Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 222(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 148(@300wpm)
“Oh.” My eyebrows lift. “I can ride any of them. I mean, if you’d rather—”
He holds up his hands. “No. Daisy will love it.”
I nod, unsure what else to say.
“Shit,” Ozzy mutters. He’s looking toward the drive as a small truck pulls up.
Guy turns, instantly tense. “What is it? Who’s that?”
Ozzy grits his teeth. “The new vet. She’s filling in for Dr. Jameson.”
Guy looks surprised. “Dr. Jameson is still alive?”
Ozzy nods. “Yes.”
His body stiffens as a woman walks toward us. She’s carrying a bag, and when she reaches Ozzy, she hands it to him.
“Hey, hot stuff.”
Then she looks at Guy and me. “Hello. I’m Ivey. Local vet.”
Guy looks between Ivey and Ozzy before holding out his hand. “Hi. I’m Guy, Ozzy’s brother, and this is Nicole.”
I give her a small smile before looking between the two of them. The chemistry is impossible to miss.
Guy looks at his brother. “Hot stuff, huh? I’ve heard you called a lot of things, but never hot stuff. Wait until the others hear about this.”
Ivey gestures up and down Ozzy’s body. “I mean, look at him. He should be in magazines. I’ve tried to get him to go out with me, but apparently he prefers the company of horses.”
She says it jokingly, but as a woman I can hear the truth beneath it.
Ivey claps her hands together. “Well, I’d better get to work. I’ll be with the cattle if you need me.”
She reaches for the bag, but Ozzy shakes his head. “Go ahead. I’m right behind you.”
Ivey walks away.
Guy is the first to speak. “Ozzy, you should—”
Ozzy glares at him. “Don’t. I’m not ready.”
Guy holds up his hands. “Got it.”
Ozzy gestures toward another man across the barn. “I’m going to help Ivey. Jason will get you set up with the horses.”
He walks away, and Guy looks at me. “That was weird, right?”
I shrug. “He’s your brother.”
“I know. It was still weird.” He looks in the direction Ozzy disappeared. “Maybe Ivey is exactly what he needs.”
I nod. “Maybe.”
Jason walks toward us holding the reins to two horses. “You two ready?”
Guy helps me onto Daisy before climbing onto his own horse.
I lean forward and stroke her neck. “Hey, Daisy. Are you a good girl?”
After I sweet-talk her for a minute, Guy asks if I’m ready. We start slowly down the path, and he looks over at me. “You like this pace, or do you want to ride?”
I can barely contain my excitement. “I want to ride.”
He points toward the path ahead. “Let’s go.”
We take off, and I’m not sure how much time passes, but I know my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Eventually, Guy points toward the water, and we guide the horses closer to the stream. We both climb down, and he ties them nearby.
He points toward a shaded spot before taking off his backpack. He pulls out a blanket and spreads it across the ground, then digs out a small cooler.
I sit down. “What is this? A picnic?”
He sits beside me. “Yeah. I figured since you won’t go out in public with me, I needed to step it up if I’m going to have a chance.”
I laugh. “Trust me. If this is a date, it’s the best one I’ve ever been on.”
He stops what he’s doing and looks at me. “It’s definitely a date.”
My gaze drops to his lips before moving to the cooler in his hands.
He keeps pulling out food until I start laughing. “Wow. What did you bring?”
He shows me everything as he takes it out. “Sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, and water. I thought about bringing wine, but I noticed you were drinking water at the bar the other night, so I figured this was safer.”
I nod. “Water is perfect.” I swallow hard. “But first, can I ask you for something?”
He nods readily. “Of course. Anything.”
I blink and muster up all my courage. “Will you kiss me, Guy? The morning has been so perfect and that—”
He moves closer to me and wraps his arms around me. “I thought you’d never ask.”
He kisses me as if he’s been waiting for it and can’t wait another second. My heart is practically pounding out of my chest, and I melt into him, wanting all he’s ready to give.
CHAPTER 9
GUY
In this moment, I’m not thinking about anything but Nicole. I’m not worried about the next game or how I played in the last one. All I’m thinking about is how good this feels. Hell, it feels right.
I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers. “Sorry. I told you we could take it slow, and I practically ravage you the first chance I get.”
Her lips are red and swollen. “I asked for it.”
That makes me smile. “Yes, you did.”
I hold a sandwich out to her, and we settle back onto the blanket. We eat in comfortable silence, and every time I glance at Nicole, she has a huge smile on her face. “What are you thinking about?” I ask.