Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
If what you know in your heart is love when you think of Ash, then that’s all the two of you will ever need.
I feel a flush of warmth as Ash climbs back into his truck. A little smile playing on my lips.
“Hank and Rose are great,” he comments, giving them a final wave goodbye before pulling out of the gravel parking lot.
“They seemed smitten with you too,” he adds, noticing my smile. “What were you three whispering about anyways?” he asks casually.
I just shrug. Keeping it to myself for now, but decide that old Rose and even Hank are right.
Tonight’s the night I’m gonna give myself to Ash. Even though I’m ninety-nine percent sure that’s his whole reason for bringing me up here in the first place.
As Ash drives, I pretend to make for the paper sack he’s brought with him, which he snatches back over to his side of the bench seat.
“Ah-ah!” he warns me, laughing. “No peeking,” he adds, remarking that if I’m gonna have my secrets, then he’s gonna have his.
“For a few hours at least,” he tells me, making me wonder just what he’s bought from the store that could be so special.
“I don’t need surprises or secrets,” I tell him, settling back into the seat, feeling the sealed road giving way to real country roads.
The winding, mostly dirt and gravel road that I know leads to Ash’s farmhouse.
“I’m just glad you met Rose and Hank,” Ash comments. “They were nothing but kind when I first bought the old place. They even suggested dinner. We should take up their invitation,” he adds.
“Not tonight?” I blurt out way too quickly, making Ash give me a sidelong glance.
“No…not tonight, just one day,” he frowns, asking me if I’m okay for maybe the hundredth time.
His eyes shift to my lap, and then I get it.
I’ve been absently fidgeting with my phone the whole way. Too scared to check my missed calls or messages but nowhere near brave enough to tell my parents anything just yet.
“I guess I’m just worried about what my parents are gonna say,” I admit, pushing air out of my cheeks and wondering if everything I do anywhere near Ash is so easy for him to read.
He goes quiet for a minute, and I can literally feel his mind mulling over what I’ve just said before he replies.
“Does it matter what your parents think?” he asks, and I know he means about him.
About us.
It’s not the conversation I wanted to have on our first day together, but if I’m honest, it’s the one thing on my mind apart from Ash.
I don’t answer him, but only because I really don’t know what to say right now. And I don’t want to ruin a good time talking about it.
Fortunately, his farm comes into view, and it gives us both the perfect excuse not to think about my parents.
Not yet anyway.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ash
Okay, so maybe the general store has almost everything I could possibly need or want.
I’ve never had a romantic dinner, so planning for one on the farm tonight, with Bridget just feet away as I try to pick what to actually get?
Being the way they are, Hank and Rose manage to keep Bridget occupied long enough for me to grab some things even I know I’ll need if I want things to go just right.
Candles… The one thing firefighters wish they’d ban outright. That and kerosene heaters. But that’s another story.
For a candlelit dinner all the way out here, for Bridget. I’m gonna need ‘em.
As for the rest? I really don’t even know what is romantic, let alone how to make the old farmhouse look romantic.
If it were for anyone else, I’d be telling myself this is stupid.
That nobody would expect or even want all this fancy stuff.
But because it’s her, and because I guess deep down a part of me wants to raise a family here, it’s all about Bridget.
To show her that I really am the perfect Alpha male. That I can provide for her as well as I know, I’ll pleasure her.
Choosing things that are at least the same color, I figure it’ll have to do. But our ride out to the farm after the store isn’t as exciting as it was on the way up somehow.
I guess on account of Bridget thinking so hard about what her parents will say or do when they find out about us.
But I’ve got no doubts in my mind.
Bridget’s mine, and we’re gonna be together, no matter what.
I’ll make her mine in every way. That’s what a forever deal is. House, kids, a big ring on her finger, the whole bit.
I can understand how she feels, though. Having met her Mom, I don’t imagine Bridget’s had an easy time growing up with that. But it’s all forgotten, for now at least, once we head over the rise and the old farmhouse comes into view.