Touch Me Boss: A Single Dad Office Romance

by Aria Ford

  “If you wish to take a short nap I can leave,” Marie said. “I will come back and help you get dressed a little later.”

  “That would be great,” Mary Jane said. “I am tired after my trip. Give me about an hour and come back and wake me.”

  Mary Jane didn’t even bother to put anything on before she laid across the bed. The towel was large enough to completely wrap around her and it was much cooler than anything she had in her bags. She was asleep almost instantly.

  True to her word, Marie returned in an hour. Mary Jane awoke with a start when she heard the knock on the door. It took her a minute to remember where she was, but suddenly she realized that Carl could return at any minute, and she needed to be ready.

  Chapter 3

  Thirty minutes later Mary Jane was seated on the settee wearing her new dress that she had purchased for her wedding. Instead of the traditional wedding gown she had chosen a light blue dress that complimented her eyes. Marie had arranged her hair in curls on the top of her head, and she had to admit, it felt much cooler. She looked down the street and spotted Carl heading her way. She took a deep breath, realizing that the time for her wedding was at hand.

  Carl knocked on the door to alert Mary Jane of his arrival. He sucked in his breath when she opened the door wearing a beautiful blue dress and a new hairdo. He had not expected such a transformation, but the dress highlighted her blonde hair and took his eyes directly to her blue eyes. He was well pleased with this woman who stood in front of him.

  “Are you ready to go to the justice of the peace,” Carl asked.

  “Yes, I am ready,” she said. “I hope you are not too disappointed that I did not bring a wedding gown, but I figured that this one can be worn to church. It seemed like a waste of money to purchase a gown that would be worn only once.”

  “I am not disappointed at all,” he said. “I think you made a wise choice. You look quite lovely.”

  Mary Jane felt her cheeks brighten at his compliment. She was not delusional and she knew that she was no beauty, but his compliment pleased her.

  “Well, Miss Luther, I think it is time for us to tie the knot,” Carl said.

  Carl held out his arm for Mary Jane and once again she was both surprised and pleased that he was such a gentleman. Her hand was shaking slightly when she placed it in the crook of his arm. The day she had thought would never arrive was finally here. She was about to pledge the rest of her life to a man that she knew very little about, but she somehow felt like it was going to be a good life.

  Clearly the justice of peace had been waiting for them. He was standing behind a table that was lit with candles, and a woman handed Mary Jane a lovely bouquet of red roses. The light in the room reflected through stained glass windows, making it seem intimate and cozy. The beauty of the room was much more than Mary Jane had expected.

  Carl led Mary Jane to the front of the room where the man was waiting to unite them in marriage. They both recited their vows to each other, and before she knew what was happening the justice of the peace announced them husband and wife. She looked into Carl’s eyes when she realized that he was about to kiss her. This was real. She was legally married to this man, and it was his right to claim her with a kiss. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering when Carl took her in his arms and kissed her gently on the lips. It was the first time she had ever allowed a man such liberty and she hoped that her innocence would not disappoint him.

  After signing the marriage license the newly wedded couple walked back out into the bright sunlight of the day. Carl placed his arm around Mary Jane as they walked back in the direction of the hotel. It felt good to be held this close but Mary Jane was nervous about what was about to come. She knew that God allowed a husband and wife certain privileges that were to be kept strictly between the two of them, but she only had a base knowledge of what was involved. She had followed the commandments in the Bible and saved herself until she was married, but right now she was silently praying for God to give her strength to be pleasing to her husband.

  Two hours after the marriage ceremony Mary Jane was laying on the bed next to her husband. Carl had been very gentle and understanding of her innocence, making the experience much less intimidating. She really liked this man that she had married, and she was excited about their future together.

  Carl was having similar thoughts of his own. It seemed that God had sent him the perfect woman to stand by his side. Mary Jane was so much more than he had expected and he anticipated a lively future with her. He knew that she had to be somewhat afraid of being married to a stranger, but she embraced him willingly instead of cowering in fear. His life on the farm was going to be so much more enjoyable now that he had a woman to share his life with.

  Mary Jane watched as Carl stood up and pulled on his pants and shirt. He turned and smiled at her before announcing that he was going downstairs to order room service for them.

  “It has been a while since lunch,” he said. “Do you think you are ready for dinner?”

  “Yes, I am hungry,” she said. “I didn’t realize that marriage would work up such an appetite.”

  Carl grinned again before leaving to order their dinner. Mary Jane took stock of her new life. She was no longer an innocent girl who was about ready to give up on marriage. Now she was a woman who had been lucky enough to find a man who seemed perfect for her. God had indeed blessed her when He led her to Carl and she vowed she would spend the rest of her days being the best wife she could possibly be.

  Dinner turned out to be a lot more fun than lunch. Carl engaged her in lively conversation and teased her by hand feeding her chocolate covered strawberries.

  “Enjoy these while you can,” he said. “They are only here for a very short season.”

  Mary Jane had never tasted anything so good. She wasn’t sure whether the strawberries were that good, or if it was because Carl fed them to her. He laughed and put a strawberry up to her mouth only to pull it away as she was about to bite into it. They laughed and played with each other like they had known each other all of their lives. Yes, life with Carl was going to be good. She said a silent prayer of thanks that God had blessed her with a husband who she truly enjoyed.

  Chapter 4

  The sun shining through the window awoke the newlyweds the next morning. Carl slapped Mary Jane on the bottom and told her it was time to get up because he was starving. She turned over with a start and glared at him through sleepy eyes.

  “We can have breakfast in the hotel dining room and then we can do some shopping if you would like,” Carl said. “I don’t know what kind of clothes you brought, but I am sure the climate here is much warmer than you are used to. You might want to purchase something more suitable for the heat.”

  “Yes, I fear the heat is going to be the hardest thing for me to adapt to,” she said. “In the mountains there was always a cool breeze and the days were nothing like as hot as it is here.”

  The shopping trip turned out to be a much bigger excursion than she expected. She left the small shop with three new cotton dresses that were much cooler than anything she had brought with her. In addition to the dresses there were new boots, a colorful scarf, and a bonnet to protect her head from the sun. She also picked out some pretty fabric that she would use to sew more dresses and perhaps there would be enough left to fashion a quilt. She had protested the money that Carl was spending, but he insisted.

  “Once we leave town it will be a long time before we return,” he said. “The climate here is very hot in the summer, but often the winter months can be just as brutal. You will need enough clothes to last you until we come back to town. And besides, I can’t have my wife running around in rags. What would the men who work for me think?”

  “You have men who work for you,” she asked.

  “Yes,” he answered. My farm is large and I have several head of cattle. It is more than I could do alone. I have three men who live in the bunkhouse and help me with the daily chores. The life of a cattle farmer is
a very busy one, but it will be much better now that I have you waiting for me at the end of the day.”

  Mary Jane felt her cheeks color again at the implication. Would she ever get used to her new life and not blush every time Carl said something personal?

  “Come. Let’s take these purchases back to the room and then we will go for a wagon ride around town,” Carl said. “I’m sure you will enjoy seeing all of the sights.”

  She did indeed enjoy seeing the town. Carl pointed out various points of interests and explained them to her. They ate lunch, took in a play, and walked hand in hand to some of the local shops. Mary Jane couldn’t remember ever being this happy.

  “If it is okay with you we will leave for the farm first thing in the morning,” Carl said. “We can stay in town if you like, but there is really nothing more to do here. Besides, I am anxious for you to see your new home.”

  “I would love that,” she said. “I am looking forward to seeing the farm.”

  “You will especially enjoy it this time of year,” he said. “In a couple of weeks the cows will start birthing their young. The baby calves are always fun to watch. It is one of my favorite times of the year.”

  The following morning Carl checked out of the hotel and loaded the covered wagon that would take them home. Mary Jane was excited to be officially on her way home, but she was totally unprepared for the oppressive heat. The early morning started out fairly cool, but soon the hot sun was shining overhead, making her miserable. The trail they traveled was dry and dusty and before long she felt like she had dirt and grime on every inch of her body. She was determined not to complain, but she silently wondered if she would ever get used to the heat.

  Carl couldn’t help but notice the sweat that broke out on Mary Jane’s brow. He knew she was probably miserable, but he admired her for not complaining.

  “It will be much cooler for you if you ride in the covered part of the wagon,” Carl said. “I know that you are not yet used to the heat, and you don’t want to get sunburned.”

  Mary Jane had been determined to ride up front with Carl, but when he mentioned sunburn she decided to take his advice and take cover. She was instantly gratified to be away from the glaring sun. It didn’t take long for the rhythm of the wagon to lull her into a restful sleep.

  When the wagon came to a stop Mary Jane awoke from her nap feeling guilty that she had fallen asleep while Carl managed the horses. She peeked out of the wagon to find him standing beside a small body of water. He had unhooked the horses and they were enjoying a good drink. She eyed the water warily, wishing she could just jump in and cool off.

  Feeling like he was being watched, Carl turned to find Mary Jane awake.

  “Well, I see you finally woke up,” he said. “I hope you had a good nap.”

  “I am so sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “I am used to riding all day so it doesn’t bother me. You will get used to it in time. This is just one of the places that I always stop and allow the horses to get a drink. Just over the hill is a fresh stream if you are interested in freshening up a bit.”

  It was almost like he had read her mind. She hopped down from the wagon and started in the direction Carl had indicated. She hadn’t gone far when she heard a strange rattle. She looked down and discovered that she was about to step right in the middle of a rattlesnake. She gave a yelp and took off running, unmindful of the rough terrain. She caught her toe on something and suddenly the ground was coming up to meet her. Her breath made a whooshing sound when she landed flat on her stomach.

  Carl had heard the yelp and looked up in time to see Mary Jane hit the ground, causing a cloud of dust. He dropped the reins of the horses and ran up the hill to see if she was hurt.

  “What happened,” he asked. “Are you hurt?”

  “There was a rattlesnake and I almost stepped on it,” she answered. “You forgot to tell me that I had to watch for them,” she said almost sarcastically. “Now I am really a mess!”

  “It’s nothing that won’t wash out,” he laughed. “Now let me help you up and I will escort you the rest of the way. We can’t have you getting snake bit before we get to the farm.”

  Mary Jane stood up and brushed as much of the dust away as she could. Nothing was hurt except her pride, but now she was even more miserable with dirt and grit covering her entire body. Carl reached in his pocket and brought out a handkerchief.

  “Here, why don’t you take this and wash up a bit,” he said. “The water in the stream is very cool and is suitable for drinking. You will feel much better after a good, long drink.”

  Mary Jane snatched the handkerchief from his hand, still feeling the effects of her embarrassment. Carl was right about the water. It was very cool and refreshing. She took the handkerchief and washed as much of the dust off as she could before cupping her hands and getting a drink. The cool water tasted great and felt very good going down. When she stood up again she felt a little more human.

  “All better,” Carl asked.

  “Better,” she said. “I wish we could take this water with us.”

  “There are other streams along the way, but I fear they are several miles apart,” he said. “Now, let’s see if we can get you safely back to the wagon without upsetting a rattlesnake.”

  Carl let out a laugh when Mary Jane gave him a snarly look. His wife had a lot of things to learn about living in the west, and he looked forward to watching her learn. One thing he was sure of, life with Mary Jane was not going to be boring.

  Chapter 5

  They had been on the trail for four days when Carl told Mary Jane they would be arriving at the farm the following morning.

  “We will get a good night’s sleep tonight, but in the morning we will finally make it home,” he said.

  They couldn’t make it quick enough for Mary Jane. She felt dirty, hot, and miserable, but she did not dare complain. Carl was being very tolerant of her by allowing her to ride under the wagon cover, and he always stopped at the fresh water streams to allow her to freshen up. That didn’t take the place of a real bath, but at least it made her feel better for a while. She anxiously looked forward to sinking herself into a fresh tub of water and washing all of the grime off her body.

  The next morning Carl told Mary Jane that she could ride up front with him if she wanted.

  “We are not far from the farm and we will get there before the sun gets too hot,” he said. “Before long you will get your first glimpse of your new home.”

  “I am so ready,” she replied. “I fear that I have been a burden to you on this trip, but I promise you I will try my best to adjust to life on a farm.”

  “I realize that this is a very different lifestyle than you are used to, but I believe that you will come to love it as much as I do,” Carl said.

  It was a couple of hours later when Carl pulled the wagon to the top of a rise and pulled back on the reins of the horses to stop them. From the top of the hill Mary Jane could see fences filled with cattle, a very large barn, and nestled in a grove of trees was a stately house made of logs and boasting a big red front door. A long drive started with an arch that read Casa Farms and stopped at the front steps. At the side of the barn was a large body of water that looked cool and refreshing and just beyond it was another large building that she assumed would be the bunkhouse.

  “Welcome home,” Carl said.

  Mary Jane was speechless as she tried to take it all in. She had expected a small cabin with a barn and a few cattle, but this was far from that. The barn was huge, there were cattle everywhere, men were on horseback herding groups of the cattle to the water, and the house was quite large and inviting.

  “Carl, this is fantastic,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting anything this big or this grand.”

  “I really isn’t that big when compared to some of the neighbors, but it is enough for me,” he said. “I have enough work to keep the men busy, there is a roof over my head at
night, and there is plenty of food with fresh vegetables from the garden in the rear. I think I will probably turn the gardening chore over to you.”

  Carl snapped the reins and the horses started moving in the direction of the arch. He pulled the wagon up to the front steps of the house before stopping again.

  “We can get the wagon unloaded and then I will take the horses to the barn,” Carl said. “You can take the rest of today to get settled in while I catch up with the guys and find out what has been going on while I was away. Perhaps tomorrow I can give you a tour of the farm.”

  Carl grabbed a couple of bags from the wagon and started up the front steps. He opened the door to allow Mary Jane to enter before him. She could hardly contain her excitement to discover what was behind the door.

  Mary Jane stepped inside and stood still for a minute so that her eyes could adjust to her surroundings. She saw that on her right was a large room that she assumed was the sitting room. It was filled with a couple of rocking chairs, a large couch, end tables, and a huge fireplace. It looked surprisingly like a comfortable room, but not one that had been decorated by Carl.

  “This house was built by my father,” Carl said. “It is where I grew up. My mother was the one who decorated the entire house so you will probably find it to your liking. Feel free to make any changes that you want. I understand that a woman needs to make the home her own.”

  “I think this is lovely,” Mary Jane said. “Where are your parents now?”

  “They both lived out their lives happily here on the farm,” he said. “After my dad passed away my mother was just too lonely without him. I tried as best as I could to keep her happy, but she wanted to go on and be with dad. She died about a year after he did. They are buried here on the farm. When we take a tour I will take you to the cemetery if you wish.”

  “I would like that very much,” she said. “I am sorry that I did not get the chance to meet them.”