Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Tears prick my eyes at the unexpected longing that fills my heart. Could that be me one day? Could I be sitting on the front porch holding hands with him and watching our kids raise kids of their own?
“You live in paradise,” I tell Cord when I can speak around the lump in my throat.
“It only gets better from here,” he reassures me as he turns down another road. The longer we drive, the further we get from town. Now, big barns, livestock and country homes dot the landscape. They’re far apart, sometimes miles between them.
Finally, he turns down a road with a sign declaring the place is Valor Ranch. I spot the horses grazing in the pasture and let out a happy sigh. “This place is magical.”
He grins. “Yeah, it is.”
As he drives down the dirt road, he points out various buildings. “That’s the silo. It’s not really in use right now, but it kind of came with the place. Over there is the barn and beyond that, you see the big house. That’s where Bronco lives with Lauren.”
“She’s the one behind the Cuddle a Cowboy event,” I say, remembering her name from the emails we exchanged.
“Yeah, she sweet-talked Bronco into letting her put any willing cowboy up for auction. The money earned went to save Lauren’s favorite place, the Wildflower Retirement Community.”
“I remember that. I read about it in the article,” I tell him. “It’s how I found you.”
“And I’m glad you did,” he says, his words a soft rumble.
“I’m glad too,” I admit. I know this marriage isn’t the real thing, and Cord is just a really good guy. But I feel like he gets me in a way that no one else does.
The moment he stops the truck, I’m scrambling out. I take a deep breath of country air, feeling my whole body relax. There’s no sound of traffic here, no hum of thousands of electronics, and no pressure or deadlines. There’s just peace. For the first time in years, it feels like my soul is breathing.
“Come on. I’ll show you to my cabin, and you can get changed,” he tells me as he grabs my bags from the trunk.
I glance down at my sundress and heels. I felt so cute when I put these on this morning. I definitely enjoyed the appreciative hunger in his gaze today when he told me I looked pretty. He’s been limited to three compliments a day, and he never fails to use them all.
“Something you don’t mind getting dirty in,” he clarifies and raises his eyebrows, that teasing look becoming more familiar to me now.
I grin as I follow him to his cabin. It’s big and beautiful, just like he is. But it’s also masculine and sterile with only a few pieces of furniture scattered throughout the entire place. But my favorite thing about it is the way it smells like him. It’s a spicy mix of leather, vanilla and earth that I’ve come to associate with my husband.
Molly and Milo like it too if the way they sniff everything is any indication. I don’t miss the dog beds that are tucked away in the corner of the living room or the bag of dog food in the kitchen. I love that he’s always thinking of them.
After the tour is finished, Cord puts his hands in his pockets and explains, “I don’t need much.”
“With a view like this, I’d have to agree,” I tell him, watching the way the tension leaves his shoulders. “Not to mention these exposed beams.” I point to the ceiling, and his chest puffs out a little then.
“Built the place myself.” He’s preening now, reminding me of those nature documentaries where the male of the species tries to attract a mate.
“The craftsmanship is excellent,” I tell him, even though I have no idea what good craftsmanship looks like.
He runs his hand along one of the doors. “My parents were alcoholics. They were always getting evicted from one place or another. But this place is mine. It’s the one place no one can make me leave.”
My heart twists at his words. I lost my mum when I was young, but it’s different.
My childhood wasn’t filled with the same level of instability as his. I never had to worry about where I was going to put my head at night or guess if the electricity would be on when I came home after a day of school.
I always knew that my father loved me. He kept food on the table and provided all of the emotional support that I could need. But I know that Cord doesn’t want me feeling sorry for him. “Your cabin is stunning.”
He nods toward the bedroom. “Get changed. We’ll start your tour.”
Once I’m dressed, we settle Molly and Milo in a spare bedroom with an activity gate. He gives them each a specialty made rawhide bone before he takes me around the ranch. He teaches me how to feed the chickens, how to brush the horses, and even how to muck out a stall. I definitely don’t care for that last chore.