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)
He drew me into a hug, then whispered in my ear, “Did I see my baby brother’s arm around you?”
I chuckled. “You did,” I whispered back.
“Are you finally together?” he asked as we stepped apart.
“We are.”
He pumped his fist in the air, then shoved Brock on the back. “Pay up. I won. Little brother has himself a girlfriend.” Brock groaned and pulled out his wallet.
“You did not bet on Tanner and Timberlynn!” Lincoln admonished the two of them.
“Sure as heck did!” Ty stated as he waved his money in the air, only to have Kaylee grab it from his hands.
“Thanks! I can get an early start on baby shopping.” We all watched as Ty’s face went from excited as hell to oh shit.
Everyone laughed again as Ty’s brothers started to take a few teasing jabs at him.
“Okay, into the dining room before breakfast gets cold!” Stella said, motioning for everyone to go and sit.
I noticed Blayze standing off to the side, a stricken look on his face.
“Um, Stella, do you mind if I have a word with Blayze really quickly?”
Stella stole a glance in her grandson’s direction and smiled softly. “Oh no. His little heart is broken yet again.” She reached for my hand and squeezed it. “Take your time, sweetheart.”
I walked over to Blayze and stretched my hand out. He took it and we made our way out of the kitchen and into the living room.
The moment he sat down on the sofa, he let out a long, loud sigh. “Well, looks like I lost the girl again.”
It took everything in me not to smile. This little boy was so much like his father and uncles. And if I had to guess, like his granddad too.
“Blayze, you had to know it wasn’t going to work. I’m simply too old for you.”
He nodded. “Do you like Uncle Tanner? I mean, do you really like him?”
“Yes, very much so. I’ve liked him since I first met him at your Uncle Ty’s wedding.”
He looked at me with a thoughtful expression. “There’s this girl in my class and, um, she said there’s a thing called love at first sight. Do you think that’s true?”
I thought back to the very first time Tanner walked up to me. That cowboy hat, the jeans and button-down shirt that showcased his amazing body. The smile that instantly lit something up inside of me. The countless hours I thought about him, dreamt of him. With a smile, I answered Blayze honestly. “Up until I met your Uncle Tanner, I wouldn’t have believed in it.”
“But ya do now?”
I nodded. “I believe I do.”
He sighed once more and looked down at his little cowboy boots.
“What’s the little girl’s name?” I asked.
“Lilly.”
Trying to be careful with where this conversation was going, I asked, “Did Lilly mention why she believed in love at first sight?”
He nodded. “Yeah. She said she fell in love with me when she first saw me.”
“Oh dear,” I said softly, frantically looking over my shoulder for Lincoln or Stella. Hell, even Kaylee would be better than me at this.
“I wasn’t thinkin’ I liked her, ’cause you know, you came to town and all.”
Suddenly this six-year-old felt like a little adult.
“I see. But how do you feel about her now?”
He shrugged. “My friend Tommy says we ain’t supposed to like girls. At least not now.”
I nodded, glancing over my shoulder again and whispering, “Help!”
“But I don’t think he’s right. Daddy says girls don’t have cooties like Tommy says. Do you think only girls in my class have them?”
What is the right answer here?! Oh gosh.
“Um…well…no…girls don’t have cooties at any age.”
Blayze lit up like the Fourth of July. Shoot, maybe that wasn’t the right answer. “It’s okay to like her? I mean, I’m pretty sure Lilly will be easy to win.”
I closed my eyes and groaned internally. With a quick prayer to give me the right words to say, I took Blayze’s hands and gave him a sweet smile. “Blayze, the first mistake a young man, I mean, a man can make is thinking he can easily win the heart of girl. She needs to know you like her for her. For who she is.”
“What does that mean, Miss Timber?”
My heart melted at how he shortened my name. “It means you like her for things like her smile or for how smart she is. Girls should always be treated with respect, and one should never assume she’s a prize to be won. Giving your heart to someone is a big thing, and asking for it in return is just as big.”
His little brows drew in closer and I cringed inwardly. Was that too much for a six-year-old to process? Hell, according to Tanner, Blayze had finally stopped using the W sound for his Ls not that long ago, and here I was giving him love advice.