Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“Juniper Cartwright, you own me as much as I own you. And as God as my witness, I’ll prove it to you until my dying breath.”
These damn hormones of mine, they either have me sick, crying, or ready to climb Lawson and have my way with him. Right now, it’s the last two, except all at the same time. It’s then I notice he’s pulled over on the side of the road. The sun is shining through the tree line, the leaves slightly swaying with a breeze, and you can smell the warmth in the air. Lawson never did turn on the air conditioner, instead choosing to roll the windows down, a request I didn’t make, yet he seemed to know it was exactly what I needed.
“Lawson.” My hand covers my mouth, lashes blinking what feels like a million times a second while I try to hold it together. Lawson being Lawson knows what I need. The truck is in Park, he’s reaching for my seatbelt as he unbuckles himself, and then he’s lifting me until I’m straddling his lap.
“I can’t tell if these tears are good tears or bad tears. All I know is I’m going to wipe them away and hold you close until you’ve settled, alright?” He is cupping my cheeks. I nod in response, trying to suck back the tears. A pretty crier I am not, and honestly, I’m so tired of crying as it is. I don’t want to anymore, or I’d like to at least hide my feelings.
“They’re good,” I blubber and bury myself in the crook of his neck, hiding from all the emotions I’m feeling.
“Then I’ll hold you for a bit, let you have your time. If you wanna talk, I’m all ears.” Things have changed so much between us. I’m no longer filled with anger toward him, and he’s no longer being an overbearing asshole. Lawson cares. He might get a little protective at times, but now I can see he’s coming from a good place.
“I’ve never had the loving family. My parents never cared if I was loved, fed, going to school, had good grades. My grandparents tried —god, did they try— but once one went, the other went shortly after. They were the only good in my life, and I knew I’d always strive for better when I was older. Except instead of keeping an open heart, I closed myself off. I built a wall so high it’s a wonder you were able to break it down. And if I’m being completely honest with you, I’d have kept the brick wall around my heart for as long as possible. It’s a lot. I’m not used to feeling all these feelings. Now, I’m pregnant, we’re together, and you’ve given me the world on a silver platter, and I don’t know what to do with it,” I cry this into his neck, tears soaking his shirt. I'm not sure if he can even understand my garbled mess. He doesn’t speak for a minute while his hands are rubbing up and down my back, soothing me like I’ve never been soothed before.
“You hold on to it, you talk to me when you need to, you let our family rally around you. What you don’t do is hold it in. I’ll do whatever I can in my power to make sure you know how much love I’ve got for you, Juniper. One day, that’s going to mean my ring on your finger, and you’ve already got a piece of me growing inside of you. As for the rest, we take it day by day, hour by hour, and minute by minute.” I take what feels like my first deep breath, letting out the heaviness and soaking up Lawson’s words. It seems my love isn’t one-sided. A part of me knew that. He wouldn’t have gone to these extremes had he not.
“Thank you, God, thank you for bringing me Lawson.” I lift away from his body while saying the words he needed to hear in order for him to know I want this, more than anything.
“I want to kiss you, Juni. That happens, we won’t be getting to my parents, and I’ve got not one damn problem keeping you to myself. Except I think we both need to have this out in the open.” Our eyes connect. Nothing else needs to be said. Lawson gets me, and when he lightly grazes my lips with his, I’m the one begging for more.
EIGHTEEN
LAWSON
“Good, you are all here.” You never can tell who’s here and who isn’t. Most everyone parks their truck by the barn and walks up the pathway Mom insisted be built. We all grumbled when it was being built, but now we all use it, especially the lights at night. When the barn and arena are shut down, there’s not a lick of artificial light besides them. My parents were big on keeping the ranch God’s country as much as possible, and seeing the stars at night is part of it.