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)
“When you want her to stop, all you have to do is pull her reins back,” I instruct her as I watch her go around and around with her. I sit on the top of the fence, just watching her.
“This is the most fun I think I’ve had in my whole life,” she announces from the other side of the arena as she pulls back a touch. “We should slow down, girl, so we can get you some water,” she tells Fireball, who slows to a walk.
Jumping off the top of the fence, I wait for her to walk by me before reaching out for her. “Did you see me?” She looks down at me. “I was riding a horse.”
“I did, Sweetheart. All you needed was to trust yourself.”
“I don’t know if I trust myself at all,” she admits softly. “I mean, look at my life.”
“Look at it,” I urge her. “You have a great business. You have a great family. You are alive and living.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Yeah, but what?” I ask her. “So it didn’t work out with him. It’s not the end of the world. At least you found out now and not when you had two kids with him.” I don’t stop talking.
She turns her head to me. “Go with your gut.”
“Yeah, look at where my gut got me.”
I smirk up at her. “Exactly, look at where it got you”—I wink at her—“here with me.”
15
ZARA
“Exactly, look at where it got you”—he winks at me—“here with me.” I look down at him with his cocky grin and sexy-ass fucking face, and I’m torn between kissing the shit out of him or sitting on it.
“That might not be a good thing,” I admit to him. He just glares at me and doesn’t say anything else because the sound of car doors has us looking over.
“Come on, get down,” he tells me, holding out his hand for me. “Time to meet the girls.”
“Meet the girls?” I repeat his words, but he grabs my hand and helps me down.
“Whatever they say about me,” he mumbles, “it’s half true. There are always three sides to the story.” I can’t help but laugh at how nervous he is.
“Hey.” I see three girls coming into the fenced arena. Two blondes and one with black hair, just like Gabriel. “Finally, she is out of the house.” She smiles at me, and I see she has green eyes. “I’m Aubrey,” she says, “this lunkhead’s sister.” She motions with her head toward Gabriel.
“Hi,” I reply, reaching in to hug her, “I take it Sofia called you.”
“She did,” she confirms, letting me go. “She called the three of us.”
“I’m Talia,” one of the blondes says to me. “My mother is Amelia.”
“Oh, I can see the resemblance now,” I say.
“I’m Kasey Leigh,” the other blonde says. “Chelsea is my mother. We’ve come to save you from the beast.” She points at Gabriel.
“Oh, here we go,” he huffs, and I try not to laugh at him as he rolls his eyes and looks away.
“Before these two start bickering, as always,” Talia remarks, “we are here to invite you out.”
“Invite me out?” I reply at the same time Gabriel groans. “Does that mean the same thing it means in the city?”
“It does,” Kasey Leigh confirms. “We are hitting the town tonight.”
“No fucking way,” Gabriel snaps. “You go out tonight. You do it at my bar.”
I turn to look at him as if to say oh no you did not. “Excuse me?”
“Ohhh,” Kasey Leigh chirps, “I love her.”
“You guys go out, you do it at the bar or not at all.” Gabriel leaves zero room for anyone to say anything. “I’m going to put Fireball away, and then I’ll take you home.”
“Fine by me,” Aubrey states. “Means I don’t have to pay for anything.”
“We’ll take her home,” Talia counters. “Give you a break.”
I see Gabriel wants to say something, but he just lifts his chin. “See you guys tonight,” he says, looking straight at me. “Don’t fuck around. I find out you guys went somewhere else, I’ll come and get you.” He turns on his heel and walks back to the barn, and I feel bad I didn’t say goodbye to Fireball.
“Will you guys give me a minute?” I hold up one finger before running back into the barn and watching Gabriel or, better yet, watching his ass as he walks. “Hey,” I say as he looks over his shoulder, “I didn’t say goodbye.” His mouth goes into a big smile as he takes off his cowboy hat, leaning down to give me a kiss. “I mean to Fireball.” I move past him toward her. “Thank you for today, Fireball.” I rub her neck. “I will never, ever forget it.” She nudges my hand with her muzzle. “I’ll see if I can come back and see you soon.” I swear I think she smiles at me. “Now, I’m going.” I turn to walk away from him when he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me back to him.