Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21569 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 108(@200wpm)___ 86(@250wpm)___ 72(@300wpm)
I laugh. “Well, that’s great. I’m always happy to share.”
She lifts the baby in her arms. “I wish I could stay and chat, but I really need to go. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Before I can tell her I won’t be staying, she’s walking away, and Dalton is helping her take her things to her car.
The boys are pulling me toward the house, and I follow them inside. When Dalton comes in, he’s talking on the phone, and with a frustrated grunt, he hangs up. “I need to go and check on a bull, and then I’ll get you into town. Boys, let's go.”
Evan stands up from where we’re sitting on the living room floor. “We’re going to stay here with Gia.”
Dalton is watching me and seems surprised that his son Ethan is practically sitting on my lap with his arms looped around my neck. After a few seconds go by, Dalton shakes his head. “I’m sorry, what do you do for a living?”
I can feel heat flood my face. “I’m a social media influencer. I read books and talk about them online.”
He nods like he gets it, but I’m not sure he does. I loop an arm around Ethan’s waist, and he sinks into me. “I don’t mind staying here with them.”
Indecision fills Dalton’s face, but with the way Evan begs and the pleading look from Ethan has him rubbing his chin. “I’m sorry, but—”
I wave him off. “It’s fine. I don’t mind hanging with the boys while you go do… whatever you gotta do.”
He doesn’t smile; he just stands over us. “Do you think you can walk with me out to the porch for a minute?”
I nod my head, and as I extricate myself from the boys’ hold, I explain to them that I’ll be right back. “Think of something you want to do when I get back.”
Dalton waits for me and falls into step behind me as I walk out onto the porch. He’s quiet as he stares down at me. And he does it for so long, I start to get self-conscious. “Do I have something on my face?”
I wipe across my cheek, and he shakes his head. “No.” He exhales loudly. “I never leave my kids with a stranger.”
I don’t take any offense. “I get it. I would never hurt a kid.” I laugh when I realize what I just said. “I mean, I wouldn’t hurt anyone.”
He nods but still seems unsure. “Look, uh, Evan will talk your ear off. Ethan doesn’t talk at all.”
“Is he okay?”
Dalton takes his hat off and runs his hands through his thick hair. “Yeah, he is… or he will be. We’re fine.”
I cross my arms over my chest to stop myself from reaching for him. There’s something about him that makes me want to reach for him and hold on to him. I have so many questions, one being where Evan and Ethan’s mom is, but I don’t feel right asking. Not right now, anyway. “I’m happy to hang out with your boys until you get back.”
He blows out a breath. “Okay. Thank you. I won’t be gone long, and then we’ll get you into town.”
I watch as he descends the steps, and I want to go after him, but Evan starts calling my name, and I walk inside instead. I’m one of those people that believe things happen for a reason, and I’m starting to believe that I’m here for something. I’m just not sure what that is.
CHAPTER 4
DALTON
As I walk out to the barn, I’m telling myself not to look back. There’s an ache in my chest after seeing the way Evan and Ethan were with Gianna. It’s like she fits in with us perfectly, and even though I was already wondering about my reaction to her, after seeing her with my kids, it’s even worse. You would think they’ve known her forever or something, and they’re not usually like that with anyone. Especially not with people they just met.
It seems my boys are drawn to her just like I am but for very different reasons. Too bad I can’t do anything about it. I am not in the market for a fling, and I don’t have much more to offer than that. The boys and the ranch take up all my time.
I try to look unaffected by it all when I see Miller, my new foreman, standing outside the barn. He points up to the house. “Who’s the woman?”
I walk past him, ignoring his question. “How’s King doing?”
Miller huffs but follows behind me. “The bull is going to be fine. Dr. Richards gave him a shot and gave me more pills to give him, and his fever has already started to go down.”
I open my mouth, but Miller continues, “I’ve already randomly checked the others. They’re all fine. We just need to keep King quarantined for a few days. He’s going to be hard to contain, but we can do it.”