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)
I fell.
He fell.
We met somewhere in the middle. My entire world spun out of control, and so did his as I shuddered beneath him, and his body tensed above mine.
He was the beginning to my end, or maybe the end to my beginning.
It didn’t matter because he was my home too.
He would always be home to me.
Lifting his head, he kissed me. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. You know that, right?”
“Yes…” I smiled, returning his love.
Nothing existed at that moment but him and me. No one else mattered, and my whole world was right here.
Right in this room.
He made love to me countless times, unable to satiate himself with my body until he let me fall asleep in his arms, in his world. As if I was his whole life, too. He held me so tight like he never wanted to let me go. At some point in the darkness, I felt him thrust back inside me. I was exhausted and sore, but it still felt so right. It almost felt like I was in and out of a dream. Except his lovemaking felt different this time.
More vulnerable.
More powerless.
More urgent and frantic.
“Ledger,” I murmured, trying to open my eyes.
“Mine,” he replied. “Mine,” he repeated in a desperate, desolate plea…
That I’d remember for the rest of my life.
Twenty-Four
Ledger
For the first time since Hazel moved in with me, I woke up in my bed with her in my arms. It was the best fucking way to wake up, having her and our baby girl in my embrace, and I never wanted to let them go.
I wouldn’t.
I couldn’t.
I’d make sure of it.
I was so close to telling her I loved her last night. It was on the tip of my tongue, just waiting to be shared. Although, something held me back, something I couldn’t explain or understand. It just didn’t feel right, which made no sense because everything felt right with her.
“Mmm…” she groaned, her eyes fluttering open. “I don’t know how I’m going to walk today.”
“Words every man loves to hear.”
She giggled in that cute-as-shit sort of way. “You’re shameless. Hallie probably feels like an earthquake happened in there.”
“Sex is good for the baby.”
“Are you ever going to tell me how you know so much about pregnancy?”
I grinned, gazing down at her. “What do I get if I tell you?”
“Oh, so now you’re bribing me?”
“I’d like to think of it as an even trade.”
“Hmm…”
“If you keep making sounds like that, then I’ll fuck you again.”
“That sounds so romantic.”
I chuckled.
“Fine.” She smiled. “If you tell me, then I’ll… I don’t know. What do you want?”
“Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one.”
“Well, since you have so many demands on your list. How about you request the one you want the most?”
“Alright.” I arched an eyebrow. “I’ll tell you if you marry me.”
Her lips parted.
“I can see it in your eyes, sugar. You want to be my wife.”
“Ledger…”
“I want our baby girl to be born into our marriage. There’s nothing I want more than for you to become Hazel Beckham.”
“This isn’t fair.”
“You asked me what I wanted the most, and I’m giving you a straight answer.”
“I know, but I wasn’t expecting that answer.”
“You know me better than that. We’ve known each other since we were four and are having a baby girl together. Not to mention, you still love me. I can’t think of a better time to get married.”
“I can’t with this right now.”
She tried to get up, but she was stuck. “Ugh! Just know that if I didn’t have this belly in the way, I’d already be standing.”
I kissed her neck before helping her. I was about to continue our conversation, but the doorbell rang.
She smiled. “Saved by the bell.”
I glanced at the clock on my nightstand that read 10:00 in the morning.
“It’s probably your horse.”
“Yes! I’m going to change, and I’ll meet you out there in a few.”
I threw on a pair of jeans and a white shirt, then made my way toward the door. I tried to calm the chaos of my thoughts as I opened it, coming face-to-face with a man I assumed brought Hazel’s horse.
“Hey,” he greeted.
“Hey, is Daisy out back?”
“Who’s Daisy?”
“Oh.” I nodded at him. “I thought you were with the ranch delivering a horse this morning.”
“No.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m just, uh…”
My eyebrows pinched together. I never could’ve anticipated what came out of his mouth next. Not for one fucking second.
“I’m just here to see my fiancée.”
Hazel
After getting dressed in a comfortable pastel-yellow maxi dress, I found Ledger at the front door.
It took five seconds for me to realize what was happening.
Five seconds for my heart to drop to the floor.
Five seconds for my blood to run cold.
Beaming, I stepped up beside Ledger. “Where’s Dai—”
Five seconds to see the man I least expected.