6. How Many Men Can One Woman Need?
HOW MANY MEN CAN ONE WOMAN NEED?
LAKE
The damn UTV doesn’t even come to a stop before the crazy bitch is jumping out.
She stumbles and I fully expect her to fall on the ground, face first. Somehow, she manages to prevent that just as a man shouts—only this one calls her Ollie-girl.
He’s older than her, probably closer to my age and I’d bet even older.
She runs into his arms as if he’s some kind of wartime hero.
A tinge of jealousy hits me when I notice the absolute joy that moves over her face.
She was beautiful before, but when she is filled with happiness like that, she’s beyond words.
That small fact pisses me off. Why in the fuck does she have to be so gorgeous?
I back up and whip the UTV around quickly, needing nothing more than to get far away from this woman. As I drive off, my gaze looks into the rearview mirror, equal parts of disgusted and jealous as I watch how she wraps her arms around him and leans into him in what can only be described as love.
I drive back to where the others are without really registering what I’m doing. I’m on autopilot. My head is a mess, and I just need to get this to my bosses and then slip away and try to get my head on right.
By the time I get back, the crowd has dispersed. Carson, Cooper, and Colt are the only ones left. I pull up next to them and get out, scratching my chin through my beard. “What happened to Ray?”
“We had Jeff escort him back to the bunkhouse to pack his shit. He has thirty minutes to get his ass off our property.” I nod, knowing that nothing about this is sitting right with me. “You got something to say, Lake, you might as well say it,” Carson adds.
“Don’t get me wrong. You all have been good to me.
You took a chance on me and made sure I got medical treatment.
I owe you more than I can ever repay, even though I’m going to try.
I have just never seen you act so quickly against one of your employees.
I don’t understand what he did that made it so you couldn’t give him a second chance.
Sure, he hit on the girl, but immediately firing him just seems wrong. ”
“It wasn’t just one time. He’s been approaching her constantly.
This was just the first time he was aggressive to the point that he made suggestive statements.
Bottom line, we have zero tolerance when it comes to harassing others on our ranch.
You’ve told me yourself that Ray is an asshole, Lake,” Colt chimes in.
“He is. This is your call. It’s not my place to second-guess you. I didn’t mean any disrespect,” I tell them at once.
“Livy is special to all of us. She’s had a very hard life, Lake. She feels safe here. I’m not going to allow that asshole to take that from her,” Coop adds, making me frown.
“What do you—”
“Don’t ask. It’s not our story to tell,” Carson interrupts, guessing about what I was going to ask.
“Okay,” I answer, frowning. “If that’s all, I’m going to head out. I’ve got some things I need to see to.”
We all say our goodbyes. I trust these men with my life.
Hell, if it wasn’t for them, I’d probably not be alive right now.
Still, this whole situation has me reeling.
Sadly, I think it boils down to the way I react to Olivia.
Something about this woman apparently lures men in, and it pisses me off that I’m somehow allowing myself to be one of them.
Fucking hell.
When I make it to the bunkhouse, I’m relieved that Ray’s truck is already gone.
Somehow, I think seeing him would just make things worse.
I steer away from the other men who are hanging around.
As one of the men who report directly to Colt—who runs this part of the ranch—I am one of just a few who have their own room.
It’s small. With the bed and nightstand in here, you can barely turn around.
Still, I can sleep without everyone around me, which I’m grateful for.
As I flop down on the bed, I debate going to the shower house, but I don’t want to have to talk to anyone.
Everything about this afternoon has put me on edge.
It’s too early to turn in, but I need a break.
I text Colt to let him know I’m taking the evening off.
I don’t explain. I figure if he wants to know, he’ll ask.
I’m only mildly surprised when he texts back asking if I’m still good to help guard the house tomorrow.
I assure him I’ll be there, then I turn my phone off.
I close my eyes and try to ignore the guilt I feel at questioning my bosses.
They don’t deserve it. It just pisses me off that all these men seem to be falling under whatever spell Olivia is weaving.
It annoys the holy hell out of me that I seem to be one of them.
Something about her just speaks to me, and I hate that it does.
A sharp pain shoots through the back of my head. It’s so intense that I bite down on the inside of my cheek to keep from crying out. Eventually, it eases up, and I let exhaustion take over. Sleep slowly claims me, and I don’t fight it.
Even when visions of a hazel-eyed, honey-haired temptress take over …