Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
We stood there for a few moments before I turned and picked up the box. “I’ll walk you back up to the house. I want to put this in my room so nothing happens to it.”
Levi turned, and I took in his muscular build. He wasn’t one of those guys who hit the gym all the time and had muscles that were too big. They were earned by hard work, and Lord, did it show in that T-shirt he was wearing. He got his exercise working on our ranch during the summers and on weekends.
“Sounds good; after you.”
My heart pounded so hard, I could hardly hear a thing, it was so loud in my ears. For some reason I was becoming anxious, and I had no idea why.
“What are your plans for this summer?” I asked as we slowly made our way back up to the house.
He kicked at a rock. “I’m planning on taking Caroline to Belize and asking her to marry me.”
I tripped and nearly dropped the box.
Levi quickly grabbed my arm to steady me. “Whoa, watch out there.”
“Tree root,” I quickly said as I started to walk once again. I looked at him, then focused ahead of me. “You’re asking Caroline to marry you?”
He nodded.
“I thought you were starting vet school this year?”
“I still am, but there’s been a change of plans.”
Stopping, I turned to him. His voice sounded so unsure. I wasn’t positive, but I swore I heard a slight sadness in his tone. “With school?”
He let out a humorless laugh. “No, life.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Levi glanced around as if making sure no one else was nearby. “Caroline is pregnant. She just found out. I’m going to do the right thing and marry her.”
I sucked in a breath. And before I could think better of it, I asked, “Do you want to marry her?”
“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want to marry her, Emeline,” he retorted, his voice cold and distant. Then he closed his eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. This wasn’t something I was expecting, that’s all.”
“What about vet school?”
“I’m going to keep going. Caroline and I will be moving into a little house her parents found for us in Fort Collins.”
Of course they did. Caroline’s father would do anything for her.
“Well…that’s good that you can finish out school and still work with your dad.”
He rubbed at the back of his neck, and when his eyes met mine, I felt sick to my stomach.
“Why do I have a feeling you’re not going to be coming back to River Falls?”
Levi kicked at the ground once again. “Caroline wants to move to Denver when I finish school. She thinks I’ll make more money there rather than here.”
My eyes went wide. “You’re leaving River Falls completely? What about your dad and the practice? I thought the plan was for you to take over when he retires?”
He shrugged. “Plans change.”
I blinked at him and slowly shook my head. “I guess they do. Is this what you want, Levi?”
“No. But sometimes you have to put your feelings aside for the people you love.”
I narrowed my eyes. “That works both ways.”
His eyes snapped up to meet mine. “You don’t understand, Em.”
It was my turn to shrug. “I guess not.”
We started walking again, and when we arrived at the house, we faced each other. Levi flashed me that dazzling smile of his, and I returned the gesture. Holding up the box, I said, “Thank you so much for the shirt. It really is beautiful, and I can’t wait to wear it.”
“You’re welcome. Maybe I’ll see you around campus.”
The chances of us seeing each other would be rare, but not impossible, since at least a few of our classes would be in the same area.
I wasn’t sure whether I was happy or sad about that, now knowing that Levi was marrying Caroline. Before he’d dropped all his bombs on me, I was so excited for the chance of running into Levi at school. I’d even dared to hope we might get to hang out together.
“Maybe,” I replied. Levi took a step closer and drew me in for a hug. It was an innocent gesture. He didn’t linger or hold me too close. It was the kind you give a sibling. He stepped back, leaned down, and brushed a kiss to my forehead.
“See you around, Em.”
My heart slammed against my chest. No one ever called me Em. Now Levi Tucker just went and ruined my first, and probably last, nickname.
He turned and started to walk around the side of the house. He glanced back, and I lifted my hand and waved.
“See you around, Levi.”
Seven years later
A light knock on my door caused me to look up and Moose, my one-year-old chocolate lab, to let out a bark. I smiled when I saw it was my mother. I quickly stood and moved around the desk to hug her. Moose jumped up as well and nearly knocked me over. My little office was across the hall from her office, which was housed in the horse barn over on the east side of the ranch. It was close to my grandparents’ house, and was the original barn built on the ranch when my great-great-grandfather settled this land. It had, of course, been changed over the years, but this barn felt more like home than my own house I’d grown up in. I was here all the time. The barn by my parents’ house was for the cattle, so I hardly ever set foot inside unless I was helping out.