Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
All the pain and hurt washed together, the loss of Audrey and our parents. I’d been wrong. I’d thought like a kid all this time. Assumed. It didn’t bring them back, but it made it… easier.
I finally pushed Rob away and shoved my hands in my pockets. I’d wished I’d talked to Rob years ago, but I’d stayed away. So much time I’d been wrong, that I’d been angry at myself. That I thought Rob hated me. Blamed me.
I cleared my throat. “I called Shefield’s heir.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. He left his property to a niece. She’s in graduate school for music. Seemed nice. She’s not sure what she’s going to do with the place but knows about Markle’s offer. I told her I’d match or beat any offer he made.”
“Are you serious?” Rob studied my face in surprise. “With what money?”
“Dude. How can you not have noticed?” I pointed to my huge belt buckle. “I am a fucking world champion bull rider. I’ve made a fortune, and I haven’t spent a dime. I figured the time would come when I’d find an investment that interested me.”
Rob peered at me. “And this is it? Buying the ranch next door?”
“She said she had no interest in selling to anyone, so we don’t have to worry about Markle getting the land.”
He slapped me on the shoulder. “See, you’re dealing with Markle. I never would have thought of contacting Shefield’s heir. Since she’s not selling, you still going to settle here? I thought you couldn’t wait to get away from Cooper Valley.”
I picked up another stone but didn’t throw it. I rolled it around between my fingers. “Truth is, I couldn’t wait to get away from here. From our parents’ death and feeling like a fuck-up. Turned out, no matter how far I traveled, it never went away.”
Rob shook his head. “Boyd, I am sorry if I ever made you feel that way.”
I knocked the hat off his head. “Yeah, you did. All the fucking time.”
He stooped to pick it up. “Well, I didn’t mean it. I’m just an asshole with everyone. My job as alpha isn’t to be everyone’s best friend. I have to make decisions others might not like. But that’s me. You, Boyd? You’re the one with the brightest future. You could do anything. You proved it on the rodeo circuit, but I guess I always wondered when you were gonna start really living.”
My chest tightened painfully. I was starting now. For Audrey. If she would just take me back.
“Fuck off,” I muttered.
Rob chuckled and slapped me hard on the back. “So what are you going to do to win that female of yours back?”
What, indeed?
Wait… I turned and faced him head on. “Does that mean you’ll let me mate her?”
Rob scoffed. “I might stop you from fucking up your life with a human, but if your wolf chose Audrey, then I won’t stand in your way. Besides, there’s no way anyone could ever stop you from doing what you wanted to do. Especially not me.”
“You kicking me out of the pack?” I asked, but I already knew he wasn’t.
He rubbed the back of his neck and settled his Stetson back on his head. “You sure she’s your mate?”
I narrowed my gaze, and even he could hear my wolf growl. “Fucking positive. My teeth already came down to mark her. I’m telling you, I knew it the minute I saw her.”
“Lucky bastard.”
I had to wonder if his moon madness was affecting him. Was he searching for his mate and yet I’d found mine?
“If she’s your mate, then she’s part of the pack, too,” he stated. “Just as soon as you win her back. Don’t fuck this up again, fuck-up.”
I punched him in the shoulder. For once, I didn’t have the anger, the bad feelings when I stood with my brother. I felt… whole. So I replied with all the piss and vinegar of a kid brother. “Asshole.
25
AUDREY
Six letters. Boyd wrote me six letters.
They were all in my trash. Who was I fooling? I hadn’t taken out the garbage all week. If I was really done with Boyd, wouldn't I have burned them? Or never even brought them in?
I stared at the wastebasket.
Don’t do it.
Do not do it.
My phone rang. Shoot. It was Marina. I’d been dodging her calls all week because I knew if we talked, I’d spill everything. I sent this call to voicemail as well. She was used to my work schedule and sometimes a lapse in responses, but I’d text her, let her know not to worry.
Because if I talked to her now, I’d bawl my eyes out. Other than the day we broke up, when I lost it out front, I’d been trying to hold that mess in. I’d done a good job of it, but I was like a pressure cooker, ready to explode.