Her Cowboy In Charge

by Maggie Carpenter

  “Thanks, Jeremy. I appreciate it.”

  They walked back to join the others, and as Kenny and Martha ushered Jeremy and Katy to the front door, Clay took Crystal’s hand and led her through to the garage. Once seated in the car he started the engine and turned on the heater, then stared at her, shaking his head.

  “What?” she frowned.

  “I have never been so plumb proud of anyone in my life!”

  “Because my mother’s an artist that your dinner guest was crazy about?”

  “Nope, because of how you handled everythin’. You were so charmin’, and so…I can’t even put it into words. You are somethin’ special, you really are,” and I am crazy in love with you.

  “So are you, Clay,” she said softly. You absolutely take my breath away.

  In the main house, Martha and Kenny were getting ready for bed. Though the evening had been a tremendous success, Kenny had been reserved after the guests had left and Martha knew why. Besides the steak, Crystal had been the star of the night, and Clay’s face had glowed with pride.

  “You want to talk about it, Kenny?” Martha asked softly.

  “You already know what’s on my mind. Ain’t nothin’ to talk about. Her mother’s a famous artist. How long do you think it’ll be ’til she takes off back to her high-life? Did you see how he was lookin’ at her? Damn, I was impressed by Crystal too, and proud, but it scares the crap outta me.”

  “We’ve already had this conversation,” she sighed. “What can I say or do to help you feel better?”

  “Look into the future, honey, and tell me that girl’s gonna stick around. Tell me she’s not gonna leave and break my boy’s heart and have him runnin’ all over the damn country chasin’ after her.”

  “I can’t do that, but I can tell you this much. She was looking at Clay just the way he was looking at her, and if it comes down to one of them changing their life, I’ll bet you dollars to donuts, it’ll be her.”

  “From your lips, Martha, from your lips,” he muttered climbing into bed.

  Two hours away in Missoula, a band called, Significant Rain, had just finished a forty-five minute set at a local rock club. They had performed three encores and the crowd was screaming for more. The lead singer and guitar player, a slight young man with black shaggy hair and bright blue eyes, was doing his best to get through the gaggle of girls blocking the passageway to the dressing room. Two bouncers hurried forward to help, and as the band finally managed to push through the door, the singer flopped on the old, torn couch and ran his fingers through his hair. Moments later a tall blond man joined them. He was dressed in jeans, a white shirt, a sharp sports coat, and he was all business.

  “Mark, great show, great,” he exclaimed. “Okay, fellas, time’s up. Do I book Significant Rain on that three month tour starting the second week in January? You have to decide now. Mark, do you want to be a rock star, or not? The doors are starting to open.”

  “Fuck!” Mark grunted.

  “Do you know how good you are?” the man asked, fighting his exasperation. “Listen, they’re still hollering for more out there.”

  “Fuck!” Mark repeated.

  “Is it what you want, or isn’t it?” the man demanded.

  “Yes, of course it is.”

  “Then it’s time to tell your family.”

  “Yeah, okay, I’ll do it. I’ll do it this weekend. Go ahead. Book the tour.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  After they’d arrived home, Clay had taken Lucky out to the backyard and Crystal had moved on to the bedroom. When he’d finally joined her he’d found her already sleeping, and slipping quietly between the sheets he’d laid his head on the pillow and sighed contentedly. It was only moments later he’d drifted off. When he woke up and glanced at the clock he was shocked at the time. He was usually up and in the shower by 7 a.m., and according to the digital clock it was 8:09. He had overslept, but he didn’t care, and rolling over to hug Crystal’s warm naked body from behind, he softly massaged her breasts and pressed himself against her.

  “Mmm, yes, please,” she mumbled, pushing back against him.

  “So good to wake up with you,” he muttered, snaking his cock inside her. “You are so delicious.”

  His fingers found their way between her legs, and searching out her clit, he teased as he began to thrust. Moaning softly she surrendered to his tender lovemaking, and long after their mutual moments had washed over them, filling them with warm, tingling sensations, they were still clinging together, loathe to break apart.

  “I never want to leave this bed,” she sighed.

  “You and me both,” he said nuzzling her neck. “I should be in the office by now. I never oversleep.”

  “Maybe you should do it more often.”

  “If you were here all the time I probably would,” he remarked, then realized what he’d said.

  An odd silence descended, each thinking exactly the same thing, but neither wanting to voice it. Finally taking a deep breath, Clay rolled her over to face him.

  “Would you like to be?” he asked, his eyes capturing hers.

  “You mean, stay here, uh, past when, uh, Lucky is okay?” Crystal stammered, her heart suddenly thumping.

  “Yeah. The weather’s gonna start turnin’ now. Drivin’ around is gonna be tough, especially for someone not used to it, and I’m not crazy about you livin’ in that house by yourself when it gets bad.”

  “That doesn’t sound too good,” she agreed, trying to keep her voice calm and even “and, you’re right, I’ve never driven in snow.”

  “Is that a yes? You’ll stick around a while?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I wouldn’t have asked you if I wasn’t sure,” he said solemnly.

  “Have you ever lived with anyone before?”

  “Haven’t even come close,” he said softly. “What about you?”

  “Just roommates in college, all female.”

  “I’d really love it if you did stay, but don’t say yes if-“

  “If I don’t want to,” she said, interrupting him.

  “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. You can think about it a while.”

  “I don’t need to think about it,” she whispered. “I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever heard. I would be in heaven staying here with you and Lucky and the horses.”

  “You just made me one happy cowboy,” he said hugging her tightly. “Thank you.”

  “I’ll drive back to the house this morning and get the rest of my things. Wow. This is so great. Mom will be amazed.”

  “My folks will be too,” he grinned. “I hardly ever bring anyone here, let alone have them stay.”

  “Last night…” she said hesitantly, a slight frown creasing her brow.

  “Yeah, what about it?”

  “Your father, he was looking at me funny.”

  “Whatta ya mean, funny?”

  “Like, he was worried, or trying to figure something out.”

  “He was probably wonderin’ what a gorgeous girl like you was doin’ with a bumpkin like me,” he chuckled.

  “Or maybe he thought I wasn’t good enough for you.”

  “Are you kiddin’ me? He was probably sittin’ there in awe of you like the rest of us. You stunned us all with that whole, yeah, my mother’s a world-famous artist, like it was nothin’.”

  “She’s not world-famous, at least, I don’t think she is,” Crystal said thoughtfully.

  “Whatever you thought you saw, I guarantee it was nothin’ bad. You were shinin’ like a star last night.”

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “Hey, I’m right,” he purred, “stop worryin’.”

  A bark caught their attention, and looking up they saw Lucky standing by the door.

  “I think someone is telling us it’s time to get up,” she sighed.

  “Yep, and he’d be right,” Clay groaned. “Do you wanna take him with you, or should I have him at my office with me?”

&nb
sp; “I think I’d like to take him, if that’s okay. Maybe it’ll be good for him to go on a little excursion.”

  “You might be right. He’s lookin’ better all the time.”

  “He’s also looking like he wants to go out,” she laughed as the dog barked again. “I’ll go. You have an office waiting.”

  A short time later he was hugging her goodbye at her car, telling her to be careful, and to call him when she was on her way back from collecting her belongings.

  “All I’m doing is packing my suitcases.”

  “I still wanna know there were no snags, and you and Lucky are on your way back here.”

  “I’ve never had a man be protective before,” she sparkled up at him. “I like it.”

  “That’s good, cos you can count on it,” he promised, then holding her face in his hands he kissed her fervently, his need and love flowing through his lips on to hers.

  “Wow,” she said breathlessly.

  “Stay safe. I’ll see you soon.”

  He opened the back door for Lucky, and was about to help him when the dog jumped in unaided.

  “Progress! He did that really well,” Crystal laughed, climbing in behind the wheel.

  “Progress on all counts this mornin’,” Clay agreed. “Drive safe.”

  “I will,” she promised.

  He stood back as she rolled forward, then jogged to his truck and followed her car as he headed to the main house, losing sight of her as he drove around to the back. Moving quickly into the kitchen his mother greeted him with a smile.

  “Good morning, honey. You look like you could use some coffee?”

  “Yeah, thanks mom. I didn’t worry about breakfast, I was already so late.”

  “You go on. I’ll bring it to you.”

  “Thanks,” he said gratefully, and started to hurry away, but paused and turned back to her.

  “Dad around?”

  “He’s off with John. It seems some weather’s coming and he wanted to check on something before it got here. You need him?”

  “I have some news.”

  “Good, I hope.”

  “I happen to think so,” he smiled.

  “If it’s putting a smile on your face like that, I’m all ears.”

  “It’s about Crystal. She’s gonna be stickin’ around a while. With snow around the corner, and drivin’, and her livin’ alone…”

  “I understand,” she nodded knowingly. “Not a surprise.”

  “Right,” he said awkwardly, then feeling his mother’s eyes follow him, he strode away.

  Settling behind his desk he powered up his computer as he listened to his many voice mails, the most important of which was from Jeremy Clark. The restaurant magnate wanted an outline of terms. Clay had been so sure Jeremy would be sold on his King Steak, he’d already drawn up a deal memorandum, and attaching it to an email he sent it on its way. Having dealt with the man for a number of years, Clay knew Jeremy wouldn’t waste any time getting back to him.

  As he started working on a backlog of paperwork, he found his mind drifting to Crystal and the giant leap he’d taken by asking her to live with him. He knew when he’d uttered the words, stickin’ around, living with him indefinitely was what he’d meant. He didn’t want her going anywhere. Their relationship had suddenly blossomed, and though he’d been seeing her regularly before her visit to his lakeside cottage, their new found closeness had still taken him by surprise.

  “Hey, son.”

  Clay looked up and saw his father ambling towards him.

  “Hey, dad. I thought you were out with John.”

  “I was. Just got back. Your mother tells me your girl is gonna be livin’ here.”

  “Yep.” Clay nodded.

  “Kinda fast, don’tcha think?”

  “Not really. We’ve been datin’ a while.”

  “What’s a while?” his father frowned.

  “I met her the beginnin’ of September. What’s this about dad? Don’t you like her?”

  “I like her plenty,” his father replied. “Like I said, just seems kinda fast.”

  “It’s not, and besides, you and mom have been droppin’ hints it was time for me to find someone steady. Now I have, and you’ve gotta admit, she’s somethin’.”

  “Yep,” Kenny nodded, “that she is. You hear from Jeremy?”

  “I just emailed him the deal memo.”

  “Great, I’ll leave you to it,” he said, and turning around he was about to walk out when Martha arrived carrying a tray. “What’s that? Scrambled eggs and bacon? Eatin’ at your desk. I did that plenty buildin’ up this ranch.”

  “I’ll bet you did,” Clay smiled. “Thanks, mom.”

  “You’re welcome honey,” she said placing the tray on the side of the desk. “Come on, Kenny. The boy needs to work.”

  Taking her husband’s hand she led him out the door, and as they closed it behind them, Clay thought back to Crystal’s comment that his father had been looking at her strangely the night before.

  “She was right,” he muttered. “Dad’s worried. Huh. I wonder why,” then shaking his head he turned his attention back to the files on his desk.

  It was almost noon when he began to worry. Crystal still hadn’t called him. He figured it would have taken her a couple of hours to gather her things and clean up, but he decided to check in. He was reaching for his cell phone when the office landline rang, and he recognized the number as Jeremy Parker’s.

  “I’ve read through the memo,” Jeremy began, getting right down to business. “We’ve got some negotiating to do.”

  “Don’t we always?” Clay laughed. “Before we start I’ve gotta tell you, it cost a whole lot developin’ that beef. I don’t know how much wiggle room you think I’ve got, but you’re probably guessin’ wrong.”

  “Let’s start with breakin’ down the minimum orders.”

  “Go ahead,” Clay replied, and listening carefully, he made notes as Jeremy laid out his demands.

  They started negotiating, and after debating for a while, Clay was about to soberly suggest they might not be able come to terms when Jeremy announced he had to take another call.

  “Can I call you right back?” he asked.

  “Sure,” Clay said, grateful for the break. “I think we could use a breather anyway.”

  “I agree. Back to you shortly,” Jeremy said hastily.

  Going back through the notes he’d made, Clay tried to find some common ground. They were significantly apart on price, but he thought he could lower the minimum order requirement enough to reach a compromise.

  “Maybe I should bring dad in on this,” he muttered, then changed his mind, and deciding to check in with Crystal, for the second time he picked up his cell phone and Jeremy called in on his landline.

  “That was quick,” he said as he answered.

  “I’m good with everything,” Jeremy announced.

  “You are?” Clay asked, totally shocked.

  “I am. The only condition is that you and Crystal come out and visit us in Newport Beach in the not too distant future.”

  “I’m sure we could manage that,” he said, still trying to get over the stunning surprise of Jeremy unexpected surrender. “I probably shouldn’t ask you this, but…?”

  “But why my change of heart? Why am I giving you everything including the kitchen sink? Crystal just called me. Her mother is going to make that giclee for Katy. I’m going to have it delivered and mounted and surprise her. I know it has nothing to do with our deal, but getting that painting is a huge thing for us.”

  “Jeremy, I’m delighted that we have a deal, but if you wanna thank someone with a grand gesture, it should be Crystal, not me.”

  “I’m doing that too,” he said. “When you’re ready to visit I’m gonna fly you guys down in my corporate jet.”

  “She’ll be thrilled.”

  “Not as thrilled as Katy will be. I’ll sign this deal memo and shoot it back to you right now, and Clay, I don’t usually say thing
s like this, especially not in a business setting, but this whole thing feels like it’s meant to be.”

  “Hey, Jeremy, I couldn’t agree more,” Clay replied, “and I’m real happy Crystal was able to deliver. Speakin’ of the angel, she’s callin’ me. I’ll talk to you soon, Jeremy, and thanks.”

  “Thank you, Clay. Have a great weekend.”

  Hanging up he quickly grabbed his cell.

  “Hey, babe, I just got off the phone with Jeremy.”

  “Is he happy?”

  “Happy? No, happy is gettin’ a good deal on a new pair of boots. He’s beyond happy, and because of you I just made a helluva a deal. Dad won’t believe it.”

  “Well, yay,” she laughed.

  “I was gettin’ worried. I was about to check in with you when he called. Are you on your way back?”

  “I am. I’m sorry it took so long. I ran into a bit of a problem.”

  “What kind of a problem.”

  “The neighbors called my landlord and said they hadn’t seen me for a few days so he stopped by while I was loading my car. He had a fit, first because Lucky was in the house, and second because I hadn’t given him any notice. I tried to explain that I wasn’t running out, that I had planned on contacting him later today, but he had a total meltdown.”

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, just a bit rattled. When he started yelling at me, Lucky started barking. He even growled a couple of times. I didn’t know what he’d do, but it was good because it made the guy back off.”

  “I should’ve come with you,” Clay muttered.

  “No, don’t be silly. How could we have foreseen something like that? It’s fine. I told him to keep my security deposit and call it quits.”

  “Is the deposit very much?”

  “A month’s rent, and my lease says I have to give him a months notice so I don’t see a problem.”

  “If he calls you and gives you any trouble, you let me know,” Clay said firmly.

  “I will, but I’m not worried. I’m almost home. Do you have time for some lunch?”

  “After what just happened, you bet. I’m gonna go tell my folks about the deal, then head on up to the house. I’ll see you shortly.”

  Feeling on top of the world, Clay hurried from the office and found Martha and Kenny in the front room. They often had coffee there, sinking into the comfortable couches and gazing out at the mountains as they enjoyed each other’s company in front of the massive fireplace.