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)
“Please,” she asked.
Dad strummed, clearing his throat, then began to sing. I had always loved it when he would sing for us. I smiled as he launched into a couple of his old hits, and Luke shook his head.
“I knew I recognized your name. You were with Back Roads.”
Dad grinned. “A long time ago.” Then he began to play again, and Callie and Jeff got up to dance, and soon others did, laughing and singing along. Dad beamed, watching everyone sing with him. He took requests and entertained for almost an hour before setting aside the guitar.
Rachel clapped the loudest.
“You are hired. You chop wood, beat the young guys, and play your music.”
He winked at her. “Done.”
Marshmallows and all the makings for s’mores were brought out, and drippy chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and sticky fingers followed.
Slowly, the group dispersed, and I slid into my bedroll in the tent with Rachel, Callie, Jane, and my mom. All the cowboys were around the fire, including Ronan, Liam, and Hunter, the other, larger tent housing the rest of my family. I lay under the covers, listening to the sounds around me. Some rumbling snores, the crackling of the fire, the stirring of the breeze in the trees. I wasn’t able to relax enough to go to sleep, and finally, I rolled out of the bedding, shoved my feet back into my sneakers, and slipped out of the tent.
I skirted the fire area, smiling at the snores from the men, and headed to the water. I knew Luke was on the farthest side, and I stayed away from it. I slipped off my shoes, wading into the welcome cool, walking in the shallows away from the campsite. Around the corner was an outcropping of rocks I had seen earlier, and I sat on a flat boulder, keeping my feet in the refreshing stream. I looked up at the sky, still in awe over the brightness of the stars and vastness of the vista. I would never grow tired of such wonder.
A splash to my left startled me, and I looked over to see Luke standing in the moonlight, his hands on his hips as he stared at me.
I shut my eyes and shook my head. “Go away, Luke. I’m not doing anything wrong.”
He came closer. “You shouldn’t be out here alone, Lady.”
My heart clenched at the word Lady, but I refused to react. “Whatever.”
“There could be animals. You could slip and fall.”
“I’m thirty feet from the campsite. If I hear an animal come for me, I’ll run. Pretty sure my screaming will scare them away and alert people I need help. Can you please just leave me alone?”
He moved even closer. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“Why aren’t you?” I challenged, standing. He wasn’t going to leave, so I would.
“You know why,” he growled, stepping in front of me.
“Luke,” I whispered, fighting back the tears. “Just go. Please.”
“I wanted to say something.”
I lifted my head, meeting his gaze. In the moonlight, his eyes were glittering and blue in his tanned face. Intense.
“Then say it and go.”
“I’m sorry for my anger earlier. What you’ve done for Rachel and me is amazing. I know it’ll be great, and I’ll do everything I can to help make sure it is.” He swallowed. “I didn’t want you to think I wouldn’t support her.”
“Good. She needs your support.”
I went to brush past him, and he grabbed my arms, stopping me. Our eyes locked, his filled with turmoil, mine with tears. “Don’t cry over me,” he pleaded. “I’m not worth it.”
“That’s where we disagree. I think you’re worth every tear. The fact that you can’t see that hurts more than your rejection.”
He shut his eyes, his hands tightening on my arms. “What you said—that you loved me. I wanted to thank you for that.”
“But you don’t love me back.”
He opened his eyes, his torment and struggle in them evident. “I-I can’t,” he admitted.
“You could if you tried,” I whispered.
He shook his head, silence falling between us. I felt the same intense connection that flowed between us build, creating an invisible cage around us. His gaze fell to my lips, and I knew if I made one small move, he would yank me close and kiss me. Devour my mouth with the hunger I felt between us all the time. He’d take me down on the hard ground and fuck me one last time, then walk away.
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I can’t…” He lowered his head. I felt his warm breath on my skin. I could already taste him.
Then I stepped back, breaking the spell.
“Neither can I,” I said and walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
LUKE
I left the campsite early, heading back to the ranch. I hadn’t slept all night, my thoughts and emotions jumping and banging around in my head. I couldn’t face Sammy or her family this morning.