Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Calling myself every name in the book, I head back to the fire and my friends.
It’s time I had a goddamn beer.
“You’re almost…chipper this week.” Brady narrows his eyes at me. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” I shake my head and hang my saddle over the saddle rack, then turn to take the blanket off the back of my horse before grabbing a brush to brush him down. “It’s just been a decent week. The kids are good, no animals have been killed, and the weather’s finally not being an asshole. It’s as smooth as it gets around here, and it puts me in a decent mood.”
“Ryan’s coming over to ride this evening,” he says and then laughs when my smile turns into a scowl. “Whoa, there went the good mood. He’s been here for a couple of weeks now. Haven’t you kissed and made up yet?”
“I’m not mad. It’s fine. You guys have fun riding.”
“Oh, I’m not riding with him.”
“He’s going alone?” I turn and frown at my brother. “Not that it matters. He’s a grown-ass man and can ride alone if he wants to.”
“No, I think he’s bringing a date.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Of course, he is. Typical Ryan. Who’s he dating?”
“How the hell should I know? I’m not a gossip.” Brady tries to look offended, but it just makes me laugh harder. “I hear he picked up a tourist at the bar the other night and told her he could show her a good time on a horse.”
I pat my own horse down and walk him to his stall. “Don’t let him anywhere near this one.”
“He knows which horses are available. He’s not stupid, you know.”
I snort and roll my shoulders. I want a hot shower and some time with my kids. “I’m headed in.”
“Me, too. See you tomorrow.”
I wave at Brady as he heads toward the cabin, and I set off for the house. Since the weather has been better, I’ve been walking to the barn every day. And when I reach the house, I see the Suburban is parked out front, and the lights are on inside.
It’s been almost a week since the bonfire and the kiss right here in the driveway, and so far, things haven’t been at all weird between Erin and me. Neither of us has mentioned the kiss, and I’ve been careful to maintain a friendly but professional distance.
In return, Erin has been funny, calling me Grumpy in front of the kids and making them laugh, efficient, and her usual sexy-as-fuck self.
“You’ve gotta get over the sexy factor,” I whisper to myself as I climb the stairs to the back door and find all three of them in the kitchen, huddled around the island. “Hey, gang.”
“Dad!” Johnny’s eyes are bright and full of excitement as he pops his head up to greet me. “You have to come see this.”
“We all helped,” Holly is sure to assure me as I walk toward them. I crane my neck to see what’s on the counter and find…a cake.
“You baked a cake?”
“The best cake ever!” Holly holds her arms out to me, so I pick her up. “It’s blue and purple inside, and Erin let us decorate it ourselves, without any help from her.”
“That explains the blue icing on your neck.” I lean in and make a fuss about licking the frosting. “Mmm, delicious!”
Holly giggles and wiggles out of my arms, and I turn to Erin, who’s smiling at us all.
“They wanted to help,” she says simply.
“What’s the occasion?” I ask her.
“For what?”
“The cake.” I eye the tall, round cake on the counter. “Usually, it’s someone’s birthday or something.”
“Dad,” Johnny says, “it’s Erin’s birthday.”
My eyes fly to hers, and I watch with fascination as she blushes.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I let it slip because my sister called to sing to me earlier, and the kids heard, so they insisted that I have a cake. So, together, we baked me one. Oh, I have a casserole in the oven, if that’s okay. Your mom actually made it and brought it over.”
“We love casserole,” Holly informs her. “Come on, let’s cut our cake!”
“Not until after dinner,” I reply, without looking away from Erin. “You’ll stay and eat with us. I know there’s plenty, and the kids will want to help you celebrate your birthday.”
Erin smiles and nods. “That sounds like fun, thanks. We can eat any time.”
“If you don’t mind getting things ready here, I’ll go clean up.”
“You got it,” she says and turns to the kids. “Who’s going to help me set the table?”
“Me!” both of my children volunteer in unison as I head for the stairs and up to my room to clean up. I don’t even want to think about the fact that when I ask the kids to help with dinner, they both whine and complain, as if I’m asking them to dig ditches rather than simply set the table.