“No, it’s okay.”
“You look young. When did you have time to develop such skills? You’re clearly gifted.” I know it’s a bit of a personal question, but I’m hoping she’ll open up more.
“I’m not that young. I’m twenty-three,” she answers, raising her chin defiantly.
“I was twenty-three once,” I retort, rolling my eyes.
Allison bursts into a genuine laugh that catches me off guard. Her light-heartedness is contagious and I join her. “I also love photography—always have. My dad taught me how to use a camera before I could walk.”
“Are you a photographer in New York?”
“I’m not. I’m a graphic designer, or should I say I used to be.”
“Oh? What happened?”
She pauses for a second before answering. “There have been a lot of changes in my life in the past few months and I’ve opened myself up to new opportunities.”
“Is that your way of saying you lost your job?” I ask, amused.
“Gosh, I didn’t realize I was so transparent.” She blushes.
“I used to own a large tech company. I recognize the corporate lingo.”
“You caught me.”
“So you haven’t always been a cowboy?”
“Oh, God. If I were to call myself a cowboy, I’d be insulting a lot of good men who come from a long line of cattle herders. Hunter and I own this ranch and this magnificent land, we’ve learned how to ride horses and we take care of a few daily chores, but we hire people who know what they’re doing—they’re the real cowboys. We’re just two geeks who needed a change of pace and ended up out here playing the roles of tough guys in the Wild, Wild West.”
“You’re pulling my leg.” She squints and pinches her pouty lips. “You were wearing the mandatory cowboy boots,” she says, pointing to the entrance of the house.
“Have you ever heard the expression, ‘Dress to impress?’”
“Of course.”
“In New York you impress people with an expensive tailor-made suit. Preferably made with imported Italian wool. Out here, you need to dress the part to be taken seriously. That explains the boots, jeans and hat.” I wink.
“Well, you could’ve fooled me.” She crosses her arm beneath her boobs and fixes me with a smile.
I shake my head vehemently. “Look around you,” I say, waving my hands above my head. “You can take a man out of California, but you can’t take Cali out of the man.” I grin.
Over the next hour Allison tells me about her life in New York and her childhood in Chicago. She’s so animated, I find myself more fascinated by her tales than by the food in front of me. She asks me tons of questions about my tech company and I fill her in on my former life. She also seems dead set on learning as much as she can about the ranch. We’re both laughing at a story about one of her clients at her retail job and this guy’s incurable obsession with pricey white sheets when the front door swings open and my best friend enters the house.
“Hey, Hunter.”
“Hey. Traffic wasn’t nearly as bad I thought coming out of Denver.”
“Glad you’re back. Come over here and meet Allison, Riley’s new assistant.”
The blonde jumps to her feet to meet my best friend. The difference in height is shocking.
Hunter glances at me before stepping forward and I can’t read the expression on his face. “Welcome to our ranch,” he says, removing his cowboy hat with one hand while reaching out to greet Allison.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well,” she says, tilting her head back to take in Hunter’s tall frame. I’m six-three, but Hunter towers over me by a solid two inches.
“Hunter, there are more wraps warming up in the oven. Are you hungry?”
My friend turns in my direction and the way he arches his eyebrows suggests he’s as pleasantly surprised as I am to meet Allison. I nod knowingly. She’s freaking hot.
“No, buddy. I’m good. I had a big lunch in the city.” Hunter walks towards me and pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll just have a cold one.”
“Good idea. Grab me a beer at the same time, will you?”
“Allison, would you also like a beer?” Hunter is gripping the refrigerator door and grinning as he plays host to the newcomer.
“No, thank you, Hunter. I’m afraid I’m not much of a beer person. I prefer wine and girlie cocktails.” She giggles.
“Jake’s sister and Isadora are the same. We have a nice selection of wine in our cellar. I’m happy to go and grab you a bottle.”
Look who’s being so accommodating.
“I’m fine for now. I still haven’t finished the ginger ale Jake grabbed for me a few minutes ago.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Thank you. I will.”
“So is this your first time out here?” Hunter closes the fridge, hands me my beer without even looking at me and makes his way to sit right next to Allison. I follow him back to my seat.
“It is. I’m guilty of not travelling much.”
“How are you enjoying it so far?”
“I was telling Jake how different the skyline is from New York or Chicago where I grew up.”
“Yeah, not only the skyline, but the air and the open space. You’ll sleep like a queen tonight.”
“I’m a light sleeper and I usually need white noise to fall asleep, but it’s so quiet here…”
“Trust me, you’re not going to need any white noise out here.”
Did he just lick his lips?
When Allison blushes at Hunter’s comment, I realize I’m not the only one who heard a double entendre.
“So I hope your boyfriend isn’t going to find your time away from New York too difficult to handle?”
Could he be more obvious?
“Hunter, buddy, Allison’s private life is her own.” I glance in Allison’s direction and she’s beet red.
“Uh. Gosh, you don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
“It’s a simple question. I was curious if you’ll have any weekend visitors. We’re all adults here.”
“Hunter,” I growl. “Enough. You’re going to make her uncomfortable.”
“Jake, it’s okay. I don’t mind answering the question,” she says, curling up her lips. “I broke things off with my boyfriend a few months ago, so you don’t have to worry about anyone coming around to visit me,” she says, lowering her eyes to her drink.
“What an idiot for allowing you to get away.”
Jesus Christ. Is he already flirting with her?
Hunter can be so forward sometimes. I tend to be more reserved at first, but once the doors are closed and I have my dick deep inside a woman’s sweet pussy, I turn feral. Hunter might be an alpha male, but I’m the top dog. I just don’t operate like he does.
“So, Allison—”
My best friend is about to ask a question when the front door swings open again and we hear kids screaming and yelling.
“Riley’s back with the kids,” I say, dropping my beer on the counter and standing up to greet my niece and nephews.
“Uncle Jake, Uncle Hunter, we’re back.” My four-year-old niece is always so eager to get home at the end of the day to tell us all about school.
“I can see that, sweetie. Come over here and give me a big hug.” As I pick up my niece, my sister’s oldest son runs into the house.
“Mom says she’ll need a hand with all the stuff she bought in town.”
“Zach, tell your mom we’ll be out in a second.” I drop adorable Erika to the floor and turn in Allison’s direction. “We’re going to help Riley. She usually buys up a storm when she goes into town and then she can’t find the energy to carry the stuff back into the house.” I chuckle.
“I can help.” Before I can even protest, Allison is already on her feet.
“Nah, Riley’ll kill me if I put our guest to work so early on.”
Right on cue, Isadora walks through the doors.
“Stay here and g
et to know the best nanny and housekeeper in the entire state, if not country. We’ll be right back,” I say, hugging the woman who’s been taking care of my sister’s kids for the past four years.
“Jake, what have you been telling this poor child?” Isadora playfully hits my stomach. She’s so tiny, she’s even shorter than Allison, who can’t possibly be taller than five two.
“Nothing. I swear. I fed our guest and I kept her company, just like you told me.” I kiss Isadora on both cheeks before calling on Hunter so we can bring all the food my sister bought into the house and then go drop off what she needs for her blog at her studio. “Allison, since I’ll need to drive up the truck in front of Riley’s house and her studio, I’ll swing by where you’ll be staying and I’ll drop off your luggage. I’ll walk you out with you later so you can get changed before dinner,” I say, turning to the blonde sitting like a star pupil on her stool.
“It must be far if you have to drive.” She looks alarmed.
“Not at all. It will be faster to drive by and drop all the food Riley bought than to make several trips by foot. All the homes built on this land are within walking distance of one another. You’ll see what I mean.”
* * *
When we get back to the house, Isadora and Allison are talking and laughing while the housekeeper tidies up my kitchen. I can’t help but notice how relaxed our guest has become since arriving earlier this afternoon. I open my mouth to say something, but my sister enters the house and it’s her show now.
“Allison, you’re here.” Riley walks right past us to hug her new assistant. When Allison gets to her feet, the difference in height is staggering. It’s almost as if Allison is half her height. My sister is already a boisterous woman, and since she’s five feet eleven, she stands out.
“How was the trip?”
“It was great. Everything has been like a dream since I arrived. I was able to spend time getting to know your brother and Hunter arrived not long ago,” Allison says, smiling at me.
“Did my big brother feed you, honey? I hope you didn’t have to eat that dreadful airplane food.”
“No. It was a short flight. And yes, Jake served your amazing soup and the wrap hit the spot.”
“Good. Jake, is it okay if I hang out here at your house with Allison for a bit? The kids are too noisy at my place.”
“Sure. Hunter and I will go take care of some paperwork.”
Before I finish my sentence, she’s already turned her attention back to her new assistant, leaving my best friend and I standing by the kitchen. “Thanks. You’re a sweetheart.”
I’m about to step back when something my sister says makes me reconsider.
“Allison, did Jake explain the living arrangements here?”
“Uh, yes, I think.”
“When I moved in with him and Hunter, we all lived in this house right here. You can imagine how crowded it was with four kids running around all day long. Jake and Hunter own so much land, they decided to build smaller homes to accommodate my little brood and they also built one for Hunter. This makes it easier for us to have some privacy… just in case these boys want to come home with a nice girl one day,” my sister shouts in our direction.
“Really, Riley?” I ask.
“What? A sister can hope one day you’ll find the one. And the same goes for you, Hunter. You’re like a brother to me by now and I want to see you with a girl. You two are like freaking monks. At least I have four good reasons not to be dating, but two handsome, single guys like you…”
“Whatever,” I answer, catching Allison’s eye.
At least she looks amused by my sister’s banter.
“As I was saying, we all have our living quarters and Jake also built a few extra houses on the property for guests. Isadora, my angel, doesn’t stay here. She lives about thirty minutes away and she’s usually here by five-thirty in the morning.”
Thank God Allison lives in New York and she’s used to a fast-paced life. Riley is talking so fast and downloading so much information in one shot it’s overwhelming even to me.
“Oh. Did Jake tell you about the men?”
“Men?”
“You don’t know yet?” Riley lifts her right eyebrow so suggestively Allison blushes.
“Well, if you’re talking about the workers…”
“Honey, they’re not mere workers. They’re all young, drop-dead-gorgeous cowboys. My brother and Hunter employ twelve strapping hunks who come to the ranch each day at six-thirty to start their day. On hot days, by the time lunch is over, it’s a girl’s wet dream come true.” I can’t believe she said that. “When the sun is beating hard, the guys shamelessly strip out of their shirts and it’s like walking through the gates of heaven.” My sister delivers the news while fanning herself and Hunter and I roll our eyes at each other.
“I see.” Allison looks slightly freaked out and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Trust me, honey. The eye candy is pretty tempting… but I can’t touch. I already have too much on my plate to deal with a man, but if you’re single, please help yourself.”
“She is.”
Hunter chimes in on the conversation and I look at him, shaking my head.
“You are? Girl, I might have to live vicariously through you because God knows Cynthia was so strait-laced.” My sister winks at Allison and the poor girl turns bright red again.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Allison responds nervously.
“Enough about buff, handsome and semi-naked men. I should let you know that since my cooking was taking over my small kitchen, Jake built me a luxurious studio inside one of the barns, fully equipped with lighting tracks, ceiling microphones and all the outlets I need for my video segments.”
“I know. You mentioned it in one of your past blog posts.”
“Right. Look at you. You’ve done your homework.”
“It wasn’t much work since I’ve been following your blog forever.”
“Good girl. I knew there was a reason why I liked you so much. Anyways, back to the studio. There’s an area I use as my office and there’s a desk calling your name. It’s a dream space and I can’t wait to share it with you tomorrow.”
“I’m so looking forward to all of this.”
“Not nearly as much as I am, honey. I so need your talent. I’m useless with a camera—digital or video.” My sister’s rollicking laugh fills the room and Hunter and I look at each other. My best friend hasn’t been able to wipe that silly grin off his face since he met Allison.
“Okay, you boys need to leave us alone now. It’s high time for me to get to know my new assistant better. Don’t forget, dinner is in a couple of hours right after I get the kids settled and leave them with Isadora.”
“All right then. We’ll all meet back right here for dinner,” I say, grabbing my cowboy hat where I left it several hours ago. “Allison, we’ll catch you later.”
“Absolutely. I’ll see you soon and thank you for everything, Jake.”
“Nonsense. The pleasure was all mine.”
She has no idea how much I enjoyed getting to know her.
CHAPTER FIVE
HUNTER
Jake and I walk in silence to the office we built a few miles away from the main house. Although neither of us says a word, I know he’s thinking what I’m thinking because I’ve known him forever.
We’ve been best buddies since I sat next to him in the cafeteria on my first day at his high school when we were both teenagers. I’m originally from Arizona, but when my parents got divorced, my dad moved with his new wife to LA. When I turned sixteen I became so rebellious my mother couldn’t handle me. After I tried her patience one too many times, she sent me to live with my father and my stepmother. Since I’m an only child, Jake is the closest I’ll ever have to a brother and we’ve been inseparable since we first met.
Luckily the walk from Jake’s home to the office is short. If it were longer, I don’t think I could’ve contained myself. When we enter the spacious
area where we usually start and end each day, Jake closes the door behind him and leans against it. Without turning around to look at him, I speak.
“Why don’t I make some coffee?”
“Yeah. Why don’t you?”
I focus on preparing coffee like a master barista to avoid the obvious—both Jake and I are taken aback by Allison’s beauty and charm. When I return to the main room, my buddy has his feet on the desk and he’s leaning back in his chair with his cowboy hat over his face.
“Here you go,” I say, setting his coffee on his desk.
“Thanks.” He removes his hat and grabs his cup.
I know Jake is more reserved than I am and it sometimes takes him longer to articulate things, so I decide to give him a nudge.
“Man, your sister should have warned us. I thought Allison was going to end up being a high-maintenance princess who expects to eat sushi and edamame three times a day while living on the ranch. I didn’t expect this friendly and warm person. And I surely didn’t expect her to look like she does.”
“Neither did I, buddy.” Jake jumps to his feet and paces the room, rubbing his hand through his hair. “She caught me totally off guard with her charm, her wits… and her body. Those curves…” Jake presses his lips together and shakes his head.
“I know. I couldn’t stop staring at her huge tits. I can only imagine what they must look like if you rip that bra off of her. When she’s on all fours, they must hang low, heavy and inviting as hell. Fuck.”
“Hunter. You can’t talk like that. Allison is here as Riley’s assistant. She’s not your plaything.”
“Be honest. Tell me you didn’t think the first time you laid eyes on her of fucking her from behind so you could cup her tits while you drive your cock deeper into her wet pussy.” The imagery makes me instantly hard and I grab my crotch to tame the temptation. Jake can lie to himself, but he can’t fool me. I’ve seen that hungry look in his eyes too many times in the past when he’s interested in a woman.
“Thinking about something and acting on it are two different things, buddy.”
Irresistible Attraction Page 4