The chauffeur looks at the money and back at me. “Thank you, ma’am, but the ride’s been taken care of. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
“Of course,” I mutter uncomfortably. “Will you at least accept a tip?”
“I’ve already been well tipped. This isn’t the big city, ma’am. We do things different around here.”
“Apparently so. Thanks again for the ride.” I open the door and I circle the limo to meet the chauffeur to retrieve my bags from the trunk.
“I’m sure you’ll enjoy your stay here. The Carringtons are real good people.”
“I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy myself here. Thank you,” I respond, smiling.
I watch the black car drive off and I close my eyes as I inhale deeply.
My God, this is it.
When I open my eyes again, I’m struck by the contrast of scenery compared to the skyscrapers I’m used to seeing everyday in Manhattan. It’s so green and so wide. The sky seems so blue, lined with puffy white clouds, and the majestic mountains make it so picturesque. I’m so ready for a fresh start.
After a short communion with nature, I grab my luggage and I roll them towards an impressive-looking house, grinning like a kid going on a field trip. I guess this is home away from home now. I’m just about to climb the first step when a deep chocolatey voice speaks to my right.
“You must be Allison.”
I turn around and my jaw drops when I face a tall, rugged and extremely handsome man.
He’s hot.
Correction. He’s smoldering.
Good Lord, does he work with my new boss? I don’t think I can handle having to see him every single day.
“Welcome to our ranch. I’m Jake, Riley’s brother. I was keeping an eye out for you, but I got caught up with a phone call in my office and I just noticed the car driving away.”
Holy Jesus. My insides flip when he flashes me a heart-arresting smile. I didn’t know Riley shared her home with a freaking GQ model. When the chauffeur talked about her having a brother, I surely didn’t expect him to look, well, delicious.
“Oh, thank you,” I respond, mesmerized by the hotter-than-hell stud standing in front of me.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” Jake extends his hand and I’m in such a daze I simply stare at it and forget all my good manners.
It takes me a few seconds to realize I’m acting like an idiot and I drop my luggage in a hurry to shake his hand. Since he caught me by surprise, the suitcases I was holding crash to the ground and Jake lunges forward to grab them.
“Why don’t I help you with these?”
When he steps forward I catch a glimpse of his piercing blue eyes and my heart slams into my chest. Wow.
“Oh, thank you,” I manage. I’m too much in shock to add much more.
I follow him up the stairs and I take advantage of the opportunity to check him out from behind—tight-fitting jeans, firm butt, plaid shirt rolled up to the elbow revealing muscular forearms, a black cowboy hat and, of course, a pair of sexy distressed cowboy boots.
He looks incredibly strong.
We step into the house. I nearly bump into him when he stops to drop my luggage at the door because I’m so riveted by his ass, I’m not looking in front of me. He turns around and flashes another disarming smile and I swallow hard. I know I’m quite short, but his imposing physique is such a turn-on.
Keep it together, girl.
“Riley’s in town getting a few things with the nanny and then she’ll swing by the day camp to pick up her kids. She should be back in a few hours and she’s asked me to keep you company.” He removes his hat and I take in his thick, dark brown hair.
“That’s so nice of you, but I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Nonsense. I’m happy to hang out with you and get to know you better. After all, you’ll be part of this family for the next few months.”
“Good point.” I smile nervously. My cheeks burn up so badly I have to fan myself to cool down, even though it’s clear this magnificent home is fully air conditioned.
“Riley lives in one of the houses on the ranch. So does my business partner, Hunter Evans. We’ve set up one of the unoccupied houses for you, that way you’ll have your own space. I’ll walk you there a little later.”
“I didn’t expect this much attention,” I mumble.
He has a business partner? Please God, don’t let him be as arresting.
“Trust me, you’ll be glad to retreat to your quiet space at the end of the day. I love my niece and nephews to death, but they’re kids.”
“I can’t wait to meet them.”
We lock eyes and there’s an awkward silence between us, almost as if he’s waiting for me to say something. My stomach clenches and my pulse quickens. Unable to withstand his gaze any longer, I lower mine and dance from one foot to the other to try to conceal my uneasiness. I’ve rarely had the pleasure of being in the same room as a man so dangerously hot, he could have jumped out of the pages of a men’s fitness magazine.
“I’m sure the trip must have been tiring. Why don’t you go upstairs to the main bathroom to freshen up? I have some towels set on the counter for you and I’ll get you something to eat. You must be hungry.”
The minute Jake mentions food, I remember I haven’t eaten since I left Gwyn’s early this morning. I’d definitely welcome a warm meal.
“Now that you mention it, I’m starved.”
“Good.” He smiles. “I’m no Riley in the kitchen, but I can find my way around. I’ll reheat some food she cooked this morning for a new recipe for a blog post she’s writing and we can sit down at the kitchen island to get to know each other better.”
“That sounds good.”
His presence is so intoxicating, I welcome the opportunity to take a breather to regain my composure. I climb the stairs and furtively look behind me when I reach the fifth step. Jake is already opening cupboards and pulling out plates.
Keep focused, girl. You’re here as Riley’s assistant. Dangerously rugged men aren’t part of the agenda.
When I reach the last step I swerve in a three-hundred-sixty-degree circle to take in the upper floor. The décor is masculine and surprisingly modern for a home set on a ranch. Everything is streamlined, elegant and polished, but a few touches of wood add warmth to the home. Although he hasn’t said anything, I have a feeling this is Jake’s home.
When I push open the door to the bathroom, the décor is bright and fresh like the top floor. The two wooden-framed mirrors—one large one sitting on the floor near the door and another hanging above the sink—and the antique-looking chair in the corner of the room are the only country accents. The majestic claw bathtub set under the window fits perfectly against the white tile floor. I love how the smaller diamond black tiles add so much dimension and interest.
When I approach the sink, I gasp. I look so tired.
It’s been a long trip. I had to get up very early to catch my flight. I didn’t bother making any effort because I didn’t expect Jake would be the first person greeting me. I take stock of my down-to-earth look and frown at myself. I’m wearing a pair of jeans and a dark green shirt on top of a white camisole with little laces at the front. It was so hot when I arrived at the airport, I undid a few buttons to cool down and when I lean closer towards the mirror, I can see the pearls of sweat against my chest.
My only saving grace is that I twisted my long hair in a tight bun to keep it neat and tidy. The last thing I wanted was to arrive in Fort Collins looking like a hot mess.
One of the advantages of working on my feet and running around all day is the fact I’ve been able to lose the twenty-five pounds I put on during the last months of my relationship with Clark. I’m no supermodel and I wouldn’t mind dropping an extra ten pounds to feel better about myself, but at least I can fit in the clothing I already had. With all of these recent woes, I can’t afford a new wardrobe. If I hadn’t dropped a few pounds, I would have been in big trouble bec
ause I wouldn’t have had anything to wear. But after meeting Riley’s sexy brother, I wish I had been able to buy new stylish and flirty clothing because what I brought with me is kind of unexciting.
I wish I had Gwyn’s exotic and seductive good looks.
I’ve always felt like the ugly duckling compared to my best friend—she’s taller, sexier and thinner than I’ll ever be.
I should get back. Jake is going to think I fell asleep in the bathtub.
I splash my face and my chest with cold water before sleeking back a few strands of hair gone loose. There’s not much I can do to stand out more. The only things I have going for me are my hazel eyes, my waist-length straight blonde hair and my huge boobs. Without makeup, no one would give me a second glance.
Once I make peace with the fact I haven’t been blessed by the gods, I step out of the bathroom to go back down to join Jake, but for some reason I linger at the top of the stairs.
I wonder if one of these doors is his bedroom.
My cheeks burn. What a silly thought for a woman who broke things off with her cheating boyfriend a few months ago. I shake off the preposterous idea and I go back downstairs looking forward to a good meal.
CHAPTER FOUR
JAKE
That’s Allison?
I know I shouldn’t stare, but how can I not?
When my baby sister announced she had hired a new assistant to replace Cynthia, I was thrilled for her. Riley’s business has been bursting at the seams and there’s no way she can run one of the top food blogs on the Internet and raise four kids under the age of nine.
My excitement quickly faded when she announced the winner was from New York. Both Hunter and I rolled our eyes. It’s true we only lived in the Big Apple for six months after selling our tech company, but it was sufficient time to sample our fair share of skinny New Yorkers. I expected Allison to be one of those hard-edged women who lives off of beet juice and kale salad, but she’s not. She’s a warm and sensual woman.
The color of the shirt she’s wearing makes her eyes pop. I didn’t want to seem too rude so I wasn’t able to tell if her eyes are green or hazel, but those eyelashes go on for miles.
I know I should have been busying myself in the kitchen since I’m sure Allison would appreciate a hearty meal, but it was way more interesting watching her climb the stairs all the way to my bathroom. Those hips wiggled with every step she took and it was impossible for me to peel my eyes off of her delicious body. I did notice from the corner of my eyes when she turned around to look in my direction, but I didn’t want to scare her off by making eye contact. As charming as Riley’s previous assistant Cynthia was, her boyish frame did nothing for me, but Allison’s Scarlett Johansson-like physique is going to be the end of me. I mean she has curves in all the right places and her big tits make it impossible to focus on anything else.
Riley should have told me her new assistant was a bombshell.
I love how unpretentious Allison seems. I’m glad she’s not one of those stuck-up women who can’t even go to the grocery store without full makeup. There’s something fresh and unassuming about her that’s a real turn-on.
Damn, Hunter is going to lose his mind when he lays eyes on Allison. We both tend to prefer women with heavy tits and hourglass bodies. There’s nothing quite like grabbing a girl from behind and slamming my dick deep inside her aching pussy while pulling her hair back and forcing her to submit to my desires. Nothing.
Sadly, life in the middle of nowhere doesn’t bode well for relationships. Even casual dating can be tricky in a small rural town. Not to mention, the pace of our day-to-day life is very demanding—in fact it’s almost as grueling as when Hunter and I were at the helm of our former tech company in Cali. The big difference is that instead of writing codes, we tend to our award-winning cattle, producing the best Angus beef in the state, if not the country. We start our day at six-thirty in the morning and we don’t stop until four or five o’clock in the afternoon. Even with a full staff of cowboys, it’s still go-go-go. When we’re done taking care of our booming business, I like to spend some quality time with my niece and nephews. That usually leaves little to no time for dating.
You better keep your head in the game or else Riley will come down on you like thunder.
I shake off my improper thoughts about our new guest as I pull out the wraps from the oven. When I turn around, Allison is staring at me from the stairs. I meet her eyes and smile. She hesitates, but gives in and returns my smile. Christ, am I hard?
“Riley texted me to let me know she’s coming back early.”
“Great. I can’t wait to meet her in person.”
“My business partner Hunter will be here within the hour. He’s also eager to meet you.”
“Wow. What a welcome party. I can’t wait to meet everyone,” she says, coming down the stairs. I take in every undulation of her hips as she makes her way towards me. Focus on her eyes, buddy.
“I hope you found everything you needed upstairs. I was starting to worry you might have slipped out the bathroom window and returned to New York,” I tease.
“No. I wouldn’t dream of going back to Manhattan. I like what I see here,” she says, raising her eyebrow suggestively.
“Do you?” I hold her gaze. The double entendre is so obvious. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t resist.
“I was admiring the décor upstairs. It’s not as rustic as I would have imagined.”
“Well, both Riley and I grew up in LA and I spent years working in Silicon Valley. I love the sleekness of modern décor, but living out here has given us the privilege of incorporating some incredible wooden pieces. I hired the same designer who decorated my townhouse in San Francisco and I gave her carte blanche to restyle this entire home. She also decorated Hunter’s, Riley’s and the three other guest houses we have on the property.”
“I love your bathroom. Those are such gorgeous rustic frames,” she says, joining me in the kitchen.
“That’s as country as I was willing to go. You won’t find too many ranches around here with air-conditioning and a full wine cellar modeled after one of San Francisco’s finest restaurants like I have here.” I grin. Money has its privileges.
We both lock eyes and I try to read what I see flickering in her gaze.
“Come on and sit down to eat. I hope you like Tex-Mex?”
“I do,” she says enthusiastically, pulling out a stool and sitting down.
As she settles her body on the chair, her white tank top lowers enough to reveal the crescents of her full breasts. Wow. Those would fit very nicely in my hands.
“Good. Riley makes an incredible chilled tomato soup and her warm chicken and avocado wraps are pretty amazing as well,” I say, serving her food before sitting across from her. My hand brushes against hers by accident and the charge that travels through my body catches me off guard. I lift my eyes and I know she feels it too.
“This looks delicious, Jake.” She’s speaking to me, but her eyes are glued on her food.
“Riley asked me to keep it light because she’s prepared her killer lasagna for tonight. I usually can’t stop at one portion.” I chuckle. “I’m warning you now, her garlic bread is out of this world. I’m not big on vegetables, but her Caesar salad is pretty delicious as well. It’s going to be quite the feast.”
“I love lasagna. I never take time to prepare it, but I order it at my favorite Italian restaurant.”
“Riley has perfected this recipe. It’s one we all enjoy. I’m not sure I’ll have room for dessert, but I’ll try since my baby sister prepared something very special for your arrival.”
“She did?”
“Uh-huh. Can you keep a secret?” I ask, leaning in against the granite top. I’m so close to her, I could reach out and stroke her cheek with the back of my hand.
“I can,” she answers, leaning in closer, narrowing her eyes as if I’m about to reveal matters of national security. She’s so eager. If she leans anymore, she’ll fall forward.
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“Riley prepared her…” I let the words hang.
“Her what?” Allison frowns.
“Are you ready for this?” I tease.
“You’re torturing me here. I know she’s an insane baker. Please don’t make me beg for it.”
Her words have my head spinning. A salacious vision hits me and I moan silently. I’m dominating her and pushing her down to her knees. She’s looking up at me submissively, begging for my cock. Damn. I blink a few times, snapping out of it. “She’s whipped up her famous vanilla and raspberry cake.”
“Oh my God. No.” Allison leans back against her seat with her hand over her mouth. “The recipe from her blog that went viral?”
“Yup.”
“The one filled with layers of mascarpone cream and raspberry compôte and then covered with white chocolate buttercream?” She lights up like a kid about to blow out the candles of a birthday cake.
“The one and only,” I mock. Thank God, a woman who enjoys food.
“I don’t know if I can survive this experience,” Allison declares dramatically. “I tried to make it at home, but it looked nothing like Riley’s. Her version is regal while mine was just sad.”
“Yeah, she’s really talented in the kitchen, but when it comes to technology, she’s lost. That’s why you’re here.”
“I don’t understand.” Allison furrows her brows and wiggles her button nose, surprised by my revelation. I don’t know if she could be any more adorable.
“She can type and she’s learned some of the basics of blogging, but I’ve shot most of the photos on her blog and more recently, Cynthia has been helping. Cynthia has also been the one doing all her videos for her YouTube channel. Luckily, Cynthia has a good eye or else Food TV would never have called.”
“I’m surprised. Those photos are so amazing I assumed they were hers. You took most of them?”
“Yeah. I’ve always loved to take photos. Riley tells me you’re talented behind the camera,” I say, curious to know more about her. “Forgive me, I’m being so rude. I’m asking you all these questions and I’m preventing you from eating your food.” She’s trying to take a bite of her wrap.
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