Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
So much about him had changed in the past ten years, yet he still felt the same to me. It was confusing and frustrating, and we were only getting started on our new dynamic.
Although, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Something about him at that moment was captivating and so unbelievably endearing to me. For Ledger to set aside his hatred and rivalry against my parents said a lot about the man standing beside me.
I wanted to continue to hate him, but he made it nearly impossible for me not to fall for him again. I needed to keep my emotions in check because this wasn’t just about me anymore. I had a new life growing inside me to consider, and I didn’t want to fuck things up for him or her. Even if it meant I had to put my emotions on the back burner.
We had to remain platonic for my sake and our kid. I refused to let him in more than I already had. I’d only end up getting hurt, and I wouldn’t survive it a third time.
As if reading my mind, he swept the hair away from my face to look deep into my eyes.
“I’ll always do what’s best for our baby, Hazel. No matter what, she comes first.”
“She?” I smiled.
“Yeah.” His hand moved to my belly. “I think it’s a girl.”
“What makes you think that?”
“Because you’re glowing. You’re fucking stunning, sugar. Pregnancy agrees with you.”
I blushed, peering up at him through my long, dark lashes. “What does that have to do with it?”
“I heard that being pregnant with girls does that to the mother.”
“You heard?”
“Mm-hmm…”
“That’s an old wives’ tale.”
“We’ll see.”
“Are you ever going to tell me why you know so much about pregnancy?”
He grinned before setting his foot into the stirrup, pulling himself up onto Rebel. I backed away as he made a short click sound with his mouth, Rebel’s command to move, and off they went. Watching Ledger ride was a turn-on in and of itself. Seeing him wearing his black cowboy hat, riding boots, flannel, and jeans did all sorts of things to my pussy.
I pointed at my core. “You need to stop that.” Squirming, I shook it off until Ledger caught my attention again.
Riding along the fence, he trotted, jumping over a few fallen trees like it was the easiest thing in the world when it was far from it. The way Ledger could ride always impressed me. He was a sight for sore eyes.
With the breeze in his face and the sun on his skin, he was a vision. Exuding so much masculinity and dominance in a sexy and demanding way, he lured me without trying to, which wasn’t lost on me. It was hard to describe what I felt for him at that moment.
I missed him.
I missed him so fucking much.
I loathed to admit that, but I couldn’t lie anymore. The times I thought about him throughout the years were endless. Especially when I was with other men. It was one of the reasons I called off my engagement to Johnathan.
On paper, we were perfect for each other. He checked off every box and then some. We were together on and off for the past couple of years, and then, out of the blue, he asked me to marry him, and I said yes when I shouldn’t have.
The morning of his proposal tore through my mind like the horse Ledger was riding.
“I think it’s time I knock you up with some kids?” Johnathan remarked, catching me off guard as I dressed for a meeting downtown.
“I was thinking maybe four or five? I was an only child, so I definitely want us to have a huge family.”
I glanced over at him. “What?” I asked, stunned.
He reached into his pocket, pulling out what appeared to be a turquoise Tiffany jewelry box.
“Johnathan…”
“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time, Hazel. I’ve had this ring for over a year. I bought it after we got back together the last time, and I’ve been waiting for the right day to ask you.”
He opened the box, and the biggest diamond I had ever seen sparkled bright against the light from the sun.
“Oh, wow…”
Within a second, he got down on one knee, and all I kept thinking was that I was basically naked, and he was proposing with a ring that wasn’t me. It had to be at least five karats, and that didn’t count all the diamonds around it and on the band. It was an opal shape. I hated that shape.
“Hazel Blakely, I love you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me, baby?”
I stared from the ring to him, then back to the ring again. My mind was a huge, jumbled mess. I didn’t know what to say or what to do.