Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 90315 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90315 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“It scared me.”
“You should have told me that you don’t like heights.”
“Why? I still would have had to do it.”
His lips flatten, and he doesn’t look happy, but he can’t argue because he knows I’m right.
“Get in the bath,” he says before kissing my lips. “I’m going to make you lunch.”
The bath actually sounds really nice, so I don’t argue.
Once Gideon has left the bathroom, I gingerly hop off the vanity and wince. Now that the adrenaline is all gone, I’m really sore. Probably because I did the first half of that course at least a dozen times before I could move on to the next thing.
I slip into the water, and it stings my hands, but then I relax against the edge of the soaking tub and take a deep breath.
This is actually really nice.
If I’m not careful, I could fall asleep in here. The warm water makes my eyes so heavy. Next thing I know, I feel lips pressed to my forehead.
“I’m not sleeping.”
Gideon smiles against my skin. I love it when he does that.
“No, not at all. You snore while you’re completely awake all the time.”
“I wasn’t snoring.”
He pulls back, and I open my eyes to find him still smiling at me. “I made lunch.”
“What is it?”
“Leftovers from last night.”
“That sounds really good.” Gideon helps me up and out of the water, and then he wraps me in a gigantic blue towel and hugs me to him, his hands rubbing up and down my back. “I need some ibuprofen or something.”
“I have that ready for you too.” He kisses my forehead. “Come on, my little badass rebel. I have a surprise for you.”
That grabs my attention.
“What kind of surprise?”
“You’ll see when you get your sexy ass downstairs.”
“Is it a living thing? Did you get me a cat?” I smile hopefully, but he just smirks.
“No. It’s not a living thing.”
“Well, damn.”
Chapter Seventeen
Lena
The end.
I finished that whole small-town romance series in a week, and that brings me to the end of the books that Willow lent me a couple of weeks ago. I was shocked when I went downstairs with Gideon after I kicked the obstacle course’s ass that day and there were about ten books sitting on the kitchen counter, all on loan from Willow’s personal library.
I’ve even seen her in passing a couple of times, and she asked me if I was enjoying them.
Recognizing the kindness for the olive branch it is, I’m going to grip onto it with both hands, because we still don’t know how long I’m going to be here. It could be for months more, and although I love spending time with Gideon, I’m starting to get lonely for female companionship.
Gideon and Ryker had to drive into Missoula for supplies today, and my man warned me that they’ll be gone all day, so this is good timing to return these books and extend my own peace offering.
I hope with all my heart that she likes this.
After loading the books into a couple of bags, I pull on a coat and, with the gift tucked under my arm, make my way down the long driveway toward the farmhouse that Willow and Ryker live in.
I’ve been here for about a month, and I’ve grown to love this ranch. It feels like home more than my apartment in DC ever did. The mountains speak to my soul, and I can’t stop sketching them. I’ve probably captured them twenty times or more, with different mediums, from different views, and I could do it hundreds of times without getting tired of it.
But it’s when I’m with Gideon that I truly feel like I’m home.
Our relationship has shifted. Or maybe grown is a better word for it. He’s still a hard-ass when it comes to training. Every single day, he pushes me to the limit. Just this morning, we were in the shooting range, and my hands are still sore.
“You can hit that target, Rebel. You’ve done it a hundred times before.”
I glare over at him through my clear eye-protection goggles. “Yeah, with a smaller gun and ten yards closer.”
He smirks and crosses his arms over his chest. “Hit that target, and you’ll get a reward.”
“What’s the reward?”
He steps close, his hand gliding over the small of my back, down my ass, and between my legs.
“I’ll eat this sexy pussy until you’re screaming and soaking my sheets. But you have to hit that target first. Otherwise, I won’t let you come.”
“You’re a jerk.”
“Never claimed differently. Come on, you’ve got this.” He slaps my ass and steps away, and I raise the gun, my arms singing with exhaustion, and pull the trigger.
The orgasms when we got home were worth it. I’m still tingling in all the right places.
The house comes into view, and I’m immediately nervous. Sure, Willow lent me these books at Gideon’s request, but that doesn’t mean that she wants to be my friend or even be friendly with me. I should have just stayed home and let Gideon return the books when he gets back.