by Rye Hart
“Dean!” a familiar voice called out. I stopped walking and turned around. My boss, Trevor Larson was standing behind me.
“What’s up?” I asked
“Well, I was going to tell you to clean the stalls out before you get the horses set for the riders, but it looks like you already took care of that. Aside from that, these riders are a group of elite club members. Make sure they leave happy, weel ya?” he said.
“Sure thing. I’ll take care of it,” I answered, stifling the urge to say ‘no shit, Sherlock,’ instead.
Realizing he had nothing else to say, Trevor turned and walked away.
“Asshat,” I muttered under my breath as he left. Though he probably had as much money in his bank account as I did, Trevor had a chip on his shoulder. He’d been around these old-money assholes way too long.
After I dumped the wheelbarrow, I stowed it away in the barn and quickly washed my hands. I knew there wasn’t anything I could do about the shit smell but I refused to approach the country club ‘elite’ with disgusting hands.
I looked at myself in the foggy mirror over the sink. My face was red from exertion and my blue eyes looked bloodshot. I shook my head and watched my dark hair fall across my forehead. My hair was always a dark brown but after a few hours in the stalls, it turned almost black from sweat and muck.
Once I was clean enough, I sighed and hurried out to the front of the stables. My workers were already there, saddling up horses for the afternoon riders. As my eyes fell on the group, I knew they weren’t beginners. It was a group of girls, all about eighteen, wearing professional riding gear with their hair tied back into tight ponytails. Most of them held riding crops in their hands, making me fight back an eye roll.
As I stepped forward to finish saddling the horses, I shook my head and swore under my breath. Trevor didn’t say anything about babysitting. Just the appearance of these spoiled brats was enough to work my nerves. My patience was running thin after hours in the stalls and now, I had to cater to a bunch of silver-spoon-fed bitches who didn’t know the first thing about hard work. It was nauseating.
I saddled the last horse, taking care to fasten the straps just right before I turned to let the girls know the horses were ready. Most of them were already climbing up, adjusting themselves like princesses on a throne. Unable to hold back this time, I rolled my eyes and turned away just as the last girl walked slowly toward me. I barely looked at her until she was standing right next to me.
“I guess you’re mine,” she said softly. I jerked my head up, staggered by her words, to see her stroking the horse’s face gently.
The girl was exquisite. Two long blonde braids were caught in the sunlight just right and when I looked up at her face I was struck with the most striking pair of blue eyes. Her skin was peaches and cream, with flushed cheeks from the southern heat. Her lips were naturally plump and pink and formed a sexy heart shape that I could appreciate for much longer than what would be deemed socially acceptable.
Fucking hell. Don’t be a creep man. Look away. Crap! Too late.
When our eyes met, I felt a wave of heat forming in my torso and traveling down to my pants. Thanks to her form fitting riding gear, I was able to make out those sexy curves that shaped her perky breasts. I didn’t dare to lower my gaze any further to avoid scaring the poor girl with a massive erection.
She looked away and smiled at the horse as she leaned in to place a kiss just under his eye. I frowned and quickly looked away. The last thing I needed was to be caught eye fucking one of the club’s members. I needed this job.
“All yours,” I said, not daring to meet her eyes again. “Here you go.”
I handed her the reins. She smiled gratefully and expertly flung herself up and over the horse’s back. My eyes followed her movements closely. I tried to look away but that time, I couldn’t.
I stared at her long enough for her to notice. When she finally met my gaze, I was lost. Her smile was innocent and sweet but there was something different brewing behind her eyes. As she shifted herself on the saddle, my eyes were drawn to her hips and long, strong legs in their tight riding pants. A brief flash of those legs wrapped around me pulsed in my brain and I almost groaned out loud.
“All set?” I asked her, taking a small step forward.
“Just about,” she said. “Would you mind grabbing my water? I left it over there.”
She pointed to a spot just a few feet away. I saw an engraved water bottle set against the side of the barn. I hurried over to it and grabbed it, eager to get back to her.
“Thank you,” she said as I handed her the bottle. She took a long sip, letting her plump lips linger on the spout. I swallowed hard as my eyes trailed down her smooth neck to her breasts. She wore a tight top that matched her pants, and it showed off the curve of her chest without revealing even an inch of cleavage.
Fuck. Stop staring.
“Thank you again,” she said. She slid the water bottle into the saddle bag and swung the reins around. The horse obeyed her silent command easily, turning his head and allowing her to lead him down the trail. She rode him with perfection.
Lucky bastard.
“Be careful,” I called out. “The trail can be rough this time of year. Fallen branches and stuff.”
“I think I’ll be okay,” she said with a sly grin.
“I’m Dean,” I said. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’ll do that,” she said.
With that, she slapped the reins down and galloped away. I watched as she easily jumped a tree trunk and quickly bypassed her friends. I smiled to myself, unable to look away until she disappeared.
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face for the rest of the hour. Every time I had a free moment, I glanced down the trail, just waiting to see their group return. I didn’t even know this girl’s name, but I was already spellbound.
Her body was amazing and that smile was enough to knock me on my ass, but there was something different about her. I had seen my fair share of gorgeous girls but her eyes drew me in. She was young, probably eighteen, but she seemed older somehow. It was as if an entire world existed within those blue eyes, an entire world I had to explore.
After an hour passed, the girls slowly began to arrive back at the stables. They trotted over with haughty looks on their faces and complaints flowing freely. I listened to them politely, nodding just as I was trained to do.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said without emotion.
“We’ll be sure to take care of that.”
My responses were rehearsed and ready but when I saw her again, I suddenly forgot them all. She galloped over with a wide smile and windswept strands that had escaped her braid. She actually looked to be enjoying herself.
“How was your ride?” I asked as I reached out a hand to help her down. She glanced at my hand and then slid off the horse without assistance. I was impressed.
“It was lovely, Dean.”
When she said my name, I felt my stomach turn over. Not only was she sexier than I remembered but the way her lips curled around my name was enough to make my dick twitch in my pants. I cleared my throat and took a step forward.
“It doesn’t seem fair, does it?” I asked, laying on the charm.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“That you know my name, yet I don’t know yours,” I said. I grinned at her in my patented cocky way but she only laughed and shook her head.
“No,” she said, pulling off her riding gloves. “I guess it isn’t fair.”
“Shall we fix that, then?” I raised my eyebrows.
She considered me for a second. My grin never faltered. I’d had my fair share of run-ins with the opposite sex. Most women fell all over me without so much as an invitation. At twenty-four, I knew I was good looking and I used that knowledge to my advantage. There wasn’t a woman alive who could resist me when I decided to have them.
“I’m Caroline,” she said simply.
“Caroline.” I repeated
her name slowly, drawing out each syllable. “That’s beautiful.”
“It’s common,” she said.
“Unlike you.”
Her eyes snapped to my face. She smiled and I knew I had her. I brushed my hair out of my eyes and took another step forward. We were only inches away from each other now, close enough that I could have touched her. I expected her to take a step back, to become affronted by my brazen approach but she surprised me. She held her ground and stared at me with wide, expectant eyes.
“Will you be riding with us again, Caroline?” I asked softly.
“I’ve been a member of this club my entire life,” Caroline said. “I’ll always be around, but what about you? I don’t remember seeing you before.”
“I just started a month ago,” I said. “It’s a summer gig for now but we’ll see what happens.”
“I guess we will.” She nodded and turned away from me.
“Wait,” I said. “Can I get your number? Maybe we can arrange a private trail ride.”
She turned around to face me with an amused expression on her face. Her eyes searched mine. At first, I thought she was considering her answer but it wasn’t long before I realized she was just toying with me. Her smile widened as she shook her head from side to side.
When she turned around to leave, I thought about calling after her but I knew my usual methods wouldn’t work with this girl. Not only was she part of the elite but she was able to see through all my tricks. I watched her head toward the showers, my head spinning. When she ducked inside, I imagined her peeling of that riding outfit and stepping under a steaming hot stream of water.
What the hell is it about her?
Her beauty wasn’t plastic and manufactured like the rest of them. A few had tried to entice me, but I had always politely kept my distance. Not only was I not attracted to them, but I couldn’t risk getting caught with my pants down with a club member. I needed this job.
Still, the thought of Caroline had my head spinning. I simply had to have her, no matter the cost.
CHAPTER TWO - CAROLINE
I showered quickly in the clubhouse just off the stables. As the water cascaded over my body, I could hear a couple of the other girls talking amongst themselves about the “hot new stable guy.”
“I wouldn’t mind a private lesson with him,” one girl was saying.
“Ride ‘em cowboy!” another agreed before bursting into a fit of giggles.
For some reason, it made me slightly nauseous to hear them talk about Dean that way. True, I had only just met him, but there was something about him that seemed different. I mean, I could tell he could be a total player if he’d wanted to, but the way I heard he’d sidestepped inappropriate comments from several female members so far, said he had a little more depth than his playboy image allowed.
I dried off and dressed quickly, trying to shut out the crude chatter around me. And people thought guys were dogs…
“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” a girl in my riding group named Lisa asked, her smile tight and her eyes narrowed.
“I’m meeting Stephanie for dinner inside,” I said simply.
“Oh,” Lisa said. “I wondered if you were going back to the stables.”
“Why would she do that?” another bimbo named Stacy asked with a frown.
“No reason.” Lisa shrugged. “Just thought she might have forgotten something.”
Lisa smiled at me in a knowing way that made my stomach churn. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and instead, forced a smile on my face and shook my head.
“I’ll see you ladies tomorrow,” I said as I strolled out of the room.
“Bye, Carrie!” Stacy called.
I waved and hurried outside. Stephanie would be waiting for me in the dining room and I was eager to meet her. She, unlike my other friends, was never judgmental or haughty. Despite her family’s abundant wealth, Stephanie managed to stay level-headed. It was one of the many reasons that she had been my best friend since we were kids.
I hurried into the dining room and stopped at the hostess stand. Melanie, the hostess I’d grown friendly with over the years, smiled and gestured behind her. My eyes followed her hand and I saw Stephanie sitting alone at a back table.
“Thank you,” I said to Melanie before I hurried over and plopped myself into the waiting chair with a deep sigh.
“Well, hello there,” Stephanie said. “Bad ride?”
“Not at all,” I said, shaking my head. “It was lovely, actually.”
“Then why the mood?” Stephanie asked.
“Lisa.”
Stephanie nodded knowingly and raised her hand to call over our waiter. He hurried forward with two menus ready.
We ordered our drinks and he hurried away, leaving us alone to talk and peruse the menu.
“Spill,” Stephanie said.
“It’s nothing,” I sighed. “Lisa’s magnetic pull toward drama is never failing. She saw me chatting with the new stable guy and decided it was a scandal. Mark my words, there will be a cryptic post on her blog about it within the hour.”
“Caroline Michaelson Slums It with Stable Hottie,” Stephanie said, her voice mocking.
“Don’t give her any ideas,” I groaned.
“Like I would ever,” Stephanie said. “Was he though?”
“Was who what?” I asked with a frown. Our waiter set our drinks down on the table and I took a sip of my lemonade.
“The guy,” Stephanie said. “Was he hot?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “Ridiculously.”
“So, Lisa wasn’t wrong.” Stephanie grinned slyly.
“Lisa Parks is always wrong,” I said firmly.
“Of course.” Stephanie waved her hand. “But that’s not the point. Tell me about him.”
“He’s gorgeous,” I said. “Rugged. Tall, dark, handsome. Muscular without being veiny, you know? Basically, the complete opposite of every guy we grew up with.”
“Sounds delicious,” Stephanie said, licking her lips for emphasis.
“Ha. Ha.” I rolled my eyes. “He asked for my number.”
“And you gave it to him,” Stephanie said, as if it were a given.
“No.” I shook my head.
“Why the hell not?!”
“Because we only just met,” I said. “He’ll have to work a little harder than that.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Stephanie said feigning seriousness. “You’re the queen of England.”
“Stop it.” I snapped. “You know me better than that. He must have loads of women throwing themselves at him. He probably assumed asking me for my number was no big deal. I’d rather he work for it, so he’s knows I’m not easy.”
“OK, fine. So let’s say he shows he’s really interested. Then what?” Stephanie asked.
I shrugged and looked off into the distance. Our waiter returned and we ordered dinner. He hurried away, leaving us alone again to talk about boys. While I was still a virgin, Stephanie was not. She spent almost every Saturday night with a different guy. She always said it was better to play the field than get stuck with some lame guy who she didn’t even like. I couldn’t blame her. Since her parents were almost never home, she had more freedom than most teenagers. In a lot of ways, I was envious of her life, but I wouldn’t ever be able to be with more than one guy if I tried.
Dean wasn’t just handsome and rugged, he had an air of maturity about him that most guys I knew did not have. It was as if he’d seen things, as if he’d lived a real life. He wasn’t sheltered or privileged. He knew what it meant to work for something and that, more than anything, was sexy as hell.
“Caroline!” Stephanie snapped. She waved her hand in front of my face and I jumped.
“What?” I asked.
“You’re practically drooling over there,” she said with a laugh. “Are you still thinking about the stable hottie?”
“His name is Dean,” I said.
“Just go for it,” Stephanie said. “If he’s got you daydrea
ming about him already, then obviously he’s worth it.”
I giggled. “But, can you imagine my mother’s face? God, she would lose her mind if I brought home someone who works in the stables.”
“And?” Stephanie asked. “Since when do you care what your mother thinks?”
“I don’t know,” I sighed. “I don’t care. Not really. It’s just, with all this Yale madness, she already has my head spinning.”
“What’s going on?” Stephanie asked. “I thought she was happy you got accepted?”
“She is.” I nodded. “Too happy. She tells anyone who will listen that her connections got me in.”
“Bullshit,” Stephanie said. “That’s utter bullshit, Caroline. You got yourself in.”
“I know that!” I said. “My grades are flawless. My SAT scores were the highest at Manchester Academy and yet, she acts like my success is entirely hers. It would be one thing if she were proud of me but she isn’t. She’s always talking about the extra curriculars I need to involve myself in or the charity work I need to do. Nothing is ever enough. She’s always pushing for more, more, more. I can’t take it anymore.”
“Then fuck her,” Stephanie said boldly.
“Stephanie!” I said.
“What?” Stephanie laughed. “I’m serious, Caroline. You are the smartest, most talented person I know and yet, your mother is constantly beating you down. You can’t let her hold you back anymore. You just can’t.”