Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
“Never fell off a horse in her fifty-five years on this Earth before that fall several months back.” Lori shook her head. “I would have called, but you changed your number.”
“Sorry about that. Your dad has the new number.”
She gave me a warm smile. “It’s okay. I’m going to head to the hospital. Dad said to please show Ensley around the ranch, make yourself comfortable, and if you want to go into the house, I’ll keep it open for you.”
Holding up my hands, I said, “No need to do that. I’ll give Ensley a little tour, and we’ll head back into town and grab dinner.”
Lori exhaled. “I’m really sorry about this, guys.”
“Please,” Ensley said. “Don’t even worry about it. I hope everything will be okay with your mom.”
“I’m sure it will be,” Lori said, before taking a few steps back. “I’m gonna head inside and grab my stuff.”
“Tell your mother I hope she recovers quickly.”
Nodding, Lori said, “Will do! Enjoy your stay here, Ensley. See you both Tuesday morning.”
“Thank you and hope all is well!”
I turned to face Ensley. “We have a bit of sunlight left if you want to drive around the ranch.”
“Yes! I’d love that!”
We drove around the ranch, and I showed her where I had lived the last five years, the barn, and a few spots on the ranch that were my favorite areas.
“It’s so beautiful here, Colt. I can see why it would be hard to leave this place.”
I nodded. “Yeah. I learned a lot about myself and about cattle ranching on this place. If I didn’t love horses so much, I might consider getting into the cattle business.”
Ensley glanced around. “They certainly make a lot of money from it.”
“That they do. Are you hungry? I’m starved.”
“What do you say we grab takeout from somewhere, go back to the hotel, and relax? I didn’t realize how tired I was until just now.”
Ensley could’ve had no idea how amazing that sounded, and I was forever grateful she’d suggested it.
“That sounds perfect. Pizza?”
Her eyes lit up. “If you know of a place that has a stromboli, I’m totally down for that.”
I let out a short bark of laughter. “Do I know a place? Hell yes, I do! I’m about to take you to heaven, Pip.”
A slow smile spread across her face. “With a stromboli?”
“Yes! Just you wait.”
Ensley
I took the last bite of my stromboli and closed my eyes. I was so sad my meal was over. “Oh my gosh, that was amazing!
“I told you it was good.”
When I looked at Colt, I smiled. “I don’t know why I ever doubted you.”
“Do you want me to look into renting a movie?” he asked as he reached for my plate.
Glancing toward the bathroom, my lower stomach pulled with desire…and it wasn’t for a bath, but that would serve my ultimate goal.
I stood. “I have a better idea.”
Wiping his hands with a paper towel, he focused back on me. “Oh yeah? What are you thinking?”
“A hot bath.”
A wide grin appeared on his handsome face. “Want me to start the water for you? We should have thought about getting you some bubbles.”
My chest fluttered as I followed him through the bedroom and into the beautiful en suite. It looked like it should be in a spa magazine; it was that beautiful.
As he started the water, I quickly got undressed. When I leaned back against the marble sink, I drew in a quick gasp. I hadn’t expected it to be that cold. Biting my lip, I let myself get used to the chilly surface as Colt got the temperature right for the bath.
He stood, turned—and froze. His eyes slowly perused my body, turning dark with desire, and he licked his lips. My lower stomach pooled with heat as his hungry gaze pierced mine.
He whispered my name. “Ensley.”
“Have I changed much in the last ten years?” I asked, twirling a blonde curl with my finger.
Colt took a step closer and started to reach out his hand…then balled it into a fist. “You are breathtaking. And you have changed. You’re even more stunning now than ever before.”
My cheeks heated while my heart felt like it was going to hammer right out of my chest.
Nodding my head toward his balled fists, I said, “But not stunning enough to want to touch me?”
He swallowed hard. “You said no sex on the second first date.”
Smiling, I pushed off the counter and took one step toward him. “I changed my mind. I think we’ve waited long enough…don’t you?”
Colt nodded his head as he held out his hand. I placed mine in it, and he drew me closer. Then his mouth was on mine with such fiery passion, I nearly melted into a puddle. The feel of his rough hands on my skin sent ripples of excitement through my entire body.