Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“You did great today, boy.” He nudges my shoulder, and I grin, ignoring the twinge that’s always there in that joint. “Yeah, we both did, huh? Good boy. I’ll see you in the mornin’. You get some rest.”
I kiss him once more and then close the door of his stable behind me as I walk out with the others.
“Want to come in for dinner?” Remington asks me, then narrows his eyes on me when I roll that same shoulder.
“You could join us, too, if you want,” Bruiser adds. We have a house here for the hands to live in, and those cowboys make some damn good food.
I usually eat at either my brother’s or with the hands, but I shake my head.
“Thanks, guys, but I have a date tonight.”
My brother turns and frowns at me in surprise. I don’t usually date at all, and I would never announce it to anyone, so the look on his face makes me laugh.
“I’m taking Daisy to the father/daughter dance at her school.”
“Shit, that’s right,” Rem says, dragging his hand down his face. “I have to take Holly to that. I’d better go get cleaned up.”
“Me, too.”
“Have fun,” Lucky says with a wave. “I’m gonna go put some chili on the stove.”
The other two men walk in the direction of the bunkhouse, and I walk with Rem out to his truck.
“I guess I’ll see you there,” I say with a wink.
“I hate these things,” Rem complains with a sigh. “I love my girl, but I hate dances.”
“Come on, it’s only a couple of hours.” I laugh again and head over to my 4Runner. “See you later.”
“Wait,” Rem says, his hands on his hips. “That shoulder giving you trouble?”
I shake my head with a sigh. “You know my long list of injuries over the years, Rem. Something’s always giving me trouble. It’s the cost of being a cowboy.”
“You’re an idiot,” he reminds me.
With a laugh and a wave, I hop into the vehicle and drive the couple of miles over to the old cabin that I live in here on the Wild River Ranch. It’s the oldest dwelling on the property, and it could use some updating, but it suits me fine. I’ve lived in the tiny two-bedroom, one-bathroom cabin for almost a decade, and I haven’t needed anything more.
Besides, I really only sleep here. I’m always working the ranch or riding a bull. At the very least, I train on the drop barrel daily so I don’t get rusty. There’s no time for anything else.
But when Daisy asked me to take her to her little dance, the night that my brother Ryan proposed to Polly, I couldn’t say no. She reminds me of Snow White, with her dark hair and deep brown eyes. She’s the cutest little thing, and she was so…earnest when she asked.
Only an asshole would have turned her down.
Besides, I like the kid. She hangs out with Holly all the time, and Daisy’s mom, Abbi, is always with my sisters, since they started up their women in business group. And that part, the part where Abbi’s always around? That’s harder to swallow.
Because she’s fucking beautiful. I want to have my way with her, and nothing good can come of that, so I have to keep my distance.
“Good job doing that,” I mutter as I finish in the shower and towel off. “Taking her kid somewhere is definitely not the way to stay away from the mom.”
I shake my head in disgust as I get dressed. I’m wearing a goddamn suit tonight. I usually only do that for weddings and funerals.
And yet, here I am, the consummate bachelor, taking a little girl to her dance.
My phone pings with a text, and I see that it’s Abbi.
Abbi: Hey! The snow is really coming down here. We understand if you don’t want to brave the roads to come all the way into town from the ranch tonight. It might not be safe.
I smirk. I’ve been driving into town from this ranch for half my life. Sure, I’ll take it easy, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
Me: I’ll be there in an hour.
The bubble bounces, then stops for several seconds before it comes back, as if she doesn’t know what to say.
Abbi: Okay, we will see you soon. Please be careful.
After I tie my purple tie—Daisy was sure to let me know that she’d be wearing her favorite color, purple, to the dance—I grab my black Stetson and head out. Of course, I have a stop to make before I get to Abbi’s place.
Abbi was right; the roads into town are a bitch. I have to slow way down because it’s hard to see through the blowing snow, but I reach Bitterroot Valley without a mishap.
And just before my sister-in-law, Summer, closes her flower shop for the day.