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)
I can’t wait to see him.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BRADY
“Right here.” I’m standing with all my siblings and my parents, showing them where I’d like to build the house, and they’re all just smiling at me like I’m…cute.
It’s a little unsettling.
“Did you guys hear me?”
“Oh, Bubba,” Mom says, linking her arm through mine and then looking out over the land. “It’s the perfect spot for a home.”
“Why aren’t they talking?” I ask her, gesturing to the others.
“I never thought I’d see the day,” Remington says with a shrug. “I mean sure, you’ve got it bad for Abbi, but I didn’t think you’d take it this far.”
“I’m in love with her,” I correct him, holding his gaze. “I want a life with her, and yeah, I’m taking one hell of a chance because the season has barely started and anything can happen, but—”
“Life’s short,” Dad puts in, cutting me off. “If you love the girl, love her. I think it’s great. You don’t need our permission. The land’s yours, Brady.”
“Well, I need to make sure that Rem doesn’t have plans for this piece and that neither Millie nor Ryan had their eyes on it.”
“I don’t need it,” Rem says right away.
“Me neither,” Ryan agrees, grinning at me. “Mill?”
“Nope,” she puts in. “Looks like it’s all yours, big brother.”
I let out a breath, feeling nervous all over again as I rub my hands together and try to keep the butterflies under control.
It’s not working. The butterflies are suddenly mutants.
“You’ll need to have power and water brought out this way,” Dad says, thinking it over. “And a septic. It’s raw land, but it’s doable.”
“Do you have an architect?” Ryan asks.
“No, but I bet you have several.”
“Yeah, I have people we can use,” he agrees and pulls out his phone to make notes. That’s Ryan, always ready to put a plan into action.
“I’m so happy for you,” Mom says again and squeezes my arm. “When are you getting married?”
I frown down at her. “I haven’t asked her yet.”
Mom’s eyes narrow. “Are you telling me that you asked her to build a house with you but didn’t say anything about marriage?”
“No, I told her that she’d get the ring and all the romantic stuff later.”
Dad barks out a laugh, my siblings all shake their heads, and Mom smacks me on the back of the head.
“I raised you better than that,” she says with a scowl.
“You’re in trouble,” Chase snickers, and I glare at him, but he doesn’t lose the shit-eating grin on his face, obviously enjoying the hell out of this.
“How romantic of you,” Millie says, shaking her head in disgust. “I’m sure that was a thrilling conversation for Abbi. Hey, I don’t want to marry you or anything, but let’s shack up. I’ll even build you a house on my property, but don’t get any ideas about the legalities.”
“Fuck you. That’s not what I said.”
“Watch your mouth,” Mom says and cuffs me on the back of the head again, making my brothers laugh even harder.
I hate all of them.
“It was a nice moment,” I stress, suddenly feeling like an asshole as I replay what I said to her in my head. Jesus, I was fucking nervous, and I was saying all the wrong things. And yet, she still said she wanted to live here.
I must not have fucked it up too badly.
“Don’t be that guy,” Rem says as he tries to catch his breath. “The one that shacks up with his woman for decades and doesn’t marry her.”
“I have no plans on doing any such thing. I am going to marry her. Hell, I want to adopt Daisy and have more kids, and everything else that comes with it, but I wanted to start here, on the house. Get that going because the summers are short, and I don’t want it to take years to finish.”
I sigh and shove my hands into my pockets. Maybe I did fuck up.
“It’s a beautiful spot for a house,” Ryan says with a nod, the laughter calming down. “The views are amazing right here.”
“She cried.” I give my sister the stink eye. “In a good way, smartass.”
“I didn’t say anything.” Millie holds her hands up, her eyes wide as if she’s innocent, but I know better. “I’m rooting for you, moron.”
“Okay, well, since no one objects, I’ll get the ball rolling on things. Thanks, guys.”
We shuffle about for a few more minutes, talking about where I’d like to put the garage, a chicken coop, and a small barn for Daisy’s mini cow, which makes my dad laugh in surprise.
“All the cattle on this ranch, and that little spitfire wants a mini cow.”
“A Highland mini cow,” I add as I check the time. “I have to admit, they’re cute. Speaking of Daisy, I have to pick her up from the babysitter.”
“What’s Abbi up to today?” Millie asks as we all walk to our vehicles. “I haven’t talked to her since our IWC lunch the other day. When some of the girls were idiots.”