by Nia Aria
The views are absolutely breathtaking from this vantage point, especially the one of the pristine lake in front of the home which has a small island in the middle with trees on it. I immediately think this has to be a mistake, but then remember all that Beau had known about this place.
"Whelp, there you go, kiddo. I have to be getting home to my Maddi. She'll have my hide if I'm late for Family Feud," he says as he places the last of my things on the sprawling steps leading up to an enormous double wooden door.
"Thank you so much for the ride, Beau. I really appreciate you coming to my rescue.”
"Aw shucks, girl, was nothing ain't nobody else around these parts wouldn't do. You have yourself a nice stay. I'm sure you'll just love Norma Ray," he replies as he hobbles back to his truck and continues on the circular driveway.
Well, this is it.
I haul my items up the stairs and put them by the door. I'm winded by the time I get all the bags onto the porch. I'm 5'3 and about as big as a pixie, as my dad likes to say. Moving all this luggage to the landing wasn't easy. I hadn't planned on bringing this much inside with me, but with my car breaking down I had no choice but to take it all.
I am panting as I knock on the wooden door and wait..and wait. I peer in the side window and see a roaring fire burning inside of a huge stone-lined fireplace. There is also a moose head mounted above it and I swear it's looking right back at me.
Inside what I am assuming is the family room, is an enormous tobacco colored leather sectional that can easily seat at least fifteen people, if not more. I can also see the grand entryway, as well as a gigantic antler chandelier that hangs from a massive ceiling with its exposed wood beams.
It looks so cozy and warm in there that I find myself longing to be inside sitting by that fire drinking a nice cup of cocoa with those teeny marshmallows.
If there is a fire going, someone must be home.
I hesitate, but then realize I can't stand out here forever. It was blazing hot this morning, but now that the sun is gone it is quite chilly. I am still dressed in my short shorts and a racerback tank top. Not exactly the most appropriate interview wear. I had planned on changing before I got here, but I didn't have the heart to ask Beau to pull over so I could put on different clothing and a little makeup.
I try placing my hand on the door and giving it a little shove, but it doesn't budge. I then push down on the ornate wrought-iron handle and the huge door slowly opens.
"Hello? Is anybody here? Norma Ray?" I call out into the sprawling foyer.
I creep further into the house and think I hear a sound coming from the right side of the home. I make my way towards the noise and it definitely sounds like a door opening.
I round the corner and immediately think I must have died and gone to heaven. This is the most decked out kitchen I have ever seen. It is even larger than my culinary school's entire cooking space. There are multiple Wolf gas ranges in gleaming stainless steel, a huge butcher block center island with gorgeous Mauviel copper pans hanging above it, two farm style sinks, an industrial sized Kitchen Aid mixer, and that is the exact moment my heart stops
The Sub-Zero refrigerator doors are wide open and inside it stands the most enormous man I have ever laid eyes on. He has to be at least 6'5, with sun-kissed bronze skin, a wide muscular back and a towel wrapped around his thick waist. On his face is a gloriously full beard that has me wondering what it would feel like between my thighs, and his head is tipped back as he is finishing what appears to be a beer. The man even makes swallowing liquid look sexy.
It is almost as if I am in a trance and can't wake up. I watch his throat work as he finishes off the amber liquid and imagine running my hands up his muscular back and broad shoulders. I feel warmth creeping up my neck, I'm certain my cheeks are flushed. My panties instantly become wet and it is difficult to breathe, this was definitely a first. I have never been affected by a man like this, ever.
I instantly sense a connection to him, and I haven't seen his complete face yet. Reality sets in that I've been holding my breath the entire time and my mouth quickly opens for some much-needed oxygen.
It is at that very moment that Mr. Towel Man decides to turn around and everything happens in slow motion. I feel the earth shift beneath my feet. We both just stare at each other for what seems to be an eternity before I hear the deepest, sexiest voice ask, "Who the hell are you and how did you get into my house?".
Five
Ridge
I stay in the shower for what must be at least thirty minutes. My muscles are sore, and I am bone tired. My cock hangs thick and heavy between my thighs and I think about rubbing one out but figure what's the point, all that does is scratch the surface.
I miss the taste and smell of a woman. Shit, it's been years since I've gotten laid. The last time I had a woman was when I got conned into going to the Cattlemen's Convention in Denver a few years ago that Gauge was supposed to attend. He had to have his appendix removed or some shit, so I had to pinch-hit for him. Linda, or maybe it was Laura, was a welcomed distraction. We both knew when we left the bar together that evening that a night of fucking was all it was ever going to be. We didn't even exchange phone numbers.
Ranching life in these parts just doesn't leave much time for dating, and unless you want to pick up one of the women from the local watering hole, along with a possible STD, there aren't many options. Most of my ranch hands have been through those women anyway, not going there. I remember when Buck, one of the wranglers, was itching for days and had to go see Doc Anderson. The hands still give him shit all these years later.
I decide to finish up my shower and grab a cold beer. I have a nice fire going downstairs and I'd set the DVR to record a new crime series before I left that sounded like it was going to be pretty good. Looks like it was shaping up to be another exciting Friday night.
I pad naked out of the shower and glance at myself in the mirror as I run my hands down my full beard. I don't think I look too bad for a thirty-six-year-old man; ranch life keeps me more than fit. My brothers give me shit about the beard I have worn these last few years, but I like it, so fuck 'em. At 6'5, 270 bs. there aren't many clothing stores around these parts that stock clothes that will fit my wide barrel chest, muscular arms, and thighs. Going into town is about as exciting as getting gored by a bull, but I am going to need some more winter clothes soon.
I'll try to get out that way this weekend if I have time.
I grab a towel off the drying rack and walk barefoot towards my bedroom on the heated tile floors while drying off. Yes, I have heated floors, I spend nearly every waking moment on this ranch and wanted to spare no expense while remodeling it a couple years ago. The work was mostly completed by me when I had the time, but I eventually had to call in one of my contractor buddies for help to get it done and it turned out just the way I wanted.
The only thing that is missing from my life is the love of a good woman. I had hoped to fill all of the seven bedrooms in this 15,000 square foot house with kids one day, but that hope is slowly fading. I often think maybe I should build a smaller house somewhere else on our land, but all the memories keep me here. I grew up in this home, but it is starting to look like the buck will stop here.
I am sick and tired of my parents asking me when I am going to get married. Hell, at this point they'll probably just settle for a grandkid. I keep telling my parents to leave me be and to give Gauge and Gunner shit. They handle the business side of the ranch and they always seem to have extra time on their hands. Bother them with the marriage and baby bullshit. I'm starting to realize it's just not in the cards for me.
I wrap a towel around my waist and walk down the stairs towards the kitchen to grab that well-deserved cold beer. The thought did cross my mind about joining one of those dating sites like Fumble or whatever, but I heard the ranch hands talking about their experiences with it and decided against it. If fate wants me to have a woman in my life, she is just going to have to drop her in my lap.
&n
bsp; Six
Ridge
I open the double doors of the Sub-Zero refrigerator and see that Norma Ray had replenished my favorite beer while I was out moving cattle. God, I love that woman, how in the hell am I ever going to find someone to take over for her eventually? There is no way I'll find someone who can make biscuits and gravy like she can. And her pot roast? Don't even get me started.
I pop the top off the beer bottle and drink half of it in one gulp. I stand inside the cool refrigerator doors and polish off the rest when I hear what sounds like a sharp intake of breath. I turn around to find an honest to god angel standing right in the middle of my kitchen, well an angel or a fairy.
I blink a few times and even shake my head to make sure I am not dreaming. Her hair is a mess of loose chestnut-colored curls and it falls well past her teeny waist. It is the kind of hair a man can wrap his hand around while driving his cock into her from behind, the kind you want to wake up to and see spread out all over her pillow.
I can see that her eyes are the color of liquid chocolate as she stares at me, hardly blinking. Her lips are full and pink, not the fake looking bullshit, hers are definitely real. She currently has that bottom lip worried inside her teeth. Fuck, that does me in.
My eyes continue to travel down her body, and they land on her chest. Her breasts are full and firm and look to be almost too big to be supported by such a teeny frame. She clearly isn't wearing a bra and from my vantage point, she doesn't need one. The angel fairy is wearing a fitted black deep V-neck tank top that shows off the swell of her luscious tits, with a pair of white cutoff shorts that are so tiny they are on the verge of being obscene. I can even see the pockets peeking out from the front of them. I'm certain if she bends over for me, I'll get a glimpse of what is between her sweet legs. I am jealous of what that denim gets to hold.
I want to cover her up so nobody else can see her like this and stare at her all at the same time. My cock is instantly hard, and I am fairly sure she can now see my towel tenting out in front of me. The angel (I decided she must be an angel), can't be more than 5'3 and I'm guessing around a hundred pounds soaking wet.
I am not even sure if she is of legal age yet and here I am lusting after her like a fucking horny teenager. Sweet Lord, if she's real please let her be of age. Thoughts start running through my head about fate dropping a woman in my lap, but that can't be it. This has to be something my dumbass brothers put her up to and I'm not falling for it. When I finally can find my voice and move my lips, I say the first thing that comes to mind.
"Who the hell are you and how did you get into my house?"
Seven
Ashlynn
"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry! I'm Ashlynn, and I am here to interview for the chef's position with Norma Ray. I was told to ask for her or Gauge when I arrived, but my car broke down about an hour south of here and I wasn’t able to make it by five. My cell phone is kind of a piece and I didn't have any reception, but luckily a nice gentleman named Beuford, I mean Beau, happened to be driving by and he offered to give me a lift to the ranch.”
I feel like I am speaking a thousand miles a minute. Holy hell, this man belongs on the cover of Men's Fitness.
"I'm obviously very late. I am sorry, but no one answered the door when I knocked a few minutes ago, and I had nowhere else to go. I thought Norma Ray might have been in the kitchen and maybe she just didn't hear the door.”
So I break into his house? God, could I sound anymore lame? Seriously, why didn't I just wait outside like a normal person? Hopefully he doesn't call the police on me. I don't need to add jail time to today's list. That would be the icing on the cake. I silently pray that my grandma has enough money to bail me out. Maybe if I'm polite I can make my way back out the front door.
"I'm fairly certain I've botched up my chances for the job at this point, so I'll just head out. If you wouldn't mind letting me use your phone so I can make arrangements to get my car towed and find a hotel for the night, I would really appreciate it." I continue with my eyes cast low. I'm afraid if I look up, he'll see just how affected I am by his presence. I have no idea how I’ll be able to pay for a hotel tonight, let alone afford to have my vehicle fixed so I can head back to Arizona.
"No," he quickly replies, his voice so gruff and deep it gives me goosebumps.
His response surprises me and I look up into his beautiful green eyes and take in his full beard and lips.
"Wha— what do you mean no? I promise I'll be out of your hair in no time. I don't even mind waiting outside, totally fine with that. My phone has been acting up, well to be honest I bought a really crappy cell phone and—” that's all I manage to get out before I am interrupted.
What is this guy's problem? I get that I'm late, ok extremely late, but does he have to be such a jerk about it? I told him I don't mind waiting outside. Is he seriously expecting me to not make arrangements and walk to town? It's pitch-black outside.
"Where are you from, Ashlynn?" he cautiously asks. I can see that he obviously doesn't trust me, which is understandable considering I walked into his house like a lunatic and discovered him in nothing but a towel. A very lucky towel that I'd love to see slip even just a little, or a lot. I need to stop lusting after this beautiful man and figure out how I can leave without a police escort.
"I'm from a small town outside of Sedona, Arizona. I left my house yesterday morning and drove here to interview for the chef’s position that was posted online. I stayed the night in Ogden at um, a cozy motel and I made the rest of the drive this morning. I've talked with Norma Ray over the course of the last week and she invited me to the ranch to cook for the ranch hands. She wants to see if I will be a good fit." What I didn't tell him was that the place I stayed at was sketchy at best and that the motel clerk gave me the creeps. I was actually surprised to find my car untouched in the parking lot, obviously nobody wanted my old Camry but me.
"From what I understand, Norma Ray will still take care of cooking on the weekends and occasionally some weekdays, but this position requires the chef to live in one of the cabins on the ranch and prepare all the meals Monday through Friday," I tell him hoping he will have a shred of kindness after hearing this and he'll let me use his phone now.
"How old are you, Ashlynn?" he asks as his head turns slightly to the side.
"I'm almost nineteen," I reply as I notice his shoulders visibly become a little less tense.
"Name’s Ridge and this is my family's ranch. Gauge is my younger brother. Norma Ray is like a second mother to us. I had no idea plans were in the works to get her some help around here until this afternoon, and I definitely didn't know we were expecting someone today.” He says as he looks down at his towel.
"Norma Ray lives a few miles up the road. I'm certain she's home resting, and Gauge left about an hour ago. Let me go change and I'll come back and show you to your room for the night," he commands. He walks out of the kitchen and leaves me standing there as he disappears from my sight towards the grand staircase.
Part of me is sad that he will no longer be in that towel. I might be a virgin, but I'm not naive. I definitely saw that he was aroused, and he's not small. Anywhere.
I finally calm my breathing after he leaves the kitchen and try to ascertain what had just happened. I unknowingly walked into a strange man's home and he just so happens to be fine as hell. He looks to be older than me, I'd guess he is probably in his mid 30's. With a home this size, I’m sure his wife and children are somewhere in this sprawling mansion. Ridge would never go for someone as young as me, even if he wasn't married. There was this weird electricity in the air, though. I wonder if he felt it too. Maybe all those hours on the road made me loopy. I can't recall ever being so affected like this by another male. I can still feel the dampness in my panties, and I am mortified at the thought that my potential new boss's boss had been the cause of it.
Eight
Ridge
“Fucking hell,” I say aloud to myself as I walk into my bedroom.
Not even twenty minutes ago I was telling fate that she'd have to drop a woman in my lap if she wants me to have one, and now the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life magically appears in my kitchen. Literally. Speaking of which, thank fuck she is of age. I had to ask how old she was just to be certain. I know I'm eighteen years older than her, but I don't give a damn. She sealed her fate the second she told me she was almost nineteen. That little girl doesn't know it yet, but she walked into the lion's den. Ashlynn is mine, and I dare someone to tell me any different.
She has the freshest face, completely void of any makeup—not that she needed any. Her skin looked as though it would feel like the most expensive silk money could buy. Her tank top had ridden up a little and I could see just a hint of her flat stomach.
I groan out loud at the memory. I'd laugh at this whole situation, but my cock is so damn hard I can't even see straight. I can't go down there again in this condition. That's all I need is to scare my little angel away. Hell, she'd probably see the monster in my pants and take off running into the night. There are bears and mountain lions that roam this land. It isn't safe to be out alone during the day if you don't know your way around this ranch, let alone at night. A little thing like her wouldn't stand a chance.
I don't know why, but I feel this fierce need to protect her. When she told me she drove here over the course of the last two days and that she had stayed at what I'm assuming was some shitty motel in Ogden, I almost lost it and immediately saw red. Anything could have happened to her along the way. Thank God Beau happened by and not some lowlife. I'll have to remember to stop by Beau and Maddi's place this weekend and drop off a bottle of his favorite whiskey and some of our award-winning pasture-raised Angus steaks to thank him.