Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24691 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
He reaches for my hand and holds it. “She also said she’s got your back. If you need anything, just call her.”
I grab the napkin and bring it up to blot at my eyes. It seems I can cry at the drop of a hat now. I clean up my tears and then reach for his hand again. “Thank you, E. For everything. For how you make me feel, for caring about me, for protecting me… It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
“E?”
I laugh. “Yeah, I wanted a nickname for you, but that doesn’t sound right. I actually thought about this the other night and came up with a good one, but I’m not sure you’ll like it.”
“Tell me,” he demands.
“Bear.” When he tilts his head to look at me, I rush and say, “Because with most people you’re like a bear, but with me, you’re more like a teddy bear. I didn’t think you’d let me call you teddy bear, so I thought Bear sounded right.”
When he doesn’t answer me right away, I start to retract it. “It’s stupid. Forget I even said anything.”
He shakes his head, and his voice is thick with emotion. “No, I like it. I like Bear. I’ve never had a nickname before, and I think it’s perfect.”
A small smile lifts at my lips. “Really?”
He nods. “Really.”
Our waitress brings our food and sets it down in front of us. As soon as she’s gone, Elliott moves his plate next to mine and comes around to sit next to me. He insists on holding my hand through the whole meal, but I don’t mind. I’m finding that the more I get to know the bossy rancher, the more I like him.
CHAPTER 9
ELLIOTT
I hold her hand the whole way home, wishing that the night didn’t have to end.
There are so many things I want to say to Camille, but I’ve found myself holding back because I’m so afraid I’m going to scare her off.
As we get inside the house, before she can leave me to go to her room, I ask her if she wants to sit in the living room for a little while and talk.
She nods, and as we sit down, she opens her mouth and then closes it again.
“What is it?”
She shakes her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
I scoot closer to her on the couch. “Talk to me. What were you going to say?”
She tilts her head back to look at me. “I’m trying to figure you out.”
I don’t mean to, but I can feel my guard coming up, and I hate it because this whole time, I’ve felt more at ease with her than with anyone. “What do you mean?”
She blurts out, “How are you single?”
I put my hand on her knee because I want to touch her every chance I get. “You’re sweet.”
She shakes her head as if she’s really trying to figure it out. “No, really. How are you single? I don’t get it.”
All I do is stare back at her. She’s smiling at me, waiting for me to answer her, but I’m speechless as I look into her big brown eyes. I’ve been here before, but it’s never meant as much as it does right now. I know at some point I need to tell her, but I was hoping to keep it under wraps for a little bit longer.
She frowns when I don’t say anything, and she pulls her knee away from me. “Forget it, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be nosy or anything.”
I wrap my hands around Camille’s to keep her from moving away from me. I blow out a breath as I start talking. Every muscle in my body is pulled tight. “When our parents died, I was taking care of my sister and trying to keep the ranch afloat. My life was crazy, and I didn’t have the time to date really…”
I let my voice trail off, and she reaches over and puts her hand on my cheek. “I’m sorry about your parents, Bear. I’m glad that you and Maddie had each other.”
And that’s when I remember one of our conversations where she confessed to me that she was from foster care and didn’t know her parents. She had no one.
“Me too. It was hard, but I know it would have been harder if I didn’t have Maddie depending on me.”
She lets her hand fall from my cheek, and I catch it in my hand. “There’s more.”
Her eyes widen, and she nods her head. It’s the last thing I want to do, but I can’t look into her eyes as I say this. I get up from the couch and move to the other side of the coffee table. I stand with my legs shoulder width apart and cross my arms over my chest. I know before I even start that I’m in defensive mode, but after my past, I can’t really blame myself. I clear my throat and repeat it again. “There’s more. Uh, and I’m sure I should tell you anyway.”