Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 570(@200wpm)___ 456(@250wpm)___ 380(@300wpm)
“Mollie is on standby,” Cash replies. “She’s known the Rankins for a long time. Which means she knows Wheeler is gonna need extra TLC this weekend.”
I tap his chest with my free elbow. “Appreciate that.”
“And you know you just gotta say the word, right? We’re all available if you need to, ahem, end the weekend early.”
My chest clenches again, for a different reason this time. I’ve always loved my family, but now, I appreciate having them more than ever. Growing up one of five kids was no picnic, but being part of such a close-knit crew certainly has its perks—my brothers having my back among them, no questions asked.
I want that for Wheeler too.
I want that for our baby too.
____
Thankfully the Rankins retreat to their rooms in the New House for the afternoon. Mollie whisks away Wheeler, the two of them disappearing to Mollie and Cash’s cabin.
Meanwhile, Wyatt gets a call from our contractor that there’s an issue with the new irrigation we’re installing on the Rivers’ side of the ranch. He and I hop in his truck and drive that way. We get stuck, literally and figuratively, in a ditch that’s ten feet deep and a hundred feet long trying to help the crew fix it.
So much for staying clean.
Back at home, I grab a late afternoon shower, then get dressed in my—our—bedroom. That way, Wheeler has plenty of time in the bathroom to get ready for dinner while I finish prepping the food.
She arrives at the cottage a few minutes later, looking tired but better than she did at lunch.
“You all right?” I pull her in for a hug.
She nods against my chest. “Yeah. I went back to the New House and spent some time with Mom and Haines. They love you.”
“Your mom okay? Your dad is…interesting.”
“Mom hasn’t been okay in thirty years, but she’s surviving.” Wheeler sighs. “We all are. I’m excited for dinner.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
She laughs. “Correction: I’m excited to eat the food you’re making. Already smells good in here. Thank you.”
“For what? Making you food?” I scoff. “Kinda my job, sweetheart.”
“And for pretending to enjoy my family’s company. I know they’re painful.”
“More painful for you.”
She nods again. “Sometimes I miss them. Other times, I…well, I don’t.” Looking up, she meets my eyes. “Makes me appreciate having you and your family that much more. What y’all have here is special, Duke.”
I brush her hair out of her face. “You’re special too. You survived twenty-seven years with your family. You can make it through dinner too.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely. Don’t forget you also have the best excuse to, ah, excuse yourself from dinner if you need to. Once they know I knocked you up, you can do whatever the hell you want.”
She grins. “I know.”
“Go get ready.” I give her ass a gentle slap. “I got everything handled.”
I finish the food, double-check that the table outside is properly set, and light a fire.
It’s all ready.
Cracking open a beer, I decide to relax on the couch in the hopes my nerves don’t overwhelm me. I’m careful not to wrinkle the button-up I ironed earlier as I sit heavily on the cushions and turn on the TV.
I keep the volume low enough so that I can still hear Wheeler in the bathroom. There’s something comforting about the sounds that are slowly but surely becoming familiar: the water slapping on the shower floor, the blow dryer, the music she plays on her phone while she puts on her makeup. Tonight, she’s listening to The Lumineers. I don’t mind that one bit.
After a while, I hear her emerge from the bathroom. Looking up, my mouth goes dry. Dick perks up.
I can only stare. She looks like a fucking bombshell with her red lips and curly hair. She’s wearing a pretty blue dress with tiny straps and a neckline low enough to get me going. Even though the dress is long, hitting her midshin, I can still see how hot those high heels she’s wearing make her legs look.
Her toenails—those are red too. I’m hit by the image of Wheeler seated on the bathroom floor, her head bent as she teaches our little girl how to paint her toes.
Shit, now I really can’t breathe.
Wheeler grins. “Hey, baby.”
God, I fucking love it when she calls me that.
“Blue.”
Raising her brows, she waits for me to finish the thought. Her grin becomes a smile. “You all right there, cowboy?”
“You’re feelin’ much better.”
She nods. “Amazing what a shower and some nail polish can do for your mood.”
I set my empty beer bottle on the coffee table and stand.
“You’re gorgeous.” I head her way.
Grinning, she crooks her finger. “You are too. Promise me you’ll kick my dad out if he offends you? Same goes for Preston.”
“I’m not kicking anyone out.” Curling my arms around her waist, I bury my face in her neck and inhale her scent. “I will gladly kick some ass, though.”