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)
“You met Lincoln.”
He smiled and nodded. “I did meet Lincoln, and she changed the way I looked at everything. Then when we found out she was pregnant I didn’t need to search for the answers anymore. I knew what I had to do, and I was okay with it.”
“Lincoln wanted you, though.”
Recognition hit his face. “Now we’re getting to the someone part. Timberlynn?”
I blew out a breath. “I don’t know what it is about her, Brock. From the moment I met her at Ty and Kaylee’s wedding, she’s been on my mind constantly. I’ve been thinking about her for months. Hell, she’s in my dreams. I’ve never been attracted to a woman like this, and I’m not the least bit scared. Well, that’s not true, I’m scared she doesn’t feel the same way.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Tanner, you don’t see the way she lights up when you walk into a room. You light up just as much, by the way. We’ve all noticed it. What makes you think she doesn’t feel the same way?”
I looked directly into his eyes. “She told me so.”
That caused him to sit up straighter and raise his brows. “What did she say?”
I rubbed my hands over my thighs; the idea of repeating what Timberlynn said to me made me queasy. Especially after the moment we had shared on her bed. Her whispered moans, the way she arched and held me so tight when she came. The way she said yes to me making love to her…her eyes even said it too.
What in the hell had changed? I’d thought about it nearly all damn night. “Oh, let’s see, she said I was the last man she’d ever want to have a relationship with.”
Brock looked stunned. He opened his mouth only to close it, then open it again. When words failed him, I decided to tell him what had happened between us last night.
“We had a…moment in her room last night. A pretty intimate moment.”
Brock narrowed his eyes at me.
“We didn’t sleep together, but if Mom hadn’t knocked on the door, I don’t know where it would have gone.”
“Talk about a cock block,” Brock said with a chuckle.
I laughed. “Yeah. I think the idea of almost being caught by Mom did something to Timberlynn. She instantly changed. Acted like she was repulsed by my touch and told me she only allowed me to do it because she’d had a few drinks. She said it was a moment of insanity and irrational thought.”
Brock grimaced. “Ouch.”
“Yeah. She accused me of only wanting to screw her and that was it. She made it pretty clear she wasn’t interested in any sort of relationship with me.”
“Okay, then why did she let you…do whatever it is you did?”
“Maybe it was a moment of weakness, I don’t know. Maybe it was the wine we drank. She’s flirted back with me since I met her, even let me hold her hand yesterday. I thought she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I’m honestly trying to figure it all out myself. What caused the sudden change?”
Brock nodded.
“She keeps herself pretty guarded. Her mother died when she was little, and she mentioned something about never falling in love again. Maybe that has something to do with it.” I sighed and took off my hat, running my fingers through my hair. “She’s fucking confusing me, Brock. What am I doing wrong? I’m being as open as I know how to be.”
“Have you thought about talking to Kaylee?”
I rubbed the back of my neck and shook my head. “I don’t want to do that. I’d feel like I was betraying Timberlynn.”
The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile he held back.
“What?” I asked.
“Nothing. It’s a little strange seeing you…have feelings for someone. Regardless of what you think the feelings are, you care about her, Tanner. If I can offer you one bit of advice, bro…”
I nodded. “Please do.”
“Don’t give up on her. Be patient, don’t push, let her know you’re there for her and that you think she’s worth the wait.”
“She told me…”
Brock cut me off. “She lied.”
I looked down at the ground and kicked at some loose hay.
“Tanner, she likes you. Trust me. Now, as far as the roping goes, meet me in the main barn at two today.”
“Why?”
He grinned mischievously. “We’re gonna have us a bit of fun.”
I couldn’t help but smile back. “I like the sound of that.”
Brock stood, and I followed his lead. He hit me on the side of the arm and said, “It really is good having you back home, little brother.”
“It’s good to be home.”
“Let’s get this finished up, shall we?”
I nodded and got back to work. The silence between me and Brock gave me time to think about what had, or hadn’t, happened between me and Timberlynn last night—and I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.