Total pages in book: 22
Estimated words: 20639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 103(@200wpm)___ 83(@250wpm)___ 69(@300wpm)
As we wait for the food, he pulls my hand to his thigh. “We need to talk.”
I barely resist rolling my eyes. I think we’ve talked more in the last twenty-four hours than we did our whole marriage. But I ask him lightly, “Oh yeah? What about?”
“The ranch.”
I lift my eyebrows. “The ranch? What about the ranch?”
“Well, after I ride in the Classic, win or lose, I’m going to take some time off, and we need to have the ranch make a little more money.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to offer money to him, but I know he’s not going to accept. Instead, I ask him, “What are you thinking?”
He blows out a breath. “I’m going to offer boarding. We have plenty of room in the barn. I’ve been approached to do some training and have one client lined up.”
I nod my head, and he continues. “And I thought about leasing out some acres. We can move the fence in and spare around thirty acres.”
I scrunch my nose up. “Dustin…”
He tries to act like he’s okay with it, but I know him well enough to know he’s not happy about this. I could just keep my mouth shut, but I’m not going to. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
He rears back, surprised. “Why not?”
I turn fully to him and put my hand on his arm. “Dustin, this is your land.”
He cups my cheek. “Our land. And I want to find a way to spend more time with you than on the road.”
I tilt my head at him. “Really? I thought you loved rodeoing.”
He smiles softly. “I like bulldogging… but I love you.”
My body trembles. “Well, let’s not lease out the land yet. Let’s look at the numbers and see if boarding and training will be enough.” I pause, and even though a part of me doesn’t want to look past the next month, I also know that I don’t want him to lose any of his land.
He’s shaking his head, and desperation hits me. “Look, Dustin, right now, that is my land too, and I’m not going to let you just sell it off in pieces.” I lift my chin in defiance. “Think about our kids.”
He smiles broadly as he wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Okay. I won’t bring it up again. No leasing out the land… our land.”
He’s smiling through lunch and finds a way to hold my hand the whole time.
CHAPTER 11
DUSTIN
Still smiling hours later, I lie back on the bed. I want to pull Annie against me, but she’s been a little bit like a newborn foal just finding her legs, and I don’t want to spook her and ruin the perfect day.
Annie groans as she stretches out on the bed.
“Tired?” I ask her.
She groans again. “Exhausted. I think we walked miles this afternoon. I liked your idea of walking around downtown after lunch, but I think you had ulterior motives.”
I just smile in her direction. Now that I’ve decided to let my guard down, I feel happier and lighter. “Ulterior motive, huh? What do you think my ulterior motive was?”
She rolls toward me, leans up, and puts her head on her hand. “Do you know how many times you introduced me as your wife today?”
I press my fingers to her arm. “What? I’m proud that you’re my wife, Annie.”
She shakes her head, and her smile turns strained. “I’m sure we’re the talk of the town. We broke up, we’re back together, and next month—”
I cut her off. “You will still be my wife.”
She sighs softly and lays her head down on the pillow. “Dustin?”
I smile into the darkness. “Yeah, baby?”
She scoots toward me. “I’ve been thinking.”
I suck in a breath. I’ve been hard this whole damn day, and I’m barely hanging on. After holding her last night, I’ve decided this is pure torture on my part, but I’m still not letting her out of the deal. I want her in my bed. “Thinking about what?”
She stutters. “I uh, well, I uh, miss you.”
I tense. “I’m right here, honey. I’m trying, I really am, but I can do better. Tell me what you need from me and I’ll do it.”
When she doesn’t answer me, I lean toward her, wanting to comfort her. “Baby, you don’t have to miss me, I’m right here.”
She scoots closer, and her hand flattens on my chest, pushing me backwards. “Dustin, I mean, I miss being with you.”
My heart stutters in my chest, and I freeze for all of two seconds before I tug her onto me. “You want to know what I miss, Annie?”
Her voice is soft. “Yeah, D, tell me.”
I lift her on top of me, and when she’s settled, I put a palm on each of her ass cheeks, pulling her against my hard cock. “I miss this. I miss having you in my arms.” I suck in a breath, tightening my hold so she can’t run. “I miss being inside you.”