull my phone from my pocket and see it’s Dylan.
“Yes?” I answer.
“Where the fuck are you? I need help getting this hay in the middle barn loft. I can’t do this shit alone. I need you to go pick up the trailer and bring it over so we can load this shit and be done with the day.”
“I’ll be right there,” I tell him.
River turns and looks at me. “Is that Dylan?”
I nod.
“Tell him hi for me!” River says, and she’s smiling again—thankfully.
“I heard her,” he tells me. “Tell her I said hey and that your ass needs to leave right now before I drive over there and drag you back.”
All I can do is laugh. “Okay, okay. I’m heading that way. Give me fifteen minutes.”
I walk River inside, up the stairs, and to her room. Yawning, she sits on the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes. There’s nothing more I wanna do right now than pull her into my arms and hold her until the sun goes down. It’s barely past one, and I’m sure she’s exhausted from everything we did today.
“So I guess we have a lot of planning to do. When does your plane leave?” There are so many questions to ask, but I feel like I have zero time to get them all out, especially with Dylan waiting for me.
She lies back on the bed. Her blonde hair surrounds her face, and she looks so damn beautiful. She folds her hands over her belly, and I smile at the small bump forming on her petite frame. I blink hard making sure I’m not imagining any of this because since I saw her at the diner, I’ve been in a dream state.
“Tomorrow at twelve. I didn’t initially plan to stay very long. Get in, get out type of thing because I didn’t know what your reaction would be. Plus, I have to be back to work on Wednesday.” She props herself up on one elbow and looks at me with so much passion in her eyes I’m forced to hold myself back. She has no clue what she does to me with just one glance. I ball my hands into fists and tell myself I can’t do the things I want to do. But if I could, I’d lay her down, make sweet love to her, then fuck her really good for making me wait this long.
“Okay,” I say, my eyes wandering up and down her body. “Oh, we’re planning a surprise birthday party for Mama next month, so my entire family will be there, and I’d really like you to be there, too.”
River sits up straight. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, considering she hates me.”
I sit next to her, needing to touch her in some way, just to make sure she’s really here. I face her and grab her soft hands in mine.
“It’s a really big deal. Mama’s turning fifty. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins are coming. Even the ones who have to travel from hours away. I’d really love for you to meet everyone, so we can share our news. Don’t know the next time we’ll all be together again.”
She chews her bottom lip, stewing it over. “Well, I can’t make any promises, Alex. If I can, I will, but I have to go back to Wisconsin first and make arrangements. Pack up my apartment. Find a moving company. Put in my two weeks’ notice and see if a transfer close is even available before coming back here. I don’t even know where I’m going to stay or what I’m taking with me. There’s so much up in the air right now that I don’t feel like I can commit to anything, even if it’s a month away. A lot can happen in such a short time, so I just don’t want to disappoint you.” I can hear the worry in her voice.
“Darlin’, don’t worry about anything here. I promise I’m going to work on all that and have it settled before you come back. And let me say, the sooner, the better. I honestly wish you didn’t have to go back at all.”