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’s hand flies to her chest as her eyes move over the first slide of my presentation. “Oh, Wheeler. Wheeler.” Her gaze meets mine. “You’re serious?”
“I hope I’m not taking you off guard—”
“Hell no!” Next thing I know, Mollie’s sliding off her stool and wrapping her arms around me. “I had an inkling you’d want to do something along these lines after we decided to do a men’s collection. I can put two and two together. I know Duke’s not satisfied doing just the cowboy thing. Cash told me he’s always been on the hunt for something more. Something different.”
Tears flood my eyes. I really hit the best friend jackpot. She gets it. Gets me. “So you like the idea?”
“Wheeler, I fucking love it.”
Relief, enormous and immediate, unfurls inside my rib cage. “I think Duke will be a really great addition,” I continue. “He really knows his shit when it comes to authentic cowboy boots. He’s clearly a team player. And he’d clearly be a great personality fit.”
Mollie releases me, her arm curling around my waist now. “Keep going.”
Turning, I glide my fingertips over the mouse pad to pull up the next couple slides. “I ran the numbers, and with all the money we’ve got coming in, we can definitely afford to hire him. We’re also expanding so quickly that I think we can both agree we need all the help we can get.”
Mollie leans her head on my shoulder. “Not a bad call to hire that help before these babies come. And you’re right, I don’t want to miss out on any important opportunities just because we don’t have enough hands on deck.”
“Doing a men’s collection is one of those opportunities, Mollie. I mean, we literally live and work with cowboys all day.”
“We love them all night too.”
“I don’t know if it’s the boys rubbing off on you or you rubbing off on them, but everyone here has their mind in the gutter.”
“It’s me. Which is why you’d better make me your baby’s godmother, because I’m the reason you made him or her.” She grins. “Yes, my matchmaking skills are the reason people in Hartsville are so horny.”
“The hot cowboys who live here are the reason everyone’s so horny,” I correct. “As I was saying, I think this is the perfect time to bring someone on board, and I think Duke is the perfect someone. He’s creative. Driven. Easy to get along with. He knows his shit, and he’s good at relationships. He’s got great ideas, and yes, he’ll look really fucking hot in whatever advertising we decide to do.”
“A jack-of-all-trades, if you will.” Mollie nudges me with her hip. “You’re putting on the hard sell, friend.”
“Because I truly believe this is the right move for Bellamy Brooks. If you don’t agree, I completely understand, but—”
“Aw, Wheeler.” Mollie’s eyes glisten with tears. “You really think I’m gonna miss out on hiring that man after all the amazing ideas he came up with for the men’s collection? Oh. He is also amazing to you, amazingly hot, and just all around amazing, so those are other reasons why I definitely think we should hire him.”
I blink. Blink again. “So you’re in? I know Bellamy Brooks has been our baby from day one. I need you to know I don’t take changing things up lightly. I’ve loved our time as a twosome.”
Mollie wags her brows. “But I hear threesomes can be fun.”
“Okay, you need to get laid ASAP. You’re turning into a sixteen-year-old boy.”
“How great are the orgasms while you’re pregnant?”
It’s all I can do not to groan. “The best. I don’t know who enjoys them more, me or Duke.”
“You gotta enjoy the perks of our condition while they last.” She curls a hand over her belly. “So what’s your plan for the grand gesture? How’re you going to ask your man to be part of our threesome?”
Wiping my eyes, I chuckle. “I haven’t come up with something I love yet. Like, do we take him out to dinner and ask him then? Maybe make him a poster board that says ‘Will you join my company’ and give him a boutonniere?”
It’s Mollie’s turn to laugh. “While I love the prom theme, I think we can get a little more creative. What if…” She taps a finger against her chin. “Hm. The samples we ordered—the ones for the men’s collection—those are supposed to arrive when?”
“Pretty soon, actually.” My heart thumps as I start to pick up what she’s laying down. “Do you think—”
“Yes.” Her expression lights up. “Here’s what we do.”
CHAPTER 29
Brand-New Kicks
Duke
“I didn’t know I had a sexy mechanic fantasy until…yup, right now.”
I smile at the sound of the familiar voice. Glancing up from the trailer tire I just replaced, I see Wheeler standing inside the garage. It’s been a few weeks since our first date, but I still can’t get over the fact that she finally agreed to be my girlfriend.