by E. Walsh
The clapping of everyone’s hands echoed all over the floor. The pride she had for her success and growth in the company resonated in her aura. It’s not difficult to spot her since she was a tall woman with a little more flesh than the most admired skinny type of women. Her Latin blood was evident in her physical features.
“Thank you, Jeremy. You can always count on me.” She shook his hand and laughed with delight.
“We can a have a toast after the event.”
Jeremy led her outside of the floor and into his private office. She sat comfortably at the white lounge chair facing his desk while he poured whiskey on a glass.
“The client is Maverick Lane. Does the name ring a bell?”
She knew she heard it somewhere, but she was unsure who exactly was this person or what he does.
“He owns ranches in Montana. One of the popular tourist destination is Lone Mountain Guest House.”
Oh. So the famous Rick Lane was getting married. How wonderful. But did Jeremy just mention Montana?
“I know that look, Marly. You can’t refuse the job just because you don’t like cowboys and horses. You need this for your promotion.”
“What?” That was something she didn’t expect. “You’re not serious, are you?”
“I don’t play games when working, honey. You know that very well.”
“But you can’t use my promotion against me. You know how I feel about ranches and farms.” It was a desperate and pathetic reasoning, but that was all she could think of.
“Take it, Marly. Suck it up. It’s either this or forget your promotion.”
Of course, her promotion was worth everything. It was the reason why she had worked so hard in the past three years. It was her dream and wanted it pretty badly. But she really abhorred the countryside. She had her reasons for hating it which no one knew about.
“Mr. Lane already arranged everything. You’ll be gone for two weeks so make sure you pack your things accordingly. A charter plane will take you to Montana two days from now.” He paused upon seeing her contorted face. “You can personally present your proposal to him after an ocular inspection.”
“A rush wedding?”
* * *
Chapter Two
She wore her casual outfit, one she usually wore whenever she goes on an ocular inspection before planning an event. Marly didn’t feel the need to look too stylish or classy on her way to the ranch. Her job was to plan the most beautiful wedding every woman would ever dream of having. It was her job and she was the best at what she did.
“Miss Andrada, we will be landing in less than ten minutes.” The captain of the charter plane announced through the intercom.
Marly glanced outside the window expecting to see a vast land full of dirt and farm animals running about. Her expectations were proven wrong when she saw a vast land of green, lush grass with huge pine trees that were strategically planted all over the ranch, mostly near the cottages.
She adjusted her shades and shrugged her shoulders. Okay. Maybe she didn’t really do her research on the place. Whatever. As soon as she was done with planning, she would call Erin to supervise the materialization of the concept.
The plane landed smoothly on the hangar a few meters away from the outdoor activities area. She had to admit, the place was both impressive and expensive looking. A white cart was waiting for her and when a valet placed her luggage at the back, she settled on the front seat.
A man in checkered long sleeves that was rolled up to his elbow paired with tight jeans and hi-cut cowboy boots was waiting for her in the receiving area. His hat was very notable because it was elongated rather than round.
“Miss Andrada?” The man offered a hand with a smile on his face. His eyes were hidden behind his Oakley shades.
“Hello, Mr. Lane. Nice meeting you.” She shook his hand and gave him her sweetest smile. “Just call me Marly.”
“I’m Rick.” He led her inside the receiving area.
It was an open space with four huge pillars on each corner and a dome-like ceiling with two gigantic ceiling fans made out of thinly cut wood. The customer service counter had three pretty receptionists with the typical model-like body.
She wasn’t the skinny type and was made fun of as a teenager for it. But despite her size, which was curvier and had more flesh than single women her age, she was a confident woman. She had learned to love her body and treated it with care.
“How about some refreshments?” He offered.
“A glass of cold water please.”
“Is that all you're having? It’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t we eat first before I take you around the ranch?”
Marly hesitated for a minute. The three-hour flight was a bit tiring. She had wanted to check the place right away then spend the rest of the day on her room. So she could relax while conceptualizing her ideas for the wedding. But then again it would have been rude to refuse his offer.
“That would be nice,” she said once they were inside the breakfast house. The ranch had at least three main halls for dining, one each for breakfast, dinner and lunch.
Rick grinned at her before gesturing for the waiter. They waited for almost 20 minutes before their orders were served. She just had salad and strawberry juice. He, on the other hand, had steak, some grilled shrimps, and a salad.
“So what do you think about this place?” he inquired while chewing on his steak.
“It wasn’t what I expected it to be,” She answered him with honesty.
“How so?” Her answer had taken his interest.
She took a sip of her juice and thought for a moment. Often times, she intimidated her subordinates because she didn’t sugarcoat the truth. She spoke her mind. But, she also realized that she needed to be cautious with this particular client. After all, this was her biggest project and she didn’t want to blow it by saying the wrong things to him.
“Well, I’ve never been into a ranch before. I’ve only seen a glimpse of what it is like on TV shows. I’m not a fan of farms, ranches, and running horses.” Then she looked him straight in the eyes. “But I’m impressed by the natural beauty of the place. It seemed as though no human touch was added to achieve its perfection.”
He gave her a thin smile while staring at her with an aura that made her uncomfortable. Rick wasn’t the bulky type of man or a macho guy often portrayed in shows. He was lean but muscular with broad shoulders.
“The more reason why I should personally take you for a tour of my land.” He gulped down his beer without breaking eye contact. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
Marly had nearly choked on the salad she was about to swallow. Where did that question come from? She covered her mouth for a second to clear up her throat before smiling.
“No, I don’t.”
“Why is that?” He asked like it was just a normal conversation between two good friends.
“I’ve been into too many weddings and witnessed firsthand how easily relationships break. So no, love of first sight doesn’t exist. It’s just an illusion.”
“A nonbeliever, huh?” He nodded while weighing his beliefs against hers.
“I beg to disagree. Love does exist. But I don’t think it can happen in an instant. It takes time and effort.”
She paused and thought about the high school crush she obsessed about who ended up used her to excel in their class. He treated her poorly and failed to give importance to her feelings. It was the darkest time of her life and really formed her strong beliefs about love and relationships.
“And one can never mistake lust for love,” he said.
* * *
Chapter Three
The exterior of the cabins were made out of hardwood painted based on its natural color. It had one door at the front and a sliding door on the other end, which would lead to a small veranda where guests were given an overlooking view of the outdoor activity area.
Marly couldn’t deny how lovely the place was. She didn’t know ranches could have this
kind of beauty, probably because she didn’t have an interest in them.
“How do you like your cottage?” Rick asked while he stood next to her on the veranda.
“I must say, I’m already beyond impressed with the architectural design of this place. Really.” She took out her camera and took a few pictures.
“You like taking pictures too?”
“It’s a hobby.” She smiled while slowly panning the area through her lens.
Rick moved into her line of vision and posed like a pro for her. His body angle together with the scenery as his background did look great on her camera and so she took a picture of him. When she checked the result, she was left with awe. He had taken off his shades revealing two beautiful hazel eyes that accentuated well with his roughly combed copper hair.
“Did you like what you see?” He asked after seeing her expression.
“Huh? Uh, yes. Here.”
She showed him the picture which he gladly looked at, holding her camera at the same time. The slight brushing off of their hands sent chills along her arms which made her gasp. What was wrong with me?
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” She stepped back a little to place a distance between them. Suddenly, she felt uneasy around him.
She discreetly glanced at him and found him staring closely at her, watching every expression and movement she was making. His gaze held a more sensual look. She breathed deeply before asking him a question in the hopes of diverting his attention to something else.
“I haven’t seen the future Mrs. Maverick Lane. When can I meet her?” She flashed him her business-like smile, happy and interested yet professional.
There was amusement in his eyes, she could see it lingering at the corner while he remained composed.
“She’s not here yet. She will be arriving two days before the wedding.”
He walked back inside the cottage with his hands in his pocket. He then sat on the couch in the living room which was directly connected to the kitchen. Marly was forced to sit down on the other seat, directly facing him.
“This marriage isn’t the conventional one. I’m not seeking for an everlasting love or the perfect marriage. I need an heir, a boy I can take to horseback riding or a Daddy’s girl who I can spoil.”
“All marriages will eventually lead to having children, I suppose. Married couples want that.” At least that was her observation after being in the business for years.
“But not all couples marry for love. Some do it for convenience.”
“But mutual trust is a very important factor. Without it, even an arranged marriage or a marriage for convenience, for that matter, will never work.”
“Are you saying this based on your experience?” He held a serious look, waiting with great interest for her answer.
“I don’t believe it matters where I am basing this on. The matter at hand, Mr. Lane, is conceptualizing both you and your bride’s idea of a perfect wedding. It would be of great help if you can give me an idea of what those are.”
There was something odd about how he addressed his bride. He seemed distant and unattached from her and she wondered what his real motivations were for getting married so quickly. She found it strange that his future wife had no involvement in the preparation and planning of their wedding.
“I can guess what you’re thinking just by looking at your expression.” He chuckled while shaking his head. “Versatility. I am a person who can adapt to anything. My future wife is a sweet and lovely woman and I love her dearly.”
“She must be one lucky woman.” For a minute, she felt envious of his bride. Though he wasn’t crazily in love with her, he knew her worth and valued it for who she was.
He stood up. “I guess I should be going and leave you to settle in.”
Marly made sure there was enough distance between them when she followed him as he went out of her cottage. She halted right away when he suddenly turned around.
“Have you been in love, Marly?” His asked in a serious tone. “Like madly in love?
“Mr. Lane.”
“Rick. Just call me Rick.”
“Okay. I don’t see how my personal love affair can be, in any way, related to planning your wedding.”
“Maybe. But doesn’t most women base their wedding plans on their own emotions?”
“Most women do. After all, it is a union between two people in love done publicly.”
“There’s more to it than meets the eye. And there is nothing more I could wish for than for you to realize that not all couples who are in love marry. And not everyone who marries understands the essence of true love.”
With that, he left her cottage leaving her baffled at his words. He was trying to send across a message, but what could it be?
* * *
Chapter Four
Marly woke up to the buzzing of her cell phone. With eyes half closed, she hastily reached for it on the top of the side table to turn off the alarm but with little success. She grunted and pushed herself upward to pick it up.
It was already nine in the morning and the sun was gleaming outside her window. What a waste. Here she was, in a magnificent place with a jaw-dropping scenery, yet she lacked the motivation to explore it. She spent almost the entire night drafting down her proposal for the wedding based on his odd conversation with Rick.
There was a soft knock on the door which stopped her from getting a few more minutes of sleep. She stood up and put on a robe over her nightgown to check who had wanted her presence this early. Clad in his white long-sleeve shirt, tight jeans and a pair of boots, Rick stood outside her door.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Why was he so freaking early?
“Hi!” She poked her head through the door. “Can you give me thirty minutes to change? I’m not ready yet...”
His smile broadened upon seeing her bare face and slightly messy hair. Too embarrassed at the moment, she bit her lip while awaiting his reply.
“Sure. I’ll have a valet pick you up by 9:30.”
He mounted the cart parked outside and drove it himself. She watched as he disappeared through the trees after he turned right. She let out a sigh of relief. Then she realized she only had less than thirty minutes to prepare.
Marly ran toward the bathroom to take a shower. In her attempts to move as quickly as possible she forgot to adjust the heater and screeched as super cold water flushed her skin. She leaped out of the shower and nearly slipped on the slippery tiled floor. Cursing herself, she decided to just rinse her hair with shampoo and water. A warm tub later before going to sleep would be a better option she thought.
After she was finished freshening up, she put on a loose sleeveless top, jeans and a hi-cut sneakers.
The valet was right on time. She boarded the cart that brought her to another part of the ranch. He dropped her in front of a huge, modern house, which was mostly made out of concrete and glass. She figured it was Maverick’s house within the guest ranch. The interior had a minimalist touch and was filled with stylish and expensive furniture.
“You look lovely,” Rick commented as he appeared out of nowhere.
“Thank you.” She smiled tying her damp hair behind her back. The feel of fresh air breezing through her scalp was very soothing.
“If you fancy decent cooking, then you are more than welcome to join me for breakfast.”
She followed him to the dining area which was not fit for a huge crowd. The table and chairs could only sit ten people.
“You cook your own meals?” She asked looking at the eggs, bacon and fresh fruits on her plate.
“No, I seldom do.” He said as he took a large bite out of his omelet. “Did you sleep well?”
“I slept late, but it was more than comfortable.”
“I see. So you’re not a morning person then?”
“Actually, I am. I figured since I’m not in New York City, why not sleep in late and wake up late.” Then she laughed while remembering her little episode in the ba
throom.
He dropped his fork on the plate and leaned against his chair, giving her a stare that made her uncomfortable once again. She shoved down another bite in a hurry and drank her juice. Why couldn’t he be just a normal, easy-to-talk-to guy? Why did he have to be so seductive? After all, he was getting married any day now.
“Since yesterday, I have been wondering why you’re still single?”
Marly felt her hands went cold. She should be freaking out of the house by now, but she actually felt the opposite. The interest he had over her personal life, her romantic relationships to be exact, was making her reciprocate the same interest toward him.
“A rare find is definitely for keeps.”
“We should be talking about planning your wedding, Mr. Lane. I’d like to lay down the details so we I can call on my team to start working on the area where the wedding will be held.”
She needed to be the compass who would redirect their focus on the matters at hand, the real reason for their breakfast meeting, or so she thought.
“At the moment, something else matters.” He left his chair and took two glasses and poured some wine. He placed one glass near her plate.
“You’re an intelligent woman, Marly. By now, you must have a sense of what this marriage is about. I made it very clear on our first meeting. It is a commitment born out of need.”
He stood by the glass wall that gave him an overlooking view of the Yellowstone National Park which was at the other side of his ranch. After taking another sip, he turned to face her.
She was now up on her feet, undecided and confused. Surely, he was a very attractive man and his perception in life was very different from hers, but it was interesting enough. And she was torn whether to welcome the odd attraction she had for the man or stick to her rule of never mixing business with pleasure.
“I like your character and how you carry yourself. But I am as indecisive as you are right now. Whether the risk would be worth the cause.”