“Maggie, I’m not sure if I have room for all this pie,” Travis cried while rubbing his stomach.
“Nonsense. If your brother is going to be running his practices the same way he practiced, you’ll need every carb I can get into your stomach.”
“Hey,” I complained.
Both Travis and Maggie laughed. And of course, we ate the pie.
“Did you sign up to help at the Wells Ranch?” I asked my brother, throwing some cash on the table.
“Yeah, since it will be quiet at the farm for the next few weeks, I signed up to help the first week.”
“I hear Mr. Wells is a perfectionist.”
“Really? Like I have no practice dealing with that, Coach.” Travis pushed my shoulder as he walked towards the truck.
“Smart ass,” I replied.
THE SMELL OF the fresh air was all I needed to get my bearings back. How I missed the ranch and my grandparents. If only there was some way I was able to stay here and teach.
“Is that my sweet Haley I see walking to the house?” Grams gushed.
I ran to her in the garden and hugged her. “My goodness child, you are going to crush me.”
“I’m sorry, Grams, I just missed you and Papa so much.”
She held me at arms lengths, “Goodness child, when was the last time you ate?”
“Leave the poor child alone, Eleanor, she just got here.”
“Hi, Papa.”
“How was the drive?”
“Long, but good.” I looked around the ranch, “It’s good to be home.”
“I’m glad to see you still feel that way.”
“Papa, this will always be my home, this is where my heart is.”
“We definitely miss having you around here,” Grams smiled.
“What are you doing in the garden, can I help?”
“Go to the shed and grab the fork and dig up some potatoes for dinner.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Papa walked me over to the shed and handed me the fork, “Are your bags in the back of the car?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll bring them up to your room.”
“Papa, that’s not necessary. I can bring them in after dinner.”
“Nonsense. This may be your home, but until we leave tomorrow, you are our precious guest.”
“Thanks, Papa.”
“Mmm, Grams, this fried chicken is so good.” My mouth was still watering as I took the last chicken leg from the plate.
“Knowing my baby girl was coming home how could I not make her favorite meal?” Grams replied, clearing the table.
I grabbed her wrist, “Grams, I got this, go finishing packing.”
“Nonsense I’m an old lady, how many clothes do you except me to pack? With your Grandpa and I leaving tomorrow you need to go over everything he has planned for the ranch. Now go on out to the barn.”
“Okay.” I got up with my chicken leg and headed to the barn.
“Grams said you need to go over a few things with me?” I asked walking into the barn.
“The list is on the table in the corner,” Gramps said, not looking at me while cleaning the horse stalls.
Paint barn and sheds
Weed garden and flower beds
Cut the grass
Cut down the back forty
Move the east cows over to the west
Fence the back half of the quarter
Build a pull shed for the quad and garden tractor
Clean out and tidy the calf barn
Haley, have some fun!
“Uh, Papa, this is a pretty heavy list for me to do on my own.” I uttered, overwhelmed.
Gramps laughed, “Silly girl, I know you won’t be able to do all of that. I just need you to oversee everything.”
I looked up at him, “I don’t understand?”
“I made a deal with Coach Dudley.”
“The high school football coach?” I questioned.
“Yes. I said if his team would help you out for the two weeks I’m gone, I will sponsor their new jerseys.”
“Papa, that’s a lot of money.”
“It is sweetheart, but the ranch needs some TLC and I’m getting too old. I thought it was a fair trade.”
“Why wouldn’t you wait ‘til you’re back?” I asked, puzzled.
“Because I know you can handle it, and I know you won’t let me or Grams down.”
“I won’t,” I said. “When are they expected to be here?”
“Tomorrow afternoon. I think starting off at the fence will be a wise choice.”
“Okay.”
After helping Papa move things about, we went back into the house and had a cup of tea before turning in for the night.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Papa said, patting my head before he went up for bed.
“Night, Papa.”
Grams came around the corner, “Would you care for another cup, sweetheart?”
“No thanks, Grams. I’m pretty tired, I think I’m gonna head to bed, too. I’d like to go for a quick run before you and papa leave tomorrow.”
She took my cup and placed her palm on my cheek, “I’m so happy you are here. Things around here are just too quiet when you are gone.”
“I love you, Grams.” I replied, leaning into her hand.
ONE EYE BARELY open, I glanced around the room, desperate for it to stop spinning. There’s a faint moan beside me, and when I carefully turned my head towards it, I saw brunette hair splayed across the pillow and down the back of a naked chick. My eyes slowly skimmed down to the small of her back—my favorite part of a woman’s body.
I stopped when I recognized the Celtic tattoo and quickly lifted the sheet to see if I had my briefs on, I did. I slowly sat up to look for any evidence of last night’s shit show. No condom…no wrapper, thank God. Lube and a vibrator? What the hell? I don’t remember using either of those things.
“What are you doing?” giggled Mandie as her cold claws rubbed my back. I tried to straighten out of her grip. “Baby, relax, let’s finish what we started last night,” she whispered in my ear before kissing the side of my neck.
“Did we?”
“No, you passed out before the party really got started. I had to use my vibrator to finish the job before I could finally go to sleep.”
“Uh, sorry about that.” I lifted her hands off me.
“Why don’t you make it up to me, Bentley? Like the good old days back in high school. I miss this,” she growled, grabbing my dick.
I shot out of the bed and scrambled for my pants.
“Where are you going?” Mandie grabbed my shirt and threw it over herself.
“I...ah…I need to go,” I stuttered, trying to put my shoes on without falling flat on my face.
“Bentley,” Mandie whined.
Bang-Bang-Bang, “Bentley, get your ass up. We gotta go,” Curtis yelled.
“Thank Christ,” I mumbled under my breath as I put on the other shoe.
“That’s it? You’re really going to leave me like this, wet and wanting you? Needing you to fill me?” moaned Mandie.
“Sorry, Mandie, but I gotta go. Curtis and I already made plans.” I opened the door and looked at my best friend.
“Bentley, before you walk out that door, you better think long and hard. There may not be a third time.”
“There shouldn’t have been a second,” I toss over my shoulder and ducked just in time to miss a glass as it shattered on the wall in front of me. I closed the door and looked over to Curtis, laughing his ass off. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
I looked in the back seat of Curtis’s truck and saw his gym bag. Zipping it open I was lucky enough to find a t-shirt. I smelled it before I put it on, “Smells clean enough.” He started the truck and put down the windows.
“Looks like it’s gonna be another hot one today.” I said leaning out of the truck window letting the breeze take some of my hangover away.
“Seriously, dude?” probed Curtis.
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br /> “I know.”
“She’s like a walking dick rash, not to mention your ex-high school squeeze and my girlfriend’s sister. Thank God the crazy stopped at Mandie,” he continued.
I groaned. “I don’t remember much past the river.”
“I knew you were drunk, but I didn’t realize how drunk.”
“Well, Curtis, if you were so sober, why didn’t you stop me?”
“I tried, but you insisted that no one wanted a washed up farm hand.”
I sat there for a few moments, “Sorry man.”
“Don’t apologize to me. It’s not like my dick was going to turn green and fall off.”
We pulled into Maggie’s diner and grabbed a booth in the back.
“Morning guys. You’re looking kinda rough there, Bentley,” my brother’s girlfriend said while passing us the breakfast menus.
“Hi, Whitney, Travis treating you good?” Curtis asked.
“Yes,” she giggled. “What can I get y’all?”
“I think I’ll start with a glass of Kool-aid and water please.” I uttered, still looking at the menu.
“I’ll have a coke and a glass of orange juice.” Curtis replied.
“I’ll be right back with those,” Whitney smiled and headed towards the cooler.
“Dude that shit is going to curdle in your stomach.” I groaned just thinking about it.
“Not everyone got as shit faced as you did last night. What the hell happened? I haven’t seen you get that drunk in forever.”
“I don’t know, Curtis. My dad and I got into it again before I left.”
“When are you going to tell him to fuck off?”
“I can’t.”
“Why? Obviously, you don’t enjoy it anymore, but then again, neither would I having to work with your dad.”
“I do it for my mom, the farm has been in her family for generations, and I’m sure she’d like to keep it that way. Besides Travis is starting to throw hints that he wants to leave when he finishes high school. So it just leaves me.”
“Have you considered talking to your parents about maybe buying them out or something?”
“No.” I mumbled.
Curtis put down his menu and thanked Whitney as she set our drinks in front of us. “Maggie said don’t bother looking at the menu. She already has your breakfast on the grill.” Whitney grabbed our menus and headed over to the new customers that came in.
“Thanks, Maggie,” Curtis and I both yell.
“Bentley, I don’t get it, you hate the pressure your dad brings with the farm, you guys are always going head to head, and you haven’t thought if you want to buy his ass out or better yet leave?”
“Something like that.”
“Dude, that’s fucked up,” my best friend snorted.
“You don’t understand, Curtis.”
“I understand man, I do, but I’d start thinking long and hard on what you want. Don’t you think it’s time to start living again, instead of always being pissed off?”
“Bentley,” Maggie spoke while placing my plate in front of me. “What Curtis is saying has some truth to it, and you know it.” I looked up at Maggie. “Don’t look at me like that, boy. You need to find what makes you happy, and not worry so much about the others. It’ll bite you in the ass later.”
“What’s with all the tough love this morning?” I grumbled.
“I suggest you sit and have a talk with your mother, Bentley. You may even be surprised as to what she might even say.” Maggie handed over Curtis’s plate.
“Thanks, Maggie, it looks great, and smells even better.” Curtis leaned over and smelled his food again.
“You’re welcome, sugar.”
Maggie patted my shoulder, “If you ever come into my diner smelling like a keg again, I will plunk your ass into my dishwasher. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I sulked.
“Good, now you boys enjoy your breakfast, and say hi to your mamas for me.”
Curtis and I were just finishing up breakfast when the diner door chimed and in walked the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. My mouth must have opened a bit, because Curtis turned around to see what I was looking at.
“Who’s that?” I whispered.
“Haley Wells.”
“Who?” I asked again.
“Haley. We went to high school with her.” Curtis shrugged and went back to eating his toast.
“I don’t remember her.”
“Sure you do. It’s thunder thighs.”
I looked at Curtis confused.
“Really, you don’t remember her? You’re the one that gave her the nickname.” Curtis looked at me like I had lost my marbles.
I watched as Haley walked through the door and looked around the diner until she saw Maggie, and her face lit up like a damn Christmas tree. Maggie engulfed her in a huge hug and guided her towards the front counter and showed her a seat.
“What are you staring at, man?”
I shook my head, “Nothing.”
“No you weren’t. You were checking out thunder thighs.”
“Stop calling her that.”
Curtis turned back around to take another look at Haley, “She sure has shaped up nicely since high school.”
“What is she doing now?” I asked still watching her.
Facing me, Curtis replied, “Do I look like the fucking high school reunion committee to you?”
“Don’t be an ass. I was just asking.”
Curtis drank the last of his orange juice. “Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, man. I’ll pay the bill and meet you in the truck.”
“Good, I wasn’t paying anyways.” he laughed walking out to his truck.
I WOKE UP early to get a run in before seeing my grandparents off. I ran the five miles to town to grab some of Maggie’s amazing cinnamon buns Grams loves so much.
Maggie and my dad used to date in high school, but when my dad chose to go away for college, Maggie decided to stay and help run her family diner, which she now owns. When I decided to live with my grandparents, she took me under her wing when things got rough and I needed a motherly hug. Maggie never did marry, nor have children of her own, but if she loved you, then you were one of her own.
I didn’t let Maggie know when I was coming home for the summer; I wanted it to be a surprise. When I opened the diner door and looked around for her I was a little disappointed at first when I didn’t see her. Then I saw her walking from one of the back booths. I couldn’t help the smile on my face the moment I saw her.
“Haley!”
“Hi, Maggie.” She engulfed me in a huge hug and guided me to the counter, insisting I have a seat.
“What a wonderful surprise. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming so soon?”
“I wanted to surprise you,” I said, sitting down on a stool.
“Best surprise of the summer, my dear.” Maggie brought me over a glass of orange juice. “Now, what can I get you to eat?”
“No thanks, I’m good,” I waved off.
“Darling, around here you do not get full on no thanks.”
“I just stopped in to pick up some of your cinnamon buns for Grams before they leave this morning.”
“Oh, I didn’t realize that they were leaving so soon.”
“They are,” I smiled. “I’m glad they finally decided to take a well-deserved vacation.”
“How many cinnamon buns, should I pack up?”
“Four please.”
As I waited for Maggie to come back from the kitchen, I took a look around the diner and was happy nothing had really changed since I first moved here. It was just another place that felt like home, another reason I wanted to stay.
“I’d sure like to know what put that beautiful smile on your face.”
I closed my eyes and cringed when I recognized his voice. I slowly turned toward him on my stool, “Bentley.”
“What, I don’t even get a hello?” he replied cockily.
“Why would I say hello to you?”
“Don’t be that way, beautiful.” Bentley gave me his mocking grin.
“What do I owe the pleasure of being in your presence?” I glared.
“Can’t two good looking people sit together on such a warm sunny day?”
“Not when one of those people nicknamed me Thunder Thighs.”
Bentley looked me up and down. “Looks like you grew out of that.”
“Fuck off, Bentley, and stop wasting my time.” I gritted through my teeth and mumbled, “Asshole,” under my breath.
“I see you can still be snarky,” he said as he played with the spoon on the counter.
I looked at his t-shirt then into his eyes, “At least I’m not a washed up football player still trying to relive his high school glory days.” I turned back to the counter and took a sip of my orange juice, effectively ending the conversation.
Bentley tossed the spoon on the counter and left. “Seriously, what the hell did he expect?” I said loudly to myself.
“Who did expect what?” questioned Maggie with a container in her hand.
“Nothing, Maggie, everything is fine. I was just thinking out loud.”
“Well, here are your treats,” she handed me over the container, “Wish your grandparents a wonderful trip for me.”
“Will do. What do I owe you?” I asked while digging in my sports bra.
“Girl, put away your money. You can repay me when you come over to visit one night.”
“Sounds great, thanks, Maggie.”
I was just about out of the door when Maggie asked, “How are you getting back?”
I looked down at my outfit, “Run, of course.”
“Not with a box of my special over-the-top-cinnamon buns, you’re not,” she turned her head towards the half open kitchen door, “CJ, give Haley a ride to the Wells ranch, would ya?”
“It would be my pleasure, Ms. Maggie,” replied CJ from the kitchen.
“That’s not necessary,” I said waving one hand.
“Child, do not talk back.” She warned.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
WAVING GOODBYE TO my grandparents was a little heartbreaking. As happy as I was they were finally taking a vacation after all these years, I still wanted to be here with them. I looked at my watch and decided to get a shower in before my workers showed up.
Falling for Bentley (Part One) Page 2
