Room Service

by Chance Carter

  “Thanks, I appreciate that,” he said.

  Alice cleared her throat and looked away before he could see her blush. They worked together side by side, and got the job done quickly. As they finished putting fresh hay in the last stall, Joe walked in. Alice looked up and gave him a wave.

  Joe looked at Billy flatly.

  “If you are done in here, you can go grab yourself some breakfast and then get to work on the fence, down by the road,” Joe said, his voice direct but kind.

  Billy nodded at him and then turned to look at Alice. He hesitated, as though he wanted to say something to her. Alice gave him a curious look.

  “I think I may need to pick up some groceries. The cupboard is a little bare,” he explained.

  “Oh, I’m sorry about that. I plan to head into town later this afternoon and pick up some provisions for you. For now, head over to the house and help yourself. There is a pot of coffee made,” Alice offered.

  “Did you eat?” he asked her, hoping she hadn’t.

  Alice smiled. She didn’t usually eat breakfast, but the thought of spending more time with him was appealing. She looked at Joe. His lips were downturned, as though he disapproved, but he was too polite to say so.

  “I’m good, Billy. I have to get some horses ready for a sale today. The buyer is coming by just after nine. I’ll catch up with you later,” she said, hiding her disappointment.

  “No worries. I can manage. See you later,” he said, giving her a little wink.

  He nodded at Joe and walked out of the barn.

  “I think he will work out ok, don’t you?” Alice asked once Billy was out of ear shot.

  Joe shrugged his shoulders and sniffed.

  “Maybe,” he grumbled under his breath, causing Alice to chuckle.

  “Don’t be so grumpy. He seems like a hard worker and he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Give him a chance,” she encouraged. “Besides, he was in the right place at the right time, and that has to mean something. I didn’t get a chance to share this with you yesterday, but Matt assaulted me. Billy stepped in and stopped him before he could really hurt me.”

  “That right?” he asked, his brows raised.

  Alice nodded solemnly, recalling the moment.

  “Ya, Matt was pissed. If Billy hadn’t been there, I don’t know what he would have done,” she offered quietly.

  Joe inhaled thoughtfully and nodded his head.

  “I’m sorry that happened, Alice,” he said sincerely. “I feel real bad now that I wasn’t the one to boot his ass out of here.”

  “You couldn’t have known, Joe. Don’t trouble yourself.”

  She reached out and took his hand, reassuring him. Joe, never comfortable with affection, looked away and murmured to himself. Alice smiled and shook her head, releasing her grip.

  “We need the help, Joe,” she said with finality.

  Joe nodded, knowing she was right. The ranch was not huge, but it needed more than just the two of them to make it run. Alice always had big ideas but never enough hands to help. Since her parents had died she had been surviving, not thriving, and she was ready for that to change.

  * * *

  “Thanks for your business, Rick. I’m sure these three girls will work out well for you,” Alice said as she walked her client to his truck. “We will have them ready to go on Friday. Bring your trailer and Joe will help load ‘em in.”

  “They will do just fine, Alice. Always a pleasure doing business with you.”

  He winked at her. He stepped a little closer to her and put his arm around her. Alice smiled politely, trying to stay as neutral as possible, but she felt her shoulders involuntarily stiffen. Her instincts were to pull away, but at the same time, she didn’t want to offend him. This sale had to go through. She knew how to ride these rails. She had been down this path many times.

  “When are you going to finally say yes to a date with me, pretty Lady?” he asked her, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

  Alice chuckled uncomfortably and gently removed herself from his embrace.

  “Well, Rick, I suppose when your wife tells me personally that she wouldn’t mind.”

  Her words were light as she gently scolded him. Rick groaned playfully.

  “I got enough love to go around, Honey,” he said dropping his hand to his crotch, and offering her a toothy smile.

  Alice shook her head slowly.

  “Come on, you old horn-dog, get in your truck and take your love on home to Ginny,” she teased, opening the door of his truck. “Go on, now.”

  Rick slapped her ass before he slid himself behind the wheel, giving her a dirty laugh. She stepped back and gestured for him to leave, her smile stiff on her face.

  “See you in a few days,” he said, pulling away, his tires churning the gravel.

  “Goody,” she said under her breath, her smile fading.

  Alice walked back to the stables to find Joe, and told him which of the mares he needed to get ready and then strolled over toward the property boundary by the east gate, where Billy was working. She wanted to talk to him before she went into town. She wanted to find out if there was anything specific that he wanted from the grocery store.

  He was working diligently on a post, trying to secure it into the ground. He had his shirt off, tied around his waist, his muscles straining from the task. There was nothing hotter than a man hard at work, especially when he was half dressed.

  She imagined him wrapping those strong, tattooed arms around her and pulling her into a deep, delicious

  kiss. She could have watched him longer, her imagination driving deeper into the fantasy, had he not looked back and caught her staring at him.

  He straightened up and wiping his brow with the back of his hand, he threw her a sexy grin.

  “Hey there!” he called out, waving his hand at her.

  She looked away, embarrassed by her thoughts. She inhaled deeply, pulling herself together and walked down a slope to where he was standing. He had accomplished a lot in the short time he had been working. He was obviously better at construction than he was shoveling manure.

  “Looks great. I have been meaning to get to this for years,” she admitted examining the fence.

  He shrugged his shoulders and grinned.

  “This is kind of in my wheel house. It might take me a month to finish the whole thing, but it will be sturdy when I’m done. Should hold up for a few more years,” he assured.

  She nodded, grateful, and then looked up, catching his eye. He was looking at her thoughtfully, his eyes searching hers. She held his gaze, her curiosity leaping from wanting to know his story, to wondering how passionate a lover he would be, all in just a few short seconds. She wondered if her need was written on her face, and when she saw his brows raise, she was left with little doubt. She cleared her throat, and pulled her eyes away.

  Billy chuckled softly.

  “Well, I appreciate it,” she said, nervously biting her lower lip.

  “I’m at your service, Alice,” he said gallantly.

  Alice felt her heart skip a beat, the innuendo landing smack dab in the middle of her libido. She wondered if he intended to have that effect on her. She smiled shyly, and brushed her bangs away, taking a moment to gather her thoughts.

  “I’m going to run into town and pick up a few groceries. Is there anything special you need?” she asked, a little more direct than she intended.

  He pouted his bottom lip out, considering her question. She imagined kissing that lip tenderly, and then not so tenderly, her thoughts arousing her even further.

  “I’m sure whatever you bring back will be fine. I’m not hard to please.”

  Alice pictured herself pleasing him, hard. She nodded at him.

  “Ok, I’ll see you later then.”

  She turned away.

  “Dinner later?” he called out.

  She turned back to see his hopeful smile. She nodded once more and then walked away, wanting nothing more than to stay.

  Chap
ter 6

  Billy

  “Yes, James, everything is going well. Of course she hired me. First of all, I’m charming as hell, and two, she desperately needs the help.”

  William sat on the side of his bed, wrapped just in a towel, hair still dripping from his shower. He felt safe talking to James on his cell phone because he was the only person occupying the lodge.

  “It’s fine. There’s a ton of work to do to keep me here for at least a month or two. I am having dinner with Alice again tonight, so I’ll see what else I can find out.”

  William hesitated while James asked another question.

  “Well I haven’t really had a chance to spend much time with her, but she does seem interested in me. I’m confident we will become close.”

  William picked up his watch from the bedside table and looked at the time. He needed to move his ass. He wanted to spend as much time with Alice as possible, and he was ‘requested’ to be back in the barn by six thirty to meet with Joe. He was being trained on a few more procedures and Joe wouldn’t appreciate tardiness.

  As gruff as he was, William did like the man. He was pretty sure Joe didn’t feel the same way about him, if the stink eye he received whenever he walked by was any indication.

  “Yes, I went down to the shoreline yesterday. It is definitely worth all the trouble we are going through.”

  William paused again as James cut him off.

  “Stop worrying. I have to go. I’m going to the house for dinner and I don’t want to be late. I’ll read over those tenders you emailed tonight and send back any revisions. I will touch base in a day or two.”

  William and James said their goodbyes and he got dressed. He dabbed on a small amount of cologne and made his way into the lodge’s kitchen.

  Alice had kindly stocked up the fridge and pantry with all the staples he would need to keep from starving, mostly breakfast and lunch food. He took the orange juice out of the fridge and poured himself a glass, quenching his thirst. He had worked his ass off.

  While he was used to putting in many hours of work each day, it had been a few years since he had done any strenuous labor. He wasn’t used to the physical demands it put on his body, but at the same time, it felt good to use his hands again, as blistered as they were. He had forgotten how much he liked that feeling of accomplishment and purpose, but his muscles would be screaming at him tomorrow.

  Alice was in the kitchen when he arrived at the house. She had on an old apron, her hair disheveled, with a patch of flour on her left cheek. Billy wasn’t sure what she was making, but he was certain that she was frazzled. She turned and looked at him, biting her bottom lip. He shook his head playfully and walked toward her.

  “What do we have here?” he asked gently, easing in beside her.

  Alice shrugged her shoulders.

  “Well, I did tell you that I wasn’t much of a cook. I was trying to make biscuits to go with the spaghetti,” she answered unapologetically.

  Billy looked at the sticky dough on the cutting board, and then back at Alice. He grinned impishly at her, causing her to giggle.

  “Ok, stop. This is embarrassing,” she admitted lightly.

  Billy raised his hand and placed it on her back with a gentle touch. She offered him a weak smile that implied she enjoyed the gesture, but she was still guarded.

  “You made pasta?” he asked hopefully, dropping his hand.

  Alice ran the back of her floured hand across her forehead, moving her bangs out of her eyes.

  “Kind of. I’m boiling spaghetti and heating up store bought sauce. Does that count?”

  “Sounds perfect,” he offered gently. “Let me help you with these biscuits. I’m sure we can salvage them.”

  Twenty minutes later they were enjoying their spaghetti and warm buttered biscuits, sitting side by side at the kitchen table.

  Billy poured Alice a small glass of wine and handed it to her.

  “Thank you. You aren’t having any more?” she asked, accepting it from him.

  He shook his head softly.

  “No, I’m good with just one, but please don’t let me stop you. Enjoy.”

  He smiled warmly at her.

  She sipped her wine, looking over the rim of her glass, her eyes assessing him. He wished he knew what she was thinking about.

  “What’s on your mind?” he prodded cautiously.

  Alice bit her bottom lip again, considering her thoughts. Billy inhaled deeply, wondering if she knew the effect that little gesture had on him.

  “I guess I’m just curious about you,” she admitted, sitting back in her chair.

  Billy took another mouthful of pasta, nodding. He swallowed his food and took a long sip of his water.

  “Yeah, I guess I feel the same way about you,” he finally offered, shifting the conversation off himself.

  Alice cocked her head.

  “What do you want to know?” she asked.

  If she had any discomfort, she didn’t show it.

  “I’m curious about the ranch,” he started slowly, needing to play things out casually.

  “Oh?” she said, encouraging him to continue.

  “How did you come to own it?” he asked curiously.

  Alice took another sip of her wine and smiled thoughtfully.

  “It belonged to my parents, and my grandparents before them,” she explained simply.

  Billy nodded, encouraging her to continue.

  “My daddy inherited the ranch when my grandpa died. Grandma had passed several years earlier, complications from diabetes. Dad ran the place for a few years as it was and then eventually converted it from sheep and horses, to just the horses. During that time he taught me everything I know. I was their only child,” she said, her eyes softening with memories.

  “Really? No siblings?” Billy remarked.

  Alice shook her head slowly.

  “No. I think my parents tried, but sadly they were unable to have more kids. I was on my own,” she said pensively. “Things probably would have been a lot easier if I had brothers and sisters to help, that’s for sure.”

  “So, after your parents inherited the farm, your dad made a few changes?” he prodded casually, hoping she would continue.

  “Yes, the changes were actually quite positive. We were turning out some exceptional animals and people were coming from all over the country to purchase from us. I was deep in the training side of things, but also did a lot of marketing. We were gearing up to make some pretty significant alterations to the ranch,” she explained.

  “Hey, did you know I actually had some of my horses featured in a movie?” she boasted, as if suddenly remembering.

  “Oh yeah? Which one?” he asked curiously.

  “Can’t recall the name. It was romantic comedy with Ethan McLaughlin. The one about the rodeo. He was a bull rider,” she offered, hoping he might know.

  Billy shook his head. It didn’t ring any bells.

  “I think it was one of his earlier movies. It doesn’t matter, it was a long time ago,” she said, dismissing the memory.

  “Anyway, about four years ago my parents were killed in a car accident,” she said, her voice faint.

  Billy sat forward and touched her hand, sharing his condolences. She looked up and met his eyes, a sad look on her pretty face. Billy waited patiently for her to continue, offering nothing. She took a deep breath and shared the tragic story of her loss. When she was done, her eyes were wet with sorrow.

  Billy was genuinely moved by her story. He was no stranger to tragedy, and knew all to well the pain of losing someone close. He leaned in and wiped away her tears with his thumb. She was touched by his gesture and smiled.

  “So now you are alone,” he concluded, exhaling slowly.

  “No, I’m not alone,” she replied, shaking her head and offering him a reassuring smile.

  Just then, Joe interrupted, banging in through the side door behind the kitchen. Billy sat back in his chair, trying to hide his disappointment. He needed more alo
ne time with Alice. She was just starting to open up to him.

  “Hey,” Joe nodded at Billy.

  It was obvious he didn’t approve of Billy being at Alice’s table for the second night in a row, but he was not the type of man to interfere.

  Billy was grateful for that. He nodded back, keeping his expression even.

  “Hi, Joe. Do you want some supper? I think there’s some pasta left in the pot,” Alice offered.

  Joe shook his head.

  “No, that’s alright. I just came over to tell you that Misty is in labor. I was just in the barn with her. She is pretty agitated and is sweating and pawing at the ground. My guess is that her foal will be here some time tonight, maybe early tomorrow morning,” he explained.

  Alice smiled brightly, her eyes lighting up. She looked at Billy and let out an excited squeal. Her enthusiasm was so infectious he let out a chuckle of his own.

  “That is so exciting, Joe! Does she seem okay?” she asked.

  Joe nodded.

  “Yeah, I would say so. We will know more in a few hours. I checked her out before I came here. The babe is in the right position, as far as I can tell. Should be a standard delivery,” he assured her.

  “Have you ever seen a mare give birth, Billy?” she asked, her smile still bright.

  Billy shook his head.

  “No, I haven’t,” he admitted, clenching his jaw a little tighter.

  “Well it is just the most incredible sight. You’ll want to be there, right?” she asked him, nodding her head.

  Billy wasn’t sure he did, but was even more certain he didn’t want her to think he was a pussy. He nodded his head and offered her a smile, weak as it was.

  She looked back at Joe.

  “Anything I can do?” she asked Joe.

  “I’ll let you know when things get closer. I’m just going to tend to the other animals for now. Billy, you comin’?” Joe asked him.

  Billy popped the last bite of biscuit into his mouth and nodded.

  “Yeah, man. I’ll be right there,” he said, hoping Joe would leave and give him another five minutes with Alice.

  Joe turned to Alice.

  “Ok. I’ll see you in a bit,” he said to her, his voice softening.

  Billy was certain she was the only person on the planet that Joe reserved that tone for. She nodded at him and Joe walked out, but not before giving Billy another glance.