Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Reine's chest rises and falls in quick, shallow bursts, her fingers turning ice-cold against mine. I press my lips to the delicate blue veins crossing her knuckles, breathing in the scent of vanilla that clings to her skin. “Don’t worry, Montana. My family isn’t going to meddle with how The Rolling R Ranch is run.”
Hudson nods, his lips twitching at the corners. “My brother’s right. We don’t plan on interfering in any way. The ranch remains yours, and if you want to buy our share back someday, we’ll work something out.”
Reine’s hand is trembling so badly that I have to take it in both of mine. I kiss her knuckles, ignoring Hudson’s eye roll. Just you wait, fucker. One day, you’ll see what it feels like to love someone more than your own life.
Grams stares at Hudson for a long moment, then nods once, sharp as a judge’s gavel. “You get one warning,” she says, ice dripping from her words. “Screw us over, and I will personally see to it that your balls decorate the Rockwell Christmas tree.”
Hudson throws his head back and laughs, but I see the relief in his eyes. “Understood, ma’am. Wouldn’t dream of it. You have my word.”
The tension drains out of the room, replaced by something almost like hope. Reine sits back in her chair, breathing hard, and Grams relaxes her death grip on the mug. I can’t stop smiling.
Reine looks up at me, eyes glassy but clear. “You did this for me,” she whispers.
“Damn right I did, Montana,” I murmur back, low and private. “I’d do anything to make you happy.”
Hudson makes a disgusted noise in the back of his throat, while Grams grins at him.
Reine swallows and glances over at my brother. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” My brother stands and walks over to gently pat her shoulder. “Just putting up with my asshole brother is payment enough.”
“Fuck you,” I tell him without much heat. My family really did me a solid favor this time. Reine leans against me, and I’m tempted to kiss her senseless, but I know she needs a little time to digest all of this. Instead, I settle for holding her hand and watching the future start to unfold in real time. My future. Our future. Even if it comes with the world’s most annoying helicopter family as part of the package.
Hudson tugs his suit coat into place, every inch the cocky bastard he’s always been. “Welcome to the family, Reine. We can’t wait for you and Grams to come down and visit The Carrington Ranch.”
“Thank you,” my girl breathes.
Grams gets up, too, and for a second, I think she’s going to shake his hand, but she pulls him in for a big hug. “We look forward to visiting and meeting everyone.”
Hudson grins, winks at Reine. “I wish I could stay longer, but I have an appointment in California tomorrow morning.” He gives my girl another pat on the shoulder, then turns to me. “I’ll call you later and let you know if we’re going to make a move on the Carter horse. Answer your goddamn phone this time.”
“If I feel like it.” I can’t help myself. I fucking love to see steam coming from my brother’s ears.
“Good luck, Reine.” He smiles at her before glaring at me. “You let me know if this asshole gives you any trouble.”
“Thanks again for everything,” my girl tells him as he walks out the door, leaving us alone in the office. Reine lets out a shaky laugh and sags into my side, her head on my shoulder. “Holy shit,” she says. “Are all your family members as intense as your brother?”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “Not at all. Hudson might be the king asshole, but the rest are all pussy cats.”
She looks up at me, her blue eyes shining. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“I’ll arrange a trip down to Texas for us.” I bury my face in her hair, breathing her in. I kiss her, long and slow, then pull away just enough to meet her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I can’t wait to get her alone—there’s a diamond ring burning a hole in my pocket, but I need to wait for the right moment.
The rest of the evening crawls at a snail’s pace. I keep glancing at the clock every two minutes, willing time to go faster. It moves so slowly that I’m convinced the universe is fucking with me.
Reine’s right there beside me, helping Grams finish up dinner, and all I can do is stare at her like a lovesick idiot. My chest is tight. The diamond ring in my pocket gets heavier with every second that ticks by.
I want to do this right. I want to make her mine. Forever. I want the whole world to know she belongs to me.