“Let’s head inside, ladies.”
Hot damn. These next two weeks were going to be the highlight of his year.
Chapter Three
Devonne shook her head and smiled as she entered the Callen home. Ian had said his dad and two uncles owned seventy-five-thousand acres. Having lived most of her life in Los Angeles, she couldn’t even fathom how far a plot of land that size would extend. It boggled her mind.
Good thing she’d been to a lot of celebrity parties, so the size of the Callen home wasn’t daunting. In fact, the furniture seemed chosen based on practicality and comfort rather than style. She could have done away with the moose head above the fireplace, but other than that she liked the feel of the home.
Mrs. Callen came out and introduced herself. While a short woman, she was compact and lovely and exuded grace and charm. Devonne stood in the back awaiting instructions.
Ian came up behind her. “Hey.”
His timing was perfect. The air conditioning in the limo had irritated her eyes and she wanted to repair her makeup. “Can you tell me where the ladies room is?”
“Come with me.”
He led her down a hallway lined with family photos. When she had time, she’d like to study the picture to see what having a big family would be like. She’d have given anything to have a sibling. They passed several rooms, but the doors were only slightly ajar. He pointed to the bathroom.
“Thanks.”
When she ducked inside, she looked worse than she imagined. In theory, she was the top model of the group, so it wouldn’t do not to look her best. She put some drops in her eyes and reapplied her eye shadow as well as her lipstick. The false eyelashes were drooping, so she added a bit a glue to keep them perky. Once she was satisfied she’d done what she could, she retraced her steps to the main room. The girls were still in their same formation facing Mrs. Callen. Good, she hadn’t missed anything.
“So, if there aren’t any questions, I’ll let you ladies get settled. Dinner is at six. For those not in the house, one of my family members will be driving you back here to eat.”
Whoops. She seemed to have missed some vital information. The chatter instantly returned as they dispersed, probably to identify which bags belonged to them. She stepped up to Mrs. Callen.
“Excuse me. I’m Devonne. I’m afraid I was in the ladies room when you gave out room assignments.”
The woman’s brows pinched. “Oh, dear.” She shuffled through her pages. “I was told we’d have fourteen models.”
Crap. “I was a bit late in deciding whether I would be able to come. The agency said they let you know. I’m so sorry. I can stay in town.” She liked being by herself anyway. There’d be less hassle dealing with the other girls.
“Nonsense.” She tapped her chin. “April and Jenny, my other two daughters, live on the other side of town, but the twins have room. Would you mind?”
“You mean Max and Ian?” It was possible she had two sets of twins.
“I’m afraid so.”
She could handle those two. If nothing else, Max would make sure Ian behaved himself. “That’s perfect.”
Ian snuck up behind her and caught her by surprise. “Everything okay?”
She whipped around. He was a handsome man, and when he wasn’t trying out his pick-up lines, he was sweet. Getting to know someone who seemed to love life would be a refreshing change. “Yes. In fact, due to a snafu, I’m staying with you and your brother.”
His blue eyes widened, and his hands did small fist pumps. She had to laugh. He acted like she was some big Christmas present.
“Then let’s go. I can show you our horses. Do you know how to ride?”
Her pulse raced. Coming from a wealthy family, she was well schooled in horses and sailing. She’d dabbled at golf, but she was far better at ballet than she was at swinging a club. “You bet.” She’d gotten the chance to ride quite a lot when she was in Italy. One of the patrons had a country farm, and for two glorious weeks, she rode every day. It was one of the reasons why she knew she’d like to retire to the country.
“Show me your luggage, and I’ll drive you back to our place.” He waved to Max and motioned he come near.
Max trotted up to them. “Something wrong?”
His instant assumption there was a problem told her a lot about the man. He was the one who took on the responsibility.
“No. There was an oversight, and Devonne is staying with us.”
Max’s shoulders stiffened and he moved closer. “Is that all right with you?”
She laughed. “I’ve taken self-defense lessons for years.” She leaned over and whispered. “Should I be worried?”
He cracked a smile, and her heart skipped a beat. That man would break some unsuspecting woman’s heart someday.
“No, but we’ll have to do a bit of cleaning first.”
She waved a hand. “I’ll help.”
Now it was his eyes that widened. “You?” He shook his head. “You’re the guest of honor. You don’t need to lift a finger.”
She planted a hand on a hip. “If we’re going to spend a week together, let’s get something straight. I’m not a fragile flower. When I’m not on the runway, I dress like a slob and don’t wear makeup. I might not know how to milk a cow or muck a stall, but if I have time, I’d like to help. Besides, I’m a real good cook.”
Max glanced to Ian. “Sorry. We’re a bit out of our element here, too. We’ve never been around models.”
At least he was honest. “For the most part, we’re hard-working people, but I’ve heard all the clichés. Everyone thinks that we’ve slept our way to the top and that we drink and take drugs. That may be true of some models, but not me. I love to walk the runway, but I’m a lot more practical than most. I value money, and I know my looks won’t last forever.”
From the small shake of their heads, they didn’t believe of lot of what she said. It didn’t matter. She wouldn’t be here long enough to change their minds.
Max picked up her suitcase. “My truck’s old, but it should be clean.”
Ian piled into the backseat and looked quite uncomfortable. They assured her the drive was only five minutes.
When they arrived, she was pleased with the home, especially the front porch that was lined with chairs. “Nice place.”
Max killed the engine, and both men got out. Ian picked up her luggage from the back. “Let me show you to the guest room. No one has used it in a while, so it might be dusty, but the sheets are clean.”
“I’m not picky.” She’d been in a lot places that were not fit for a lot of women. Give her some cleaning supplies, and she’d have the place spotless in no time.
They both showed her to her room. “Nice.”
There was a rustic four-poster bed, a blue-and-white checkered bedspread with blue bolster pillows and a pine dresser. What looked like a handmade rug sat on the floor at the end of the bed.
Max rushed into the bathroom and came out a moment later carrying what looked like clean linens. “I’ll get you some fresh towels.” He hurried out.
How great were these men.
Ian slipped a hand around her waist. Had she been in Los Angeles, and she’d just met this man, she would have removed his fingers, but Ian meant no harm.
“Would you like to see the property for a bit? I know we have to be at Mom’s at six, but we’ve got almost two hours.”
She’d like nothing more than to inhale fresh air instead of LA’s smog-filled atmosphere. “I’d love to.” The tension reliever would be great. “Give me a moment to change into something more appropriate.”
“I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.”
As Ian slipped out, Max came back. He placed the towels on the bed, nodded, and left. Together the men made an interesting study in contrast. It seemed like what one lacked, the other had in spades.
Not wanting to waste a minute, she quickly changed. Knowing that she might stay after the fashion show was done, she’d come prepare
d with her Western wear. She put on her jeans, new cowboy boots, and a blue Chambray shirt that closed with snaps. To prevent getting a tan line around her neck, she tied on a scarf and topped the outfit off with a cowgirl hat. Not wanting to see what she looked like, she avoided looking in the mirror and left the cozy room, excited for the adrenaline rush.
Ian grinned and stepped closer. “Wahoo! You look hot.” He held out his hands. “You look like an authentic horsewoman.”
She was pleased with the compliment. “Thanks.”
“Come on.”
She walked alongside him out to the barn in back. The sun was strong and warmed her skin. She lifted her face and inhaled the tangy smell of grass and fresh air. “I can see why people want to live here.”
He chuckled. “Wait until winter and see if you have the same opinion. It can get rather bleak here, but it’s always beautiful.”
She was surprised he was so honest. “I don’t mind the cold, but then again, I’ve not gotten a lot of time off to enjoy the winter sports.”
His head lowered a bit. “I can’t imagine what it would be like not being around family all the time, or having to perform constantly. That must have been tough.”
“As I said, it had its perks.”
He shook his head. “Even if you got paid well, it must have been hard to develop a strong bond with a lot of people. What about love?”
Whoa. She hadn’t expected something like that to come out of Ian’s mouth. He seemed too carefree to worry about others. Maybe her people skills needed a bit of honing. “What’s that?” Her chuckle came out a little sarcastic.
“Is that why you want to quit the rat race?”
Truth? “Maybe.” She did have her store and even considered opening other ones, but right now she needed to concentrate on her mental health.
They arrived at a barn where everything looked brand new. There were at least ten stalls, all filled with beautiful horses. He led her over to a horse called Running Bear.
“I’m a bit rusty. Got an old mare for me?”
“Running Bear is the old mare.” The horse whinnied, and Ian ran a hand down her muzzle. “Want to go for a ride, girl?”
She swore the horse’s eyes sparkled. Ian opened the door and led her out. Devonne petted the horse. “I wish I’d brought her an apple.”
“Next time.”
He saddled Running Bear for her then took a beautiful stallion from the stalls. His shiny brown coat and muscled sides spoke of a horse well taken care of. She liked that these men seemed to appreciate their animals.
“This here is Dancing Wind.”
“Did you name the horses?” They seemed to have Native American names.
“No.” He faced her. “Need help getting up?”
“I’m good.”
She grabbed hold of the horn, placed her foot in the stirrup, and swung her leg over. Being high up on the horse gave her a sense of power. While she hadn’t been riding in quite a while, she didn’t think it would be long before she was galloping across the plains.
They walked the horses outside, and Ian came alongside her. “Let’s take it easy. There’s a nice spot under the trees about a mile from here.”
“Whatever you say.”
Running Bear ducked her head and pranced around. It took a few tugs to get her to obey. The mare seemed to love being out in the sunshine. That made two of them.
As they rode across the level ground, they passed cattle and a few cowhands. The men waved, but none interfered with their ride. She almost couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be so carefree. To be able to come out here and enjoy nature would be a dream come true. Given she was a high achiever though, she’d never be content to sit and do nothing, but if she owned her own small ranch, she could keep herself busy all day.
The breeze kicked up, and she embraced the wonderful, rich, earthy smells. Ian picked up the pace, but kept an eye on her, most likely to make sure she was able to handle the speed. A need to grab life took hold. She kicked Running Bear’s flanks, and the mare took off. Devonne’s hat flapped in the wind, and she had to laugh at the glory seeping into her soul.
Ian pulled alongside and came in close. “You okay?”
From her smile, he should have seen she was perfectly fine. “I’m great.”
He then grinned and turned his horse slightly to the west. In no time, they reached a section of trees and he slowed. “We’ll stop here.”
She tugged on the reins, and her mare obeyed. Ian dismounted. Before she had a chance to get down, he grabbed her waist and lowered her to the ground. His strong hands nearly burned a hole in her skin. He let go and quickly secured the two horses to the trees, though from the way they were munching on the grass, they had no desire to go anywhere.
He took her hand and led her under two low branches. The floor was carpeted with soft pine needles and the air redolent with the same scent. “I can feel my muscles relax.”
“It’s one of my favorite spots.” There was a small stream that ran through the back of the forested area. “Let’s sit a while.”
A large, flat boulder seemed to be made for sitting overlooked the stream. She scooted next to him. “Tell me what your life was like growing up.”
He looked over and smiled, but there was pain coming from his eyes. “That would take a few hours.”
“Give me the Reader’s Digest version.”
He dragged a hand over his head and stared out at the water. “My oldest brother, Dustin, is three years older than me. I think he had it the hardest. Dad wanted his sons to be strong and leaders of the community. Dustin was bred for an Ivy League school and was programmed to succeed.”
“What does he do?”
“He owns his own construction company. He’s in the process of building a green energy home community. It’s very high-end. He and his best friend, Colby, who is now his VP, recently married a super girl from Seattle.”
If he expected her to gasp, he was going to be disappointed. Living in Los Angeles, she’d seen and heard it all. “I bet your dad is proud.”
“Very.” He picked up a pebble that sat between them and chucked it far. “Then there’s Cody. He’d the super moral one. He owns the Intrigue Sun. That’s the town’s newspaper. Cody never has to bend to sponsors or to the town leaders, because he doesn’t have any big sponsors, and he is a town leader.”
“Those two must be a hard act to follow.”
“Ya think? I’m just glad Max is two minutes older.”
There was a distant tone to his voice. “Is he a bit overbearing?”
Ian leaned back on his elbows. “I would say overprotective. He takes life too seriously. I’m good at picking the right cattle for the ranch and getting the best price, but I’m afraid I haven’t always been there for him when stuff needed to get done around the ranch.” His brows pinched. He sat up and smiled. “That’s the short version. I’ll finish with the girls’ stories some other time.” He placed a hand on her thigh. “What about you?”
“Me? You’ve heard my story.”
“Tell me about your family.”
“Dad owns a hedge fund company that keeps growing and growing. Even when I was young, he was too busy to spend much time with me. Mom was a stay-at-home mother who doted on me, but not for the right reasons. I think she thought of me as something to show off.”
“Ouch. She wasn’t the huggy, kissy type?”
“No. She was too proper for that. Sure, my mom loves me, but she always kept this emotional distance.”
“I remember my mom would take the girls out shopping or ask them to help her plant the garden. They were always together. My mom tried to teach all of us how to play the piano, but none of us were very adept except for the younger girls.”
“I learned to play, but I had a tutor.”
“You said you cook. Did your mom teach you?”
She laughed. “I took lessons a few years ago from a French chef.”
He looked away as if he couldn’t quite com
prehend what her life must have been like.
“Do you miss having a lot of friends, or don’t you know what you’re missing?”
The pointed question soured her stomach. “I know what I’m missing. I think that’s why I want to leave Los Angeles. It’s too impersonal there for me. I guess I’m in the searching mode.”
“We have that in common. I’m still trying to find my place in the family. Everyone has a purpose. Sam, who’s the oldest girl, is one of the best horsemen around. She now runs a kind of dude ranch. April is an eighth-grade science teacher in town, and Jenny, the baby, just got into medical school.”
She clasped his hand. “And you don’t feel like you belong.”
He looked up at the sky, but she could detect a bit of shimmer in his eyes. “Yeah.”
“Why not be the best rancher of the group?”
“Because that’s Max’s job.” He blinked and then withdrew his hand. “Come on. Let’s get you back. It’s almost time for dinner. ”
The window into his soul closed, but she bet he hadn’t realized how much he’d revealed. A bond had formed between them, one she’d like to make stronger, if only for a little while.
Chapter Four
When they got back to the ranch, Ian helped her dismount. She loved how easy it seemed for him to lift her off the saddle and gently place her on the ground. It didn’t appear to matter that were they same height. He probably had a hundred pounds of pure muscle on her.
“Why don’t I brush down the horses? I imagine you want to freshen up before we go back to the ranch.”
She did need time to shower and redo her makeup. She’d have to meet with the designers and get instructions from Helen, the woman in charge of the fashion show. Having to keep track of who she’d be working with this next week and the order of the show took mental work. Preparing herself required some alone time. “Thanks.”
She had renewed energy going back to the house. The whole time she’d been with Ian, the pressures of the city had disappeared. She loved hearing about his family and appreciated his candor about the family dynamics. Besides the sharing, she loved the sound of the running water, the birds chirping, and the way the wind whipped through the leaves. The horse ride in the bright sun also really soothed her.
Intimate Illusions [The Callens 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3