Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“Bethany was a good woman.”
“Your dad likes her as well,” Mary said. “He said you’re different around her.”
Cyrus shrugged. He was not going to tell his mom he had every intention of marrying Willow. Last night, she spent the whole night in his house, and it had been fucking incredible having her there.
There was a lot Willow didn’t know. Like the fact he’d wanted her for a long time and had every intention of being with her.
When it came to the house, he suddenly realized last night that he’d been making that house for her. It sounded so damn far-fetched, but it wasn’t. He realized Willow was the woman for him, and he’d waited for her.
He’d gotten them a house ready. The few times he would see her, he would have swatches in his hand, and he’d talk to her, get her advice. He would have her choose her favorite colors, whatever theme for the cabinets. He’d seen her reaction to the house. The furniture might not have been perfect, and there might have been a few things not to her liking, but he knew she loved the place.
His parents also loved her.
“I’m not different,” Cyrus said.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your father believes you’re less angry. She calms you, in a good way.” His mother put a hand on his arm. “Now, help me get these dishes to the table, because I am starving.”
He stepped into the dining room and looked to see his woman sitting close to his dad, and when he saw what they were looking at, he couldn’t help but frown. “Dad, seriously, the photograph albums? You couldn’t think of something better?”
“What would be better than your cute baby ass?” his dad asked.
Willow laughed. “You do have a very cute baby butt.”
Cyrus was not going to be embarrassed. He moved closer and saw the picture he’d seen a thousand times.
His mom had told him he didn’t want to get changed into his church clothes, so he’d snatched the towel, run around the house naked, and shook his butt from side to side, saying they couldn’t catch him. His dad did catch him, and he was dressed in his church clothes. The threat of a spank meant he was a good boy in church. It was a lot of fun.
There was no stopping Dad once he got started, and the only way to do so was to get the food on the table, which he did in a hurry. He didn’t want Willow seeing too many embarrassing pictures.
He hadn’t even asked her to marry him, and their relationship was so new.
All it took was several more dishes, and his mother had gone all out. There was a large roast beef on the table, mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, vegetables galore, and he had no doubt none of this food would be wasted.
His mother loved to cook leftovers. She would come up with any excuse to make a big dinner, and then the challenge was how to make meals with those leftovers other people wanted to eat. His dad was the guinea pig, or him, or his brother, when Ray was around.
The meal went by without another picture being shown. His parents adored Willow, but Cyrus knew in a strange change of circumstances that he did, in fact, miss his brother. Ray was a pain in the ass, but he was still his brother.
Getting to his feet, he excused himself from the table and made a quick call to Old Sheriff Billy. He wanted him to run a check to find Ray. He was not going to bring him home, but he certainly would check to see if he was okay. Once that was done, when he got back to the table, dessert was being set.
His mother was already trying to make arrangements for another Sunday, but Cyrus was able to get them both out of there before more drinks and more photographs.
“Your parents are amazing,” Willow said, climbing into his truck, and he helped her inside.
“They adore you,” he said.
“Are you sure? Do you think so?” Willow asked. She nibbled her lip and looked cute as she did so.
“Yeah, I am sure, and yes, I think so.” He turned the ignition over in his truck, and then he pulled out of his parents’ driveway but didn’t go to Willow’s house. He went to his own—the home he hoped would one day be theirs.
This time, as he got to the gate, he put the car in “park,” but Willow was already climbing out to open the gate. He watched her, then drove through, letting her close the gate and come to join him.
“So, can I ask you a question?” Willow asked. “It is a very important question, and you might have to think of the answer.”
“Just ask,” he said.