Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
JOEY
Excitement bubbles in my stomach the closer I get to the ranch. I’ve always loved my job at The Lost Spur, even during the slower months before Verne died. But today I’m excited because I get to see Sam.
I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Whenever I’ve dated, it’s always the first nerves before meeting, usually followed by an inevitable letdown because no one wants anything serious. And when they find out I have a kid, they can’t get away fast enough.
All I want is to find a decent guy. Sam is as good as they come.
Pulling into the employee lot—still in the borrowed truck from the ranch because I can’t afford to fix my car—I head inside to start my day.
I get the updates from the night shift before starting my routine. I arrange transportation to the airport for those checking out and get flight updates for those guests arriving to make sure our staff is ready.
With so many new experiences that guests can do during the day now, I coordinate all the details so everyone knows what they are doing.
Reenie and I do it all. Between the two of us, we can manage it plus all of the guest reservations. It’s nice getting to stay busy now.
Seeing that the first guests will be down soon, I give my hair another fluff, because the man that is taking them to the barn will be here soon.
“Morning, Joey,” Mr. Simms says, coming out of the dining room.
“Good morning.” I smile at him. “How was your evening?”
“Great. We loved the s’mores bonfire. Especially Chelsea.”
His daughter peeks out from behind him, face completely pale and scared.
“What’s wrong, Chelsea?” I ask, walking around the desk and dropping down to my knees to get on her level.
She’s holding the small stuffed horse we give all of our younger guests when they arrive. Another one of Kade’s brilliant ideas.
“I’m scared,” she whispers, holding the animal over her mouth.
“Of riding the horses?”
She nods.
“Well, I happen to know that you have the very best horse here on the ranch.”
“I do?”
“You do.”
Heat travels down my spine as goose bumps erupt over my skin.
That voice.
Lord, does Sam Shaw have the best voice on the planet.
Sam drops down next to me, not sparing me a glance.
Shit. That can’t be good.
“Her name is Lollipop.”
“Like a sucker?” Chelsea asks.
“Exactly.” Sam smiles at her. “You can pet her if you want, and I’ll even let you give her a treat.”
“I can?” Her face lights up.
“You can.” Sam looks up to the parents. “If you’re ready to go, I can take you to the barn.”
“Let’s go!” Chelsea runs out the front door, now excited to get her day started.
“I appreciate you two,” Mrs. Simms says.
“It’s what we’re here for,” I say. “Y’all are in good hands with our team here.”
“Thank you.” Mr. Simms nods at me before following his wife and Sam outside.
I wish Sam would turn around and look at me before he goes, but he doesn’t.
Shit. I don’t know how I’m supposed to get his attention if he won’t even look at me. The way he stared at me the other day, I thought something might happen again.
Guess I was wrong.
“Are you doing okay?” Reenie asks.
“I’m fine.”
“You seem flustered.”
“I’ve got a lot to do today. That’s all.”
I don’t think my lie fools her, based on the side-eye she gives me. I go back to my usual tasks, trying to push the infuriating man from my mind.
I don’t think I could ignore someone after sharing one of the best kisses of my life. I mean, maybe it wasn’t for him. Oh, God. I am putting way more into this kiss than he is.
Maybe he isn’t attracted to me at all. But if he wasn’t, then he wouldn’t have made a move to start with.
Why are men the most frustrating creatures on the planet?
I head back into the office to do work while Reenie stays out at the desk. I get lost in my work until Reenie pops in later.
“Can you cover the desk? I need to run some towels up to room twelve.”
“Sure thing.”
The middle of the day is always slow since everyone is out. Rarely are guests in here during the day with so much to experience.
The front door of the lodge opens and wow. Sam strides in, long legs eating up the distance. Spinning on my heel, I take a deep, centering breath.
And unbutton another button on my denim shirt. Because if this man won’t notice me, I’m not going to make it easy on him. I made sure to wear the nicer of our uniform shirts—paired with a pair of my sexiest heels—today just for this moment.
Sunglasses cover his eyes, and his usual cowboy hat rests on top of his head. The black T-shirt, with The Lost Spur logo, stretches across his chest.
Sam takes off his sunglasses and tucks them into his shirt collar.
“Where’s Reenie?” he asks.
I clasp my hands and lean across the desk, giving him my best flirty look. “She had to run some towels up.”
The vein in his jaw tics. I like getting a reaction out of him.
“Can I get the list of reservations for the afternoon? I want to be sure we’re ready.”
“I think I can rustle them up for you.”
Turning to the desk, I put a slight sway in my hips. Whether he notices or not, I don’t know. But ever since Sam kissed me, I can’t stop thinking about him.
All I want is to feel those lips on me again. To feel them trail warm paths along my body and make me come. He’s doing a great job of pretending like it didn’t happen.
As I turn back around, I notice there’s a fire in his eyes.
“Can I talk to you?” he growls.
“About what?” I play dumb.
“The guest list.” He snatches the papers from my hands.
“I—”
“Can you watch the desk, Reenie?” Sam asks, not letting me get a word in as Reenie walks back into the lobby.
“Umm, sure.”
She looks confused but shrugs a shoulder as I follow Sam to one of the back offices. As I shuffle behind him, he pulls me inside and kicks the door shut behind me.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
His thick arms are crossed over his chest. Resting my ass on the desk, I prop one ankle over the other, playing coy. “What do you mean?”
Sam takes a beat. His eyes are focused on mine. Before I know it, he’s crowding against me, his hand on my neck. “You’re a smart girl, Joey. You know what you’re doing.”
I wrap my fingers around his wrist. Not to push him away, but to keep him there. This close, I can see the gray peppering his stubble. The wrinkles around his eyes. How soft and plush his lips look.
I steel my spine. A man like Sam doesn’t beat around the bush. He doesn’t want games. And while my plan might have gotten him in here, I need to tell him what I want.
“What, like ignoring me?”
“You know why I’m doing it.”
“Tell me.”
I have a feeling I know the reason, but I want to hear him say it. To tell me that he wants me, but can’t because of our situation.
“Your dad.”
I squeeze my hand tighter around his wrist. “He’s not here right now.”
“Doesn’t matter. He’s my best friend.”
“And?”
“And? What other reason do you need?”
I take a beat, watching the heat in his eyes. He definitely wants me. And I don’t think I’ll get a confession from him unless I say something first.
If that’s what he needs, then I’ll do it.
“I want you, Sam,” I confess. “I thought that much was obvious.”
His jaw tics. “You know we can’t do this.”
“So you said.” I grip his wrist harder.
“What other reason do you need?” he growls.
I shake my head, looping my finger through his belt loop to pull him closer. “I don’t care. Like I said, I want you.”
He presses a thumb to my pulse. It’s throbbing with need. The need to feel this man between my legs. As if I will it into existence, Sam pushes his thigh between my legs. He’s hard. Based on what I’m feeling, he’s packing the heat.
It’s like with each beat of my pulse, his resistance falls.
“What do you want, darlin’?”
Darlin’.
Why does that one word make me nearly want to come?
“I want.” I lick my lips. “I want—”
Sam increases the pressure on my neck, towering over me. Holy shit. I feel his presence everywhere. The scent of his cologne, mixing with the faint scent of sweat, makes me grind down on his thigh. I need more friction.
“Tell me.”
His free hand settles on my waist, fingers digging in.
Pushing up, I trail my lips along his jaw all the way to his ear. “Fuck me.”
“Take your lunch.”
“What?” My brain is dizzy with lust.
Sam nibbles on my earlobe. “Bring the lunch order out to the barn, and take your lunch break. Come to my place.”
“I only have an hour,” I whisper.
I shouldn’t be discouraging this when it’s all I’ve been thinking about.
“Darlin’, I only need an hour.”
A shudder racks my body. “Okay.”
“Meet me at my place at noon.”
“Done.”