by Ashlee Price
“So, what about the gates on the south side? Are we putting those up tomorrow?”
Alex nodded and the two men talked about work for the next day. There was always work to be done and though Alex didn’t necessarily want to run the farm, it was his responsibility now and he was doing his best to make sure everything ran smoothly.
When he went to bed that night, he was thinking about the dark beauty from earlier in the day. Tony’s bad feeling made him wonder, but Alex didn’t have any of the same ill feelings. He was excited to have her staying right down the hallway, but he wasn’t going to push his luck. Alex knew nothing more about her than she made his eggs perfect and had a smile that melted his cold heart. What else did he need to know?
***
Connie made a mad dash that weekend to get everything prepared to move. She didn’t have much to put into storage when she was done and instead of putting it one of those storage buildings, she was able to put the few things away that she couldn’t part with over at her friend’s house. There wasn’t much after she gave most of it away to friends and neighbors, but there were a few things that she didn’t want to take with her, but couldn’t bear the idea of getting rid of it. Connie had done the math and she only had to keep the job six months to have enough saved up to move where she wanted to and to find something that she was passionate about.
At twenty five and a basic business degree underneath her, Connie was still looking for the passion that everyone talked about. She knew that she hadn’t found it yet. Every job that she had ever had was a bummer and there just wasn’t anything that really excited her. Connie promised herself with all of the free time she was going to have she would find time to find out what it was that made her tick. No small task, but she had a feeling if she couldn’t find it with the open prairie and blue skies, it was not going to be found anywhere.
Her nerves were a little on edge because of her new boss. He was not the type of man she was used to working for and there was of course the way he made her heart beat just a little faster in her chest. It was definitely going to be a lot different than answering phones all day. The biggest change would be that she was wanted there. When she got phone calls, they never really wanted to talk to her and it wouldn’t hurt to have someone appreciate what she did now and again. It was half of the reason she had liked cooking in the past. There were too many pros and not enough cons to change her mind.
When she arrived she was still feeling good about her decision until a man passed her with one of the dirtiest looks she had seen in a while. She didn’t know his name, but he had the same dark coloring as the boss. Connie looked away, unable to hold the intense gaze, wondering what it was that made him look at her in such a way. It threw her off and she wasn’t smiling as brightly when she finally made her way to the house.
It was still early and she was there earlier than she had planned. Her breath hitched in her throat when she caught her first view of Alex in the morning. He was shirtless and her mouth was still open a few moments later.
“Hey! Connie, I am happy to see you. I was wondering if you were going to come back.”
She knew that she was supposed to be saying something, something clever, anything, but she couldn’t muster a sound. Alex was just standing there nonchalant. He was not built like the men in the city. Where the muscular ones seemed to be more compact from reps in a gym, Alex was long and lean, wiry but there was strength in every inch of him.
“You alright?”
Connie nodded that she was. “You aren’t going to be walking around here like that a lot, are you?” She wasn’t sure which way she wanted it to go.
“Does this offend you?”
“Not at all, just distracting. I can see why the last cook burned things.”
He burst out laughing and it didn’t make the heat in her face any better. She had been there less than five minutes and she was already putting her foot in her mouth.
“I can tell this is going to be interesting.”
She had to agree, it already was. “So I am going to put this bag up and I will start on breakfast in a bit.” Connie had to get out of there, away from his hard muscles and his dark eyes that made her tremble inside.
He didn’t answer her, but she felt his eyes on her as she went up the stairs. Connie didn’t need to look back and she knew better. She didn’t want to see what was in his eyes.
Chapter 4
Alex tried to remember to put his shirt on in the mornings when he went down to get the coffee started. It was easier to live with Connie than he had thought and almost all of the crew loved the new cook. There was a hold out and since they had already talked about it, Alex hoped that Tony would get his self together and stop making it so awkward for everyone. Every morning he was giving her dirty looks and Alex could tell that it was bothering Connie.
After about a week of the tension, Alex pulled Tony aside. “You have got to quit mean-mugging her. She is not going anywhere and I am not hiring Tabitha again. It’s getting old and you are making her uncomfortable.”
Tony nodded and said that he would stop, but Alex had a feeling it was going to get worse. He tried to keep his eye on him. Tony and Alex went way back and even in high school the man had a hard time controlling himself. Alex had given him the job there because he was strong as an ox, but also because he was having trouble holding down a job with too many co-workers. So Alex hired him and he had been with him for several years. It was the first time that Alex wondered if that was going to have to change.
He tried to assure himself that his decision didn’t have to do with Connie, but it did. Alex felt jealous when he heard the guys talking about her in any way and he wished that he could claim her, so that no one else could look at her in that way again. It was madness, he knew, but it didn’t change the way he felt about it. Alex knew that he would pick her over Tony and that meant something because he had known Tony for a long time.
Alex helped her bring the plates back into the kitchen to be washed. There were a lot of them every morning and he had gotten to where he helped her most days.
“Thanks Alex, but you know that is what you are paying me for, right?”
“I don’t mind. Besides, it is nicer here than outside with the rest of them.”
“Do you have a lot to do today?”
He nodded that he did and she just smiled back. Alex wasn’t the only one feeling more than he should. Connie had been looking at him at night when he would come down for something to drink. It was hard not to see him as more than just her boss when he was looking the way he did. Connie was convinced that he was going to drive her crazy and not even know it. Just then he was standing to close and her body wanted to naturally lean too close to him. He smelled so good, the cologne always present when she went into the bathroom in the morning. She wasn’t even sure if it was his body wash or actually cologne, but the man smelled so damn good.
Closing her eyes for a minute, she reopened them to him looking at her. “Are you okay?”
No, she wasn’t okay. She wanted more than anything to tell him how good he felt and wanted nothing more than to feel his lips on hers and feel how hard his chest really was. Sighing, she shook her head to say that she was fine. “Yeah, just a little tired I think. I haven’t been sleeping very well.” She didn’t mention the why though, the reason for her lack of sleep. Connie couldn’t get her damn boss out of her mind.
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
The question was so innocent sounding, but when she looked up into his eyes, it was clear that he meant more than just as a friend. “No thanks Alex.” She had to lean back, away from the draw. “You are always there to help me. I don’t know what I would have done without you and this job.”
“Well we are lucky to have you here. You were wasted answering phones.”
She giggled at the way he said it and thanked him for being so nice. He was always so nice to her and Connie was still sure that she was the lucky one. He helped rinse and then she finally got him out
of the kitchen so she could get some work done. Connie had to clean the house, make lunch for the men and do some shopping before the end of the day. The farm needed a lot to stay running and as she got used to the new lifestyle, Connie started to like it better. Before she would spend most of her time commuting, shopping and maybe going to a bar, but now she was busy most of the day and she made it a habit of watching the sun go down at night.
There were other differences too. Now she was able to do what she wanted and on her time off, she spent it outdoors going for a hike or taking a swim in a local pond. Everything was perfect and there was nothing else that she could ask for. There was one man that didn’t seem to like her very well, but Connie was learning to ignore Tony. He was only one person, she told herself and it was hard to focus on him, when there were so many nice ones to take her mind off of it.
She watched her boss leave and then for a minute as he was still visible from the front windows. There was something about him that was hard to deny and Connie started to wonder if he was into girls like her. He had made a comment before about girls like her and she hoped that he saw her the same way. In the back of her mind, she knew that she couldn’t mess it up with romance, but she really wanted to. After only a week, Connie was drawn to Alex, no matter who he was.
“He isn’t looking for a girlfriend.”
She jerked her head towards the sound of Tony’s voice and she felt her face heating up with embarrassment. Again she was thankful for her dark skin to cover it up.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“Alex. I see the way you look at him. He will flirt with you, maybe bend you over the counter once or twice, but then he will move on so you are just wasting your time.”
Her embarrassment turned to anger with the same heating sensation in her face. “I don’t know what you have against me Tony, but I assure you I am not worried about Alex in that way.”
“No?”
She shook her head and took a step away from him. “No.” Her voice sounded more sure than it should of in her trembling body. Connie hated the way he made her feel and she was still feeling strange from her thoughts of Alex.
Tony stared her down until she looked away, unable to keep his gaze. When he finally left the room she was able to let out the breath that she didn’t know she had been holding. There was something in the way that he looked at her and talked to her that made her feel a little cold on the inside, but she knew that she had to hold her ground. Connie had met men like him before, though she wished she knew what his problem was with her, it didn’t matter in the end.
She tried to forget the day and the feeling that was still in the kitchen, left from Tony. Something was going on and she was dragged into it, but Connie was not sure what exactly it was. She didn’t like hearing him tell her that she was wasting her time with Alex. His words had cut through though and she was left with the nagging feeling.
If Alex just wanted her for a couple rolls in the bed, would it be enough?
Chapter 5
“So what are you doing for your day off?”
Connie shrugged. Alex was beside her and he was in there helping her with the dinner dishes. She had the next day off and though she had thought of going back to her old town and seeing some family and friends, more than anything she just wanted to stay there.
“I am not sure yet. Not much going on back at home, so I was thinking I might find something to keep my busy around here. Any suggestions?”
Fire leapt in his eyes and she had to look away with a red face. Why did everything with him go there? Connie was convinced that it was the attraction that did it, but it was hard to deny the way it made her feel. His eyes undressed her practically and she was left standing there feeling naked and vulnerable. And that was with him not even touching her. Connie was sure that a man like that would break her heart, just like his friend said he would.
“There is a small rodeo out of town tomorrow if you are into that kind of thing.”
She wasn’t into that kind of thing at all, but the Connie that had first come to the farm did not exist anymore. She no longer wore skirts and heels, but flats and jeans. She was getting used to her surrounding, but there were still not many women in town like her.
“Are you going?”
He nodded that he was and then asked if she would go with him. Connie said she would and hated the excitement that rose up into her. She didn’t want to admit how much she wanted to go with him and how much she wanted there to be more to the offer than just to go out. Connie wanted more from her boss and even though Tony’s words echoed in her ear, it didn’t matter. It was almost worth it, she was sure of it. How could it not be?
“Meet me in the morning around eight or so. I told a friend I would bring a horse for him, so we will have to leave pretty early.”
“What will you guys do for breakfast?”
He shrugged, “We were able to manage before you. I am sure they will be okay for one day.”
Alex moved closer to her and she looked up at him as he stood towering over her. “No heels.”
She nodded her head, biting her lip from the close proximity. He was driving her mad and he didn’t seem to be affected by it at all. “I will refrain myself from looking nice.”
“I doubt you could not look great, jeans become you.”
Connie felt the heat again and she shivered on the inside. But he moved away and left her a little room to breathe. He was looking at her then, at her lips and for a moment, she hoped that he would lean in and give her a kiss.
Someone cleared their throat behind them and she saw Tony standing at the doorway. “Don’t mean to interrupt anything…”
“You’re not.” Connie moved away and went up the stairs, not looking back at the dark-haired man that made it clear she wasn’t wanted there. She was trying not to let him bother her, more worried about the next day and what it would bring instead.
“You have a knack for showing up at the worst possible time Tony.”
Tony tried to look innocent but he was failing miserably. “Come on, I was just coming in to see if you would help with the far gate. I can’t seem to get it to line up right.”
Alex was distracted, but he pulled his mind from the dark beauty upstairs and back to the work at hand. He walked outside with the man and they got on the back of their horses to take the trip out to the far gate. Alex had needed to get it done for some time, especially with more predators around that were eating the livestock. It was something that needed to be done and it couldn’t be put off, even if he wanted to daydream about Connie.
“So I see that you and Connie are getting close.”
Alex didn’t answer one way or the other. It was clear that he was being baited. He was pushing towards the fact that there had been issues with Tony getting involved with Tabitha when she had worked there. It would appear worse and he was no less a hypocrite for wanting Connie. He didn’t care though. Alex knew that he should care, but he just couldn’t be bothered with it.
When they got to the far gate, there were a couple other guys there that were helping as well. The gate was massive and it needed more people than they had originally thought. Alex got into work and didn’t mention the conversation from earlier. After fifteen or twenty minutes of sweat and a collective effort, the gate was in place and secured. Alex was sitting down by one of the post when Tony brought him some water. Sam was sitting next to him a few minutes later and the conversation seemed to make the natural way to Connie, as it had for some time now.
“I think I have gained five pounds this week, Alex.”
Alex smiled and nodded. He found himself leaving nothing on his plate either and it was amazing how much better he felt. It was like he had more energy than he had before and he had noticed that others were working better and with better attitudes as well. It wasn’t hard to agree with the idea of gaining a little weight.
“That is because you have been lazing about in the afternoons.”
Sam shrugged, though he wa
s notorious for being the first one to sit down when a job was done. He was a hard worker when he wanted to be, but not much after that.
“I still don’t like her and the cooking is not that good.”
Sam was the one that groaned and shook his head. “That crazy chick could not cook. How much longer do we have to hear about Tabitha?”
There was a murmur from Jake, but Alex tried to be diplomatic. He was the boss after all and he wasn’t supposed to take sides with the workers, but they had had much the same conversation a few times that week and he didn’t want to rehash it. But Tony was not one to suffer the injustice quietly and was quick to make his point known.
“I am just saying that Connie is not walking on the clouds here. You guys act like you have never had home cooking before.”
Sam was about to say something when Alex stopped him. “We all know how you feel about the new cook, but I think you are out-numbered, so let’s not go there again.” He was trying to sound calm, but all of them knew him well. Alex got quieter the more upset he became and Alex was to that point with Tony, just not wanting to talk about it anymore.
Tony seemed to understand that and tried to wave it off like it was nothing. “I just like my food a little different I guess.” It was a cop-out and he knew it, but he didn’t care. It was better than having three of his friends giving him the evil eye. Tony would just have to convince his girlfriend that he had tried his best and it just wasn’t going to happen.
The few words had everyone feeling the tension and it was then that they got up to get back to work. Alex was the last to get up and he was thinking about going with her the next day. Alex knew that it might change dynamics in one sense, but it wasn’t enough of a reason not to. There was something about her and even though they shared the house together at night, there was so much more that he wanted to know. Alex hoped that getting her away from the house and where she worked, that he would get more information from her.
There was also the hope there that she would maybe decide that she was as attracted to him as he was to her. Alex knew that it was wrong and he shouldn’t pursue her because of many reasons, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted Connie and as long as he kept his wits about him, Alex couldn’t see anything happening to make it a bad decision.
