Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Chuckling, Gatlin replied, “I bet.”
For half a second, I thought about telling my brother what I’d overheard Lilibeth say about her virginity, but decided against it. I was never one for gossip, and I wasn’t about to start now.
“Okay, back to reality. That storm is moving in, I’d like to make sure we’re ready for it.”
Gatlin and I easily fell into a conversation about the ranch. It pushed all thoughts of Lilibeth and her sexy-as-hell body right out of my head.
For now, anyway, because I had a feeling that once I was in my bed tonight, those visions would pay me a visit.
Lilibeth
“Lilibeth?”
My head jerked up to see Ensley staring at me. “Did you say something?”
She laughed. “I said a whole bunch of something. Where are you at tonight?”
I glanced around the table and tried my best to smile. Moreen sat across and to the left of me, and Ensley sat directly across. It was our weekly girls’ dinner, and we were at one of our favorite restaurants. The only one missing was Emeline, who’d gone off to Lake Tahoe to get married.
“Something is for sure off. You were late to work on Friday, and now you’re woolgathering.”
“Woolgathering?” Ensley asked.
Moreen nodded. “Yeah, like daydreaming. I read it in a historical romance novel and fell in love with that saying. I’m so glad I was finally able to use it.”
I chuckled. “I wasn’t daydreaming.”
Ensley rolled her eyes. “Please, you were totally off somewhere else. Want to tell us where?”
“The store.”
“You were daydreaming about the store?” Moreen asked with a slight frown. “We really need to get you out on a date.”
Ensley laughed. “Agreed! If you’re thinking about your store with that dreamy face, we should be worried.”
“Dreamy face?” I said with a laugh. “I did not have a dreamy look on my face.”
“You totally did,” Ensley retorted.
“We should go out tonight,” Moreen decided as she changed the subject.
Ensley leaned back in her chair. “Nope, not this girl. I’m exhausted.”
Moreen looked at me, one brow raised.
I shook my head. “It’s been a crazy two days. How are you not tired?”
“Maybe it’s the adrenaline, but I don’t want to go home and just sit tonight. I want to dance! Flirt with some guys and just not be alone. We can go to Granby. Hit one of the bars there. Guys, come on! I’m depressed, and I don’t want to be. I’m super happy for Emeline, but her getting married this weekend has put me in a funk. I need to meet a guy I won’t ever see again and just cut loose!”
I looked at Ensley, who suddenly looked interested in the idea.
“Granby, you say?” she smiled. “It might be kind of fun to go somewhere else besides River Falls. A little bit of innocent flirting might be what we all need.”
As much as I wanted to crawl into my bed and go to sleep, I knew they were right. I was positive the funk I was feeling was because Emeline had found her happily ever after. At this point in my life, I was pretty sure I didn’t want to be a thirty-year-old virgin. I was ready to just have a meaningless one-night stand.
Nodding, I said, “Okay. Let’s do it. Let’s go out, flirt, and cut a rug!”
Moreen clapped. “We’re already dressed for going out. Let’s go now!”
“I’ll be designated driver, since I have to get up earlier tomorrow to reshoe some of the horses on the ranch,” Ensley said.
“It has been a long time since I’ve gotten tipsy,” I said with a giggle.
We paid for our meal and were soon climbing into Ensley’s Ford F-250 and heading toward Granby. By the time we got there, Moreen had us all pumped up to have a good time.
“Moreen, are you sure about this place?” Ensley asked, as we stood outside the bar.
“Sure. I heard my brother talking about it. The locals all come here, so you know it’s good.”
Glancing at the people walking toward the entrance of the bar, I bumped Ensley’s side, nodding my head for her to look.
“Oh my,” she whispered, as three very handsome cowboys approached.
“You ladies lost?” asked a man with the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
Moreen stepped forward. “We aren’t, but thank you for asking. We live in River Falls and were told this is the place to come for a good time.”
I rolled my eyes. A good time? Did she really say that?
All three of them smiled. “You’re at the right place.”
Ensley spoke up next. “Then that means you boys are buying the first round?”
The tallest one walked up to Ensley and held out his arm. “We sure are.”
Ensley winked at me before allowing the guy to walk her into the bar.
The shortest of the three made his way over to Moreen. “I’m Jack.”
Moreen held out her hand, and he took it and kissed the back, causing her to giggle. “Moreen.”