Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 130(@200wpm)___ 104(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
“But…” I have nothing to say. I have nowhere to go. I don’t even have enough money for a cheap motel. “I have nowhere to put it.”
“You’re staying at my place,” he says in a firm dominant voice that I couldn’t argue with if I tried.
I just stare at him as I kneel in the snow. I’m not used to people being so nice to me like this.
“Aubrey,” he says in a deep commanding voice that goes straight to my core. “Go wait in the truck where it’s warm. I got this.”
Without another word, I untie Buddy from the pole and pull him to the truck. He’s snarling and pulling me with everything he has to try and get to Carter. To my surprise, Carter just stands there staring him down. He’s not at all afraid of the crazed dog who seems to have a grudge against him for some reason.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I pull him with all of my might. “He’s not usually like this. I guess he’s a little protective of me.”
A softness appears on Carter’s face as he watches the dog. “That makes two of us,” he whispers under his breath. It wasn’t meant for me to hear it, but I do.
I pull Buddy into the backseat of the truck and close the door. He leaps on the armrest and barks at the window as I wrap my arms around him and pull him back down. “Easy, boy,” I whisper to him. “Please don’t make this harder than it already is.”
Carter loads my stuff into the back of his pickup truck until it’s overflowing. I watch in awe and confusion as he easily picks up heavy furniture like it’s nothing.
“I’ll have my friend Westin pick up the rest and deliver it to my place,” he says as he gets in the driver’s seat. “He’s got a truck too.”
I’m holding Buddy with all of my might as Carter turns around. “You okay?” he asks.
My eyes are wet and I have a killer headache now. I thought we were going to have a fun date and instead… this.
“I’ll be okay,” I say after taking a deep breath. “I’m not much of a date, am I?”
He locks his sexy eyes on me and I feel my heart flutter. “You are more than a date,” he says. “I don’t know how to explain it to you, but this is a good thing. You’re coming to stay with me now and that’s exactly where you belong.”
My head starts spinning with his words as he turns around and begins driving the truck.
Buddy is still growling as he watches Carter.
This is all happening so fast. It was only supposed to be a date.
I should be freaking out right now, but I’ve never felt more calm, protected, and secure in all of my life.
And I don’t understand any of it.
“This place is amazing, Carter,” I say as we pull up to a gorgeous private log cabin nestled on the side of a hill. There are views of spectacular mountains and there’s even a river running through the property. “This is your house?”
“Our house,” he corrects as he looks at me through the rearview mirror. “You’re living here too now.”
He gets out of the truck and starts unloading my stuff as I sit here for a minute, taking it all in with Buddy.
My heart starts drumming with excitement as I watch Carter walk into the house with my night table under one arm and my TV under the other.
The pull toward him keeps growing and it’s so strong that I can’t deny it now. I decide not to fight it anymore and instead let it pull me wherever it wants to go.
“Come on, Buddy. Let’s see what happens now.”
I open the door and Buddy springs out and runs around the property, peeing on every tree he can.
I grab my rolled-up rug, but it’s so heavy and I slip on the ice. I fall backward and am about to hit the ground when I feel strong arms wrap around me. I look up and see Carter’s dark eyes boring into me. “Go inside and settle in,” he says as he puts me back on my feet. He grabs the heavy carpet from me and tucks it under his arm like it’s made of paper. “I’ll take care of this. It’s okay. Go.”
“Thank you,” I say as I make my way to the front door. I’m so excited to see if the inside is as cute as the outside that I forget to get Buddy and the stubborn dog runs right to Carter.
The hair on his back is standing straight up and his teeth are showing.
“No!” I scream as I start to rush over. “Buddy! No!”
Carter just puts his hand up, motioning for me to stop and I do. There’s an assertive alpha energy emanating from him, which Buddy seems to read immediately as well.