Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97836 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
I’d avoided her schemes for the most part, only because he was Way’s best friend and unavoidable in Majestic on the chance things between us became awkward.
But one night in the dead of winter and after one too many drinks at the Old Oak, Foster and I had come close. We’d stayed late at a corner table, sharing intimate confessions about previous hookups and life regrets. When I’d asked him if he wanted to come back to the ranch with me, no strings attached, he’d offered me a soft smile.
“Would it be better than the last guy you were with?”
I’d huffed out a laugh. “My memory hardly goes back that far, Sheriff.”
Which was a lie. My memory of the last man I’d been with was crystal clear. I’d been back in Texas a couple of years ago, doing a favor for a friend. She’d invited me to a party, where I’d met one of her coworkers.
Drop-dead sexy, just the right amount of cocky, and willing to get naked with me without saying a word about it to our mutual friend. It had been memorable, alright. So memorable I hadn’t bothered to hook up since because it would most likely be a disappointment in comparison.
Foster must have seen the wistful look on my face. “Uh-huh. Why don’t we table this discussion for another time?” Foster had said with a low laugh. “Maybe a time when we both aren’t feeling the effects of the weather and whiskey.”
We’d never made another attempt. Instead, we’d become good friends, creating the kind of relationship I didn’t dare fuck up with sex.
But his mother liked to think it was just a matter of time. Even now, she nodded toward where Way and Silas were still joking around with Sheridan and Bo and said coyly, “Looks like Foster found the fun crowd. You should join them. Let loose a little. Tell my son to do the same while you’re at it.” She shot me a wink, and I returned it with an eye roll.
“Stop meddling,” I mumbled around my last bite of chicken. She reached for the empty skewer to toss in the trash.
“Stop avoiding happiness,” she said. This time, her expression cut right through me. “It’s time to move on, Devon. Embrace your life and enjoy yourself. Live a little. Hell, live a lot. You already know summer in Majestic is magical. Maybe this can be your hot girl summer.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You think?”
Her smile was easy and genuine. “I know.”
I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I love you, too.”
As I made my way back through the crowd to where my friends had congregated, I returned a few friendly greetings from people I knew. Mr. Shandy from the hardware store tipped his hat, and Millie Turner wiggled her fingers at me.
Foster shot me a grin as I approached. “Did my mother send you over to spy on me?”
“More like she sent me over here to seduce you. I told her I don’t swing that way.”
His deep laugh helped me relax, and I was grateful they were no longer talking about babies and family stuff. “You told her you weren’t gay?”
“Nah. I told her I didn’t go for bossy assholes.”
Foster wrapped his arm around my shoulders and yanked me into his side before pressing a kiss to my hair. “Just for that, I’m going to start some rumors.”
“Devon McKay?” a cold voice clipped from somewhere behind me. I turned to see who was asking when I froze in place.
There in an opening in the crowd around us was a man I’d never expected to see again. The drop-dead sexy and just the right amount of cocky guy I’d hooked up with in Texas over two years ago.
Only this time, he was scowling and appeared not to even recognize me.
Silas stepped closer. “Who’s asking?”
Before the semi-stranger could say another word, I noticed he held a little girl on his hip. Did he have a child?
I glanced around for a partner, woman or man, someone who might also lay claim to this little family pair in front of me. But then the little girl lifted her head from his shoulder and gazed at me.
“Holy fuck,” Silas breathed, taking the words from my spinning head and giving them a voice.