by Fifi Flowers
She seemed to like my statement and exclaimed, “Damn right!” It seemed to rile her up and she began listing off more of her story. “I had packed up my SUV with my art stuff, all of my clothes, necessities, and hit the road. Arriving early this morning at the hotel, I walked right up to the front desk clerk and gave him my name, and told him that I had an appointment with the manager. He picked up the phone and buzzed someone, that person immediately arrived at the desk and ushered me to a manager’s office. I knew something was up.”
“Like being sent to the principal’s office?”
“Yes! Exactly, though I never had that experience.” She looked at me for a time like she was waiting for me to confess or she was giving me that look that said, I bet you were a bad boy. Though I wasn’t, but my brother, he was another story. “Anyhow,” she continued, “someone came, shortly thereafter, delivering coffee and pastry. People seemed frantic. The manager finally arrived after I waited for over two hours. And without an apology for his tardiness, he informed me that the place was being taken over by a hostile merger: Your job is cancelled. Keep the deposit. Now, get the hell out!”
She laughed, shaking her head and biting on her perfectly biteable bottom lip. “He didn’t say that, but he might as well have.” And just as she finished her story in a much calmer fashion than at the gas station, our food arrived. She was so fucking adorable, less like a crazy person.
She was actually funny, charming, and witty. I loved her spunkiness in general and her enthusiasm for food. When our two messy burgers sandwiched between buns that looked like cattle branded English muffins along with Belgian style fries arrived they were accompanied by every sauce they offered. Jade couldn’t make up her mind when our server named off each one earlier when we ordered. The food was great, and if only we weren’t heading off on a long drive, I would’ve loved to try one of their many beers—I could’ve used one at that moment. As she was starting to relax, I was beginning to head in the opposite direction.
There was something about her that I couldn’t quite figure out, that was telling me that I may be crazy for what I was about to propose. I didn’t even really know her. For that matter, she didn’t know me either. What the fuck? She shouldn’t be going off with a complete stranger. I could be a rapist or a serial killer, I’m not, but she didn’t know that. Yet, there was something very familiar about her. She really scared the shit out of me. Why? Because seeing her sitting across from me at that moment, she looked like my future. What told me that? I couldn’t pinpoint one certain thing. It was maybe a gut feeling or maybe just nothing more than lust. After all she was fucking hot!
And what the hell, once I opened my mouth, there was no going back. I basically offered her room and board along with a portion of what the big hotel chain was offering her. There were ten cabins that existed on the ranch, five more under construction, one near completion. There was also the main lodge that housed a lobby, dining room, kitchen and a few offices, and lodging for special guests, like visiting family members. The only other building occupiable by people on the property was my personal log cabin, and housing for the stable hands. Certainly, I could tuck her away somewhere, though not in my quarters, that was totally not happening.
Though my brain or maybe my lower thinking cap said bring her in, use all of her skills, my logical side focused on her legitimate job description. Focused, I managed to run through a brief description of the existing artwork—if you wanted to call it art—that hung in all of the structures. The old, dated, yet nicely framed, posters really did need to be replaced. I really hadn’t given them much thought as the rooms had been updated with new paint and the furnishings had been freshened up with new upholstery and linens. But hearing her talk about art setting a new tone, I was excited to have her. Excited to have her artwork change the rooms. Give them new life. That’s what I meant.
Finishing my boss to potential employee speech in a rapid, rambling similar to the lovely redhead before me, I wasn’t sure if she was having second thoughts or she was reading my tense body language. Or maybe she finally wanted more information about the stranger drawing her in, as she started asking me questions that had nothing to do with what was ahead of us. For all I knew she was going to thank me for lunch, run to her car, and speed away. Part of me wished she would, while the other part wanted her to stay with me forever. My brain was truly fucked up!
“Okay.” She wiped her lush lips and placed her napkin on the table next to her partially eaten food. “Where were you coming from?” Smart girl. I was correct, she was feeling me out. Casual questions, but an investigation nonetheless.
“I made a trip back home for a family wedding then had some business down in Los Angeles. I’m looking forward to getting back to the ranch, I’ve had my fill of city life. It always reminds me of why I ran away from there.”
“You ran away from home?” A smirk graced her face.
“Not in the way you think.” I snickered at the thought of me carrying a knapsack on a stick, hobo style, hopping freight trains. “I had a nice upbringing, I just never felt like I belonged. I’ve watched old western movies since I was a kid, the idea of being a cowboy always appealed to me. Once my parents took me to a dude ranch one summer, I was sure that I belonged living in the country. San Francisco is the complete opposite.”
“Yes, I would say that is not exactly cowboy country. How long have you been gone?” she asked looking me over, sizing me up.
“Thirteen years.”
My answer caused her brows to raise and her head to tilt. “You don’t look old enough to be away from home that long.”
“I left San Fran for a more rural college. I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian, but changed to a degree in agricultural development. My interests evolved as I became more involved in farming organic produce. The thought of being a farmer was more appealing to me. Then the ranch kind of fell into my lap. I’m grateful that it did…” My speech faltered as I remembered how the ranch came to be mine. Not all of it made me happy, but for the most part it did. Snap out of it. No getting melancholy. “We better get going. You done?”
“Yes. I’m stuffed. That was a lot of food. Anymore and I’d need a nap.”
“We can’t have you falling asleep behind the wheel. Let’s go grab a couple of fully leaded cups of coffee and head out. Along the way if you want to stop, just flash your headlights in case our cell phones don’t have a signal.” When she looked me straight in the eye, I noticed a little sauce next to her lips. I should have pointed it out, but my thumb had a mind of its own. Swiping her flawless skin, my body heated. Then instead of wiping the excess sauce off on my napkin, I proceeded to lick the delicious condiment from my digit, and watched her reaction. What followed, was an obvious rise and fall of her breasts along with a gasp. For me, a slight tightening of my denims.
Clearing her throat, she started to say something then stopped as if she was about to redirect her words, maybe to something on safer ground. I was relieved and disappointed at the same time that naughty words didn’t escape those lips that I was ready to attack. “Like th… Gotcha. Ready to ride out, Cowboy. I’ll be right behind you. Hot on your trail. I mean following you. I hope you’re not leading me astray,” she said with a hint of nervous laughter. I would guess that being nervous was normal, she was taking a job from a total stranger. One that fed her, and was about to lead her across a couple state lines.
I almost started laughing with her, thinking of being kids and playing games (tag, hide and seek, follow the leader) or hearing stories. She was truly fucking with my mind, I thought, as I began to think about Hansel and Gretel with their trail of bread crumbs, maybe that one wasn’t right, they were laying a trail to find their way back home, but they did almost end up in an oven. Lured with promises of treats by a stranger. That wasn’t a completely logical example, however, I wasn’t thinking logical where she was concerned. Maybe the pied piper luring the rats to the river was a better one. Shit, that sounded bad! Oh I know, Cowboys and
Indians; my brother, the Indian, always tricked me into following his clues then he ambushed me, that’s kind of creepy, too. I swear, I was thinking of these things in an innocent way, I would never hurt or harm her—I only thought of pleasuring her immensely when I looked at her.
There was still time for either of us to change our minds. She could turn out of the parking lot in the opposite direction. I could gun it and leave her in the dust. Neither thing happened, I pulled out on to the highway heading east, and her sport utility vehicle trailed after me. Yep, a hotter than hot, crayon-red haired woman with an amazing body was following me home, and I was having a hard time focusing on the road.
I had visions of her undressed, spread out on my bed before nightfall in my brain. Nope, that was not happening, not that night, or ever. She was going to stay in one of the ranch hand rooms, out in the barn—far from me and my fantasies. All of the cabins were currently rented so that was the only option to accommodate her. Once one opened, it would be hers for the duration of her employment. I should’ve offered her the use of a guest room in my house, but that was not a good idea.
Needing to get my mind back on track, I made mental to-do lists in my mind. After talking to my brother, I had things to reorganize with the lodge kitchen. He and I talked about his involvement with the ranch. Bringing in new staff, menus, making the offerings more gourmet, but still rustic country. Inventory time: What did I have already? What did he need? Though I wasn’t a foodie like him, I did like fresh food, good food. Though we had a pretty decent menu at the ranch, I agreed that it could use a bit of updating. I was actually looking forward to working with Spencer, my brother.
I had just taken full control of the place in the last year and I was slowly, but surely making changes. Keeping what was working, improving the rest. My list was forever being added to. The last meeting with attorneys in LA had my mind reeling. Things were airtight, but there was the possibility of another person coming forward. The two pains in the asses were shit out of luck, greedy bastards—never liked them from the moment they showed up. I had the overwhelming urge to punch one of them, or better yet, slam the two bastards’ heads together.
Flashing headlights from Jade’s car behind me brought my blood pressure back down while reminding me of my newest pretty dilemma. I can do this. A quick restroom break then we would continue our journey down the highway. She was just another employee. Back on the road, I began to put together a list for her too: Paint the barn, stables, corral, the horses, some of the wildflowers, a meadow, a tent, ten cabins, one painting per cabin. How many for the lodge? How long did it take her per painting? Yes, making lists was good, I needed to stick to business thoughts.
But I couldn’t lie to myself, it was difficult as hell to keep focused on our business relationship when I saw her constantly in my rearview mirror. I dare or challenge any heterosexual male to look at her and not think unprofessional, carnal thoughts. My brain had turned to total mush over the last few hours, first sitting and talking with Jade over one of the most enjoyable meals I had ever shared with a woman. She was thoroughly entertaining. Then knowing she was only a mere car length away, following me, suddenly, I hoped that she would take a very long time to complete her work on the ranch. How long could I keep her busy? Maybe I could get her more jobs in the area. Good thinking! I shook my head, and got back to adding to my mental lists. They took me away from her beauty and lessened the ache I felt for her. Yes, keep telling yourself that. Let’s face it, Sage, you’re in trouble with this one.
CHAPTER THREE
Jade
I couldn’t believe that I had followed a stranger to lunch, agreed to work for him, then got in my car to follow him for miles through the desert to his ranch. Seriously, I’ve seen those scary movies how they lured teens to the woods, and then brought out the knives and chainsaws. Don’t talk to strangers! Don’t take candy from strangers! Don’t get into cars with strangers! At least I was in my own car, right? I don’t think that really made a difference if he was a psycho killer, I was following him.
Not crazy. I was not insane. I was a pretty good judge of character. I was around strangers all the time, only they were putting their faith in my hands. Growing up on the beach, new people always came into town. When your family owns a local surf shop and offered surfing lessons, you were always in the company of strangers. Well trained in surfing by the time I was a teenager, I gave lessons too. So, don’t talk to strangers really was never said very often.
The cowboy in front of me seemed like a genuinely nice person. He didn’t give off any spooky vibes—being near him, I got just the opposite feeling. Like, if I’d met him in a different situation, let’s say a bar and he offered me a drink, he might have been getting a reward for quenching my thirst. He was not only kind, but hot as hell! I nearly lost all control and threw myself into his lap when he sucked sauce that was on my lips from his thumb. It was a good thing we weren’t riding in the same car, but then again, it was a damn shame he was hidden by his truck. I could’ve sat for hours and stared into his dazzling blue eyes. His body looked awfully fit in his clothes. Imagining that fine slab of man wearing only his cowboy hat with a hint of light brown hair beneath had me tingling and humming. I had to laugh when I realized what song was vibrating on my lips, and my thoughts turned instantly to someone else.
I felt like Jinxie when I found myself singing “I wanna be a cowgirl… so you can be my cowboy…” following one hot, ass cowboy across the desert. Ha! That song always made me think of her. Funny though, she never liked cowboys or Western movies. When she caught me watching one, she flipped it off or walked out of the room. But I often caught her with a smile… or sometimes a frown on her face singing or humming how she wanted to be a cowgirl.
She was so excited when I announced that I was packing up and hitting the road to find a cowboy. Not exactly my full plan, but I figured there was a much better chance of finding one in Arizona than in my hometown, along the Pacific Ocean. A real cowboy. I was sure she wasn’t cheering me on to find a man. No, she was jumping up and down, clapping about the road trip element.
Jinxie loved hitting the open highway with her surf buddies as a teenager. Her mother and father hated it. After her first escape alone at eighteen there was no stopping her, she was an adult, she had her own transportation, and she had her own money. They worried like crazy waiting for her to check in with them from some payphone she stumbled upon. The invention of cellular phones made them very happy, but communication was the least of their worries, really. Gone on her first road trip for the entire summer of ’84, she returned with me implanted in her womb.
After I was born they begged her not to take me on the road. They’d known her long enough to know she was ready to roam. She promised for a couple of years. Once I was up and walking everywhere though, off we went. I was too young to remember where she took me. But I’ve seen photos of Jinxie and me together in unfamiliar places until I was old enough to talk about our adventures. Spilling too many details, she stopped taking me on certain road trips.
I understood the appeal of traveling alone, when I left home a couple days ago, I loved the solitude. Playing my current favorite Pandora Lady Antebellum station, I loved to sing along—whether I could carry a tune or not. Singing loud and perhaps the wrong words, made up ones and maybe a bit off key, no one corrected me or told me to shut the hell up. Ha!
Being on my own timetable, I could stop when I wanted. I knew when I had to be at the hotel, so I planned to photograph some of the red rock areas, and hit a spa resort in Sedona before I began work. I checked in to the beautiful L’Auberge. Such a beautiful place, I wished that that was the location I would be painting. Listening to the stream running through the property was so relaxing, soothing, calming. Especially when it was lulling me practically to sleep while I enjoyed an outdoor massage the following day.
First thing in the morning, I sat outside on the patio enjoying a light breakfast before heading out with my camera in hand. I snap
ped a number of photos around the resort as I made my way to the car. Damn! Six months living and painting at that location would be awesome. I sighed as I started the engine.
Heading in one direction, I went to a popular place for jumping off rocks into what looked like dangerous water below. A lot of people were doing it. I wanted to hold my breath every time someone sailed through the air, then went down, down, down. The splash sound was a relief, I didn’t want to hear splat. Apparently a few days before, three boys drowned while trying to save each other. That’s what I heard as I stood and watched a bit too long, as my nerves were getting frazzled.
Moving on to an area filled with red rock formations, I began to snap away, again. Some of the rocks reminded me of the beach. Sitting in the wet sand just out of the waves’ reach, dripping wet clumps on top of each other to build, what else, a sandcastle. Nature was incredible. Big sculptures, created by Mother Nature, set against a bright cobalt blue sky. I loved the greenery that grew around the area. And the wildflowers that just spurted up here and there. I wished that I had brought my portable paint kit. I wished I had more time to sit and sketch—to stroke my brush across a sheet of watercolor paper. However, I would have to be happy with painting what I had captured on film, in my spare time.
Speaking of time, it was almost the pampering hour. Stopping for a yummy ice cream cone down the road from the resort, I sat looking at the little town while sitting on a bench. So different from the beach. No cool breeze blowing off the ocean. Just a lot of heat that was creating a sweat on my brow and a sticky mess running down my hand. One more lick and the rest of my cone was tossed in a trash can.
Stripped of the sugary disaster, I hopped in the shower for a brief wash down to clean up and cool off before strong hands worked out the kinks in my body. Though it was a little strange at first to be naked in the open, I quickly melted into the table positioned near the ever rushing stream. It was the calm before the storm, the damn cancellation!