Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28432 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 114(@250wpm)___ 95(@300wpm)
“You’ve built a whole business around this,” I say when she’s done.
This is what Trace was trying to show me. I could actually take my dream and do something with it. My heart warms at the realization and I glance across the shop to where he’s standing.
He’s near the front door, talking with another man that Summer introduced earlier as her husband, Cash. Apparently, the two of them were friends for a long time before they decided to make a baby together.
I watch Trace grunt out answers as Cash tries to engage him in conversation. I don’t think my mountain man cares much for small talk but he’s making an effort to be here for me.
I remember the way he bought me. He didn’t even know me and yet he didn’t hesitate to step in and rescue me. He’s fed me and clothed me. He’s even fingered me to an incredible orgasm.
That bubbly, giggly feeling floats through me again and I think that maybe I’m falling in love with the handsome mountain man.
Just as the realization comes, movement in the corner behind Trace catches my eye, and I stiffen. Was that one of my father’s men? Have they found me already?
10
TRACE
Molly is different after her visit to Summer’s shop. At first, I thought she was just taking it all in. But the further we get up the mountain, the more it seems a blanket of sadness is wrapping around her.
I don’t know what to say, how to reach her. I want to help her, to let her know that her troubles aren’t just hers anymore.
When I tried to get the most basic information from her on our date, she wouldn’t answer the question. Part of me wants to grab her and demand she trust me. The part of me that’s spent time on the streets and seen so much cruelty knows that trust has to be earned.
Still, it bothered me the way she kept looking over her shoulder on our date. She didn’t have to be scared. I was already on alert, and I have the sheriff looking out for her. He’ll let me know if anyone new comes through town.
Back at my cabin, I start to go inside but she lingers on the front porch. She leans across one of the railings, staring up at the night sky. “You go ahead. I’m going to watch the stars for a little while.”
Something in me tingles, an awareness that I shouldn’t leave her alone right now. “Then we’ll watch the stars together. I know the perfect place.”
I grab a blanket from the back of my truck before I lead her deeper into my property. I love living in these woods. I love having them all to myself and knowing I’m the only one around for miles.
In the fading light of dusk, she follows after me, pausing at one point to grip the back of my t-shirt after she nearly trips on a tree branch. I turn and pick her up. Just pull her into my arms and carry her because it feels natural and right. Like I should be doing this all the time.
She nestles into my chest, and it occurs to me that she never fights me or protests being carried. She just cuddles deeper into my embrace, and it makes me worry that maybe she’s never been loved well. Maybe she’s like me, a lonely survivor craving the warmth of another person.
Her voice is muffled by my shirt. “Trace, if I stayed with you forever, would you carry me like this again?”
I tighten my hold on her at the thought of forever. I’ve never wanted that with anyone but with her, I do. I want Molly to be my forever. “Always.”
She lets out a little sigh of contentment. “That’s what I thought.”
I put her down only long enough to spread out the blanket underneath the shade of my favorite oak tree. The ground is still wet from last night’s rain and the branches form a canopy above, letting us stare up at the night sky.
As soon as we’re settled, I pull her back into my arms. She’s between my legs, her back against my chest. My hip is throbbing, but I ignore the pain. It’s worth it when I can feel each inhale of breath as she takes it and her thick hips between my hands. This is what heaven feels like.
“This is a pretty tree.” She isn’t aware of the way she keeps running her fingers up my thigh then down to my knee and back again. She isn’t aware of what it’s doing to me or how badly I need to grind against her hot little body.
I don’t want to come right here just from her simple touch. I already embarrassed myself once today when I came in my jeans at the table. I fought it for as long as I could. But having her wriggling all over my lap and squeezing my fingers so tight in that warm pussy of hers made me shoot my load too fast. Here I am likely to do it again. “This is a Northern Red Oak, part of the Beech family. To be specific, it's the Fagaceae species.”