Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 32426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 32426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 162(@200wpm)___ 130(@250wpm)___ 108(@300wpm)
He passes Danny over, careful to support him in all the right ways. When he’s settled against me, I glance up, studying the way the snowflakes land on his beard and melt into it. “You’re a good man.”
He cups my cold face, his gloves soft against my skin. “I’m not a good man. I’m an obsessed cowboy who plans to make you mine.”
My heart skips a beat, but before I can process his words, someone in the crowd calls out, “Excuse me!”
I realize we’ve stopped in front of a lot of people, blocking their view of the latest house. I chuckle softly, nerves making me feel giddy and hopeful at the same time.
Nate takes my gloved hand in his as we resume our course down the tacky light show. He takes dozens of photos of me and Danny and Rudy.
“Wait, wait,” I tell him. “We need some with you in them.”
He grins at my suggestion. There’s an elderly couple nearby, so I wave them over. When they approach us, Nate holds out his phone and asks the woman to help us. Then he puts his arm around my shoulders, and the two of us smile up at his phone as she snaps several of us in different poses.
She passes the camera back, telling us what a beautiful couple we are.
I blush, and Nate doesn’t bother to correct her. If anything, he seems to beam at her indication that we’re together. When he said he planned to make me his, is that what he meant? Or was he merely talking about a fling?
I’m not sure what he meant, and I don’t want to ask. Instead, I keep talking on the way back to the ranch. I tell him about my favorite Christmas traditions with my parents like going ice skating every year and stringing popcorn and cranberries to decorate the tree with.
When we arrive on the porch, I turn to Nate. “Thank you for such a fun date. I promised Mary I’d help make some of her handmade ornaments for the winter fair.”
I don’t tell him that my commitment to help Mary with the ornaments is probably the only thing keeping me from inviting him back to my room. Would Mary be upset if I hooked up with Nate? I’m not sure, and I don’t want to risk losing my job.
He smiles. “It’s okay. I’m going to meet up with some of my ranch brothers.”
Mary opens the front door and glares at him, but there’s no heat behind her scowl.
He holds up his hands and steps back. “I’m going, I’m going.” Then he trains his gaze on me and says, “Tomorrow night’s our next date.”
I break out in a grin as I watch the handsome cowboy walk away. Even if it’s only for a night or two, I definitely want to belong to him.
Chapter 8
Nate
After my date with Callie, I head to the bunkhouse. It’s only a short walk from the main house. The guys are gathering for an impromptu dinner, and I haven’t seen some of them in years.
My boots crunch against the snow as I walk, Rudy happily bouncing along beside me. I can’t help the dopey grin on my face. I’m in love with Callie. She hasn’t accepted that yet.
She’s scared and shy, uncertain of love. But I’m going to show her that love sticks around. That love stays through the messy and the hard moments. I’m always going to be there for her and for Danny.
As soon as I step inside the bunkhouse, the familiar scents hit me. Cole’s chili, Mary’s lemon furniture polish, pine wood, and the sweet scent of an evergreen Christmas tree.
This communal living space changed my life. It helped me to realize that even though I felt alone in the world, I wasn’t. Mary and Christopher did so much more than take me in when I was troubled. They gave me a family, a brotherhood. It’s a gift that not everyone gets.
I toe off my boots at the front door, knowing better than to track mud and slush across these hardwood floors that Mary works so hard to keep in good condition. She’s always somehow made every bunkhouse feel like a home.
There’s already a fire crackling in the stone fireplace, and folded blankets resting on the couch for whoever needs a place to crash. There are bedrooms too, but I’m going back to the main house so I can be close to Callie and Danny.
I follow my nose to the kitchen where Cole is already staring down into a big, bubbling slow cooker. “There you are.”
“It’s been too long,” I agree, surprised when he reaches to give me a quick one-armed hug. He’s been different since he was injured on his last deployment. He’s always been quiet and reserved, but now he’s even quieter.