Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
“Oh.” Disappointment rolls through me at the thought of not getting to give him the same thing. I try to move from his lap and that’s when I realize his jeans are wet too. Really wet and messy and I wasn’t the only one who came. Realizing that eases my embarrassment. I can’t help grinning. “That was…I liked…can we do it again? Maybe without clothes and—”
He presses a kiss to my lips, a quick peck that silences me. I melt a little more into his hard body as he lets me go.
“Date,” he says, and his voice is so deep that he has to clear his throat. “Date first then we’ll try again without the clothes.”
My heart beats fast at his words. He’s taking me on a date. The handsome mountain man wants a date with me. I should say something cool and suave. I should show him how grownup I am. “Yuh-huh.”
His eyes crinkle in the corners. “How does dinner tonight sound?”
I can’t help grinning. I don’t care that I probably look like a dork because he likes me. Trace likes me back. “Kind of perfect.”
9
MOLLY
I towel dry my hair as best I can. Trace doesn’t own a hair dryer or curling iron which means my long hair will have to be braided again. I wish I had what I needed to get dolled up for our date tonight, but somehow, I don’t think the giant mountain man will care all that much.
After he asked me out, we spent the day working. We moved two more loads of junk from his home to the workshop. He seemed a little embarrassed that he’d let the place get so bad, but I suppose when you live alone like he does it’s hard to care too much.
We didn’t touch each other as we worked even when we paused to eat peanut butter sandwiches on the front porch. But we’d do this thing where I’d catch him staring at me and I’d give him a little smile then he would smile too. It felt like we had a big secret from the rest of the world.
I slip into the pretty dress that Cadence, his friend Brennon’s wife, dropped off. Apparently, Trace has lots of big, burly mountain friends here and a couple of them are married. She was so sweet and gave me several outfits including pajamas. She even left me her cellphone number.
I acted like I’d misplaced my phone rather than admit I’m on the run. I still haven’t figured out what to do about that. I don’t think I can stay here in Courage County forever. But the thought of leaving Trace makes me feel hollow inside.
Maybe if my dad’s men never find me then it’s OK. Maybe if no one ever comes looking for me then I can stay.
Once I’ve gotten dressed and done the best I can with my hair, I leave the bathroom and give Trace a shy smile. He makes me feel all mushy inside with just a look. “All yours.”
“Damn straight,” he murmurs. He’s sweaty from our earlier work, his t-shirt clinging to him. I wouldn’t mind staying in tonight and discovering what his sweaty skin tastes like. But he’s being very insistent on the date. The tough welder might try to hide it but he’s a gentleman.
“Where are we going for our date?” I ask Trace when we’re in his truck. I spent the time he was getting ready, playing with Princess. She’s such an affectionate girl. Trace says she’s not normally but he’s lying. That kitty is pure love.
While he was in the shower, I thought about calling home and trying to contact dad’s second in command. My dad wouldn’t be missing me, but I could at least figure out how angry he is.
As much as I wanted his affection growing up, he’d never give it to me. I was only a pawn in his eyes and the day I accepted that truth was the day I stepped outside the castle walls.
Now that I’ve left my tower bedroom, I can’t imagine going back. There’s too much freedom here and while sometimes it feels scary, I have Trace beside me. I know instinctively that he’ll protect me.
“We’ll have dinner then I’ll show you around town. Afraid we don’t have too much in the way of entertainment.”
I don’t ever want him to feel he has to apologize to me. Any time spent with Trace is a good time. “I’d really like that.”
For dinner, Trace takes me to Liquid Courage. It’s a bar turned restaurant that’s run by Ledger and Peyton Kringle. Yeah, the town has a real live Christmas tree ranch. There are even tours put on during the holidays.
“We’ll go in December,” Trace promises after Peyton takes my order back to the kitchen. “I’ll get you the biggest Christmas tree we can find.”