Rowdy caught her eye and winked at her, his grin mischievous.
"I think I'll wait outside," Bob told them.
"Okay," Gretchen said, glad the room would be cleared. She didn't know what Rowdy was up to, but she sure wanted to find out.
Bob made his way out the front door and left her alone with Rowdy.
"Care to get nasty, Ms. Nelson?"
"Get… You mean, right here on the carpet?"
"Do carpet burns scare you?"
"Um, no. Does condo shopping normally make you horny?"
"I've never done it before, so I can't speak to normal, however, that sexy green dress and high-heeled pumps make me horny. I want to roll up your hem and–"
"I get the idea." She got close to him, so close they were sharing their breath. His good hand snaked under her dress and into her lacy panties. "Oh, my."
"If I had my other hand free, do you know what I'd be doing?" he whispered in her ear as he left little kisses on her cheek. She shook her head to tell him to go on. "I'd be spanking your cute little butt until it was pink as a peony in my ma's garden."
Gretchen's center began to melt and she knew she'd be dripping into the hand in her panties. "Promise?" She felt him nod against her ear.
"Lie on the floor," he ordered. "Knees up, legs apart."
She rubbed her body against his as she got down and lay back on the floor. He knelt down between her knees and pulled one side of her panties down and off her leg, leaving only one side on an ankle and her pussy completely exposed. "Look at that peach. Just right for eating," he said, a smile in his drawl.
"It's getting dark. How can you see anything?"
"I can smell you. You smell ripe, tender and juicy."
Heat suffused her face. "You're a bad man, Rowdy Jackson."
He fingered her between her legs and then went down on her with enthusiasm. She squirmed and moaned hoping for something solid between her legs, something more than his callused fingers, but at the same time, she loved the feeling of his tongue and teeth on her sensitive flesh. Within only a few minutes, she was gasping and pressing her hips up against his mouth.
With one more nip, she was over the moon. She cried out and then put her hand over her mouth to stifle herself and keep Bob from rushing in. Rowdy had paused at the sound as well, and they waited until they were sure the big man wasn't going to hurry to her rescue. When they were sure the coast was clear, they lay together on the thick white carpet, catching their breaths. Gretchen was very satisfied, but a little concerned Rowdy was not.
"My turn later," he said, reading her mind. "I've got blue balls."
"We can't have that," she whispered. "We have a few more minutes, if you want–"
"We don't have time, princess. I can wait. I'm a big boy past my teens."
"Thank you, Rowdy. You make me very happy."
"Just you remember this day on this carpet. That's about the best thank-you I could ever receive."
"I won't forget."
"Good. Put your panties on and let's get going."
Chapter 11
The New Year's Eve's party was amusing. All kinds of characters roamed around, from serious art collectors to crazy-hair artists. Rowdy found himself observing people more than admiring the art. It was a Western gallery, so the pictures and sculptures were Western-themed. A number of rodeo scenes were evident, including a few by none other than Montana Bear Claw. His were LeRoy Neiman style, impressionism and bright colors. Rowdy had no idea Bear was an artist, especially on a scale to have a gallery exhibit. There was a whole sub-section devoted to his work, some of which was quite pricey. They were beautiful. Gretchen had been admiring them before she realized who had painted them, but once she found out, she got out a credit card and bought three.
Rowdy wanted to buy one, but he had no real home to hang it in. His home was always in a motel room somewhere at a rodeo. The only place he came back to for breaks was his parents' house. He realized he'd have to invest in a home of his own, and now that he had some money, he could do it. But he hadn't decided on where and what. Buying art would just have to wait.
On New Year's Day, they took a boat ride out to the Farallon Islands, where they observed puffins and other seabirds in their natural habitats. Had Bob not been there, Rowdy would have liked to make love to Gretchen on the deck of the boat in the winter sunshine. But, as always, Bob was there, cramping their style.
If it wasn't for the fact Rowdy couldn't be with Gretchen all the time due to his career in the rodeo, he'd have simply worn his gun all the time to protect her, reducing the need for Bob or anyone like him. However, there was rodeo and he was in the thick of it. Unfortunately, with his injury, he didn't think he could make up the dollars lost from missing the first few rodeos of the season, presuming only a few would be missed. If he didn't get back to it pretty close to the season's opening in mid-January, he might miss his chance at the finals. He had an appointment with a sports-medicine doc in Boise a few days into the year, and he'd be able to tell if things were healing as they should be and when Rowdy would be cleared to go back to work.
In the meantime, he had his girl with him and she got his full attention. She made him feel responsible for something beyond himself and his animals. Gretchen's sweet temperament and generous personality gave him a sense of comfort. She could be a challenge sometimes, and didn't always make the best decisions, but she didn't earn herself too many spankings, and those he meted out were as much for fun as they were for punishments.
After their trip to the Farallons, they spent the evening eating room service treats and making love. They'd be going back to Pocatello the next day. Back to normal life.
"Are you looking forward to going back to your house in Reno?" he asked Gretchen as they flew to Pocatello on the second of January.
"Not really. The place is too big, too busy with staff. Except in the middle of the night, it's never quiet. There are many things I like about it, like the garden and the pool. I like the gym and having a cook. But things like the movie room and the four-car garage just leave me flat."
"A lot of people would be soaking it all up."
"I'm a little crazy, hm?"
"Not really. You're a country girl at heart."
"I should have bought a ranch. Maybe I'll trade in the mansion for one, especially since Amy is so interested in horses."
"Not the worst plan to make."
She took his hand and held it. "You help me think more clearly."
"Thank you, ma'am. I just ask questions. I'm a curious cuss."
Laughing, she squeezed his fingers. "What are you going to do? You can't do much rodeo while your arm is in a cast."
"No, and I miss it. This is traditionally the season for family and for rest, though. I'll really get antsy when things start up again in a couple of weeks." He knew he'd be anxious about losing his standing because every dollar earned counted toward his ranking. It was imperative he return to rodeo as soon as he possibly could. "I guess I'll do whatever workouts I can do and hope to stay in shape."
"Don't overdo. If you break it again…"
"I know." He didn't want to be reminded of the real possibility of losing rodeo forever. "You done wore me out last night, princess. I'm going to close my eyes for a few minutes."
She eyed him with a soft smile. He wasn't fooling her for a minute. "Okay."
Although he was plagued with worry over his livelihood, he did manage to get a few minutes of sleep in.
Amy, Melody, and his parents met them at the private jet terminal in Pocatello. There was just time for a quick kiss before he watched Gretchen and her daughter climb into the charter again and head off toward Reno. Amy was crying at being separated from his parents, and he understood how sad it could be. He was unhappy about parting from his princess and her peanut.
Every day was heartrending, and he spent countless hours on video and voice calls with Gretchen and Amy, but the ten days between their parting and his doctor appointment went by and he finally got an assessment.
"You really did a number on it, Rowdy," the doctor said. He was a youngish man with a conservative look and rimless glasses. He examined the x-rays thoughtfully.
"Is that a technical diagnosis?" Rowdy teased, though he was in anything but a jovial mood. He could see on the x-rays things were not going as hoped.
The doctor wasn't smiling as he turned back to his patient. "Here's what's going on. It's healing too slowly. You should have twice the bone growth going on. They should have put a few screws in when it happened. Now it's too late unless we break it again and set it properly."
"They offered more help at the time, but I turned it down."
"Not your best decision, Rowdy."
"I figured they'd put a cast on it, it would heal, and that would be the end of it."
"It's what's called a comminuted fracture. That means it broke off in pieces and the pieces didn't line up straight. It takes longer to heal and for an athlete, often means a plate and/or some screws."
"Surgery."
The doctor nodded. "Yes. It's generally done before it starts to heal."
"I screwed up."
"I'll re-cast the arm and we'll wait another four weeks and take a look at it again. You're going to need some rehab as well. Don't expect to get back to work for a few months."
"Months! I can't miss months!"
"Do you want to be permanently crippled?"
The very idea was completely unacceptable. "No, of course not."
"Then do the time and the rehab."
He'd be missing out on so much of the year, there was no way he'd take his title for a second year in a row. Telling himself to just get used to the idea, he thanked the doctor and had his arm re-cast.
Later, during his video call with Gretchen, of course she asked about his visit.
"You don't want to talk about it?"
He sighed. She was going to insist, and she had a right to know. His success in the industry, or lack thereof, was going to make a difference financially as well as emotionally. "Another four weeks in a cast and then rehab."
A look of concern crossed her face and settled on her beautiful lips. "Oh. Well, we'll get through this together, Rowdy."
Her support was appreciated, but he knew it was completely up to him to follow through and persevere. "Thanks."
"Say… Why don't you come meet my mother while you're out of commission? It's something to do and I know she'd like to meet you. I'm afraid you're all I can talk about lately."
He laughed. "She's in Reno?" Gretchen's father was out of the picture for her, though he and her mother were still a couple and her brother and sister maintained ties to both of them.
"Right. You can stay at my house. Gosh knows there's plenty of room for you."
"Thank you. Okay, I'll take you up on your offer."
"Great! When can you come?"
They made the arrangements for a few days later and rung off.
The day was cold but sunny, winter still in full swing, when Rowdy got picked up in Gretchen's limo. The ride out to her place wasn't quick, requiring both highway and byway driving before pulling up in the concrete driveway in front of the mansion.
The place was like something out of “Gone with the Wind”, all plantation style with Doric columns and marble stairs. It was no wonder Gretchen felt out of place there. He could picture her in a farmhouse, snug as a bug in a rug with kids and family and ranching chores to keep her busy. She'd never be a Saks 5th Avenue shopper or an international jetsetter, though, with so much money, her handlers certainly expected it of her.
Both she and Amy came running from the front door. Both were barefoot and dressed casually. Gretchen wore a black and white sweater over a white top, and it made her gray eyes sparkle–or maybe that sparkle was for him.
Amy got to him first, grabbing his legs and giving him such a squeeze he thought he might lose his balance and topple over. Instead of falling, he laughed and bent down to give her a proper hug. Then he stood to accept the hug and long kiss he got from Gretchen. Now, in her own space, he figured she could make her own rules and a sensuous kiss was allowed. Come to think of it, where was Bob?
"Mmm, that's mighty fine, princess," he said as they broke.
"I've missed you so much."
"I missed you, too. Are you going to invite me in?"
"Of course! Duh. I'm just so excited. Come in!"
Amy latched onto Rowdy's cast hand and swung it back and forth as they walked into the open front doors.
"Wanna see my room?" Amy asked, her smile just for Rowdy.
"I do want to see it. But let me catch my wind first. I just got off a plane and need to have something to drink. The air is mighty dry up there."
"Okay. Want some lemonade? Mrs. Stuckles makes the best lemonade."
"Yeah. That would be good, if you'd be so kind."
By this time, they were in a big parlor, where a fireplace was blazing. The place was more casual than Rowdy had expected, with comfy-looking sofas and club chairs in conversational arrangements. There were walnut tables and textured porcelain lamps with off-white shades sitting here and there, adding a warm glow to the room. Hunter green rugs dotted the wood floors like little pools of grass.
Amy ran off to get his lemonade as he sat down and pulled Gretchen down beside him on one of the gold, brown, and beige-patterned couches. She snuggled up against him and he stole another lingering kiss. "Doesn't matter where we are, princess. Your kisses are like coming home after a long trip."
She blushed. "Thank you."
They made chit-chat until Amy returned, a maid in a casual black pantsuit uniform following behind her with a tray and three glasses of lemonade, plus a small cheese board. She handed out the glasses and put the cheese board on the coffee table, then went away as Gretchen called a thank-you to her.
It was such a joy to be around this little family, maybe someday soon to be his little family. He was taken with Gretchen and her daughter. His heart was in their hands, though he was hesitant to say it to them. It was so soon. Only a bit over a month since they'd met each other. He didn't want to go too fast.
"Are you ready to meet my mother?"
"Is she here?"
"Not yet. I sent Jeff to fetch her when you got here."
"I'm sure I'll like her, if she's anything like you. Where is Bob?"
"He's in the control room. It's his office here. He has cameras around the perimeter and in the hallways. He monitors the place during the day, and Steve monitors from there at night. Bob doesn't need to follow me around when we're not out in public."
"Kind of a relief."
Gretchen laughed, and Amy insisted on taking Rowdy to see her room, so he went along. It was upstairs a few doors away from a sweeping, curved staircase with wooden handrails. Inside, it was a little girl's room, with pink accessories and ruffles everywhere. There were unicorn posters on the walls, along with one big Barbie print. Amy had a dollhouse in one corner of the expansive room, big enough for her Barbie dolls.
She introduced Rowdy to each of her stuffed animals and he politely asked questions about them, enjoying her carefree company though, of course, he wasn't particularly interested in stuffed animals.
"Melody's room is next door, but she's away for a few days. Mommy says Melody deserves some time off sometimes. I miss her."
"Well, even the people we care about have to have personal time sometimes."
"I guess."
Gretchen called from downstairs. "Rowdy? My mother is here."
"Gotta go, peanut. Wanna come say hi to your grandma?"
"She's not like Granny in Idaho," Amy said. "She's nice, but she doesn't make pies with me."
Her sentiment was dangerous. They couldn't have Amy losing respect for her natural grandmother while favoring his parents. "I'm sure she does other fun stuff with you."
"We sometimes paint Easter eggs," Amy volunteered.
"There ya go. Fun stuff. Now I need to go."
"Okay. I'll come, too."
>
"Okay." Rowdy went down the stairs with Amy behind him.
In the parlor, sat Gretchen and her mother. The older woman was a little younger than Rowdy's ma, age-wise, but she looked much older. Hard times showed on her face in wrinkles and age spots. She wore a blue top and khaki pants. It was a plain ensemble, but it was clearly quality. Rising as Rowdy entered, she gave him a thousand-watt smile. Gretchen's smile, perfectly matched. She must have once been as beautiful as her daughter.
Gretchen stood as well. "Mom, this is Rowdy Jackson. Rowdy, meet my mother, Cindy Sue."
Rowdy nodded. "Pleasure to meet you, ma'am."
Amy piped in, "Rowdy is my daddy."
Cindy Sue looked alarmed and speared Gretchen with her eyes.
Gretchen was frowning. "Amy, you're not supposed to say things like that. Rowdy is not your daddy."
"Is so."
"Amy, you're being impolite."
"I don't care. Rowdy is my daddy because I say so."
He hunkered down next to the little girl. "Peanut, I am not your daddy, but I am your friend. Can't we be friends for now?"
Amy screwed up her face, and Rowdy wasn't sure if she was about to cry or have a temper tantrum, but she did neither. "Can we be best friends?"
He nodded. The child needed a male role model in her life, that was for certain. Her lack of a father or grandfather was beginning to really show as insecurity.
"Okay for now." She went to her grandmother who bent for a hug and a kiss. "Grandma, do you want some lemonade?"
"No, thank you, Amy."
"I'm going back to my tea party. My dollies are crying."
The adults watched her run out of the room.
"It's good to meet you, Rowdy. Gretchen has told me all about you."
He hoped not all about him. But he didn't know how much of a confidante Gretchen's mother was for her. "I hope that's a good thing."
"Well, she had good things to say."
"I'm happy to hear it."
"Come, let's sit and talk," Gretchen suggested.
They spent the next hour conversing, but then Cindy Sue excused herself to go back home to her husband.
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