Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95712 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Who am I to turn down a pretty lady?”
Ensley laughed. “Still know how to flatter, I see.”
Once we got to the dance floor, we took off two-stepping.
“Heard you’re going to be volunteering at the camp this summer.”
I smirked. “One conversation with your mother and I somehow managed to volunteer.”
She smiled. “You’ll have fun. The kids are great. I love doing little demonstrations for them. And my sister runs those camps like a well-oiled machine, let me tell you.”
Speaking of… I glanced around the dance floor and spotted Emeline dancing with another guy who seemed to be about her age. She was laughing at something he said…and I found myself wanting to be the one who made her laugh like that.
He pulled her closer and whispered something into her ear.
An instant rush of anger swept over me. Feeling caught off guard by the reaction, I quickly turned away.
Focusing back on Ensley, I saw she was looking at me with a smirk. “Why, Mr. Tucker, you look like you’re ready to tear someone’s head off.”
“What?” I asked. “I do not have that look on my face.”
Ensley glanced over her shoulder. “That’s Luke. He’s one of the ranch hands on our place. He’s had a thing for Emeline since his first day of work.”
“What’s he do on the ranch?” I asked, looking back to see him dipping Emeline, and she was once again laughing. No, that wasn’t anger I was feeling. It was jealousy.
“He’s on the cattle side.”
“So he doesn’t work directly for Emeline?”
When Ensley didn’t answer, I looked at her. A single brow was raised. “Why so many questions about Luke and Emeline?”
“Well, I mean, if she were his boss, I don’t think it’d be appropriate for him to be dancing with her like he is.”
Ensley busted out laughing. “Oh my God! When did you become such a prude?”
“I’m not a prude,” I said right before I spun her.
“If you’re not a prude, then why are you worried about—”
Her voice cut off when I spun her again, in a sad attempt to get her to forget where her train of thought was going.
“Do you like Emeline?” she asked as soon as I reeled her back in.
A bark of laughter slipped free. “Of course not! I just don’t want to see some jerk trying to take advantage of her, that’s all. Besides, getting involved with anyone isn’t something I’m interested in right now.”
She gave me an assessing look, those blue eyes of hers playful. “You know, Emeline’s had a crush on you since she was like fourteen. Maybe even before that.”
I rolled my eyes. “Your brother already told me, and I highly doubt she still does.”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe not. But then, you don’t see the way she looks at you.”
“Ensley,” I warned. “We’re friends.”
A wicked smile appeared on her face. “There’s such a thing as friends with benefits, Levi.”
I groaned. “Stop it.”
The song ended, and as we headed back to the table, someone tapped me on the shoulder. It was Logan Miller.
“Dance?”
Right at that moment, Emeline and Lilibeth were making their way toward our table. I quickly grabbed Emeline’s hand.
“Emeline, I think we’re up next.”
Confused, she started to say something, but I quickly herded us back toward the dance floor. “I’m sorry, Logan. Promised this one to Emeline.”
Once we got to the dance floor, the next song started. I cursed when I realized it was a slow song.
I drew Emeline closer and tried to ignore the scent of her damn perfume. It was fucking intoxicating.
“Um, what was that about?” she asked as we shuffled together slowly.
“Logan Miller wanted me to dance with her.”
Something passed across Emeline’s face…and for a moment it looked like disappointment. But why she would be disappointed was beyond me. We danced for a few moments in silence.
“So who was the guy you were dancing with earlier? The one who liked to dip you?”
“Luke?” she asked with a laugh. “He works on the ranch. He’s been asking me out, I swear, since the first day he started working for us.”
I frowned. “Have you told him no?”
Her head drew back some at my tone. “Yes.”
“Maybe he needs to learn that no means no and to stop harassing you.”
Her brows flew up. “He’s hardly harassing me, Levi. He’s a nice guy, and if he didn’t work for my brother, I might go out with him.”
That admission bothered me more than I thought it should. All I could do was nod.
“Why didn’t you want to dance with Logan?”
I looked down into those blue eyes and realized if I stared long enough, I could get lost. Closing my eyes to break the connection, I turned my head before opening them again, glancing around the dance floor before looking back at Emeline. “For one, she’s way too young for me. Second, she works for my father, and will soon be working for me. That’s a line I do not intend to cross. Plus, I’m not the least bit interested in getting involved with anyone.”