Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Lincoln’s face beamed with happiness. “He is very excited and has no problem telling everyone he needs a baby brother. He loves Morgan, but I think he wants a brother like Brock has with Tanner and Ty.”
“I can see that. Are they all very close? Brock, Ty, and Tanner?” I asked, looking back out over the family.
“Yes, the three of them are thick as thieves.”
With a chuckle, my attention was once again brought back to Tanner and Morgan. She was standing in his lap, her fingers in her mouth as he spoke softly to her. She was nine months old and seemed to be able to hold the complete attention of the man holding her. Lucky little girl.
“Timberlynn, I hope you like chicken fried steak!” Stella’s voice caused me to drag my attention away from Tanner and Morgan.
“It’s one of my favorites!” I replied with a smile. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“You are a doll. Yes, if you wouldn’t mind grabbing the salad out of the refrigerator and taking it to the table in the dining room. There should be some homemade ranch dressing in there as well.”
“I’m on it!” I said as I made my way through the kitchen. One thing I had noticed back in September when I visited for a few days was how Stella and Ty Senior had a way of making a person feel right at home. Like you were part of the family. I never had that growing up. A surge of anger and jealousy raced through me. If my mother hadn’t died in that car wreck, is this how life would have been for me? A happy mother and father who loved their children so much you could see it practically beaming from their bodies? I wasn’t going to go there again. I pushed away the negative thoughts and headed to the dining room.
Blayze soon appeared at my side and walked next to me as he carried in the rolls. “You sure are pretty,” he said as he set the rolls on the table and faced me.
I couldn’t help but laugh. He was a little Shaw in the making. “Why, thank you, kind sir.”
Blayze jutted out his chest some. I could instantly picture a younger version of his father doing the same thing. Hell, any of the Shaw men. “I did have dibs on Kaylee, but Uncle Ty won her heart. You know, Uncle Tanner and Uncle Dirk both said they had dibs on you at the wedding.”
That caused me to raise a brow. I ignored the way my stomach jumped a little at this bit of news. “Did they now?”
He nodded. “Yep. I heard them call it on ya. I’d like to go ahead and call dibs too.”
I was positive my mouth was slacked open and my eyes were as wide as saucers.
Stella appeared out of nowhere, shaking her head. “Good Lord, boy. There’s no calling dibs on a girl at any point in time.”
“But, Uncle Tanner and…”
“Blayze…” Stella sternly warned. “A gentleman doesn’t call dibs on a young lady. The boys were kidding, isn’t that right, Timberlynn?”
My head jerked between the two. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh, be angry, or maybe get a little excited. Both Tanner and Dirk were beyond good looking. I had to admit, it was a confidence boost for sure.
“Um…”
Stella tilted her head as she watched me.
I swallowed hard and said, “That…that is right. It most certainly will not win the heart of any woman…er … girl, um…to, ah…to have dibs called on her.”
Blayze looked as if he was thinking that through. “Then I take my dibs back. So, does that mean I’ve got a better chance of winning your heart since they called dibs and I didn’t?”
I shot a glance at Stella who was attempting to keep from laughing by covering her mouth with her hand.
“Well…” I said, trying to hide my own smile now as I tapped my fingers on my lips. “I think I might be a bit old for you, Blayze.”
“I don’t mind waiting.”
Oh dear.
“You’re too late, buddy,” Tanner said as he walked up. I quickly looked over at him and felt my stomach drop. Those dimples...they made my knees feel weak. He stopped next to me, and I forced myself not to feel the heat from his body. “I do believe Miss Timberlynn is going to go horseback riding with me tomorrow morning so I can show her the ranch.” He leaned down and whispered loud enough for me and Stella to hear. “I’m hoping she’ll think it’s a date.”
Blayze furrowed his brows and asked, “When I got my horse and saddle from Santa, I was gonna ask her out, but you asked her out before me?”
Tanner looked over at me, waiting for me to answer.
Stella now had her hand over her mouth, her eyes darting back and forth between her son, grandson, and me. She found this humorous. What in the heck was I supposed to say? I looked at Stella once more for guidance. She simply jerked her chin toward Tanner. What was that supposed to mean?