by Dakota Star
“Mitch? No, why?” Confusion clouded her usually bright blue eyes.
Nicole frowned. “If you present this, and his father accepts, he’ll never speak to you again.”
Those words stayed with Alexis the entire week. Every day was a struggle to not go back to the pitch and create something new, something that her cowboy would approve of, but she didn’t and she refused to analyze why. Strung out and nervous the day of the pitch, she paced her tiny office and memorized every detail before the meeting at ten.
“You did it again,” her boss said with great enthusiasm after her presentation. While she only presented to him and two senior partners at the firm, the real test would be when she had to sell the idea to Dr. Johnson.
“I’m impressed by your research,” said one of the partners.
A warm glow consumed her when Alexis heard the praise from her boss and partners. He promised to pass her ideas on to the client without changes and set up a meeting for the official pitch. By lunchtime, she sat at her desk, relishing the high, when her cell phone rang.
She dug it out of her purse and answered.
“It’s Mitch. How are you?” His voice was deep and strong over the phone.
“Mitch?” She stood.
“From the dude ranch.” He sounded concerned. “You remember me, right?”
“Of course. I’m just surprised you called. How’d you get my cell number? I thought I left a work number.”
He sounded a little sheepish. “It was on the release you signed to go horseback riding. I’ve never done that before, take a phone number off the release paper, but I really had to get in touch with you.”
“You did?” She wondered if the horse had rabies or something equally weird had occurred that forced him to call her. “Everything okay?”
“Of course. I wanted you to know we had a special group trip. Big new client, but the trip meant I was away for a week of camping and riding. No cell phone service, which is why I didn’t call earlier. I wanted to.”
“You did?”
“Of course. And I want to invite you up this weekend for the rodeo. You’ll love it.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Emotions ricocheted through her. She was relieved that everything was actually fine between them, sad that it wasn’t a good idea to attend the rodeo, mad it took this long for him to call, and mostly thrilled that he had sought her out.
“Why not?” he asked.
“I’m still working on the dude ranch campaign.”
“It will give you more insight into what we do and how we do it.”
“I don’t know.” The thought of their night together warmed her. A flush lit her cheeks. She started to waver.
“And I really want to see you again.” His voice was addictive.
“Well…” She paced the small office.
“Say yes.”
She couldn’t help herself. “Yes.”
Chapter Seven
Sweet Life Dude Ranch had not changed when Alexis stepped out of the car late Friday afternoon, giving herself some time to settle before the rodeo started Saturday afternoon. This time, the first scent she inhaled was cut grass from the field next to her. It reminded her of her youth and riding on the mowing tractor with her father. She shook the thoughts away, pleasant as they were, and turned toward the main lodge, which was still in need of a coat of paint and repairs.
The door opened and Mitch exited, heading her way. As always, he wore jeans and dusty, worn cowboy boots. His black t-shirt was tucked in, highlighting his tight stomach and an oversized silver belt buckle.
“I was wondering when you would get here.” He tipped his hat as he approached.
She loved the small gesture. “Hello to you too.”
“You don’t have to check in. You’re staying with me. Come this way.” He grabbed her hand and overnight bag, trotting, with her in tow, past cabin three. He did a sudden U-turn. “Wait. You have to see this.” He found a key and opened the door to the cabin.
She remembered it well, cabin three. Or at least she thought she did, until he opened the door. There were large vases of wildflowers on the nightstands. The bed was covered in a white throw with blue accent pillows. There were photographs of frolicking horses from the ranch on the wall.
“The sheets are three hundred thread count. And I took the pictures myself.”
“It’s beautiful.” She turned in a circle, taking in every detail.
“You like it?” Mitch smiled like a child giving his mom a gift on Mother’s Day.
“It’s perfect.” She hoped her smile was half as bright as his.
“Part of the ongoing renovations. There’s more to see tomorrow.” He grabbed her hand once again as he led her back outside. “The rodeo starts at five tomorrow, but I’ll tell you about it later.”
They headed to the staff parking lot and Alexis hopped in his Jeep Wrangler, not questioning where he was taking her or why she was going without complaint.
Less than ten minutes later, Alexis stood inside the doorway of Mitch’s A-frame chalet house that perched on top of a large hill. More spacious inside than she could have imagined, the view from the living room windows was glorious and led out to a deck. They sat side by side on the sturdy wicker couch that graced the space and soon relaxed by a glowing fire pit as evening settled in. Since the weather remained warm, the fire pit had been set away, more for ambiance than heat. The crackle and glow, as well as a second glass of wine, lulled Alexis into a state of drowsy euphoria.
Mitch moved behind her, his hands gently kneading the tight muscles in Alexis’s shoulders. Her head fell back, her messy bun glancing off his chest. “Tell me something about yourself,” she commanded.
“Not much to tell.” He tugged at the stray strands of hair that fell down her back.
“I doubt that.”
His hand rubbed away a knot. “I could show you a thing or two.”
“I’m sure.” She could feel his gaze on her and knew a sexy smile played on his lips. “Later.” She laughed as he removed his hands from her shoulders in protest. “For now, tell me about your ex-girlfriends. I bet you have lots and lots of them.” The wine made her brazen enough to ask.
“This is what you want to know?” He sat down next to her.
She snuggled close, placing a hand on his knee, her fingers stroking his jeans. “Yes, please,” she purred.
He ran a hand through his hair, smoothing back the stray bangs that had formed at his temple. “I’ve only had a couple serious ex-girlfriends. Most of the hook-ups on the ranch don’t count for anything. Hope that doesn’t offend you, but you’re the one who started this line of questioning.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder. Her eyes closed as she inhaled. He smelled of fabric softener, horse, and earth, an interesting but not unpleasant combination. “Not offended. Please keep going.”
“I dated a girl name Christy in college. We met sophomore year, but took it slow. By senior year, I thought she was the one I wanted to marry, but she must have had a different opinion on the matter. She took the engagement ring I offered, but one day I went to visit her in her apartment—”
“Was it on or off campus?” Alexis asked.
“Does that matter?”
“Building a mental image.” She smiled into his t-shirt.
“The apartment was off campus.” He continued when he felt Alexis’s head bob against him. “I was going to surprise her and take her out to dinner. Instead, she surprised me with another guy there.”
“Did you catch her doing the deed?”
“That would be too cliché.” He had gone quiet, his voice barely more than a whisper against Alexis’s ear. “She said they were just friends, but I didn’t quite believe that. I kept nagging her, and she finally admitted she’d been cheating on me for about six months.”
“I’m sorry.” Alexis planted a gentle kiss on his neck.
“Messed me up bad for a while. Maybe it still affects me. I had another lon
g-term relationship after a few years, but it wasn’t going anywhere and we parted friends. Now, I’m too busy to look, but there’s never a shortage of eager women at the ranch. Must be part of the vacation fantasy.”
“Vacation fantasy?” Alexis suddenly felt awake.
“You know, getting away from reality and living out your fantasies.” He moved a hand to her upper thigh. “If you were here on vacation, what would your fantasy be? And please let it involve a ruggedly handsome, emotionally fucked-up cowboy.”
“Sounds about right. That cowboy might have to lean me over the railing of his deck and take me here and now.”
“I think that fantasy could become a reality.” His hand slowly moved up her thigh, tickling the sensitive skin.
“There’s just one thing that cowboy’s got to promise.” Alexis’s breathing became rapid as she held herself perfectly still.
“What’s that?”
“He’s got to wear his cowboy hat through it all because I want a wild ride.”
Mitch grabbed his hat off the table in front of them and put it on. He pulled Alexis up, dragging her to the railing, and gently leaned her over it, parting her legs with one of his. His hands cradled her ass and then moved to the front of her jeans, unbuckling her belt, unbuttoning her pants, and pulling them and her lacy undies down to her ankles in one swift stroke. His hands gently caressed her shoulders, sides, and back, until one hand cradled her breast while the other slid between her thighs. Finding her wet, his fingers stroked her into a fever.
“Are you ready for your ride?” His words caressed her. He pulled her off the railing so that he could enter her.
“Yes.” She couldn’t think of anything else to say, her mind a kaleidoscope of longing and desire. She was thrust against the banister, his warmth inside her and against her back, his hands finding her breasts.
It was the best ride of her life.
Until the next day.
***
Mitch woke her with a kiss. “Get up and showered, sleepyhead. We’re going for a ride if you like.”
“That sounds nice.” She sat up in bed, looking for her overnight bag. Mitch was dressed and holding a mug of coffee. She hadn’t heard him get up.
“I’ll meet you at the barn,” he said. “I had your car moved up here. Just follow the road back. I have to get the horses ready for the morning rides.” And with a quick kiss he was gone.
Alexis rushed through her morning ritual and drove faster than she should have on the bumpy dirt road. She parked in the lot and exited the car. At the barn, she looked for Mitch. He was brushing a mare with gentle strokes. Alexis couldn’t look away. Mitch had one hand on the mare’s back while the other made small circles with the curry comb. She couldn’t hear his words, but as she watched, his love of both the animals and surroundings became evident.
Janine, wearing tight jeans and a one-size-too-small t-shirt, walked up to ask him a question.
Alexis felt the first stirrings of jealousy.
She joined them. Mitch planted a kiss on her lips for all to see, they mounted the horses, and headed through a field of low grass and rocky outcrops.
“Did you always love riding?” Mitch asked as their horses meandered through the trails side by side
“Actually, no. I never wanted a pony as a kid. Riding wasn’t my thing, but my parents thought it would help me fit in with the other rich kids on the block. We moved to a well-to-do neighborhood when I was a freshman in high school.”
“You didn’t convince them you’d be better off playing tuba in the band and quit?”
“Now you’re making fun of me. But no. I realized how hard my parents worked to give me the chance to ride, and they loved to come and watch the horse shows, even if my mom was totally convinced I’d fall off.”
“Did you?”
“Fall off? Yes. I fell off a lot at first, but then I really started to enjoy the riding, and by college, I loved it. Now I know how to stay on.” She patted Blaze on the neck as they rode through a stream and onto some smaller trails.
The rest of the ride went well and they found time to canter through the woods. Blaze behaved, deer stayed away, and the day sped by. When Alexis walked out of a late lunch, Mitch was at her side.
“Tell me more about the rodeo.” She squinted, the sun hitting her eyes.
He smiled that boyish smile she so loved. “Did you know that the rodeo was based on the skills needed to work as a cowboy? Though barrel racing, which is mostly done by women, started later. You should try barrel racing. I bet you’d like it.”
“I don’t know anything about rodeos or barrel racing. What do I have to do?”
“It’s simple. Barrel racing is a timed event. All you have to do is ride your horse around the three barrels that are set up in a cloverleaf pattern and then race back to the starting line. Don’t knock the barrels down. If you get too close and graze them, that’s fine, but you don’t want them to go down or you’ll get a penalty.”
“That sounds complicated.” She gazed up at him.
“It’s not. There are ten-year-olds who barrel race.”
She shrugged. “I guess I’m in the game, then.”
He chuckled. “I’m sure you won’t embarrass yourself.”
She tilted her head, not sure what he was trying to tell her. “Is my goal to beat a ten-year-old?”
Mitch laughed. “That ten-year-old has been barrel racing since she was five. Most adults can’t keep up with her, let alone beat her.”
“Then my goal is to stay on the horse?”
“Good goal.” He stared down at her. “You need a cowboy hat and I need to do some work for the rodeo. See you at five?”
She didn’t know what to say so she nodded, watching as he sauntered away. At the lodge, she grabbed a paperback and sat in the rocking chair on the deck, reading. She hadn’t had the chance to read a book in so long, always caught up in a work crisis or friend drama. Alexis had taken Monday off so she didn’t have to rush back. Thinking it over, Monday would be her second vacation day since starting her job.
She bent her head and was whisked away to a dystopian universe. When Alexis heard shouts and cheers from the rodeo ring on the top of the hill, she stood, surprised she’d become so engrossed in her book. When she eyed her phone, it was close to five. She rushed inside to freshen up, and then headed up the hill to join the crowd.
And a crowd it was. Spectators already filled most of the bleachers. The smell of manure and animal sweat filled the air. She scanned the crowd, watching for her cowboy. People screamed from the bleachers and waved their cowboy hats to cheer on the contestants and events being announced by Marty in the middle of the wood-fenced arena. He resembled Mitch even more in his cowboy hat, jeans, and scuffed boots, only shorter, bearded, and slightly rotund.
“Hi, beautiful.” A new, black cowboy hat landed gracefully on her head. “Perfect. Just like the rest of you.”
Color rose to her cheeks. “Thanks.”
“Ready to ride?” Mitch moved close, spreading his heat and fire.
“I guess.” She was anything but ready.
“Follow me.” He led her to a large round pen set up on the side of the arena. Blaze rested, saddled and ready to go. “There are a couple of events before barrel racing. Just hang out. I need to help my dad.”
She nodded as he planted a kiss on her cheek. Checking her phone to see if there were emails from work, she noted her friends’ texts demanding updates. She was about to respond when someone tugged on her sleeve.
“Are you Mitch’s girlfriend?” A petite blonde girl decked out in a lime green sequined shirt, jeans, black boots, and the largest cowboy hat she’d ever seen peered up at her with crystal blue eyes. She held the reins to a small, black-and-white paint pony.
Alexis gulped. “I…I…no.”
“Good,” the girl said. “I’m going to marry him. I’m Anna, by the way.”
“Hi, Anna. Aren’t you a little young to get married?”
�
�I’ll catch up soon enough. Mitch said I should be nice to you because you’re a newbie, but you’re also competition.” She started to turn away with her horse. “Let me know if you need anything.” The huge smile on her lips appeared anything but friendly.
“Will do.” Be afraid, very afraid.
Alexis leaned on the rails and watched the events before hers. With each rider, she grew more nervous. Cowboys jumped off their horses to wrangle and tie the legs of calves. They rode bulls. After that event, Mitch’s father came back out.
“The next event is the bareback bronc riding. My son has decided to see if he has any skill in this event. It’s a lucky thing I’m a doctor.” He paused, waiting for the laughs to die down from the crowd. “Here we go.” He stepped aside and strolled to the gate. Another announcer introduced each of the riders, giving their credentials.
Alexis’s stomach churned and her foot tapped with nervous energy. The first rider and horse sprung out of the chute. She couldn’t believe how high the horse bucked or that the rider could hold on with a single hand, his other hand high in the air. The man lasted only a few seconds before landing on the ground. Wranglers rode in the ring to take care of the bronco as the man got shakily to his feet. The crowd burst into loud applause.
The next horse and rider came out in a similar manner, the horse jumping high off the ground, trying to dislodge the rider who held onto a leather rigging with one hand. The cowboy was leaning so far back, it didn’t seem possible that he could balance, but he did, the silver of his spurs glinting in the light as he touched them against the horse’s shoulders. Five, six, seven, eight seconds passed. The crowd erupted when the buzzer sounded. The rider smiled as the pickup riders came to help him out.
She recognized his cowboy hat first as his horse pitched itself out of the chute, jumping higher than the one before it. The animal swung Mitch left and then right. A scream built in her throat, but her cowboy remained composed and controlled in the saddle, his long, lean limbs more graceful than she thought possible.
Alexis started to turn away but couldn’t, mesmerized as she watched the most attractive man she could ever imagine spur the horse to buck and jump. Five, six, seven, eight. She whooped and clapped when the buzzer sounded. He jumped off the horse and headed for the gate, sending the crowd a quick wave as he departed.