Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24334 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 122(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
This has been the best day of my life. Truly.
After lunch at McArthur’s, we spent the whole day together. We explored the rest of the town and then drove out to a hiking trail that loops around a beautiful lake. It was relaxed and easy and I felt like I could tell her anything.
We held hands as we walked and talked, and I don’t know about her, but I fell deeper in love with every passing second. This girl is the one for me. I’m certain of it.
It was torture having to drop her off at the lodge after. I didn’t want her to leave my sight, but I did so we could both wash up and get dressed for dinner. I raced back to Owen’s place, showered, put on my nicest outfit, and hurried back to meet her.
We just finished dinner in the beautiful restaurant in my brother’s lodge. Everything has been perfect.
“You first,” she says as she hovers her spoon over the dessert.
“No way,” I say with a laugh. “You get the first bite. Always. I insist.”
“Same time?”
“Deal.”
We dip our spoons into the creamy dessert and each take a bite. My eyes are locked on her as she moans in ecstasy at the flavor.
It stirs a hunger inside of me. I’ve been burning for this girl all day. I want her badly. I need her.
It’s taken every ounce of strength I had to hold myself back. Every cell in my body is screaming at me to rip her clothes off and make her mine.
I nearly collapsed when I saw her step off the elevators in this gorgeous dress. I wasn’t prepared for it. Her beauty nearly took me out at the knees.
She walked out wearing a black cocktail dress that showed off her long tanned legs. Her hair was up and her lips were shiny with lip gloss. I nearly threw her over my shoulder, marched back into the elevator, and carried her back to her room to finish the night off there.
I had to take a few deep breaths to calm myself, telling myself that our time will come. It will happen. I just have to be patient.
Too bad patience has never been one of my strengths.
“So, you never told me why you’re here,” she says as we devour the amazing dessert. “Are you just visiting your brother?”
“Yes and no.” I wasn’t expecting to open up, but she’s so easy to talk to that it all comes spilling out. “I wanted to meet Owen’s new girl, Lauren. But I also needed a change.”
“A change? From what?”
I gaze into her accepting blue eyes as it all comes out. “I was on the road for two years.”
“What do you mean? Like a truck driver?”
“No. Just traveling around. I mostly hitched-hiked from place to place. Worked manual jobs here and there and then kept going. I was so restless. I just couldn’t stay in one place.”
Her eyes narrow as she listens like she’s trying to figure me out.
“After the army—“
“You were in the army?”
“Twelve years,” I say with a nod. “I was stationed in Germany.”
“Oh,” she says, taken aback. “Why didn’t you tell me that earlier?”
I shrug. “Honestly, I never tell anyone that. I’m a pretty private person.”
“Then, why are you telling me now?”
“Because I want you to know. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.”
She suddenly looks down at the table as her body tightens.
“I was engaged,” she says.
My spoon slips out of my hand and falls onto the table with a clatter.
“To my boyfriend of twelve years.”
“Twelve years?” I think I’m going to be sick.
“Turns out he wasn’t into me. At all. The entire time we dated.”
“That’s impossible.”
“He was gay.”
“Oh, then I guess it is.”
She laughs.
“I was always wondering why he never wanted to touch me. I thought it was me. I thought I was ugly and undesirable.”
My body stills. I take her hand over the table.
Those shy eyes slowly make their way up to mine.
“You are not ugly,” I say with a ravenous growl. “You are the most desirable woman I’ve ever come across. All I’ve been doing is desiring you since the moment I saw you.”
She swallows hard as she looks at me.
The waiter comes by at the worst fucking time and refills our wine glasses.
“So,” she says, trying to change the subject once he’s gone. “After the army, you just kept moving around? What were you looking for?”
“I didn’t know it at the time, but I was looking for you.”
“For me?” She laughs.
“For the right girl to settle down with. For the one who was going to change my life.”
“And that’s me?”
“That’s you.”
We both smile like goofy teenagers as we gaze into each other’s eyes. This is what falling in love is. It’s even better than people make it out to be.
“How was your meal?” a familiar voice asks. I look up as my brother Owen stands at our table with a smile.