Chapter 6
Rosie
Group Chat: Wild Chicks]
Lexy: Hey Rosie, have you thought about how to get revenge on Alex for the panties prank? ??
Vale: Oh yes! We absolutely need to come up with something epic!
Aurora: How about hiding all his boots? ??
Rosie: Hmm, not bad. But I want something more... embarrassing ??
Lexy: Ooh, I like how you think! Let me think...
Vale: Girls, wait! I've got a brilliant idea! ??
Rosie: Really? Tell us!
Vale: What if we…
While I read Vale's message, an even better idea pops into my mind.
Rosie: Vale, your idea is fantastic, but wait... I just thought of something even more diabolical ??
Lexy: Shoot, Rosie! Don't keep us in suspense!
Rosie: Okay, here's the plan. I'll need your help...
Lexy: Rosie, you're an evil genius! ?? I can't wait to see Alex's face!
Vale: This will teach him not to play stupid pranks!
Rosie: Girls, are you sure he won't get really angry? You know him better than I do...
Aurora: Trust us, Rosie. Alex can take it. Besides, he asked for it!
Vale: Exactly. Don't worry, everything will be fine.
Rosie: Okay, if you say so. Shall we meet in an hour to put the plan into action?
Lexy: You bet! ??
Vale: I'll be on time! ??
Aurora: I can't wait! This is going to be epic! ??
I close the chat with a satisfied smile. I quickly get dressed and head towards the stables, where I know I'll find Alex.
I find him brushing a horse, his back turned to me. I pause for a moment to admire the view: the muscles in his arms flex as he works, and his hair is slightly tousled by the wind. His worn, dark brown cowboy hat hangs from his shoulders. Broad shoulders that could span a mile. God. For a moment, I almost regret what I'm about to do. Almost.
I listen to that little voice inside me, which seems to know better than I do, and ladies and gentlemen, Rosalie Thorne is about to pull off the bluff of the century.
“Hey, cowboy,”
I call out, trying to maintain a neutral tone.
Alex turns around, a smile forming on his face when he sees me.
If it was already hard to focus on anything but his physical appearance when he was turned away, now, with him facing me, those intense eyes and that infuriating expression — almost like he's genuinely pleased to see me... to annoy me, of course — it's even worse.
If I’m starting to find that look sexy, I clearly need to get my head checked because something’s seriously wrong.
“Look who's here. The city princess deigns to visit the stables?”
Fortunately, when he opens his mouth, everything becomes clearer, and irritation takes the lead again. I seriously need to have a word with the Rosie who's all hot and bothered by this damn cowboy because, clearly, my mantras aren't doing a thing.
I ignore the provocation and approach, feigning interest in the horse. "I thought maybe you could teach me something about horseback riding. You know, since I'll be here for a while."
Alex raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my request. "Really? I thought you preferred to stay away from all this."
I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "Well, I decided to give this place a chance. Unless you're not up to the challenge of teaching…”
I see a spark in his eyes. The challenge has been issued, and I know he can't resist. "Oh, I'm more than up for it, princess. Get ready for the lesson of your life.”
He says it with that usual arrogant grin, and I have to resist the urge to tell him exactly where he can shove it.
He won’t be laughing for much longer.
He rolls up his plaid shirt sleeves, revealing his forearms.
I’ve never found forearms sexy in my life, but I swear on the universe, I could faint at the sight of his.
How he manages to wear a shirt in this heat… it’s a mystery. Maybe it’s to protect himself from the dust.
As Alex begins to explain the basics of horseback riding, I glance at my watch. The girls should be in position in a few minutes. My heart beats fast with anticipation.
"So, first we need to choose the right horse for you," says Alex, leading me towards the stalls. "How about..."
At that moment, a loud metallic noise resonates from the other side of the stable. Alex turns sharply.
"What the hell...?" he mutters, heading towards the source of the noise.
It's the signal I've been waiting for. With a quick movement, I grab the water bucket I had previously hidden and dump it completely over Alex.
His cry of surprise echoes through the stable, immediately followed by the laughter of the girls who come out of their hiding spots, smartphones in hand to capture the moment.
Alex turns around slowly, completely soaked, his hair sticking to his face. For a moment, I fear I've gone too far. Then, to my relief, I see a smile forming on his lips.
“Well, princess”, he says, shaking his head like a wet dog and spraying me with water, “I have to admit I didn't see that coming. You got me.”
The girls applaud and laugh.
“Consider this your warning, cowboy.”
Alex approaches, a dangerous glint in his eyes. His wet shirt clings to his body, outlining every muscle. I swallow, trying to maintain focus. "Oh, don't think this ends here," he says, his voice low and full of challenge. He moves closer until we're only inches apart. I can feel the heat of his body despite his wet clothes. "This is war, Rosie. And I assure you, you have no idea what's coming."
His intense gaze almost makes me forget how to breathe. I lift my chin, refusing to back down. "All talk, cowboy," I reply, my voice huskier than I'd like. "We'll see who has the last laugh."
"Oh, you can bet on it," Alex murmurs, so close I can feel his breath on my skin. For a moment, the world around us seems to disappear. Then, suddenly, he steps away with a smirk. "Better go change. But remember, princess: revenge is a dish best served cold."
As I watch him walk away, I feel a shiver run down my spine, and I'm not sure if it's from excitement or the challenge. Maybe both. "Wow," Lexy whispers in my ear. "If the sparks between you two were real, we'd have just witnessed a fire." I shake my head, trying to dissipate the tension. "Don't be silly. It's just... competition."
But as we leave the stable, amid laughter and jokes, I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, this stay at the ranch will be much more dangerous and exciting than I had imagined.
The rest of the day passes in a whirlwind of activity. Between the preparations for Dad’s wedding and the work I can manage remotely, I barely have time to think about the prank I pulled on Alex. Barely.
Somehow, that damn cowboy always finds his way into my head, and at one point, the silence in my room while I worked was so deafening I could practically hear my thoughts about him screaming at me.
And that's how I gave in to my weakness once again and found myself touching myself, thinking about him without even realizing it.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Damn it.
I swear this is a first for me.
At the ripe age of 29, I’ve never had any serious relationships. I never wanted to tie myself down to anyone. After what happened with my parents, it always seemed infinitely sad to get close to someone just to lose them. I saw the devastation in my father after my mother died.
I haven’t had many casual flings either. I’m not a virgin, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve never had an especially active sex life. I never really felt the need, and I never thought much about it.
I’ve always had other priorities.
Priorities I still have now. So why the hell is this happening now, and with him?
I need to forget about his existence. His forearms, his messy hair, his penetrating eyes, his broad shoulders, his rough and seductive voice… damn it, here we go again!
By evening, I decide to distract myself elsewhere. I head downstairs to where the hustle and bustle of everyone usually is and find Dad and Maria preparing dinner. We usually eat together, as a family. I volunteer to set the table, heading into the dining room while Dad and Maria stay in the kitchen.
As I focus on my task, I sense a presence behind me. My instincts already tell me who it might be. I feel the familiar tingling, and then I smell that unmistakable scent of leather and pine.
I turn and find myself face-to-face with Alex, who’s wearing a clean, dry shirt, sleeves rolled up. I fight every urge to look down at his forearms. There’s enough space between us, but suddenly it feels like there’s none at all.
“Hey, princess,”
he says with that familiar arrogant smile I resist the impulse to shove right back up his ass. "Did you have fun today?"
He steps closer.
I raise an eyebrow, trying to seem unaffected. “Oh, yeah. It was… refreshing.”
Alex laughs, a low, dangerous sound that sends chills down my spine. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a laugh sexier than that.
Great. As if I needed more material… What the hell is he doing? He’s getting dangerously close. I instinctively take a step back but bump into a chair. He reaches out to steady me, then leans in with the other hand. Now he’s definitely too close. His arm is practically pressed against mine. Then he pulls back.
He was grabbing napkins and silverware.
Nonchalantly and impassively, he starts helping me set the table.
Like he hasn’t just thrown me into complete disarray. Again.
“Well, well. You know, I was thinking… since you’re so interested in horseback riding, how about a private lesson tomorrow morning? At dawn?”
I look at him suspiciously. “At dawn? Are you serious?”
He walks around the table, continuing to set it on the other side.
“Dead serious,”
he responds, a glint in his eye. “Unless you’re scared, of course.”
What a son of a...
“Scared? Me?”
I shake my head, knowing I’m falling right into his trap but unable to pull back. “I’ll be there.”
“Perfect,”
Alex says, moving closer again. His scent invades my nostrils, and I can swear there’s something illegal in it. “Can’t wait.”
He winks at me, and I hate when he does that. It’s so irritating and damn sexy. I already feel my panties getting wet.
I hate him. I hate him, I hate him.
With one last enigmatic smile, he walks away, leaving me stunned. What the hell just happened?
Later, during dinner, I can't help but glance at Alex. He's laughing and joking with the others, but every now and then our eyes meet, and I feel a jolt run through me.
[Group Chat: Wild Chicks]
Rosie: Girls, I need advice. Alex invited me to a "private lesson" tomorrow at dawn. What should I expect?
Lexy: Ooh, interesting! ?? Be careful, it could be his revenge.
Aurora: Or it could just be an excuse to be alone with you... ??
Vale: Knowing Alex, probably both. Prepare for anything!
Rosie: Thanks, this makes me feel SO MUCH better ??
Lexy: Come on, it'll be fun! And if things go south, we're here for you ??
Vale: Exactly! Team Rosie in full force! ??
Aurora: Just remember to wear something comfortable. And maybe bring a change of clothes...
I close the chat, not entirely reassured. As I prepare for bed, my mind can’t help but wander to what tomorrow morning might bring. But I’d be lying if I said that’s the only thing keeping me awake tonight.
I can’t believe how I react when that damn cowboy is around. And I certainly can’t believe how much he still affects me even when he’s not here. I need to get a grip. By now, the jet lag should be long gone, so… it’ll probably pass.
I tell myself it’s just exhaustion. Of all the people in the world, I can’t be feeling this way about him. He’s already irritating enough—I can’t let myself find him too attractive.
But still, my mind drifts back to the days until I leave. Too many left. But once I’m out of here… I’ll leave this whole mess behind. I just need to survive it and try to focus on something else.
Finally, I manage to fall asleep, slipping into a whirlwind of disjointed dreams, full of galloping horses and those damn, piercing eyes.
When the alarm goes off at 5:30, I've already been up for a while. The rooster keeps waking me up every morning... but always at a different time. Seriously? I miss the soundproofed walls of my apartment. I never realized I hated roosters so much. I'm not particularly a heavy sleeper... but I like to wake up calmly, at my own pace, and especially with peace and quiet.
I get up with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
I dress carefully, opting for comfortable jeans and a light shirt (kindly provided by Val. I absolutely must go shopping, mental note). As suggested by Aurora, I put a change of clothes in a backpack, along with a water bottle and some snacks.
When I arrive at the stables, the sky is just beginning to lighten. Alex is already there, leaning against a fence, looking far too awake for this hour of the morning. I can't help but notice him. He's standing there, all confident and in control of his body. He's wearing worn jeans that I don't understand how they can be so sexy. And don't get me started on how that t-shirt fits him! Better not. Better not linger on his lean and defined physique.
"Good morning, princess," he greets me with a smile. "Ready for your lesson?"
"Born ready," I reply, trying to appear more confident than I feel.
Alex nods, then turns towards the stalls. "Good. Today we'll be riding Storm."
I follow his gaze and see a magnificent black stallion looking at us with intelligent eyes.
"He's... beautiful," I whisper, approaching cautiously.
"He is," Alex confirms, with a note of pride in his voice. "And he's also one of the most difficult horses to ride on the ranch."
I look at him alarmed. "What? But I thought this was a beginner's lesson!"
Alex smiles, a smile that makes me want to hit him and kiss him at the same time. "Oh, it is. But you didn't specify what kind of beginner you wanted to be."
As he starts to saddle Storm, I have to struggle particularly with two things:
Not staring with too much adoration at every muscle that flexes with his every movement.
Not punching him in the face.