Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74451 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I murmur, wondering why I’m suddenly nervous around him. I never have been before. Still, there’s something about the way he’s looking at me. It instantly puts me on edge. I watch as he takes his hat off and brings it in front of him. I do my best to shake off my trepidation and give him a smile. “Trouble at the ranch?”
“Why do you ask that?” he says, and his face is unreadable.
“Well, it’s the middle of the day and you are usually knee deep in work there unless you need supplies or something here, I never see you.”
“Oh,” he says and nods.
Tucker walks further into the store. His steps are hesitant and there’s a tension inside him that I don’t quite understand. I feel like I need to brace myself, because his demeanor is not the carefree man that I’ve come to know and like.
“Are you okay?” I ask, because obviously he’s not, but I have no idea what else to say or do.
Tucker clears his throat. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you, Tillie.”
“Okay…” I try to steady my nerves and catch my breath. I get the impression that whatever Tucker has to say, it’s not good.
“I was hoping to take you out for lunch.”
“Oh. Well, I’m the only one in the shop right now.”
“You have to eat, right? Close for lunch. We can go to the diner in town.”
I look around the store. I don’t have a lot of work and today is one of our slowest days. What could it hurt to have lunch with Tucker? Maybe it will pull me out of this lustful haze I seem to be sinking into when it comes to Ryder. Tucker has told me before that Ryder is a player. He probably wants to warn me away from his brother and that’s exactly what I need to hear today. I need the reminder so that I don’t give him my heart in whatever we’re doing together. I need a reason to hold onto the fact that this thing with Ryder is just sex.
I smile. “Okay, lunch it is. Can you give me a couple of minutes to lock up?”
“I can do that,” Tucker says with a smile, looking relieved.
I spend the next few minutes securing things and hanging a sign on the door. Tucker stands by, waiting. I don’t know why I’m nervous, but I am. Immensely so. It’s silly. Tucker and I have been friends for a long time. I like him and he’s a great guy.
“I’m ready,” I reply with fake enthusiasm.
“Me too,” he responds. He puts a hand on my back and guides me outside. I moisten my lips by rubbing them together when he reaches down and takes the keys from my hand and locks the door to the store. He hands them back with a small smile. He seems nervous, so I mostly smile back and try to hide my inner freak out that is currently going on. I think I succeed when he relaxes.
“It’s a beautiful day outside,” I remark when the silence does nothing but make my nerves better.
You know a conversation is bothering you when you resort to talking about the weather.
“True enough. I don’t think there’s anything prettier than a Wyoming day in the summer, unless it’s you, Tillie.”
I bite my lip with his compliment.
Oh crap.
For years, I wanted nothing but the attention of one Monroe brother. Now, it appears I have caught the eye of two. I wonder if I’ve fallen into some bizarro world and just haven’t realized it.
“Now, let’s see if I can get my best girl fed.”
His best girl? Crap, crap, and double crap.
Ryder
What’s that saying about the best laid plans? Leave it to my brothers to ruin mine—specifically this time, Dakota. I don’t know for sure, so I have no proof, but I’m pretty sure the bastard followed me into town. As I step out of my truck, he’s standing across from it—which would make sense because he got behind me the minute that I hit the road to town.
Bastard.
“I thought you guys worked for a living. Shouldn’t you be out on the range, riding fences or whatever?”
“Normally, yes.”
“Why is this not a normal day?”
“Tucker and I were supposed to stretch barbed wire today on the north pasture, but he was a no show. Told Dad he had shit to do in town, so the old man sent me to track him down.”
My body goes rigid. I’d bet money that the things Tucker had to do in town today involved Tillie. “Christ,” I hiss.
Dakota laughs. “Would you like to grab lunch with me at the diner?”
“Not hungry. I’m going to surprise Tillie at work and see if she wants food,” I mutter.
“Oh, I think Tillie’s already eating.”
“What makes you say that?” I mostly ignore what he’s saying as I walk around him to cross the street. One great thing about small towns is that you don’t have to wait for a crosswalk light. Our town doesn’t even have a stoplight, let alone anything else. Shit, no one here really uses the crosswalk either—including the sheriff.