Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125248 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Syn swallowed. “Uh yeah, I think so.”
“Don’t be anxious. You met Nimbus,” Fox said. “He likes you.”
“He liked frozen apples.”
“Same thing in horse language.”
Syn took another bite of potatoes. “You’re right. It’s a horse. How hard can it be?”
Every person in the kitchen went quiet.
Syn paused with the fork to his mouth.
Fox grinned. “You’ll be fine.”
“No, wait a minute, what was that?”
No one answered.
Before Syn could press further, a voice came from the doorway behind him. Deep and melodic, still rough from sleep. “Got room for one more?” Furi stood in the doorway.
Rid glanced up, then turned his head and spit orange juice clear across the dining room.
Dale jerked back. “Jesus Christ, Rid.”
Rid’s eyes went comically wide. His mouth hanging open as he stared past Syn.
Furi’s hair was brushed out, fluffy and loose, a long champagne-gold fall spilling over his shoulders, down his back, almost to his hips.
He wore a black tank top that left his arms and shoulders bare, inked skin on full display. His denims rode low on his hips, faded and worn, tucked into biker boots that gave the ranch environment a dose of city sexiness.
He looked rested and beautiful.
Furi’s gaze found his first and held.
The gaze he gave him was soft, and so full of appreciation it nearly took Syn apart in front of a table full of cowboys.
Fox stood, crossed the dining room and pulled Furi into a hug. Furi held him back, eyes closing for half a second.
“I’m glad you came,” Fox said.
Furi’s smile was faint, but real. “Thank you.”
Behind Syn, Dale and Rid were having a hushed fight that failed in every attempt at secrecy.
“I’m telling you that’s him,” Rid whispered.
“Can you stare any harder?” Dale muttered.
“I’m just saying. This is crazy.”
“You’re acting like a twelve-year-old at a men’s swim meet.”
“No, fuck a swim meet. That is the fuckin’ Furious Styles standing in our kitchen.”
Dale made a strangled sound.
“I paid a whole nineteen ninety-nine for the director’s cut.”
“For the love of livestock, lower your voice,” Dale gritted, elbowing Rid in his side.
Syn pressed his lips together and stared down at his plate, trying not to laugh. He was just glad he wasn’t angry…or jealous.
Furi was his.
Fox brought Furi further into the room. Bull stepped forward and offered his hand and Furi took it.
“I’m Bull, good to meet ya.”
“Furious. You can call me, Furi,” he said. “Thank you for the hospitality. I know it’s late notice.”
Bull’s gaze slid from him to Syn, then back to Furi. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.”
Fox gestured toward the end of the counter. “That’s Bull’s father, Walker. And that dangerous woman by the stove is Amelia.”
Furi turned to them. “Sir. Ma’am. Thank you for letting me come into your home.”
Walker folded his newspaper halfway and looked Furi over like a man assessing a stallion. “You came for the man, not the house. Still, you’re welcome to both while you’re here.”
Syn almost choked on his coffee.
Furi chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
Walker studied him over the top of his glasses. “Furious, huh? That a nickname, son, or should we be worried you got anger issues?”
Furi’s smile was shy and small. “No, sir. It’s my real name. My mother gave it to me after the doctors told her she was having a girl, then found out they were wrong when I was born. She named me the same way she felt in that moment.”
Amelia paused with her hand over her heart. “Well, I’ll be. That might be the saddest naming story I ever heard.”
Furi shrugged. “I’ve grown to love it, ma’am.”
Amelia stood. “Do you want something to eat, honey?”
Furi’s smile was wide and sincere. “Absolutely, it smells great.”
Amelia blushed. “Breakfast is usually self-serve, but I’ll fix your plate as a first day guest courtesy. Now, if you’re here tomorrow morning, you betta get down here at six sharp, or else there’ll only be scraps.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Furi made his way to him and Syn pushed back the empty chair beside him in invitation.
Furi sat close enough that their knees touched under the table.
The contact was small, but he felt it all the way to his chest.
Furi’s gaze dropped to Syn’s plate before he picked up a piece of potato and ate it.
Across the table, Rid still stared.
Dale stared too, though he was trying harder to pretend he wasn’t.
Syn rolled his eyes. “Furi, this is Dale, Bull’s business partner and foreman. And that,” Syn pointed his fork toward Rid, “is Rid. He’s the stable manager. He was functioning like a normal human being before you walked in.”
Rid opened his mouth but no words came.
Furi smiled at them, gorgeous and polite enough to worsen Rid’s condition. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Rid nodded hard, several times. “Yeah,” he croaked. “You, nice. Me too. I mean, yes. Nice, meeting, here, you. I’m Rid.”