Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
“Maverick Prescott,” I whispered.
He winked, and oh my, did it send a jolt through my body. I clearly needed a visit with BOB, and soon. I wasn’t even sure when I’d last had sex. Not that I had a very active sex life. I’d dated a few different guys. I had been stupidly waiting for one particular guy to come to his senses and see that we were made for one another.
He was currently dating Abby, though…and for the first time, showing a side of himself I wasn’t a fan of.
“Why are you frowning?” Maverick asked, one brow arched.
“Was I?”
“You don’t like my name?”
“I do! I love your name. Keep telling me about the horses.”
The song changed, and it was another slow number, so we kept dancing.
“Well, it took me a few years and moving my way up the ranks on the ranch, but Dustin finally let me start training. He said I had a way with them, especially the cranky ones, and the ones that had emotional issues.”
“You do,” I said with a smile. “Have a way with the horses. My father calls you a horse whisperer. Said you can take any horse and make them trust you.”
His cheeks turned pink, and it was the sexiest thing ever to see. Not many rough-and-tough cowboys blushed, but when they did, it made a girl’s insides warm. Or maybe it was just this cowboy who had that effect on me.
I chewed my lower lip and jumped in his arms when he spoke again.
“I love horses more than people, so that’s probably why they like me back.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s more than that. I’ve seen you with them. You have a way about you that makes them feel at ease. I think it’s the way you touch them.”
His fingers tightened on my waist for a moment before they loosened. I found myself drawing in a quick intake of air.
Looking away, Maverick scanned the room.
“Will you be coming over for my dad’s birthday dinner?”
“Your mom asked me to join the family, but I don’t know.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know? Maverick, my father thinks of you as a son.”
Something passed over his face before he cleared his throat and stepped away, just as the song ended. “Thank you. For both dances, Lily.”
Strangely, I missed his touch. I brushed off the feeling and smiled at him. He was, after all, incredibly handsome. What woman wouldn’t want to be in his arms? “It was nice dancing with a man who doesn’t step on my toes. Ben is terrible at dancing.”
He chuckled. “Well, I better let you get back to your friends. I’ll walk you back to your table.”
Grinning at him, I said, “A horse whisperer and a gentleman.”
He lowered his voice and said, “I’m not a gentleman all the time, Lily.”
The way his eyes turned dark when he said those words made me bite down on my lip. Had he meant for that to sound so sexual? Or had I just imagined it? My mind instantly went to an image of Maverick’s mouth on my body, and I shivered.
“Are you cold?” he asked, a slight smirk on his face.
I shook my head but wasn’t able to muster up any words.
Before I could think on it another second, he stopped walking, and I realized we’d returned to my table. “Thank you again for the dance.”
Feeling out of sorts, I nodded. “Um, yes, thank you.”
Maverick turned to Renee and Ben, wished them a good night, and turned to walk across the room toward my mother and father.
“Now that is eye-fucking.”
I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at him retreating until Renee’s words pulled me away. “What?”
“You, eye-fucking the hot cowboy who cleans up real nice. How did it feel dancing with him?”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Renee. They danced, it wasn’t like they were dry humping on the dance floor.”
I slipped into my seat and picked up my water. My mouth had gone dry. When I finished drinking, I glared at Ben. “How could you make him feel like he’s less than me?”
Ben’s eyes went wide. “What do you mean?”
“The comment you made about him working for my father. So what? He’s more than just a ranch employee, Ben.”
“Oh really? You sneaking into the barn with him, are you?” he asked, a smirk on his face.
Every part of me wanted to say yes, just to see what his reaction would be. So when the next words tumbled out of my mouth, I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“Maybe I am. And maybe he’s the best I’ve ever had.”
Renee nearly spat her wine across the table. “What? Are you sleeping with him?”
Ben’s mouth hung open in utter shock.
My only reply was a one-shoulder shrug.
“No way. You would have told me!” Renee stated.
“You would have told me,” Ben practically growled as he crossed his arms over his chest.