Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 31077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 31077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 104(@300wpm)
A little old lady finally ambles up to the front door and flips the sign to open. Rumor is the store has one of the most expansive collections of rare books and collectibles in the state. You wouldn’t know it by looking at the outside of the shop in this rundown strip mall.
“You could have shopped for a book on your own or online,” Zac says, probing for the truth. Not much gets by him. He’s like our mom. He knows everything somehow. “What are we really along for?”
I unbuckle my seatbelt and admit the truth to them, “Ring shopping.”
I pull to a stop in front of the old farmhouse that Walt owns. My hands are clammy, and I wipe them on my jeans. I can’t say I’ve ever cared what anyone else thought of me. But Lizzy is different. She’s the one person I don’t want to disappoint.
After my impromptu trip to the city with my brothers, I went straight to the barbershop for a trim. My beard was looking a little bushy and unkempt these days, so that had to be cleaned up. I don’t particularly like having my head touched so I usually just let my hair grow. But I figure a cowboy should look presentable when he shows up to ask for his girl’s hand.
I glance at the stuff in the passenger seat. For a moment, I remember being a foster kid and showing up on a new doorstep every couple of months. Always with the desperate hope that I would be liked one day.
Finally, I ended up with the Maples. Mom had been fostering Greer, and she wanted his brothers around him. One by one, she navigated the system until she’d collected all of us. Then she and her husband adopted us.
Four scared boys became Maples and life got a lot better after that. We had more than just a roof over our heads or two people willing to feed us. We had community, family, and love.
I shake away the thoughts and pocket the ring. Then I grab the books that have been carefully gift-wrapped by the little old lady at the collectibles store. She didn’t want to let it go to a dusty cowboy, even when I told her it was for true love.
Barrett offered to sweeten the deal by having country sensation Zac Maple sign more than a few items, including a t-shirt for her granddaughter. It helped that he also threw in free concert tickets for his next three sold-out shows. Suddenly, she was more than happy to sell the books to me.
Barrett has never met a poker game he can’t win. Never walked away from a negotiation with less than he wanted.
Zac was less than impressed with the final negotiated terms, but he did honor them. He sent me a look that told me I owed him one. Truth is, I owe him and all of my brothers about a million favors.
Before I can knock on the front door, it swings open.
Walt, my best friend and the man who’s been the biggest influence in my life, grins. “Well, thanks, Noah. Can’t say I’ve ever been partial to daisies.”
My girl’s favorite flowers are red Gerbera daisies. It’s something I learned from looking at her online profiles.
“These aren’t for you,” I say at the same time someone gasps my name. My gaze goes past Walt straight to Lizzy. How is it that she’s gotten even prettier in the day since I last saw her?
Lizzy is wearing a lacy white sleeveless shirt that’s tucked into a long, flowing sky blue skirt that goes down to her ankles. The cowgirl boots underneath give me all sorts of wicked fantasies. Forget a woman in heels. I want to fuck my woman when she’s wearing cowgirl boots.
“What are you doing here?” Lizzy hisses, interrupting my X-rated fantasies.
“You and I are going to have a little talk later,” Walt grunts at me before he turns away, leaving me and Lizzy alone.
She steps onto the porch, pulling on a white cardigan over the sleeveless shirt while she clutches an oversized canvas tote. She tugs the front door closed behind herself. “Why are you here?”
I hold up the books, wrapped in brown packaging and tied with twine. “I have a gift for you.”
Chapter 3
Lizzy
Istep into the early evening air, pulling my cardigan around me. Without hair, it’s harder for me to stay warm. I resist the urge to pat my wig and instead pat my bag which has all of my supplies inside to fix any wig emergency that might happen.
“Why are you here?” I ask Noah. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him on the front porch holding my favorite flowers. I remind myself that’s a crazy reaction to a crazy man.
He holds up a rectangle of brown paper packaging in his other hand. I don’t have a clue what could be inside. His next words surprise me. “I have a gift for you.”