Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
To tame their hearts and find forever, they'll fight harder than they ever have. Luckily, the sweat in their veins, the dirt on their boots, and the grit in their bones has taught them everything they need to know to go toe-to-toe with fate and come out unconquered.
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter One
Wade
"What are you doing?"
"Jesus Christ!" I jump like a startled colt, sending cards flying all over the mostly bare living room when I hear Morgan Hendrix's voice directly behind me. I spin around, only to find her leaning against the doorframe of the cabin, one hand on her pregnant belly.
"Are you always this jumpy?" she asks with a shit-eating grin plastered on her round face, like she isn't the sole reason every cowboy on this ranch has learned to look over his shoulder. For the record, she is.
"Only when you're around," I drawl, kneeling beside the poker table to start gathering up the cards I dropped. A floorboard creaks as I place my knee on it, staring directly at the nine of diamonds sticking upright between two boards.
I pause when I see it, a shiver running down my spine. And then I mutter a curse to myself and pluck it out, adding it to the pile. I'm not a superstitious man. There is no such thing as unlucky or cursed cards.
Morgan throws her head back, laughing. "I'm not that bad."
She's also full of shit, but I let her get away with the lie. Mostly because she's pregnant, and Blaze would kick my ass if I made his pregnant wife cry.
Truth is, Morgan is hell on wheels, seven days a week. Life has been a lot more interesting around here since Blaze found her hiding out in one of our barns and decided the only solution to her problems was to marry her. She makes a shit cowgirl, but she's good people.
"Seriously, what are you doing? I thought poker night was canceled," she says, watching me as I reach for several cards that landed on the hardwood beneath the old table.
Well, shit…
"Uh, it was."
I'm a shit liar, and everyone knows it. But I also refuse to be the one who breaks the news that she's been unanimously voted off poker island. Fuck that. My mama taught me better than to make a pregnant woman cry.
Blaze can tell his wife that we voted her off the island. It was his idea, anyway. He said she's won enough of our money. Truthfully, I don't think he gives a damn about losing his money to her. He'd give her every dime he had without missing a beat. I think he just wants her all to himself because he's a selfish bastard like that.
"Wade Jessup." She stomps her foot. "Are you lying to me?"
"Who, me? Never."
"Liar." She laughs, and I know she isn't upset. Thank God. I've got one goal in life: never piss off a woman who knows where I sleep. Especially if her only friends are cowboys. "Am I being booted from poker night because I'm too pregnant to see my own feet?"
"Actually, no." I glance over my shoulder at her. "You were voted off the island because you never lose."
Her eyes crinkle at the corners, her gaze full of satisfaction. "So…you're all finally sick of giving away your money, huh?"
"Hell, yes," I chuckle. "You're ruthless, and we're poor." That's not entirely true. The Carringtons pay us damn well, and she knows it as well as I do. But I am not above playing the pity card here. It's bound to work out better than that nine of diamonds.
"Fine," she sighs dramatically as I haul myself upright. "I guess I won't hold it against you."
I exhale a tiny breath, glad her feelings aren't hurt. Everyone loves Morgan. We also love not losing our money to her. Since I'm pretty sure she was a cardshark in a former life, it's a delicate situation.
I place the cards facedown on the table before turning back to her, my arms crossed. "You should hold it against Blaze, though. It was his idea."
"Oh, I plan to," she says with a diabolical grin. "My motto is to always blame Blaze for everything."
"Good girl," I say, holding out my fist for her to bump. "That's my motto too."
She giggles, bumping my fist. "Hey. Remember the first time I beat you and Bishop?" she asks, this…gleam…in her eyes that has a bead of sweat rolling down my back. My stomach cramps, too.
"Remember it?" I ask, groaning. "I'd pay money to forget it. You swindled the shit out of us." Bishop and I had hangovers from hell the next day. Not Morgan. She drank us under the table and then went about her life like it was nothing. Honestly, I'm still convinced she cheated.
Failing to disclose that you basically used to drink professionally for tips is cheating, and I don't care what Blaze has to say about it. Bartending, my ass.
"You guys made the rules," she says with a careless shrug. "Not my fault you can't hang."
A laugh of protest rumbles from my lips. "No one can hang when you drink like a goddamn pirate, Morgan." I eye her sideways, suspicious as hell about that gleam. "Why are you bringing it up now?"