Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102016 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
“I don’t deserve you.”
I laugh and kiss his chin. “Sure, you do.”
Chapter Nineteen
BRIDGER
“Daddy, I want my own bucket,” Birdie says with a frown. “I can carry it.”
“You pick, we carry,” I remind her. “You have an important job.”
Snowline Orchard is a family-run apple orchard, nestled between Bitterroot Valley and our closest neighbor of Silver Springs. My parents have brought us here since we were kids, and even though they moved to Florida, Mom makes sure they come back every year to keep the tradition alive.
“Come on, baby girl,” Mom says to Birdie, smiling as she takes her granddaughter’s hand. “Come help your grandpa and me. We have to get a lot of apples for all the baking and canning we have planned.”
“Miss Dani is going to let me help with apple butter,” Birdie says, and I glance down at my girl and see her smile. Fuck me, that smile. It knocks me on my ass every time.
The fact that my ex-fucking-wife said such horrific things to her makes me want to punch a goddamn wall. She scared my daughter, hurt my woman, and, as far as I know, she’s still in Bitterroot Valley, which only pisses me off more.
“Is that so?” Mom also glances back at Dani. “I want in on that action, sweetheart. I never could perfect my apple butter.”
“Oh, it’s an easy recipe.”
“I still want it.” Mama winks, and then she, my dad, and Birdie are off to hunt down a few baskets of apples.
We watch the three of them march away, into the heart of the orchard, and then I take Dani’s hand in mine and lead her in the opposite direction.
“I think we’re going the wrong way.”
“Nope. I haven’t had ten minutes alone with you, except at night, and I’m going to tuck you behind a tree and kiss the hell out of you. Did you wear those fucking jeans to torment me? To make me suffer, knowing that I can’t touch you all damn day?”
She laughs as I tug her along, looking both ways to make sure we’re not being watched, not that I really give two fucks. I then pin her against a tree and lean on the trunk just above her head.
“I didn’t realize you were an ass man,” she says. Her laughing eyes are pinned to my lips, and she’s breathing a little hard. Her dark hair is tucked under a red beanie, and she’s bundled in a thick flannel shirt, and she’s so fucking adorable, I wish I could take her against this tree. “I thought you were a boob man.”
“Did you just swear, kitten?” I lower my head so I can whisper in her ear. “I think you did.”
“Don’t change the subject.” Her answer is breathy, and I love that she’s already turned on. Her hands move from my chest, up around my neck, and those fingers dive into my hair.
“Am I an ass man?” I nip at her earlobe, making her gasp. “Fuck, with you, I’m an everything man. Every inch of your body does it for me, sweetheart. Your ass, your tits, hell, even your eyelashes make me weak in the knees.”
“My eyelashes?” She snorts at that, and I grip her chin, tilting her face up to look at me.
“They’re dark and thick, even when you don’t wear any makeup, and when you sleep, they lay over your white skin so beautifully, it makes my heart catch. Every piece of you is fucking delectable, and I can’t get enough.”
She swallows, then licks her lips again.
“And now that you have me here, against this tree, what are you going to do with me?”
“Not even close to what I want to do to you.” I kiss her forehead, then over to her temple. “But I’m going to kiss you until you can’t remember your name and your pussy’s so wet, you’ll be begging for me.”
“Already there, Chief.”
I still, and when her eyes meet mine, they’re full of mischief and humor, and I growl deep in my throat as I cup her face in my hand.
“Oh, kitten. You know better.”
She bites her lower lip, and I tug it out of her teeth with the pad of my thumb and then rub the digit over her rosy skin, back and forth, watching as those gorgeous eyes of hers dilate.
“Now, you know that I don’t want you to call me that.”
She nods slightly.
“Use your words, baby.”
“Yes, I know.” Her voice is breathy, and the fact that this game turns her on is the only fucking aphrodisiac I need in my life.
“And that means that you get to be punished.”
She swallows hard and moves to bite her lip again, but once again, I tug it free.
“And I know just the thing.”
“You do?” The question is whispered.
“Oh, yeah. I do. You wore these jeans knowing that they would make me crazy. And this flannel shirt isn’t even buttoned all the way to the top, so I can see the tank you’re wearing beneath it. And if I slip my hand inside …”