Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Play it by ear?” I turn to see her wiping her hands. “There isn’t anything to play. We hooked up twice—”
“For now,” I cut in, shoving my phone in my back pocket, then putting my hands on my hips. “I have to go; we can discuss this later.”
“Later?” She follows me to the door as I grab my jacket.
“I’ll come by to make sure you’re okay.” I hold my jacket in my hand.
“I’ve been here a week, and I’ve been fine.” She stands toe to toe with me.
“Now, you’ll really be fine.” I grin. “Now come and give me a kiss goodbye, Sweetheart.” I reach forward, yanking her to me. Putting one hand around her waist, I lift her the distance until she’s where I want her. “Have a good day.” I bend and kiss her, thinking she’s not going to kiss me back, but the minute my tongue touches hers, it’s like the fire lights up in her eyes again.
“Fuck.” I put her down and step away. “Haven’t ever thought once about missing a day of work.” I wink at her. “Drive safe, Sweetheart.” I open the door and walk outside and down the steps. I pull open the door to my truck, looking back over and seeing her standing there in her robe, knowing she has nothing on under it.
“Get in the truck, Cowboy.” She smiles at me. “No one has the time to fuck the day away.” I can’t help but laugh when she shuts the door, making sure she locks it after herself. Only when I’m driving away from her do I realize I didn’t get her number.
I pull up Sofia’s number, calling her, and she answers after one ring in a whisper, “What the hell are you doing calling me so early in the morning?” It turns out to be a hiss also.
“You have a child, who probably is up with the roosters.” I chuckle.
“What do you want?”
“Can you send me Zara’s number?” I ask, and she groans.
“Absolutely not.” Her voice rises, and then she must remember she has to be quiet. “Are you out of your damn mind?”
“I’m just going to let her know if she needs anything, to call me.” I mean, I’m not lying per se.
She pffts out. “Yeah, okay.” She then groans, “Gabriel, please, for the love of God, do not do this.”
“I’m not doing anything.” I turn into my driveway. “I’m trying to help you by offering her my number.”
“No, you went over there last night and saw how drop-dead gorgeous she is, and now you want to get all in that.” She calls it like she sees it. “I’m telling you that it’s not a good idea for either of you.” I ignore the last part and walk up the two steps to the porch before putting in the code at my door. “Just forget she’s even there.”
“Okay, fine, I’ll just go over there today and get her number.” I kick off my boots before rushing to my bedroom.
“No, no, no,” she chants. “I’m calling Pops.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, then you’ll just start rumors for nothing.”
“Gabriel, I swear to—”
“Don’t you use the Lord’s name in vain,” I repeat what our great-grandmother always says.
“I’m hanging up on you,” she warns me before she does it. I look down at the phone, wondering if she really did it and see that she really did.
I pull off my shirt and jeans before grabbing my work jeans and a thermal long-sleeve shirt before rushing out the door and making my way to the barn. I pull up at the same time as my cousin JB. “Are you just getting here?” he asks me, shocked. Usually when we get a whole herd coming in, all hands are on deck.
“Alarm clock didn’t work,” I lie to him, walking into the barn and seeing Charlie there with his father, Quinn, and my Uncle Casey, who looks over at me. My eyes go to my father’s, whose eyebrows rise when he sees me walking in.
“Where the fuck have you been?” my uncle asks me when I get close enough.
“I slept in.” I avoid looking at anyone and look around at nothing.
“You slept in?” My father immediately calls me on my bullshit. “You haven’t slept in since you were one day old.” He glares at me. “Hated sleep, thought you would be missing out on something.”
“He was with a girl.” Charlie snickers, and JB smacks my shoulder.
“Thought you were walking lighter. Your balls aren’t hitting your knees anymore,” JB jokes, snickering.
“Are we going to stand around and discuss my balls”—I grab my cowboy hat from the hook by the desk—“or are we going to unload the horses?” I don’t wait for them to answer me before I walk out.
“The horse whisperer has spoken,” Quinn says, and I look over my shoulder when he uses my nickname. “Saddle up.”