Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“So, if I stay, we sleep at your place tonight?” I asked, dropping my hands together between my thighs. “I wanna be here to watch and learn just in case you can’t be here at some point.”
“I agree, but you’ll have to stay hidden until the load’s delivered.” Mace began closing all the magazine and newspapers, while getting to his feet. I was right there, to bring his hips toward me, lifting my chin for a kiss. “It’s unexpected. I didn’t know it was an option.”
He stared down at me, and I let him, still puckered and ready.
“You know I want you here. It’s excitin’ to see my goals happenin’ in real time. It’s all because of you. I was surprised you wanted to stay, that’s all.” As he spoke, he did his best to eradicate any hurt feelings. It took a minute of him assessing my expression before he slowly bent and pressed his lips against mine.
The tender moment was lost when I tried to deepen the kiss and he made a big giant step off the chair, over my legs. My fingers reached for his belt loops, and took a pretty good hit when he twisted, causing me to fully let go. He’d flung me off like a bothersome gnat. His sweetness evaporated as quickly as it was given. I watched him walk away, talking about the following morning’s activities, me watching that cowboy strut he pulled off so damned well. I wanted to video that walk to watch later. Man, I loved to watch Mace go.
Mace had me cinched tight, pulling me off the chair to follow wherever he led.
=♥=
Mace
“I’m goin’ to head over…” I whispered while standing just out of the laptop screen where he was on a video call. Slade lifted a finger between us for the third time in the last ten minutes.
His other life wasn’t happy he hadn’t returned to California last night. I wasn’t sure how long he’d been on the call, and didn’t care, time was ticking and I needed to get on the road to my house. Where I should have slept last night, like I had planned. The horses were twenty minutes out, and I wanted to be there from the go.
My foot bounced when Slade turned away from me; the video call held all his attention.
Screw this. I blew out a lengthy breath and patted my jeans pockets. My keys were there. Slade could follow later. I connected to animals in a different way. These horses were traumatized before ever arriving. They needed to see and hear my voice from the second they set foot on Wildflower Sanctuary to help them transition to the ranch.
Of course I saw the holes in my theory, but I still started for my truck. The work ethic my parents jackhammered into my head required I leave to do the job I’d committed to doing.
The early spring weather in this part of Texas was everything right in the world. I loved this time of year. Having Slade stay the extra day did matter in how special this morning had felt. I whistled for Willow who bounded off the porch and into the truck bed. I got behind the wheel of my old truck, bypassing the new, enormous Chevrolet pickup parked in Slade’s driveway.
My beater truck almost drove itself, and it drove Slade crazy that I wasn’t inside the safer vehicle. Win/win I guessed.
I rolled the window down and started the engine. Last night’s music shouted loudly at me. I let it continue the happy beat and put my truck in gear, taking off down the gravel road that connected his home to mine. The sunshine just waking up the day.
So much had changed over the last eight months. I couldn’t imagine the true costs of everything. Although we were considered a medium-size refuge, we met our monthly goals with loads of small donations. The grants took forever to receive. And I knew with certainty the white fencing alone had cost thousands and thousands of dollars. That kind of money still twisted my gut, but as I drove closer to the sanctuary, the pride I felt at seeing my dreams in action meant everything to my soul.
I was happy…beyond happy. I was joy-filled every single day. My entire perspective had changed. I felt worthy of the world again, which of course, changed my life, even Slade’s presence in it. I no longer hid our connection in front of his staff and even the guys Austin had sent to help as farmhands. I suspected they were security as well, but I’d let it go. Let Slade have his secrets.
Today’s new arrivals pulled in seconds after I did. Austin’s general manager, Mike, was there, waiting. I appreciated his ranch management skills. He’d been on property for about the last two weeks, shoring up areas that needed his expertise and lending a hand in the several hundred acres of crops we planted. Soon enough, we’d have enough hay to cover the needs of the ranch and more.