Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Luke pulls out a piece of paper from his back pocket. I take it from him and open it. My eyes scan over it. They signed the deed over to me. I don’t miss that my name is printed as June Graysen Woods.
“Luka?” When I glance up from the paper, I see Luka on one knee in front of me.
“I love you, kitten.” I hold my hand out as Luka slips the ring onto my finger. A beautiful teardrop diamond. It’s simple but breathtaking. “I didn’t know what love was before you. I didn't know that I could love in this capacity until I met you. I never want to be without you.”
“Like true love?” Through tears, I smile at him.
“You have taught me the most important lessons in life.”
“I am pretty smart.” I sniffle, making him chuckle.
“You’re brilliant.” He stands up, picking me up in the process. Then he sets me down on the SUV's hood, stepping between my thighs. “I want to raise a family here with you.” He runs his hand across my stomach.
“You know?” I don’t think my mom would have told him.
“You left a test behind.”
“Oops.” I might have done that. “Wait, is that why you’re here? The ring?”
“No.” He cuts me off before I can ramble on more and panic. “I had this ring before. I’m done with the project. They can finish without me.”
“But—”
“No buts, kitten. I’m where I want to be. That isn’t my life anymore. Wherever you are is where my life will always be.”
“I love you so much.” I sniffle again.
“I love you, and I want to spend every second showing you just how much, Mrs. Woods.” I smile, loving the sound of that.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. That may be the case for some, but for me, being present and making memories with the ones you love is what life is all about.
EPILOGUE
LUKA
Many years later
“That’s so stupid.” Mabel scrunches her nose when she sees that her twin sister, Faye, has braided a ribbon into the horse's hair.
“It’s pretty.” Faye pulls out another ribbon. This one is pink. "I can put one in your hair, too." She doesn’t wait for her sister to give her a response.
Faye is already skipping over to Mabel, tying a bow to her ponytail. Mabel doesn’t fight her on this. They can be as different as night and day and cause each other considerable annoyance, but they are an inseparable pair. If you mess with one, you get the wrath of the other.
Mabel is a copy of her mother in terms of appearance, with her long, dark hair and wide eyes that catch everything. She’s fucking smart too. The girl was reading by the time she was three. Mabel always has her nose in a book and loves to cook.
Faye has blonde, wild hair, and my eyes. Faye's obsessions include horses, gossip, and anything that incorporates glitter or pink. She, however, will not be caught dead in the kitchen. It's safe to say that the girls embody a blend of both of us.
“Ta-da!” Faye singsongs when she is done. She spins around. “We match.”
“I guess it’s okay.” Mabel shrugs, but I think she likes the bow. Faye smirks, and I’m pretty sure she's thinking the same as me.
I don’t think Faye would force it on her sister unless she thought she wanted it. Even now, Mabel is in her normal jeans and shirt, but her nails are pink with a layer of sparkle. I’m sure Faye did them for her last night after she did my wife's.
“Think it’s time to head in.” I nod toward the house. It’s June’s birthday, so we left her in bed. Her little ass better still be there. Before we started breakfast, we went down to check on the horses and the ranch foreman. That way I knew everything would be handled for the day.
“I’m cooking!” Mabel hops up from the little bench she was sitting on, tucking her book under her arm.
“Well, duh.” Faye grabs her sister's hand, pulling her out of the barn. “Can we do white chocolate chips?” I hear her ask her sister.
I can’t help but smile as I follow after them. The sun is already high in the sky, making the pond sparkle. Not in a million years would I have ever thought this would be my life. It’s so far removed from the life I once had in the city. I’m grateful to June every single day for teaching me how to really live. How to stop and appreciate the people and things around me.
I make my way up the porch stairs. I don’t go in the front door. I slip around to the side of the deck, which wraps all the way around the house. Our master bedroom is on the bottom floor. All the other bedrooms are upstairs.