Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90164 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 451(@200wpm)___ 361(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
“You’re not selling this very well.”
He taps the tip of my nose with his finger and grins. “I know that I’m a lot to take on. I have two children and a ranch that demands a lot of my time. But I want to make a life with you here. I want to marry you, share my home and my kids with you.”
He pulls a ring out of his pocket and offers it to me. It’s a simple solitaire diamond, but it has to be at least three karats.
“Whoa.” My heart leaps into my throat, and I’m swamped with emotion.
“Will you marry me, Erin Montgomery?”
I search his face and eyes, and I can see the love there, radiating back at me. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I want to marry this man, and be the mother to his gorgeous kids. I want this life with him.
“Without hesitation.” He slides the ring onto my finger and then kisses it. “I love you and the kids and this place more than anything. When I came to Montana, I was so lost. I didn’t know for sure what I wanted or even who I was. But I found it with you, and with Holly and Johnny. This is absolutely where I’m supposed to be. And the kids are champing at the bit to call me Mom, which just melts my heart every time they ask. They’re the sweetest, and I love them with my whole heart. Not just because they’re a packaged deal with you, but because of who they are as people. I hope their mom would approve of me stepping in on her behalf.”
Remington swallows hard and nods. “She’d like you, Doc. And I know my kids are crazy about you because they’ve also been hounding me to ask you to marry us so you can finally be their mom.”
“So, you gave in to peer pressure?” I giggle and then moan as he kisses me, soft and slow.
When we finally come up for air, he whispers, “Look at the mountains.”
I turn my head and gasp. The sky is on fire, in red and orange, as the sun is just starting to come up behind the peaks.
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Heart stopping,” he agrees, and I glance to him and find him looking at me.
“There’s that swoon again.”
“This is only the beginning, Doc.” He kisses my nose and pulls me closer to him, and I know that this is just the beginning of an incredible life here in the wilds of Montana.
Epilogue
Chase Wild
I hate the Fourth of July. Not because I’m not patriotic, but because as a cop, I spend the entire week responding to disturbing the peace calls because people can’t seem to understand that lighting off fireworks is against the law within the city limits.
Kids like to get into trouble on this holiday, as well, stealing fireworks, drinking…pretty much any trouble they can find.
And I should know. Once upon a time, I was that kid.
I’ve just left the home of one such teenager, one that I’m sure is about to be grounded for the rest of the summer, when I get another call.
“Wild,” I say, responding to dispatch.
“I need you to respond to four-three-three Sixth Avenue. Attempted robbery report.”
“On my way, two minutes out,” I reply and hit my siren. I know that house.
That’s where Summer Quinn lives.
I pull up to a stop, hurry to the front door, and ring the bell. When Summer flings it open, her blue eyes are full of tears.
“Oh, God, Chase.” She sniffs and wipes at a tear. “Someone tried to break into my house.”
“Tell me what happened.”
“I heard someone jiggling my door handle.” She gestures to the front door. “So, I grabbed my gun and yelled at them.”
“Wait, you what?”
“I’m no victim,” she says and firms her chin. Jesus, she’s gorgeous with those tears in her blue eyes yet looking so fierce. “I scared them right off.”
“Do you have video on your front porch?”
“No.” Her face crumples again. “I’ll get it installed in the morning, for sure. It’s probably just kids, right? Because Bitterroot Valley is so safe. I’ve never heard of anyone breaking and entering around here, and I’ve been here for almost five years.”
“It doesn’t happen often,” I assure her. “And yeah, probably kids.”
I’m not so sure, but there’s no reason to scare her even more than she already is.
“Are you okay to stay here tonight? I’ll dust for fingerprints and look around outside, but without video, I don’t know how much I can do.”
Summer swallows hard before nodding. “I can stay with a friend tonight.”
I almost blurt out that she can stay at my place, but I refrain.
“Don’t worry,” I assure her. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m sure.” I pat her shoulder, and she visibly shrinks out of my reach. It makes me wonder who hurt her, and it also makes me want to punch the dude in the face. “You get your things, and I’ll get those prints.”