Chapter 3
Junior
I threw my bag on the bed and flopped down beside it. How the hell was I both pissed and turned on at the same time?
How dare she think that I’m some kind of fucking player?
She didn’t even know me. Did she go around making snap judgments about everyone, or was I special?
If I were, then it wasn’t for the reason I’d like to be, and still I had to admire how she put me in my place.
However, I was pretty sure she had never met an actual player.
If she had, then she would have known that all she had done was issue the biggest challenge in the world. Those jackasses loved a good challenge.
Past being annoyed by her assessment of me, I was sad that she had been so quick to answer negatively when I suggested that I’d smiled at her because I found her attractive.
Had no one ever told her how beautiful she was?
Just what kind of guys lined her past? They all had to be blind or complete fucking idiots.
Either way, I had no problem making sure that she knew exactly how gorgeous she was before I left.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. It only took two rings for my cousin Dallas to answer.
“Hey man. You make it safe?” I’d talked to him while I was on the road here.
“Yep. Just got to my cabin.”
“Good,” he replied. “Two more weeks, right?”
“Yeah.”
He let out a long breath. “Glad to hear it. We miss you around here.”
“I miss y’all too.”
I’d been gone since close to the beginning of the year.
This was the longest I’d been away from home since college, and even then I came home a lot on the weekends to practice.
I don’t think I realized how used to having my family close I was.
They might sometimes drive me crazy, but I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world.
That included my younger siblings, who definitely got on my nerves more than just about anyone else.
“So what’s the place like?” Dallas asked.
“The land is beautiful.” I told him. “I haven’t had a real chance to see a lot of it, but driving up is breathtaking.”
“I’ve heard the same about that area of the state.”
“Yeah, and the Davis’s seem really nice. Carl invited me to breakfast tomorrow morning. Other than that, I’ve only really seen the stables.” That reminded me. I needed to move my truck. “That and the main hall.”
“When do you get started?”
“Tomorrow.” I wondered if Bria gave me a schedule. I had to believe that she did. It was probably in the papers she handed me.
“That’s quick,” Dallas said. “I would think they’d give you a day to get settled and exercise Iron Rocket.”
“I plan to get up early and ride around.” I told him. “That or take him out a little tonight.”
“Good.” I could imagine him nodding. “If not, then just take it easy tomorrow. Maybe don’t do any tricks. Just ride the barrels or something.”
I laughed. “I don’t think that would make the staff coordinator happy.”
“They have a staff coordinator?” He asked.
“Yes, and I think she could go toe to toe with Madison and maybe hold her own.” I laughed again thinking about Bria and Dallas’s sister squaring off.
“No shit?” He joined me. “There aren’t too many people who can hold their own with Mads other than Sydney, of course.”
Dallas wasn’t wrong. His two middle sisters fought like cats and dogs most times, but if anyone thought they didn’t have each other’s back, then they’d be mistaken. Those two would kick anyone’s ass for each other. They just butted heads about absolutely every freaking thing.
“She also thinks I’m some fucking player or something.” I shared and then filled him in on the conversation I’d had with Bria. It didn’t help that he laughed pretty much through the whole thing.
“This isn’t funny.” I almost growled into the phone.
“You’re right.” He kept laughing. “It’s hilarious.”
“Shut the hell up.” I wondered if I should have called our other cousin, Victor. He was way more serious.
“Sorry, man, but come on. All the shit you’ve given me and Vic, and now look. Karma’s taking a bite out of your ass. How can I not laugh? If the situation were reversed, you’d do the same thing.” He probably wasn’t wrong.
“Well, can you pull yourself together long enough to tell me what I should do?”
“Nothing,” he answered, which didn’t help.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“We both know that you aren’t the kind of guy that she thinks you are. Just be yourself and she’ll see that.”
“Okay, but it isn’t like I have all the time in the world here.” I pointed out. “Two weeks goes quick.”
“You say that like she lives five states over.” Dallas chuckled. “You’re not even a day’s drive away. Long distance sucks, but it’s manageable.”
“I guess.” I’d never really dated anyone that wasn’t close.
“But also you might be getting ahead of yourself,” he said. “Attraction is one thing, but love is another. You just met her. You might want to take these two weeks to get to know her and see if there’s more there. Then you can figure out the rest. It could take time.”
“Says the guy who was whipped within days of meeting his girl.” I reminded him.
There was a pause, and I just knew he was smiling. “Not everyone is Trinity, and I’m well aware that both Vic and I got very lucky.”
“Yeah, you did.” A small part of me wondered if I could get as lucky as they did. Maybe this was all in my head.
“Who knows? This could be your shot.”
“Maybe.” I didn’t want to think about the fact that I’d never really found anyone that inspired the deep emotion I saw in my cousins or my parents.
The few relationships I’d had were few and far between.
I even had a hard time calling them relationships.
They had more been a few months of dating or months of passionate sex only to find out we had nothing in common.
And it wasn’t that I didn’t want more. I just wasn’t sure how to open myself up to something like that.
Not with the life that I lived or the family I had.
I spent so much time traveling for the ranch or for the rodeo, and then the majority of the time I had left was either taken up caring for the horses or the ranch.
It didn’t leave time for romantic dinners or much else.
Especially when it felt like I’d been spending more time in the stables since Dallas and Victor found their girls so they could have the time they needed.
“Hey, you still there?” Dallas asked.
“Yep.” I took a breath. “But I probably should get settled and get some shut eye.” I still needed to go get my car.
“Okay.” He agreed. “Let me know if you need anymore help. We can get a conference call going with Vic and Jayson.” He chuckled. “I’m sure they’d be willing to do a video call if necessary.”
“Leave my brother and Victor out of this.”
“Not a chance in hell.” He laughed again. “This is prime gossip.”
“You’re worse than the women at the salon.” Everyone in Cherish Springs knew the hair salon was the place for gossip.
“Oh, maybe I should tell Trin and let her pass it along to the ladies.” His laughter got louder. “Her or Sydney.”
“I will kick your ass.” I warned. “As you said, I’m not as far away now.”
“I wasn’t worried about you when you were a little runt, and I’m still not worried.” He joked. “I’ve got an ass kicking waiting for you whenever you want to try your hand.”
“We’ll see. I’m not as small as I was when we were kids.” He’d always been taller, but I was broader.
“If you say so.”
We ribbed each other for a few more minutes before saying goodbye. I hung up with a smile on my face. I’d needed that call. The feeling of family.
I sat up and unpacked before looking through the papers Bria gave me.
There was a schedule two pages in. I looked it over and was glad to see that I didn’t have anything until late in the afternoon.
That would give me plenty of time to ride around and get ready.
It would also give me time to seek out Bria.
She’d said I could bring her any questions.
Too bad she didn’t specify what kind of questions.
I smiled. Starting tomorrow I had a whole list of questions for the cute little coordinator, and I couldn’t wait to get started.
*****
Walking over to Carl and Lucinda’s felt like being home. Just about every morning of my life we’d walked over to my grandparent’s house for most meals, but always breakfast. Momma D wouldn’t have it any other way. She loved having her family all around her, and feeding us was how she showed it.
I walked to the front door and knocked. As I stood there, I looked around, enjoying the crisp morning.
I couldn’t wait to get out and ride after this.
I really wanted to check out the land and see how big the ranch really was.
I was hoping there was enough space I could really let Iron Rocket loose.
The door opened and the woman who occupied most of my dreams last night looked right at me. “What are you doing here?” I had made a list of questions for her, but I didn’t expect to see her this early.
“I always have breakfast here.” Bria didn’t exactly look happy that I was joining them.
“You didn’t mention that yesterday on our walk.” I smiled and walked in. Looked like fortune was on my side. “You look lovely this morning.”
“I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t relevant, and thank you.” A faint blush appeared on her cheeks. She turned and headed for the kitchen.
“How was your evening?” I dogged her heels keeping close to her as she moved.
“Fine.” She didn’t bother looking back. “I hope you spent your time reading through the papers I gave you.”
“I did, and I do have some questions for you.” This was my chance. “Perhaps we can take a walk later to discuss them.”
“That won’t be possible. I have a packed day.” She pulled out her phone. “You can ask during breakfast, or I can schedule you in tomorrow at eight-thirty five sharp.”
I looked over her shoulder to see the screen. Damn, she wasn’t lying either. Just about every hour of her day was booked with some color or another.
“You don’t get time off?” That seemed odd. There was no way that this ranch was so busy she needed to work twenty-four-seven.
“Of course I do.”
I tipped my head toward the phone. “It doesn’t look like it.”
She moved the phone so it was close to her chest, and I couldn’t see the screen anymore. “It’s time blocking. I prefer to stay organized.”
“Even when you’re off work?” Was this what Carl had meant when he said she was precise?
“Why would I meet with you when I’m off work?” She tilted her head and then blew out a breath. “Are you still trying to shoot your shot, as they say? I thought we talked about this.”
“You talked about this.” I pointed out. “I never agreed to anything.”
“This is a business, not a bar or a club. Stop trying to get laid and just do your job.” She hissed the last part.
“Wow, it’s amazing how you went from me shooting my shot to trying to get laid.” Although I didn’t mind the direction her mind was headed. “Again, I have to ask. Why is it that you don’t believe I might simply be interested in you?”
She paused for a minute and took a deep breath. “If that is truly the case, then I’m flattered, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is still a business and I work with the staff. As such, it would be inappropriate for anything to happen between us.”
“And if I were on your staff, I’d agree.
” I leaned against the wall closest to where she was standing.
“But as I pointed out yesterday, I am only here for two weeks. So that does not make me part of your staff. I’m not being paid, nor do you have any control over whether I’m hired or fired.
” If we needed to speak in business terms, then I could do that.
I’d had plenty of practice at Blackthorne.
“Taking all that into consideration, there is no conflict of interest.” I gave her a small smile.
“I also noticed you didn’t say you aren’t interested in me. That’s a plus.”
“I’m not.” I saw her throat bob as she swallowed, and her eyes darted away. “I don’t eat where I poop.”
“That’s good to know on a whole host of levels, but again, I’m not an employee.” I pushed off the wall. “But speaking of eating, how about dinner?”
“Are you kidding?” Her eyes doubled in size.
“Not in the least.”
“No.” The expression on her face was priceless. Like a toss between exasperation and intrigue. “You really have to stop this.”
“Fine.” I agreed. “I won’t ask you out to dinner until my time here is up.”
She blew out a breath and turned away.
“Will you be at my lesson this afternoon?” I asked instead.
“Why would I come to your lesson?” She didn’t look my direction this time.
“I figured you’d want to make sure I was doing a good job.
” I leaned closer to her so that my lips were near her ear and lowered my voice.
“It would also give you a chance to make sure I’m serious when I said my interest was completely in you and I have no intention of hitting on all the guests.
” I knew I was serious, but I wasn’t above using her suspicion to my advantage.
That and I might have wanted to show off for her a little.
“I’m busy.” She didn’t move.
“You might learn something.” I so wanted to put my hand on her waist, but I didn’t. I was pushing my luck by invading her space like this. I didn’t want to give her a reason to push me away.
“I’m good.” She pulled in a breath, and I felt her back brush up against me.
Without another word, she walked into the kitchen. I took a moment to pull myself together, then followed behind.