Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 111(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
When she comes the third time, I follow her over, the truth spilling out around us. "I love you."
She arches back, gasping. Shaking. Christ, she's so sweet. I never want this to end.
I don't intend to let it.
When she told me that she was falling for me, she gave me the world. Hell will freeze over before I allow her to think she's going to lose a single thing by loving me.
Her life may have been hard before me, but not anymore. She needed a soft place. I've never been that. I'm still not even sure I know how to be soft, but I'll be damned if I don't learn.
She flips over, her wide eyes meeting mine. "You can't say things like that when you're inside me, Walker."
"Why not?" I tuck strands of hair behind her ear. "It's true."
"I…I…" She's cute when she's shellshocked.
"I love you, Letty. I knew it when you tried to kill me with that hot sauce on my tacos." I cup her cheek in my palm. "My heart stopped when I saw you cornered by that bobcat. It didn't start beating again until you were in my arms, safe. I love you. That's not going to change."
Her bottom lip quivers. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, Sunshine. I mean it. I know you haven't had it easy. I know you think you have to do everything alone and carry the world on your shoulders, but that's not true anymore." I brush my lips across her forehead. "You're safe now, not just from that bobcat, but from everything you've been carrying, from everything that's hurt you. I've got you, and I'm not lettin' go."
"I love you," she sobs. "I love you, and I'm so damn happy. And I'm so scared."
"What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing. Everything." She laughs through her tears. "Bobcats and mean bulls and fucking up and losing you and getting everyone fired."
"You aren't going to fuck up and lose me." I blow out a breath. "And so long as everyone keeps behavin', no one else will be fired."
"I don't want to be the reason people lose their jobs, Walker," she whispers. "I know what it's like to have nothing, and to worry about whether I'll have enough to eat or where I'll sleep. I don't want to be responsible for anyone else being in that position. I can't stand that."
Well, hell.
"Would it make you feel better if I told you that Tanner helped Toby get another job, Sunshine?"
"Really?" Her eyes widen. "You mean that?"
"I do," I confirm. "We aren't heartless. As much as I don't trust him, he didn't put his hands on you or threaten you, so Tanner made sure he'd have work somewhere else, where he wouldn't be a problem for anyone."
"That makes me feel better," she whispers.
"You've had it rough, haven't you?"
She bites her lip and then nods. "If I hadn't gotten the job here, I would have been living in my truck. Um, it wouldn't have been the first time."
Jesus.
"Back home, everyone knew my brother was in prison. They expected me to be just like him, so they didn't give me much of a chance. Didn't matter that Diego is in the military. When they look at me, all they ever see is Alex. Jorge was the first one to give me a chance after I moved here."
"That's done with now," I say firmly. "Your home is right here with me. It's on this ranch. It's in Silver Spoon Falls."
Her lips quirk. "I like the sound of that."
"Me too." I press a hard kiss to her mouth. "I've lived here my whole life. I was born and raised on a ranch a lot like this one. I know these people. And I know they're going to love you, Letty baby."
"What about…?"
"What?"
"Tanner and his brothers? I mean…are they going to be mad?"
"Fuck no," I say, chuckling. "Tanner already knows how I feel about you."
"Should we tell him?" she asks, eyeing me in worry.
That wasn't on my list of shit to do today, but I guess it is now. If it'll wipe that look off her face and give her a little peace of mind, I'll talk to him. It won't change anything, though. The Carringtons are good people, who just want the people who live here provided for and happy.
"Yeah, baby. I'll tell him."
Iwait until Letty is busy in the kitchen to hunt Tanner down, ready to get this over with so I can put her mind at ease. The longer I wait, the more she'll stress, and I don't want that for her. I want her to be able to relax and move forward without twisting herself into knots.
Unfortunately, I can't find Tanner anywhere.
I look for an hour before I give up and stomp back to the mess hall to check on Letty. Half the men are already inside, tucking into eggs and bacon with steaming mugs of coffee in front of them.