Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Holly is fast asleep in the back seat when I pull up to the farmhouse. I don’t want to disturb her, so I shoot Remington a text.
Me: Sitting in the car with Holly, running the AC. Nothing’s wrong. She’s sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her.
Five minutes later, I see Remington walking toward the car in the rearview, from the direction of the barn.
Not wanting to wake Holly, I slip out the door and carefully latch it shut.
“Hey,” I say in a low voice. “She’s all tuckered out. I don’t mind sitting out here to keep an eye on her while she naps.”
“How did it go?”
“I think Holly and I both had a blast,” I reply with a grin. “I made a couple of new friends, and the whole party was just really fun. Also, I met your old flame, Helena.”
He looks confused for a second. “Helena Brown?”
“It’s Ryerson now.”
“I think we went on one measly date.” He shoves his hands into his pockets, clearly uncomfortable, and I laugh.
“It made an impression. Everyone was nice, but that seems to be the norm for this town. Holly had a blast. And she informed me that her birthday is in a couple of weeks, and I haven’t even started planning the party.”
“We don’t usually do parties,” he says. “We just have family dinner and cake.”
“She’s in school now. That won’t work. She deserves to have a party with friends, Grumpy. She’s a good kid.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. We’ll do a party.”
“It’s too bad the old barn hasn’t been transformed into that event space we talked about. That would be a killer party.”
“You know, I’ve been thinking about that,” he says as he leads me to the steps of the porch. We sit down, side by side. “I think it’s an excellent idea, and I’d like to take it to the rest of the family. I know that I’m technically in charge now, but it’s a family ranch, and they should have a say.”
“I love you.”
My eyes go wide, and I slap my hand over my mouth in shock. Did I really just blurt that out like that? When he’s talking about his family?
“I mean—” I clear my throat, but before I can say anything else, Remington pulls me into his lap, and as I straddle him, he kisses me silly.
“I love you, too,” he whispers against my lips. “Madly. Stupidly. Irrevocably. I’m wild for you, Doc.”
“Oh, thank God. I thought I’d really made things awkward there for a minute.”
He laughs and cups my face. “No. You didn’t.”
“It’s awkward timing,” I admit. “But damn, Grumpy, I love how much you love and respect your family and the legacy of this ranch. I love it. I didn’t know if I’d ever meet someone who had a similar family dynamic as mine, but I did. And it’s one of the things that’s always attracted me to you.”
“I know,” he says and brushes my hair over my shoulder. “And I feel the same.”
“You were saying you’re going to talk to your family about the old barn?”
“Yeah. And I want you to be there because if it’s going to happen, you’re going to be in charge of it.”
“What?” Stunned, I sit back and stare at him. “Why me?”
“Because it’s your vision, and I want it to be exactly the way you picture it in your head.”
“Wow. Okay. Sure, I can do that.”
“I know you can,” he says simply before kissing me again.
“Why are you kissing?”
We break apart at the little voice, and I shimmy off Rem’s lap. Obviously, Holly woke up and got out of the car without either of us hearing it.
“Because I like to kiss her,” Rem says to his daughter. “Did you have fun today?”
“Yes, and Erin says that she’ll help me plan the perfect party for my birthday.”
“I’m sure she will.”
I just don’t think that life gets any better than this.
I’m finally back at work at Bitterroot Valley Coffee Co., and it feels amazing. Millie’s working with me today, and we’re having a great time, switching back and forth between the one taking the orders and the one making the coffee.
We work so well together.
Remington brought the kids in this morning for a treat, and that was a fun surprise. And every single person I’ve waited on today has been happy and in a good mood.
Today is my day.
“Hello.”
I turn and smile at Clay. “Oh, hey. How’s it going?”
“Fine.” He doesn’t look as friendly as he used to, but maybe he’s not having as good of a day as I am. “I’ll just take a caramel mocha.”
“You got it.” I finish the transaction and smile at Clay. “I’ll bring it out to you when it’s ready.”
“You can just set it up here. I’ll come get it,” he says and walks away, his face already glued to his phone.