Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97724 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
“Beck? Is that you?”
I turn to look behind me and am stunned to find Ryan Wild, along with his wife, Polly, standing behind us.
“Ry?” I accept his hand and pull him in for a quick hug. “Holy shit, I know someone here.”
“Same,” Polly says, hugging Skyla. “Oh, you’re so beautiful. Is this Dior?”
“Aye,” Skyla says with a shy smile as her gaze drifts down Polly’s dark blue dress. “And that’s Chanel. Oh, it’s just lovely, Polly.”
“Thanks.” Polly kisses her husband’s shoulder, leaving a smear of lipstick that he doesn’t seem to mind at all. “Someone spoiled me on Valentine’s Day.”
“I don’t have any idea who that might have been,” Ryan says, but then offers his wife a grin. “You deserve it.”
“Oh, I know,” Polly replies, making us all laugh.
“I’m so sorry,” Skyla says as she frowns at someone waving her down. “It seems my mother needs me. I’d better go mingle.”
“Do you want me to—”
“No, stay.” She smiles up at me, then at our friends. “I wish I could stay, too. This was a lovely surprise, and I mean it. Thank you both for coming. Polly, I’ll see you at our book club meeting next week?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Polly agrees before Skyla bustles off to mingle.
“So you and Skyla.” Ryan sips his whiskey. “I like it.”
“Do you know her well?” I ask him.
“Not well,” he replies, shaking his head. “I didn’t realize she’d moved to our town until Polly mentioned she went to their book club. I know Connor a bit, as I’ve invested in hotels in the past few years. When I was invited to this, Polly and I decided to take a couple of days away. I like her brother. And her family as a whole seems like good people.”
I nod and let my eyes move over the crowd, looking for my girl. I find her laughing with a woman, and it makes me jealous.
I want to hear her laughter.
Fuck me, I’ve gotten soft.
“I have to say,” Polly adds with a grin. “I like the way you look at her, Beck. I’ve known you a long-ass time, and I’ve never seen you look at a woman like that. Not even Tori.”
Polly and I grew up together. Her brother, Mac, is one of Ryan’s and my closest friends. And, once upon a time, she was tight with my ex.
“And how do I look at Skyla?”
“Like you love her.” She smiles softly and reaches out to pat my arm. “It looks good on you.”
“Yeah, well, I think this weekend is teaching me that our worlds are pretty different.”
“Fuck that,” Ryan says, shaking his head. “Money is just money.”
“Says the man with a shit ton of it.”
“She came to Bitterroot Valley on her own because she likes it. Who she is has little to do with her parents’ investment portfolio. Don’t be a dick about it. Enjoy her. If she’s the one,” Ryan continues, “love her.”
I blow out a breath and nod.
Ryan makes it sound simple, but it wasn’t so long ago that he was a confirmed bachelor. Just as Polly said, however, love looks good on him.
Is that what I want? To love Skyla and have her love me back?
Fuck, yes.
“I’m not letting her go. I’ll do charity events if she wants me to, and then I can go back to my cows. She does like the ranch, so that’s something.”
“Who wouldn’t?” Polly laughs at that. “It’s beautiful. Also, FYI, I need ice cream for all the summer parties we’re about to host since we’re opening the pool soon.”
“I’ll hook you up.”
“We’re having a house party in a couple of weeks,” Ryan informs me. “Bring your girl.”
“Sounds good, thanks. We’ll be there.” My eyes skim the space again, and I find Skyla talking with her father and another man who looks to be her father’s age. Her body is relaxed, her mouth in a smile. She’s fine. “Hey, how is the ranch merger going between the Wild River and Lexington ranches? Is it final yet?”
Ryan’s family ranch borders the Lexington ranch. They were always bitter rival families, but Ryan’s younger sister, Millie, married Holden last year, and they’ve decided to combine ranches, making them the biggest cattle ranch in Montana.
It’s impressive.
“It is,” Ryan says with a satisfied grin. “And so far, it’s great. Everyone’s happy.”
“Even your father?” Everyone knows how much John Wild hated the Lexingtons.
“He’s come around,” Ryan says with a nod. “It’s been a good thing for both families.”
“I’m glad. I hear Holden broke ground on the house he’s building for Millie. He showed me the plans. It’s going to be an awesome house.”
“Yeah, there’s never a fucking dull moment.” Ryan laughs and leans down to plant a kiss on his wife’s head, and I search the crowd for Skyla. She’s moved farther away, almost on the other side of the room, but I can feel it as soon as I spot her.