Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100367 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
“But there is news,” I inform him.
“Shit. What is it? Just tell me.”
Xander loves what he does, but he hates being away from home. He comes back to Montana every summer and spends most of his offseason here, only traveling back for promo for the team.
“Ava’s engaged.”
He’s quiet for about ten seconds.
“She’s not marrying Chad.”
“Why do we all say his name like he’s shit on our shoe? He’s an attorney. Has a decent reputation around town. You know he helped Juliet and Brooks last year.”
“Yeah, he’s also not good enough for our baby sister, so it sounds like I need to make a trip home so I can kick his teeth in.”
I can’t help the grin that takes over my face.
“How are you feeling about the playoffs?”
“We’ll be in it for a while yet,” he says confidently. “But I have three straight days off soon, and I’ll be coming home for a day.”
“For a day?”
He’s quiet, and then replies with “I’m homesick, man.”
“Well, then come on. We’re here. I’ll make sure your house is ready for you.”
“We’ll kick’s Chad’s ass when I get there. Tell Easton.”
I laugh and glance inside and see Ava and Darby laughing together too.
Fuck, she fits in here so well.
“What aren’t you telling me?” he asks.
“Remember the vet intern? Darby?”
“The pretty girl who likes hockey? Duh.”
“Yeah, well, she’s mine.”
Another silence. “I really need a trip home. I’m missing every fucking thing.”
“Let me know when you land next week, and I’ll pick you up.”
“Fuck yes, you will. I’ll keep you posted.”
We say goodbye, and then I frown out at the mountains. By the end of each season, Xander’s always ready to come home for a couple of months, but I’ve never heard him quite like this.
I don’t think he’s ever admitted to me that he’s homesick before.
Wondering what my stubborn brother isn’t telling me, I go back inside to find my sister gone and Darby holding a reusable grocery bag.
“I’m going out to gather arnica,” she announces. “And then I’ll check the horses in the barn. I feel bad that I didn’t go out to take care of them this morning.”
“Scott is covering the weekend,” I inform her. “You have a few days off to do as you wish.”
“Wow.” She shimmies her shoulders. “I won’t know what to do with myself.”
“I have plans for you, Duchess.” I press my lips to her cheek and then kiss down to her neck, and she arches into me as her breath catches.
“I thought you might.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
DARBY
I’m not gonna lie. I’m sore.
Yes, I’m still worn out and achy from all the work with the horse, but more than that, my pussy is worn out and achy from getting pummeled several times today by a dick the size of my forearm.
I mean, I’m not complaining, because Tucker knows what he’s doing, and I’m already addicted to him.
But I’m not in shape for that kind of workout.
“I want you all to know that it sucks that I always have to be the designated driver,” Harper announces as she pulls into a parking space near Lucky’s in Silver Springs. “I mean, of course I can’t drink, so it makes sense, but still.”
“Do you want us to pay you, like you’re an Uber?” Juliet asks with a smart-ass grin on her pretty face. “It might take some of the sting out of it.”
“You know, you might be on to something,” Harper replies, and then she and Ava walk down the sidewalk ahead of us as Juliet falls into step beside me.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Jules says.
This woman and I went to school together all our lives in Bitterroot Valley. I’ve known her forever, and when we were teenagers, we were friends.
But then she left, and our lives took drastically different paths. So it’s been great to have her back in the area, married to a man I know very well, and I get to see her often.
“I know, who knew the vet life was so busy?” I nudge her shoulder with mine. “How’s the restaurant?”
“Slammed, thank God. I had to hire another person for mornings.”
“Good for you. I need to come in soon. I miss the lasagna.”
“Come get it while it’s still on the menu. It’ll be changing for summer soon.”
“Good to know.”
We walk into Lucky’s, and since all the tables are taken, we decide to sit at the bar, where it makes an L shape, so we can still chat with each other.
“Hey, everyone,” Ivy says with a wide smile. “Welcome in. What can I get you?”
“I thought you were just covering because you’re short staffed,” I say to Ivy. The other woman, so freaking pretty with her thick red hair up in a high pony, shrugs.
“I am. Apparently, I need to light a fire under my father’s ass to hire someone. I haven’t had a day off in two months. Anyway, what will you guys have?”