Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Tillie, this is Slater and Green,” Ryder says.
“Slater is mine,” Mary sighs out. “For some reason.”
“Will you quit busting my balls, Ace?”
“Nah, it’s too much fun,” Mary jokes and Slater rolls his eyes. Seriously, he shouldn’t play baseball. He should be a model. If men had a Victoria’s Secret Model show, then he should be one.
“Hey Tillie, I’m Green Lucas. Coach to these jerks, brother to Mary, and the gorgeous redhead is my wife. Don’t ask me how I got so lucky to land her. I have no idea, I’m just thankful.”
“Weird, I think you found me quite forgettable at first,” Kage says softly.
“I was a stupid fool,” he practically purrs.
“How long are you in town?” Green asks as Slater slides up to Mary, putting his hand on her belly. The tender moment nearly makes me swoon. I don’t know how Mary remains standing.
“She's here for a week,” Ryder answers for me. “I wish it were for longer, though.” He's talking to Green but looks at me as he says it.
“Then you'll be here Saturday,” Green replies, nodding. I'm suddenly lost, having no clue what they are talking about. “Bring Tillie to Mom’s farm so we can celebrate my mother not going to prison and getting off with just a hand slap.”
“Prison?” I gasp. I didn't expect that.
“Yeah, but Mom's harmless, I swear,” Green says, holding his hands up.
Mary and Kage cackle. “Ida Sue will never be harmless,” Kage says pointedly.
“Amen, sister,” Mary adds.
I look up at Ryder, and he winks at me. As I stare up into his handsome face, I know that I don't care if Ida Sue is a murderer. I'd go anywhere with him just to see that look on his face.
The moment goes by too quickly as a reporter—advertised by the press badge and camera—walks up. “Coach Green, how about a picture for our story?”
“Sure, just take it now with me surrounded by my family,” he says, angling himself toward the camera.
Ryder and I start to step back, but Coach Green turns to look at us. “Oh no, if I have to be on camera, you guys will be too. Besides, with Kage, Mary, and Tillie in the picture, their pretty faces will make me look better.”
We all break out in laughter. Ryder leans down, kissing me just as the camera clicks and I relax into him.
That’s the exact moment that it hits me. It slams into me with a surety that I’ve never felt in my life before. I will love Ryder Monroe until the day I die. That love will go with me into whatever world comes next.
Tillie
“Fuck, it feels good having you with me, Buttons.”
“I’ve missed you, too, honey,” I tell him, my heart squeezing in my chest.
I’ve been in Texas for almost the full week and the days have flown by too quickly. I have to go back Sunday, which means I have tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night. That’s it. The reality of that makes me ache. I close my eyes and continue listening to his heart beating under my ear. We’re in his apartment, which is nice enough. It definitely needs a woman’s touch, but I’m glad it doesn’t have one—for obvious reasons.
“I know you’re not ready to talk about it, but I need it said so you know where I’m at. I want you with me permanently, Buttons.”
“What?” I ask, shocked, excited, and more than a little scared.
“I want you to move out here, Tillie,” he says firmly. Giving me an extra squeeze, his breath fanning my hair.
“Ryder, I miss you like crazy, too, but I have responsibilities in Wyoming. I can’t just move here.”
“Bullshit. Tillie we’re not using birth control. Are you going to have my baby while you’re states away from me? This is just not practical. We’re a couple. We need to be together.”
“Uh…I’m on the pill. You never truly asked, so I figured you took it for granted.
“You want babies. You want my babies.”
I pull back so I can look down at him. “Neither one of us is ready for that, Ryder, and you know it.”
“I don’t agree.”
“Well, I’m staying on the pill.”
He frowns up at me and grumpily gives in. “Fine.”
“Gee thanks.”
“It still doesn’t change things. My main point is that you need me, and I need you. We’re building a life together.”
“Ryder…”
“When I say that, I mean we’re going to be looking for a house and a place to raise those three kids you want—”
“I’m pretty sure I said two,” I correct him, feeling as if my heart is going to pound out of my chest.
“You said three if we had two boys first,” he reminds me.
“That’s a big if, honey.”
“I read somewhere that it’s the men who decide the sex of the baby, so I’ve devised a plan.”
“A plan?” I laugh.
“I’m going to talk to my swimmers and make sure we have boys first.”