Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
I like her too fucking much.
I want to dissect her timidness, and I want to pick her brain. And I really want to fucking touch her.
I won’t, because I respect boundaries. But I fucking want to.
It was a relief when she left for the rest of the afternoon, so I could meet up with Scott and ride fence, make repairs, and get back to normal so I could set thoughts of a gorgeous brunette, who’s only interested in working for me, aside for a while.
She made it clear that she’s not interested, and I’m not the kind of man who can’t take no for an answer.
Easton’s waiting for me, a pool cue already in hand, when I walk into Lucky’s Bar and join him. He passes me a beer, and we clink them in cheers.
“You don’t usually drink beer.” I watch as my brother saunters to the pool table, where the balls are racked and ready, and he breaks the first game.
“I’m having a shit day,” he says as he chalks the tip of his cue. “One beer won’t hurt anything.”
“What happened?”
He shrugs and leans over to sink a ball. He misses.
“Bad domestic violence call early this morning. The fucker almost killed her.” He shakes his head and sips his beer. “Then, a kid got hit by a car by the school. The driver was drunk and driving fifty miles a fucking hour in a school zone.
“Christ.”
His eyes are tired as they meet mine. “Yeah. And then there’s all the other usual shit and so much damn paperwork, I’ll likely die from boredom.”
“You love your job.”
Easton shrugs. “Most days I do. On days like today, when the woman who had her ass handed to her and was hospitalized with her injuries, and then decides she won’t press charges, I don’t love it so much.”
“Fuck, that sucks.”
“Yeah, so there was that.”
“Back at it tomorrow?
“Not unless I’m called in. I have the next three off. I might come out to the ranch and go for a ride on Saffron.”
“She’d love that,” I reply as I lean over and shoot a ball into the corner pocket. “Hell, come stay for a couple of days if you want.”
“We’ll see. I should do some work around the house. Spring cleanup is upon us.”
“Yeah, don’t I know it.”
“You know, I understand that you wanted the ranch and the house, but that’s a big house to take care of by yourself with all of the other shit you deal with. Hire someone for the landscaping.”
“I don’t need to. I don’t do anything fancy.”
“Still, it would open up some of your time.” He sips his beer. “Hey, how’s the intern?”
“Fine.” I cross my arms over my chest, watching him.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“It’s true. She’s . . . fine.”
He blinks slowly, and then smiles, his usual cocky personality shining through. “A she intern. Is she hot?”
I’m going to punch my brother, the cop.
“She’s an employee.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
Fuck yes, she’s hot, and I want to fuck her six ways to Sunday.
“She’s . . . attractive.”
“Tuck?”
I lift an eyebrow in question.
“Does she have a nice ass?”
“You’re an idiot.”
It’s after dark when I get home. I walk into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and glance out the back window toward Darby’s cabin, and notice light flickering behind it. She must have started a fire in the firepit that Scott left out there.
I should not go out and join her. I wasn’t invited. Darby seems like the kind of woman who likes her space and doesn’t need me hanging around like a lovesick puppy.
But I open the back door and walk right out there anyway.
When I circle around the cabin, I see her right away, sitting in a folding chair by the fire. The light dances over her face and hair. Her legs are drawn up to her chest, and her arms are wrapped around them.
She’s watching the flames, deep in thought, and I absolutely should not be here.
But before I can turn to walk away, she says, “Come sit.”
I pause and tilt my head to the side. “You sure?”
“I bought two chairs on my way back after dinner,” she says, indicating the spare one next to her. “Come sit in it. The fire’s nice.”
I suspect that I’m incapable of telling her no. I don’t want to tell her no.
So, I sit next to her and gaze into the fire.
“How was dinner with your family?” I ask her.
“It’s always fun and noisy. It gets more so now that two of my sisters are married and Dani has kids. I love it. And then it’s nice to be in the quiet like this.”
I nod because I know all about loud family gatherings.
“Did you know that you have natural arnica growing on your property?” Her voice is quiet. Relaxed.