Chapter 4
BOSS
Morning. Daylight. Grr.
A shower wakes me up sixty percent of the way. I start to leave my bedroom and pause. There's a reason why I shouldn't go downstairs in just my shorts, but damned if I know what it is.
As I'm pulling on jeans, I remember. Etta. Here. Sleeping in my guest room.
Knowing she's in bed down the hall…allowing me to care for her… Suddenly, it's a bit more difficult to pull on my jeans.
That woman is driving me wild. I've never had this instant an attraction to anyone. The few times I dated years ago, it was always a slow burn. I’d get to like the woman, then feel some physical attraction.
Nothing like how I already feel with Etta.
Also, this time, both sides are clearly feeling the same way… I hope.
I walk down to the kitchen, trying to remain as quiet as possible.
With Etta, it’s different. I need to know her as a person, deeply and completely. Naturally I need her physically – that hot curvy body is driving me wild. But with her, there's a need to care for her as well. To nurture. To provide. I've never experienced anything like it.
I'm still not sure what the whole deal is with her uncle, sending her here on some bullshit expedition looking for “environmental hazards”. Come on. Who sends a young woman off to meet ranchers all on her own?
My body is completely on autopilot as I start the coffee. Usually the smell hits me and creates instant peace. This morning, I'm angry. Angry at Etta's family. They probably thought a pretty girl would make small town hicks tell her anything they wanted to know.
I’m bad enough. What if she’d come across a real asshole? I don't even want to think about it. Well, she's under my care and protection now. That's all that matters.
As soon as I take my first sip of coffee, last night's dream surges into my mind.
Etta was stretched across my bed, naked.
I can't remember exactly what her body looked like, just that she was sexy and precious and made a soft little moan when I spread her soft thighs to prepare to lick her pussy. Then the dream shifted, and she was pulled away from me. That’s all I remember.
I'm at my laptop at the dining room table sifting through supply orders when I hear footsteps on the stairs. Leaping up, I turn to Etta and my breath stops.
She’s stunning.
Even though she’s just wearing plain jeans and a long-sleeved dark purple t-shirt, she’s utterly radiant.
Natural, with barely any makeup. Her hair is half pulled up, away from her face.
No jewelry. Nothing to distract me from the curve of her full, round breasts.
Her sexy wide hips. The sweet playful smile on her perfect lips.
I quickly pour her a glass of water and some coffee, and as soon as she steps nearer I reach out to hug her against my chest. "Good morning, beautiful."
It's not until her hands rub along my bare back that I remember I'm not wearing a shirt, but she seems content to nuzzle her cheek against my chest.
I step back with a grin. "Sorry, I should've asked if that was okay. I just… This connection feels so real."
Luckily, she smiles instead of smacking me. "Yeah, I hear you… It's weird, right?"
"A bit. But does it feel right to you?"
Her eyelashes flutter as she looks up at me. "It really does." Then she frowns. "Even though I have to leave so soon."
I hand her the coffee, then indicate that she should join me at the table and we sit. "You said that your uncle is your boss. Do you love your job?"
Her head shakes emphatically. "No.” Then she smiles.
It feels like a beam of early morning light piercing my heart.
"I really do like the paperwork. Billing and invoicing.
Tracking everything. It's kinda meditative.
" Her smile drops. "But dealing with my uncle, my father, and the pushy, greedy clients turns my stomach. "
I don't ever want my girl to do something that makes her squint in frustration like that.
"I'm just spitballing here. Those two are up to no good, and you want no part of it, but because they’re family, you feel you can't say anything?
" She nods. Leaning back, my fingers idly drum on the table.
"Now, normally if a situation like this came up, I'd set my private investigator on them, so I knew who was digging into my town and you could make an informed decision about continuing to be associated with them or not. "
“I already know that if I had a choice, I'd get a job far away from them."
Music to my ears.
"Angel, I would never put you in any situation that wasn't your choice.
" Reaching out, I take her hand, loving how eagerly she grips my fingers.
"Also, I would never send a female employee to go speak to strange ranchers on her own.
I wouldn't even send a man alone. You always send people in pairs, for safety.”
"That makes sense. But everyone else was busy. And I think Uncle David thought that I could just wander in looking innocent, and people would tell me anything."
"And what did you learn from this whole situation?"
Etta grins, straightening up. "If this is how they treat me, my family are assholes and I don't want anything to do with them."
"Good. And?"
"I don't believe working for family is necessarily a comfortable way to live. They were just trying to manipulate me. So I need to find a job somewhere far away from them."
“Fantastic. Anything else?"
She looks at me carefully. "It would make it easier to avoid them if I were to move to a different town." Her head drops. "I don't want to be presumptuous or anything, but, um, would you like it if I found an apartment in, say, Rusty Hill?"
Absolutely fucking not. You’re moving in with me immediately.
Hmm. Maybe not. I don't want to scare her off. "Yes, I’d want you to stay close,” I say carefully. “I’ll help you every way I can."
Her smile falters. "I don't know if I’ll get any job references from my family. They're going to freak out when I quit. My phone was already blowing up this morning.”
"They were worried about you because of the storm?"
She laughs. "No way. They’re just obsessed with scooping up the Jensen farm."
"Well, they can't do that. But for now…" I drain my coffee, then stand. "What if I put on a shirt, and then the two of us went to the main building to get you some documentable job experience?"
She jumps to her feet, her big blue eyes widening. "Really?"
“Really. You wouldn't believe all the supplies we have to order, with invoices and deliveries to coordinate, and all other kinds of junk."
Leaning in, I pull her against me with an arm. "Another little secret here at Bone River Ranch – we order from various suppliers, partly to share the wealth, and also so that nobody knows exactly how many animals we have here."
"Why would that have to be a secret?"
“You'll find out, angel."