Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
I tilt my head and watch him closely. “So you want to be married to me?”
He seems as if he’s searching for an answer or trying to figure out what to say. He’s surely not admitting his undying love to me. I hold my sigh in and shake my head, overwhelmed with emotion.
He tilts my chin up. “What’s that? Right there, what’s that look about?”
I pull my chin from his grasp and look at my hands. “Maybe you shouldn’t have come to the auction.”
“Don’t say that. You don’t mean that.”
“You want to be friends... I want more.”
He rubs his hand across my shoulder. My nipples pebble, and goosebumps form on my arm. “I came to the auction because I couldn’t let you leave with someone else.”
My eyes lift to his, searching for the truth. “Why? Can you tell me why? I can handle the truth, Cole. Is it because you respect my dad? Because you’ve known me forever? Because I’m like a little sister to you? What is it?”
He laughs darkly. “I definitely don’t think of you as a little sister.”
“Then why?”
He reaches for me, but I pull away. He looks at me patiently and pats his lap. “Sit here.”
“You want me to sit in your lap?”
He nods. “Yeah, I have some things to tell you, and I’d rather do it with you in my arms.”
I should be embarrassed that I don’t hesitate, but I’m not. I stand up, and his hands go to my waist, pulling me to his lap. He turns me sideways so that his arm supports my back and my legs are up in the seat I just got up from. “Okay.”
He lets out a deep breath. “I’m fourteen years older than you, Sassy.”
My forehead creases. “So you think I’m too young for you?”
He shakes his head. “I didn’t say that.” He kisses my forehead. “I did this all wrong. I fucked it up.”
His words have me freezing up in his lap, and I try to pull away, but his arms tighten around me. “Hear me out. I should have claimed you the day you turned eighteen. All this time I told myself that you deserved more than me and I stayed away. Then this stupid auction happened. I took complete advantage of you and pretty much forced you into marriage. Hell, I would have given you the money – I wanted to – but when I found out about the auction, I thought I could finally have everything I want.”
I almost can’t believe what he’s saying. He leans his face against mine and whispers into my ear, “You, Sassy. You’re what I want.”
I gasp and repeat his words to me. “You want me?”
He grunts. “Fuck, more than anything. Why do you think I married you? But here’s the deal. Once you’re mine, I’m not giving you up. I want a real marriage with you, and there’s no turning back because I know I’ll never be able to give you up.”
He leans in and presses his lips to mine. I still can’t believe what he’s saying. Cole Rogers wants me. His kiss leaves me breathless, and when he pulls away, he brings us both to our feet. He kisses me again and then lets go of me, moving across the porch. I stare after him with my mouth hanging open. Is he leaving?
He turns and smiles at me. For the first time ever, Cole looks unsure about something. “I need you to be sure, Sass. I need you to choose me because you want to be with me. Not because you feel like you owe me anything. You know where to find me. I’ll be waiting for you.”
It takes everything I have not to jump off this porch and follow him.
Cole
Two days I’ve waited and not a word from Sassy. I’m pretty sure my crew is about to quit and find somewhere else to work. Either that or kill me off in my sleep. I’ve been an ass even more than normal, and I know I’m taking it out on my men.
Fuck! Today I rode out on the ranch to mend some fences. I needed something to keep me busy, and fixing fence line on a thousand acre ranch will do just that.
By midday, I’m covered in sweat, every muscle in my body hurts, I’m hungry, and I’m still thinking about Sassy.
By the time I start riding home, it’s already getting dark. I’m walking Zeus to the barn when Jake comes out. He looks me up and down with a huge smile on his face, and it pisses me off even more. I still haven’t quite gotten over him hitting on Sassy. “What?” I ask him.
He shrugs. “Did you roll in the mud while you were out there?”
“Har, har. I worked. Maybe you should try it some time.”