Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“We love you, always,” Summer says, reaching out to take my hand. “You’re our family.”
“Okay,” is all I can say when the tears come again, and then I’m in the middle of a giant group hug.
“You’re not kicked off of the ranch,” Abbi says. “Never.”
“If m-my husband isn’t welcome, then I’m not either. You’d feel the same way.”
“Who the fuck made my wife cry?”
CHAPTER TEN
HOLDEN
All of their heads whip up in surprise at the sound of my voice. Candy unlocked the door for me on her way out, and the first thing I heard was my wife talking through tears, and my blood immediately started to boil.
She’s had enough tears to last her a fucking lifetime.
Millie’s wet gaze finds mine as the others grin and shuffle their feet.
“Hi, Holden,” Polly says with a little wave.
I nod in return, but I still want to know what the hell is going on.
“It’s not a bad cry,” Millie assures me as she crosses to me and cups my cheek in her hand, pulling my gaze down to her. Those gorgeous eyes are glassy, and it makes my stomach hurt. “They came to love on me.”
And just like that, I feel the tension move out of my shoulders, and I nod before kissing her on the forehead.
“We wanted to make sure she’s okay,” Erin says. “How are you, Holden?”
I blink in surprise. “I’m great. Look at my wife. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Millie’s jaw drops, and Summer says, “Aww, that’s so sexy.”
“Mill, we need a girls’ night,” Abbi says as the girls begin to walk past us to the door. “STAT. Like, yesterday.”
“I hear you, loud and clear,” Millie says with a laugh. “We’ll make it happen. In the meantime, go poison my brothers’ drinks or something. Withhold sex. Slash some tires.”
“Why are you trying to punish us?” Summer asks with a wink. “Don’t worry. They feel like shit.”
“Good,” Millie grumbles. “Love you guys.”
“Love you more,” Polly says with a wave, and then the four of them are gone, and Millie locks the door behind them.
Her eyes drop to the box in my hand, and her brow furrows. “What’s in there?”
“Oh, I forgot I had it with me. I grabbed you a cupcake from Jackie’s store.”
Her eyebrows climb in surprise. “What kind?”
“Red velvet.”
Her eyes get glassy again, and I shake my head as I approach her. “No more tears today, Rosie. I can’t take it. I just thought you could use a treat, and since you own the coffee shop, coffee was out.”
“You got my favorite,” she whispers as she takes the box from me and bites her lip. “I haven’t had one of these in years.”
“Then it’s time.” I grin at her as she sets the box on the counter and then blows out a breath and brushes her fingers over her cheeks, clearing away the tears. “How did your interviews go?”
“Really well. They’ll both start tomorrow so Candy and I can get them trained and on a rotating schedule. That’ll help a lot for the summer.”
“Good.” I reach out, unable to keep my hands to myself, and tuck a piece of hair that escaped her ponytail behind her ear. I slept next to her all night, and it was the best night’s sleep I’ve ever had in my life.
And she doesn’t even know it.
“I’m going to ask you a question,” she begins, and then clenches her eyes closed and bites her lip.
“Okay. Ask.”
“I kind of hate myself for it.” Her voice is a little shaky, so I lace my fingers through hers.
“Stop judging yourself and ask.”
She lifts her chin, and with her golden eyes on mine, she says, “Are you ever going to kiss me?”
My gut clenches, my dick hardens, and I have to take my hand away from her. Unfortunately, she takes that the wrong way and backs up, shaking her head.
“I’m sorry, that was stupid. Obviously, if you wanted to kiss me, you would. It’s just that I didn’t say you couldn’t, and you—”
I brace her face in my hands and kiss her—not in a soft, sweet brush of the lips, but as though I want to consume her.
Because I do.
Jesus, she’s the most beautiful, amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life, and I want her so much that I can’t breathe. But I have to let her decide what she’s ready for because I won’t have her hating me later.
She whimpers deep in her throat and leans her stomach against my cock, and I let one hand drift down around her throat while the other one slides down to her ass, holding her against me.
God, she’s everything.
She willingly opens herself to me, and I don’t hesitate to push my tongue inside of her mouth, rubbing it against hers, drinking the moans that come from her.
When I come up for air and rest my forehead against hers, Millie swallows hard.