Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“Why are you so lucky?” the little boy asked when we got settled at a diner half-full of men and women who looked as if they worked the land for a living.
I smiled at Hunter’s question and leaned forward as if I had a secret. “Everyone is jealous that I get to work with you every single day. Or maybe it’s because I get to see Peanut Butter.”
He smiled wide. “Peanut Butter is cool, but I’m cooler.”
“Without a doubt.” I smiled again, amazed by his confidence. This was a kid who knew he was loved, and that was a beautiful thing. “Ready to order?”
“Can I have a burger?” He flashed a charming smile that pulled a laugh from me.
“With peas or a vegetable of your choice, yes. We split the fries.” Negotiating with toddlers required the same mental toughness as a boardroom.
“Potatoes are vegetables,” he answered cheekily.
“Yes, but deep-fried vegetables have to be eaten with a non-fried vegetable. Those are the rules.”
His shoulders fell and he mumbled, “Corn, then.”
I laughed and turned to the approaching waitress, a middle-aged woman with pouty red lips and bright red hair. I placed the order, and she rushed off as two groups entered the diner.
“Do you like it on the ranch, Molly?”
The question caught me off guard, and I had a feeling he was asking for a deeper reason. “I love it, actually. All the wide-open spaces, and I really like the goats, especially the kids. And I really love working with a smart kid like you.”
His smile beamed. “Are you gonna stay forever? Because I want you to stay forever. I love you, Molly.”
Good Lord, but this kid knew how to grab at my heart and clench it in his little fists. I blinked back tears and reached across the table to grab his small hand. “I love you too, Hunter. A whole lot.” I felt bad that I couldn’t give him any guarantees about staying because the truth was I just couldn’t. Technically, there were about twelve days left on my probationary period, and I had no idea what Colton was thinking about my long-term employment or even about us. He could just decide to let me go because it was highly unprofessional to sleep with him, or because he could sense I was getting too attached, and this would be the easiest way out for him.
I decided to call Toni soon to get her advice. She was busy with her own life and a baby on the way, but she would make time to impart some wisdom. I hoped.
“I’m full,” Hunter declared after he ate half of his burger and all of his corn, plus more fries than a boy his size should’ve been able to put away. “So full.”
I laughed. “Another good thing about vegetables: they’re very filling. If you get too big, Peanut Butter might not be able to carry you.”
The sound of his laughter never failed to put a smile on my face. “Molly,” he whined.
“I know, but someone had to say it.” I paid the bill, left a tip for our friendly waitress, and somehow we both managed to walk out on our own two feet. “That was the best barbecue chicken and bacon sandwich I ever had.” Usually, a meal like that would trigger the guilt and worry about my body, but between wandering the ranch with Hunter and burning sex calories all night with Colton, I just felt good. And satisfied.
And happy.
Really happy for the first time in a long time. Not just happy, but happy and free. I wasn’t worried that I would have to fight off Colton’s advances or that he would be mad if I wasn’t in the mood, and that lack of fear was freeing. I felt lighter and happier, and I refused to think about the huge space in my heart that now belonged to Colton. He hadn’t said anything about making this—us—more than what we are: sex buddies, and I wasn’t ready to ask.
I was content—for now—to just be happy and riding a sex high.
“What happened to the tires?”
Hunter’s question brought my focus back to the present, and I followed his finger to my car. “Weird,” I mumbled to myself and knelt down at the sight of my passenger side tires. Both were flat, and I only had one spare tire. “Come on, Hunter.” I took his hand and rushed back into the diner. “Excuse me, is there a mechanic in town?”
Our waitress smiled. “Yeah, Buck’s shop is a few blocks west of here, but he’s up in Austin. His daughter-in-law just had twins, so he’ll be back in about a week.”
Dammit. “Okay, thank you.” I didn’t want to call the ranch and pull one of the guys from their work, but Google said the next mechanic was fifty miles away, so I sucked it up and called Wyatt.