Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84075 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Meanwhile, Ford’s family is completely absent. The seats are packed with other people: friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, anyone we felt like inviting.
Tina and Melody stand by my side. The Atlas Organization stands with Ford: Carmine, Gareth, Evander, and Lanzo. They’re big and handsome and loud and rich as sin and a whole lot of trouble, but they’re like brothers to Ford, which means I love them too.
The wedding’s a massive party in a beautiful barn an hour north of Dallas. The grounds are incredible and include an actual horse farm, which basically sealed the deal for me. The ceremony flows into the reception which turns into dinner and a party, and I make the rounds with my new husband, thanking everyone for showing up.
“Well done up there,” Gareth says and kisses my cheek. “It takes a lot of bravery to say I do to a man like Ford.”
“Easy there, Gareth,” Ford says and hugs me against him protectively. “She’s a married woman now.”
“Lucky her,” he says.
Ford laughs and Evander joins the party, roaring about taking shots and getting drunk and finding something to ride, which is typically very Evander of him. Carmine hugs me, Brice hugs me, and even Lanzo says his congrats. Mom’s sitting alone, and she’s been sober since leaving the clinic. Attending a party like this and not drinking is hard for her, but I’m proud of her for making it work.
“You look amazing, sweetie,” Mom says later once the night’s really going. “I’m so happy for you, you know.”
“I guess I have you to thank for this. I never did talk to you about that.”
“Ah, well, I took a shot and, hey, I was right.”
“Could’ve really backfired, you know.”
“Life’s all about risk, sweetie.” Mom hugs me tight. “I’m glad you took this one.”
The night devolves into drinking and partying. Ford barely leaves my side. His eyes are on me all the time like he can’t help himself and it’s intoxicating, his stare, his hands on me while we’re dancing, his lips against mine. Cheers erupt every time we kiss.
“Are you happy?” he asks me halfway through the night.
“Never been happier.”
“Good, because I have one more surprise.” He takes my hand and leads me away from the dance floor and out back. Mom’s standing with a Scavo cousin, both of them smoking. I wave, but we don’t stop. He takes me down a paved path, between two outbuildings and toward the open paddock.
The area’s beautiful. Lots of flat grazing land and a forest butting up against it. I lean against Ford as the moon hangs in the sky and the stars sparkle.
“What’s the surprise?” I ask him. “You’re not about to make out with me, are you?”
“I wasn’t, but that sounds like it would be fun.”
“Ford.”
He squeezes me tight against him. “The surprise is all this.” He gestures at the paddock and the land beyond it.
I frown at him with confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I was talking to the owner a couple days ago. Apparently, the horse farm side of their business hasn’t been doing all that great, and he’s been looking for some outside investment.”
My eyes widen. “Ford. You didn’t.”
“It wasn’t much and if you’re not interested, it doesn’t have to go any further—but as of right now, you and I are partial owners of this place.”
“Ford.”
“You could come work here if you wanted and maybe we could even poach Melody. You could turn this place around.”
“Ford!”
“Yes?”
“I love you.” I stand on my toes and kiss him. “God, I love you so much.”
“Is this the part where we make out?”
“Don’t be a bastard.”
He kisses me slow and deep. “I love you too,” he whispers and holds me tight against him. “I won’t lose you again.”
“No, you won’t, not if you keep buying me horse farms. Now we can make out if you’d like.”
I kiss him and hold that kiss for a while, breathing in the smell of the farm, the hay and the grass, the crisp night air, the moonlight, my husband, my Ford. I was skeptical when he introduced himself to me outside of Mom’s rehab clinic, but I wanted a new start with him so desperately I gave in. That coffee date turned into a dinner date and that dinner date turned into breakfast and we haven’t been apart since.
“Kat!” Melody’s voice flows out from the building. “Get back here! We want to dance.”
“I’m being summoned,” I say and lean my forehead against his.
“Better get going then. Don’t want to keep them waiting.”
“This is really ours now? You’re not kidding?”
“Katherine, you’re mine and I’m yours, and I’ll never lie to you.”