I continue reading about what the job entails, the living arrangements and the pay, but my stomach drops when I read four little words…must have ranch experience.
Damn it. My experience is limited to watching Toy Story a million times as a kid and stalking some hot and sexy cowboys on Instagram. Neither of which would pass as the experience I’m sure they’re looking for.
Feeling disheartened, I close the email and go back to what I was doing. Job hunting.
With a glass of wine in hand later that night, my curiosity gets the better of me. Pulling up my sister’s email, I read it all through once again. I’ve looked at probably hundreds of job opportunities today, but not a single one got me excited like this one.
Taking a giant gulp of wine, I place the glass down and set about drafting an email, one in which I might exaggerate slightly where my prior experience is concerned.
What the hell? They can only say no, right?
1
Jessie
Driving up the gravel track, dust billows up behind me. All I can see for miles is fields, but the sign at the start of the track indicated that this is the way to Hazelwood Ranch.
I continue driving, my nerves for what I’m about to embark on are beginning to get the better of me. I’m spending the summer as a housekeeper. That bit’s not a problem. I can clean perfectly well, some days I even enjoy the relaxation I can find in it but doing it on a working ranch, that’s a whole other story.
The woman who owns Hazelwood tried to reassure me that I would be fine and that with my prior experience and my love of horses that it would be a walk in the park. I refrained from telling her that the closest I’ve ever been to a real live horse was riding a donkey on a beach one summer with Mum and Dad before she passed away and Dad moved us to America.
By the time the ranch itself comes into view, I’m a nervous wreck. My palms are sweating against the leather of the steering wheel and my stomach twists like I’m going to throw up at any moment. This is by far the craziest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Every other decision I’ve made has been pretty conventional. I went to college to study business because I had no clue what I wanted to do. I applied to my MBA, but I still don’t really know if it’s what I want to do. Callum, my older brother, and Lizzie have always seemed to know exactly what they wanted from life, whereas I feel like I’m just floating around hoping I’ll eventually stumble across what’s going to make me happy.
Blowing out a long breath, I stare at the large log house in front of me. It’s got a huge wrap around porch with gorgeous, comfortable-looking furniture that I could lose hours in as I stare out at the rolling fields and mountains in the distance.
My eyes ache from the hours of driving I’ve done today and I’m desperate to get out and stretch my legs, but my nerves of stepping into my new life, if only for a few months, has me stuck to the seat. One requirement of the job was to have my own transport so after getting my little old Beetle a full service, I packed her up and headed for the country. Thankfully, she survived the trip.
Some movement in the large window has me moving. I don’t want to be caught out here staring like the local nutcase.
Grabbing my purse, I throw it over my shoulder and get out. Stretching my back, I adjust my jeans and straighten my checked shirt. I wanted to look the part in an attempt to look like I belong here and I must admit, I love the cowboy look, especially the boots.
Squaring my shoulders, I head toward the front door. Myra, the owner, told me to knock once I got here, so stepping on to the porch, I do just that. Only there’s no response.
I know someone’s here. I saw them.
Unsure of what to do, I twist the doorknob and push the heavy wooden door open. Poking my head inside, I find a stunning entrance hall. It’s all natural wood with horse memorabilia everywhere. It screams cowboy and the sight has me pushing the door wider and walking in so I can admire everything.
I take in the hand-carved reception desk and hover my finger over the call bell. I’m just about to press it when a loud growl comes from within the house before a crash and something shattering echoes through.
Stepping forward, the movement of a shadow in a room catches my eye and I walk toward it to make sure whoever it is, is okay.
Paperwork litters what seems to be an office floor and a glass ball of some sorts rolls toward my feet. Picking it up, I lift my eyes and take in the room for the first time. But it’s not the room that takes my attention. It’s the man sitting at the desk staring daggers at me that has my breath catching.
2
Clay
My frustration at not knowing what the fuck I’m doing gets the better of me and I swipe the contents of the desk to the floor. The sounds of paper fluttering and objects crashing to the ground make me feel better for all of five fucking seconds. But when I look up. Standing in the doorway like a fucking angel, is a petite blonde woman wrapped in a red check shirt and the tightest jeans I think I’ve ever seen. I watch, entranced, as she bends down to pick up the paperweight that rolls toward her feet.
When she looks up and finds me staring, her breath catches. Good, I’m glad she’s as mesmerized by me as I am her.
“I…uh…think you dropped this,” she stutters shyly, the hint of an English accent piquing my interest. I’ve been a sucker for an English accent since my aunt sat me down and made me watch Harry Potter. My fascination with Emma Watson and her accent started then and there. Her cheeks blush a rosy red and it spreads down her neck. My cock swells behind the fly of my Wranglers at her innocence. I’ve been here at my aunt and uncle’s ranch for a few days now trying to figure everything out, so I can’t deny that suddenly having a woman within touching distance doesn’t get me a little over-excited.
My lips stay sealed as she gingerly steps forward and places the ball of glass down on the edge of the desk. I don’t miss the slight trembling of her hand as she releases it. The idea that she’s scared of me amuses me.
“Did you want something?” My harsh tone isn’t what I intended, and I regret it instantly when she visibly pales and backs toward the door.
“I’m…uh…Jessie. I’m meant to be working here this summer.”
“Housekeeper?”
“Yeah. Myra’s expecting me.”
“Her and Frank aren’t around and probably won’t be for a while. You’re stuck with me. This way.” I grab my hat and go to leave the room.
Unfortunately, she doesn’t move from the doorway, so I only make it three steps before I come up in front of her. I’m close enough to see the smattering of freckles that cover her nose, a small mole just to the side of her lip and her dilated pupils as her eyes run the length of me.
When she makes it back up to my face, her eyes widen in surprise as if she hadn’t realized what she was just doing.
“I’m…I’m so sor—”
“Let’s go.” I don’t know what it is about this girl. I usually don’t have a problem talking to women or talking them into my bed, but there’s something about this girl’s light blue eyes and alluring curves that makes me sound like an asshole with every word that slips past my lips.
Pushing past her, I walk from the house and out into the courtyard. The sound of her feet on the gravel fills my ears and I keep going, knowing she’s following.
My legs eat up the space and in only a few seconds, the staff cabin comes into view.
“That’s your home for the summer.” I point to the two-bedroom cabin closest to the main house. “You’ll share with Austin, our wrangler. He’s been here before so he can show you the ropes. I’ll expect to see you at seven o’clock in the morning to start work.”
Turning, I go to march away to continue with what I was trying to do before she interrupted.
“Wait,” she calls. I come to a stop but refuse to look back. She’s already doing weird things to me.
“Uh…W-who are you?”
Blowing out a breath, I prepare to look into her eyes again. The second I find them, I h
ave to fight to suck in the air I need. No woman’s ever left me breathless before, and to be honest, I thought the saying was a myth. I hold her stare, amused by the slight defiance in her eyes.
“I’m Clay, although everyone around here calls me Woody.”
Her eyebrow raises, but I keep my face hard, although the joke isn’t lost on me.
3
Jessie
Clay starts backing away, but his eyes don’t leave me. He was not what I was expecting to find in that office, but he was everything I hoped for. His white t-shirt was stretched tight over his wide shoulders and muscular chest, his jeans hugged his arse and thighs in a way that should be illegal. And the hat, sweet Jesus, the hat. When he turned to look at me and glanced up from under the rim. Christ, I’ve never felt fire fill my veins quite like that before.
Dipping his head in a nod, he turns his back to me and walks toward the house. Once he’s far enough away, I allow a shaky moan to pass my lips. He’s my new boss. I really don’t need to be imagining what he might look like naked in only his hat and cowboy boots.
Walking up the steps to the cabin he pointed out, the sounds of country music fill my ears and my excitement returns. I push thoughts of the sexy cowboy to the back of my mind as I focus on where I’m going to be living for the next few months.
“Hello,” I call as I walk inside.
“Well, hello,” a deep voice rumbles but even before I see him, I don’t get the tingles I did when I heard Clay’s deep growl. His head pops around the doorframe and I’m met with a handsome face, long shaggy hair and a beard.
“Hey,” I say, giving an awkward little wave. Heat blooms in my cheeks at what a geek I must look.
“I’m Austin. I guess by the fear in your eyes that you must have already met Woody. He’s not usually—”
“Such an asshole?”
“I was going to say so stressed, but yeah, asshole also covers it. Would you like a beer to celebrate the start of summer?”
“Yes.” My reply might have been a little eager because he chuckles as he walks over to the little kitchen. “I’m Jessie, by the way.”
“Nice to meet you, Jessie.”
The two of us fall into an easy conversation as we sip at our beers. I breathe a sigh of relief that at least someone on this ranch seems to be friendly and welcoming.
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room. We’re at opposite ends of the cabin so it’ll be like I’m not even here.” I nod, grab my purse and follow him and my suitcase down the short hall. “This is you. If you want a tour of the place or anything, just give me a shout, but I’ll need to go out soon to get the horses in.”
“Okay, thank you.”
He throws my case on my bed and then disappears, leaving me in my new home for the summer. The entire room is wood, the walls, the furniture, even the little ornament thing on the dresser is an artistic log on a stand. A smile spreads across my face knowing that I’m here at last. I’ve dreamed of this for years.
I put away my clothes and fill the en suite bathroom full of all my toiletries before I make the mistake of lying down on the bed. I intend to just relax for a few minutes but the next thing I know, the sun’s starting to descend and filling my room with the most gorgeous orange glow.
Grabbing my phone from the nightstand, I see three missed calls from my sister. Feeling guilty that she’s probably worrying about me seeing as I reassured her that I’d call the moment I got here, I quickly swipe the screen and return her call.
“Did you forget something?” Lizzie asks the second she answers.
“I’m so sorry. Things were…a little crazy when I arrived.” I wince as I remember my new boss. His attitude might have sucked, but damn, he was hot. “And then I crashed. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine, as long as you arrived safely.”
“I did.”
“So come on. Tell me everything.”
“Jesus, Liz. I just got here, there’s not much to tell.”
“Sure there is. What are the owners like? What’re your accommodations like? Is the ranch like you expected it to be?” I don’t hear any of her questions past the first one because my mind is filled once again with the sexy cowboy I found.
“The…uh…owners aren’t here, I’m not sure why. But their nephew seems to be in charge.”
“Oooh, I see. Care to tell me about this cowboy?” Falling back onto the pillow, I chuckle to myself. “What?”
“His name’s Woody.”
“You’re joking?”
“Nope. Deadly serious. His name is actually Clay, but apparently everyone calls him Woody.”
“Please tell me he’s as hot as I’m picturing.”
“Er…”
“Jessie,” she prompts.
“Yeah, he’s pretty hot.”
She squeals in delight. “You’ve not even been there a day and you’ve found yourself a cowboy. Good going, sis.”
“Lizzie, I have not. I don’t even know if—”
“Oh shush, I can practically hear you blushing from here.” My body temperature spikes as images of him, his hard, angry eyes, strong cheekbones and square jaw fill my mind. Top that off with his cowboy hat and I’m practically panting with need.
I need to get a grip. This guy is my new boss.
“Can we change the subject, please?” I beg.
“Fine, fine. But when he pops your cherry, I want to know all about it.”
I mumble some kind of agreement and she starts asking about the ranch.
By the time I’ve had a shower and changed into fresh clothes, Austin is nowhere to be seen. Pulling open the refrigerator, I find it’s pretty sparse, I find some butter and cheese, but mostly it’s just beer.
Grabbing the bread, I make myself a sandwich and sit in the window seat, looking out over the countryside beyond as I eat it. It looks stunning with the sun getting lower and lower. My muscles ache to go and explore, so the second I’ve finished, I put the plate in the sink and find my boots.
4
Clay
Trying to figure out how the computer system works to pull up the names of the people who are supposed to be checking in tomorrow eventually gets the better of me. I’m not designed to be sitting behind a desk. I need to be outside getting my hands dirty.
Turning off the monitor, I push the chair out behind me, grab my hat and march from the house. My muscles are aching to do something, so I head toward the barn where I know there’s hay that needs sorting.
Tomorrow marks the start of our busy season with the cherry festival just around the corner. It’s really not the time I need my aunt in the hospital with my uncle sitting vigil at her bedside. The thought of the hospital sends shivers down my spine. I fucking hate that hospital. My uncle keeps me updated with her condition, but really there hasn’t been much change since she was thrown off a horse a few days ago. She’s still unconscious with swelling on the brain and a shattered pelvis and legs. They’re confident she’s going to wake up, but no one can predict what kind of damage the swelling’s going to have caused. I know my uncle’s terrified of what the future might hold. I feel totally useless, so I’m here doing the only thing I can think of to help lift some of his stress.
I’ve worked on this ranch for as long as I can remember. I love being out in the fields with the horses, getting my hands dirty building or repairing the fences. But I’ve never paid any attention to my aunt’s side of the business. I have no fucking clue how she organizes who’s checking in and out and ensuring each cabin is ready for new guests, or how Chef knows how much he should be preparing each day. She was always singing the praises of the computer system she invested in not so long ago, but it’s not doing me much good right now. I can just about log on to the damn thing and that’s about it.
The sun’s about to set behind the mountains in the distance when I step from the house, I suck in a large lungful of fresh air before making my way to the barn. A couple of people smile and nod, including Austin as he walks one of the hors
es in from the pasture but thankfully no one stops me to say anything. I’m really not in the mood for bullshit conversation right now. If I were in town, I’d be heading for the gym or a bar to find a woman to take my frustration out on. There are fewer options out here, so lugging hay around it is.
The barn’s a mess. It’s the kind of job my uncle usually gets me to do when I visit, but with us both being preoccupied it’s been forgotten.
Placing my hat on a bale by the door, I reach back and pull my shirt over my head before setting to work.
I feel much more myself once my muscles start pulling with the effort it takes to move each bale. I’m lost in my own head, images of the little blonde in the doorway earlier filling my mind when I sense some movement behind me. Disappointed that my peace is about to be disturbed, I turn.
“Well, don’t just stand there. Get over here and help.”
I expect it to be Austin, but when I look up, I realize I’m very, very wrong because standing in the entrance to the barn with her eyes running over every sweaty inch of me is the woman who was just starring in my very dirty fantasies.
Her hair is loose and hanging over one shoulder, her earlier shirt has been replaced by a green one and she’s wearing another pair of skin-tight jeans that accentuate the roundness of her hips, and if she would turn around, I’m sure her ass looks mighty fine too.
She startles when her eyes find mine. We stare at each other for a beat before she must remember I said something.
“Oh…uh…sure.” She slips her shirt from her shoulders and drops it on top of mine, leaving her in just a white tank top. “Where do you want me?” She saunters over until she’s so close, her scent fills my nose and makes my mouth water.
Flirty Ever Afters: A Flirt Club Collection Page 23