by Alexa Davis
I crashed back into the kitchen and pulled out a couple of steaks to cook for this unexpected dinner, while June continued to fuss with my dog. “So, June,” I called out, trying to get her attention back on me for a moment. “You haven’t told me anything about yourself yet. What do you do for a living?”
She glanced up at me with a pale, slightly scared looking expression on her face. “I am… I’m a news reporter for the local paper.”
Oh shit, I didn’t even know how to take that. I never spoke to journalists – that was my one rule. I hated the press and the intrusion that came along with it, and now I’d just invited one into my home. Was she here to talk to me? Was that how the accident had happened? What would I do if that was the case?
I shot her a suspicious look, waiting for her to explain herself, but all she did was gulp down what looked like a big ball of fear.
Uh oh… This spelled trouble, I just knew it.
Chapter Ten
June – Friday
Okay, telling him the truth might not have been the best idea. I probably should have told him some sort of white lie so that he wouldn’t suspect me for doing…well, exactly what I was doing.
“What do you do?” I asked quickly, trying to change the subject.
As he launched into a spiel about his ranch and the oil business that I knew so much about, I tried to get a hold of myself. I was acting like a crazy person, behaving in a totally unprofessional way, and I didn’t know how to reel that side of me in. I needed to remember exactly what I was there for, and now that I’d actually managed to get inside the elusive Larkin ranch, I needed to use that to my best interest.
But at the same time, I liked Roy a lot, even more so now that I’d actually seen him in person. It was making it very difficult to keep my head in the game. When I was close to him, inhaling his musky scent and gazing into those beautiful, soulful eyes, everything else simply flew out of the window, leaving me an utter mess. I’d never been so entranced by someone before, and it left me unsure of what to do with myself.
And now I had to have dinner with him…a thought that was scary and exciting in equal measures. I hadn't spent one-on-one time with a man for a very long time, especially not one who made me feel so crazy inside.
“So, did you grow up around here?” Roy asked as he grilled the steaks. “I thought I knew most people around here, but I don’t recognize you.”
“I did,” I nodded, leaning back against the kitchen counter, trying to relax a little bit. “But I’m going to assume you grew up here, too, and I don’t know you either.” I guessed it was better to get that part out there right away, especially if it helped to convince him that I didn’t have any untoward intentions going on.
“Well, I suppose ever since I lost my parents and took over the business, I’ve pretty much kept to myself.” I noticed that he didn’t mention his wife, which meant that she was an off-limits subject. I wouldn’t be able to write about it in my article, unless I wanted to be the sort of hard, soulless bitch that I may need to be to make it in the cutthroat world of journalism. “And, I’m obviously older than you, so I wouldn’t have known you, anyway. What about family? Could I know any of them?”
“Well, my dad’s dad had a farm here; Samuel Powell? You might not have known him, but maybe someone in your family did.” He gave me a look that suggested he wasn’t sure, but he wasn’t making me feel uneasy anymore. I felt like I could continue with my story, just a little bit. “It was in the next town over, but I used to hang out there a lot when I was young and loved it with all the animals.”
I gazed out of the window, looking out on the massive expanse of land that Roy owned, thinking that it would probably be much more exciting with loads of creatures about. “I don’t know whatever happened to it; maybe he lost it before he died…”
“Yeah, it happens; people lose their dreams all the time.” There was something about the way he said that which had my eyes snapping back towards him. There was a sadness to his tone, which had me wondering if he was talking about himself and his own dreams. Maybe he had all the money he could possibly need, but it wasn’t what he wanted? Maybe there was more depth to this man than anyone had ever managed to dig out before…but of course, that was because he didn’t like to talk to anyone.
“What about you?” he suddenly asked quickly, not giving me a chance to get any more information out of him. “What is your dream? Or are you already living it?”
Urgh, this life was too small and dull for me, it always had been, but how did I convey that in a way that didn’t make me sound like a total bitch? A lot of people who lived in Florence loved it and never wanted to leave. “I want to work for a national newspaper,” I confessed in a hushed tone, as if it was a secret. “I always have. It was what I wanted even back when I was at school…”
Oh shit, I suddenly hit me that I was back talking about the very awkward topic I was trying to avoid. I didn’t want Roy to ask me if that was the reason I was there to see him because it would make me feel awful to lie. “How about you? What about your dreams?”
“Oh I don’t know,” he announced evasively, turning back to focus on the food. “I always knew I would end up on the ranch, so I guess I didn’t ever think about dreams. You know how it is. So, do you parents still live here?” I could have pushed it when he changed the subject so abruptly, and I probably would have done if my work was the only thing on my mind, but it wasn’t, so I bottled it and answered his question, possibly proving that I really didn’t have what it took to go big time.
“No, they left a few years ago. They did want me to go with them, but I didn’t want to leave the life I had here. I was happy, and I wanted to stay.”
“Was happy?”
Oops, that was a slip of the tongue that I didn’t want to dwell on! “Am happy.”
As he laid out the food on the table and we sat down to eat, I couldn’t help but notice how nice it felt. It didn’t feel weird, like a business dinner, or awkward, like a first date with a stranger; it just felt like a nice causal dinner with a friend I’d known for years…apart from the intense sexual tension swirling around us. The conversation flowed well, we chatted easily without any awkward silences, and he made me feel happy. It was the nicest thing I’d been through in a very long time.
In fact, when we finished eating, I felt a little sad that I was going to have to go home. Oh my God, stop feeling this way, I tried to convince myself. This is work…try to remember that. But the reason I felt sad to go had nothing to do with my career.
“Do you want me to take a look at your car now?” he asked, seemingly as reluctant for me to go as I felt. “I have a little time, unless you’re in any rush?”
“Is it something fixable?” I asked in shock. I wouldn’t expect a billionaire oil man to even know how to get his hands dirty, never mind know how to fix a car.
“Well, I don’t know if I can definitely do it, but I am happy to take a look.”
As I followed behind him towards the barn where we had dumped the car off earlier, I felt a swirl of emotions coursing through me. This was the most insane thing that I’d ever been through, and it all started with the car. What was I going to do if the fixing of my car was the end of things, and I never got to speak to him again? That would leave me in a bad position career wise, and…whatever else I was feeling.
“I am sorry about all of this,” I told him once more as guilt flooded me. “I’m sorry to have put you through so much.”
“It’s okay,” he reassured me, sending me a grin that literally made my heart skip a beat. “I’ve really enjoyed your company, so it hasn’t been a hardship.”
Oh no, this is too much… I didn’t think that I would ever be able to keep the smile from my face. He was just making me feel so many things at once. As he set about taking a look at my car, fiddling with tools, I couldn’t help but admire his form up close. He was even better with his body close to me, and he sparked a deep desire inside of me that I hadn't experienced i
n…well, ever. I’d been attracted to people before, but never quite like this.
“Right,” he turned to face me with a smile on his face. “I think that’s done, do you want to get in and check it out?”
I turned the key, anxiety in my heart, but much to my relief, it worked this time. “Oh my God, you actually did it! That’s amazing; thank you so much.”
Light shone in my eyes as I smiled gratefully up at him, and I quickly noticed something new in his eyes…an idea, maybe? “Look, I just wanted to let you know,” he shifted on his feet uncomfortably, which had me curious as to what he was about to say. Was he going to ask me out?
“If you’re serious about wanting to go national, to achieve your journalistic dreams, I might be able to help you.” My heart pounded faster, and I leaned in, curious as to where he was going with this. “I mean, for some strange reason, people seem to be very interested in me, but I’ve never spoken to the press before. Maybe if I give you an interview, that would help?”
“You would do that?” I gasped out in shock, unable to believe what I was actually hearing. “Seriously?”
“Well, I saw how happy it made you when you talked about it, and… I don’t know, I guess I wouldn’t mind talking to you.” He paused thoughtfully for a second, and I started to panic that he was about to change his mind. “I could do it on Sunday, after church, if you like?”
“I… I would love that!” I exclaimed happily. Wow, this was going even better than I could have ever imagined. “Thank you.”
“Give me your phone, I will put my number in so you can call me when you get to the gate.”
As he typed his digits into my phone, my heart fluttered like crazy. This was amazing – absolutely incredible – and I couldn’t believe my luck. Roy Larkin was offering to speak to me, giving me his phone number, and actually making my career. This was the best decision that I’d ever made, and I hoped that it would lead to all that I’d been dreaming about for such a long time.
“So, I’ll see you on Sunday,” he smiled at me. “I look forward to it.”
“Me, too,” I nodded – the understatement of the century. I was absolutely ecstatic about the idea. “It’s going to be great.” I could get the interview, write the piece, and still respect this man who had barriers surrounding him for very obvious reasons. I knew it would be incredibly difficult to be a journalist with morals, but I also wasn’t quite ready to break that just yet. Not when I liked Roy so much. Maybe a time would come when I would have to, but I would cross that bridge when I came to it.
As I drove back down the road where it all began, excitement filled my veins. This was it: the start of a brand-new life. I couldn’t wait to get it going.
Chapter Eleven
Roy – Saturday
Urgh, what the hell was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I ever remember to get my ass to the supermarket? I still had no food in the house, and I had woken up starving all over again, so I guessed I was about to face yet another trip to the café. They were going to start getting used to me being in there at this rate!
“Come on, Tank,” I called out to him. “Let’s go. You must be as hungry as I am.” Another day of fence building awaited me, so I wanted to have plenty of energy for that. It was coming along nicely, and if I managed to keep my head in the game, I would actually be able to get it done soon.
As I ate my bacon and eggs, which were greasy enough to get me through the day, I read the local and the national newspaper. I usually only read the national because of the business segments, but now I wanted to see if I could find anything from June.
Now that I’d granted an interview with her – a thought that slightly terrified me – I wanted to know what kind of writer she was. The more my eyes flicked over the story she’d written about the local fish cleaning competition, the more I started to understand her desire to move on from that paper and onto something more. She had dreams and drive, and they deserved to be recognized. If I could help with that, I would be able to get over myself, surely?
When I moved onto the national paper and looked at the ever-increasing price of oil, I began to envision my future without these sorts of worries in it. I had enjoyed my time within the industry, but there was always a huge element of stress there, even if I didn’t do a lot of the day-to-day business, but soon I would be totally free of that. I had what I needed to set me up for the rest of my life anyway, so I wasn’t going to ever be concerned about money.
I would be able to live my life again, doing whatever the hell I pleased. I couldn’t wait.
As I finished my food, I grabbed another plateful for Tank. I wasn’t going to leave here without feeding my dog, and I knew that he would love this grub. He was sleeping on the backseat of the car, but he woke up the second he smelled what I had for him.
“Good boy,” I smiled, whilst stroking him under his ear. “I do love you, Tank.”
As he ate, I remembered the day he came into my life. Dad bought him for me as a puppy when Mom passed, probably trying to mend my broken heart. Despite the fact that I didn’t want to love him because I knew what he represented, I just couldn’t resist. That sweet, black fur, those deep, yellow eyes… It was like he became a limb of mine on that day, and we’d been inseparable ever since.
“Right, I’ll just take the plate back in, then we’ll head back to the ranch.” As I glanced up, I noticed a couple of girls giving me a funny look, but I didn’t really care. They could think I was strange for talking to my dog like he was my best friend, but that wouldn’t bother me. I was happy enough, so I didn’t care. “All right, ladies?” I called out as a joke, but they didn’t look too impressed. They simply turned away and stopped staring.
As the car raced back towards home, my mind centered back in on June. They way that Tank had reacted to her when he met her was incredible, and I just couldn’t get over it. He really adored her and her him. It was an instantaneous love at first sight thing that really intrigued me. I mean, I knew why I liked June, but for Tank to react so well, so quickly, that was something else.
“Crystal?” As I arrived home, I noticed her car sitting outside my property again, which made my mind reel. Had I made plans with her that I’d forgotten about, or was this another surprise?
I was probably going to have to make it clear that she couldn’t come over tomorrow no matter what because of the interview, which could potentially be slightly awkward. Of course, we both knew where our relationship stood, but I’d never had to tell her about another woman before. There hadn't ever been any reason for it to have to come up. But this thing with June, it was different, and I felt like it was only fair to make that clear.
“What are you doing here again?” I leant out of the window and joked, to which she burst into laughter. “I can’t seem to get rid of you.”
“Bryan is with his dad again. Don’t you remember me saying that I would come over to help you with the fence?” That did spark a memory. I could vaguely remember us having that chat, but it had gotten lost somewhere in the void of my mind. “Come on, you know you need me to do all the heavy lifting for you.”
I laughed loudly, nodding along with her at that one. Crystal was one of those girls who had no qualms with getting her hands dirty, which she’d proven by helping me out before, so I couldn’t see any harm with her doing so again. As she followed me into the barn and set about grabbing heavy tools as if they weighed nothing, I took the moment to consider what it would be like to actually make her something more.
It wasn’t the fact that she had a child that put me off; for the right woman, that wouldn’t bother me. It just wasn’t ever quite right with her. We got along well, and we did have chemistry, plus a lot in common, but our bond was one of friendship. It could never be anything more. It was a shame, because in another lifetime, maybe we could have been something amazing, but in this life, we would only ever be what we were.
“So, what’s new with you?” she asked as we drove the tractor out to one of the fence posts. “You
seem a little…lighter, like something is making you happy?”
Was it really that obvious? As I shot her a curious look, the grin she gave me back made me realize that somehow it must have been showing. Despite my best intentions, she could tell all the same. “Oh, I don’t know…nothing,” I tried, but she certainly wasn’t going to let me get away with that.
“Come on, we’re friends, aren’t we? What’s going on with you?”
“Okay, well, a lot actually,” I finally admitted. “First off, and I don’t want you to tell anyone yet, because not many people know this, but I’m giving up the business.”
“You are?” she gasped in shock, unsurprisingly so. “I can’t believe that. You’re crazy.”
“I’ve made my money.” I shrugged my shoulders at her, wanting her to see that I had actually thought this though. “I don’t feel like I need the stress anymore. I think there’s much more to life, and while I’m wrapped up in the oil world I won’t see that.”
“Wow… I’m proud of you,” she shocked me by stating. “I’ve always thought that you gave too much to the business. Even if you aren’t there much anymore, I can tell that it’s always weighing on you, giving you something to worry about, so that’s great. It’s about time that you actually lived your life.
“What do you intend to do with your time? Travel the world? Go on a cruise? Buy a mansion? Fall in love…” she shoved me playfully with that comment, showing absolutely no jealousy at all. What we had was great, really, because I really felt like I would still have a friend in Crystal, even if I ended up with someone else. She just was the type to care.
“Oh, I don’t know,” I blushed a little thinking about June. “We’ll see.”