The Sweet Life

by Dakota Star

  Dr. Johnson stood as she joined them at the table. “It’s our makeshift conference room,” he said in way of a greeting.

  She offered Dr. Johnson her hand and noted the doctor’s handshake was firm, his palms rough from farm work like his son. Mitch was a few inches taller and about twenty pounds lighter than his dad. Dr. Johnson also had a thick gray beard that complemented his full white head of hair. His narrow legs made his barrel chest look bigger. He would have been intimidating, except for an engaging smile and cheerful blue eyes. He must have charmed a lot of patients in his days as a surgeon.

  “Sit. Let’s talk about your plans for the ranch,” Dr. Johnson said.

  “What would you like to know?” Alexis sat, sandwiched between him and Mitch. She took out her laptop to record notes.

  Mitch edged his chair closer to her. “What exactly are your plans for the place?”

  “I’m in the initial campaign stages now.” She met Dr. Johnson’s gaze. “I guess Mitch told you I was here last week to look around. I’ve never been to a dude ranch before, but I’ve ridden often.”

  “She has a good seat and strong legs.” Mitch smiled.

  Alexis blushed, remembering her almost fall.

  “On the horse,” he added, smile expanding.

  Dr. Johnson chuckled. “First, call me Marty. Tell me about what you noticed when you were here.”

  “I think there’s some updating needed.” Alexis looked around the dining hall, noting the larger windows overlooking the lake. “Mostly in the main hall and the guest rooms, but the food was great and the wranglers very helpful and dedicated to their job. We survived a scary thunderstorm thanks to your son. Mitch made sure everyone got through it safely.”

  Both men beamed at the compliment.

  “Do you have a plan of action yet?” The older man squinted, staring at Alexis.

  “Not yet. At least not one I’m confident in sharing.” She looked into his eyes, so similar to his son’s. “But I’ll have it finished and ready for you soon. Now that I’m getting to know more about the place and the clientele, I can tailor a plan to improve business and productivity. Tell me about your clients. Who comes here the most?”

  “City slickers like you looking for an adventure or a quick holiday. It’s something different. We also have people who love the riding, but mostly it’s the families from the city who are the repeat customers.” He smiled and nodded at Alexis. “Now it’s your turn to tell me more.”

  And she did. Alexis spent the next hour explaining some of her ideas without giving away her branding strategy and hearing both Marty’s and Mitch’s opinions on what would make the ranch successful. She came away hopeful and feeling lucky to have stayed on the account.

  When the meeting was done, Mitch followed her outside, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the woods.

  “Don’t you have work to do?” Alexis followed along, stumbling to keep up with his fast pace.

  “Today’s my day off.” Mitch lifted his chin, pushing his black Stetson up with his index finger. A roguish smile lit up his face.

  “Really?” She squinted, trying to determine if he was lying or not.

  “Really. Follow me.”

  After trudging through the woods for ten minutes, they ended up in a shaded glen by a wide, fast running river. Mitch helped Alexis jump a couple small rocks until they reached a large flat stone in the center of the running water that pooled around them.

  He sat her on his lap, his lips nuzzling her neck. “God, I couldn’t wait for the meeting to be done. I kept staring at your lips every time you said something.”

  He kissed her. Time stood still and sped forward. When she finally broke the kiss to check a text on her phone, she realized more than an hour had passed.

  How’s it going?

  Nicole asked.

  She had no idea how to respond.

  What was happening to her?

  ***

  She met Mitch for drinks in the bar after he had checked on the horses for the night. Day off or not, Alexis could tell it was hard for Mitch to ever leave his job. And what started out as one beer before an early bedtime soon became a long, lazy evening of intimate glances and silky caresses, some hidden under the scarred table they sat at while other touches were on bold display for all the guests to see.

  “Are you a cat or a dog person?” Mitch asked.

  Alexis almost spit out the beer she had sipped. “Am I being interviewed?”

  “Maybe.” His shrug exposed the tattoo on his arm she longed to see more of.

  “Neither. Both.” She shook her head. “The city isn’t a great place to own an animal. I like pets, grew up with a sweet lab named Carrie, but I don’t have time to care for a pet now. I guess if I had to have a pet, it would be a cat. They are more independent. You?”

  “Dog person. Thinking about getting one now that I know I’m staying at the ranch for a while. Maybe you could help me pick out the right one.”

  Alexis didn’t know what to say. That sounded like a commitment of sorts. She decided to change the subject. “What’s your tattoo of?” She reached out to touch his arm.

  He pulled his sleeve higher. “I wish I could say I was more creative, but I wanted something to represent freedom and nature so I have an eagle flying. I was at a point in my life right after college where I didn’t like the path I was on, but had no idea how to change it.” He rolled his sleeve back down. “Do you have any tattoos?”

  “No, my company doesn’t encourage body art in any way. No tattoos, no facial piercings. Very conservative place.”

  “And you’re okay with someone else dictating your life?”

  “I like my company and there are plenty of other ways I get to be creative. Anyway, I don’t think I’d look good with a tattoo.”

  He touched her shoulder, his fingers running down to her palm. “I don’t know. I think you’d look great with one.” He took her hand in his and kissed her wrist.

  Butterflies tickled her stomach.

  A little before midnight, Mitch pulled Alexis onto her feet. Her emotions at war, mind racing, she knew saying good night was the right thing to do, but as soon as he grabbed her hand and she felt the electricity between them as strong as lightning, Alexis followed him through the main hall. She glanced at the indoor pool, a few children and sleepy parents splashed, trying to get in a last swim before it closed for the night.

  A few doors down from the pool, a door stood closed. Mitch opened it, revealing darkness. He didn’t flip the light switch, but Alexis could see it was a makeshift office with a couch, desk, chair, and bookshelves.

  He left the room cloaked in darkness. “No one uses this room late at night. It used to be a library, but everyone has a Kindle and kids aren’t really into board games anymore, only video games. Only the really young ones used the room with their parents, so we decided to make it into a welcome center.”

  She nodded, staying silent as she surveyed the space. The small stream of light from the door revealed three sets of shelves holding games from her childhood such as Clue and Chutes and Ladders. Children’s books were piled in a corner. Another set of shelves held dusty novels of various sizes.

  “We still do story time in here,” he offered in way of explanation before gently pushing her into the room and closing the door. Only a spray of light managed to make its way along the ground. In the close to pitch black she heard him swallow a sip of beer before putting the bottle on the ground. “But I think they’re going to move story time to the great hall.” His arms found hers. “Enough talk.” Their lips met.

  Children running down the hallway caused Alexis to lean back, ready to take flight.

  “I swear no one is coming in here. Relax.” The words were a seductive whisper in her ear. His lips met hers again. His fingers worked the buttons on her shirt.

  Fear and passion warred with each other. While she was unsure of her emotions, she believed that Mitch’s world had an integral order, a clear sense of right an
d wrong. But whatever his morals, they didn’t stop him from removing her crisp button-down shirt. It slid off her back and hit the floor in silence. He touched her naked lower back above her jeans. “A tattoo would look beautiful right here.”

  “I’m not getting a tramp stamp.”

  “But it would give me reason to kiss the spot every day.” Mitch guided her onto the couch and knelt beside her. His warm, calloused hand slid under her bra, heating her skin with his touch. Alexis’s hand found his cheek, rough with an evening beard, and then she kissed that spot. He turned his face to her and their lips met. Desire detonated. She silently thanked the gods that she was already sitting down, the kiss leaving her shaken.

  “Not here,” she said. She knew if they didn’t go now, she’d be making love to him on an office couch. Not what she wanted in any way.

  “Your cabin?” he asked. “I’d take you to my house, but I don’t think I could stand to wait the entire five-minute drive.” He laughed at himself. He handed Alexis her shirt.

  Her hands shook as she buttoned it.

  As soon as the door to cabin three closed behind them, Alexis stopped thinking and let the physical sensations take over.

  His lips were dynamite as he liberated Alexis from her shirt a second time. He moved away to turn on a light. “Is this okay? I want to see you.” He caressed her bare stomach with gentle fingers as his eyes met hers.

  She’d never seen so much truth in another person’s gaze.

  Her passionate kiss was her answer.

  They kissed until her mouth was scorched. Leaning back, his gaze once again focused on her. His hand tickled her shoulder as he deftly removed her bra. He nuzzled her neck, and then his kiss replaced his whispered breath. He tasted her shoulder.

  Her hands were on fire as she melted against his heat.

  Mitch tugged at the top of her jeans, his fingers caressing her thigh. She shifted away on the bed, unable to stop the exciting pulse that vibrated through her body.

  “Let me.” His voice nuzzled her ear. His hands pushed her against the already tangled bed coverings.

  She wanted nothing else but him, but he was her client’s son. Is this wrong?

  She stopped asking herself questions when one of his warm, strong hands teased her stomach. His fingers traced her navel, lingering.

  She nodded.

  Mitch unbuttoned her jeans and they, along with her black lace panties, fell around her knees and then wedged themselves down by her boots. Her fear that this was wrong was eradicated by their intimacy.

  Alexis could have easily been lost in the pleasure of his touch, but she was not one to sit back and let others do the work. She liberated Mitch of his thermal shirt and then deftly unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them down. He stood for a second, removing all of his clothes before rejoining her on the bed.

  Both naked, Alexis stared at the man next to her, admiring his broad shoulders, the outline of muscles in his arms and six-pack stomach.

  But when his fingers found her most sensitive spot, her heartbeat turned desperate and erratic.

  “I need you now,” she begged. She couldn’t help herself.

  His fingers massaged her until her body spasmed, sending her over the edge.

  And then he was inside her, the whisper of his breath on her cheek, her heart exploding in her chest.

  Tomorrow, there would be plenty of time for self-recrimination.

  ***

  Alexis was irritated. No, irate. A week had passed with no word from her cowboy. With a Friday night staring her in the face and Mitch on her mind, she needed a distraction. She dialed John’s number, hoping he’d be available for a drink. There was no guilt about seeing him after Mitch. She and John had always been free to see other people, and when she had left Mitch, there was no talk of what their time together meant.

  In Alexis’s mind, John had always been the perfect companion: he was well educated, attractive, competent in bed, non-judgmental, and not too involved. It wasn’t as if John and she had ever seriously dated, and Alexis needed some mindless entertainment, something to distract her from the one amazing night with Mitch that kept replaying in her mind. She and John, on the other hand, had always been happy with their own lives, and once in a while those lives overlapped. She hoped tonight could be one of those nights. She needed to forget Mitch. She needed a serious diversion.

  They met in a midtown bar. Alexis settled in with a mojito and John with a scotch on the rocks. She found comfort in the ease with which she could return to this part of her life.

  “How’s work?” John asked.

  “Good.” It was the standard reply.

  John nodded, savoring a sip of his drink.

  She wondered why not tell him the truth. Maybe he could help her figure out what to do with the dude ranch, minus an explanation of the cowboy hook-up, of course.

  “Actually, I’m struggling with something at work. It’s this dude ranch client. Maybe you can help.”

  “Struggle.” John laughed. “You want to hear about struggles? I’m working on designing a building for the most pretentious group of foreign investors. They are asking for the most ridiculous options and my boss just says to go with it. They have the money.” He raked a manicured hand through his dirty blond hair before he continued to talk. And talk.

  Alexis analyzed John. In his oversized glasses and expensive suit, John could have been a model straight out of an ad in Esquire. For the first time, she realized why she never talked about anything significant with John. It was always all about him.

  By midnight, John was ready to end the night the way they always did. “Your place or mine?” He leaned in and planted a passionate kiss on her lips.

  Unfortunately, he had ordered buffalo chicken wings and that was all Alexis inhaled. But she knew he couldn’t ever imagine that his kiss was less than perfect. John was a narcissist, and a dull one at that. She was over him. Completely.

  “You know, I’m feeling a little tired.” She let out a pretend yawn. “I think I’ll call it a night and take a rain check on the rest.”

  John’s confused expression made Alexis want to laugh. “I don’t get it. We always end the night the same way. Isn’t that the point of meeting for drinks?”

  She shrugged. “I’m trying something different tonight, but it’s been fun.” She pushed off her barstool, gave him a hasty kiss on the cheek, and exited the establishment, humming under her breath as she hailed a cab.

  Alexis put all her weekend energy into yoga and getting ready to present to her boss. She took a run through Central Park, something she hadn’t done in years, and took some extra kickboxing classes at the gym, but mostly drank coffee and worked the pitch. It was going to be perfect.

  On Sunday, she met Nicole for more coffee and a second opinion. She’d been staring at the same slides for so long, nothing made sense anymore.

  “What’s up, girlfriend?” Her friend drifted down into the seat.

  “Can I go over my pitch with you?” She hit the tab key on her computer to forward the slides. “After you order your double latte, of course.”

  “The dude ranch one?” Nicole called the wait staff over.

  “One and the same,” she said.

  “Absolutely. I can’t wait to see how a night of passion with the cowboy hottie translates into marketing genius.”

  “If you make more comments like that, I’ll leave. I promise.” Alexis twirled her hair through her fingers.

  “Aren’t we a little sensitive today?” Her glare pierced Alexis. “Fine. Just pitch the damn thing.”

  “Four words: sophisticated elegance, natural appeal.”

  “Is this the place we stayed at?” Nicole’s eyebrows drew together.

  “Listen to the pitch. ‘In a world full of cars, chaos, and clutter, get back to a better you.’ Then I go through each of the words and explain my plan. Sophisticated style.”

  “Sweet Life?” Nicole appeared stunned.

  “We’d need to hire a designer,�
�� Alexis said, “but, yes, we’d totally renovate the interiors.”

  “Keep going.” Confusion knotted her brows together.

  She put on her best work smile. “Elegance. I suggest they hire a new chef and sommelier. Redo the entire menu. No more all-you-can-eat buffet picnics.”

  “I liked the picnic,” Nicole huffed.

  “And natural appeal. The grounds are beautiful, so not much to do there, but the barn and facilities need work. The pool could use some maintenance. They could add mountain biking, hikes, whitewater rafting. A variety of excursions.”

  “It sounds like another Alexis win,” her friend said, “but it doesn’t sound like the place we stayed at. It sounds more like the Marriott I stayed at when I vacationed in Costa Rica. Please tell me you’re not going to take away all its individuality and make it into a chain.”

  “I’m selling the fantasy. The dude ranch would have to make some changes.”

  “Some changes?” Her friend’s voice held a note of disbelief. She took a sip of her latte. “Sophisticated elegance?”

  “Fine. A lot of changes. But it will be worth it in the long run. The ranch will make so much more money. I did the market and brand research. The most successful dude ranches are either family fun or elite getaways. There’s enough local competition for families. Sweet Life Dude Ranch needs to be different.” Intellectually, she knew this course of action would make the ranch a lot of money, but her heart wasn’t so sure it was the right thing to do.

  “And you went with sophisticated elegance?” Nicole paused. “The ranch will lose authenticity. I kind of like it the way it is.”

  “It’s a disaster.” Alexis took a sip of her cappuccino.

  “It’s real.” Glossy black hair whipped around Nicole’s face.

  “It’s in shambles.” The force with which she said the words surprised them both.

  “It has character.”

  “So you hate my idea?” A note of defeat underscored the question.

  “No. It’s a brilliant idea. I’m just not sure it’s right for Sweet Life. This has nothing to do with Mitch, right?”