Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22390 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Micah nods when he pulls away. “Now, let me help your fool ass fix payroll. I have to hire a nanny after this.”
“In the meantime, maybe I could hold onto her for a few more minutes?” I ask, ruffling the sleeping girl’s hair. It’s so dark and thick. I wonder who her mama is and if she looks like her. There are so many questions I want to ask my brother but right now, all that matters is getting to spend time with my new niece.
Several hours later, West and Micah return. They seem as fine as ever, laughing and chatting about the next car they’re going to restore. I guess they got out everything they needed to say earlier.
“She’s had two bottles and slept except for a few minutes that she stared up at me,” I tell Micah. “Maybe I could keep her just a little while longer?”
He scoops her up into his arms and smiles down at her. “Nah, you’re behind on work and besides, I need to get some baby supplies and find my nanny.”
“Where are you going to look?” I know sometimes you can get a nanny through an agency, but I think that takes time and Micah clearly needs someone to help him now.
“I don’t know yet,” he murmurs. “There’s got to be someone in town who would like to spend their days holding her. If your boyfriend didn’t fuck up payroll so badly, I’d retire and let him run the place.”
“It’d be two days before I ran it into the ground and you know it,” West answers. It’s true. He is an amazing expert when it comes to every part of planting, growing, and packaging our trees. But he doesn’t know anything about the business side of things. None of us do.
“I’ll stop by for some auntie cuddles later.” I pass him the diaper bag that’s way too light for a baby. I’m pretty sure they come with a lot more accessories than he has. No wonder it’s time for him to go into town for supplies.
“Yeah, she’d like that,” he calls over his shoulder as he leaves the house.
Finally, I’m alone again with West. Even though there’s plenty we should be doing, the only thing I really want is to snuggle with my man for a few minutes. I wrap my arms around him as I watch my brother leave. “She’s adorable, isn’t she?”
West presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I took you bare last night. That means we could have one of our own in nine months.”
My heart skips a beat at the thought of having a little cowboy to chase around the house. “You wouldn’t mind that?”
“I’d be over the moon,” he reassures me. “I can’t wait to raise a brood of our own the moment you’re ready. But first, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
He guides me to a kitchen chair and directs me to take a seat. Then he gets down in front of me on one knee. “You remember how I told you I need a Christmas bride? Well, turns out I found her and I’m keeping her. Forever.”
He pulls a jewelry box out of his pocket and opens it to reveal an oval-cut diamond that’s huge. It’s not just an engagement ring. It’s a warning to any man that gets inside a twenty-foot radius of me. But that’s OK. Because I like the warning.
I blink moisture from my eyes. “I want to be kept forever.”
“I love you,” he whispers before he slips the ring on my finger and presses a soft kiss to my lips. This grumpy cowboy is all mine and I’m his. Together, we’re going to raise the next generation of Kringles right here on the family ranch.
EPILOGUE
WEST
“How much longer is this going to take?” I ask my mom as I pace up and down the aisle of the tiny chapel. It’s been four weeks since I proposed to Cassie. Four weeks too long if you ask me.
I wanted to march her into the courthouse that very moment. My mom never would have forgiven me and besides, Cassie wanted a Christmas Eve wedding. Well, what my woman wants, she gets.
There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. If she told me she wanted me to stop the sun, I’d find a way to do that for her. She’s everything to me which is why I’m so damn eager to tie the knot with her.
“It won’t be long now,” she reassures me. She leans over to pick some lint off Micah’s suit coat. The chapel is tiny, only capable of holding a few people and we’ve filled it to capacity. Three generations of Kringles are here, all waiting in anticipation for the vows.
“Just tell her to put on some lipstick and get her cute ass out here,” I insist.