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)
“Okay, right over this ridge is what I want you to see,” he said as we came up to an open stretch of land. “Close your eyes.”
With a confused laugh, I asked, “You want me to close my eyes as I walk the horse toward a ridge?”
“Trust me, Rosie knows where we’re headed.” His voice was so soft that goosebumps emerged across my entire body.
Trust me.
Lord, those were two words I had serious issues with.
Something about Tanner felt so different, though. I wanted to trust him. I had no doubt in my mind he would keep me physically safe. But when it came to my heart…well, that was another matter altogether.
With my eyes closed, I felt the horse come to a stop, then a moment later, Tanner’s hand gently touched the back of my leg. Heat zipped through my body, and I quickly forced it away.
“Don’t open your eyes yet. Swing your other leg around, and I’ll help you down.”
I did as he asked, and when I slid off the horse, he effortlessly held onto me and ever so slowly set me down. My body pressed against his made me inhale sharply as I opened my eyes.
The most beautiful blue eyes I’d ever seen were staring straight back at me. Tanner looked as confused as I felt. He leaned his head down, and I found myself slightly lifting up onto my toes, the vow I had made about him last night a long-forgotten memory. Scared or not, the feelings I had for this man were unlike anything I had ever experienced before.
His gaze moved to my mouth, and I couldn’t help but let my tongue sweep out and lick my lips before I pressed them together. He stared for the longest time before he smiled and met my gaze once more.
In a voice so soft and quiet, he whispered, “Close your eyes, Timber.”
I smiled as I heard Candace’s nickname for me slip off his lips. I liked hearing Tanner say it. I liked it a lot more than I should.
I did as he asked. One of his hands went around to the small of my back while the other took my elbow. He guided me up a slight slope, and then said, “Stop right here.”
I inhaled the clean, crisp air and nearly sighed with happiness. Or maybe it was excitement. Whatever it was, I hadn’t felt this way in years. “I’m ready,” I heard myself say.
Warm breath hit my neck, and I leaned my head to feel more of it. Tanner’s soft lips moved gently over my ear as he whispered, “Open your eyes, darlin’.”
The endearment alone made my knees weak, but when I opened my eyes and saw the view in front of me, I leaned into his body, forcing him to wrap his arm around me tighter.
For the first time in my life, I found myself utterly speechless. Directly below the ridge was pastureland that looked endless. There must have been a dozen horses turned out, all meandering through the partially snow-covered fields dotted with trees. Some of the horses wore blankets, some running and jumping as they played in the warm sunlight. Beyond that was more land that seemed to stretch on for eternity. My eyes swept over the snow-capped mountains in the distance. I slowly shook my head. “Is this all your family’s ranch?”
“Yes,” Tanner answered.
I continued to take it all in and stopped when my eyes landed on a lake in the distance. The reflection of the mountains on the lake made it all look like a painting. The sky was the most brilliant shade of blue I’d ever seen. Surely nothing this beautiful could be real.
I closed my eyes and opened them again. I had seen that blue before. A chill raced up my body and Tanner held me closer, probably thinking I was cold.
With a smile, I realized I’d seen that blue only moments ago. The man currently standing next to me had eyes the color of the Montana sky.
“It’s…the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” I whispered softly.
“I think this is one of my favorite places on the ranch. There are higher spots, places that are probably more beautiful, but there’s something about this one. That’s Crystal Lake tucked in between the earth and the mountains, like she’s the bridge that links the two together. The reason this place thrives like it does.” He laughed slightly. “Stupid sounding, I guess.”
“No, not at all,” I replied, my eyes locked on the distant lake before I turned and looked at him. He was staring out over the land, a smile on his face that made me smile too. “It’s stunning.”
“It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, this is my favorite spot, hands down. No matter what season it is, the view is beautiful and so different from winter to summer and fall and spring.”