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)
“Yeah, yeah, all of that stuff too.” She laughed to herself. “Are you going to wear your new wardrobe?”
“Ugh, no.” I’d spent money I didn’t want to spend just to buy clothes that would make the women feel better about my body and their men, and now I didn’t need them. “The clothes are nice, but they aren’t exactly appropriate for life on a ranch. I’m packing up jeans and t-shirts. And those boots I thought were completely impractical for Texas weather.”
“Progress,” she said with a hint of pride in her voice. “Good for you, Molly.”
“Thanks. I just hope it doesn’t end in yet another disaster.” It won’t, I told myself because if I didn’t go into this with a positive attitude, then what was the point of even trying? “And if it does, I’ll find a way. I look how I look, and I can’t do much to change that, so if this one doesn’t work, I guess I’ll have to consider teaching.”
“Ugh,” Toni growled. “This will work, Mols. You deserve it.”
“Thank you, Toni. I’m happy you’re my friend.”
“Aw,” she sniffled. “You’re getting mushy on me, and I’m too emotional to pretend to be tough.” She laughed again, and even though it was watery, it had that patented Toni sarcasm behind it.
“You’re the toughest broad I know,” I told her honestly. “In my dad’s book, that’s the highest of compliments.”
“I love your dad, and I am a tough broad who expects you to call the minute you have word on the sexy cowboy.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, I’ll catch up with you soon. Don’t forget to sing to the baby.”
“I am. They love classic rock and nineties pop, and I’m not sure if I can love a child with such poor musical tastes.”
“You are absolutely ridiculous, and I love it. Try R&B; maybe your baby will come out soulful.”
“Good idea. I gotta go; time to go do mom shit.”
“Send the family my love.”
“Will do. And if you need a place to store some of your things, my place is available until I decide what to do with it.”
“Thanks for the offer. I may take you up on it.” My cousin’s welcome was wearing thin, and even though she’d never say it, having my belongings clogging up her small apartment wasn’t a long-term solution. “Talk soon.” I tossed the phone on the coffee table and looked down at my belongings, most of them still packed in boxes, bags, and a couple of suitcases.
I spent the rest of the morning packing enough to last for the sixty-day probationary period. The McCall Ranch was a little over one hundred miles outside of the city of Houston. It was too far to drive if I forgot something important, so I checked my list—twice—and started to pack up my little green hatchback. A quick look at the clock told me I had just enough time to call my cousin, drop off my leftover boxes at Toni’s place, and get on the road to make it to the ranch by lunchtime.
I had enough time even if there was a little bit of traffic, and I was determined that I wouldn’t show up late. I’d given Serenity, the owner of Elite Nanny Services, my word, and I intended to keep it because she’d gone above and beyond in finding me placements, even though none had panned out. Yet.
“Molly.”
I froze at the sound of Travis’s voice, but I shook off the shock and kept going toward my car.
“Molly,” he called me again. “Don’t ignore me.”
I shoved the last two boxes into the car, slammed it shut, and turned to face him. “I wouldn’t have to ignore you if you’d stop showing up where you shouldn’t be.”
His lips curled into that smile I once found so sexy. “It’s a free country.”
“You’re right. And I’m free to ignore you. Have a nice life, Travis.” I slid behind the steering wheel and grabbed the door, but he held it open.
“We’re not over.”
“Wrong,” I yanked the door harder. “We’ve been over for a long time. Go find another woman to torment, or better yet, work on yourself.”
His nostrils flared because he was incapable of hiding his anger. It was only a matter of time before he really exploded. “You used to love me.”
I never loved him. “I used to find you charming until you grew tired of pretending. Goodbye, Travis.” I slammed the door and peeled out of the parking spot so quickly he had to jump out of my way.
My heart raced as I hauled ass away from Travis because I wouldn’t put it past him to follow me. I stopped answering his calls and text messages, so I wasn’t that surprised he’d shown up at my cousin’s place, but his presence had thrown me. As I got on the road toward McCall Ranch, I was more determined than ever to secure this job beyond the sixty-day period.