Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
As usual when I was in deep planning mode, I lost track of time and my surroundings. My head was filled with ideas, colors, ways of marketing the ranch. I would definitely be talking to Richard and picking his brain. He would love to give me his opinion—Richard always liked to share his thoughts—and he would have a lot of them about this place.
A noise startled me, and I pivoted, the sight of a cowboy standing beside a horse by the edge of the river unnerving me. I had been so deep in thought I hadn’t even heard them approach. My foot slipped on the rocks, and I threw up my arms, trying to right myself, but it was too late. With a loud yelp, I went backward into the water, the cool suddenly cold as my entire body was submerged in the deeper part of the shallows. My apple flew from my hand as I went under, but I barely had time to be startled before I was yanked back up, Luke’s frantic expression greeting me.
“Jesus, woman. Do you try to kill yourself daily?” he demanded.
I sputtered. “I think you keep trying to. You scared me again.”
He narrowed his eyes. “I called to you. I’ve been looking for you for half an hour.”
“Looking for me?”
“No one has seen you for two hours. I was worried.” He dropped his arms. “This isn’t the city, Sammy. You have to pay attention to where you are and your surroundings.”
“Are there many lions prowling about?” I asked dryly, wiping my face.
He bent closer, the brim of his hat throwing a shadow between us. “There are coyotes. Bears. Even some snakes.”
I shivered. I hated snakes. “I was fine. Nothing was around. Until you showed up.” Something caught my eye, and I frowned. “My apple is floating away.”
He looked over his shoulder, dismissing my words. I pushed past him and waded carefully, following my apple. It was good, and I had barely eaten half of it.
“Leave it,” he growled.
“No.”
“I said—”
I didn’t hear what else he had to say. Again, I slipped, going under. And once more, he appeared beside me, dragging me up to the air. “Goddammit. I said leave it. I’ll get you another damn apple. Stop trying to drown yourself!”
“Stop telling me what to do!” I yelled back, then without thought, pushed him.
He hadn’t expected me, and with the slippery rocks beneath him, he went under with a big splash. I covered my mouth with my hands, shocked at my behavior. He stood slowly, dripping wet, glaring at me, obviously as surprised as I was by my actions. I tried not to laugh, but I failed. A wide smile broke out on my face, and I started giggling. I covered my mouth, but it was no use.
“You find this funny? Me all soaked?”
I nodded in silence, unable to talk, the peals of laughter getting louder.
Until he stood taller, shedding his plaid shirt, leaving his T-shirt in place. It and his jeans clung to him like a second skin, lovingly wrapped around his muscles and showing them off. I spied a tattoo on his right shoulder, and I had a sudden, burning desire to know what it was. I swallowed, my throat feeling dry as I stared at him, unable to help myself. He was a work of art.
His gaze never left mine as he tossed his shirt to the bank. His hat followed with a lazy flip of his hand. My apple floated by, and he bent, plucking it from the water and taking a huge bite, chewing slowly.
“Hey,” I protested. “That was my apple.”
He polished it off with another large bite, tossing the core far into the field where a mouse or bird would pick at it.
He shrugged. “Whoops,” he said.
I bent, swiping at the water, splashing it into his face.
A wide, wicked grin appeared on his face as he wiped away the water.
“You’re going to pay for that, darlin’,” he said, his voice low and threatening.
“Bring it on,” I replied, my gaze darting around, looking for an escape route.
In a flash, he moved, and I ducked with a squeal. He went down again, coming up out of the water like an angry bear, his growl impressive and deep. I turned and tried to run, but my feet slipped, and he was on me before I could go anywhere. He lifted me, tossing me into the middle of the narrow river channel, and I went under, coming up this time on my own, laughing and trying to find my feet. I pretended to flail, and I gasped. “Luke, it’s too deep!”
He lunged, and I moved so he went in face first. I was laughing so hard, I found it difficult to move, but I headed to the bank, rushing as I heard him behind me. Once again, I was lifted out of the water, but this time, he tossed me onto the bank, hovering over me.