Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36960 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 185(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 123(@300wpm)
“I didn’t know they could be vindictive.” I can’t resist teasing him.
“It’s not common knowledge, but they’ve been known to carry a grudge for miles.” One side of his mouth tips up, but that’s the only giveaway he’s amused by our exchange. I love how he’s serious when he needs to be, but he can also make silly jokes.
“I’ll keep it in mind next time I take out my trash,” I say as our order arrives.
The food is amazing. My steak is cooked to perfection. Done but not dry. Juicy enough and full of flavor. The baked potato with the crunchy skin has been garnished with bacon crumbles, plenty of melted cheese and a generous helping of sour cream. The hot, buttered roll is light and airy, practically melting in my mouth with every bite.
When we’re done, Griffin asks me if I want dessert. “They have a good selection. There’s a brownie with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, an apple fritter recipe that won’t win any prizes at the state fair, but it’s good enough. A cheesecake with—”
I shake my head and lean closer. He mimics me, leaning across the table to hear my whispered words. “You promised me a different kind of dessert, cowboy.”
His gaze lights up. “There’s a look-out point, near one of the waterfalls. It’s not far from here. Very secluded. Very scenic.”
I press a hand to my chest, catching the way he swallows hard. “As a newcomer to town, I would love to see this natural wonder.”
He stands from the table, holds out his hand, and says, “Oh, there’s a lot of natural wonders I plan to show you.”
Chapter 8
Griffin
I stop my truck in the dirt that overlooks one of the town’s waterfalls. It’s a hangout for the teenage kids to come and mess around in, but we have it all to ourselves tonight. Sitting across from her at the restaurant and listening as she moaned with every bite of food had me aching for relief.
Still, I wasn’t ready for our date to end tonight, and that’s why I suggested dessert. My heart stopped when she asked for a different kind of sweet treat. I’m more than happy to satisfy both of us.
I’ve barely put it in park when she flings off her seatbelt and climbs into my lap. Any worries I had about her hesitancy on the twenty-minute drive are gone. She’s made it very clear she wants this.
My hands go to her hips, and I grip her, feeling her silky slip through the material of her cotton dress. When I showed up to pick her up for our date, I didn’t expect the pin-up fantasy that greeted me. She has no idea how sexy she is or how badly I want her. But I’m not going to mess this up. I’m going to take my time and show her just how much I care.
“You’re beautiful,” I say. I want her to know that every day for the rest of her life, that I think she’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. I’ll never give her a reason to doubt how important she is to me.
“It’s the dress,” she answers.
I squeeze her hips tighter, wanting her full attention since it’s too dark out here for us to see each other properly. “It’s the woman who’s wearing it. The fighter who hasn’t given up despite overwhelming odds. The warrior who carries the weight of the world and makes it look effortless. She’s incredible, and she’s all mine.”
She swallows and puts her hand on my chest. “I like the way you see me.”
“I’ll spend the rest of my life telling you how amazing you are,” I promise, meaning the words. When I told her over dinner that I didn’t plan for her to be a single mom too much longer, I wasn’t lying.
The only thing standing in our way is her past. Once the men who are after her are in jail, I’m going to tell the world she’s mine. I’ll slide my ring on her finger and pound on my chest in front of our family and friends as the pastor tells them what I knew since the moment I laid eyes on her: this girl is mine.
Cupping her face, I press my lips to hers. She’s sweet tea and precious innocence. I’ll protect her for the rest of my life. It will be my greatest mission and my highest honor, caring for this woman.
She shifts, moving to put her knees on either side of my thighs. When she does that, she pulls away from my kiss. “Seatbelt.”
I blink, sucking in oxygen and trying to figure out what she’s saying.
She giggles, her breath stirring my beard. She tugs on the belt across my chest. “Take this off.”
I yank it off, my fingers brushing against the soft skin of her legs. How is she so soft and lush everywhere? I’m going to have to resign from the department and stop working the farm. I’ll spend my days in bed, doing dirty things to my angel. I’ll make her sigh in bliss every day, bring heaven right to her door. She’ll want for nothing as I wait on her hand and foot.