Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 99(@200wpm)___ 79(@250wpm)___ 66(@300wpm)
“Three!”
“Two!”
“One!”
Lights flash on beside me, washing my girl in a colorful glow. My heart squeezes when I see that big beautiful smile. The lights are sparkling in her eyes as she looks up at the tree in awe.
Everyone cheers.
My body aches with gratitude. My heart has never felt so full.
I can’t believe she’s here.
“There you have it, folks,” she says, turning back to the camera. “Christmas will not be stopped. This holiday refuses to sleigh down. From me to you, have a merry Christmas and a happy holiday. I’m Veronica Weaver from KNSP 300, signing off.”
Her cheeks blush as she looks up at me. “I’m sorry about the… handsome part.”
“You have nothing to be sorry about,” I say as our eyes lock on each other.
She looks at me for a long moment as if she’s trying to figure out what’s happening. Trying to understand why she’s feeling so drawn to me.
She’ll know soon enough. We were made for one another.
“Well, that was interesting,” the camerawoman says with a laugh. “I could use a drink. Or three.”
My girl tucks her hair back and smiles shyly as she turns away. Her eyes only leave me for a moment before they dart right back onto mine.
“You,” the camerawoman says. “Strong man. Want to come out for drinks with two pretty ladies?”
I grin as I stare at my girl. I’ll follow her anywhere. Even to the most crowded bar in the world. I’ll sing Christmas carols. I’ll wear a stupid ugly sweater. I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep that woman looking at me like that.
“Absolutely,” I say, never taking my eyes off her.
“Great,” the camerawoman says. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER SIX
Veronica
Leanne pushes through the crowd, holding three pints in her hands. “Heads up,” she barks as she wiggles between two large men. “I will spill these all over you if you’re not careful.”
I give Boone a shy smile as she comes over and slams the three pints on our table. “There are so many hot guys in here,” she says, scanning the crowded pub with large eyes. “Boone, do you know any of these hunky men? A sexy lumberjack or a big strong mountain man who knows how to treat a lady?”
Boone clears his throat as he takes a beer. “I kind of keep to myself.”
Leanne huffs out a breath and turns back to us. She sees the way we’re looking at each other and sighs. “Alright,” she says with a sip of her stout. “I’ll stop being a third wheel and go find myself a big muscular man to curl up to tonight. Enjoy yourselves, you two.”
She gives me a wink and then disappears into the crowd to find her Romeo.
I’ve already found mine.
Boone is nothing like the man I thought I’d end up with, but now that he’s in front of me, I know that he’s perfect.
I love the quiet calmness of him. I’m chatty enough for two people in a relationship and I’m starting to see how having someone with his serene tranquilness would be good for me. How it would calm me down. How it would keep me grounded.
I tuck my legs together under the high top table and my knee brushes Boone’s leg. I see the way he reacts to me. The way he holds his breath, the way his lips part, the way he looks at me like he’s dying to kiss me.
I feel a warm shiver racing through me, still not quite believing this is real. A spot on my neck, under my right ear tingles so much I have to touch it.
“So, are you from Wildpeak Village?” I ask, trying to get the big man talking.
He nods as he wraps his huge hand around the pint glass. He’s so big. Those broad shoulders and powerful arms… He could just pick me up and lower me onto his lap…
I get a little hot and flushed thinking about it.
Stop that, I warn myself. Focus on talking and not on those big sexy shoulders and how my bare legs would look resting on them as he rocks me back and forth… Stop it!
“I’ve lived here my whole life,” he says in that deep growly voice that makes me all warm between my thighs. “Although it didn’t look like this when I was growing up.”
“What did it look like?” I ask, leaning closer.
“It was still very natural. Untouched wild land. It was perfect. The mountains were my playground.”
I look down at the table and smile, running my finger up and down my frosty glass.
“It’s changed a lot,” he says. “Ever since an article brought attention to it. People have been flocking here like crazy.”
I grin at the mention of my article. I sit a little straighter, excited to let him know about my proudest work accomplishment.
“That was my article,” I say with a grin. “I wrote it.”