Faithful: Age Gap Small Town Romance (Whiskey Run Book 1) by Hope Ford (best books to read for knowledge TXT) 📗

My dad and Austin have hit it off. Probably because they have the ranches in common. They can talk for hours about auctions, the price of feed going up, and all the other things you face on a ranch.

I keep waiting for Austin to try and take our relationship to the next level. But besides the several kisses, he’s been a complete and utter gentleman. Which, to be honest, is a little worrisome. I’m ready to take our relationship to the next level, but there’s no way I can tell him that. I’m definitely going to have to let him take the lead.

This morning he was cleared from the doctor, so he asked me out to dinner to celebrate. There’s no way I was going to say no. I’ve found myself more and more excited to spend as much time as possible with him.

We’ve grown closer with all the time we’re spending together, and the fact that we call and text throughout the day has helped me get more comfortable with the idea that maybe not all men are unfaithful. Because I’ve watched Austin. When we’re out, he only has eyes for me. All of his attention is focused on me. I’ve never been around a man as affectionate and attentive as him.

Lost in thought, I’m staring at my computer screen, knowing I have more work to do, but I can barely concentrate knowing Austin should be here any time.

A knock on my open door brings a smile to my face. I’m of course expecting Austin, but it’s Alan. “Hey, boss. Can you come and look at a shipment real quick?”

I stand up and follow behind him. “Sure thing.” In passing, I see Mike and ask him to let Austin know I’ll be right back if he shows up.

Mike just grunts at me. If anyone has had a problem with my relationship with Austin, it’s been Mike. He’s made sure in every way possible to bring me down and to try and make me feel insecure. I’ve forced myself to ignore him. I’m not worried about what Mike thinks about anything.

Austin

I’m crazy about her. She’s all I want. The only thing I think about anymore. I’m walking into the co-op and bypass Mike to go straight to Millie’s office. When I see she’s not there, I turn to Mike. “Hey, you seen Millie?”

“Yeah, she had to go out back for a minute. She said she’ll be right back.”

I nod, debating whether to go find her or wait. I hate spending any time with Mike, so I’m about to start walking when he stops me.

“You and Millie dating?”

Automatically, my hands fist at my sides. I hate to even hear her name on his lips. “Yeah, we’re dating.”

The smirk on the other man’s face pisses me off. And as soon as he starts to talk, I want to punch him in the face. “She doesn’t put out. I mean, not that I mind or anything, I still got the job, but –”

He doesn’t get another word out. He’s struggling for breath because I have him pushed up against the counter with my hand around his neck. He’s pulling at my arm, but I’m not letting go. “I don’t want you talking to her, about her—hell, I don’t want you looking at her. You got that, you son of a bitch?”

“That’s hard to do since I have to see her fat ass all day.”

I lift my knee and hit him in the nuts. When he doubles over, I punch him in the face, and he falls backwards, holding his dick in one hand and his nose in the other. “Enough. You want me to kill you or fire you? I’ll let you pick.”

“You can’t fire me,” he says as he spits blood out on the floor.

I barely restrain from kicking him in the face with my boot as I walk by him. “Watch me, motherfucker.”

I’m panting when I get to Rusty’s door, and there’s fire raging through my veins. I still may have to fight the guy even after he’s fired.

“Hey Austin. How’s it going?” Rusty says as I stand in the doorway.

“Austin. What’s wrong?” Millie comes up behind me, and her touch on my back instantly soothes me, reassuring me that I’ve done the right thing. She’s so sweet, so beautiful, I’m not going to let anyone talk about her the way Mike did. Ever.

“Tell your dad about Mike, Millie. You tell him, I tell him, or I go out there and kick the shit out of him some more. It’s your choice.”

“It’s not your place...” she starts.

I’m surprised by how gentle I am when I wrap my hand around the base of her neck. “It’s my place. I’m making it my place. I’m not going to stand by and let him or anyone else talk about you like he was. It ends now, Millie.”

She obviously can see how upset I am. She wants to do what she thinks is right for her dad, but it’s not going to happen like this. She turns to him, and it’s my turn to comfort her. I thread our fingers together. “Dad, uh, Mike only dated me because he wanted the manager job. He was cheating on me.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rusty asks, stunned.

“Because you deserve time off. You’ve been planning to retire for so long, and it was finally going to happen, and I didn’t want to mess that up for you.”

Rusty comes around his desk and stops in front of his daughter. “Millie, you’re the only thing that matters to me. Not this store, not the ranch we live on, nothing.” He shakes his head, no doubt disgusted with himself that he hired a man that disrespected his daughter. “I’ll take care of it.”

“But Dad...” Millie starts, with guilt in her voice.

I cut in, because