Conflict of Interest (A Mustang Prairie Romance)

by Jackson, N. D.

  Shellie turned to see to whom the unfamiliar voice belonged and her mouth hung open when she realized it was not the third member of their trio, but a tall staggeringly handsome man staring at her imperfect body with complete appreciation. She noticed his piercing green eyes taking in her overdeveloped bosom area just as she soaked up his handsome masculine face, perfectly white teeth and about twelve hours of stubble that would feel so good rubbing against her. Say something, she willed herself but no words would come. All she could think about was his strong forearms and imagining them hoisting her up on the mosaic tile of the island counter in the throes of passion.

  “You’re not Savannah,” Alexis slurred, breaking the silence that gripped the room.

  Noel shook his head trying to tear his eyes away from the soft sun-kissed mounds peeking through lacy purple cups. “No, I’m Noel Hampton and I’m looking for,” he looked down at the sliver of paper in his hand, “Michelle Winthrop.”

  Alexis giggled and pointed towards the sink. “The half-naked woman over there is Michelle.”

  Shellie looked down, now realizing why the stranger couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. “Oh shit!” She yanked the wet tank top she was rinsing up to cover her full breasts. “I’m Michelle, but you can call me Shellie,” she tried to force a smile through her reddening face. “I forgot you were coming today and I spilled wine on my shirt,” she held it up to validate her state of undress. She extended her hand to greet him but instead handed him her wet top.

  “It’s alright,” he smiled, glad that the shirt was no longer obstructing his view. “I can wait on the porch.”

  She nodded and turned to walk away but his words stopped her.

  “I don’t think this is quite my size though.” He extended his arm to return the shirt.

  She turned slowly, her face close to matching her magenta skirt. “Of course. Sorry.” She cut her eyes over to Alexis who was half drunk and howling at her embarrassment.

  ##

  Shellie returned to the kitchen to find her potential tenant sitting across from Alexis with her easy smile, deep in conversation. She instantly felt her old friend, the green-eyed munchkin creep up around her ankles and work its way up her calves, which could use a little less girth, making its way to her thighs which could also use a little less girth if she were being honest and around her “child bearing hips” as her granny used to call them. The jealous tingles wrapped around every inch of her body until the munchkin was perched on her shoulder and her face and ears were just as pink as when she last saw the hard bodied man.

  It wasn’t Alexis’ fault that men found her so alluring. She was stunningly beautiful after all, independently wealthy and easy to talk to. Even still Shellie couldn’t help but feel that yet again Alexis had taken the attention of a possible lover and turned it onto herself.

  Standing near the counter she finally cleared her throat as to remind both guests that there was in fact someone else in the room. Chopped liver yet again, she thought to herself. “I take it you and Alexis have gotten acquainted, Mr. Hampton?” Her tone was clipped but civil.

  His strong legs pushed back the seemingly miniature plush purple dining chair and in 2 quick strides he made his way to her. Shellie’s pulse quickened as the distance between them lessened. Get yourself together, woman! She didn’t know what her problem was but this man was scrambling her brainwaves.

  “Yeah, your friend was just giving me a rundown of this place. It looks great by the way. Very colorful.”

  He smiled at her, the same easy smile Alexis gave so willingly and she couldn’t think of one thing to say that wouldn’t make her sound like a moron. “Thanks,” was all she could muster.

  Noel came a little closer, unsure if she was shy, drunk or simply unimpressed with him. He tried to keep his eyes on her face but the top three buttons on the yellow sundress she wore seemed to dare him to keep his eyes off the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed in and out, in and out, hypnotizing him within seconds. In an uncharacteristically informal move, Noel placed his right hand on the small of her back and his mind went blank from her warmth.

  Shellie looked up at him, confused.

  Noel placed his left hand on her exposed left shoulder, noticing another cluster of freckles, wondering what constellation they would make up, and more importantly if he’d ever get close enough to find out. “Sorry, I uh, didn’t want you to be embarrassed about me walking in on you so I thought we could sit and talk for a moment.”

  Shellie nodded and allowed him to guide her to a seat at her own table. Her big eyes widened as he pulled out her chair. She stole at glance at her friend who was pouring herself another glass and raised her perfectly waxed eyebrows in a knowing fashion. “Thank you Mr. Hampton, but I’m quite alright. I-I Promise.” She motioned to stand but before she could, his large warm hands were on her shoulder stopping her in an awkward squatting position.

  “Actually this is perfect because I have something for you, a gift, and now I know you’ll love it!” His entire face smiled down at her, making Shellie glad she was seated because her knees had turned to pools of melted ice cream. He exited through the swinging doors, leaving both women staring with mouths open at his departing form.

  “Oh my goodness Shel! He. Is. Gorgeous. And all yours,” Alexis squealed.

  “Mine? Don’t be ridiculous, I saw how he was drooling over you.” Shellie’s smiled disappeared remembering how much he seemed to be into her friend.

  Alexis rolled her eyes, but she was mindful that her friend lacked the confidence to see when a man was truly interested in her. “No way. He was looking at me because we were talking. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”

  Shellie shook her head, sure of what she saw. “All men love boobs, but it was your gorgeous face he couldn’t stop staring at.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her telltale sign of insecurity.

  “Think what you want Shel, but that man seems smitten already. And,” she took a long sip from her glass, “you have the power to keep him close. Real close.” Alexis laughed to herself. “Right now I wish I had a spare place to offer him. And you know what? If I did he would still take this place judging by the electricity zinging between you two.”

  Of course that’s what a friend would say, she thought to herself but she knew that any chance she may have had with the handsome stranger had vanished the moment she closed her bedroom door. “Its fine Al, I’m used to it. Really, it’s no big deal.” But thinking about his electric touch still had Shellie feeling overheated where his hands touched her skin.

  “What’s no big deal?” Noel breezed back into the kitchen, all smiles, holding what looked like a very expensive bottle of wine.

  Alexis stood up, “It’s no big deal that I can’t stay so you guys will have to take care of that bottle on your own.” She smiled over at a stunned Shellie. “You’ll take care of her won’t you Mr. Hampton, make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble?”

  He nodded, “Of course I will. Hopefully I can always keep an eye on her.” Noticing the bewildered look on Shellie’s face and the devious smile on Alexis’ he felt the need to clarify, “I just meant because hopefully I’ll be living upstairs.”

  Alexis stared up at him through her long lashes, “I’m sure that’s what you meant.” She turned walked over to her stunned friend for a good bye hug and whispered, “We both know what he meant so the only question is what are you going to do about it?”

  “Don’t go Al, please. I can’t think around him,” she pleaded through clenched teeth.

  “The wine will make thinking much easier, I promise. And it looks like the good stuff, so hopefully you’ll have some good stuff to report later.” She turned to Noel, “It was nice to meet you Mr. Hampton, I’ll be seeing you around. Bye now.”

  She was already through the doors before he could say anything. Relieved, he turned to Shellie, “Should she be driving in her condition?”

  She nodded, impressed with his concern. Then again, all men
were concerned with Alexis’ safety. “She lives a few houses down so she’ll be fine Mr. Hampton.”

  Noel nodded, relieved they weren’t the drinking and driving sort of women. He’d had his fill of ninety pound model wannabes getting behind the wheel of a car that was far too powerful for them after 3 glasses of champagne. He brought 2 glasses from her counter and sat them on the table first, then the bottle of wine he’d presented to her. “Please, call me Noel.” He looked around her untidy kitchen, “Corkscrew?”

  Shellie nodded to a daisy shaped pot holder on the counter. “Really you didn’t need to bring a gift Noel.”

  “You should always bring someone a gift when you visit them for the first time, Shellie.” Her name felt good rolling off his lips he hoped he would be saying it a lot more in the weeks and months to come, maybe even screaming it. She fit all of his criteria, she was sexy and nearby which made her perfect when he needed to release some tension after work.

  “I’ll remember that,” she nodded and then continued to stare at the muscles flexing in his forearms as he twisted and coaxed the cork from the bottle. Imagining the work those arms must do for that kind of definition lead Shellie’s thoughts to other things those arms could do to stay toned. Thinking of those arms got her to thinking about the hands gripping that wine bottle and imagining those hands gripping her waist as he took her from behind, or simply grabbing her ample bottom in masculine appreciation. She was so caught up in her fantasy that she’d missed everything he said. “I’m sorry, what?”

  Noel noticed the way she stared with appreciation at him and it felt good. For some reason her blatantly sexual stares had made him blush and that never happened. Women all around New York threw themselves at him and Noel always took it in stride. This woman was already getting to him, dammit, and he didn’t like it. Or did he? “I asked if you wanted the first taste?” He found her look of confusion amusing, knowing that she had more carnal thoughts behind those shining eyes.

  Biting her lip, Shellie simply stared up at him in silence, not sure how to respond. “Uh, no you take the f-f-first taste.” She was content to take a few more seconds to absorb him and especially eager to watch his lips take that first sip.

  ##

  “So I guess now that the bottle is empty, we should get to it?” The wine left Noel feeling relaxed, a little too relaxed and in the mood to really get to know his new proprietress.

  Shellie licked a few stray droplets of wine from her lips, her furrowed brows illustrating her confusion. “I’m sorry?” She had forgotten why this good looking creature was at her table and more importantly she wasn’t sure if he’d just asked her to go to bed with him.

  He smiled at this woman who didn’t seem to realize how sexy she was and who also didn’t realize that all of her thoughts were clearly visible all over her sun kissed face. “Well I just figured you’d want to give me a tour of the place before I tell you I want it.”

  “Oh, right.” Her face began to flush again. Of course that’s what he meant, she chastised herself for her wishful thinking. “I’ll go get the keys and we can go up.”

  Noel watched her stand up slowly and reach for the empty glass. She picked it up and walked over to him, obviously deep in thought and conflicted about something. His eyes never left her as she paused across from him and leaned in to take his empty glass. His emerald eyes got bigger watching, hoping that the material of her sundress was as flimsy as it looked. No such luck, he thought to himself as he exhaled deeply to ignore the stirring and growing in his jeans. When Shellie turned to place the glasses in the sink Noel stole a moment to readjust himself before standing. “Let me help you with those.”

  Shellie hadn’t even heard his chair move or his footsteps as he closed the gap between them but she could feel the heat from his large frame all the way down her body. She thought it was just the wine until she turned to tell him it was unnecessary and found herself staring right at the sculpted chest trying desperately to break free from the cotton restraining it. She placed her palms on his chest to steady herself. Bad move, she told herself because now she knew exactly how tight and hard he was underneath those casual clothes. Look up at him and stop groping, she told herself. Shellie slowly lifted her head to face him, finding his lips just inches from hers. She watched his soft lips part slightly and watched his tongue slowly massage his lips until they were shiny and moist. She took a big breath in, trying to talk her body out of responding to him in this way. “Oh, hell, let’s go,” she muttered and walked away.

  CHAPTER TWO

  It had been nearly a week since Noel moved in and he hadn’t seen Shellie since she handed him the keys, within fifteen minutes of their near kiss. He wasn’t sure if it was the wine or it was him, but there was definitely heat between them and if he were going to explore it he would have to get her in the same room with him again.

  The effect she was having on him was unwelcome by Noel who was used to being chased rather than doing the chasing. In the morning he would eat breakfast near the large bay window in the front of his unit waiting to see her leave for work, yet no matter how early he woke up her royal blue Mini Cooper was already gone. He’d even come home for lunch a few times, thinking that’s what people in small towns might do and still she wasn’t around. Twice this week he’d gone down to her place with pizza and wine and stood at the door staring into a black hallway until he’d given up and eaten it alone while watching Sports Center.

  Noel had given himself until Sunday, exactly one week, to see her again. If he couldn’t find her by then, hell there had to be other women in town who’d welcome the chance to warm up his bed for a few hours each week. Didn’t there? Then again, he wondered if small town women were looking for husbands rather than bed shaking sex. Only time would tell, he reminded himself.

  Even though it had only been a few days, Shellie was the only thing that occupied his mind. Not setting up the new headquarters, not the near stratospheric trajectory of his career, not even being so far away from the city. No, the only thing he could think about was Shellie and her impossibly shiny curls, those hazel eyes that revealed every dirty little thought that popped into her mind. And those breasts. Strategically placed freckles dotted her bust inviting him to connect them with his tongue, which only made him think of her plump pink lips that were begging to be further swollen by his kisses, both tender and passionate.

  Getting to sleep each night had required more than his usual two glasses of wine if he hoped to rest more than a few hours. Lying in that big lonely bed only made him imagine Shellie’s soft womanly body snuggled up close to his body. He imagined the many ways in which he could make her moan and call out his name as she reached her peak. Those thoughts lead to the cruel reality of a cold shower each morning just to get through the day.

  He stood up, glass of wine in hand, and paced the length of his television room in a desperate attempt to get rid of the nervous energy coursing through his body. His new home was fully furnished until he got some of his own furniture and only now did he realize how much of her was in this place. A wooden daisy clock hung on the wall above the flat screen television he bought first thing Monday morning. The foyer mirror was also shaped like a daisy, as was the mat in front of the shower. “A thing for daisies, I see,” he said to himself in an attempt to quash the noise in his head.

  She had told him that much of the furniture up here belonged to her grandmother when she was alive, although you couldn’t tell. The drapes throughout the place were heavy and dark blue, just like the upholstery on the furniture in the living and dining rooms. The daisy shaped throw pillows on the sofa bore a resemblance to her place and also carried a honey and lemon scent. The tables in the dining area and the living room were dark and made from sturdy walnut, putting the place at odds with the too feminine daisy motif, making Noel think that Shellie might be a woman actually worth knowing.

  Standing in front of the closed bedroom door, Noel willed himself not to enter. The bedroom haunted him as he thought
of his sleepless nights and the images that came to him during those dark twilight hours. But he had to look at the room, really look at it, to see if he could learn anything more about the woman who had seemingly bewitched him. He reluctantly turned the brass knob and let the door fall open revealing his nocturnal prison.

  The room had a nautical theme, but unlike the daisy motif of the other rooms it was far more subtle. No sailboats or gold anchors adorning the curtains, comforters or wall art. Instead there was blue everywhere and in every shade. The curtains were the color of denim with white and red embroidery around the borders. The comforter or duvet, he wasn’t really sure, was striped several different shades of blue and soft white. There were four large plush pillows that matched the linens and two smaller pillows that were red and white. A small wooden desk sat in the corner with a desk lamp, over which hung a tapestry of an abandoned lighthouse, that he guessed was in New Hampshire.

  In fact, the more Noel inspected the bedroom the more it seemed as though Shellie had designed this room with him in mind. “Don’t be ridiculous, she didn’t know you existed a week ago,” he reminded himself. But still, there was something about Shellie Winthrop that he couldn’t stop thinking about, which scared and intrigued him all at once. Noel shook his head to clear her from his thoughts and slammed the bedroom door behind him, determined to forget her by his Sunday deadline. Before Sunday if he could help it.

  He sat down on the plush blue chair and flipped on the television, frantically searching for something, anything to keep his mind off her, which reminded him again that he was no longer at home in a city that never sleeps. In fact, he thought that all Mustang Prairie seemed to do was sleep. He hadn’t met anyone aside from his assistant and the guy at the electronics store where he bought the television. With nothing on the few channels he had, apparently in a town as small as Mustang Prairie you still had to wait for cable, Noel clicked the off button on his universal remote grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. He would find someplace to eat or grab a drink in this town before he went insane from boredom.