Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 90(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
When we break away, we’re both breathless.
She’s overwhelmed, and swallows audibly before looking up at the night sky. “Um... not to say that I want this to end, but it is getting pretty late. And I do have work tomorrow. I probably should head back home.”
“Do you need a ride? I noticed you came with Angus, and uh, he took off already.”
“I’d love a ride home, Red.”
We toss our beer cups in the trash can and head to my truck. I drive her home, savoring every moment that I have alongside her. It’s not a long drive back to the Rowdy Ranch and it feels even shorter with her sitting next to me. We get there in the dark of night.
“Thanks, Red,” she says, not making a move for her door handle.
I go for it again, leaning over and kissing her.
Every bit as wonderful as the first time. And just like the first, it feels all too short.
She soon scrambles out of the truck, a huge smile on her face. I lean back in the seat, filled with anticipation for what will come next for me and Annie Rowdy.
4
ANNIE
Another day at the diner, and everything’s been going pretty typically. The regulars come in, place their usual orders, and there’s very few surprises. I can count on one hand the amount of out-of-town visitors that stop by our restaurant each day.
It’s boring, but it’s typical. I don’t have a lot of complaints, really. I get paid baseline pretty well, and if it’s particularly busy, that’s when the tips start to roll in.
Red’s on my mind often. Our kiss in the truck and at the bonfire both replaying in my head over and over. It’s been a couple days, and I wonder if he’s beginning to have second thoughts about all of it.
Doesn’t help it’s the weekend and he usually only comes in on the weekdays.
“Your coffee and french fries, Mr. Dorner,” I say, placing his order down. It’s a strange one, but I try not to judge people too much. Whatever little comforts get them through the day, I’m fine with.
“Thank you, Annie. Steaming hot as always,” he says with a smile. It’s slightly skeevy, but hey, that’s the job.
I turn away from him and start to head back to the register before I’m greeted with the sight of the most handsome man on the planet. That close-cut beard of his, those beaming brown eyes. They’re so delightful to look at. He smiles as he walks up to me.
“Annie, how's your work treating you?”
I blush, twirling a curl of my hair. “The same ol’, same ol’.”
He crosses his arms, pacing about, gathering the courage to ask me something. “When’s your next day off, Annie?”
“Odd you ask that, because I got a nice string of four days off starting tomorrow.”
His eyes light up. “That’s perfect.”
“Perfect for what?”
“How would you like to come up into the mountains with me? My family’s having a gathering for my dad’s birthday and I’d like to introduce you to them.”
I gasp. “You want me to meet your family?”
He nods. “Hell yeah I do. Plus it’s an excuse to spend more time with you, and that’s always worth doing, Annie.”
I can’t help but giggle. “Cutting to the chase a little fast, aren’t we?”
“Am I? Our cabin has plenty of extra bedrooms if you’re remotely concerned about me not being a perfect gentleman.”
I blush harder. “I wasn’t trying to imply that.” In fact, I think I’d appreciate it if he was a little less of a gentleman, to be perfectly honest. It took us a year to get to this point, after all.
“So you want to come? I’ll drive you up there, transportation won’t be an issue.”
I hesitate. I want to go, but I’m afraid of being too forward. Then again, he’s afraid of being too forward. At the end of the day, we both seem to want to spend more time with one another, so why am I letting my shyness get the better of me? “Okay. Sure. I’ll head up to the mountains with you, Red.”
He grins and nods. “Great. Is tomorrow in the early morning a good time to pick you up? It’s a bit of a long drive so I want to get a head start.”
“That’d be great. I’ll be ready and raring to go.”
“Then it’s, uh... it’s a plan,” he says, trying to avoid saying ‘date,’ even though if I’m meeting his family we’re past ‘date’ being a taboo word. “See you tomorrow, babe.”
“Can’t wait, Red.”
He turns, and jaunts out the front door, more spring in his step than he had before.
I’m bubbling over in excitement as I turn back to my work. Things are getting serious, and getting serious quick.
“Thanks, Annie, great as always,” Mr. Dorner says as he gets up and passes by me. There’s a ten-dollar bill next to his french fry plate.