Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
We all get out of the truck, and I look over at Colson. “Go get the front door opened.” When he runs toward the front door, I look at Zara. “If you don’t want to decorate, then you don’t have to stay.”
She leans against the back of the truck. “Are you saying you don’t want me here in your house?” She raises her eyebrows.
“Of course not.” I open the back of the truck bed, putting on my gloves. “I’m just saying that you don’t have to be here.”
“Thanks for the out, Cowboy”—she steps closer to me—"but if it’s okay with you, I’ll stay.” She steps toe to toe with me. “I’m having one of my best days.”
“Is that so?” I question, happy she’s smiling and has been all day. “Well, if you play your cards right—” I lick my lips. “It might get better.” She throws her head back and laughs a full-on belly laugh, and I feel it right in my dick.
“I can’t wait,” she retorts and takes a step away from me when she hears Colson coming back. “Okay, where do you want me?”
“On your knees in front of me,” I tease, right before Colson gets to us. “You can direct us in,” I tell her, grabbing the tree by the bottom and sliding it out until the middle. “I’m going to grab this end.” I point at the bottom and the middle. “Colson, get the top.”
“On it, Dad,” he states, coming over. The two of us carry the tree into the house while Zara tells us left or right. We get into the house, and I can hear the pine needles falling, making a trail all the way from the front door past the office on the left and the game room that Colson took over on the right.
We go into the massive family room that leads to the kitchen, taking it straight to the corner of the room, right near the back patio door. “I love this room,” Zara announces, looking around. “The tall ceilings are amazing with the wooden beams showing.” She looks around. “And the couch is a perfect shade of ecru.”
“Ecru?” Colson asks.
“She means beige,” I fill him in and smile at her. “Okay.” I take off my gloves when the tree is in the holder. “I’ll go get the boxes from the garage.” I look at Colson. “Show Zara the house.” I stop. “But not my bedroom. I’ll give her that tour.” I wink at her while she plans my murder, walking out of the house smiling.
17
ZARA
I look out the window at the forest in front of me, seeing birds flying in and out of the trees while the sun tries to peek out from the gray sky today. It looks like it’s going to storm, but it still looks so peaceful. I take a sip of my coffee and fold my legs under me, thinking about how much fun I had yesterday. Was I nervous to meet Colson? One thousand percent. Did I fall in love with him in less than two hours? Also, one thousand percent.
Then standing with them and decorating their tree while he pointed out all the decorations they’d gotten over the years. I came right home and ordered five ornaments for myself that will make me remember this Christmas. Although I don’t think I’ll ever forget this particular one, but I wanted the keepsakes anyway. They drove me home to ensure I was safe, and I quickly kissed Gabriel before he had to go back home and be a dad. I can see from the day I spent with them that he loves every second of it. I’m finishing my coffee when there is a knock on the door. Putting the mug down, I walk to the front door, opening and seeing him standing there wearing jeans and his jacket. The smile fills my face until my cheeks hurt. His hair looks like he just ran his hands through it. “Well, good morning, Cowboy,” I greet right before he steps into the house, wraps his arm around my waist, and pulls me to him. “This is a nice surprise.”
“You really need to give me your phone number,” he mumbles right before he kisses the ever-loving shit out of me. My legs wrap around his waist as he does it. It is the kiss I didn’t know I needed this morning. It’s the kiss I didn’t know I wanted this morning. It is the kiss I don’t know how I’ll forget once I leave. I wrap one arm around his shoulder as I reach up to hold his cheek. Our tongues play the tango as he turns and pushes me against the door. “I don’t have that much time. I have to get to the barn,” he says when he finally lets my mouth go.