Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102361 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 512(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
“Yikes.” She winces.
“I’ll have a gnarly scar, but as long as I don’t get an infection, it’ll be okay.”
“I have a little concoction that I make for scars. I’ll send you some. It’s just coconut oil and vitamin E and some other stuff, but it really helps.”
“Hey, I’ll take it.” I smile at her. “When do you get to come home for good again?”
“Probably not until the spring,” she replies. “But I’ve applied for several internships, and I’m just waiting to hear if I get hired for any of them. They’re all around that area.”
“You could work with your brother.”
Holden co-owns the biggest cattle ranch in Montana with the Wild family.
“They must have a ton of large animals.”
“They do, but I do not want to work for my brother. Don’t get me wrong, I love him, but he’s stubborn, and I’m stubborn, and I want to continue loving him.”
I laugh and nod in agreement. “I can see that. Did Ava ever get you info for her brother’s ranch?”
“Actually, yes. That’s one that I applied for.”
“Cool. Well, I’m excited to have you home for good. You must be busting your ass because you look tired.”
“I don’t sleep a lot,” she admits. “And yeah, the work is grueling. But I do love it. I was up all night helping a horse have a baby. It’s not the right time of year for that, but here we are.”
“That’s pretty awesome.” My eyes are getting heavy because my pain medicine is kicking in. “I’d better go take a nap.”
“You do that, and I’ll send you the ointment.”
“Thanks, Darby.”
“You bet.”
After I hang up, I don’t even bother going into the bedroom to nap. I just lean my head back on the couch, prop my feet up on the ottoman in front of me, and close my eyes.
“Don’t wake her up.” That’s a whisper shout that makes my lips twitch. “We’ll just leave it and go.”
“I’m awake.” I flutter my eyes open and find Dani and Skyla trying to sneak to the front door. “What are you guys doing?”
“So sorry,” Dani says, turning back to me. “We didn’t know you were sleeping, and the door was unlocked, and—”
“It’s really okay. Honest.” I check the time. “I slept for like two hours. Come on in and chat with me.”
“We brought you lunch.” Skyla holds up a bag to show me before stowing it in my fridge.
“And books,” Dani adds, gesturing to the stack on the ottoman in front of me that I didn’t even notice. “Billie just sent a bunch that she thinks you’ll enjoy. That one on top? The Empress by Michelle Heard? So good. Also, it’s the next book club book.”
“I’ll read it next.” I eye the cover. It’s pretty. “We read a lot of Mafia romance. I’m not mad about it.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Skyla says with a laugh as she sits across from me and crosses her legs. “How do you feel?”
“Tired from the medication. Sore. Really fucking sore, but don’t tell Brooks because I kind of told a white lie and insisted that I was fine and he should go to work today.”
“It’s only been a few days,” Dani says with a frown. “It’s okay for him to stay here and take care of you.”
“I can get around just fine.”
Dani shakes her head. “I don’t think you understand. When we couldn’t find you, Brooks was so distraught. I’ve never seen him like that before. He looked—”
“Like one of the unhinged men from our books,” Skyla adds. “It honestly broke my heart.”
My poor husband.
“So maybe it’s not that he thinks he needs to take care of you physically, as much as he just needs to be with you,” Dani finishes. “Just to reassure himself that you’re okay. What you both went through is traumatic, my friend.”
She’s right. It is traumatic. I’m still having some nightmares, and every time I do, Brooks wakes up with me and holds me until I calm down.
“Shit, I might have messed up.”
“Nah, just text him and tell him you want him here with you after all. It’ll make you both feel better.”
Biting my lip, I reach for my phone and open our text thread.
Me: Hey, my love. If you’re not too busy at the garage today, would you mind coming home early to be with me? I might have overestimated my willingness to be without you so soon.
I smile and show them both what I said.
“Aw, that’s perfect,” Skyla says. “Our guys are caretakers. They want to help us.”
“You’re right,” I reply with a nod. “The Blackwell men have always been like that.”
“Always,” Dani confirms. “And they’re so good at it.”
“I guess I felt guilty keeping him home for another day. I know his business is important, and honestly, I’m okay to be alone.”
“But you don’t have to be. Brooks is the boss, and one of the perks is being able to take as much time off as he needs,” Dani replies.