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)
I’m about to ask what’s wrong when I pull back on the reins. “Shit.”
Nicole stops Daisy beside me. “What’s wrong?”
I close my eyes and blow out a breath before looking at her. “I’m sorry.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Sorry for what?”
I gesture toward the house. She follows my gaze, and her mouth falls open. Several cars are parked out front that weren’t there when we left, and the porch is filled with people. Every one of them is looking in our direction.
“Who are they?” she asks.
I clench my jaw. “My family.”
Dammit, Ozzy. I swear I can see him smiling from here. Son of a bitch.
Nicole looks ready to turn Daisy around and take off. I reach over and grab her reins. “Hey, if you don’t want to meet them, you can get off Daisy and walk straight to my truck. I’ll tell them we have to go.”
Her eyebrows climb even higher. “Is that what you want?”
I’m not sure if she’s testing me, so I decide to tell her the truth. “No. I want to take you up there and introduce you to my family.”
She lets out a long breath. “Fine. It looks like I’m meeting your family.”
I lean toward her and give her a quick kiss. “They’re going to love you.”
I can see every question in her eyes. Is this too soon? Am I sure? Does this mean something?
As soon as we reach the barn, I climb down and help Nicole off Daisy. She looks nervous, so I pull her into a brief hug. “This is going to be okay. It’s going to be good.”
She laughs nervously. “If you say so.”
“They’re going to love you,” I assure her again.
She leans her head back and looks at me. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
I hand the reins to Jason, and he tells us he’ll take care of the horses.
After thanking him, I take Nicole’s hand. Together, we walk toward Ozzy’s house where most of my family is waiting.
CHAPTER 10
NICOLE
I’m really doing this. Everyone standing on the porch is watching us walk toward them. As we get closer, Guy tightens his hold on my hand.
“Are you nervous?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m not nervous at all. I’m actually glad this is happening. I want you to meet my family.”
That should probably make me feel better, but it doesn’t. My stomach is twisting into knots, and I’m suddenly wondering if I should have taken him up on his offer to go straight to the truck.
A woman with dark hair comes down the porch steps first. I’m assuming she is Skyler because she has a small baby strapped to her chest, and there’s a man walking closely behind her as if he’s prepared to catch them both if she stumbles.
Guy drops my hand long enough to hug his sister and look down at the baby. “There’s my girl.”
Skyler smiles, and Guy looks at me. “This is my sister Skyler, my niece Grace, and my brother-in-law Zach.” He gestures to a frowning Zach. “Ignore him. He’s still adjusting to the fact that other people are allowed to touch his daughter.”
Zach doesn’t look amused. “You’ll understand when you have one.”
Something changes in Guy’s expression, and his gaze flicks toward me before he looks back at Zach. “Maybe.”
My heart races at the look he gives me. Skyler doesn’t miss it. Her eyes move between the two of us before her smile widens.
Guy clears his throat and gestures toward me. “This is Nicole.”
Skyler steps forward and hugs me with one arm, carefully keeping the baby between us. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Before I can respond, another woman comes down the steps and hugs me too. “I’m Bree.”
Then another. “I’m Lindsey. It’s so nice to meet you.”
A fourth woman follows, smiling warmly. “I’m Aria.”
I barely have time to introduce myself before I’m surrounded by them. Guy laughs from beside me. “Give her some room. You’re going to scare her off.”
“We’re being welcoming,” Bree argues.
“You’re smothering her,” Guy deadpans.
Skyler looks at me. “Ignore him. We’re excited.”
Guy points toward Ozzy, who is standing near the door with his arms crossed and a pleased smile on his face. “You.”
Ozzy’s eyebrows lift. “Me?”
Guy nods. “You called everyone.”
Ozzy shrugs as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. “I might have mentioned you were here.”
Guy looks around the porch. “You mentioned it to the entire family?”
Ozzy pops his shoulders. “They were curious.”
“Really!” Guy exclaims, looking at each of the members of his family.
Ozzy’s smile grows. “You’re welcome.”
Guy glares at him. “I didn’t thank you.”
“You will.”
I press my lips together to keep from laughing.
Guy catches me and points at me. “Don’t encourage him.”
I shake my head. “I didn’t say anything.”
His voice softens. “You’re smiling.”
I throw my head back with a laugh. “That’s not a crime.”
His eyes soften as he looks at me. “No, but you’re supposed to be on my side.”