Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 43870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43870 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
But I guarded my privacy like a knight in rusted armor standing sentry at a crumbling castle. It usually took an act of God for me to let anyone in.
Somehow Tanner had slipped through my defenses and funny enough, I was okay with it. I trusted him, and it wasn’t as if I were ashamed of my past. It was just…complicated and a little messy. And at the end of the day, the only thing that mattered to me now was making sure my kid was safe, happy, and had everything she needed. If it meant I had to sacrifice here and there, I’d do it in a heartbeat.
“Wow, I’m humbled,” Tanner said after a long silence.
I frowned. “Why?”
“You’ve lived a full life, and you strike me as the type of person who tries to do the noble thing. The right thing. You’re not as scary as you let everyone think, Axel.” He leaned close to smooth his fingers along the crease between my eyes. “Don’t scowl. I’ve got your number, and I’m not afraid of you.”
“You should be.”
Tanner rolled his pretty eyes. “Well, I’m not. I admire you. It can’t be easy doing the heavy lifting on your own, and yet you’ve somehow managed to raise a confident, smart kid with a curious mind and a kind heart. Phoebe’s going to have a brilliant life, and that’s all you.”
I couldn’t fight the smile that twitched the corner of my lips.
“Thanks for saying so. She’s only five and we’ve got a ways to go, but she’s pretty special. She’s been a trooper, moving from place to place. I know she likes it here. Everything amazes her. The creek, the trees, the caterpillars…you name it, Phee can find something wonderful about it. Cracks me up, ’cause her mom wouldn’t have lasted a day in a glorified trailer. Especially when the thermostat dips below forty at night.” I snorted at the thought.
“You’ll be there for another two months?”
“Six weeks.” I wrinkled my nose. “I have a full-time job with benefits at a ranch and a place to call home for the duration. God knows, she could use the stability. Maybe we both could.”
Tanner’s expression contorted comically—creased forehead, gnawed lip, and narrowed eyes. “Listen, I’m going to offer you something, and I know you’re going to automatically say no, but…”
“But…what?” I prodded.
“Get your boots and jacket on. It’s better if I show you.”
Fifteen minutes later, Tanner unlocked the door to a small cottage at the end of a gravel pathway. The front yard looked out on the pasture where three horses grazed. I stepped into a bright foyer and followed him into a living room furnished with a gray sectional sofa, an armchair, and a coffee table. Photographs of idyllic farm life reminiscent of the art hanging in the office in the barns decorated the white paneled walls.
Tanner opened the striped curtains, spilling sunlight into the space. “What do you think?”
I gave a cursory glance. “Nice place.”
“Check this out.” He wandered into the adjoining kitchen. “Fully equipped, great appliances, and lots of natural light. And this way…we’ve got two bedrooms and one bathroom. It’s one of the smaller cottages, but it’s got central heating and air, and utilities are paid by the ranch. You’re welcome to move in with Phoebe free of charge till the end of the year.”
I didn’t say a word for a whole minute. I was shocked.
“Are you serious?”
He grinned, rocking back on his heels. “Yeah. These cottages were built to house any of our employees who’re needed to be hands on. There are over a dozen of them, as you’ve probably noticed. Maybe ten are in use on a full-time basis. The others are overflow from the main lodge if Mills happens to land a particularly large party that needs the extra space. Otherwise…like now—they’re free.”
“And you want Phoebe and me to move in…here?”
Tanner nodded. “I think it’s a great idea. Last night would have been easier on you if you’d been on the ranch to begin with, and Gem or Vic or someone could have sat in your living room babysitting your sleeping daughter, who’d never know you’d been away for an hour or two. Luckily, we didn’t have a major emergency, but Hazel’s birth might be complicated, and I’d personally feel better if the vet was nearby.”
“And this has nothing to do with the sexy bits of last night? I mean…this morning.”
He chuckled. “It’s definitely a perk, but no, the offer comes from Oak Ridge, not me. If this makes a difference, Hudson lived in one of these cottages for almost a year before he moved in with Moody in Christmas Town. In his case, he was from out of town and was coming on as a full-timer…and an owner. You, on the other hand, made it sound like your situation at the creek was ideal albeit cold. And if you’re happy there, great. If not, don’t be a stubborn mule. Take the cottage and be comfortable.”