As quickly as she could, she returned to what she was doing. Carl stuck his head in a few minutes later. “The missus called and I gotta go. Drex will lock up. Don’t stay too long.” He winked. “Don’t want you to be alone with such a handsome man.”
She inwardly groaned and didn’t dare see what Drex was doing. She needed to finish this spreadsheet and then shut down. She was meeting Dani, Nikki, Holly, and Summer at the bar. Dani had cancelled their usual Thursday night happy hour because they were interviewing two men for their company. Had Ashley been a man with the ability to shoot a gun and leap tall buildings in a single bound, she would have applied.
After she typed in two more entries, she turned off her computer. It was only right to tell Drex that she was leaving. Slipping into her coat and then slinging her purse over her shoulder, she went into the garage. Thankfully, Drex was talking with Hammer so her conversation with him could be short.
She waited until Drex looked up and caught her eye. “Just wanted to let you know I’m going.”
His mouth partly opened, but then he shut it as if he would have said something had Hammer not been standing next to him. She waved and rushed to her car, happy to be out of there.
High View was only three blocks away, but she wanted her car nearby when she finished meeting with the girls. The parking spaces in front of the bar were all taken, so she was forced to park next to the sheriff’s office in the municipal park. Just as she stepped away from her car, Tatum emerged from the building and strolled toward her.
His vehicle was two down from hers, so she waited for him.
“Hey, beautiful. You waiting for me?”
“Sure am.” Her body vibrated from the comfort and joy rushing through her. What a stark contrast to when Drex caught her gaze. A little bit of unease would wash through her every time she was near that man. “Actually, I’m on my way to happy hour with your sister and the girls, and the parking spaces in front of the bar were all taken.” She knew what he’d ask next. “We’re a day late because Dani, Nikki, and Holly were doing interviews after work yesterday.”
“Ah, yes. She did say something about needing help.” As if he thought wearing something on his head was impolite, he took off his official hat. “I’ve been meaning to call you, but work has been crazy.”
Though Dani complained on occasion that Brady would have to work late, the town didn’t have that much crime. “What’s been running you ragged?”
“I’ve been working over at Ridgewood at the Last Opportunity School. It’s the same type of establishment I had to attend.”
When he’d described it to her the other day, she’d shuddered. “How’s that working out?”
“It’s interesting.” He looked in the direction of the bar. “I don’t want to keep you, but I have a favor to ask.”
Now he’d piqued her curiosity. “Shoot.”
“My weaponry skills are sharp, but I’m afraid I’d fall off a horse if I had to sit on top of one.”
She laughed. He was totally exaggerating about his equestrian skills, she suspected. “You angling for a riding lesson?”
He moved closer and her breath caught. “I am. You willing to teach me?”
She doubted he needed a lot of help. “I’m sure I can convince my parents to let us exercise some of their horses.”
“I was thinking of a picnic some place private.”
The way he said the last word had her pussy dampening. “I know just the spot.” She hadn’t been there since she was a kid, but they’d have more privacy in the caves than by the lake where anyone could stop by. “How about tomorrow at eleven?” She didn’t have to work on Saturday even though the garage was open a half day.
“Perfect. I’ll bring the food.”
She smiled. “See you then.”
She’d turned toward Clark Road where the bar was located when it occurred to her that maybe he meant for Drex to come. She thought about rushing back and asking him but then decided she wanted to be surprised. If Tatum and Drex liked to share their women, then she needed to have a more open attitude toward Drex.
It was a quick five-minute walk to the bar. Inside all four women were seated at one of the large tables in the far corner. Ashley waved to a few people she knew along the way and hurried to meet them. She dragged out the chair and dropped with a thud. “Sorry I’m late. Tatum stopped me.”
All eyes turned toward her. “Do tell,” Summer said.
Ashley wanted to hear about the interview first. “Mine will take a while. Dani, tell me about the new men. Did they take the job?”
“Yes, and I am so relieved.”
Summer smiled. “I already asked for the details, but she was holding out until you got here.”
Ashley waved to Lana. All the others had drinks.
Lana rushed over. “Wine or margarita?”
“Wine.”
Once Lana left, Ashley turned her attention back to Nikki. She tapped the table. “Spill.”
Dani glanced to Nikki then Holly. “My biggest problem will be trying to convince my men that we did not hire them for their good looks.”
She imagined if she were ever married to Tatum and a really hot guy came to work at the garage that he wouldn’t be pleased. “What are their qualifications?” Now she sounded like Drex.
“Both are military and have been trained in surveillance.”
As much as she loved Freedom, she wondered what would possess anyone to move here. “Where are they from?”
“Wyoming.”
That answered her question. “What will they be doing?”
“Much of what we do, only they’ll handle the dicey stuff.”
“Sounds like a perfect fit.”
Summer placed a hand on hers. “Now it’s your turn. Last we heard, you were going bowling with Drex and Tatum. How did that go?”
With Holly sitting there, it might be a little uncomfortable. “Before I proceed, I want Holly to swear that what’s said here stays here.”
Her mouth dropped open. She then made a zipper motion. “My lips are so sealed that not even super glue remover can make me unlock them.”
With that assurance, Ashley detailed from the moment she’d walked in the bowling alley to Tatum and Drex escorting her to her car. “When I arrived, Tatum was showing Drex what to do. It was cute. Today Tatum asked me to go on a picnic with him tomorrow.”
“That’s so romantic,” Summer said.
“I thought so.” She faced Holly. “So can your brother ride?”
She laughed. “Not one lick.”
* * * *
Ashley would be a liar if she said she wasn’t nervous. Riding to the caves for a picnic was a bold move for many reasons. It required Tatum to stay on the horse long enough to get there, and once he saw how cozy and private the cave was, he’d rightfully think she was interested in doing more than teaching him how to ride.
She rushed into her kitchen and grabbed some hummus and carrots along with some snacks to eat on the way. She’d stopped at USave this morning to pick up some goodies. Even though Tatum said he’d bring the main courses for the picnic, she wanted to contribute something. While she’d stopped at the bakery, thinking she should get something sweet, she ended up talking with Sharon, one of the bakers, and had forgotten to pick up dessert. She and her friend promised they’d catch up next week for sure.
Ashley shook her head at her forgetfulness and grabbed two apples from the fridge to feed to the horses.
The doorbell rang and she wiped her hands down her pants. This was it. Sometime last night she’d decided that she wanted to make love with Tatum Morganton. After listening to tales about how wonderful he was from Holly, and then seeing him in action for the last two weeks, she’d decided to go for it. Life had tossed her on her ass and she was determined to come out better than before. Already, she was enjoying the freedom of her new job. It wasn’t a life goal to stay there, but for now, she’d do the best she could.
She opened the door and almost swoon
ed at her handsome date. “Come in. Let me get my gear.” Her small purse sat next to the slim container of hummus and carrots. Anything much larger wouldn’t fit in the saddlebags. “I’m ready.”
He’d brought the cruiser. She was glad because it afforded a lot of room in front. She placed her stuff at her feet and buckled in.
“So, you really don’t ride, huh?”
“No, but as a lawman, I should.” He started the engine. “You’ll be kind, right?”
“I’m not the one under you.” Oh, shit, that so did not come out right. At least he had the courtesy not to laugh out loud.
The trip to her parents’ was short. Ashley had debated bringing him into the house and introducing him as Nikki’s partner’s brother, but knowing her mom, she’d make a big deal out of nothing.
It’s not nothing.
No, it wasn’t, but Tatum deserved better than to be grilled by Mom.
She pointed to the barn. “Park over there.”
This time she waited for him to open her door, as she was getting used to his chivalry. They grabbed the goodies and she led him to the horses. From her pocket, she withdrew two apples, one for Sugar Daddy and the other for her horse, Wind Rider.
She walked over to his horse and led the gelding out of the stall. “Hey, boy. I brought you someone.” She gave the apple to Tatum. “Hold out your palm and feed it to him.” She demonstrated.
Tatum seemed quite fearless and did as she said. Sugar Daddy gobbled the apple then whinnied.
She repeated with her horse. Since she’d called ahead and asked for the horses to be saddled by 11:15 a.m., there wasn’t much to do except ride. “Let’s put the food in the pouches.”
It took them a few tries to distribute the gear, but in the end, everything fit.
Tatum placed his left foot in the stirrup, pulled himself up, and dropped onto the saddle. He patted the horse’s flank. “Nice, horsey.”
She laughed. “I thought you didn’t ride.”
He grinned. “Not often enough.”
Seemed both he and Holly had fooled her. “We’ll take it slow.”
“That’s my MO no matter where I am.”
Her face heated. Why oh why did her mind always go toward sex? Because she was about to engage in some. With a light jab to Wind Rider’s side, she walked him out of the barn. Tatum followed then came alongside. The air was probably the warmest it was going to get in the Colorado mountains, and she was so looking forward to a day of relaxation.
While there was a nice lake where they might be able to take a dip, it afforded little privacy. The caves, however, would be quite secluded, though there was the off chance someone from the road could wander in. Nikki’s foster son, Mark, had done just that last winter.
Ashley shielded her eyes against the sun’s glare. “We’re headed over to the line of trees. We’ll take the trail down near the riverbed then keep on going.”
“Is all of this Milosino land?”
“Up to the creek. Then we’ll be crossing onto Lucas Holt’s property.”
“I guess I think of it as my boss’s land.”
While Brady Braxson, and now Dani, lived there, it was Lucas who’d purchased the land. “The caves are past that on public land.”
“Will anyone bother us?”
She laughed. “You plan on being naughty?”
“I don’t kiss and tell.” Tatum nudged his horse and Sugar Daddy trotted. He lasted maybe ten seconds before he pulled on the reins and the horse stopped.
She came alongside. “Too much for you?”
“Give me some time.”
“Take all that you want. We’re not in a hurry.”
“Speak for yourself.” Tatum urged his horse forward again, and he alternated between walking and trotting.
Each time, he lasted longer while riding fast. She was impressed with his agility and ability to adjust to the horse’s gait. When they reached the river that spilled into a lake, she figured he’d appreciate a break.
“Let’s give the horses a chance to drink.” She dismounted and waited to see if he needed help getting down. He didn’t.
Given he knew which side to get off on, she felt confident he’d master riding in no time. She grabbed Sugar Daddy’s reins and led them to the stream. In silence, they stood side by side admiring the beauty of the place.
“You ever swim in the pond?” he asked.
“All the time as a kid.”
“Did the neighborhood kids ever just show up?”
If she said no, he might suggest they skinny dip. “On occasion. The area isn’t private unless we leave our horses at the top of the ridge.”
He pressed his lips together as if he thought about what she said and nodded his head. “How far are the caves from here?”
She could make it in fifteen minutes if she actually rode the horse. “Maybe half an hour.”
Tatum picked up a stone and skipped it smoothly across the surface. That was one talent she’d never mastered. Because of a large hill shielding the wind, it was warm with a hint of moisture in the little valley. The sun burst through the trees and the birds chirped. It was perfect and romantic.
Tatum seemed lost in thought as he rubbed his thumb over a smooth rock. “Penny for your thoughts?” she asked, moving closer.
He jerked toward her as if he had been in a trance. “Just thinking how far I’ve come since my days at the Last Opportunity School. I came so close to landing in juvie, but I had a teacher who cared. I want to be someone like that.”
His voice faded at the end. Tatum Morganton was truly a good man. She clasped his arm and when she rubbed his massive bicep, her stupid body lit up. “How about we try to make it to the caves by lunch?”
His grin sent tingles up her spine. This man was truly lethal, and she couldn’t wait to explore more than just the caves.
Chapter Seven
It was close to one when they arrived at the caves—not noon as Ashley had estimated, but that was totally his fault. The only way to get used to the horse was to experiment with going different speeds—and that took time, as he hadn’t wanted to fall.
Tatum’s butt was now sore, but his spirits remained high. They pulled up in front of the caves and dismounted.
“There’s a little trick to securing the horse,” Ashley said, waving the end of the lead. She wrapped it partway around the tree and then formed a loop that she lapped over the rope. She then threaded the end through the hole. A few more twists made for a nice easy-release system. “You try it.”
It took a bit of thought to recall the steps for the slipknot, but when he tugged on the rope to make sure it wouldn’t unwind, it held. “There.” He was rather impressed with his newfound cowboy prowess.
“Perfect.” She looked up at him with appreciation. Even something as small as letting her show him the safest way to tie a horse to a tree seemed to make her happy.
Tatum nodded to the dark interior. “Let me check out the cave first to make sure no animals have taken up residence.” They didn’t need to set up their picnic or be in the middle of making love only to have some nocturnal animal be disturbed and charge.
He didn’t have his gun, but he figured a long stick would be just as effective in rousing any critters. He expected the cave to be pitch black and cold inside. While it was several degrees colder than out in the sun, enough light poured in to make it cozy. Two fire rings sat near the entrance, indicating this place had been used as a shelter many times.
Out of habit, he’d brought a small flashlight that he shone on the walls and the far recesses of the cave. It was perhaps twenty feet deep and fifteen feet wide. As far as he could tell, they’d be the only occupants this afternoon.
He stepped back out. “Looks good to me. Let’s sit near the entrance.”
She grinned. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of the dark.”
He laughed. “If you knew the dark hellholes I’ve hidden in when I served in Iraq, you wouldn’t be asking me that question. I want to sit b
y the entrance so I can see my food when I eat it.”
She smiled and his damned cock reacted. “Fair enough.”
Together they emptied the saddlebags. He carried the food over while Ashley unfurled the picnic blanket. He’d brought fried chicken, potato salad, and cut-up fruit. If her fingers became greasy, he’d offer to lick them clean.
Ashley moved around with a lot of energy and had a more upbeat attitude than when he’d seen her at the bar. Did it have anything to do with being out on a date with him?
You wish, buddy.
She’d made a few comments along the ride that he took as flirtatious, so maybe she was as interested as he’d hoped. But as much as he wanted to start with dessert, he’d wait and see what she had in mind for this outing. Taking things too fast increased the chance of disaster.
He placed what items he’d brought on the blanket while she opened a container of hummus and carrots. They both sat down and faced each other.
“Good choice.” Drex made a mean hummus from a recipe he’d received from a former Greek girlfriend, and Tatum couldn’t wait for the three of them to share that delight.
She surveyed the food, and then drew in her bottom lip. His cock grew hard. Control yourself. This was almost like being back in high school, but not quite. Back then, his dick ruled. He hoped liked hell he’d changed.
“It all looks so good.”
He sympathized. “I plan on having a lot of everything. Dig in.” The faster they finished, the sooner they could get to the second reason for his picnic request.
He grabbed a chicken breast and plopped a heap of potato salad on his plate. He stabbed a few pieces of fruit and she did the same. He was happy that Ashley seemed content to eat first then talk.
Maybe it was because he was outside with a beautiful woman, but the meal tasted especially good. He wolfed down at least twice the amount she did, but they finished at the same time.
“That hit the spot,” she said as she leaned back on her elbows. “You never did tell me what happened at that juvenile detention center in Ridgewood.”
“It’s not a detention center, but if some of the kids don’t shape up, that’s where they’ll be headed.” He never would have guessed walking those halls and talking to the kids would have affected him so much. “It was really strange going there, even though the place I went to was in Denver. It was like I was back in high school.” He told her about the need to mediate a fight between Jordan Wilson and Andy Parks. “Both of their stories made me want to hurt society for allowing these kids to end up there.” He scrubbed a hand down his chin.
Freedom to Surrender [Freedom, Colorado 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 6