Cocky: A Reverse Harem Romance

by Ashlee Price

  “Thank you for being so patient with me today. I will pick up on it.”

  “I am sure you will. You have done great so far. I will see you in the morning Foster.”

  She waved to her before she got out, the first rain drops hitting her shoulders as she got into her own car. Foster made it home just in time before the big downpour. It felt like the perfect end to such a day. Her mood was just as dark as the sky above her. Foster couldn’t get the question out of her mind. She needed to do some soul-searching and find out what the answer was.

  Chapter 4

  Trent called Karen up. He didn’t have any new horses to look over, but he had one that was not acting right and he thought that something might be going on with it. She agreed to come down the next day and he tried to ask casually about Foster. “So did your assistant run out on you yet?”

  Karen laughed a little. “No, this one is a glutton for punishment. I figured that since she has made it two weeks without quitting on me, I am not going to lose her. She is stronger than she looks Trent.”

  “I think you are right Karen.”

  “So was that all you were going to ask?”

  The old woman knew that he fancied her. He wasn’t the type to gush about it, but just by the fact that he had asked about her at all was proof that he liked her. “Yes. Well I don’t know Karen. Is she single?”

  Karen smiled to herself and sat back in her office chair. “She is.”

  Trent sighed on the other end. She was having too much fun with him. “So what time do you think you can make it tomorrow?”

  “Probably in the evening. I am booked up for the day, but I think I can squeeze you in. Can I expect to see you there?”

  “Yes, I will be here.”

  “I bet you will Trent. I am going to go now. I will see you tomorrow.”

  “Karen?”

  “Yes?”

  “Is she way out of my league?”

  “Probably, but I doubt that will stop you. Just be slow with her Trent. She has some healing to do.”

  He nodded to himself. He had known that there was something in her that was broken and usually he ran the other way when he saw that trait in another, but with Foster it was different. With her, he wanted to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay. With her he wanted to fix it. Trent hadn’t felt that way in a long time and it made him nervous to feel something after so long. The feeling was almost foreign to him now.

  Trent hung up, thinking about the redhead that had caught his eye. He hadn’t heard much about her, only that she had worked at the diner before quitting to get the job with Karen. A few had seen her in town with an older woman, but no one knew that much about her. None of the ranchers locally knew her or anything else about her and Trent found that strange in a small town like Cross Junction. Everyone knew everyone there, but Foster had managed to keep her secrets to herself and Trent wanted to know what they were.

  He found himself at the diner with a neighbor when he heard someone talking about Foster. They were talking about the new redhead in town and he knew that a woman like her was going to stir up interest as it had in him. His neighbor Duncan asked him why he was so interested in the other conversation. Trent didn’t know what to say, except that a woman like her was hard not to be interested in. “Have you met her Duncan?”

  “Yes, she came over with Karen, but I had too much stuff going on to say much to them. You know how things are and Karen likes to take her time too much. She was talking that girl through it and I just couldn’t wait around for it.”

  Trent nodded. Duncan was never known for his patience. “Well if you didn’t have the wife at home, I am sure you would have noticed more.”

  Duncan chuckled a little, surprised that his friend was interested in her. Trent wasn’t usually interested in anyone, but it seemed that the girl had reached him where many others couldn’t. “So you like her eh?”

  He nodded. “I don’t even know her, but there is something about that woman.”

  “If I hear it right, I think it is the set on her. I don’t notice much, but even I noticed the nice little body that she had.”

  Trent felt a moment of anger and looked away. He had no right to feel jealous, but he didn’t like the idea of anyone else looking at her. There were too many single men in town for her to stay single for long. He suddenly felt like he was in a competition and he knew that he wanted to win. Win over her body and her heart.

  “I think she is a bit young for you Trent.”

  “She is in her twenties. I am not that far out of mine.”

  Duncan nodded, “Several years out, but who is counting?”

  The two men sat and listened to a couple other ranchers talking about her and Trent’s jaw got tighter with each crude word. She deserved more than their leering. Trent ended up leaving early before he did something he would regret. It was silly, he told himself. He didn’t even know her or how long she was staying, but he wanted her to be his.

  He rode home in silence and when he got into his empty house, it was the first time that he wished there was someone there to greet him. His mind conjured up the curvy redhead that was coming by the next day. He had plans to ask her out, but for the first time in a long time he was unsure of himself. As with most women, he didn’t worry too much about one in particular. He didn’t have but one night stands when he drove into the city. But with Foster, she was somehow different. He wanted to know what made her eyes so sad and more importantly, he wanted to change them.

  Trent didn’t sleep too well that night, too worried about what the next day would bring. When morning came, he thought of the tall redhead and wondered if she would even be receptive to going out. She had had many offers from what the men in the diner said. Some were even convinced that she must be a lesbian since she had turned several of them down. Trent knew that wasn’t true, but why would she saw yes to him when she had turned down so many others?

  His confidence was gone and his nerves were rattled when he saw Karen’s truck pull up. His heart pounded in his chest, his body knowing something that his mind had not came to terms with. Trent waved at them as they walked up and his eyes went to Foster.

  “Afternoon, ladies. Thanks for fitting me in today Karen. I know you are busy.”

  She waved him off. “Just point me in the right direction and we will have her taken care of in no time.”

  Karen was all business, but Trent wanted to chat more than anything. He knew that the horse was sick and a couple of shots would have her better in no time, but it was the only way to get Foster out there, so he was willing to pay for the vet visit.

  “So how are you liking the job now Foster? Is it getting easier?”

  She looked up at him as he stood close. “I like it well enough. I am certainly learning a lot. If I stay with Karen too long, I may never want to leave this place.”

  “That sounds good.”

  Foster was not expecting that answer or the way he looked at her. He was wearing a disarming smile and she tried not to focus on it too much. She looked down as she held the horse steady so that Karen could look at her properly. “I guess if I am going to have to stay here, I should learn to ride a horse too. Could you recommend a place around here that teaches lessons?”

  Trent could have named off three ranches that specialized in it and did well, but he didn’t want to. He liked the idea of spending time with her and teaching her to ride would be far less expensive than calling out Karen every time he wanted to see her. “I could always teach you and I wouldn’t charge you for it.”

  “Really? Well thank you for the offer, but I couldn’t possibly ask that of you. I could pay you for lessons.”

  “No, free of charge. Just getting someone else to love them would be enough for me.”

  She thanked him and he asked when she would want to take a ride.”

  The horse suddenly neighed and moved towards Foster. She held her ground, but Karen scolded them for flirting and not paying attention. Foster felt
her face getting red and went back to the task at hand with more diligence. “Sorry Karen. This customer is a little more distracting than the other ones.”

  Trent chuckled but backed off. “I get the hint Karen. I will be up at the house when you are done. I will make a pitcher of tea.”

  Chapter 5

  “Why don’t you go ahead in Foster? I am almost done with things out here.”

  “Well I will help you put the horse up at least.”

  “Are you afraid of him?”

  She made an undignified sound. “Of course not. Why would you ask such a thing?”

  Karen smiled at her. “Why won’t you go in without me?”

  Foster knew she had to. The older woman had basically challenged her and there was no way that she could not go in now. “I was just trying to help Karen. That’s all.”

  “You have done enough today. Go sit down and rest. I will be in the house in a minute.”

  There was nothing she could say, so Foster moved back towards the house that stood by the road. There was light glowing from the inside that was inviting. She didn’t know what to expect, not much more than a few pieces of furniture. He was so quiet that she couldn’t see him decorating any louder than he was. What she wasn’t expecting was the bright colors on the walls in the form of art work, mixed in with cow skulls that seemed to be a popular décor in the area. It didn’t fit, but the man was a walking contradiction anyways so it somehow did.

  She walked through the house to where she heard his voice. He had called her in when she had knocked, but she felt out of sorts with all of the dashes of color against the white-washed walls. There wasn’t a reason that her nerves were bad, but she was trembling inside. “Trent?”

  “In here Foster. Just come on in. I was about to start dinner if you would like to stay for a while.”

  “Thanks, but Karen is almost ready and we will be going.”

  “I can always take you home.”

  “Well aren’t you so helpful.”

  “Not really, it is selfish reasons that I ask you to stay.”

  “And what reason is that?”

  “I hate to eat alone and it has been a while since I have had any real company. Besides, you are new to the town and everyone is gossiping about you, so I would love to know the truth.”

  Foster sighed and sat down. “I never got the whole small town gossip thing until I moved her. It seems like everyone knows a little bit about everyone else.”

  “Except you.” Trent handed her a glass with some tea in it and she thanked him. He didn’t have his hat on that time and she could see his face more clearly. It was more disturbing when she could see more of him. His eyes missed nothing and with them directed at her, she blanched at the intensity.

  “There isn’t much to know.”

  “I find that hard to imagine Foster. A woman like you has many secrets to tell.”

  He was leaning in and she did to out of habit. The action surprised her and she moved back away from him. “Yes, well what are your secrets?”

  “Better left unsaid.”

  “You want to be a mystery then?”

  “Makes it more interesting, don’t you think?”

  She agreed. “Well then I guess we are at an impasse, too worried about keeping are secrets close to our chest.”

  His eyes strayed to her front, unable to stop himself. “Well if you share one, I will share one with you.”

  She was breathing hard from his proximity. He leaned back towards his seat and she sighed a little. “I am sure that my secrets aren’t even worth knowing.”

  “Try me.”

  There were many, she had so many of them and not very many did she want to say out loud. Especially not to a man like Trent that already seen far more in her than anyone else did.

  “Why don’t you tell me why you are here?”

  The moment was gone, her mind back on the very question he had asked her before. The one she still wasn’t sure how to answer. “I came here with someone who was dying. We were traveling and this is where we had to stop. When they died, I just stayed here. Kind of lame, huh?”

  He shook his head and asked her who it was. There was a similar reaction from before. She didn’t want to talk about it.

  “No, I have told you one of my secrets. Now tell me one of yours.”

  Trent was quiet for a minute and was about to say something when Karen came in. He went back to the stove and then the fridge to pour her a glass. “So how is she looking Karen?”

  “She’s fine. Just needs a little antibiotic to help her fight off whatever she has. She should be good as new in a week. Give her a couple of days until you start working with her again, but she will be ready soon.”

  Karen took the glass and then took a drink. Her brown hair was sticking out everywhere from her bun. It had been a long day for the woman and even though she was used to the work, there was something to be said about her age. She was getting old and hoped that she would be able to retire one day. “Why don’t you sit down, have something to eat?”

  “No, I need to get back. Lawrence hasn’t been feeling very well lately. But you should stay Foster. He is a really good cook.”

  Foster could feel her being pushed towards him and she wondered why. There was something to be said about the way he made her feel, but she wondered why Karen was pushing her towards him. Was it that clear to her boss that she was desperately alone and in need of something?

  “Yes Karen is right. I will take you back later.”

  There seemed to be a consensus that she was not privy to. “Okay, well then it sounds like I don’t have much of a choice. I will see you in the morning Karen.”

  She watched the woman leave and looked back over at Trent. “So why is she pushing up together?”

  He grinned for a minute. “Because Karen is a hopeless romantic and she must think that we have something in common.”

  Foster felt like it was more than that, but like many of his answers, he was still pretty vague. “So what is it that you are cooking?”

  “Some stew. If you are not from here, you have probably never tried it.”

  She tilted her chair to look at the pot on the stove better. There were many ingredients and she had never seen anything like it. She didn’t want to ask what all was in there. “It looks, interesting. So a man that can cook, how does that come about?”

  “Many years doing it myself.”

  Foster wanted to ask more, like if he was single and how long. It had been too long since she had been with a man, the reality no more clear than when he was looking at her in that way. “Must be your personality then, because I can’t see you being short on admirers. I think if Karen was a bit older she would be in line. Many women in town feel the same way.”

  She blushed at the way he looked at her. “And how would you know that?”

  “Well I worked at the diner for several months and everyone talks. This is a small town after all.”

  He nodded, but wasn’t sure if he agreed with the sentiment. Trent could date if he wanted to, but he wanted more than just a few dates. If he didn’t see it going anywhere, it just seemed like a waste of time. And since it seemed impossible to find that, there had been a long time since he was able to do more than just have a few moments of shared pleasure with a woman.

  “I am just taking a break, or was.”

  She caught the wording, but avoided his gaze. “A break huh?”

  “Yeah, what about you? I hear that you have turned down some of Cross Junction’s finest.”

  She had to giggle a little. “Have you been gossiping up at the diner?”

  “Guilty.”

  “Well I would hope that the men that have asked me out here are not your town’s finest. Merle was half drunk when he asked me and that man from Jefferson’s Farm was not very diplomatic when he offered me money to say yes. This town maybe small, but it is filled with pervs more than anything.”

  “Kyle. His name is Kyle at old Jefferson’s. You have t
o understand that you have a way about you. The way you look at a man can make him go a little crazy inside.”

  “So it’s my fault? You seem to be still sane.”

  “Just barely.”

  Chapter 6

  “Well you hide your madness underneath quite well.”

  “Do I?”

  “Yes.”

  “So why have you turned down so many offers? Were none of them to your liking?”

  “I guess the right person just hasn’t asked yet.”

  “Is that an offer?”

  Foster shook her head. “No, just a comment. Where is your bathroom so I can wash my hands?”

  He pointed towards the door at the end of the hall. It was hard to hold in his feelings, she was beautiful and held something inside that he wanted to fix. She didn’t even realize what she did to him and the lack of guile made him want her even more.

  Ladling out some stew into the bowls, it was several minutes until she came out and he could tell she had washed some of the dirt off of her face. “Ah, that is so much better. Starting to feel a little more human now. It smells good.”

  She didn’t say much while they ate. He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her, but Foster ignored the looks. It was hard to, the man was gorgeous, but she knew she had to. Then it had been so long since anyone had said anything, that the sound was strange in the air. “So about that offer...”

  Foster rolled her eyes, “There wasn’t one. I’m not looking to get involved in anything right now Trent. If I was, you would be the first to know it.”

  “Is that a promise?”

  “As close to one as you are going to get. Keep cooking for me and I will have to change that.”

  “You like my cooking?”

  She did, but more importantly, they needed something else to talk about. She wanted him, but Foster was not ready to worry about men again, even handsome ones that could cook.

  “I do. Not many men where I am from cook, so it is kind of special.”

  “I have many talents.”

  She smiled and looked down. Foster was sure that he did. The dinner was quickly becoming something else and she was once again, more worried about keeping her cool than anything else. She would have to see him again in a professional atmosphere, so it was best not to get too close. “I am sure you do Trent, but I am not looking for those kinds of talents right now.”