Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
My mouth fell open, and I smacked her on the shoulder. “I never said that!”
She laughed and sat down on my bed. “Fine, but we both know you thought it. And come on, Timber, even with the few dates you’ve been on, you’ve never once mentioned them afterwards.”
I sighed. Candace was right. I had gone out a few times with some guys, but none of them ever made me feel like Tanner did simply from his smile. Or that husky voice of his. I thought of the way he held me in his arms that night when we danced.
Is it getting hot in here?
“Tanner is very cute, but he is also never home with the job that he has. I also heard rumors that he’s a player. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a relationship, period.”
“Don’t let your daddy issues ruin all men for you.”
I laughed.
“So, you don’t want to fuck him, then?”
This time I was positive my jaw hit the ground. “Excuse me? You are blunt today, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “I believe in getting to the facts. Now, answer the question. Do you want to fu…”
I put my hand up and shot her a pleading look. “Please, stop. No, I do not want to sleep with him.”
Ugh. I wasn’t only lying to myself, but to my best friend as well.
“The last thing I want or need is a meaningless hook-up.” I prayed she didn’t hear the slight waver in my voice. From the moment I met Tanner Shaw, I had done nothing but dream about him. Lord, that smile. Those eyes that left my heart beating like hummingbird wings. But I knew a guy like Tanner was not the type of guy I needed in my life. I, unlike my best friend, was a realist. Not a romantic fool who believed the words of good-looking men who promised you the moon and stars. Been there, done that. All it had left me with was a broken heart and fifteen extra pounds when I laid in bed for a few weeks and cried my tears into ice cream and potato chips night after night.
“Well, I can’t fault you there. Are you thinking you’re ready to settle down, start a family, maybe?”
My body froze for a moment before I faced her. “Settle down?” I laughed a humorless laugh. “From my experience with men, all they do is try and win your heart, then once they get it, toss it to the ground and stomp on it.”
“Timberlynn, I know you’ve had issues with your daddy, and the guys you have dated haven’t been exactly what you were hoping for. But not all men are jerks. Maybe you need to give love a second chance. Or, at the very least, enjoy someone’s company.” She wiggled her brows as she said, “Someone like Tanner, perhaps?”
It felt like tiny needles were pressed against the back of my eyes. It wasn’t like I didn’t want to fall in love again. I was simply too afraid of it. My own father had broken my heart over and over until I thought it had turned to stone. My throat worked hard for a few moments before I found the words to speak. “I can’t.”
“You can’t, or you won’t?”
“Both.” I smiled in an attempt to lighten the mood. “I’m afraid this girl’s heart is boarded up and closed for business.”
Candace sighed as I reached into my closet and took out my suitcase and set it on the bed. “Well, from the pictures I saw of this Tanner, I’d totally let him do very wicked things to me.”
With a wink in her direction, I replied, “It’s a good thing I’m not you, then, isn’t it?”
Chapter Three
TANNER
Chance lived about forty miles north of my family’s ranch. I dropped him and his horses off, along with my back-up horse, Banker, then helped to get the horses settled before heading to my folks’ place. I had thought about giving them a heads up, but decided surprising my mother would be more fun. With Lincoln, my older brother Brock’s wife, pregnant with their second baby, my mother was occupied with what was happening in his life. My oldest brother Ty had gotten married a few months earlier to Kaylee, Lincoln’s best friend, and was settling into his new life as well.
Kaylee and Lincoln had moved to Hamilton a few years back from Atlanta, Georgia, and had turned my family’s world upside down. For the good, of course. Both Brock and Ty, once sworn bachelors like myself, had fallen hard and fast for their wives. I really couldn’t blame them—both women were amazing in their own ways.
Brock never stood a chance with Lincoln. She was smart, independent, sweet, and simply adored Blayze, my nephew and Brock’s son from his first marriage.
Ty and Kaylee…hell, everyone knew they were meant for each other long before the two of them knew it. Ty put up a good fight in resisting the fact that he had fallen in love with Kaylee, but eventually he gave in to the love bug, and was now living on the dark side with Brock. I couldn’t help but smile when I thought of my brothers. It was clear they were both happy, and I was happy for them. A part of me was envious of their lives, but I wasn’t even remotely ready to settle down. At least, I didn’t think I was. Every time I thought about it, though, I couldn’t help the emptiness I felt in the pit of my chest. I had no idea what in the hell I was longing for, and the more I tried to figure it out, the more pissed off and frustrated I became.