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)
From May to September, we were booked solid. When the show aired, the website crashed from the volume. The social media pages blew up. The waiting list was enormous. We changed and tweaked the packages and how we made bookings until we found the perfect ratio.
With the help of my family, we built two more cabins set back in the trees. More self-contained, which was big with families. A third, more luxurious cabin was constructed, and it was my family’s home away from home but was rented out occasionally as needed. Luke was shocked at the number of honeymooners who wanted to spend their time on a ranch.
For ours, he had taken me to a small cabin in the mountains, and we had spent five days locked away from everything and everyone. Him, me, a bed, and a campfire. Naked most of the time. The outdoor tub had been an added bonus, and I loved it so much, Luke added a private one at the back of the ranch house for our first anniversary.
We had two large corporations that booked all the cabins at once every year for their retreat. Many other guests were repeats. Rachel ran the business like a well-oiled machine. Luke ran the ranch and was still the favorite for the overnight camping. His outdoor grilling and knife tricks were legendary, and his skills at wood-chopping epic. I still got a thrill watching him, although my views were private and shirtless and often ended up with us rolling around in the stable, doing things that shocked the horses.
As if he heard me thinking about him, Luke came out onto the porch, tugging on one of his plaid shirts over his tight muscle shirt. He was still hard as a rock, toned, tanned, sexy as hell with his stern demeanor. Except when he looked at me. His blue eyes softened, and a smile curled his lips—one only I ever saw.
He had been as good as his word to my dad. He loved me so completely, my life was full.
He walked over, bending low and kissing me, then stealing my coffee and draining it.
“You could have gotten your own, Cowboy.”
He shook his head, leaning against the porch railing. “Yours tastes better. Your lips were on the mug.”
I nudged him with my foot. “Cheesy.”
He winked. “Only for you, Lady.”
We were quiet for a moment, then he spoke, his voice tight. “Everything set for next week?”
“I’ll only be gone three days.”
“Three long days.”
I chuckled. I still worked, although not as much as I had before. I loved being on the ranch, working with Rachel. I had started helping local businesses, building up the towns around us, which drew our guests there and helped the community thrive. It was a win-win, and the network loved the local aspect of it. I only picked two projects a year that took me away from the ranch and Luke.
He hated my being gone but supported me.
“Maybe we can do a trip to Port Albany when I get back.”
“I’d love that,” he agreed. Luke had fallen in love with Port Albany when I took him to meet the whole family. At first, he’d been overwhelmed, but he got used to them. He came with me to every family event. We’d been to many weddings, my cousins, Elise, Brandon, and Craig, all getting married in Port Albany. Mila’s surprise nuptials. He’d come with me to BC to see Chloe get married. Thomas had eloped, not at all interested in a fancy wedding. Instead, we all donated to his favorite charity that helped whales and dolphins and celebrated with a dinner the next time he came to Port Albany. There’d been babies and retirements. Some surprise additions to the family. So many celebrations. Sometimes, Luke teased me, it was as if he saw more of them than Rachel.
But he loved it.
My loner cowboy was no longer alone.
He sighed. “I can do three days.”
“I was thinking of taking a break,” I said, watching him. “Trying my hand at something new.”
“Oh?” He grinned. “Whatever it is, you’ll ace it, Lady. What’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?”
“I’d like to try to be a mother.”
He became serious, searching my eyes. “Are you ready?” he asked.
“I am. What about you?”
We had been through the paperwork, done the inspections. But we both had to be ready to bring a child into our lives.
He leaned forward. “I would love to be a parent with you. Call Sandra at the agency, and let’s go to the next step.”
“Really?”
“I think any child would be lucky to have you as a mom. I know you’ll help me be a good dad.”
I flung myself out of the swing and into his arms. “We’ll be great. I know it.”
He kissed me. “Then make the call, Lady.”
ONE MONTH LATER