Chapter Eight
Harlyn
Jensen had been gone for almost two hours, and taking Elijah’s advice to have the morning off, I’d armed myself with coffee and was in the office going over the books when a knock at the door sounded.
I closed the tabs I’d had open on the computer and padded through the house.
Upon opening the door, I was greeted with enthusiastic hugs from two ladies who were fast becoming friends—Mia Knox, Cash’s wife, and Emma Gardner, Penn’s wife.
Their smiles radiated warmth and excitement, and their eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Come inside out of the heat, ladies. Coffee?”
They both declined and neither attempted to sit. I took the opportunity to admire how they were dressed.
Mia, elegant and poised, wore a stylish skirt and blouse, perfect for a day of leisure.
Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled.
Beside her, Emma, equally graceful and dressed similarly, exuded her usual sense of calm and joy.
Her blonde hair was neatly tied back, and she carried a small, chic purse.
The two ladies were natural beauties and didn’t look anywhere near old enough to have teenage children.
Mia and Cash were parents to Violet 14 and Jack 13 while Emma and Penn’s girls were Ava 16 and Luna 13.
The three girls were at Austin Girl’s Grammar School and Jack was in the boy’s only equivalent.
“Elijah told Cash that you were feeling down in the dumps about the damage done by the dust storm…” Mia began.
“So, we’ve come to spirit you away for the day. How does a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure sound before lunch at Raffellos?” Emma continued.
I laughed. “Where the hell do you think we’ll find any of that around here? Grantin’s not exactly a bustling Metropolis.”
“Lannigan,” Mia said with confidence.
Lannigan was our nearest ‘big smoke’ with all the conveniences and infrastructure of a modern day city. “That’s…”
“Forty miles away,” Emma finished. “Less than an hour in the ‘brute’ and we’ll be back in time for dinner.”
The ‘brute’ was Emma’s pickup that I swear was older than Methuselah and Betsy had been in pristine condition in comparison. How it continued to run was one of life’s mysteries.
“We’re taking you to Crystal Beauty…”
Another knock at the door interrupted what Mia was saying.
“I’ll answer it,” Emma said, hurrying to the door on the other side of the foyer where we stood.
I frowned, wondering why she seemed eager to find out who was calling. When the door was opened, one of Jensen’s ranch hands was pulled into Emma’s arms for a hug.
“So pleased you could make it, Virginia,” Emma gushed before pulling the red-headed beauty, also dressed in a pencil skirt and blouse, inside.
Mia hugged the girl before Virginia stepped forward and hugged me.
When I’d first met Virginia I’d found it hard to believe she wasn’t a model walking the catwalks of the world.
She was tall, slender, with piercing green eyes and skin the color of milk.
Sitting a horse, chasing cattle or fixing fences was where she insisted she was at her happiest despite her parents wanting her to work in their construction business…
at a desk, on a computer. She’d shuddered when telling me that information.
On first meeting, the eighteen year old had informed me that her dream was to one day own her own ranch.
Jensen had confided she was every bit as good, if not better, than any of his men.
“The boss said it would do us all good to have a day together being pampered and who was I to say no?” Virginia advised.
“I appreciate your thoughtfulness but Elijah only gave me the morning off,” I informed.
“Cash said he’d let Elijah know you were having the day off for a much needed break. He said you’ve worked hard for the last few weeks and while they’ve had time off, you haven’t,” Emma argued.
I looked at the ladies, all had hopeful expressions on their faces.
“Who am I to argue. Give me a few minutes to dress. Help yourself to coffee, there’s a fresh pot in the kitchen.”
Mia threw an arm over my shoulder. “Unlike you, we have blood in our veins, not coffee that needs to be replenished. We’ll survive waiting for you.”
She turned me toward the stairs and I jogged up to my bedroom. Ten minutes later I was downstairs, dressed in a flowing skirt and ribbed top.
Outside, we piled into the brute, Emma started the motor, and after bouncing us along my dusty driveway, she turned onto the highway leading to Lannigan.
Our drive to the spa was filled with music, laughter, stories of mishaps throughout the years, and valuable advice for adjusting to ranch life.
Oh, and there was a great deal of talk about ‘that bitch’, Clara and how she’d treated Jensen like something you’d throw in the trash.
I felt a connection forming between us, one that would lead to a deep friendship if given time.
The longer I spent in Grantin…on my ranch…
the more I came to realize I was never going to leave.
We were greeted with soothing scents and a serene atmosphere when we stepped into the sanctuary of the spa.
Ronaldo, the owner, welcomed us warmly, and introduced us to the rest of the staff— Alexia, who’d be looking after Mia, Verlyn for Emma, Calvin, a sexy 20 something had Virginia’s eyes widening when he was appointed to her, and Rosy was to care for me.
I couldn’t believe so much beauty and sexiness was gathered in one place.
I felt like a thorn amongst so many roses.
“I have reserved the spa and its facilities for your privacy this morning,” Ronaldo informed. “You will have our undivided attention.”
“Thank you so much, darling,” Emma reached up on tiptoe and placed a kiss to the man’s cheek. They obviously were familiar with each other. I hoped there was nothing going on between the beautiful pair.
While I was mulling over that thought, a door off to one side opened and a drop-dead gorgeous man appeared. He had a grin on his face, and eyes on Ronaldo as he approached. Ronaldo wrapped an arm around him, kissed his cheek, and introduced him as his husband and partner in the spa—Francois.
See, stop thinking everyone’s a cheat just because of douchebag Finn.
We all greeted each other, introducing ourselves, and the staff led us to individual private rooms for our day to begin.
Rosy handed me a towel that had been folded on a nearby bench and a pair of cloth slides. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
While she was gone, I undressed and wrapped the fluffy towel around me. It felt like the stresses of daily life were already melting away.
Rosy returned a moment later and guided me to lie on a narrow bed. She removed the towel and draped it across my ass, leaving the rest of me exposed for the massage.
The scent of jasmine filled the room moments before the warmth of oil hit my shoulder.
Rosy, as a skilled therapist worked her magic, kneading away tension, knots, and revitalizing my senses.
The facial that followed left my skin glowing, and I chose pale pink polish for both fingernails and toenails.
Two hours later, after thanking the staff, Ronaldo and Francois, and promising to visit for pampering at least once a month, we all emerged from the spa feeling rejuvenated and radiant.
Lunch was a delightful affair, with the café's garden providing a picturesque backdrop. We indulged in flavorful dishes with lots of fresh salad vegetables and chicken rather than the beef we ate most often. Our conversation flowed as easily as the gentle breeze.
The day, though centered around pampering, was a good opportunity to cement our budding friendship.
We returned home as the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape.
I felt a deep sense of gratitude for my new friends and the wonderful day we’d shared.
But I was most grateful for Jensen who had initiated the entire day by speaking with Cash before he’d left for his own ranch earlier that morning.
How Mia and Emma had organized things so quick was something they refused to reveal.
We dropped Virginia off on our way to my place and I was disappointed to learn from Briggs that Jensen had left his ranch about half an hour earlier. The foreman had no idea where he’d gone.
Emma pulled the brute to a stop at my front steps and we all climbed out. After sharing a hug and promising to catch up for coffee in a few days, I waved after they got back into the pickup and headed to their homes on the far side of Hazy Downs.
Feeling rejuvenated but disappointed I’d missed seeing Jensen, I opened the front door and stepped inside. Cooking aromas assaulted my nose and my mouth watered even though I’d had a decent sized lunch. Noise from the kitchen had me frowning and I cautiously started in that direction.
As I entered the kitchen, I was met with a delightful surprise.
Jensen was there, juggling pots and pans with a skillful hand, moving from one side of the kitchen to the other while cooking.
His concentration was absolute, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
The enticing aroma of the food he was preparing filled the room, and I felt my disappointment from earlier melt away.
“Jensen,” I called out softly, not wanting to startle him. He turned, and his face lit up with a warm smile.
“Hey, I thought I’d make us dinner,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel. “Hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” I replied, genuinely touched by his effort. “It smells amazing.”
He stepped toward me, and I found myself enveloped in a hug that carried the warmth of his presence and the promise of a wonderful evening ahead. It seemed that the day of pampering wasn’t quite over yet, and I felt grateful once more for the unexpected joys that life, and Jensen, had to offer.
“Take a seat, this is ready. We’re having my famous Texas Southern Fried Chicken, with tossed salad and cornbread I bought from Sweet Delights. I also picked up fruit-filled kolaches for our dessert.”
“Wow, I’m impressed. Thank you.” I dragged out a chair and sat while Jensen dished up our meals.
After he served the food and placed a plate of cornbread between us, Jensen sat opposite. He poured a red wine for me and popped the top off a bottle of beer for himself. We both had a mouthful of our drinks.
“You have perfect timing,” I said before forking in a mouthful of chicken which was mouth-wateringly good.
“Emma sent me a text letting me know you were on your way home,” Jensen confessed. “How was the spa day?” His gaze was warm and curious as he awaited my answer.
“It was absolutely wonderful,” I replied, taking a sip of wine and savoring the refreshing taste. “We all had such a great time. Mia and Emma really outdid themselves with the organization. I can't believe how quickly they pulled everything together.”
Jensen chuckled, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. “Those two can be quite the whirlwind when they set their minds to something.”
“And Virginia,” I continued, cutting into the tender chicken. “She was a joy to have along. We all felt pampered and relaxed by the end of it. It was exactly what I needed to get my head back on straight.”
Jensen nodded, his expression thoughtful. “I'm glad you had a good time. It sounds like it was a perfect day.”
“It really was,” I said, smiling at him. “And it’s ending on an even better note.”
Jensen's face softened with emotion. “You have worked so damn hard since you arrived. The men said you don’t hesitate to get in and help them. You should be very proud of yourself, those men are impressed and that’s not something I’ve seen often.”
Touched by his words, I reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Jensen…for everything.”
The conversation flowed easily as we enjoyed the meal, talking about our day.
Shared laughs and glances made my body tingle, my feelings for Jensen were becoming stronger and that was fucking terrifying.
After what I’d endured in the relationship with Finn, could I trust another man, even if Jensen seemed to be nothing like Finn?
I shook the thoughts away, not wanting to spoil our evening. We finished dinner and moved to the living room, where the evening continued with soft music and comfortable conversation.
The crackling of lightning lit up the night sky, and thunder rumbled as rain began hitting the roof in a melodic symphony. The oppressive warmth of the day still lingered when I stood, took Jensen’s hand, and we made our way to my bedroom.