Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23963 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 120(@200wpm)___ 96(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
He stuffs his hat back on his head and starts walking toward me. “You shouldn’t have to.”
I open my mouth to argue when Rhett surprises us both. “I’ll be in town tonight.”
My brother stops mid-stride, and both he and I look over at Rhett. “What?” I ask because I know I didn’t hear him right. Surely, he didn’t say that he would be in town tonight.
He’s been leaning against the side of my brother’s truck, relaxed with his arms over his chest. Now he’s standing straight up with his hands on his hips. “I said I’ll be in town tonight.”
I shake my head. “No. No, Rhett. This is not happening. I do not need a babysitter.”
My brother walks over to his friend. “Thanks, brother. I appreciate it. Don’t go getting your ass thrown in jail or anything, but make sure my sister can have a little fun without worrying about that asshole.”
I walk over and stand between my brother and Rhett. “No. Absolutely not. No. I’m thirty years old. This is crazy.” I look over to Rhett. “You are not going to babysit me.”
His gaze travels down my body, and I feel it like a caress. It feels like a zap, and electricity zooms through me. I cross my arms over my chest, hiding my traitorous erect nipples. Rhett lifts his hands from his hips and crosses his arms over his chest as he stares at me. “You won’t even know I’m there.”
I bark out a laugh, but he just stares at me. “You’re serious.” I look at my brother and point at Rhett. “He’s serious right now.” I’m shaking my head and start walking. I have to put some distance between us. “I won’t know you’re there? Yeah, right, you won’t stick out at all. Don’t bother coming. I’ll be fine.”
Before he can respond, I point to Elliot. “I love you, brother. See you next week. Don’t worry about things here. I got it.”
“Love you, sis,” he calls out and then turns to his friend.
They’re talking to each other as I walk away. There’s no reason for me to stay and argue. I know Rhett, and no matter what I think about it, he’s going to do what he wants. I keep walking and stomp into my house, letting the screen door slam behind me.
I groan as I walk through the house. I pick a pillow off the couch, cover my face, and scream into it. “Ahhhhhhhh!”
When I’m out of breath and can’t scream anymore, I uncover my face and throw the pillow onto the couch. The frustration is real. For years, I wanted Rhett to see me as more than the young girl next door. I was attracted to him, but I forced myself to stay away. I told myself it would pass and that it was just a crush. I even started dating Wes to try and move on, but that blew up in my face.
As I pace back and forth, all I can think about is how Rhett will always see me as Elliott’s little sister. He will never think of me as a woman he could be interested in. I’m a favor to his best friend. He’s going to check on me and make sure I’m okay like some child that can’t even take care of herself.
I fall onto the couch and lean my head back. As I stare up at the ceiling, I make my mind up. It’s not like I have a lot of choices, but I’m not going to let this interfere with my night. I’m going to go to my friend’s bachelorette party and have a good time.
And then after tonight, I’m going to do the thing I should have done a long time ago. I’m going to completely forget about Rhett. It’s time I moved on, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. All I have to do is get through the night and make sure I don’t stare at the grumpy cowboy any longer than necessary. He thinks I won’t even know he’s there. He obviously doesn’t know the hold he has on me. If it’s up to me, he’ll never know.
CHAPTER 2
RHETT
Elliott is staring at me, running his hand through the scruff of his beard. I feel like he’s analyzing me or something. He’s definitely looking at me a little too closely, and I turn my back to him and stare out at the ranch. “Does Matt have everything under control? You need me to help with anything at the ranch while you’re gone?”
Elliott comes to stand next to me and looks out at the horizon. Thank goodness, because I’m afraid of what he would see if he was looking me in the face. I don’t know what it is, but lately, being around Maddie makes me uncomfortable. I’m not sure how to explain it, but it’s enough to make me uneasy. I wait for Elliott to answer me, and when he does, I see him shaking his head. “No, Matt has everything under control. He’s been here for ten years… he can no doubt run the ranch without me for a week.”