Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I hear you. The days are getting shorter and shorter, and soon, it’ll be winter.”
“Don’t say that word,” he says with a frown. “Don’t tempt the snow gods.”
I chuckle and tuck my hair behind my ear. “You’re right, I won’t say it again. So, business is good?”
“Someone’s always suing someone else,” he says. “And I saw your father not long ago.”
That has my back going straight, and I’m immediately reminded why I’ve always kept my distance from Evan.
“Oh?”
“I was in Helena last weekend for a political party thing, and he was there. He said to tell you hello.”
“Interesting.” That’s about all I have to say about that. Evan has political aspirations, and that’s why he wanted to date me in the first place.
It reeked of Dennis, and I wanted nothing at all to do with that.
“It was fun. You should go with me next time, see your folks, and spend some time with me.”
His hand snakes out to move down my hip, just as the bell sounds over the door and Chase walks in. He takes in the scene before him, narrows his eyes when they land on Evan’s hand on my hip, and he snarls, “Don’t make me draw my weapon.”
I laugh, but Chase doesn’t move his gaze until Evan removes his hand.
“Oh, hey, Chase.” Evan’s all smiles. “Summer and I were just talking about getting away to Helena together.”
“Whoa.” I hold up a hand as Chase’s jaw tightens. “We were absolutely not saying anything of the sort. I have no intention of going to Helena anytime soon, Evan.”
His eyes turn cold as he looks between me and Chase, and I reach for Chase’s hand, linking our fingers.
“I hadn’t heard,” Evan says stiffly.
“I find that very hard to believe,” is all Chase says before Evan turns and walks out the door.
“Men,” Ida says, rolling her eyes.
“He had his hands on you,” Chase says.
“And in about two seconds, I was going to tell him to take his hand off me. What are you up to?”
“I’m here to collect my girl.”
I frown up at him. “I’m sorry. I can’t leave for a while yet.”
“Well, yes, you are my girl, but I didn’t mean you. I thought I’d pop in and get Lily and take her home with me.”
And just like that, I get all gooey. “That’s really sweet. She’d like that.”
“I figured I’d fix her dinner, and she and I can stretch out on the couch together.”
I laugh as I hook Lily up to her leash, and when Chase takes it from me, he leans in to kiss me.
“I’ll see you in a few hours.” I grin up at him.
“We’ll be waiting.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHASE
“So, you said you wouldn’t camp,” I say as I shift the truck into park and grin over at Summer, “but that you would hike.”
“Sure, I’ll hike.” She frowns out the window. “Where are we, anyway? I know we’re on the ranch property, but I don’t think I’ve seen this spot.”
“We’re actually not too far from the lake, that way.” I point to the right and get out of the truck, open the door behind the driver’s side, and start gathering some gear. “I want to show you some of the property on foot today.”
“Okay.” She grins and hops out, opens the door opposite of me, and starts changing her footwear from flip-flops to the trail shoes she brought along.
We dropped Lily off at Paula’s for the night, since it wouldn’t be safe to take her with us today. Not only shouldn’t she hike that far, given that she has a flat face and would overheat, but there’s wildlife out here, and I don’t want to take any chances with the little dog.
“I put on sunscreen before we left the house,” Summer says as she sets a hat on her head. “You told me to bring the trail shoes, so I figured we’d be outside.”
“Good idea.” With the backpack full of water and snacks, along with some emergency supplies, on my back, I close the truck door and circle around to her. “You ready?”
“Ready.”
We set off on a path into the woods that my family has used so often over the years that it’s become a bona fide hiking trail. This is a great five-mile hike, with some pretty views, and my mom uses the path to find huckleberries in the summer. In fact, I have a couple of empty containers in my bag to hold the sweet purple berries because when Summer sees the motherlode, she’ll want to pick some.
So will I.
She looks amazing today. She chose wisely, with long jeans—that way she won’t get scraped up by the brush on the trail—and a T-shirt. Her hair is down under the Bitterroot Valley ball cap that she likely got from a gift shop in town.
She may not typically spend a ton of time in the woods, but she’s quick, her footsteps sure on the path, and she looks like a pro.