Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 569(@200wpm)___ 455(@250wpm)___ 379(@300wpm)
A fun night is what’s needed to get my mind off things with a guaranteed good time afterward. I practically warned her already when I told her not to wear underwear under the dress tonight. She likes to tease and bonus, she likes sex with me, so I wouldn’t have been surprised if that’s how she showed up anyway.
Seeing her look so goddamn beautiful helps.
We reach the fairgrounds just after six. Beck wants out, so Pris opens the door to free him. “Stay close,” she says like he’s already one of her own. She leaves the door propped open, but when she looks at me, she smiles. “You owe me a proper hello, cowboy.”
I reach over and rub her leg, then kiss her. “If by hello you mean fuck, I’m down.”
Under a lifted brow, she smirks. “Well, you’re not actually down, but I’m happy to let you go down later.”
“Promise?”
She starts laughing. “Promises. Promises.” She hops out of the truck, then leans over the seat, and says, “Ready to go break the one who’s holding you back?”
“Thank fuck your brother isn’t here.”
“He’s going to find out. You ready to face that music?”
I open my door, but before I get out, I take her in once more. Together for more than a month, and we’re ready to blow our cover. Seeing that angelic smile of hers, the one that shines only when she sees me, has me feeling invincible. “I’m ready to be with you, so I’ll do whatever it takes, babe.”
Walking around the back of the truck, Pris holds Beckett’s hand, so I take his other. “Ready to have some fun?”
CHAPTER 34
Christine
“Oh. My. God.” Lauralee’s mouth falls open as soon as she sees us. She lowers her cotton candy, and says, “Way to start a rumor.”
“No rumors. Pure facts,” Tagger says with his arm draped over my shoulders. He’s dressed to impress me, wearing his best Levi’s, a pair of spiffed-up black boots with a shirt to match. I loaned him the black hat since it goes best with it, but only after he swore to give it back later tonight.
Beck runs circles around us after too much cotton candy, as evidenced by his blue tongue and matching lips. I try to catch him, but the squirmy worm hasn’t run out of sugar yet. He’s going to crash so hard.
Holding my boyfriend around the back, I dip my hand lower and shove my hand in his back pocket. It gives me a great grasp of that firm ass, so I give it a squeeze. That earns me a lopsided grin. I say, “We decided a hard launch was best.”
“It’s hard alright.” Her eyes dart around, then return to mine. “I don’t think this town will recover once this gets out.” Moving closer, she says, “Everybody’s watching.”
“Let ’em.” Tagger shrugs. “This relationship doesn’t involve them. At least this way, they can gossip and get it out of their systems.”
“What are you talking about, Tag?” She laughs. “They still gossip about Ashton Kramer sleeping with the phone book salesman from 1982. They’re not going to let this fade away anytime soon.”
Beck tugs on Tagger’s belt loop. “Can we ride the Ferris wheel?”
“Sure, buddy.” He glances at Lauralee. “Want to join us?”
My heart squeezes from the heartfelt gesture.
“If you’re looking to spread some real rumors, this will do it.”
“Lauralee,” I playfully caution. I shouldn’t worry. If Tagger gets my humor, he’ll get hers.
The line has grown, so we get in line with our tickets to wait it out. “I’m hot,” Beck whines, kicking the grass. He pushes his hat so it’s anchored on his crown, revealing his red cheeks.
“It is quite warm,” I say, glancing at Tagger. “We should get water after this ride.”
He nods, appearing to analyze how much longer we’ll be waiting by counting the people ahead of us. “Are we interested in the rodeo?” He squats to talk to Beck directly. “Painting the house kept us busy, so you didn’t get a chance to see the sheep over at Miss Christine’s. How are you feeling about the Mutton Bustin’?”
Shaking his head is enough for his dad to respect his decision. Tagger says, “It’s okay. There’s always next year.”
As cute as it would have been to see, Beckett isn’t living this life every day. It’s still a vacation to him. I appreciate Tagger not pressuring him to do something he knows nothing about.
I rub Tagger’s shoulder when the line moves up. “The barrel racing and bucking broncos is tomorrow night. We could take off after the Ferris wheel if you think he’s ready to leave.”
We shift up to the front of the line. I think Beck is hitting a wall after two hours of being here in the heat, eating a hot dog, downing a blue raspberry slushie, devouring cotton candy, and riding four vomit-inducing rides. The joys of being a kid.