Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“I might have to test that out one of these days. You ever ridden a horse before?”
“Nope.” Her stomach growled, and her cheeks turned an adorable shade of pink. “I better finish this up before my stomach stages a mutiny.” Her smile was wide and slightly embarrassed as she turned back to gardening.
I climbed the porch and went into the mudroom, where I toed off my boots and stepped into the kitchen, still thinking about Molly. What in the hell was it about that woman that made her so unforgettable? What pulled me towards her?
Part of it was her forgiving nature. She could’ve given me ten miles of shit for the way I spoke to her yesterday morning, but she hadn’t. Sure, she’d been aloof most of yesterday, but she didn’t appear to hold it against me, and I’ve never met a woman who couldn’t hold a grudge for all of eternity. The other part was her sincerity. Molly’s expressive face gave away every thought and emotion, and as far as I could tell, she didn’t say anything she didn’t mean.
I looked at the spread of sandwiches on the table, and I knew exactly what I could do to apologize because it was the least I could do. I rushed upstairs for a quick shower and a change of clothes because I smelled like all the animals on the ranch, which is to say I stank like hell. Ignoring the visions of Molly in pink leggings and yoga shorts, I rushed through my shower and set up something I knew—I hoped—would impress Molly.
I peeked out at the garden, and my shoulders sank when I realized she wasn’t there. Maybe she didn’t plan to have lunch since Hunter was asleep? I shrugged it off and prepared everything, feeling hopeful that she would make an appearance.
“What’s all this?”
I whirled around with a narrowed gaze. “You move like a ninja.”
She smiled and wiggled her brows. “Surprised a girl my size can move so stealthily?”
I frowned. “Your size?”
She nodded, a glint of a challenge in her gaze.
“Molly, there’s nothing at all wrong with your size, and I’m sorry if I made you think there was. This,” I motioned to the table, “is my attempt at an apology.”
She stepped closer to the table; her fresh-from-the-shower scent invaded my senses. “Are these your cheeses?”
I nodded. “Cinnamon and sandalwood,” came out instead of an answer.
“What?”
“You smell like cinnamon and sandalwood.” The words sounded like an accusation, but in true Molly fashion, she grinned.
“Good nose. It’s a set that my mom bought me when I received my first placement after college.”
It was fucking irresistible, and it made me want to lean forward and take a deep whiff, which would be weird. Possibly creepy. Maybe even illegal. “It’s nice.” Nice and distracting.
“Oh, um, thank you.”
“Have a seat.”
“Bossy,” she grumbled under her breath, but she dropped down in a chair and looked at the platter with wide eyes. “Who knew cowboys could put together a cheese board?”
I shrugged. “Wyatt taught me. Said if I wanted to be in the gourmet business, then I needed to know fancy pants shit.”
She barked out a laugh at that and picked up a cracker. “Okay, tell me what to put on here to maximize the flavors. That’s how this works, right?”
I took the seat beside her and stared at the board, knowing exactly what I wanted her to try first. I plucked the cracker from her hand and set it back on the board before I built a different one and held it up to her lips. “Taste it.”
Heat blazed in her eyes, and she reached for the cracker, groaning when I pulled back and pushed it forward again.
“Taste.”
Molly rolled her eyes as a smile played on her full lips. She leaned forward and grabbed my wrist to stabilize it while she took a bite. “Mmm,” she moaned almost instantly.
The sound went straight to my cock. Or maybe it was the combination of the sound and her scent that had me fighting for control. “Good?”
Green eyes popped open, and she stopped my heart with the smile she laid on me. “Fantastic,” she moaned again and gripped my wrist to take the other half of the cracker stacked with cheese and preserves. “Is that a hint of lavender I taste?”
“Good taste buds,” I answered with a smile, using a variation of her earlier words. “The lemon preserves have a hint of lavender in them to bring out the flowery undertones of the cheese.”
Molly sagged against her chair with a sigh. “That was the best bite of cheese I’ve ever tasted. Not that I’m a cheese aficionado or anything, but that was delicious. Another. Please.”
Next, I gave her a creamy goat cheese with blackberry jam.
“Oh my God, that is heavenly!” Her head fell back, and another moan escaped. “Sweet Lord above, that is incredible.” She took another bite and requested another and then another with a giddy smile, excited to test out any combination I put together for her. “Wow, Colton, you’ve got something really special here,” she said as she put a few sandwiches on a plate and slid it in front of me.