Alive and Wells (Wells Ranch, #1)

by Bailey Hannah

For the city girls in their cowboy romance era. And for the country girls who know a fictional cowboy is always better than the real thing.

“Not if we text, darlin’.” Am I having a stroke? “Text?” I croak. “I didn’t peg you for a texter.” His nostrils flare as he maintains focus on the road ahead. “I could start if you’d like.”

yesssir

I should be heartbroken, shouldn’t I?

“So, are you telling me all this because you’re finally committed to not going back?”

classic yes

“Honey, you came in from a heck of a storm. You can’t expect to immediately be warm and dry. All you can do is strip the wet clothing, wrap yourself in a blanket, and allow yourself the time it takes to weather it. And it’s completely understandable to miss him, or miss what once was, even after everything.”

“The thing is…I don’t miss him. I’m not sad to be without him. I keep feeling haunted by the thought that I should be feeling those things. Like I should miss him or still love him or whatever. Instead, I feel guilty because I don’t think I’m hurting the way I should be.”

I need to give up caring about anything to do with KJ, even if the damn lilacs never stop blooming. I’m never going back, so fuck whatever he would think or say about what I’m doing. Fuck being controlled. “I want to focus on being here. And getting back to who I was before this.

yayyyy

“I assumed anything we were getting up to at this hour was likely illegal or dangerous—possibly both. Thought liquid courage might be good.” He takes another slow sip and nods his head toward the chainsaws sitting at my feet. “So, what are we doing?” “Cutting down the goddamn lilac bushes.”

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

“I’m sorry, that was rude. I have a bad habit of blurting out stupid things when I’m uncomfortable.”

“You do. When the time comes where I can do this”—his rough hand gently cups my chin and his throat bobs with a hard swallow—“without feeling every muscle in your jaw tense, I’ll kiss you until you’re unable to breathe. And a whole lot more, if you’ll let me.”

“Do you always need to make light of literal life-or-death situations?” “I was the dumbass who stayed in an abusive marriage until he was pointing a fucking gun at me. If I don’t make some jokes from time to time, I’m going to completely fall to pieces over it. Either way, you’ll be uncomfortable, so get used to it.”

lmfao

“I’m not usually one to interrupt…Hell, I love a good fuck in the barn as much as the next guy. But you two are right in the way of the tack room.”

DEAD

The more time away from him, the more I’m realizing how all these little things stack up to prove he never cared at all.

The fact he considers all this to be the bare minimum is shocking. Although my history with men is severely disappointing; I suppose showing affection after sex might be normal for other people.

“You’ve never made me feel broken when I can’t handle your touch. Even when I’ve told you about the most fucked-up parts of myself, you don’t stop showing me how much you care. And you don’t only care about me—you take care of all the people you love. You’re such a good man without even trying to be. You’re sweet, protective, funny. You read cattle ranching magazines and watch Happy Days like a seventy-year-old man. How could I not love you?”

omfg

“Don’t make me do something I don’t want to do, Cecily.” The steady clomping of fast-paced horses makes the jittery muscles around my heart ease. KJ doesn’t have the faintest idea what he’s about to be in for, but he stops in his tracks and turns toward the sound. Austin. Austin comes around the corner of the stables at a breathtaking pace. On horseback, flying past the bunkhouses with Denny and Jackson flanking his sides. I struggle to stop myself from running toward them. Climb up on his goddamn horse and asking him to take me to the lake. Take me anywhere but here. Not far behind, Red, Jacky, and Colt are hot on their heels.

nah this would be so hot bye