Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I was just starting to doze off when she spoke. More like whispered. Had it not been so quiet, I wouldn’t have heard her at all.
“I love you, Caden.”
My eyes snapped open, and it took everything in me to keep my breathing relaxed.
She clearly thought I was asleep. I knew she’d almost said the words when she straddled my lap, but caught herself. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to hear those three words from her until she said them.
I wanted to tell her I loved her, too, but the first time I told her, I wanted it to be perfect.
A soft snore came from next to me, and I smiled. I’d never felt so at peace before. I knew deep within my soul that this was it. Lilibeth was the one I’d been waiting for. The woman I was going to give my body, soul, and heart.
My smile widened. Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, I’d tell Lilibeth I loved her.
Closing my eyes, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up an hour later, Lilibeth was still sleeping. I kissed her on the shoulder and slipped out of bed.
After getting dressed, I headed to my office. Sitting at my desk, I pulled out the top right drawer all the way, until I could see into the very back. Sitting in a black velvet jewelry box was my grandmother’s engagement ring. I pulled out the box and opened it. The ring was beautiful in its uniqueness. A hexagonal salt-and-pepper diamond set in platinum. Four white baguette diamonds—one on each side, one on the top, and one on the bottom—along with round white diamonds, all surrounded the main diamond. My grandfather had called it a compass ring, and he’d designed it himself for my grandma Nellie. She’d given it to me six years ago.
But it wasn’t the ring I’d asked Rachel to marry me with. I hadn’t wanted to give her this ring, and at the time, I told myself it was because I knew she wouldn’t like the design. She wouldn’t see the salt-and-pepper diamond as unique; she’d see it as a trash diamond.
In reality, the warning signs were all there. I didn’t give it to her because I somehow knew, deep down inside, that Rachel wasn’t the one.
Now, I smiled as I closed the box and set it back in the drawer. My grandfather would kill me if he knew it wasn’t in a safe. I’d taken it out right after I found out Lilibeth was pregnant.
A soft knock on the door caused me to look up. I grinned. “Hello there, sleeping beauty.”
She yawned and made her way into my office. I turned my desk chair and held my hands out for her. She walked over, and I drew her onto my lap.
“Sleep well?”
“I did. Working?”
“Yeah. I’m going to have to head over to the main barn. I’ve got a meeting with my uncles, Gatlin, and my father.”
“What kind of meeting?”
“Talk about calving, herd health, water systems, pastures…all the fun stuff that goes with a cattle ranch.”
Her eyes lit up. “Baby cows? I can’t wait!”
I laughed. “Maybe you can even see one being born.”
She drew back and looked at me. “Wait, are you serious?”
My brows went up in surprise. “Would you like to see that?”
“Um, yes! I’d love to see a horse being born, too.”
I tapped her nose with my finger. “I think I can arrange both.”
Her answering smile was brilliant.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”
“Well, I’m currently craving chicken and dumplings. I was going to head into town to the store to get everything to make them. Want me to pick up anything?”
I shook my head. “I can’t think of anything. I can run into town for you, after the meeting.”
She stood, leaned down, and kissed me. “I need to swing by the store and check on a few things, but thank you. What time should I have dinner ready?”
“I don’t think this meeting will take long. It should be wrapped up by four.”
“Perfect. Tell everyone I said hi.”
She turned to leave, and I reached for her hand. Standing, I cupped her cheek. “Be careful, okay?”
Another brilliant smile lit her face. “I will. See you soon.”
“See you soon.”
I watched as she walked out of my office, my hand going to my chest. There was no doubt about it. I was head over heels in love with Lilibeth.
After the meeting, my father made his way over to sit beside me. “How was the appointment?”
“It was great.”
“Do we know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“We sure do.”
He leaned closer, a smile on his face. “You can tell me, I won’t tell a soul.”
A bark of laughter came out of my mouth as I tossed my head back. “You’re not serious, are you?”
He looked offended. “Of course I’m serious. You don’t trust me?”