Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Wendy smiled. “No, thanks. I’ve got a test tomorrow.”
I grabbed mine and downed it.
My mind swirled the rest of the evening and well into the night after Morgan had dropped me off at Blayze’s house. I laid in bed and tried to wrap my head around the fact that Blayze had been engaged. He had been about to be married, but it sounded more like a trap. Was Lindsay blackmailing him with something? What had changed that made him leave the woman at the altar to be embarrassed like that? It wasn’t something I could picture him doing. Not the Blayze I knew—not even this Blayze. We may have had a rocky start this morning, but he wasn’t cruel.
When morning finally arrived, I had maybe gotten four hours of sleep, if that. After washing my face, brushing my teeth, and pulling my hair up, I slipped into jeans, boots, and a long-sleeve T-shirt. It was Sunday, and I wasn’t sure if Blayze or Brock would be working. If they were, I was planning on following Brock around. It would be my first official day as the reporter here to write a story about the Shaw family and where they are now. As for Blayze, I wasn’t the least bit interested in learning anything for the article—but for myself, I was beyond curious. And if I was honest with myself, jealous as hell that Lindsay had been about to marry him.
After trying to call my father again, I started to get worried and sent my mother a text. The smell of coffee lured me into the kitchen where I found Blayze drinking a cup and reading the newspaper.
Smiling at the sight before me, I walked in and took the mug he had set by the coffee machine and filled it with liquid gold.
“I haven’t seen anyone read an actual newspaper in awhile.”
He glanced up with a look of surprise at seeing me in his kitchen. I knew he hadn’t forgotten I was there since he’d left out an extra coffee cup.
“I like holding it and reading it. Probably has something to do with watching my grandfather read one all those years. He still does.”
Nodding, I took a sip of the coffee. “You left early last night. Did you even stay an hour?”
“Bars aren’t really my scene anymore.”
I tilted my head. “What is your scene?”
He looked up again. “I like to be outside doing things that make me happy.”
“Such as?” I asked.
“Riding, roping, bringing in the cattle. Hiking, water rafting, yoga.”
I nearly spit out my coffee. “I’m sorry, did you say yoga?”
He smiled softly. “Don’t seem so surprised, Georgie. It’s a great form of exercise, not only for your body but your mind as well.”
“What were you doing this morning? I looked out my window and saw you sitting outside.”
With a half shrug, he replied, “Meditating.”
“Meditating?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“I don’t know. The Blayze I knew was always so on-the-go. I can’t imagine you just…being.”
He frowned slightly. “Well, sixteen-year-old Blayze is a lot different from twenty-seven-year-old Blayze.”
I’ll say.
“Are there good hiking trails around here?” I asked. “I’d love to get some hiking in. Morgan said she’d go hiking with me when she was able to. She mentioned heading back to school this morning, though.”
“There’s a lot of good hiking, but I recommend you go with someone else. Always.”
I slid onto the barstool. “Maybe you could take me?”
He didn’t bother to look up at all. “Maybe.”
I exhaled and stared out the window. It was a beautiful fall day. The dark gray mountains looked like a painting against the soft blue sky. I’d never been to the ranch during fall or winter, and I was dying to know what it looked like.
Turning back to Blayze, I was about to ask him if he had any photos of the ranch when my phone rang. Relieved to see it was my father, I jumped up. “I need to take this. Excuse me.”
Blayze gave me a single nod and went back to reading.
I slipped out the back door and made my way out onto the porch. The last thing I wanted was for Blayze to overhear this conversation. It was chilly outside, and I instantly wished I’d grabbed a light jacket or a sweatshirt.
“Dad, are you okay?”
He chuckled. “Honey, did you forget we were going on that overnight cruise in the Gulf to gamble?”
I closed my eyes and cursed. “I forgot about that. How did you do?”
“Terrible. Now, what’s going on?”
Glancing over my shoulder once more, I made sure the coast was clear before I began to speak.
“Dad, you told me this interview was a where are they are now piece. That I would be focusing on Brock and his brothers and maybe a bit about Blayze.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Sighing in frustration, I said, “Well, that’s not what Doug Larson is telling me. He wants dirt on Blayze and wants most of the focus to be on him.”