Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Lily’s cheeks turned pink. “I’m so sorry about that.”
I shrugged. “How about you sleep in my bed, and I’ll sleep out here?”
Her eyes went wide. “No way! Come on,” she said, taking my hand in hers. I tried to ignore the way it sent a bolt of electricity through my entire body. “You sleep in your own bed. I’ll be fine on the sofa.”
“Okay, but I don’t need you to walk me to my room.”
She chewed on her lower lip before she dropped my hand. “You really scared me, Maverick.”
It felt like someone kicked me in the chest when I saw the concern in her eyes. “When?”
Letting out a disbelieving laugh, she replied, “When I showed up here Sunday morning and found you barely conscious! Then when I felt how hot you were. I was terrified. It didn’t help when my dad showed up, and he was just as scared. You mean a lot to us, Mav. Sometimes I don’t think you realize how much. Or maybe you’re trying to keep all of us at a distance as some sort of protection. I don’t know, but…I guess I just feel the need to explain why I’ve camped out here the last few days. You’re a good friend, and well…I’m glad you’re okay.”
I placed my hands on her upper arms and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “Thank you for being here for me. For coming and checking on me. If you hadn’t, I’m not sure what would have happened.”
She laughed. “My mother would have come the moment she found out you’d called in sick.”
“You’re probably right.”
Lily winked. “I know I am.”
Dropping my hands back to my sides, I let out a breath. “Good night, Lily.”
Her eyes searched my face, and I had the feeling she wanted to say more but was holding back. “’Night, Maverick.”
When I started toward my bedroom, she called, “Maverick…are you dating Brandee Norman?”
I stopped walking and closed my eyes, drawing in a slow breath before turning back to face her, a neutral expression on my face. Or at least I hoped it was. “No. Why?”
She shrugged.
“I asked her out for drinks the night of Rose and Bryson’s wedding, but I obviously never made it since I started to feel bad. Did she call or something?”
Lily wrung her hands together. “No. You mentioned the date, and I just wondered if you guys were dating.”
“I’d only asked her out that night, so…” I shrugged, curious why she was really asking.
Lifting a hand almost as if she was waving goodbye, Lily said, “Sleep good.”
With a smile, I replied, “You too.”
“How are you feeling?”
Tanner’s voice caused me to turn away from the horse I’d been working with and smile. “Like a human again. Thank you for everything you, Timberlynn, Nathan, and Lily did for me. It was mighty kind of you.”
Tanner grinned and slapped me lightly on the shoulder. “As much as you refuse to believe it, you’re family, Maverick. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”
I wondered if he’d feel that way if he knew how many dirty dreams I’d had of his daughter over the past two weeks since she’d left my house. “I appreciate that, Tanner.”
He turned his attention to the mare in the middle of the fenced-in corral. “How’s it going with her?”
I leaned against the pen. “She has trust issues, but we knew that already. Can’t seem to get her to slow down when she’s eating her feed. Even out to pasture, she eats fast. Most likely she always thinks it’ll be her last meal for days. I’ve gotten close to touching her, but only when I’m putting the halter and lead on. Other than that, she wants no part of physical contact.”
“That’s a pretty lonely life right there.”
Nodding, I said, “Juniper, the gelding that came in last week for you to train? She seems to be curious about him.”
“Is she curious about him or the barrels?” Tanner asked.
“She hasn’t seen him on the barrels, so it’s not that. I was going to talk to you about putting them together in the small west pasture with the lake to see what happens. I’d also like for her to watch when you’re training him. Maybe if she sees Juniper allowing people to touch, ride, and love on him, this shy girl might be willing to give it a go.”
Tanner chuckled. “Ahh, the power of love.”
I laughed. “Something like that.”
“Lily’s getting ready to work with him now, if you want to head on over. They’re in the indoor arena. I mean, if you can get this girl over there, that is.”
“Oh, trust me, all I need is a carrot if she knows that Juniper’s out and about. I may just walk her around the outside area where Lily’s training.”
Tanner gave me another tap on the side of my arm. “I’ll head over now and let her know what you’re doing. By the way, she needs a name.”