Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25316 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25316 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 127(@200wpm)___ 101(@250wpm)___ 84(@300wpm)
A long sigh escapes my lips. “I’m sure you and Sarah will make the most of it. And have beautiful children.”
He grunts. “Yes. Sarah’s and my children. This is all for them.”
More of that oddly neutral tone. “What about your family? What do they think of you sleeping with the enemy?”
“They mostly think it’s some plot from the Perry family to get at us. My siblings, aunts, and uncles are all saying they’re not showing up for the wedding unless I can prove it’s legitimate. And it is. Sarah and I have made sure we have very thorough prenups and arrangements. We’ve thought this out. There’s no foul intention on her end, no doubts in my mind. I understand why they’re acting the way they are, but they have to realize this feud is too stupid to continue.”
I almost want to flat out ask him if this marriage with Sarah is a political and economic one, and not one of love. But that felt weird and accusatory, and I remind myself that this guy has more than a decade on me in age. Pursuing him romantically is just weird, and it would be weird even if he isn’t engaged.
Even disregarding my strange interest into his personal life, I can tell I am going to be working under a good man. His horses seem happy, he cares about the land, and he didn’t seem to have a rash bone in his body.
It makes me want him even more.
I’m twenty-two. I should have been over these crazy, boiling teenage hormones, but no, they were still there, urging me to make dumb decisions like trying to flirt with my boss.
My soon-to-be-married boss.
Because why make just moderately bad decisions?
You should always shoot for the moon and make the worst decisions you can possibly make.
2
JACK
“Cheddar here is a bit of a rascal if you let him be,” I say, guiding him back to his stable. He had led poor Lily on a wild-goose chase across the farm. “You have to show your dominance with them sometimes, let them know you’re not going to stand for it.”
Lily sighed. “I didn’t think I would have to deal with that sort of thing with horses.”
“Oh, yes. They’re social animals. They play games and feel people out just like we do. May not be able to hold much of a conversation, but they have personalities all the same.”
It has been a few days since Lily had come to the ranch. She’s settling in quite well.
“Thought you were a horse girl,” I joke, closing the stable door behind me.
“I totally am, I just forgot how wild even the not-so-wild horses can be. Last few ranches I worked for just made me do bookkeeping, despite me signing on as a wrangler.”
“Thought a pretty dainty thing like yourself couldn’t handle the hard work?”
“Bunch of denim-clad assholes chomping on cigarettes, so yeah, probably.”
I chuckle. “I think you got the skills to handle whatever I throw at you, Lily.”
“And what else are you planning on throwing at me?”
There are things I want to throw at her, all right. Things I wouldn’t mention in polite company. Since the moment she stepped foot on my ranch, I knew what I wanted. Her.
“Nothing out of the usual. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and I’ll be happy with you.”
In the few days since she’d come, we’ve been glued together at the hip, and not because she needed me to be. I just can’t help myself. Ever since I rode up to her, I couldn’t help but be magnetized to her presence. That smile of hers had my heart aflutter, and everything else only made the situation worse. Those curves, that hair, her voice, her giggle. I finally understood what this whole love-at-first-sight thing was.
Not like this is all a one-way appeal either. I see her looking up at me. How there’s only ever been a smile on her face. How she shakes her little butt against me when I’m nearby. She turns so red when she realizes what she's doing, too, as if she’s embarrassed by it.
Which I guess is understandable.
I’m engaged.
Why did this girl show up now instead of six months ago?
“Sarah should be rolling in within the hour,” I say, giving Cheddar his feed bag. “You don’t have to meet her now if you don’t want to; you’ve done plenty today. Go take it easy.”
I heard her let out a long breath at the mention of my fiancée’s name. “No. I should. She’s going to be one of my bosses here, right? We should get acquainted.”
“Hmm. Not so much. Sarah and I hadn’t really discussed what happens to our ranches in terms of when everything’s happening. Don’t know when she’d become a presence around here, really.”
“Aren’t you getting married in a few months? I thought you’d both talk each other’s ears off about it.”