Total pages in book: 296
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 284055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1420(@200wpm)___ 1136(@250wpm)___ 947(@300wpm)
She nods, her green eyes meeting mine, and I can’t stop myself any longer. I pull her to my chest, my mouth magnetized to hers. River sighs against my lips, and her body melts into mine as we kiss slowly and passionately, not rushing. I want to take all the time I can with her because this moment seems too good to be true. When we finally break apart, her chest rises and falls, and I watch as she swallows hard.
“Sorry,” I whisper, knowing I’ve crossed her boundaries once again.
What we had in Key West, that insane connection, is still here and is as strong as ever.
Smirking, I stand. “I have a feeling I’m going to be apologizing for doing things like that a lot.”
“We’re supposed to be taking it slow, remember?” She chuckles.
I shrug. “I know. But it’s hard when I finally have what I’ve been missing all these months,” I admit.
“Yeah, what’s that?” River raises an eyebrow and studies me.
“You.”
Before we can get too caught up in each other, my phone vibrates in my pocket, and I realize I’ve lost track of time again. I reject the call. Dylan needs to find a little patience and give me a fucking break.
“Dylan and I will get your car from the diner and park it downstairs for you, so you don’t have to leave any sooner for the airport than you have to.”
River stands, digs in her bag, and hands me the keys. “That’d be great considering I have no idea how to get to the diner from here. Since my flight leaves at noon, I should be there around ten.”
“I wish you didn’t have to go,” I tell her and watch her face soften.
“It won’t be forever,” she reminds me as she hands over the keys. Leaning forward, I kiss her on the cheek before telling her goodbye—something I already hate doing.
“I’ll come back after work if that’s okay.”
“I’d love that,” she says, walking back to the bed. “I think I’m going to read for a while and maybe take a nap until you come back.”
“Okay, darlin’. Sweet dreams.” I smile before walking out. As soon as I’m in the hallway, I send Dylan a text and let him know I’m on my way to get the trailer then I’ll meet him. All I get in return is a middle finger emoji.
It takes me no time at all to drive to the middle pasture where the large storage barn is. Bales of hay are plopped on top of each other in the entryway, and I back in the old work truck and trailer. Slamming the door shut, I get out and yell, “I’m back, asshole!”
“’Bout damn time!” he says, throwing another bale of hay from the loft above. It hits the ground with a thud, causing dust to rise. I put on my gloves and begin loading them on the trailer until it’s full. It’s backbreaking work, but I welcome the distraction.
Once we’ve got the truck packed down, Dylan climbs down the ladder.
“So, how’s Daddy doin’?” he teases. When I told him earlier, he wasn’t shocked at all, but it hasn’t stopped him from giving me shit and making daddy jokes all damn day. I don’t imagine that will stop anytime soon, either.
“Shut the hell up,” I tell him as we climb into the truck.
“How’d it go today?” He turns the heater on full blast and places his hands over the vent.
“Mama wasn’t happy about it. Shoulda probably told her alone.”
“She’ll get over it, though. Remember that time Jackson thought he knocked up that preacher’s daughter? Remember how angry she was? I thought she was gonna grab a shotgun and hunt Jackson down.”
I chuckle, completely forgetting about that. “Yeah. I remember now. But she was pissed because she heard it through the grapevine at church and not Jackson’s mouth. So it’s kinda different.”
We drive down the rock road, kicking dust up in our wake, and head over to the B&B to unload the hay into the stables. Considering the group of riders will be back within the hour, Dylan and I make quick work of it and stack hay in the feed room until it’s full. After we’re done, we drive around the property and drop hay for the horses and cows. It takes more time than I predicted, but that’s to be expected when there’s so much land to cover.
Before we call it quits for the day, I ask Dylan if he’ll ride with me to get River’s car. Rolling his eyes, he agrees. We drop the work vehicles back at the barn and take my truck to the diner. The sun is setting in the distance, and I know we don’t have much time before darkness falls. Fifteen minutes later, we’re pulling into the parking lot. When I see Mrs. Betty inside wiping a table down and getting ready to close, I decide to step in really quick.