by Nikki Ashton
“What does the price tag say?”
“Why the fuck does that matter?” I asked.
Ellie gave a muted sigh. “Because if you cut the damn dress, Hunter, that’s what I’m going to have to pay for it.”
“Where the hell is the price tag, anyway?” I looked up and down and then walked around. “Nope, can’t see it.”
“Oh God, I want to die,” Ellie groaned and sagged a little.
“Well, you stay in there much longer the lack of oxygen will grant you your wish.”
“You said I couldn’t lose oxygen.”
She sounded a little panic stricken and I felt a little bit of a douche, but damn it was as funny as fuck. Definitely worth a picture.
Click.
“Hunter Delaney, you did not just take a picture of me. Tell me you didn’t.”
I grimaced and cleared my throat.
“Once this is over, you’ll think it’s hilarious,” I offered, laughing to myself as I looked down at the picture. “You kind of look like a red tree with just two branches.”
“I hate you.”
“Maybe, but I’m the only one who can help you, so…”
She whimpered and turned a half-pace to the right, did a little wiggle and then turned back again.
“What are you doing?” I watched her curiously as she repeated it.
“I figured some movement might make it loose,” Ellie replied as she wiggled.
“That dress is stuck fast, El. The only way you’re getting out of that is if I cut you out.”
“Oh God, this is awful.” She was silent for a few beats and then sighed. “Okay but try and make it as neat as you can, that way one of your aunts can sew it back up.”
Pulling my pocket knife out, I tilted my head to one side to examine where best to cut the dress. And yeah, I may have spent a little extra time also checking out her butt.
“Okay, I think I can cut the seam around the armhole and down the side a little, then you should have room to get out.”
“Thank you,” Ellie replied, her voice quiet, and a little defeated.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked. “Apart from being stuck in a dress that I doubt even Houdini could escape.”
“I just wanted to buy something nice for the dance and now I’ll have to get this. Something that I wasn’t even that keen on and won’t even fit.”
I looked over at the other dresses on the rack, and even with my limited knowledge of women’s clothing I could see all of them were longer and much classier than the red one.
“You won’t have to buy it,” I said taking a step closer to Ellie. “Now, stay still. I don’t want to cut you.”
My knife was real sharp seeing as I needed it on the ranch most days, so it sliced down the seam easily. With each inch I cut it started to get looser, until I heard Ellie let out a huge sigh of relief.
“I can breathe. Thank you, God.”
Clearing my throat, I stepped back and slipped my knife back into my pocket.
“Okay not just God,” she sighed. “Thank you, Hunter.”
Grinning at her sass, I took hold of the material and pulled it up and off Ellie’s body. As soon as it cleared her, she let out a long breath and sagged against the wall.
“You okay?” I asked.
She rubbed her nose and groaned. “Yeah, although is it possible to pull a muscle in your nostrils?”
“No, baby,” I laughed “I don’t think so.”
Ellie’s eyes shot up to mine and her face was a little pink. I figured it was from all the exertion and being trapped, but when she gave me a shy smile, it made my heart wonder and wish for other things.
After watching each other in silence for a few seconds, Ellie had a sudden realization that she was standing in her underwear. Her eyes and mine both shot to her tits at exactly the same moment and when I saw a see-through pink lace bra, the image did things to my dick.
“I didn’t realize it was that cold in here.” My lip twitched as Ellie’s mouth dropped open.
“Hunter.”
When I gave her a smile, I was glad to see she gave me a beautiful one back and I couldn’t help but take a step closer. My body was aching for her. I didn’t care whether she didn’t want to talk about what we could have. I didn’t give two shits if she thought we were a bad idea; I just wanted to kiss her.
I was almost upon her, when the drapes were pulled back and a store assistant stepped inside.
“You rang for assistance,” she said, looking between Ellie and me. “Is everything okay.”
Ellie gasped and snatched up her tee and plastered it to her body.
“N-no,” she replied. “I didn’t.”
Her wide eyes looked at me and she gave a slight nod to the red dress still in my hand.
“Yes, you rang the bell.” The assistant pointed to a button on the wall. The wall which Ellie had flopped against.
Ellie’s head turned to look. “Oh God, no I’m so sorry. It was an accident. I’m good. All fine here,” she babbled.
“Any of the dresses suitable?” she asked.
Before Ellie had chance to say anything, I grabbed the hanger from the rail and smiled widely at the assistant.
“Yeah my fiancée is going to take the red one.”
Fiancée? What the fuck had gotten into me?
“Hunter?”
I winked at Ellie and moved toward the drape. “I’ll go pay, sweetheart.”
“Hunter?”
“Ellie, please, my treat. Just a little gift from me.”
“Well, what a kind fiancé you have,” the assistant said giving both Ellie and I a smile. “So, can I help you with shoes, or anything?’
“No, she’s good,” I replied quickly. “But didn’t you want to ask about one of the other dresses, sweetheart?” I nodded at the rail, and hoped my eyes were telling Ellie to keep the assistant talking.
There was a moment where she didn’t understand, but then I saw the light dawn and Ellie turned and pulled a long pink gown from the rail.
“Yes, I really loved this one, but wondered if you had it purple? It’s my favorite color.”
Taking my chance, I slipped out and did what I needed to do.
“Oh my God, Hunter,” Ellie said as she met me outside the store after I’d sent her a text. “I’m so sorry, how much do I owe you?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“I do.” Ellie looked down and around my body. “So, where’s the bag?”
“I didn’t get the dress,” I replied taking Ellie’s hand and leading her away.
She pulled to a halt and turned to go back. “I have to get it. I can’t leave it there. There’s at least four inches of seam that needs repairing.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I moved away not letting Ellie go. “It’s back on a rack, on a hanger of a different size in the middle of some men’s dress pants.”
Ellie gasped. “Hunter, they’ll know.”
“How will they and how could they ever prove it was you. I’m guessing that dress has been tried on by more than just you. It’s not like you come and shop here often.”
“I guess, but—”
“Seriously, El, it’s done and it’s all good.”
“How come you were there anyway?” she asked.
“They sell the soaps that my aunts like. I was getting them as part of their Christmas gift, but didn’t quite get around to it.”
Ellie dropped her head into her hands and groaned. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. I’ve ruined your morning.”
I shook my head and laughed. “Forget it, I can get them from the internet. Now how about I treat you to some lunch?” I pointed to a diner all decked out in red and green.
Looking a little unsure, Ellie looked back toward the store and then at the diner. Finally, she nodded her head.
“Yeah, she sighed. That’d be great.”
“Good and then afterward, I’ll help you find another dress. One that fits this time.”
The mos
t gorgeous smile was afforded to me as Ellie nodded. I knew then that whatever happened, one day, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but one day I’d prove to her we were meant to be together.
Ellie
“Hey, honey,” Mom said as I walked into the kitchen. “You get something nice?”
I sighed and shook my head, before flopping down onto a bar stool and reaching for an apple from the fruit bowl.
“Nope. Although I did nearly have to buy a dress I didn’t want.” I took a huge bite and shrugged.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, long story short, I got stuck in it and then had to cut myself out.” I watched Mom from the corner of my eye and then added the important information. “Actually, Hunter cut me out.”
“Hunter.” Mom paused cutting the potatoes and stared at me. “I didn’t know Hunter was going with you.”
There was a little sparkle in her eye, and I knew exactly what was going on in her head. It was obvious by the fact the twinkling was accompanied by a huge smile.
“He didn’t, I literally bumped into him when I was trying to get free from the dress.”
I explained what had happened and couldn’t help but join in when she dropped her head back and laughed like a hyena.
“Oh, honey, that’s hilarious. And you say your ass was on show too?”
“Yeah,” I groaned, throwing my finished apple into the trash. “I’m just glad my face was covered and that no one other than Hunter recognized me. Well, at least I hope they didn’t.”
“But what happened to the dress? Did they try and make you pay for it?”
I shook my head and winced. “Hunter told the assistant he was going to pay for it while I kept her talking. He then slipped it back on a rack. In the middle of men’s pants apparently.”
Mom gasped. “No way.”
“Yeah he did.”
“Wow, that boy is smart.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, he’s not that smart.”
“Oh dear.” Mom laughed. “What did he do?”
I contemplated what to say and whether I actually had any cause to complain. My predicament was all my own doing; I had no one to blame but myself.
“Ellie?”
“After he rescued me from the dress from hell, we went and got a bite to eat. After that he trailed around every ladies shop in the mall with me and didn’t complain once.”
When I stopped speaking, Mom shrugged. “And?”
“And,” I replied dropping my head to the countertop. “He didn’t ask me to the dance.”
Mom was so quiet, I thought maybe she’d left the room, but when I lifted my head and looked at her, she was smiling down at me with shining eyes.
“What?” I asked.
She rubbed cool fingertips over my brow and shook her head. “Don’t frown baby, you’ll regret it in later life.”
“Okay, but what?” I repeated my question with a little shake of my head. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
She swallowed and placed a hand on her heart, and I had no idea why she was getting all dramatic about it.
“Mom, are you auditioning for a Hallmark film or something?”
“No,” she scoffed. “But just hearing you say you want to go to the dance with Hunter, well… it reminds me of Sondra is all.”
My heart clenched a little as a shadow crossed Mom’s face, and I thought of Hunter and his sorrow.
“She always wanted you two to be together. Always knew that Hunter would eventually realize you were his one.”
“Mom,” I cried. “We haven’t even been on a date, so how can you say I’m his one? Besides, did I not just tell you that he didn’t ask me to the dance?”
Okay, so I omitted to tell her that I was personally acquainted with his huge dick. There were some things your mom didn’t need to know, even if she was envisaging the rest of your life in a two-minute show reel.
“A mom knows these things, and Sondra and I knew that you two were made for each other. And, he took you to the singles night, so you have had a date.”
I felt my face burn up as I thought about singles night.
“It wasn’t a date.” I cleared my throat. “We went as friends is all.”
Friend with amazing benefits maybe, but still friends.
“Oh hush.” She waved a dismissive hand at me. “Daddy saw you together in Hunter’s truck and said you were practically climbing the boy.”
“I slipped while I was trying to get Dad to go back into the house,” I remonstrated. “It was an accident.”
Mom gave me a secretive smile and turned back to her potatoes. “Well, whatever way you look at it, you like him. If you didn’t you wouldn’t want him to ask you to the dance. If I have to be honest sweetheart, I’m surprised that you didn’t just bat those eyelashes and put some more swing into your ass. Your great-grandma gave us those assets for a purpose, ergo getting Hunter Delaney to ask you to the dance.”
Exhaling, I pushed the heels of my hands against my eyes and groaned. “He did ask me,” I admitted. “He called on Sunday morning while you were making breakfast, but I turned him down.”
Mom dropped the knife into the sink and gasped. “He did?”
“Yes, Mom, he did.”
“Why the hell did you turn him down then?” she asked, throwing her hands into the air.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “I just don’t want to be one of his hit and run victims.”
“Who says you would be?” She moved over to me and combed gentle fingers down my hair. “We Maples women have amazing honeypots that get those worker bees coming back for more.”
“Mom.”
She grinned and kissed the end of my nose. “You ask your dad.”
I closed my eyes and groaned. “Did I not see enough when I walked in on you? I don’t need to know anything else.”
“Okay,” she said going back to chopping. “But I think you do that boy a disservice, and yourself for that matter. You’re a beautiful, clever young woman and Hunter would be lucky to have you, but I get the feeling that he’d know that and would treat you like a queen. Just like his dad treated his mom.”
Resting my head on my hand, I watched her as she carried on with her chores and realized that there wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t do her hair and make-up. She was beautiful and even though she might complain about the extra pounds Carter and I had put on her butt and thighs, she had a great figure. It was no wonder my dad worshiped her.
“When you met Dad, were you scared he might break your heart?” I asked. “Or did you always know he’d be your baby daddy?”
“Oh my God,” she said around a laugh. “I thought he was a typical cocky jock who thought his shit didn’t stink.”
“He had to woo you with flowers, didn’t he?”
“Woo was hardly the word, sweetheart. The first lot he presented me with he said, you fancy a date or not?” Mom raised her brows. “I kid you not.”
“Wow,” I replied. “Dad really had the moves of a douche didn’t he.”
“Yeah, but he improved as the week went on.” Mom smiled and let out a little sigh of satisfaction, the memories evidently warming her heart. “When I gave in, a little part of me felt sorry for him, but the biggest part thought he was hot.”
“You two are weird.” I laughed and moved from the stool. “I’m going to take a shower, all that shopping and getting trapped inside dresses has made me feel sweaty.”
“You mean you need a cold shower after spending an afternoon with Hunter.” Mom nudged me and winked.
“Yep,” I sighed. “Real weird.”
“Maybe, but I still think you should be brave and ask him.”
“And therein lies my problem,” I replied. “I’m too much of a coward to get my heart broken by him. Plus, can you imagine how it would affect everyone if we had a thing and then broke up?”
Mum shrugged. “We’re all sensible adults, we’d cope. If things don’t work out between Jim and Darcy, then w
e’ll still be friends with both. Yes, it’ll make some get togethers difficult, but we’ll figure it out.”
My thoughts went to Bronte and her brothers and how devastated they’d be.
“You don’t think they’ll work it out?” I asked.
“I think they will. They just need to remember why they love each other. I’m hoping the dance will relax them and give them an opportunity to reconnect.”
“You see,” I replied. “If Jim and Darcy can’t make it, how the hell do I have a chance with Dayton Valley’s most eligible manwhore, well except for his dad.”
Mom gave me a sideways glance and tsked. “You’re being too harsh, on both of them. Hunter isn’t nearly as bad as you make out. Jefferson maybe,” she said with a laugh, “but not Hunter, he’s a good boy.”
“Oh my God, if we got together, you’d love him way more than me, wouldn’t you?”
Mom laughed and dropped the potatoes into a pan of water. “You know it, sweetheart. But if you’re not going to ask him then it won’t happen will it?”
“No, I guess not.” I quirked a brow at her.
“Listen,” Mom said, wiping her hands on a towel. “How about we go into the city? Even if you’re not going to ask Hunter to the dance, doesn’t mean you can’t look hot and show him what he’s missing.”
I leaned against the door jamb and thought about it. “Yeah, that would be good. I’m off again tomorrow, so we could go then.”
“Yeah sure, sweetheart. I’m off too, so tomorrow can be, ‘Get a hot dress to make Ellie look smoking for Hunter’ day.”
She then gave me a shit eating grin and winked, and I knew then that I’d probably made the biggest mistake ever telling her about my crush on Hunter Delaney.
Hunter
My week had been the one from hell. First off, we’d lost a breeding heifer that we were planning on selling. She’d got bloat and by the time Carter got to us, it was too late. She’d gone down with it in the night, so when Pop and I went to the herd in the morning, she was already laying down. It was one of those things, and would probably happen again at some time, but it was still a knock.
My mood then hadn’t been improved by the thoughts of the little brunette vixen who filled my head. She’d looked so fucking hot in her pink underwear, even though the whole situation had been hilarious. Problem was, she was an ungrateful little Princess at times. I’d only tried to help her. I kinda understood how she felt about me cutting the dress though. If the store assistant had seen it, she’d have definitely made Ellie pay, or I would have paid at least. At least we got away with it, though I wasn’t sure I’d risk visiting Hemmingway’s again in the near future.