Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Wild Acre Ranch was gorgeous.
Montana was gorgeous.
And so was the man standing in front of me.
The moment I stepped out of the truck, I was greeted by crystalline green eyes that had widened every time I’d controlled his pleasure with a few clipped words and sharp touches last night.
My face heated as those same eyes widened on me now. I could still feel his tongue buried deep inside me as I came harder than I ever had before.
I squeezed my thighs together and shook it off.
I couldn't let his presence affect me. I wouldn't.
I was here for a job. A job I needed because I was out of cash. I'd used the last of it to get here. To Big Sky country.
Despite spending the last sixteen years on the road, it was my first time back to Montana since I'd been on my own. Before that, we'd only ever passed through.
But something had called me here. A tug in my chest that told me I needed to get back to my roots, remind myself of who I was.
Plus, I was tired. Bone-deep exhausted from constantly moving, never staying anywhere long enough to matter.
I squared up to the two men standing in front of me, eyebrows halfway up their tanned foreheads.
"Rhett?" I asked, swinging my pointed finger between the two of them. The blonde Adonis of a man with abs carved of marble—the one whose dick I had in my mouth last night—stood mouth agape and quickly pointed to the tried and true looking cowboy on his left.
"That's me," the cowboy said. My boy scout's eyes pinged between me and Rhett. "You Calvin?"
"I am," I clipped as Rhett stepped forward and shook my hand. I was never what they expected. "Thanks for having me."
"Yeah, sure," he drawled, dropping my hand. "I, uh—You, uh—You're—"
"A woman?"
"Well, yeah. I wasn't—"
"You need a ranch hand, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Then I'm your girl."
Rhett's... friend? Employee? Launched into a coughing fit.
"You good, bro?"
Bro. Ugh, couldn't a fuckin' cowboy come up with somethin’ better than bro? Unless… were they brothers? I tilted my head, eyeing them.
Rhett whacked Cowboy Ken on the back a couple times 'til he caught his breath. "Calvin, this here's Brody Lancaster, best damn farrier in all of Meagher County."
Brody—Bro, ah, I get it now—shoved his hands into the back pockets of his Wranglers. Guess I wasn't gettin' a handshake from him.
"Ma'am," he said with a tip of his Stetson.
"Ma'am?" His cheeks flamed and I smirked. Oh, fuck, this is going to be fun.
The smack of a screen door had Rhett and Brody turning as I looked up to the house's front porch.
The house itself was stunning—a massive structure that combined rough-hewn logs and cobbled stone with a wide wrap-around porch littered with wood rocking and Adirondack chairs.
It looked cozy as hell, like somewhere you could hunker down with a good book, a blanket, and a hot chocolate.
It looked like a home—something I knew very little about.
But even more beautiful than the ranch house was the blonde standing on its porch, arms crossed looking pissed off as hell.
I chuckled. "Which one of you is in trouble?"
The barefoot blonde marched toward us and stopped right in front of me, hands on her hips.
I couldn't hide my amusement if I tried.
Sure, she was beautiful, but I had about six inches and forty pounds on her.
Where I was thick and curvy in the hips, thighs, and ass, she was thin, but fit.
I could probably put her between my thighs, squeeze, and crush her tiny rib cage.
"Who's this?" she asked the boys while staring daggers at me.
"Hi, Tink." Her cute little nose scrunched. "I'm Calvin. New ranch hand."
"Tink?" Rhett asked from behind her.
I patted her on the head. "Don't she look like a cute little fairy to you?"
"Ex-fucking-scuse me?" she made to lunge for me, but Rhett gripped her around the waist and pulled her into his chest.
"Ah, so you belong to that one, then?" I asked her, tipping my head toward Rhett.
Both their eyes widened while Brody muttered out somethin' that sounded like, "I gotta go check my horse," and bolted toward the barn.
I just stood there.
Grinning.
Because what in the Days of Our Lives had I just stumbled across here?
I excused myself shortly after Rhett and Tink started bickering like an old married couple. Whatever was going on between the two of them, I wanted to let that stew simmer a bit before I dove in for a second helping.
Like I said, I was there to do a job. And Brody was already enough of a distraction.
Because there I was, hunting him down. I was curious about him—about all of them. I'd seen a little bit of everything during my nomadic existence and, honestly, I loved the drama. Didn't mind poking the bear to see what kinda shit I could stir up.
I made my way to the barn—a large, fairly modern structure painted white with black accents a few hundred yards from the main house. Outside were a few corrals and paddocks, one with a beautiful black stallion glowering at me. I gave it a wide berth before slipping inside.
I passed the tack room and several empty stalls—the cowboys must be out working the herd. Toward the back of the building, I saw three heads poked out—and one rear. Instinct took me toward the ass.
When I found Brody sitting on the floor of the stall, the horse's head dipped for gentle strokes between its eyes, my shit-stirring ways took a back seat. He was staring at the straw-covered concrete, knees bent, absently petting his horse with one hand and propping his head up with the other.
"You okay?" I asked, startling both man and beast.
"Fine," he said, making to stand and settle his horse.
"Didn't take you for a cowboy."
"No?" He wouldn't look me in the eye.
I hated it.
"You were wearing Nikes." He chuckled, but said nothing. "Can you gimme a tour? Rhett seems a little… preoccupied."
That got his attention. Brody turned, gaze fixed over my shoulder toward the house he couldn't see. "Yeah, I reckon he is."
"Sounds like juicy gossip." I waggled my brows when he finally—finally—looked my way. "Care to fill me in?"
I watched his Adam's apple bob on a rough swallow. He exited the stall and strolled toward me. "How 'bout that tour?"
"Let's do it, boy scout." I clapped my hands together, startling his horse again. I was usually better at hiding my flinches around horses, but he caught it. Of course.
"You scared of horses? Workin' on a cattle ranch?" He smirked. I was glad to see some sort of expression on his distractingly handsome face other than… sorrow, maybe? I couldn't place what I'd been looking at these last few minutes.
"I'm not scared of horses." Liar.
"Well, you can't ride in those," he said, pointing at my Docs.
"I will shovel their shit all day long, but you won't find me riding." He frowned down at me. "Rhett hired a ranch hand—not a cowboy. I'm sure there's plenty of work that doesn't require saddlin' up."
He chuckled and threw up his hands. "Yes, ma'am. Whatever you say."
My smile turned a little more wicked. I sauntered toward him, eliminating the few feet still separating us. We were so close our chests brushed together on each inhale. I tipped my head up, looking him in the eye.
"What did I say about calling me ma'am? Pick anything else. Anything."
A deviant smile that matched my own spread across his face before he leaned down to whisper in my ear. "Okay… viper."
My skin erupted in goosebumps. Brody pulled back just enough that our mouths were inches apart. I could feel his hot breath, smell its minty-freshness, as it skated across my skin. Fuck, I shouldn't be doing this.
Hoots and hollers from a couple cowboys entering the barn had us jumping apart like we'd been electrocuted.
"Hey, pretty lady. Why don't you take a real cowboy for a ride? Leave this fella to his pedicures?" Gross.
"Woooo-wheee, Brody! Reboundin' quick, ain't ya?" one said. Uhh, what?
"Ah, fuck off, the both of ya." Brody clasped the back of his neck and stared at the ground. Hmm. Looks like my boy scout needs a little backup.
"Hey, boys! It's nice to meet y'all." I instilled as much saccharine sweetness as I could into my tone, my smile.
Reel them in. Make them suffer. "But look, you're barkin' up the wrong tree.
'Cause this guy's massive cock?" I tossed a thumb in Brody's direction.
"Cracked me wide open, and I'm afraid your little dick energy just ain't gonna cut it. " I smiled sweetly. "Sorry!"
They chuckled and shook their heads, making for the tack room.
When I turned around, Brody's expression was lighter than I'd seen it since I arrived on Wild Acre Ranch. And for someone who seemed so full of light last night, I was glad to be the one to help him get it back today.
"Alright, Brody Lancaster—best damn farrier in all of Meagher County—how's about that tour?"