by Peyton Banks
Knocking’ The Boots
Blazing Eagle Ranch Novella
Peyton Banks
Contents
Blurb
Peyton’s Freebie
Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Epilogue
A Note From the Author
About the Author
Also by Peyton Banks
Copyright © 2020 by Peyton Banks
Editor: Emmy Ellis with Studioenp.
Cover Design by Emcat Designs.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, businesses, events, and incidents are a figment of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any similarities to real people, businesses, locations, history, and events are a coincidence.
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Information about the copyright permissions of the stock photos used can be provided upon request.
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Blurb
She was his best friend’s sister and should have been off-limits.
Rashad Mays was a ranch hand on the Blazing Eagle Ranch. He had grown up in Shady Springs and had no intention of leaving. This was his home, and he was ready to settle down. Only the woman that captured his eye was the sister of his best friend, Nate.
There were unspoken rules between friends when it came to their little sisters-- don’t touch.
Yani Polk was not like other women. She didn’t chase after cowboys for a casual roll in the hay. She was a lady. Sexy, curvy, successful, and currently the star of his late-night fantasies.
He’d thought he would be able to push her out of his mind, but when she came strolling onto the ranch, he couldn’t resist. Her smile and the gentle sway of her hips called to him.
The sizzling attraction was too great to resist. Rashad did the unthinkable. He broke the rules.
Yani was the woman for him, and he was willing to fight to prove it.
Peyton’s Freebie
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Foreword
Please note that Knocking’ the Boots was previously published in the charity anthology, Cowboys for a Cause.
1
“I wonder what I would look like as a blonde?”
Yanine Polk paused in place, in shock. “Excuse me?”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing at her dear client sitting in her chair. Yani turned the chair so she could stare the woman in the eye.
“I’m just saying. I wonder what Bobby would think if I came home blonde.” The older woman shrugged.
“Mrs. Mays, we are not trying to give your husband a heart attack.” Yani chuckled.
She had known the Mays family her entire life. She had been the hairstylist for this woman for the past ten years. When Yani had graduated from school and received her license, she was one of her first clients. The lady of sixty appeared damn good for her age, but she wasn’t sure Mr. Mays could handle a blonde version of Shonda.
“How about this? You think about it, and if when I see you next week, you still have it on your heart, we’ll start off with streaks. We can build up the momentum before going all blonde.”
Mrs. Mays fell into a fit of laughter. “I guess. The doctors have been keeping a close eye on Bobby.”
Yani grinned and turned the chair back around so she could take the rollers out of her client’s hair.
“Ain’t no shame in your game in wanting to spice things up,” Yani teased.
“How long have y’all been married, Mrs. Mays?” Jessie asked. She was sitting in her empty chair that was next to Yani’s. The two of them had been best friends for years.
“It will be thirty-five years this year,” Mrs. Mays responded proudly.
Yani was slightly jealous at the smile brought to the woman’s face at the mention of her union with her husband.
“Wow. Congratulations,” Yani murmured. She tossed the rollers into her bucket resting on her station.
“Now that’s love.” Jessie sighed. She swung around in her chair before turning back to face them. “Thirty-five years, and she’s still trying to find ways to—”
“Jessie,” Yani cut her off. Her friend was known for blurting out inappropriate things.
“What?” Jessie giggled.
“Behave,” Yani grumbled.
“Oh, she’s all right. Thirty-five years, and that man still can still make me smile just by walking in the room,” Mrs. Mays announced.
“That is beautiful,” Erin, one of the other stylists, said.
Yani had worked at the Pretty Parlor for the last five years and loved it. The atmosphere was easy-going, professional, and family-oriented. It was a pleasure to work there. Yani was one of the top stylists with a clientele that kept her busy.
“Y’all should see them. Every time I see them together, I can’t help but smile.” Yani sighed. One day she hoped to have a man in her life that caused her to smile for no reason.
Thoughts of a certain tall, dark, handsome cowboy came to mind. Yani bit her lip to keep from asking about him.
Rashad Mays, the son of Mrs. Mays.
Yani had had a crush on Rashad since she was a kid.
He was also her brother’s best friend and had probably only looked at her as Nathan’s little sister.
She hoped to catch his eye.
She didn’t know what she would have to do to get him to see her as Yani Polk, sexy woman, but she was willing to do whatever it took.
Her brother would probably kill her, but she didn’t care. Rashad would be worth it. The cowboy worked at the Blazing Eagle Ranch, one of the largest steads in the county. Just the thought of Rashad in his tight jeans, cowboy boots, and riding a horse practically had her heating up.
Mrs. Mays spun her chair around, apparently amused at something Jessie had said. Yani had been too caught up in her daydream about Rashad to hear what was said.
“Are you okay, Yani? You’re a little flushed,” Mrs. Mays announced.
“I’m okay.” Yani laughed. She turned and grabbed her flat irons. She needed to touch up a couple curls then she would be done with the older woman. “It’s the heat from the irons.” She held them up before spinning Mrs. Mays back around.
“Sure it is. She’s probably thinking of a certain person.” Jessie snickered.
Yani gave what she hoped was a death stare to her friend. Jessie knew how Yani felt about Rashad. Hell, the entire salon knew of her crush on the sexy cowboy, thanks to Jessie.
“Shut it, Jess,” Yani murmured. She perfected the few stray curls with her irons to get the hair just right. Yani took pride in her work and wanted each and every one of her clients to feel beautiful when they left her chair.
The bell over the door jingled, and the chatter in the salon drew to a halt. Yani glanced up and froze.
Rashad was walking toward her. He nodded to everyone as he passed but soon put his attention on her. Her heart went crazy, pounding away as fast as a runaway horse.
There was no reason for a man to be as sexy as Rashad. God certainly knew what he was doing when he’d created this man. He was tall with smooth brown ski
n, dark hair kept cut close to his head, and a swagger that had Yani ready to swoon. She set her irons back down on her counter and snatched her wide-tooth comb up so she could run it through Mrs. Mays’ hair to finish styling it.
She wasn’t the fainting type, but when he turned his killer-watt smile to her, she just might.
“Hey, Ma. You looking good there,” he teased. He stopped in front of Mrs. Mays and smiled at her.
“Oh, you hush up, boy.” Mrs. Mays waved her hand, chuckling.
“Hey, Yani. How are you doing?”
Yani blinked and tried to get her mouth to work, but her tongue was stuck to the roof of her mouth. She cleared her throat, feeling awkward all of a sudden.
“I’m good, Rashad. How about yourself?” she finally answered.
“Coming to take Ma to wherever she needs to go.” He shrugged. “She can’t drive with that thing on her foot.”
She hadn’t realized he had dropped his mother off to get her hair done. Yani melted inside at the thought of how he took care of his mother. Mrs. Mays had fallen and broken her right ankle. Currently, she had a soft cast boot on and had been using a cane.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to get it off soon. I go back to the doctor next week,” Mrs. Mays said, holding her leg out.
“Almost done with you.” Yani finished styling Mrs. Mays. She was satisfied with the salt-and-pepper hair. She was nervous having Rashad watch her work. Yani glanced up and found the entire salon had yet to take their eyes off Rashad. “Voila!”
She reached for her hand mirror and gave it to Mrs. Mays for her see herself.
“Damn, Yani. You are good. Got Ma looking twenty years younger,” he joked. “Ma is always the talk of her church group about her hair.”
“Those women are just jealous they don’t have a stylist like Yani.” Mrs. Mays chuckled while handing the mirror back to Yani.
She placed it on the counter and slid her hands into her apron’s pockets.
Yani beamed at the comments. She took haircare seriously and stressed the importance of a woman taking care of not only her body but her hair as well.
“Here, Ma, let me help you up.” Rashad lent his hand to his mother and assisted her to stand.
Yani helped her out of her black salon robe and tussled with a few curls again.
“Okay, Mrs. Mays. Don’t forget about what I said. Think about it, and we’ll chat next week.” Yani wagged a finger at her.
“I will. I think my mind is made up.” The older woman winked at her. She reached into her purse and pulled out cash. “Go ahead and schedule me for that first step you were talking about.”
Yani laughed and pocketed the money. She didn’t need to check the amount for she trusted Mrs. Mays. “Yes, ma’am.”
She tossed the robe in her chair and grabbed her appointment book. They quickly confirmed the date for Mrs. Mays’ next visit and adjusted the time since it would take a little longer due to the coloring.
“Thanks, honey.” Mrs. Mays nodded to her and placed her hand on Rashad’s waiting arm.
He guided his mother through the salon.
Rashad paused and glanced over his shoulder, tossing her a wink. “Thanks, Yani.”
She smiled and nodded, unable to formulate a word.
Once they were out of the salon, it exploded with laughter. Her coworkers teased her.
“Girl, you better go claim your man before someone else does,” Erin scoffed. She waved her hand in front of her face.
“A man that fine won’t stay on the market long.” Tiny snickered.
“I’ve been telling Yani she needs to go ahead and make the first move. This is the twenty-first century, women are being bolder and going after what they want,” Jessie said. She stood from her chair and high-fived Erin.
Yani shook her head, laughing at them. She grabbed the broom so she could start cleaning up her station before her next client arrived.
But she couldn’t help but think.
They were all right.
Maybe she would have to make the first move.
2
Rashad focused on the road ahead of him. He had just picked his mother up from the salon where she had a standing appointment. Ever since she’d fallen, she needed someone to help drive her around. He and his brother, Rory, took turns helping her.
He didn’t mind. It gave him some time to spend alone with her. He was used to having to share her with his father and brother. It was times like this, he got to have her all to himself.
“Tomorrow, Marilyn and the other women at church are going to be so jealous of my new haircut,” Shonda bragged.
He glanced over at her to see she was looking at herself in her compact mirror.
“Yani did a great job, Ma,” he murmured.
“Didn’t she? I always get compliments when I leave the shop.” His mother giggled. She put her mirror away into her purse and settled back. “This summer is going to be a hot one. The way my bones have been aching, I can just tell. Didn’t want all that extra hair on my neck.”
Rashad chuckled. His mother came up with the same excuse every year and asked for Yani to trim her hair.
“Does Dad know you were cutting your hair?” he asked. He sensed the heat of her gaze on him. He glanced over at her and bit his lip to keep from chuckling out loud at her expression.
She glared at him and folded her arms in front of her. “Excuse me? When did I need permission from Bobby Mays to cut the hair on my head?”
Rashad laughed. His parents had plenty of arguments when she’d cut her hair over the years. Rashad didn’t want to think of the genuine reason the elder Mays man preferred his mother to have long hair. But it was fun to watch them bicker back and forth over a few inches she would end up growing back anyway.
They’d argue then make up with his mother falling under his father’s romantic charm.
“I wasn’t insinuating that you needed permission, but I was wondering if you at least gave him a warning.”
“Boy, please. I could be bald-headed and that man would still love me.” She gave an unladylike snort. “But it’s funny you should say that. Yani mentioned the same thing.”
Rashad was very close to his family. His parents had been married for thirty-five years. He hoped to one day find a woman to settle down with. Dad would purposely start small arguments just so they could make up.
Rashad figured that was why his father picked on his mother about her hair.
The old man still had swagger.
“I hear Rory will be proposing to his girlfriend.”
Rashad kept his eyes forward. He knew his mother was going to broach this subject. Shonda Mays was ready for the next stage in her life.
Grandparenthood.
“I know.”
He’d gone with his brother to pick out the ring. Rory had been a nervous wreck in trying to make sure the ring was something Lacy would love. The two of them had been together about five years, so it was no surprise that Rory was going to pop the question. Rashad’s brother was crazy over his girlfriend.
“It’s about time. Your father and I are looking forward to becoming grandparents. I can’t wait to smell a newborn baby again.” She sighed.
Rashad had to admit he’d been on the hunt for a good woman, but all the ones he’d dated in the past just weren’t the one.
“It will be nice to have a nephew or niece running around.” He nodded.
“But what about you, Rashad?” she asked, playfully slapping his arm. “You aren’t getting any younger. You’re thirty-three and still very single.”
He chuckled that she was making it seem as if he were about to be put out to pasture or something. Thirty-three was still young. His mother was never one to beat around the bush. He wouldn’t dare admit to her that he’d had plenty of women to keep him occupied. Most of them weren’t worthy enough to meet his parents.
“I’m looking, Ma.”
“Have you tried one of those fancy dating apps? What is the name of that one, Plenty
of Trout?”
He burst out laughing. Shonda Mays wasn’t as hip as she thought she was.
“What do you know about dating apps?” He slowed his vehicle and flipped on the turning signal. The oncoming traffic was light, but he wasn’t in any rush. He was enjoying this time with his mother. The last car went past, allowing Rashad to turn.
“Commercials on television.” She shrugged. They rode along in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before she hit him with a bomb of a suggestion. “What about Yani?”
Rashad tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He tried not to think of Yanine Polk. For as long as he’d known her, everyone called her Yani for short. It was perfect for her. She was spunky yet shy, and the nickname was all her.
Yani was beautiful and with a sexy full-figured frame that he was attracted to.
He tried not to think of her breasts, hips, and pretty smile.
She was Nate’s sister.
His best friend.
Nate and he had played little league together. Went to school together. They were as close as brothers. There was no way he could make a play for Nate’s sister.
“Mom, she’s Nate’s sister,” he muttered.
“What does that got to do with anything? She’s beautiful, talented, and successful. Her clientele is a mile long, and it’s not just because there aren’t many black hairdressers in this area. No, Yani is one of a kind. Women come from a few counties over to be styled by her.”
“That’s good, Ma. I know Yani is doing great with her business.” It was easy to see his mother was really trying to sell Yani to him.
“And I see the way she looks at you.”
Rashad swallowed hard. Really? His mother was laying it on pretty thick. He slowed and pulled into his parents’ driveway and parked the car. He killed the engine and turned to her.