Stranded With His Boss

by Rheland Richmond

  Sawyer wasn’t sure what to say to that, so he simply said, “Hmm,” and that seemed to be enough to get Barb talking again.

  “Ford is our perfect miracle. Based on how old we are and how young he is, I’m sure you’re wondering why…”

  “Old? Barb you don’t look a day over forty,” Sawyer teased.

  “Oh, you charmer, you,” Barb blushed. “You make an old lady blush. But it’s true. Ford’s just turned twenty-three, and we are getting up there in age. I had him in my forties you know. Not for lack of trying mind you.” Barb paused and went over to the oven and pulled out a tray, the smell of the cookies made Sawyer’s heart clench thinking about his mama making snickerdoodles for him on Christmas Eve.

  Barb turned around and placed the hot cookies on the counter before sliding the next tray of cookies into the oven. She moved to the cupboard and pulled out a plate before opening the one next to it and getting out a glass. Barb then picked up three gingerbread angels and put them on the plate. She walked over to the double-door fridge and got out a carton of milk and filled the glass. She carried both the glass and plate to a spot in front of a bar stool at the island and placed them there.

  “Sit,” Barb ordered.

  Sawyer did as he was told, moving from where he’d been standing close to the door and taking the seat in front of the milk and cookies Barb had set out for him.

  “Thank you, Barb,” Sawyer choked out, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

  Why was he getting all emotional… Fuck! Barb was going to think he was crazy or something. But before he knew what was happening, he was enveloped in a warm hug. Sawyer couldn’t help it, he leaned in breathing in the smell of sugar, ginger, and flour… she smelled like Christmas and home… and mom. If that even made sense. She felt like a mom. And he hadn’t had a mom hug, in sixteen years.

  “It’s okay, son,” Barb soothed.

  “My mom used to make me snickerdoodles at Christmas, and I would sit at the table and watch her while she made them,” Sawyer whispered.

  “She sounds like a great mom,” Barb said.

  “She was. She always made sure we spent Christmas together, even though I’m sure she would have made more if she worked the Christmas shift,” Sawyer shared.

  “Because she wanted to spend it with you. Because, I can bet you were the most important thing in her life, Sawyer,” Barb declared, like she’d known his mom.

  “I miss her,” Sawyer whispered.

  “Oh honey, I bet you do,” Barb said. “I know I can never take her place, but I would be honored if you wanted to think of me as a second mama. And who knows, maybe it’ll be official soon,” Barb added.

  Sawyer couldn’t help but laugh at that. The woman had no subtlety. Clearly, she was suggesting that if he ended up with Ford, she would be his mom by default.

  “I’ll do my best,” Sawyer smiled.

  “I’m sure you will. I’m sure you will,” Barb agreed, patting his back before making her way around the island.

  Sawyer finished the cookies and half the glass of milk. When he was done, he got up and took his plate and glass to the sink. “So where’s Doug? Let’s get those lights up.”

  “He’s out in the barn, hun, but he should be in, in a second,” Barb said, before going back to humming along to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” “Ford went to check on him if you were wondering where he was,” Barb added with a small smile.

  Sawyer smiled at her not so subtle prodding. “I’ll go see if they need a hand.”

  On his way to join Doug in the barn, he ran into Ford making his way back to the house.

  “How did your phone call go?” Ford asked.

  “Are you going back inside?” Sawyer said at the same time making both of them laugh.

  “You first,” Sawyer said.

  “I was just asking how your phone call went,” Ford replied, before biting his lips like he was nervous or something.

  Sawyer debated for a second before taking off one of his gloves and putting his finger to Ford’s lip to soothe it. He heard Ford’s swift intake of breath at the move and he used the pads of his thumbs to go back and forth against Ford’s lips. Ford took a step closer to Sawyer, and he could swear it wasn’t on purpose. It was like Ford’s body was doing all the thinking. Not that he was complaining.

  Sawyer used his free hand to wrap around Ford’s waist and draw him closer into his body. It was freezing outside, but Sawyer didn’t care. It was like they were insulated together, trapped in their own world even the frigid temperature couldn’t penetrate.

  “Hey,” Ford whispered.

  “Hey back,” Sawyer repeated. “I’m looking forward to some alone time with you, even though it’s going to be outside in this weather.”

  “Yeah?” Ford asked.

  “Yeah, I find I like being in your world. And your parents are awesome,” Sawyer said.

  “The feeling is mutual,” Ford shared. “They love you too.”

  “I am very lovable,” Sawyer bantered.

  “Yes,” Ford replied making Sawyer's heart skip a beat. He leaned in and brushed his lips against Ford’s softly. He pulled back a little, their lips still at a touching distance. “So are you…”

  13

  Ford

  Ford felt like he was walking on air the rest of the day. He was literally watching the clock and once it got to five o’clock and was sufficiently dark out, but not pitch black, Ford walked out of his room and the couple of feet it took to get to Sawyer’s. He knew Sawyer was back in his room since he’d heard him come up about thirty minutes ago.

  Ford braced himself before knocking on the door.

  “Come in,” Sawyer called.

  Ford debated, should he simply tell Sawyer to come out, or should he go in. If he went in would they end up in bed again? Not that he was opposed to it in any way. He was actually quite looking forward to being in bed again with Sawyer. He wanted to feel Sawyer’s weight on top of him.

  While he was debating, the door opened and there he was… Sawyer. Fuck, how did being near him make Ford feel lightheaded?

  “Were you waiting for a grand summons?” Sawyer teased.

  Ford smiled nervously. “No, I was just… never mind.”

  “Nope… you can’t start something and then say, ‘never mind.’ It’ll drive me crazy trying to figure out what you were going to say,” Sawyer insisted.

  Ford considered deflecting but decided against it. “I was just trying to decide if I should come in, because if I did I was wondering if we might end up in bed.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?” Sawyer queried, stepping into Ford’s personal space.

  Ford swallowed at Sawyer’s proximity, it had all his senses on full alert, and all he could think about was Sawyer’s lips on his again.

  “You were saying,” Sawyer practically purred, because he knew what being so close to Ford was doing to him.

  “I was saying, uhhhh… what was I saying?”

  Sawyer threw his head back and laughed, and Ford wanted to lick the column of his throat and nibble on his Adam’s apple. When did throats start turning him on? Fuck! It was Sawyer… everything about him distracted Ford. Especially now that he could recall the feel of their bodies against each other’s. Ford knew the feeling of Sawyer’s cock against his. The little bit of restraint he’d had the past couple of months when they’d been working together was gone.

  “You were saying something about coming into my room and stripping off everything you have on, leaving only whatever lacy goodness you have on under there for me to take off, with my teeth.”

  Ford nearly choked on his tongue. “Was I?” he managed to get out.

  “That’s the way I remember it,” Sawyer declared, making Ford laugh out loud at the hopeful look in his eyes.

  “It’s a thong, emerald green and red lace, in keeping with the Christmas spirit,” Ford said, and enjoyed seeing Sawyer’s eyes darken, the light gray turning into a darker gray like the sky before a s
torm. Sawyer’s eyes looked at his crotch like he was praying for x-ray vision to see said thong. “But I came to get you for the sleigh ride.”

  “Fuck the sleigh ride,” Sawyer growled, grabbing for Ford, but Ford saw it coming and stepped back.

  “Nope. Sleigh first,” Ford grinned, feeling light as fuck. At least he knew Sawyer wanted him as much as he wanted Sawyer.

  “You’re a wicked man,” Sawyer said, and Ford would swear the man was pouting.

  “You have no idea,” Ford flirted back boldly. “Okay, get dressed and let’s get our sleigh on,” Ford prompted.

  “I don’t think any man, standing in my bedroom, has ever asked me to put more clothes on,” Sawyer joked.

  But instead of laughing, Ford frowned at the thought of Sawyer with anyone else. Sure, he knew the man had a well-publicized lovers’ gallery, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be reminded of it.

  “You have no reason to be jealous, you know,” Sawyer said, interrupting Ford’s train of thought.

  “I’m not jealous,” Ford insisted.

  “Of course not. Okay, let me get some warmer clothes on and we can get going,” Sawyer said, going back into his room.

  Ford debated waiting outside Sawyer’s door but decided to wait downstairs instead. He might be halfway in love with the guy, but that didn’t mean he had to wait outside his door like a starving puppy.

  14

  Sawyer

  Sawyer shouldn’t be enjoying the fact that Ford looked like he’d tasted something bitter and smelled something foul at the mention of other lovers, but he was. He liked that Ford was jealous of him being with other people. Usually the first sign of jealousy or clinginess, was Sawyer’s cue to exit stage left. But for some reason, with Ford it was surprisingly endearing. Sawyer could freely admit to himself, the thought of Ford with anyone else made him see red, too.

  The mere idea of someone else kissing down that lithe, muscular frame, had him wanting to commit murder. He was taken aback by the realization, and even though it should have had him running in the opposite direction, he didn’t seem to want to. Sawyer forcibly blocked out the voice in his head telling him nothing could happen because he lived in New York and not Colorado, let alone Amber Falls. He also ignored the voice saying he could travel out of Denver as easily as he could travel out of New York. They weren’t there yet.

  Aren’t you though? the voice asked.

  Once he was dressed, Sawyer picked up his gloves and left the room. He’d been expecting to see Ford still waiting for him, but he walked out to an empty hallway and figured Ford was downstairs. That was definitely one way of postponing temptation because there was no avoiding it. They were in a ‘moth to a flame’ situation, although Sawyer wasn’t sure who was the moth and who was the flame.

  Sawyer followed the sound of voices when he got downstairs to the kitchen. He walked in to find Ford, Barb, and Doug standing around the kitchen island. He also noticed a blush on Ford’s cheeks when he arrived. It looked like his parents were teasing him.

  When Barb spotted him, she asked, “Ready for your first sleigh ride?”

  “Bundled up and ready as I’ll ever be,” Sawyer replied, grinning. He couldn’t wait to be all alone with Ford. And what was more romantic than a moonlit sleigh ride?

  “I packed you some hot cocoa and cookies,” Barb said as she lifted a cute little picnic basket from wherever she’d been hiding it.

  “Mom, honestly, you didn’t have to,” Ford groaned, and Sawyer had to hold in his laugh at the fact that Barb waited until he was in the room to show off the basket. He ignored Ford and walked over to Barb, took the basket out of her hand, then placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “Thank you, Barb,” Sawyer said.

  “Oh you…” Barb blushed.

  He turned around to meet a surprised Ford. “Shall we?” Sawyer asked, jolting Ford out of his stupor.

  Sawyer walked towards the back door that led outside from the kitchen and waited for Ford to meet him. As they were about to walk out, they were stopped by Doug. “Don’t forget the blanket, son.”

  Ford turned around and spotted the blanket his dad was holding, it was in the spot where he’d been standing. He blushed and mumbled something imperceptible, before walking over to get the blanket from Doug.

  “Ready?” Sawyer asked.

  “Ready,” Ford echoed.

  They walked towards the barn and there the sleigh waited, hitched to two huge horses that stood waiting patiently. The air was crisp and cool, and Sawyer was looking forward to the ride, and he could freely admit that in this moment there was nowhere else he would rather be.

  It was dark, but the almost full moon cast an ethereal glow on the night and the stars twinkled in the sky. A moonlit sleigh ride… Sawyer had never done anything so… romantic.

  The cynical side of him––the side that had buried himself in his work, so no one could get close enough––tried to rear its ugly head, but he squashed it. He let the side of him that craved warmth and intimacy, the side he’d put away carefully years ago to protect himself, wanted out and he wanted to get in that sleigh.

  For once Sawyer was going to listen to the side that screamed for him to let someone in. That side sounded surprisingly like his mom telling him he’d spent more than enough time alone. This could be just a holiday romance, or it could be more, but he wouldn’t know if he didn’t take a step towards figuring out what it was... if he didn’t let Ford in.

  Ford sat on the bench in the driver’s seat, the reins in one hand, while he shyly held out his free hand. “Hop in!”

  Sawyer didn’t really need help getting into the sleigh, but he found he liked that Ford was taking care of him, even if it wasn’t really necessary. He gripped Ford’s hand and stepped up and sat on the seat. Ford dropped the reins for a second and unwrapped the blanket, he covered both their lower halves, making sure to tuck the blanket securely around Sawyer, making him smile.

  Ford grabbed the reins again and looked over at Sawyer smiling. “Ready?”

  Sawyer may have been reading too much into it, but why did he feel like Ford wasn’t just asking if he was ready for the ride?

  Either way he was, he was ready to jump and see where he landed.

  He nodded, exhilarated, as Ford drove them out of the barnyard, heading west. It was so quiet out here. The only sound was the rhythm of the hoofbeats keeping them company in the quiet of the night.

  Neither of them said anything until they reached the iced over pond. From where they were, the foothills roiled in the shadows, a palette of grays and blacks that curled up next to the mountains. It was stunning. Ford hooked the reins and reached to his left for the basket.

  “Let’s see what my mom packed for us,” Ford said.

  “I’m sure whatever it is, it’ll be perfect. This whole place feels perfect,” Sawyer said motioning with his hands at the mountain view, the land covered in snow, and the trees that looked like a bunch of Christmas trees. “It feels like a place out of time,” Sawyer said.

  Ford looked around, before nodding. “I think maybe I take it for granted sometimes, but I love it here. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”

  “I don’t blame you. If I’d grown up here, with your parents, I probably wouldn’t want to leave either,” Sawyer said wistfully.

  “They’re so embarrassing with the matchmaking,” Ford sighed. “Don’t mind them.”

  “What if I like the matchmaking?” Sawyer asked, turning his head slightly so he faced Ford squarely.

  Ford opened the container and found it had an assortment of cookies, then took out two mugs and a thermos. He handed one mug to Sawyer, and while pouring him some of the cocoa, Ford glanced at Sawyer from under his lashes. “Do you?”

  Ford poured him a mug and handed it over. Steam curled into the air with the rich scent of creamy chocolate. Sawyer took the mug in both hands and took a sip. He had to grin. “Guess your mom doesn’t mind you drinking and driving? In answer to your question, no, I don’t mind th
e matchmaking.”

  The heat of the chocolate and the buttery richness of the cookies soon had him feeling warm and cozy. Sawyer leaned back and opened his arm for Ford, who got the message and leaned into his shoulder, before looking up at the night sky.

  “The sky is so clear here, you can see every star,” Sawyer whispered, staring up at the sky with Ford. “You definitely don’t see this in New York,” Sawyer added, angling his head so he was looking at Ford’s profile.

  Sawyer imagined looking out at the stars from his sterile New York apartment and the thought made him feel lonely for some reason. Maybe he was reading too much into it, but looking at the vast sky, he felt adrift at the thought of being all alone after experiencing this. He didn’t mean just sitting here with Ford, which was amazing. Sawyer was a firm believer in the beautiful art of silence. He always felt if you could sit silently with someone, that was when you knew just how comfortable you were with the person.

  It was also because of Doug and Barb. It was feeling like he was part of a family again, feeling like he belonged. Sure, he’d never had the two-parent thing, but he and his mom had been happy. He could see that here with Ford and his parents, and it made him wish for things he hadn’t wished for in a long, long time.

  Sawyer reached in for another cookie and when he put it in his mouth, the taste of cinnamon and sugar hit his taste buds… Fuck! He hadn’t tasted this in a long time and that was on purpose. He had refused to eat these particular cookies, because of what they meant. “Snickerdoodles,” Sawyer whispered.

  “Hmmm, these are new. My mom usually makes gingerbread, chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar cookies or these awesome iced cookies. These are new, but I like them,” Ford said.

  “I told her about them this morning,” Sawyer whispered.

  “Really? What did you tell her?” Ford asked.