Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Atlas
Petting zoo maintenance? Decorate horses for a unicorn party?
No. Fucking. Way. The schedule for this week had to be a sick joke. Horses weren’t supposed to sparkle. They were majestic animals that were perfect without the addition of glitter and paint.
That wasn’t at all what I’d expected when Dad asked me and my brothers to take jobs as ranch hands at the kink ranch our stepsister was going to attend.
I slapped the paper onto the countertop at the check-in desk. Noting that Erika had left the check-in area, I grumbled to my brothers. “I’m not a shit shoveler.”
Everest laughed. “What’s wrong, Atlas? You shovel plenty of your own every time you open your mouth.”
“Fuck off. I have no desire to shovel shit, play dress up with horses, or babysit our stepsister. She signed up for a kink camp. I doubt she did that by accident. I’m outta here.”
Phoenix huffed. “Hold on. Dad doesn’t ask us for much.”
Everest smirked. “Let him leave, Phoenix. He can let Dad know he’s gone soft—can’t lower himself to mucking stalls anymore.”
How did they not see how messed up this was?
“Dad’s the one who’s gone soft. Marrying a woman he hasn’t even introduced us to and promising we’ll keep an eye on her daughter because she’s worried about her.
He even gave up his annual trip with his best friend to marry this woman. What’s gotten into him?”
I wouldn’t normally go back on my word to my father, but he’d pushed my limits with this request. My brothers were going to have to handle this one. “You’re just brownnosing because you think it’ll affect his decision on who to turn his business over to.”
Phoenix shrugged. “Work smarter, not harder.”
“Exactly my point.”
Everest checked his phone. “Shouldn’t Penny have been here a couple of hours ago?”
I was done with this whole scenario. “She probably found out her mom was meddling in her sex life and backed out.”
“Isn’t it weird to have your siblings around for something like this, even though we’ve never met?” Phoenix backed me up for once.
“I’m focusing on the fun we can have once our workday is done,” Everest said.
Erika stopped in the doorway and asked, “Everything okay?”
I watched her expression for a moment, even though her tone indicated she hadn’t overheard our conversation.
Not only were we to keep our identity a secret from Penny, but Dad had asked us not to tell the staff that we were related to her or they might separate us.
“All good.” Everest winked at me and continued, “Today’s tasks are complete, and we’re going over the exciting lineup for the rest of the week.”
A cool breeze whipped through the room as the door opened and a group of Littles entered.
I texted our dad, asking him to find out if he knew why she wasn’t here yet. With any luck, she’d changed her mind and I could go home. The Ranch had only needed two ranch hands, but then decided to hire all three of us.
After a few back and forth texts, everyone was getting worried that no one had heard from Penny. My comment that she might have decided not to attend didn’t account for why she wasn’t responding to calls or texts.
Giggling broke out from the Littles. One of them said, “You can’t do that. You’re supposed to spy a color.”
Defiantly, another one said, “Can too. I spy something grumpy.”
In my periphery, I saw one of them point at me.
“It’s him! He’s the grumpy thing.”
Erika’s head popped up from the paper she was reading. “That’s not polite. Do you need me to get Master Derek?”
Letting Erika know I wasn’t offended, I saw my chance for a way out and pointed at Phoenix. “He’s the grumpy one. I was just preoccupied because a work thing from my day job came up and I need to—”
Another cold breeze whipped through the reception area.
An adorable hot mess scurried in, her arms full, her hair windswept, and her cheeks flushed.
Our eyes met for a fleeting moment.
She needed me.
And as quickly as the communication passed between us, she diverted her gaze to a chair and sat.
I’d seen a lot of things in people’s eyes—irritation, deception, pride—but never a need like that. Never so much innocence. Never a connection that made my cock instantly harden.
But the innocence…. How old was she? Too young to be at a kink camp. Too young for me to think about how much fun we could have.
Before I understood what was happening, I was at her side. “Can I help you?”
“I just need a minute to regroup.” The gentle beauty waved me away and fussed with her belongings.
Everest coughed, making it known in a brotherly-love kind of way that he enjoyed watching me get blown off.
“I can get you checked in as soon as you’re ready,” Erika said, then motioned for me to back away.
Retreating to the counter where I could look official seemed like a good move until Erika addressed me. “You were saying something about your day job… do you need to leave?”
Fuck! Think fast.
“I need to leave when our contracted time is over. Won’t be able to sign on for another round.”
“Oh, okay, it sounded urgent.”
Screams erupted from the Littles. “She ruined the book.”
One of the Littles was standing squarely in front of my gentle beauty, pointing at the newcomer’s book. “She bent the pages. She needs a timeout.”
“That’s no way to welcome a new guest,” Erika said and rushed past me, creating space between the Littles and the woman I felt compelled to protect. Great fucking job I was doing.
Everest and Phoenix helped Erika by distracting the Littles while I stared, captivated by the young woman who was gripping the book she’d dog-eared nearly to death. Must be good. I tried to notice the title, but her hands were in the way.
After a brief inaudible conversation, the woman handed the book to Erika, who smiled as she turned it toward the Littles. “Penny’s not ruining the book. She’s turning it into art. Would you like her to explain it to you?”
Penny? My stepsister? No way. I stepped forward, swallowing the lump in my throat. Erika turned the book toward me, but that’s not why I was moving closer. I had to know if I’d heard right.
Penny shook her head in response to Erika’s question then craned her neck to look up at me.
“You’re Penny?” I would have felt better confirming her last name was Bowling but didn’t want to raise suspicions.
“Yes.” The softness of her voice drew me in even closer. This gentle woman needed someone like me to protect her. What the hell was she doing at Rawhide Ranch? And how could I cancel all of her activities to keep her to myself?
The connection was there again for the brief moment she allowed eye contact, taking away what tiny bit of doubt I’d had about having hallucinated our instant connection.
In the background, I heard Erika explain, “Have you heard of origami?”
Their answers were mixed, and she continued. “Bookgami is like origami, but instead of folding pieces of paper, you fold pages in a book. In this case, she’s folded the pages to make two Rs. Does anyone know what that could stand for?”
“Rawhide Ranch!” several voices said in unison.
“Now remember, don’t rush to judgment next time.” Her tone shifted. “Could you please escort them to the cafeteria?”
Me? No. Erika was addressing Phoenix and Everest. Thank goodness. I wasn’t about to leave Penny’s side.
“Sure,” Phoenix tried to be polite, but I detected his annoyance. “Let’s go.”
Everest shot me a cautionary glance, but that didn’t stop me from mouthing the word… mine.
When the commotion subsided, Erika said, “Thank you for letting me share that with them. Why don’t we get you checked in so you can unwind in your cabin?”
“I can take her.”
“Umm… okay. Penny, let me introduce you to Atlas—”
“I’m Atlas.” I cut Erika off and extended a hand. My heart pounded so hard it almost broke a rib while I watched Penny’s expression. Her smile felt obligatory, but there was no sign that my first name meant anything to her. Dad was right. She didn’t know anything about us.
But finding out if she recognized our last name wasn’t a chance I was willing to take.
Fuck, my hand was sweaty. I rubbed it on my pants and reoffered.
She shuffled the book to her left hand and set her free hand in mind. My hand dwarfed hers.
The pounding of my heart coursed through my body. Could she feel it?
I’d read everything about Rawhide Ranch, knew that they prided themselves on offering a safe, non-judgmental experience, but the thought of anyone hurting Penny, even if she asked for it, drove me insane. What if someone wanted to spank her?
No, I couldn’t allow myself to think about that. Couldn’t think about my innocent stepsister wanting to be spanked… or tied up… or fu—
“Thank you,” Erika said as my brothers returned. “Allow me to introduce you to—”
No chance for last names. I jumped in, a prayer filling my chest that Dad remained right. “Everest and Phoenix.”
Erika chuckled. “Yes, Everest and Phoenix, they’re—”
“Here to help around the Ranch, to do whatever’s needed, like I’ll show you to your cabin once Erika lets us know which one.” My need to whisk Penny away frayed my last nerve.
Erika raised her eyebrows at me then busied herself with the check-in process.
“I’m Phoenix.” My brother’s tone shifted from grumpy to kinder as he stepped closer. “Don’t let him run you over with his bossiness. We’re all here to help.”
“I’m Everest. Pleased to meet you.” My other brother took a schedule from Erika and handed it to Penny. “I see you’re signed up for an activity this evening.”
“Thank you.” She set it on top of her book but didn’t look at any of us.
I could never get enough of her bright blue eyes but worried the three of us might be overwhelming her.
“I don’t think I’ll attend this evening. My drive was stressful. Is it okay if I stay in my cabin?” She glanced at Erika.
“It’s up to you. Let us know if there’s anything we can help you do to relax.”