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)
I’m so fucked.
I watch her racing toward me as if I’m a house on fire and she’s the woman for the job. She might be. But if she wasn’t distracting enough, being in the saddle again has messed with the rest of my head. Nightfall is powerful—long legs, solid muscle, and as dark as night. It’s been too long since I’ve ridden, but we settled in together to get the work done. But I’m reminded of how good it feels to be outside for a job, breathing in the fresh air under blue skies without a skyscraper in sight.
The highest viewpoint is the ridge of our town’s namesake, Peachtree Pass. Just below, the river flows even in times of drought. It’s a constant in an ever-changing world. Even this property has changed so much since I was last out here years earlier. New equipment barn, more fields plowed, growing crops. It’s become a bigger business than I realized. I wonder if Baylor knows since he doesn’t frequent these parts that much anymore.
He's lucky he hasn’t reached the burnout I have. Yet. He will. The city, the job in finance, the lifestyle. It will bury him eventually, like it did me. I’ll be there for him as he has been for me. Except when it comes to his sister. He’s managed to keep her under wraps for the most part.
Now I know why. Because he knows me too well.
But I didn’t expect to discover that there’s no hiding her beauty once you're in her presence. Her long hair flies behind her as she rides, the sun catching strands of gold and paler blond and streaks of light brown that tangle together and flow from underneath her hat. She looked cute at the store in her dress with little flowers, but I’m not minding the jeans and tees she wears either. Nothing has clung to her body, but the clothes fit enough to tell what’s underneath. Still, I wouldn’t be upset to see her naked.
I lift my hat and run my hand over my hair before setting it back in place where it feels more natural than the suits and Italian loafers I’m usually stuck wearing.
She and her horse slow on approach and shift to the side of us. “Hey, good workout here today,” she says. “Once you wrangled the last calf inside the pasture, I closed the gate. Reggie is setting up the barn with fresh water for the night, so we’re good to go.”
“We can clock out?”
“Thank you for coming today. You helped make easy work of it. We’re officially off the clock.” Although a smile is there when she lowers her eyes to her fidgeting hands, it falls right after. Peeking up under her lashes, she adds, “So . . . guess you’re free to go.”
“I was free to go at any time. I stayed because I wanted to, Pris.” I lean to my side and lift her chin until her eyes are set on me with the spirit of the woman who ran this ranch like a boss today. Sitting back, I say, “It’s hot. I was thinking about the river and cooling off like we used to when we were kids. Any interest?”
“I have some interest.” Her smile returns and brings out mine. “Do you want to go to the house and get bathing suits? I’m sure Baylor left one or two behind.”
Looking in the distance at the ridge, I say, “I was hoping we could just go.”
“Go, as in no suits?” I turn back to see the surprise in her eyes, though she hid it well in her tone. It’s not all shock, though. Enticement dances in her eyes as she looks across the grassy land toward where the river flows. “Race you?” She takes off with a lift in her stirrups and a “Ya, let’s go” to her horse. Sunrise runs as if the devil is chasing her.
Nightfall takes off, sending me back in the saddle, and I barely catch myself. Shit. This horse is fast. I tighten my grip on the reins and right myself, angling forward and keeping low just above the horse’s mane. He’s too fast, and I’m out of practice, but we find our rhythm and catch up to them.
Pris shines like the star she always was in the rodeo ring. Her happiness spreads across her features as her body is one with her horse. She glances over at me, and I see the fire in her eyes and the freedom that embodies her.
She’s beautiful.
And when we slow near the trees where the river runs just beyond, she looks at me like I’m getting credit when it’s not due. No credit needed. Only the freedom to leave the rest of the world out of our business for a short time, just the two of us alone together. “I don’t ride like that anymore. It was amazing.”