Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Yes. Also, loving yourself as hard as you love him.”
My heart lurches. Yes, I’m well aware that I’ve been in the process of falling for Duke.
Falling hard and apparently falling fast, because hearing that word—love—in relation to him feels…right.
It feels true. Which should scare the ever-loving shit out of me. I mean, it wasn’t long ago that I was terrified to date the guy. Now I’m in love with him, and I’m not panicking or running for the hills?
“Who the hell am I?” I manage.
Mollie gives me one last squeeze. “You’re exactly who you’ve always known yourself to be. I’m legit thrilled you finally have the courage to acknowledge her. Also, congrats on the superhot stud. I mean that literally.”
“Ha. Funny cowgirl joke.”
“I am a cowgirl now.” She pats my back. “Only a matter of time before you become one too.”
Cash, who’s been shamelessly eavesdropping, gives me a smile. “Howdy, mama.”
CHAPTER 31
New Hire
Wheeler
From: nick.kelce@aspenleather.com
To: wheeler@bellamybrooks.com, mollie@bellamybrooks.com, duke@bellamybrooks.com
Subject: Re: Bellamy Brooks Men’s Collection
Y’ALL I’M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY HEY I’M JUST GONNA SCREAM IN ALL CAPS ABOUT HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOUR BOOTS! The City Boot is killer in that ostrich. Our fancy customers are gonna LOVE those. And the Country Boot is exactly the classic-with-a-twist silhouette we’re always looking for. I know you said the samples were fresh from the boot maker, but if you’re game to accept orders we’d like to place one. See attached for the details. Send me an invoice whenever is convenient for you.
Peace, love, and damn fine cowboy boots,
Nick
PS—any chance we could convince you to come to Aspen again for another trunk show? Maybe we try for the summer this time ;)
____
I yell.
Mollie shouts.
I hear the thump of footsteps, and then Duke, Ryder, Cash, and Patsy appear at the door, eyes wide.
“Y’all okay?” Patsy puts a hand on her chest.
“Is it the baby?” Duke and Cash blurt at the same time.
Mollie laughs, smoothing her dress over her bump. “Babies are just fine.”
“Come here!” I wave frantically at Duke. “Big news!”
He hustles across the room in his full cowboy getup, hat and all, and bends at the waist to look at the laptop screen over my shoulder. I can smell the sweat on him. The clean air too. He and his brothers just arrived at the New House for lunch—Patsy’s barbecue chicken, which she’s serving with cornbread and collard greens.
My stomach grumbles just thinking about it. Hell yes. Chicken is no longer the enemy. In fact, it’s something I suddenly crave. Now that I’m finally in my second trimester, I’m starting to feel worlds better.
Hungrier too.
Duke points to the screen. “Still makes me smile to see my new email address.”
“And Wheeler and I are still your bosses.” Mollie elbows him. “No horsing around, you hear?”
I laugh. “Love the cowgirl jokes.”
“I got lots of ’em.” She nods at the laptop. “Now read the dang email, Duke, so we can freaking celebrate already.”
Duke squints, the edges of his eyes crinkling in the most adorable way imaginable as his smile grows and grows and grows.
He looks at me, tapping the bottom of his fist on the desk. “Well, hot damn. How many did he order?”
“Only two hundred pairs of each.” Running my fingertips over the mouse pad, I click on the order. “Which means—”
“You’re well on your way to building a women’s and men’s cowboy boot empire.” He laughs. “Congratulations, Blue.”
“It’s our empire, dummy.” I wrap my arms around his neck. “You’re still good to go shirtless in the ad campaign, right? Because that was part of our pitch to Nick.”
Duke laughs, a velvety chuckle that I feel in my nipples. “How many times I gotta say you could pay me a hell of a lot less to show a hell of a lot more?”
“We didn’t offer to pay you,” Mollie teases.
I kiss his cheek. “We just brought you onto the team and made you partner.”
“Oooh.” He ducks his lips. “That’s one sexy title.”
“You’re one sexy cowboy.”
Patsy laughs. “Y’all need the room? I gotta finish up the cornbread anyway—”
“I mean, if y’all are willing…” Duke’s eyes gleam.
I give him a shove. “Success turn you on?”
“Yours does, yeah.” He kisses me back. “I can grab a shower—”
“How ’bout we celebrate first?” Cash asks. “Then we ‘nap.’”
Mollie bites her lip. “I like naps.”
“Who doesn’t like naps?” I rise, putting my hands on the small of my back. I’m achy and I’m tired and I’m so freaking happy.
And relieved.
And happy.
“You’re glowing, Blue,” Duke says later when we’re at home, naked in bed after the slowest, most delicious sex ever. “I’m proud of you. Proud of us.”
I turn onto my side and tuck my hand underneath my cheek on the pillow. “We’ve had an awesome year so far at Bellamy Brooks. So many wins we’ve been working toward for such a long, long, long time.” I shut my eyes. “For a while there, I wasn’t sure we’d make it. We were spinning our wheels year after year, trying to catch a break.”