Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
I didn’t know why, but his skepticism or confusion offended me. I frowned, stared him down, then squared my shoulders. “Yes. I attended Boyd when he was injured at the rodeo the other night. He left the hospital without completing the proper discharge papers.”
Shock and disbelief flickered over the man’s face, then his scowl deepened. “I see. I’m sorry, my little brother does have a habit of operating outside the rules.”
Okay. It seemed there was a little family tension here. I gave a bland shrug to make light of it all. “It’s fine. I just wanted to check on his wound. Is he here?”
I looked away from the gorgeous grumpy guy. The long dirt drive where I’d parked sloped down to a giant barn, a stable and corral. In front of me stood a large ranch house with plenty of windows and a wrap-around porch. A beautiful place to raise a huge family. Lots of rooms, lots of places for kids to run and play while the parents sat in rocking chairs on the front porch and watched. A pang of envy filled me. I couldn’t imagine growing up in a place as idyllic as this, and I was… jealous.
I’d been raised by a single mom with depression. It hadn’t been a Norman Rockwell painting like this place probably was.
To the left, a long two-story building stood with a similar porch on the ground floor and a balcony running all along the top floor. Doors opened to the top balcony, almost like the ranch version of a dorm or apartment building. A bunkhouse, perhaps? How many people lived and worked here? On a piece of land this size, I assumed a fair amount.
“I’m right here, Doc.”
A deep voice had me spinning on my heel in the direction of the road that led to the barn. Boyd came jogging up in a pair of ripped jeans and fitted t-shirt in hunter green, a few flecks of straw on the shoulder. There wasn’t a hint of effort in his gait as if he was injured. The relaxed smile on his face didn’t indicate pain or discomfort. The snug shirt couldn’t hide any kind of bandage.
He tugged off a pair of work gloves as he came up, his smile as wide and charming as I remembered it. For one moment, I forgot everything under the glare of that magnetic white-toothed grin. Heat blossomed between my legs, my nipples tightened in my bra. This feeling was why I was standing here, why I’d driven all this way. I felt like I’d been hit by a charging bull, and I’d never, ever felt like this before.
Not over a man. Not over a man I didn’t even know. Gah.
But then reality came crashing back.
What in the hell was happening? How was it possible?
I’d have sworn on a stack of Bibles this man had been a bloody mess just two days ago. Now it looked like he’d been throwing hay bales out in the barn. No way could a guy with a sucking chest wound be able to twist his body, let alone throw hay.
As if he was suddenly reminded of his injury, he sagged a bit, bracing his ribs with his forearm with one hand, then took off his hat with the other. His light hair was damp with sweat and had a crease from his hat. I wanted to ruffle it with my fingers.
“Awful nice of you to come check up on me.”
Again, that devastating grin.
Again, the ruined panties.
“What the hell happened to you?” Boyd’s brother demanded.
“Doc, this is Rob, my brother.”
I nodded as a way of hello. I couldn’t tell if Rob was bothered by my presence or bothered by Boyd or just all around a cranky person, but I didn’t want to find out.
“You didn’t answer my question. What happened?” Was that a growl in Rob’s voice?
Boyd rolled his eyes. “Nothing.”
Boyd grabbed my wrist and tugged me away from Rob and back in the direction he’d come. I had to practically run to keep up with his long gait. The sun was warm, and my shirt began to cling to me. I glanced back at Rob who stood where we’d left him by my car, watching us.
“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to catch my breath.
“Somewhere alone.” He slowed down and glanced down at me. His gaze held heat. Promise. Need. All of it was potent and made me catch my breath in a way a dash across the property ever could.
Somewhere alone. My body was thinking that was an incredibly good idea. My mind… not so much.
BOYD
I didn’t shut the barn door behind us, although I wanted to lock it up tight to keep Audrey in… and everyone else out. My wolf howled with enthusiasm that she was here with me. She’d shown up, just as I’d assumed, but it had taken two fucking days. I’d rubbed one out in the shower morning and night, my dick getting hard just thinking about her. The curve of her cheek, the lush swell of her tits, the roundness of her hips, the berry color of her lips. The thought of those lips trying to wrap around every inch of me. I was big, and she was a little thing and would have a hard time. At first.