Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117506 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
“Yes, your mother was furious and said you were too young.”
I smiled at the memory of my mother informing me that at sixteen years old, my number-one concern should be finishing high school, not climbing onto the back of a bull.
When I didn’t say anything, a frown creased between Merit’s eyes. “You’re not simply taking the year off? You’re stopping for good? For like, ever?”
“Yes.” I slipped a piece of hair behind her ear. “I want to be here for you, for our baby, for my mother. I know I don’t have to be here, I want to be. That’s the difference, Merit. I lost so much time with you, and I feel like this has been my second chance. My do-over. I don’t want to mess it up. I’ve been watching those Shaw boys fall head over heels the last couple of years, and outwardly I laughed it off, but inside, I longed for what they had.”
A brilliant smile moved over her face. “You’re sure? This isn’t because you think I don’t want you to bull ride?”
“No, baby. This is me wanting to start my life with you, right now. I don’t want to waste another minute.” I placed my hand on her stomach. “This is our future. Our family. That is the only joy ride I want to be on.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and laughed. The sound filled my entire body with a happiness that still caught me off guard sometimes. “I’m so afraid I’m dreaming all of this.”
I lifted a brow. “The offer still stands for me to pinch you.”
A hint of mischief crossed her face, and her eyes grew dark with desire. She pulled the tank off of her body and tossed it to the ground. “It’s going to take a lot more than pinching to convince me.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
MERIT
The forty minutes to Lolo Creek Steakhouse was worth the drive. The moment we walked in and I smelled grilled steak, I nearly cried out for joy. To say I was craving steak was an understatement.
“They have good steak in Hamilton, ya know,” Michael whispered as he looked at me.
“Yes, but I wanted the huckleberry hog wings and the steakhouse mud pie,” I replied.
Michael laughed and shook his head. “Mom thinks you’re announcing your engagement this evening. It was all she talked about on the drive up here.”
I gave my brother a knowing smile and winked. “It’s possible.”
He frowned as he looked at Dirk and then back to me. “Did he tell you I know about the baby?”
With a deep exhale, I looked at him. “Yes.”
Michael leaned in closer and whispered for only my ears to hear, “I want to kill him, you know that, don’t you? How long have you known? Where has he been?”
With a stern look, I replied, “It’s complicated.”
This time his frown deepened, and a concerned expression now covered his handsome face. His blue eyes searched mine for some sort of silent answer to a question he clearly had in his mind.
I jumped when someone spoke. “Please follow me and I’ll show you to your table,” the hostess said as she gave my brother and Dirk a flirty smile. I rolled my eyes and followed.
The hostess led our group—which included my mother, brother, and Dirk’s mother, Kimberley—through the restaurant and to a large table in the back corner. The giant, exposed log-beam walls and ceilings, as well as the antler chandeliers, screamed Montana. And the food was beyond amazing. It had always been one of my favorite places to eat.
After getting settled in our seats, the waitress came over. She smiled politely at each of us, and when her gaze landed on Dirk, she gasped.
“OMG! You’re…it’s…oh, holy crap! You’re Dirk Littlewood! Where have you been? You didn’t get hurt, so why haven’t you been riding? I mean, I know your daddy died—they told everyone that was why you were taking a break—but when are you going back? Will you be riding next weekend?”
Dirk gave her a polite smile and mused, “Now would be a good time to take a breath.”
She laughed. “I’m so sorry. It’s just my father and brother are bull riders. They love you!”
“I appreciate that, thank you.”
“Will you sign something for me to give to them? Please? Then I won’t bug you the rest of the dinner. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! I never thought…I knew you were from Hamilton but I…I…”
Dirk laughed. “Sure, I’d love to sign something for your father and brother, no problem.”
“Thank you!” she exclaimed as I smiled at Dirk. Clearly he didn’t like being the center of attention. It showed on his slightly pink cheeks.
The waitress seemed to shake herself and then looked at the rest of us. “Right. What can I get everyone to drink?”
After we gave our drink orders, and I asked for two orders of the huckleberry hog wings, the waitress left.