Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89978 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
With a shrug, I nod. “Do you really think Herb comes in every day just for produce?”
“Fuck no …” His face wrinkles, but he can’t hide his grin. “You cannot say that shit and expect me to get an erection.”
Hugging his torso, my hands dip into his back pockets. “Herb never has a problem.”
“Scottie Ann Rucker, you are one sick chick.”
“But I’m your sick chick, right?” I bite his pec muscle.
“Turn around and pull down your pants; I can’t look at you when we do this.”
A fit of giggles robs all of my composure. “Doggie style must run in the family.”
“Woman, stop!” Koen grabs my face and kisses me so hard I could suffocate. When he releases me, his hands slide down my arms, and he lowers to his knees, hugging my legs, forehead resting on my stomach.
“What are you doing,” I murmur, removing his backward baseball hat to run my fingers through his hair.
“Getting used to this feeling.”
“What feeling is that?”
“You bringing me to my knees.”
I grin. “In the best way, right?”
“The very best.” His hands ghost along my curves. “God took so much time with you,” he whispers. “I must remember to thank him one day.”
My heart leaves my chest every time he whispers words like that. The irony of the perfect man thinking I’m the one God spent a little extra time on is upside-down logic.
This impatient heart of mine wants more, and it wants it now.
I realize I haven’t had sex dreams about Price since I told him about the baby. All of the emotions for Price Milloy that I held on to for twelve years and the mixed and misplaced feelings that shook my heart when he came to Austin, were all tied to our baby. I don’t hold on to things that don’t matter. That’s why I’ve lived a simple life. But that moment mattered.
And so does this one.
Until this very moment, I never allowed myself to see how desperately I needed to tell Price about the baby so I could let go of the pain … let go of him.
“Let’s call my parents and sister and tell them to come to Austin when the store closes. I want to marry you now, in your backyard, with just our families.”
Koen pauses his motions for a breath before grabbing his hat and standing tall to inspect my sincerity.
I shrug. “This summer’s tomatoes aren’t going to can themselves.”
I see my future in his eyes, and it’s bigger than any dream.
“You’re moving in tonight.” He slides his hat on the right way.
I laugh. “It’s late.”
“Nope. You don’t have that much stuff. Let’s throw it all into the back of our trucks and go home.”
“Sounds messy.”
He takes my hand, leading me toward the front of the store. “Baby, you’re going to be a fucking tornado in my life. But I’m here for every single disastrous second.”
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
ARE HUMANS MEANT TO FALL IN AND OUT OF LOVE?
Scottie
It’s happening.
We have a date, but it’s not for two months due to everyone’s schedules.
I’m still heartbroken over the store closing in five days, but I’ve cleared out a ton of inventory with huge close-out sales.
I visited Clara for an emotional goodbye.
And I’ve called the owner of the apothecary store in Philly to get a contact number for Mr. Price I Don’t Have A Cell Phone Milloy. But I can’t bring myself to call him despite Koen telling me Price is considered family now and, therefore, he should be at our wedding.
He has my number, so if he wanted to keep in touch, he would have called by now, right?
I lock the back door after closing and take a moment to stare at the empty trailer. I’m okay with this chapter ending because the next one will be even more amazing.
“Excuse me?”
I jump, pressing a hand to my heart.
“Sorry,” the lady says, stepping toward me. She adjusts her purse strap with one hand while the other slides into the front pocket of her white capris.
Her perfectly pressed yellow button-down shirt looks nicer than anything I’ve ever owned. And her long blonde hair is almost as smooth as her blouse. I can’t place her, but her face is familiar.
“Are you Scottie?”
“Yes.”
A tiny line forms along her forehead as if she’s thinking about my response. “I’m Amelia Milloy.”
My lips part, but I don’t know what to say. I glance over her shoulder.
“Price isn’t here.”
My gaze returns to her.
“I had to meet you.”
My throat begins to constrict. Something happened to him. That’s why she’s here alone. “Is he—”
“He’s fine,” she smiles.
I relax.
“I uh…” she shifts her weight from one foot to the other “…I don’t know what you know about me, but I feel like I know everything about you. And that’s why I had to meet you.”
I take a step closer. “I know a little about you.” I smile. “I know you’re loved by an extraordinary man. I know you have a daughter together. And I know he spent his time here trying to get better for you and your daughter.”