Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110360 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 552(@200wpm)___ 441(@250wpm)___ 368(@300wpm)
It wasn’t putting myself out there at all.
Actually, what I was doing was a hell of a lot like hiding in plain sight so she couldn’t reach anything worth holding on to either.
And it was so damn obvious that a man who was only partially in touch with reality recognized it before I did.
Walking over to a toolbox, I shook my head.
What the fuck was wrong with me? I was so all over the place when it came to this woman, I was giving myself whiplash.
Stay away.
Draw her close.
Let her in.
Stay away.
Panic and vow not to let her get hurt.
Take her to bed.
More panic.
Resign myself to failure.
And now, hold on with both hands?
Could I even do that?
Snagging a wrench, I looked back out at Lofton.
Sunlight spilled across the round pen, catching in her hair as she tipped her head back, laughing at something Zoey had done. The sound didn’t quite reach me from this distance, but I heard it anyway. Felt it. Like it had carved out its own path straight through my chest.
And fuck me, the happiness on her face was blinding.
She wasn’t waiting for the world to fall apart beneath her feet. Or hiding in the name of self-preservation.
Maybe we’d had it backwards.
Lofton was the steady.
And I was the storm.
“He fucks me like he’s been waiting his whole life to find me. Because I sure as hell have been waiting all of mine to find him.”
The words slid through my head again, slower this time. Heavier.
That wasn’t just something she’d said.
It was something she believed.
I exhaled sharp through my nose.
Holding on with both hands.
Could I do that?
Holding on meant risk.
Risk meant real.
And real meant finally allowing myself to step out of the shadow of fucking Devon Grant of the past and hoping like hell I didn’t screw it up the second I did.
An hour later, I walked back into the barn alone, with grease smeared across the front of my shirt, to find Lofton sitting on Zoey’s trunk, her knee bouncing a million miles per hour.
She shot to her feet the moment she saw me. “Where’s Daddy?”
I slanted my head toward the house. “He got tired. Went back to rest.”
Her body sagged with relief. “How’d it go? The suspense has been killing me.”
I reached into my front pocket and produced a folded five-dollar bill, holding it between two fingers. “Told him I have to order some parts for the mower.” I paused. “Those parts are going to secretly come with a mechanic who knows what the hell he’s doing. But he paid me for my time anyway.”
She crinkled her nose adorably, but her eyes were already laughing. “You should’ve texted me. I would’ve come gotten him.”
I tucked the five back into my pocket. “And miss out on the highlight reel of your childhood? Not a chance.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What did he tell you?”
I rocked back on my heels before pressing up onto my toes. “Well, let’s see. For starters, I can’t believe you sucked your thumb until you were seven.”
Her jaw dropped. “He did not.”
“He absolutely did. Apparently, it was a whole situation with a thumb brace and lots of tears.”
“That is a lie.”
“Mmm.” I tilted my head. “Not what I heard. But if you’d like, Roger can circle back for clarification.”
She pointed at me. “Don’t you dare.”
I grinned. “Oh, I’m daring.” I rubbed my chin like I was contemplating how much damage to do. “Then there was the chicken.”
“No,” she gasped.
“Oh yeah,” I went on, enjoying it way too much. “You snuck a hen into the house because it looked sad.”
She dragged both hands down her face. “Stop it.”
“Legend has it, that bird turned the kitchen into a war zone. Feathers everywhere. Your mom chasing it with a broom while you stood there crying because she was hurting its feelings.”
“Oh my God,” she groaned, but her eyes went a little glassy, like she wasn’t just embarrassed anymore. It was like she could almost see it. “Why is this the crap he remembers?”
I shrugged. “That man loves his girls. You, your sister, your mom. It was all he talked about. Well, that and how he spent an entire summer trying to teach you how to ride a bike before giving up.” I arched a teasing brow. “You ever figure that out, or is that something I’m gonna have to wade in on?”
“I can ride a bike.” She feigned an attitude, but her smile was too wide.
She walked toward me, and I had no doubt she was going to curve her sexy body around me. I would have loved every second.
Though, despite the way my mind screamed in protest, I took a step back. “Cameras, babe.”
She stopped and sighed. “Is it bedtime yet?”
“Getting there.” I smirked. “Gotta admit, I’m pretty eager myself. I’ve got an inspection to do tonight.”
She twisted her lips. “Is that so?”