Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 522(@200wpm)___ 418(@250wpm)___ 348(@300wpm)
Tully raised an eyebrow at me, but I could tell by his grin he wasn’t intimidated by this motley crew.
“Guys,” I said, interrupting. “This is Tully Bowman. Tully, this is the guys. That’s Bash and his barnacle, Rowe, this is Landry, you obviously know Silas, and the guy with the Jesus hair is Zane.” I pointed to each window in turn.
I watched Tully as he greeted them. All of my friends were sexy as hell. One was a literal model, and another was a famous rock star. Any one of them would be a better catch than I was.
He waved and smiled before reassuring them Lellie was safe and in good hands with “her daddy.” The words sounded surreal.
“Thanks to him,” I said, reaching out to put a hand on Tully’s shoulder. “He was her hero today.”
A chorus of aww’s and cheers came from the speakers, causing Tully’s cheeks to darken more than Kenji’s ever did. Before everyone could calm down, Kenji broke in.
“Tully wants to know why Dev hasn’t hired more help on the ranch.”
The cheers turned into loud agreement, pointed barbs, and laughter. “Because he’s a controlling asshole,” Silas accused. I could hear Way in the background trying to defend me.
Landry chimed in. “Never get between a man and his horseflesh. That’s why.”
Bash kept a straight face. “Money, probably. Employees are expensive.”
Everyone burst into laughter. I was tempted to go over there and slam the laptop closed. Instead, I reached for Tully’s hand and yanked him out of the room while telling my friends to fuck off.
When I got Tully alone in the guest room, I closed the door and pulled him into my arms.
And shocked both of us by promptly bursting into tears.
TWENTY-ONE
TULLY
Dev collapsed against me, hot tears soaking my collar. My heart ached for him.
“Let it out,” I murmured. “It’s okay.”
I wanted to tell him I loved him, that he was, in fact, beloved. But I also knew this was not the time. I could show him without saying it in words.
I held him tightly. The sandalwood scent of what I’d come to learn was his hair product was familiar in my nose as I brushed my face against the dark waves of his hair. The usual tinge of horse and hay was absent, and I found I missed it. Dev didn’t smell like himself without it.
“Sorry,” he said in a ragged voice, trying to get himself under control. “Sorry.”
“For what? Jesus, Dev. Today was fucking rough. I’m amazed you held it in this long.” I could hear the clog in my own throat as I tried to stay strong for him and failed. Tears stung my eyes. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”
He pulled back a little and met my eyes. His were red-rimmed and wet, his lashes dark and spiky. “What for?”
“For the bad hand you were dealt by your parents. You deserve better. I mean… I understand their grief and that loss can have devastating effects on people, but you deserve parents who love you unconditionally.”
“We all do,” he murmured. “That’s just not reality.”
He leaned in to kiss me. It wasn’t sexy and provoking but loving… comfort-seeking. We kissed for a long time, simply holding each other in the middle of the room. Finally, Dev pulled away again. “Thank you for being there. Not just for Lellie… I can never thank you enough for that… but for me. For supporting me and just… for being there.”
Where you go, I will follow.
My mother had taken advantage of the childcare program at our local church when I was growing up, and I remembered a colorful Bible verse on the wall. Little cardboard sheep pranced around the quote in a way that frequently drew my eye. It wasn’t until much later in my life that I’d learned it was Ruth speaking to Naomi, one woman offering fierce, unconditional love to another, that was behind the simple words.
Where you go, I will follow.
I felt the words in my stomach. In my solar plexus. Down to the soles of my feet. For the first time in my life, I understood the desperate need to attach myself to someone, forsaking all others.
It was shocking, this realization. Because there was so much I still didn’t know about Dev. How could I feel this soul-deep need to be with him, to comfort and love him, when I’d barely scratched the surface of knowing him?
“Dev,” I breathed against his mouth. Emotion clogged my throat again, leaving my words shaky and unsure, exactly the same way I was feeling. “You deserve to be loved. You… I… I…”
I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t risk scaring him off this soon with words he couldn’t possibly be ready to hear. His life was a jumbled mess, and there was already way too much pressure on him from other directions. I didn’t dare add to it by giving him one more monumental thing to deal with right now.