Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58342 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 292(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
We saw the best and the worst in each other over our months together. No one has ever known me like she does. The thought of us having a family doesn’t scare me in the least. I’d like to take our future kids to Alaska someday and show them the cabin where their parents fell in love.
After I finish shaving and showering, I go out to the kitchen, where my dad is scrubbing his hands at the sink.
“Pam’s taking a quick shower. She’s nervous about meeting Trinity.”
I furrow my brow. “She shouldn’t be. Trin’s easy to get along with.”
“I know, it’s just...Pam worries she’ll say or do the wrong thing. That’s just how she is. She’s been hoping we could have a relationship for a long time now.”
Even though my dad has told me to leave the past behind and move forward, it’s hard to forgive myself for not reaching out to him sooner. If I hadn’t survived the crash, he never would have known I found out the truth about my mom deliberately keeping us apart.
“I’m just glad you guys are here.”
He smiles. “We are, too. And we’re really looking forward to Thanksgiving.”
Trin and I offered to host Dad, Pam and all the extended family for Thanksgiving this year. We’ll have all the remodeling done by then. Dalton and Trinity’s mom will be here, too.
I never cared about holidays before. They were just another day but with turkey for dinner. Alaska changed my thinking on that, though. I want to be a better son, uncle, brother and friend.
The beep that signifies a car at the ranch’s front gate sounds and my heart kicks up speed. It has to be Trin. I push the button to open the gate, hoping she sees the new bronze “Shining Light Ranch” plate I had installed at the entrance.
She drove here so she could bring everything from her apartment. She sold all her furniture and only brought what she could fit in her car. I offered to come pick her up in my new truck, but she wanted to stop in Des Moines to have dinner with a friend from college last night.
“Pam, Trinity’s here!” Dad calls.
Pam comes rushing from the bedroom they’re staying in, running a hand over her short, dark hair. She gives me a quick, excited smile.
“You guys are gonna love her,” I say.
We all walk out to the lodge’s front entrance, where Trin pulls in and parks. A dark SUV driven by Gideon pulls in behind her. He gives me a wave, turns around and drives back out the gate.
I paid him to follow her here just in case that creep Ronan is still stalking her. Now that she’s here, where we have a tight security system and perimeter alarms, he shouldn’t be able to get to her. And if he did, he’d have to go through me first.
As soon as Trin steps out of the car, our eyes lock and she runs toward me.
She’s more beautiful than ever, wearing jeans, a Mammoths hoodie and tennis shoes, her hair up in a ponytail. I sweep her off her feet in a hug, closing my eyes and inhaling the familiar scent of her soap and light floral perfume.
I keep our kiss quick and PG-rated, even though I want to carry her to the nearest bedroom and do a hell of a lot more.
When I set her feet back on the ground, she smiles at my dad and Pam.
“Hi, I’m Trinity. You must be Tim and Pam.”
They both hug her, tears shining in Pam’s eyes. I had no idea my stepmom cared for me as much as she did until this visit. Even though she’d never met me, she never gave up hope for my dad and I to mend our relationship.
“I’ll unpack your car tomorrow,” I say. “Let’s just catch up tonight.”
“Pam and I are staying at a bed-and-breakfast in Jackson Hole tonight,” Dad announces. “We’ll be heading there after dinner.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Trinity says. “Stay here. The guesthouse has two bedrooms.”
Pam shakes her head. “We want to see more of Jackson Hole. We’ll be back tomorrow evening.”
I exchange a look with my dad, who winks at me. I guess no one’s going to say out loud that they’re leaving us alone so we can have all the loud, crazy sex we want tonight.
Which will be a lot. Trin and I have only had a total of four nights together since the first time we had sex. Phone sex doesn’t even compare. Her legs and hips will be sore tomorrow after all the positions I’ve been fantasizing about.
“This place is gorgeous,” she says, taking my hand as we walk to the guesthouse.
“You like it?”
She grins. “Linc, I love it. The photos don’t do it justice.”
We spend an hour laughing and talking over dinner, and then I show her around the main lodge. She squeezes my hand with excitement as we move from room to room.