Page 56 of The Unbuttoned Ranger

Was she really ready for everyone to know that she and Sharp were seeing each other?

She didn’t care what everyone thought except for Carsen. She just didn’t want him to get hurt.

Yet, it was a good thing for Carsen to see her in a positive relationship.

She rewrote the entry.

She didn’t want to keep Sharp hidden. He deserved more than that.

Entry Four.

Dye hair.

CaDee didn’t see anything wrong with women who wanted to go their natural color, but at thirty-five, she didn’t want to feel so old. She wanted to get back a part of her youth and innocence that she lost to Dante.

Entry Five

Buy a sex toy and use it with Sharp.

What harm would come of exploring? The one time she’d mentioned a sexy toy to Dante he’d been angry enough to not speak to her for two days.

Milo’s gaze was on her as if he could read her thoughts.

“Don’t look at me judgmentally,” she said to the dog.

One ear perked up.

“You heard me. You might be okay living your life single and alone, but I miss the fun stuff.”

She shook her head. Now she was talking to dogs.

The only thing she was missing was a glass of wine.

What was stopping her?

Piper had an entire shelf of homemade dandelion wine.

“Milo, watch my journal and no peeking. You hear?”

He groaned and fell back to sleep.

She stretched her gaze to the barn but Sharp was no longer there.

Where had he gone?

She hopped up from the grass and strolled toward the house. Unaware that she was being watched. Inside, she took down a mason jar, scoped out the flavors of wine and settled on the one labeled raspberry. Pouring herself a small amount, she drank it fast.

She liked it.

She poured more and took it with her outside.

Grabbing the basket by the back door she went to the garden.

Milo joined her while she picked tomatoes and cucumbers to marinate for tomorrow’s dinner.

Setting the full basket near the door, she crossed the grass barefoot toward the tree to retrieve her journal, but it was gone.

She looked all over for it.