Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82671 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I hate that you hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine.”
“I still hate it.”
“Then take me to your room and stop thinking about it.”
In the tub, she leaned into my chest. I made sure she kept her hand dry while we enjoyed the warmth of the water around us. Never having been much of a bath person, it surprised me how much I liked having one with Sammy.
“No stunts while I’m gone,” I admonished.
She huffed a little but remained silent.
“When I come back, we’ll do the overnight camping trip. We’ll take your father and uncles and see what they think.”
She hummed. “They’ll love it, but I think I’d rather go alone with you.”
I chuckled. “We can do that too.”
She nestled closer, and I held her tight.
“I guess we go back to client and boss when your family is here.”
She sighed. “In front of them, at least. I’m good with the status quo, but I’m not sure my dad would agree.”
“Probably not.”
She lifted her head, meeting my gaze. “You gonna give me something to remember, Cowboy?”
I lowered my head to hers, my mouth hovering over her full lips. “Totally.”
She pulled me to her mouth. “Good.”
I sat on the bed in the hotel room, looking at the sterile décor. I scrubbed a hand over my face, feeling weary. It had been a busy two days, barely time to think, yet at every possible moment, Sammy popped into my thoughts. I would see something amusing, and I would think about how she would smile and laugh if she were there. The dessert at dinner last night was rich and decadent, and I knew she would have eaten her piece, then tried to snag mine. A woman on the street had the same color hair as Sammy did, and it made me feel a strange longing. And last night, the bed felt empty, and when I woke up alone, I felt an odd melancholy.
It was as if I missed her.
I resisted calling her, even though part of me wanted to hear her voice. I had texted Rachel, who said everything was fine, Sammy was busy, she was helping, and the ranch was running well. Even stranger than the longing I felt was the sensation that I was more concerned about Sammy than the ranch.
The ranch should be my priority, not the welfare of the smart-mouthed consultant who would be gone in a few weeks.
Still, she lingered in my mind far more deeply than I was comfortable with. Then as if I had conjured her up, a text came through from her.
Sammy: Hey, Cowboy. How’s it going? Picked out your new cows yet?
Me: It goes, Lady. Picked them out? It’s not a mall.
Sammy: What is the process, exactly? You decide which ones you want, chase them around, and lasso them? I bet you’re good with a rope, aren’t you?
I began to laugh, her words causing images of me in the auction ring lassoing the cows I’d “chosen.” Then I thought about lassoing her. Showing her just how good I was with a rope and knots.
Me: It’s an auction. I choose the best breeds to add to the ranch.
Sammy: My idea sounds like more fun.
Me: You’re more fun.
Sammy: You lassoed that horse the other day, but I didn’t see it. Would you show me?
I grinned as I typed my reply.
Me: How about I lasso you?
Sammy: Oh. And then? What would you do with me once you had me tied up?
Jesus, were we going to send sex texts now? Was that a thing?
Me: Probably gag you and leave you there so I had some peace for a while.
Sammy: Jackass.
I laughed again. Sammy was miles away, and somehow she made me feel better.
Me: I’d probably spread you wide, taste every inch of you, then fuck you until you couldn’t recall your name.
Sammy: And now I’m wet. And miss you more than ever.
She missed me?
Me: I’ll see what I can do about that when I get back.
Sammy: Something to look forward to, then.
I groaned. Now I had the image of her tied up, writhing on my bed as I did exactly what I wanted to her. My cock felt hot and heavy in my jeans, liking the thought as well.
Me: Go to bed, Lady.
Sammy: Already there.
I hesitated, then typed a final message.
Me: Scream my name into your pillow when you come.
Her text sent me over the edge.
Sammy: I’m in your bed. It smells like you. And I will. x
I dropped my head to the pillow.
Jesus, this woman was going to kill me.
But what a way to go.
I drove the familiar roads, anxious to get to the ranch. It was always the same—a few days surrounded by people and buildings, and I was happy to head back to the peace that permeated the place I called home. The animals I had purchased were already there—sent on ahead with the hands. I stayed and had some meetings with other ranchers and farmers, discussing the future of our industry and the problems and solutions we had to face and implement. My planned three days turned into four, and by the time the event was done, I was ready to go.