Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 551(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 367(@300wpm)
“She’s going to need to be warm,” Mollie is saying.
Wheeler taps a finger against her lips. “Warm, but cute. Like a cute, cozy, snowed-in-at-a-cabin vibe.”
“Honey, that’s your story,” Mollie says.
“Oh?” I ask. “This sounds interesting.”
“That’s another story for another time.” Wheeler waves her hand. “Okay, wait, Mollie—do you still have that Pendleton coat? The tan one, with the yellow and coral and black pattern all over it?”
Mollie gasps. “Ohmigod yes! The blanket jacket! Which she can use as a jacket or—”
“Duh, a blanket after Sawyer strips her naked.”
“Perfect! You’re a genius.” Mollie waddles across the room. “With some jeans and, like, a great slouchy sweater in that coral color to match the coat?”
I hold up my hands. “Whoa whoa whoa, y’all don’t need to lend me clothes or anything.”
“But we want to,” Mollie calls over her shoulder as she enters what appears to be a bathroom.
Wheeler puts a hand on my forearm. “This is fun for us. It’s not often that we miss Dallas—that’s where we started Bellamy Brooks. But we do miss the shopping and the clothes and the fashion. If you’re okay with it, we’d love to style you.”
“I’m definitely okay with it.” I chuckle. “I just don’t want to put y’all out.”
“Never.” Wheeler turns back to the wall of cowboy boots. “Okay, with this look, I’m envisioning something classic with a twist. Maybe echo that coral color? Ah! Yes! This gal.” She pulls a tan pair off the wall. They’re mid-calf boots, with an almond toe and coral-colored stitching on the toe box and up the sides.
“I love them,” I breathe, reaching out to run my fingers over the butter-soft leather.
“What size are you?” Wheeler looks down at my feet. “Nine?”
“Good guess.”
“Lucky for you, Mollie wears the same size, so we always have samples in a nine.” Wheeler tips the boot over to look at the sole. “Yep, that’s it. Let’s try it on.”
Mollie emerges from the closet. She’s carrying the prettiest patterned coat I think I’ve ever seen, along with a V-neck sweater in a bold shade of coral.
My pulse flutters as the outfit comes together in my head. It’s going to be fabulous. I’m not even wearing it, and I already feel prettier than I have in years.
I don’t typically buy stuff like this for myself—working with horses and/or toddlers all day means my wardrobe is pretty utilitarian—so it’s a thrill to try it all on, along with the boots.
Mollie guides me to the full-length mirror beside the desk. Taking in my reflection, I smile. Hard.
“Aw, sweetie, you look gorgeous.” Wheeler gives my hair a fluff, pushing it over my shoulder. “Sawyer’s not going to be able to keep his hands off you.”
Mollie smiles too. “Exactly what we were going for. I think you’re all set, Ava. Now go get your cowboy.”
CHAPTER 20
Sawyer
LONE STAR STATE
Heart pounding, I park my truck beside Ava’s Subaru outside the cute carriage house. I cut the ignition and wipe my clammy palms over my jeans.
It’s not like me to get nervous. But here I am, nervous as hell as I shove open my door and step out into the warm twilight. Even though it’s still technically winter, we’ve been getting some hints of spring. Lots of sunshine, temps in the sixties, a mild breeze. I don’t hate it, especially when it allows me to take a girl out to a bonfire for a picnic dinner.
I really hope she likes the fried chicken. Patsy was so patient as she walked me through me her Mamaw’s recipe last night. My kitchen was a mess, but Ella got a huge kick out of dredging the chicken first in buttermilk, then in Patsy’s secret flour-and-spice mix that we had to pinkie-promise not to ever, ever share.
Not gonna lie, I’m damn proud of how it turned out.
I grab the roses I ordered from an out-of-town florist—cost me a small fortune, but worth it for the inside joke—and head across the driveway.
Like the rest of the Wallace Ranch, the carriage house is thoughtfully designed and beautifully maintained. It’s constructed in their signature limestone and painted timber mix, with a tin roof and steel windows.
I smile when I see a glittery purple scooter on the walkway, complete with a foam unicorn head and rainbow streamers on the handles. Is Junie as obsessed with riding her scooter around the ranch as Ella is?
Apparently they had a ball together baking with Mrs. Wallace on Wednesday. I had to work, so my nanny dropped off Ella and picked her up. But Ella was all smiles that evening, and Ava told me they got along well when she and I were texting later that night.
Because that’s our thing now. After we get the kids down, we text about everything and nothing. We catch each other up on our days. What we’re thinking. What we’re reading. No filter. No games. Just us shooting the shit. She’s really into a gal named Martha Beck, and I can’t get enough of the Slough House spy novels I bought after binge-watching the show Slow Horses.