by Jill Sanders
Chapter Eleven
Grant spent the rest of his day cleaning up the mess that was his corral. It didn't take him long to drop the timbers back into the holes they'd been torn out of. He made sure to compact the dirt around them again so they were just as strong as the first time. Some of the cross timbers were beyond repair, and he needed to head to the lumberyard first thing in the morning to replace them.
Just before sunset, he walked into his barn and checked up on his animals. The three Powerpuff sisters were doing well. They'd mastered escaping their pen so that they always ended up loose in the barn at night. He spent a few minutes playing with the animals after feeding them. He really enjoyed each and every one and thought of them as family.
When he walked back to the house, his mind wandered to last night and having Alex in his bed. He was just opening his door when he heard a car drive up. His heart skipped when he noticed Alex's car parking behind his truck. How is it that just the sight of her made him feel like a schoolboy with a crush?
Smiling, he walked to the edge of the porch as she walked up the steps.
“Evening,” he said as she walked right into his arms.
“Hi.” She went up on her toes and kissed his lips. The feel and smell of her had his head almost spinning. “I have something for you.” She smiled and his mind flashed to images of her in nothing but a red bow and heels. His smile fell away a little when she held up a small yellow bag with a bow on top.
“What's this?” He walked her over to the bench underneath the living room window and sat next to her.
She handed him the bag and smiled. “Well, I was doing some thinking the other day about your new business with your father.” She smiled and, not waiting for him to open the bag, reached over and pulled it open, handing him a small box. “I hope you don't mind.” She looked up at him, waiting for his eyes to show the emotion she'd hoped would flash there. “I know it's your birthday in a week.”
He looked down at the box and to be honest, it took him a few seconds for it to register. It had been a few years since he'd purchased anything like it. Slowly, he let a smile creep to his face
“Seriously?” He looked down at the box and thought of a million things he wanted to do with the new toy in his hands.
“Yeah.” Her voice didn't sound as sure as it had a second ago. He looked up at her and saw the uncertainty in her dark eyes.
Setting the box on his lap, he took her face into his hands and kissed her, showing her what he was feeling. A few minutes and a million heartbeats later, he pulled away, a little breathless. “It's perfect. Of course”—he looked down at her gift and then back up at her—“you're going to have to show me how to use it.”
She smiled. “That's the plan.”
Two hours and a few hundred apps later, the new Android phone sat on the coffee table, forgotten. Since the evening had cooled off to the low fifties, he lit a fire in the stone fireplace that sat along his living room wall. They huddled together, not for warmth, but for need. He didn’t feel like he could get close enough to her. There were too many clothes and his fingers just wouldn't cooperate as they roamed over her delicate skin.
When their clothes hit the floor, they slowly moved together, their breaths matching in the fading light. The light of the fire behind her lit up her hair so it looked like she wore a halo. Her face was in shadows, but the light accented her curves and he couldn't stop himself from running his hands up and down her sides, enjoying her softness. She leaned forward and when her sexy scent hit him, and her soft skin rubbed up against his face and chest, he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. Using his hands on her hips, he easily reversed their positions until he was kneeling at the edge of the couch, her legs wrapped around him as her hair fanned out on the cushions.
The dim firelight cast a warm glow over her skin, making her look even softer, somehow.
“Grant?” Alex looked up at him in question. He hadn't realized he'd stopped moving until she spoke, her voice a sexy whisper in the quiet room. He'd been looking at her, just looking. She was more beautiful than…well, than anyone he'd ever known. All he knew was that his chest felt tight when he looked at her, his heart skipped several beats, and his knees went weak.
He began moving again, this time leaning down to her and taking that sweet mouth with his until he felt her follow him in surrender.
When he felt her body relax, he pulled her down with him to the soft rug in front of the fireplace. Pulling a blanket and some couch pillows with him, he positioned them so she lay in front of him, looking into the fire.
“This is nice.” She sighed and rubbed his arm with her fingertips.
“Yes.” He smiled into her hair. “I'm enjoying myself, as well.” She chuckled.
“You know…” She stopped her fingers over his elbow and twisted around until she looked at him. “I'm entered in the barrel races next week.” She turned back around.
He smiled. “You've won the blue ribbon every year that I can remember. You'll do great.”
“Oh, I know I will.” She chuckled. “I was just thinking that you should try steer wrestling or at least enter Mojo and the girls into the dairy goat competition. I think the girls will be old enough by then.”
He chuckled. “I'd thought about it myself. I'm pretty proud of them all, but Buttercup is going to win the blue ribbon.”
“Really?” She turned and smiled at him. “Have a soft spot for the rough girls, huh?”
“You know it.” He smiled and pulled her hair playfully.
It was after midnight when they finally made it into the bedroom. He carried her while she tried to distract him, and he almost dropped her on her beautifully naked rear end several times. She laughed and held on, trying to make him cross-eyed using her mouth and hands.
When his alarm went off at four the next morning, she moaned and covered her head with the pillow.
“Early hours for a farmer and a lawyer.” He'd quickly shut it off and apologized. She'd rolled over and moaned again as he laughed. “You stay there, don't move.” He kissed her exposed neck and heard a different kind of moan. He moved to get out of bed, but she rolled over and pulled him back to her.
The animals complained when he walked into the barn almost an hour late. He was greeted by the Powerpuff girls, and they showed their disapproval of his tardiness by continuously butting his leg with their heads.
“Okay, okay. Hold your horses. You know,” he talked to them as he poured their feed, “you'll understand one day. Won't they, Mojo?” He smiled when the mother goat bleated at him in understanding. “But for now, enjoy your food.” He moved on to the horses and talked to each as he went, thinking of Alex and the rodeo.
The West sisters had always played a large part in the county rodeo. First and foremost was their cattle. They always had the blue ribbon steer and heifer, not to mention Alex's talent during barrel racing. Haley had entered several other animals, all of which, he had no doubt, had placed as well.
When he was younger, he'd tried mutton busting, but after almost breaking his glasses, his mother had forbid him to get near anything wild like that again. He'd always wanted to try his hand at calf roping or steer wrestling, like Alex had suggested. He had done it before, just never as a competition. Maybe he'd swing by the fairgrounds and see what it took to enter.
When he went back in the house an hour later, he walked in to wonderful, warm smells. He'd left Alex in his bed and had thought she'd stay put, but she was standing behind the stove, his apron over shorts and a cream-colored blouse. Her hair was braided in two braids and covered with a red bandana. When she turned and smiled at him, a spatula in her hands, he forgot to breathe.
“I thought I'd make us some breakfast. But since all you have is health food, I decided to make pancakes.” She chuckled.
“You didn't have to cook.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back up against his front as she flipped a pancake. “Smells wonderful,” he said as he buried his face into her hair.
“Both.” He kissed her shoulder. “How about some coffee?”
“Sounds good. I have a cup there.” She nodded towards an empty mug. He walked over and filled one for himself and refilled hers, then went to work setting the table.
Over breakfast they talked about the rodeo, his website, and his plans for the farm. When his new phone rang, he answered and was surprised to hear his father on the other side.
“So, you're finally getting with the times, huh, boy?” his father joked. He could hear his mother talking in the background, then his father told her, “I'm getting to it. Give me a chance to tell the boy hi, first.” Then his father said to him. “We just wanted to ask if you’re coming to dinner this Friday.”
“Friday?” He looked over at Alex and smiled, knowing what was coming next. When she smiled and nodded, he said, “Sure. Is it okay if I bring a guest?”
His father laughed and he could just imagine his mom dancing in the background. “Sure, Alexis is always welcome here. We'll see you around seven.”
He hung up with his dad and reached over and took Alex's hand. “You've just made my parents very happy.”
She smiled back at him. “I like your folks. Did you know that they meet at the diner every Monday for lunch together? They are so cute. They hold hands and sit side by side.” She sighed, then looked down at their joined hands.
“Yeah,” he chuckled. “But I try not to think of my parents as cute.”
How dare they? Did they not understand the signs? Couldn't they see what was plain in front of them? Everyone in town knew they didn't belong together. But they kept on seeing each other. Now, she was staying at his place!
Hands banged against the steering wheel in frustration. This was too much!
A plan slowly formed as the car pulled away. Think! When would there be another opportunity to strike?
Then the fog of anger cleared and peace settled. The rodeo was coming up. What a perfect time. But this time it needed to be something bigger. Something well thought out and planned. There was a lot to do before and little time to execute it all.
Yes, this would be the final move in this wild, fun game.
Alex pulled the reins tighter and felt the rush of being pulled in the opposite direction as she rounded the barrel quickly. She dug her heels into Sophie's sides, sending the horse rushing towards the next barrel. She'd practiced with the horse almost every day for the past year; this was her sport. She smiled when she pulled to a stop just through the gate. She looked over at Chase just as he nodded and smiled.
“Beat your last time by three seconds.” He removed his hat and wiped at the sweat rolling down his brow. The nights might be cooling off, but the days were still hot and sultry. Sweat was rolling down Alex’s back and she itched for a cold shower, but she wanted to beat even her latest time. When it came to racing, Alex demanded to be the fastest.
Letting Sophie rest for a few minutes, she jumped down and took a drink from the water bottle Chase offered her. She smiled over at him. “You know, I was thinking about moving back into my old room, so that you two can have the larger one for the baby.” She leaned against the post and watched Sophie. “Lauren would like the baby to grow up in her old room.” She turned and looked at Chase. When she noticed that he was frowning, she stood up and asked, “What?”
He looked up at her, then shook his head. “Oh, no, it's nothing. I was just thinking of everything that still needs to be done to the house before the baby comes along. There's baby-proofing the entire place. Not to mention painting. I think some of the walls still have lead paint on them.” He frowned some more as Alex laughed. It was his turn to ask, “What?”
“You.” Alex said, smiling at her brother-in-law. “Did you ever think you'd be talking about what kind of paint you needed for your baby's room?” She looked at him, really looked at him. He was tall like Grant. But where Chase had almost jet-black hair and dark chocolate eyes, Grant's soft, curly, sandy hair made his light blue eyes shine. The men were almost equally matched in form, but for some reason Grant filled out his shirts better. Maybe she was biased?
“Hey.” She leaned back again and smiled. “I've got another idea. It'll be tricky pulling it off, but I think with everyone's help, we can surprise Lauren.” She smiled, planning everything out in her head.
“What do you have in mind?” Chase asked, looking a little worried.
She laughed. “Come on.” She grabbed his arms and started pulling him towards the barn where she was certain Haley would be, brushing Oliver, her two-year-old steer. “I'll tell you and Haley together.” She pulled him into the cool barn, found Haley, and proceeded to tell them her plans to surprise Lauren. She'd watched a show where a group of people had remodeled a room in one day while the expectant mother was out. When she came home, the baby's room was completed. She thought that if they got enough people together, and could keep Haley from blurting it out, that they could surprise Lauren that way. When they walked out of the barn half an hour later, everyone had tasks they needed to complete for the event to happen. First things first—Alex had to move out of the bigger room.
That evening, Grant picked her up at a quarter past eight, and they headed to the Rusty Rail for karaoke night. Everyone in town always ended up at the bar one Thursday night out of every month. Even Chase and Lauren were going to be there. Haley had called off going that night, due to a headache.
When Grant drove up, the small parking lot was full, so they pulled into the field across the train tracks and parked next to Lauren’s truck.
“It's packed tonight,” Alex said, looking at the lights coming from the old building. Loud music could be heard whenever someone opened the door. The wood building had been remodeled after the big tornado that had swept through eighteen years ago, the one that had taken Alex’s mother.
Under the new green metal roof, the town of Fairplay had seen more than its fair share of action in the form of fights, though most fights here were between close friends or family members and almost always ended up over a cold beer.
As they walked towards the door, hand in hand, Alex felt a little nervous. This was their first time out in public as a couple. Since the breakup, she’d learned what people had thought about her relationship with Travis. Most people had smiled and told her how sweet they were together when they were engaged, but after their breakup, everyone proceeded to tell her that Travis was no good and not right for her. Would people do the same to her and Grant?
She looked over at Grant and noticed his eyes were glued to the door. His profile was something to dream about. His nose was perfect. His jaw was strong and sexy and he had just the right amount of stubble over his face. His blue dress shirt and old, worn-in jeans looked even sexier since they fit like a glove. His black hat caused shadows to fall over his face, sheltering his eyes. He looked like a sexy, dangerous cowboy who knew what he wanted and how to get it.
But it was more than his appearance that had her holding onto his hand and smiling up at him. He was the kindest person she knew, besides her brother-in-law. Grant treated her like she was something special. She'd never been treated like that by a boyfriend before. She looked at him more closely; he looked as nervous as she felt. Pulling on his hand, she stopped him at the base of the stairs and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. His nervous smile almost stopped her heart. What was she doing with someone so pure?
“Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?” He whispered it to her, pulling her up a little more until they were looking eye to eye.
She shook her head, not trusting her voice since her throat had gone dry.
“You look amazing,” he said as his hands rubbed up and down her sides and arms. “I'm the luckiest man here.” She'd worn one of her favorite jean skirts and a black lacy top that buttoned up the front and showed off her hot pink tank top. Her matching earrings and jewelry accented the pink glow of her skin. His eyes traveled over her, resting on her lips.
She wrapped her fingers around his neck, pulling him down until their lips met. The zing she felt when his lips touched hers went straight to her toes, causing them to curl in her boots. When she finally pulled back, she was breathless and her eyesight was a little misty.
He rested his forehead on hers and smiled. “Are you sure you want to go in?”
She laughed and nodded her head, just as the door opened and loud music came pumping out, making her want to dance. Grabbing his hand, her confidence boosted, she rushed through the door, a large smile on her lips as they glided through the full room, straight to the dance floor.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close as they moved across the old wood dance floor. Spinning along with other couples, they swayed with the music, smiling and laughing together. Grant had a talent for dancing. He spun her, lifted her, and dipped her, and did it all very smoothly. She'd never danced with anyone as smooth as him before. When the song was over, they walked over to the table where Chase and Lauren sat. Chase was nursing a beer, Lauren sipping what looked like Sprite and cranberry juice.
“Evening.” Grant nodded to them.
“You two look good out there.” Chase smiled and nodded to the waitress, lifting his fingers to signal they needed two more beers.
“Where did you learn to dance like that?” She sat on the chair, breathless.
He smiled. “My mother would never let me go to any school dances, but that didn't stop her from teaching me all the moves.”
Alex remembered that Grant’s mother was a god-fearing woman, highly involved with all the church events. She was even the secretary at the local Baptist Church.
“Smooth,” Lauren said, taking another small sip of her drink. Alex noticed that she looked a little pale.
Leaning over, she whispered to her sister, “Are you feeling okay?”
Lauren nodded a little and closed her eyes. When she ran from the table towards the bathroom, Alex apologized and followed her sister.
