Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
She laughed, then stared at me for a moment. I watched her bite into her lip as she looked up at me through those beautiful eyelashes of hers. “I do believe you’ve said that once already, about falling in love, at least.”
I nodded. “I believe I did.”
With a quick glance around, she focused back on me. “I’ve never done that before in my life. But I did practice at the stables I learned to ride in. They had a mechanical bull that they would let loose, and we would all take turns trying to rope its horns. I got pretty good at it.”
“I’m possibly looking for a new roping partner. Are you interested in the gig?”
“How much does it pay?” she teased.
My heart felt as if it slammed against my chest. “I’m sure we could negotiate something that would be mutually beneficial to us both.”
She blushed and looked around the corral as if only now remembering we were not alone. She chewed nervously on her lip and moved Rosie up next to Trigger. Both mares stared at each other in contempt, but neither moved. In a lower voice, Timberlynn said, “Tanner, I want you to know that I didn’t mean what I said last night. About what happened between us being a mistake.”
“Good, because I didn’t think it was a mistake. It was amazing, if you ask me.”
She pulled in her bottom lip but didn’t say anything.
“What about that other thing you said?”
She looked confused.
“About never wanting any sort of relationship with me.”
Before she could answer, my father rode up.
“Timberlynn, I’m always in need of some good ranch hands. When can you start?”
She laughed once again and shook her head. “As lovely as that sounds, Mr. Shaw, I’m going to have to pass.”
“No formal names, young lady, it’s Ty Senior.”
Timberlynn nodded. “Well, as lovely as that sounds, Ty Senior, I’m afraid I have some plans of my own I need to tend to.”
My father raised his brows. “A woman who knows how to ride, knows how to rope, and has a mind of her own. You will certainly make some lucky cowboy a very happy man someday.”
Timberlynn blushed again and stole a quick peek in my direction.
“Don’t you think, Tanner?” my father asked.
Without taking my eyes off of Timberlynn, I gave her a smile that I hoped like hell screamed how much I wanted her. “I do believe you’re right, Dad. A lucky man, indeed.”
Blayze came running out and up to Timberlynn. “Miss Timberlynn, I was wondering if I might be able to sit next to you at dinner tonight.”
I stared down at my nephew in utter disbelief. “Dude, you’re putting the moves on my girl?”
Timberlynn’s gaze shot back over to me, and I ignored the surprised look on her face.
Blayze nodded and looked thoughtful for a moment. “Uncle Tanner, I called dibs on dinner, you got a date with her the other day. Miss Timberlynn, dinner tonight?”
Timberlynn was clearly trying not to laugh and doing a pretty good job of holding it in.
“Damn, son, what are you doing?” Brock said as he walked over and picked up Blayze, making him laugh as he tossed him over his shoulder. “You just got home from school, and you’re already putting the moves on someone? And what did we talk about with the whole calling of dibs?”
“Dad!” Blayze protested.
“She’s too old for you.”
“Aw, Dad, you’re embarrassin’ me in front of Miss Timberlynn!”
Timberlynn covered her mouth with her hand to hold back her laughter—at least until Brock took Blayze far enough away that he wouldn’t hear it.
“What is it with you Shaw men?” she asked, watching my brother and nephew walk away.
I shrugged. “I guess once we know when we want something—or someone—we fight for it.”
Timberlynn dropped her hand to her side and gave me a serious look. It was her eyes, though, that threw me. They were filled with sadness. “What if that something or someone isn’t…worth it?”
She nearly had me pulling her onto my horse, taking her away from everyone, and demanding why in the hell she felt like she wasn’t worth it.
“You are worth it, Timber.”
With a noncommittal shrug, she forced a smile. Before I could say anything else, my mother called out. “Enough playtime! It’s time to bake. Let’s go!”
“This year my sugar cookies will be better than yours, Tanner!” Ty called out as he helped a few of the ranch hands herd up the steers to put back out in the pasture.
Timberlynn’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “Wait, y’all are going to be baking with us girls?”
I feigned a look of shock as I moved my horse back toward the barn. “Are you trying to say baking isn’t something men can do? Did I have that reaction to you when you said you wanted to rope? Not only women can be in the kitchen, ya know.”