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)
Eventually.
I closed my laptop and stared, unseeing, at the television screen with Frosty the Snowman’s face frozen on Pause. Why did I suddenly feel like I could relate to a snowman who was doomed to turn into a puddle? And did that even make sense?
Phoebe thrust my cell at me and asked me to turn her show on. I complied and moved into the kitchen.
“How’s it goin’, Kitty?”
She purred on the line. “Same ol’ same ol’. I think you’re the one with the real news. Who’s Mr. Tanner?”
I smiled automatically. “Tanner is one of the owners of Oak Ridge. He’s the one I told you about a few months ago. Not sure why Phee calls him Mr. Tanner, but he’s never corrected her and it’s kind of cute, and…you’d like him.”
Silence.
“Uh-huh.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing,” she protested. “You sound different. Less of a grump, you know. Maybe even…happy. So does Phee Phee. She’s always been a happy little chatterbox, but she has a lot to report. New friends, big adventures. Add a mysterious cowboy named Mr. Tanner, and my dirty mind is going places.”
I snorted. “You’re a menace.”
“You like him.”
“I do.”
“No, I mean…you like him.”
“I do,” I repeated.
“Cool. Then I like him, too. Tell me all about Tanner.”
“Kitty…we’re not in fucking high school.”
“You’re much older than me, sugar. We could never have been in high school together,” she taunted.
“Yeah, yeah.” I inhaled theatrically. “I like him a lot. And if circumstances were different, he’s someone I’d hope to know for a long time. But we’ll be gone within a week. Maybe less. So, the best I can say is, I’m happy and Phee’s happy. And I’m sure we’ll be happy in a new town next year.”
“Always go, go, go.” She sighed. “I hope you get to settle down someday. I think that would be good for you. Any-who, enough about you. Did I tell you I got a promotion?”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, thank you. I’m good at what I do and…”
I listened as I glanced out the kitchen window at my neighbors’ lights reflected on the glass. It was hard to see in the dark, but the feeling was one of intense warmth. Cozy, comfortable…homey.
But this wasn’t home.
No matter how much I wished it were.
The temporariness of our situation weighed heavier with each passing day. I made ridiculous excuses to be in Tanner’s orbit. Did he want to ride with me to check on the cattle I’d recently vaccinated? Did he want to be there when I examined Sprinkles and Socks? Did he want to talk about Hazel’s delivery?
Tanner was the owner of the damn ranch. He’d hired me to take care of those things on my own or with Lou or one of the other ranch hands, for fuck’s sake. But I was one needy SOB. I craved him in a way that rocked my core.
Maybe this would have felt less complicated if it were all about sex. Sure, the sex was phenomenal, but his smile was the thing that lit me up, and his laughter lightened the dark corners of my soul. Yeah, I heard myself. I sounded like a bad romance novel, but fuck it…Tanner was special.
I brushed the brood mare’s mane, chuckling at her brazen attempt to steal a carrot from my pocket. “A Christmas Eve carrot for my greedy gal. I’ll see you tomorr—”
“Axe! She’s in labor,” Hudson called at the stable entrance.
Hazel.
Lou had wanted to induce labor yesterday, but nothing had happened. Till now.
I hopped into Hudson’s golf cart. “How far along?”
He adjusted his Stetson as he veered right. “Her water bag is intact, but it’s visible, and she’s been restless for a good hour. Lou’s been with her, but he’s not impressed with her progress so far. Personally, I think he wants to go home. It’s Christmas Eve and—”
“He’s got a golf game.”
“Yep.”
Hazel was lying in her stall, panting while Lou, Josh, and Tanner huddled nearby.
Tanner passed me an apron. “She been up and down, very restless.”
“Dilated?” I asked.
“Not nearly enough,” Lou reported, peeking at his watch. “There’s no point in all of us hanging around. This could be a while.”
“You’re right. I got this, Lou. And Phee’s at your house, Josh. If you don’t mind having her for a bit, I’ll stay for the duration.”
“Yeah, of course she can stay. Do you have plans tonight?”
“Not really. We’re celebrating tomorrow,” I replied.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Lou hedged, already sidling toward the door. “Tanner?”
“Go on. Merry Christmas.” Tanner squeezed the older man’s shoulder and escorted him to the exit.
The three of us kept an eye on Hazel in shifts. Josh left to give Angie a chance to wrap some presents in peace. Tanner was gone for an hour, taking his dogs to Jax’s house and delivering a few gifts to friends in Christmas Town. Then I had some last-minute things to pick up for Phoebe in town.