Chapter 11
Valerie Masterson
The man looks amazing naked, but what’s even sexier is seeing him preparing to cook me breakfast. I want to know where I can sign up for this full time.
I’m enjoying sitting here, freshly showered in nothing but his T-shirt and a smile.
Frankly, I have no other choice as my clothes are in the dryer.
“So, let me clarify. You’re a lacto-ovo vegetarian?”
“Yes. I eat eggs and dairy. Being as young as Emily is, I thought perhaps I would confuse her, so I told her I was a vegetarian.
“That’s great!”
“That I confused Emily? ”
“What I mean is, this gives me more options to create something special, so I’ll make an omelet.” He took out a cutting board, along with vegetables and eggs from the refrigerator, and placed them on the counter. I watched with amazement at his cutting technique.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“Where did you learn how to cook?”
“During the summers when I wasn’t in school, I helped my mother for many years.”
“What about your dad? What does he do?”
“He works on oil rigs. He was usually gone for months at a time.”
“So, you’re not close to him?”
“Despite him being gone, we’re extremely close. I think he’s ready to retire. He says he wants to spend more time with his granddaughter.”
“That’s nice.” A smile formed on my lips, but I felt a little jealous of his family dynamics .
“What’s wrong?”
“I was thinking how lucky you are to have a family.”
“Don’t you have a family?”
“When I was young, my parents divorced. He decided to bow out, and I haven’t seen him since. So it’s just my mother and me.”
“What about your friends you mentioned yesterday?”
I could feel my smile expand. “You’re right. How could I forget my extended family? They’re like sisters.”
“That makes us even then.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t have any brothers or sisters either.”
“Oh, but you possess something that I lack.”
“What’s that?”
“Duh, a little girl. She’s an absolute treasure, brimming with charm, and her sense of humor is off the charts!” He slid the omelet onto a plate and placed it on the table before me .
“I meant to tell you. This is such a beautiful home.”
“Thank you. I like it.” He smiled, but I could tell there was something I was missing. “Where do you live? In a house or apartment?”
“I rent an apartment in San Francisco. It’s in the heart of the city. Have you ever been?”
“I’ve never been to California.”
“You should come for a visit. I’ll take you both to some theme parks and attractions.”
“That would be nice. I’m sure Emily would love it.” He turned and poured both of us coffee. Perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself and thinking too far into the future. I need to pump the brakes. He’s only making you breakfast, not proposing.
He placed my mug down and offered cream and sugar. I continued to eat the omelet until there was nothing left. I picked up my cup of coffee. The sweet scent of hazelnuts filled my senses. It was lovely and delicious.
“Wyatt? I’m not interfering with anything pressing, am I?”
“No, not at all. I’m on call today.”
“For a hospital?”
He shook his head. “No, for urgent care.”
“Oh.” There was something undeniably intriguing about this man. A man who spends every waking moment doing everything for his community and his daughter but doesn’t take time for himself.
“Would you like to go somewhere?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“There’s a place I’d like you to see.”
“Your bedroom?” I couldn’t help but joke.
“Nah, but we’ll definitely circle back to that later.” A sly smile formed on his handsome features. “I know you don’t have pants, but I’m sure you can ride a horse either way.”
“Horse? Didn’t I tell you I’d never ridden a horse?”
“You’ll be okay. You can ride with me, or I can lead you with another horse. ’
“Um. Okay.” It was one thing to sit on top of a horse on a merry-go-round, but the thought of sitting on the real thing made me nervous as hell. I felt his hand on mine. I tilted my head to look into his warm, chocolate-brown eyes. He gently leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
He picked up my plate, rinsed it, and slid it into the dishwasher with the remaining pans he used. Next, he went to the washroom and removed my clothes from the dryer. I followed him upstairs so I could put my dress and undergarments back on.
I admit, this sundress with straps and buttons down the front has to be one of my favorite outfits. The fabric felt soft and warm against my skin after coming out of the dryer. I slipped my sock-covered feet into my tennis shoes while sitting on the bed.
Wyatt stepped out of the bathroom wearing a burgundy T-shirt and blue jeans. They fit him in all the right places. In fact, fitting so nicely that it would have made any woman drool, and I was no exception. I attempted to be discreet and wiped the corners of my mouth.
He smelled delicious after taking a shower.
He ran his fingers through his wavy hair.
You couldn’t tell by his appearance that he was a doctor.
Nothing about him screamed that he was one of the well-respected men in the community.
However, he did carry an air of confidence about him that was extremely sexy and hard to ignore.
We walked downstairs to something he called the mudroom, where coats and flannels were hung on hooks. He slipped on a pair of worn boots and stood. Then he proceeded to push his hair back and put on a cowboy hat.
My body reacted to his appearance in a way I hadn’t expected. My, my…I’d drop my panties for him right now. I swallowed hard and blinked my eyes repeatedly. “There’s no need to feel nervous.” At that moment, I wasn’t nervous at al l, I was hungry, and not for more food.
I followed him to the barn. Several horses stood behind gated stalls where their names were etched on each door. He opened the stall to a gorgeous horse that stood towering over me. The horse had a striking appearance and a unique white and dark coat pattern.
Wyatt threw the saddle on and strapped it down. He grabbed the reins and led the horse out of the barn, then tied the reins to a post.
“I’ll be right back, and whatever you do, don’t stand behind his back legs.”
I stood there frozen like a block of ice. The horse neighed and pushed its muzzle into my shoulder. My eyes widened with surprise. Without hesitation, I brought my hand up and touched its forehead. “Well, aren’t you pretty?”
Wyatt returned and observed us for a moment. “Come on, city slicker. Let’s get you riding Hubs.”
“I’m going to ride by myself? ”
“Not today. I’m gonna get you on a horse first, and I’ll sit behind you.”
He then proceeded to tie something to the back of the saddle. “Listen. Since we’re riding together. I want you to put your hand on this. It’s called the horn. Now, place your left foot in the stirrup.”
I hiked the skirt of my dress because I guessed what he was going to say next, but he stopped talking. I turned to see him looking at my legs.
“Something got a hold of your tongue, Mister?”
He licked his lips and continued. “Where was I? Oh yes, pull up and throw your right leg over.”
“Pull up and kick my leg over. No problem.” However, there was a small problem as I didn’t get enough power to throw my leg over. I thought I was going to fall back down, but Wyatt instantly had his hands on my ass cheeks.
“Sorry, just trying to help you up.” Once I was settled, he lifted himself onto the horse as if he’d done it a thousand times before.
As we departed the barn, the horse proceeded to trot through the apple orchard, traversing a small rise, past a cemetery, and into another open field characterized by tall grass.
The horse’s steady rhythm and the serene landscape created a calming atmosphere.
As Wyatt pointed out various landmarks, he shared stories about his personal history of playing out here as a teenager.
It was an unexpected adventure for me as we rode along.
The sound of water from a nearby brook was music to my ears.
I can’t deny that I’m enjoying his arms around me. I look around the wide-open spaces and appreciate the peaceful landscape and the sounds of the tall grass rustling from the breeze. The horse’s steady gait relaxed me, revealing Wyatt’s deep connection to the land and its history.
There were a few trees ahead, providing much-needed shelter, as temperatures began to soar .
“Whoa.” I felt Wyatt tug on the reins. When Hubs came to a halt, he jumped off the horse.
He then tied the reins to a tree and helped me off.
“We’re going to go on foot from here. I nodded, as I was willing to follow him anywhere he wanted.
He took my hand, and we made our way through the tall grass to an area overlooking a valley.
He laid down a blanket, and we both sat down.
“I don’t know if we’ll see them today, but hopefully, we’ll get lucky. ”
“See what?”
“You’ll see.”
In the half-hour that passed, we didn’t see anything, instead, we chatted about our mundane personal lives.
Then I heard a sound in the distance that I wasn’t familiar with.
It was a rumbling sound that got louder and louder.
I started to feel a vibration on the ground and in my chest. My eyes widened as a herd of horses came over the ridge. Seeing them was breathtaking.
The horses galloped close enough for us to see them, but far enough away, to not disturb them.
Their powerful hooves shook the earth. Wyatt’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and I felt a surge of adrenaline.
As the herd drew closer, I could see the intricate patterns of their coats and the wild beauty in their eyes.
I was amazed by the number of horses on the land.
“Do these horses belong to someone?”
“No, they are likely the last wild horses remaining in this area.”
“They’re so beautiful.” My eyes scanned them, trying to guess how many were out there. “There must be at least seventy to a hundred horses.”
“Sounds about right. We try to track them and make sure they are alright. They are an important part of the ecosystem,” Wyatt explained.
We watched them until they disappeared over the next ridge, their hoofbeats fading into the distance.
It was a sight I would never forget. Wyatt’s presence added to the moment, making it even more memorable.
“Is this one of the reasons you opposed my company building in Skybrook?” He looked at me, and somehow, I already knew the answer without him saying a word.
He nodded in agreement. “Thank you, I’m so glad you shared this with me.
I will include this in my report and ensure this area remains undisturbed.
” The expression on his face softened and so did my heart.
He removed his hat and kissed my lips, and warmth spread through my entire body, ignited not by the sun but the passion between us.
I pulled him down onto me where we laid on the blanket.
I wasn’t worried about being seen as there didn’t seem to be a soul in sight for miles around us.
A soft, gentle breeze ran over my exposed skin as we made love again.
He held me close, making me feel as if I hadn’t a care in the world.
I straddled him feeling invincible and careless.
Throwing my head back as I moved up and down on his shaft.
He pinched and sucked on my breasts. I wanted so badly to scream as the orgasm was building, stronger than I had ever experienced before.
“Don’t hold back, Valerie. Come for me, baby.”
“Fuck!” I screamed, the walls of my vagina contracting around Wyatt.
“That’s it!” He encouraged me to continue. He lifted to meet my movements. That’s when he shouted out his own curse words as he came. We sat there panting, with me still on top of him, and began to laugh as we realized we were in the open field with the sun beating down on us.
“I think this is by far, the craziest thing that I’ve done in my life.”
“Then I think you and I need to get out more.” I beamed at him.
“I couldn’t agree with you more.” He kissed me on the nose, and I rose from his lap. “Besides, we should head back.” He went about putting his clothes back on, and I did the same. He rolled the green blanket up and shoved it under his arm.
We strolled hand in hand across the field and back to where Hubs stood waiting for us to return under a shaded tree. At this moment, I had a whole new appreciation for horses and Wyatt, the man with many layers.