Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21620 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Walker helps me into his truck and drives us to Ernie’s Diner. It’s the best burger place in the state and pretty much the only restaurant in Courage County. If we go in there, everyone will see us together. They’ll know that Walker is dating me. That’s not something he can take back.
When he pulls into the parking lot, I put a hand on his thigh. “I’d be just as happy with a sandwich on your front porch.”
He unbuckles his seatbelt and scoots close. Then he cups my face in his hand and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “I know you would. But I’m proud to have you on my arm. I’m proud to show you off to all of our friends. I want the world to know you belong to me and that I belong to you.”
I blink at the sudden moisture in my eyes. He just keeps saying nice stuff to me. If I wasn’t already completely in love with the grumpy cowboy before, I definitely would be now. He’s everything I want in a man and so much more. “You’re kind of romantic, Walker.”
He chuckles. “You make it easy. Now come on, we’ll be that annoying couple splitting their shake and fries.”
I press a kiss to his lips that I quickly try to deepen but before I can, he’s pulling away from me. Regret flashes in his eyes. “If you keep kissing me like that, I’m going to do some very ungentlemanly things to you right here.”
My lips are swollen, and my breath is coming in little pants. “I wouldn’t mind.”
He laughs. “Pretty sure Ernie and Lorna would.”
Inside the diner, Walker doesn’t sit across from me in the opposite booth. Instead, he joins me in mine, pressing close to me. I like the way he always wants to be beside me.
The night passes in a blur of conversation and laughs. We stay until it’s nearly sunset and we have to leave so we can cross the creek while it’s still light outside. But even the boat ride is wonderful because I’m with Walker. He listens to everything I say, studying me as I talk. He doesn’t seem to think any of my ideas are dumb and always encourages me.
When we’re at his home, I head for the guest bedroom down the hall. But he tugs me against his chest.
“Oh, no,” he growls against my ear. “You’re with me.”
He opens the master bedroom to reveal that he’s moved all of my furniture into the room. He even hung my clothes in the closet along with his. I smile at the sight of them together. “We’re really doing this, aren’t we?”
He’s silent so I turn to find him holding out a tiny velvet box. “There’s something I have to ask you.”
“Walker…”
“Let me say my peace, woman,” he barks at me. But his expression is soft, and his eyes are smiling. “I figured I’d be alone forever. Then one day, a ball of sunshine bounced into my life. My heart stopped in that moment and it didn’t start again until the first time I held you in my arms. You’re beautiful and resilient and mine. All mine. I want you wearing my ring every day. I want you screaming my name every night. And I want you growing big with my babies as we fall more in love together with every passing year.”
He’s blurry now but I manage to nod my head. Whenever I’m around this man, I always end up crying happy tears. We’re going to build a life together and it’s going to be a beautiful one.
10
Walker
“Did you see her?” I ask River as I tug on my tie. The damn thing feels like it’s strangling me, and my palms are damp with sweat. I haven’t been this nervous since I got on Blue, the bull that was mean as a rattlesnake and nearly killed two of my fellow riders. But this is a different kind of nervous, the good kind that has me thinking of my woman. I haven’t seen her in three days. That’s three days too long and the moment I get her alone, I’m spanking that pretty ass for putting me through this.
“Yeah, I saw her,” River grunts. Lily squeals in his arms and he manages to juggle her long enough to grab a flask. He tries to pass it to me to calm my nerves, but I’m not interested in alcohol right now. There’s only one thing that will soothe me—getting Jenna back in my arms again. “Looks pretty today.”
I growl at him. We’re in the back room of the only church in town. I’m pretty sure that means I shouldn’t throw a punch, no matter how badly I want to. No man should ever be looking in the direction of what’s mine and Jenna is most definitely mine.