by Imani King
He sighed. “I know.” He sat up, grabbed his clothes and put them on.
“I’ve never done it like this ever before. I mean…sure, I’ve done it outside but never during broad daylight. My God! If someone came and saw us…” Fresh giggles escaped her lips.
“You find this funny?” Graeme eyes danced with mirth. He was obviously teasing her.
Cullen felt astounded to discover that she did. If someone had seen her, she wouldn’t have lived it down. After all, she was the boss at the ranch and needed to protect her authority, but right now she felt like a young school girl who just had her first, daylight sex encounter and she loved it. “We shouldn’t do it again.”
“You’re right,” he vowed with passion.
They both knew that they would wind up in such circumstances again. Their passion for each other was so strong that sometimes, it became hard to deny it. Rather than talk, Cullen began to pick up the stuff. They dumped the garbage in the basket. There were no more words left to say. She was desperately aware that she was fast falling in love with Graeme. The only man who stirred so much need inside her, and more than that, she also found his presence comforting and the help he gave her at the farm was invaluable.
And damn it! I’m already in love.
She wanted to shout out her feelings, but she was scared. What if he didn’t feel the same way? What if it was nothing more to him than a pleasant interlude? She’d trusted a man once, and it led her to heartbreak. She knew what she felt for Max wasn’t even a fraction of what she felt for Graeme. The two men were as different as chalk and cheese, and it wasn’t fair for her to lump them together.
After they gathered the mat and the basket, they mounted the horses again. Cullen held the mat while Graeme put the basket in front of him. Before they rode back to the farm, Cullen felt the urge to say something. “Graeme, this was the nicest thing anyone ever did for me in a long time. Thank you. I had a great time.”
“Me too.”
His smile was like a punch to her heart.
They rode back to the farm. Cullen knew the ranch hands were aware that she and Graeme were involved, but so far, she hadn’t heard anything. He wasn’t talking to any of them about his relationship, and this quiet respect he bestowed on her melted her heart. He sure knew how to treat a lady. After they led the horses to the stable, Graeme went away with the basket and the mat, to put them in his cottage, while she busied herself with some paperwork.
Her cell phone rang and she picked it up. “Hey, Shayne. How is it going?”
Shayne cleared her throat. “Not too good.”
Cullen straightened. Shayne was having trouble in her marriage. Nothing as drastic as cheating, but Shayne and her husband, Nick, appeared to have drifted apart. Shayne had a demanding job, and so did he, and in the endless meetings and work schedules, they managed to lose each other. They were seeing a marriage counselor, and Cullen was aware that it wasn’t going as well as they both hoped.
“What happened?”
“We’ve decided to call it quits.”
“Oh, Shayne.” She put a hand on her head. “Are you sure? You’ve been married for four years now. That’s not a short time.”
“The spark is gone; the love is gone; and now before the affection also goes, it’s time to put this behind us. Both Nick and I agree that we don’t want to end up like those couples who can’t even stand to be in the same room after the divorce.” Shayne sighed. “We want to remain, if not friends, then at least well-wishers, and this is the best way to do it.”
“Shit! Have you told mom?”
“No. I’m going to call her next.”
Cullen didn’t quite know what to say. She could sense Shayne’s pain, especially because there was a time when she had loved Nick a lot. Was this how each relationship was destined to end? She’d seen her parents who remained devoted to each other until her father’s last dying breath, but now in this day and age, people didn’t seem to share the same commitment.
She didn’t have words to express the grief she felt at her sister’s loss. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s a mutual decision, so we’re going to go ahead quickly. The assets, the money, and everything else will be divided. Thank God, we don’t have—children,” Shayne said. There was a break in her voice almost as if she wished it were different. “It would’ve been a nightmare to share custody and to deal with a child’s emotions at a time like this.”
“Yes, that’s true.” Perhaps they might’ve stayed together if there was a child. But for whatever reasons, her sister made the decision and Cullen was now committed to helping her get through this. “Why don’t you come down here for a while? Or maybe if you want, I could fly to New York. It would be just us girls, and we would have a hell of a good time.”
It would be a nightmare to leave the farm at this point, but her sister was more important. She would take the time out. Since Graeme was here, he could handle most of the work, and she would have to push back the cattle buying project for a while. But that could wait. Her sister couldn’t.
“Thank you for the offer,” Shayne replied. “Actually, I was thinking…it’s a big decision but…”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking about quitting my job.”
If her sister had just declared that she was having a sex-change operation, she wouldn’t have been more surprised. Shayne’s job was what anchored her. She loved it. It kept her sane, excited, and motivated. “But you love your work.”
“Love my work, yes, but I feel burnt out now. It’s time to take things slow, to reflect back on life, you know?”
Cullen ran her hand over the desk as she tried to guess her sister’s thoughts. “What did you have in mind?”
Shayne cleared her throat as if she was about to declare something momentous.
What could it be?
“I wondered if I could come back home and be a part of the farm’s management team. Maybe work as the marketing manager or something that suits my abilities.”
Cullen was at a loss for words. That, she hadn’t seen coming. Such a pleasant idea. She would be happy to have her sister here and sure as hell, Shayne could give them a lot of support. But would her sister like it here? “We’d love to have you,” she said with honesty. “But you’re so successful. Why do you want to come back to the farm? Sure, we’re doing a lot of good work, but the pace is nothing like what you’re used to.”
“I just want to come home and do something that’s worthwhile. Of course, you’re the boss. Dad wanted you to handle the farm, and you’re best suited out of all of us because you love it so much, but I could work as a salaried employee. God knows, I’ve worked my butt off and have a decent savings, so you could pay me a basic wage.”
“Of course, you’re welcome to come here,” Cullen piped in. “Nothing would delight mom and me more than to have you with us, but it’s a big change. We run a small operation compared to what you’re used to. Are you sure that you would be happy doing this kind of work?”
Shayne sighed heavily.
Cullen could picture her sister in her air-conditioned office, wearing a five hundred dollar suit and four inch high heels. How would she settle back into the slow life?
“I want to give it a try, and frankly…more than anything, I just want to be back home with you and mom.”
“Then we’d be happy to have you.”
They sure could use her sister’s expertise to boost their marketing. It wasn’t something Cullen gave much time to because she didn’t have the drive or the knowledge, but it would be nice to have a dedicated person who increased their customer base. There were a lot of things going on the farm, but it was all word of mouth. With Shayne’s expertise, she felt sure they could increase the number of clients who came here to learn riding, maybe even have some steady contracts for selling or breeding horses, and they could use some help with the new cattle breeding project. She could also pass on some administrative duties to her sister, and that would free her to take o
n more work around the farm.
The more she thought about it, the greater she liked the idea, but of course, Cullen felt sad that it took the end of a marriage for Shayne to come back home. It would take her sister months, if not years, to recover from such a blow.
Shayne sighed again. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready to come back. It will take us a while to sort out this—mess. Thanks, Cullen. I always knew that I could count on you.”
“Bye, sis. I love you.” After she hung up, Cullen dropped her head on the table. She always thought Shayne’s marriage was happy. If her sister couldn’t make it, what was the hope for Cullen? Were most marriages these days doomed to fail? Was it silly for her to get into a relationship and then assume everything would fall into place?
Perhaps she was being too pessimistic.
Maybe she should just quit this while she was ahead. Right now, her relationship with Graeme was good, and if they stopped seeing each other at this stage, they could remain friends and not hurt one another unnecessarily. Yeah, it was a plan, and something she needed to give careful consideration to.
Chapter Nine
Graeme was having the time of his life. Sure, he hadn’t figured out everything as yet, but he would do so soon. All he needed to do was tell Cullen he loved her, she would say the same words back, and everything would fall into place as it was meant to be. When he returned with Cullen to the farm, Graeme was busy contemplating the new purchase they’d finalized. The three hundred new cattle they bought for Westbury Ranch would be a wonderful addition.
Cullen navigated the quiet lanes as they made their way home. She’d been unusually quiet for the past four days, and even though they continued to meet, she didn’t tell him the reason for her reticence. Maybe she was also struggling with her feelings for him. Perhaps she wanted to tell him she was crazy in love with him and wanted him to remain with her forever.
Graeme smiled at his own wishful thinking. “I’m fairly optimistic about the cattle project,” he told her.
“Yeah, me too.”
“We need to hire new people.”
“I’m on it.”
Is it work that was bothering her? He didn’t think so. Everything on the farm was as it should be. Actually, they were quite ahead of their targets. “The new barn will be ready in one or two days, which means we could have the cattle delivered earlier.”
“No. Let’s just move according to the plan.”
They entered through the gate of the farm and Graeme ran his gaze over the barns, the stable, and the fields. Everything looked good. Although they were away for a night, he didn’t anticipate any problems. The staff was well trained and would’ve called them if things had gone off kilter. After they got out, she went inside the farm house and he walked to his cottage to dump his bag. Not long after, he strolled over to the stables. He checked each horse and made sure the animals were fed well. Then he moved on to his daily chores.
“The east corner fence needs repairing,” one of the ranch hands said while Graeme was busy inspecting the saddles.
“Let’s do it right now.”
“We need some new supplies, and it might be better if we kept some extra repairing stuff such as screws, hammers, and wood because when the cattle come in, we would see a lot more damage.”
“You’re right,” Graeme agreed. “I’ll make a list and then get everything.”
Soon, the list was ready and since Graeme had some time on his hands, he decided to go into town and buy the things now. Since he was supposed to share a car with Jackie, he went to ask her if he could take it.
She was sitting at the kitchen table, looking a bit lost.
“Jackie, hi. Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.”
It looked as if she’d been crying. He’d never seen her look so upset. It wasn’t his place to ask but he couldn’t just walk out. Graeme took a seat. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” She wiped a hand across her face. “No, actually. I guess you’re going to know soon enough so I might as well tell you. My daughter Shayne got divorced.”
He was taken aback by the blunt announcement. Is this the reason why Cullen looked so anxious? Why didn’t she tell him? It hurt him that she wouldn’t share a family detail with him. Wasn’t he important enough to share such information? He tried to concentrate on Jackie, and since he was actually fond of her, Graeme took her hand in his. “I’m sorry to hear it.”
“I—thought she was happy. I—I guess a mother can be wrong about her kids.”
“Why don’t you visit her?”
“She’s going to come here. Cullen has already offered her the job as the marketing/administrative manager. It will be good to have two of my girls’ home, but I wished that it wasn’t under such circumstances.”
Cullen had hired her sister as a manager and neglected to tell him? Of course, she wasn’t required to share the information with a mere foreman, but he’d thought their relationship had evolved more than that. Anger stirred in Graeme’s heart. Was he fooling himself into thinking that what he had with Cullen was love?
She didn’t seem to think so.
After pushing back the feelings that crowded in his heart, he focused on Jackie. Graeme stayed with her for a while until he felt sure she was coping a little better, and then he took the car keys and drove to town. It was time to have a heart-to-heart talk with Cullen. What if she didn’t think of him in the same way he thought of her? He wouldn’t be able to live here if it turned out that she was merely passing time with him. Graeme really loved her, and he wanted something permanent. Marriage. Perhaps kids. He wanted the whole nine yards. It wasn’t just women who thought that way. Some men also shared the same dreams. He wanted to settle down, have roots, and belong to a place and a family. If Cullen wasn’t thinking along those lines, it would be better for him to cut his losses now than to get more involved.
It wasn’t difficult for Graeme to find parking. He pressed the keypad to lock the car doors and strolled into the supply store. The Westbury Ranch had an account, and all he had to do was buy everything and the bill would be sent later.
Graeme strolled in. In the short time he was here, he’d made some good friends and understood the rhythm of the town. “Hey, Tom.” He raised a hand in greeting to the owner who was on the phone. “I’m in the back, collecting some stuff.”
People respected and trusted each other; in time of need, they supported one another. He would like to live here for the rest of his life, but not if Cullen and he weren’t on the same page. He wanted—no needed—her love more than he needed air to breathe. Graeme picked up the things and put them in the basket. While he strolled closer and closer to the back of the store, he realized he wasn’t alone. At least two men were in the back row, and they were talking.
Ordinarily, he wouldn’t have paid attention but when he heard Cullen’s name, Graeme halted. “She’s not getting away,” a man growled low.
Although Graeme only met him once, he recognized Hayes’s voice. Why the hell was that guy talking about Cullen?
“She’s seeing the foreman,” another guy said.
“He won’t last for long.”
“What are you planning?
“Oh, you wait and see,” Hayes drawled in a particularly annoying voice. “Cullen and that farm of hers are both going to be mine.”
“The farm? Are you planning to buy it?”
“That bitch will hand it right over after I show her who the boss is.”
Graeme wouldn’t have reacted to the foul talk if the man hadn’t cursed Cullen. He strode to the last aisle, turned the corner, and confronted the men. The other man was the owner of the local nursery. “Hasn’t anyone told you that gentlemen don’t call ladies names?”
Hayes spared him a glance. He didn’t look too perturbed to be caught right smack in the middle of a bitching session. “Just get your ass out of here, man.”
Even though rage was a tempest in his belly, Graeme didn’t want a fight. He wanted to m
ake his point and get out. “The sight of you two disgusts me.” He turned to leave.
Hayes’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Hey! Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?”
Graeme turned around slowly. The anger that swept through his heart was a full blown rage, but he controlled it. He wasn’t going to get into a fist fight with this lowlife, despite the extreme provocation. “Move your hand.”
“Make me.”
With a quick swipe of his hand, Graeme broke free from the other’s man’s grasp. He stared at the two men. “Cullen is not yours to own.”
“You think a few romps in the bed with her makes you a permanent fixture by her side? She’s never going to settle with a guy like you. You’re nobody, a nothing.”
Graeme didn’t think that question deserved a response. He strode to the counter and handed over his purchases, before he lost his temper and did something he would later regret.
The owner listed the things in the ledger. “Had a fight with Max?”
“I don’t touch shit with my hands,” he replied.
Tom grinned with approval. “Good for you. We have enough rough cowboys here.”
After Graeme collected his stuff, he left the store and walked over to his car. Opening the trunk, he dumped the things in, and when he closed it, he was startled to see Hayes standing right there. The gleam in the other man’s eyes clearly told him the purpose for his arrival. His friend stood behind him. Two to one weren’t odds that he was happy with, but he’d seen worse.
Graeme didn’t like to instigate a fight, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to back away from one. He wasn’t a coward. And yet, he didn’t want to do something he would regret later on. It was better to settle this with words. “What do you want? Let’s talk.”
“The time for talk is over.” Hayes’s fisted hand was aimed straight to his face.
Graeme ducked to the right before Hayes’s fist could connect. He stepped to the right again and delivered an elbow jab to the Hayes’s stomach. As the man doubled over, Graeme straightened to deal with the other opponent who was rushing towards him. A good kick on the shin dropped the man like a sack of potatoes. Hayes lunged forward and grabbed Graeme’s shirt, but he slipped out of the man’s grasp.
