Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77827 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
She shrugs. “I have mixed emotions, but if we’re not living there, then it would be foolish not to use it for extra income to grow the estate. Our grandparents don’t want to live there. It’s way too much house for them. They prefer their suite at the back of the inn, so it’s the logical next step.”
“Yeah, but I know that will still be hard on all four of you.”
“That’s life, though, right? We just have to keep living, hoping that the choices we make… that they’re proud of us.”
“They are,” I assure her. “What can I do to help?”
“I made us salads. They’re in the fridge. Can you grab those and drinks?”
“On it.” I kiss her cheek and get to work.
“Did I ever tell you what Ellison told us on girls’ night?”
“I don’t think so,” I say, placing our bowls of salad and a bottle of dressing on the table before starting our drinks, while Baylor makes us both a plate of spaghetti.
“So, apparently, our mom hid Copeland’s letters.” She goes into the entire story while we eat.
“Damn.”
“Yeah. Ellison didn’t know how to tell us and didn’t want to tell me over the phone. I assume that’s why Copeland hasn’t told you or the guys, or I assume he hasn’t. She wasn’t ready to talk about it with us, and I understand that. I don’t know how I would feel if Mom had done that to me.”
“No, he hasn’t mentioned it. I can see why. I’m sure this is hard for both of them, especially Ellie.”
“Yeah, so—I love my parents, and I miss them, but I’m mad at them, you know? How could they interfere like that?”
“I don’t know, Bay. I can’t begin to imagine what she was thinking. I mean, at least she wrote a letter, explaining that it was her and giving her a reason the best way that she could.”
“I guess. I just hate that they lost so much time.”
“I know, baby, but look at them now. Maybe it wasn’t their time yet. Just like it wasn’t ours yet, but here we are.” I lean over and peck a kiss on her cheek, and I’m rewarded with a smile.
“Yeah, I know you’re right, but it still stings.”
“You’ve been holding on to this for the last few weeks. You know you can talk to me about anything.”
“I know I can, and I love you for that. I just wasn’t ready, I guess. I’m still processing it myself. I know Ellie has to still be struggling.”
“It can be hard to get held up on the past, but life is about living and making mistakes. They were meant to be, and the universe brought them back together. The universe brought me you, and I’m a firm believer in that. You can’t convince me otherwise.”
“So, it had nothing to do with your stubborn nature or your dedication to making me fall in love with you?” she teases.
“Oh, that, too. I was a man on a mission, but all that hard work and singular focus paid off. Now, I get to call you mine, and know that you feel it, too.”
“Do you think we can put some of that same dedication to cleaning up the mess from dinner?” she jokes.
My head falls back in laughter. “I’ve got this. Go sit and relax. You cooked. I’ll take care of the mess.”
“My cowboy knows how to spoil me,” she sings, following with a soft laugh. She helps me carry everything to the sink, pops a kiss on my shoulder, and leaves me to it. I’m just sticking my hands into the water to start rinsing before loading the dishwasher when she calls out for me. “Macklin McBride, you still haven’t unpacked?” she asks.
Turning to glance over my shoulder, I see her standing with the old, worn duffel bag that I used for our night away, the same one that I hauled around for years on the circuit, in her hands. “I’ll get to it.” I laugh. “I spent most of the night out with the horses and then did a workout and forgot about it, to be honest.”
“Slacker,” she teases. “I’m going to change into pajamas. I’ll toss the dirty clothes into the hamper.”
“You don’t have to clean up after me,” I tell her, reaching for a towel to dry my hands.
“I don’t mind. It will only take a second. Then I expect snuggles on the couch, cowboy.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I chuckle. “Just toss the bag in the bottom of the closet, and I’ll put it back up on the shelf later.”
“Are you calling me short, McBride?”
“Yep.”
She opens her mouth to reply, but instead, laughter bubbles out. “Accurate,” she sputters, before turning on her heel and heading back to the bedroom.
“Fucking love that woman,” I say out loud because the declaration deserves to be voiced. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.