Touch Me Boss: A Single Dad Office Romance

by Aria Ford

  “Paul, can you help me get him out of these boots and jeans? I’m sure that he would be much more comfortable and I want to check to see if he is injured any place else,” Amanda said.

  “Yes, I can do that. And if you want me to ride into town and find a doctor I will be glad to do that too,” Paul said.

  “I don’t really know what to do, but it would take too long to ride into town. I will watch him tonight, and if he has not improved by morning we might need to take him into town. That way he would get to see a doctor sooner,” Amanda said. “You go on and get some rest now. I will take it from here.”

  “If you need me, or any of the other men, you just need to come to the bunkhouse and get us. We will help you with anything we can,” Paul said.

  Amanda sat by Ernest for the rest of the night, wiping the cool cloth across his brow in hopes of reviving him. She prayed hard that God would not take him from her. They had only just found each other and they were so happy, it just was not fair for something like this to happen.

  Chapter 8

  At some point in the long night Amanda had fallen asleep with her head on Ernest’s chest. She awoke with a start when she heard him groaning.

  “Ernest, are you awake,” she asked?

  “Barely,” he said. “Why is my head hurting so?”

  “Paul brought you home in the wagon after you were kicked in the head by a horse,” she said. “I was afraid you were not going to wake up.”

  “Right now I’m wishing I didn’t. My head is splitting and I see flashing lights,” he said. “How long have I been like this?”

  “Since yesterday afternoon. I was in the garden when I spotted the wagon flying in the direction of the house. Paul helped me get you in. I have been scared to death all night, not knowing what to do.”

  “Well, it seems as if I will live, but I fear this will set me back a few days,” Ernest said. “My head is splitting and the room is going in circles right now. There is no way I can get any work done like this. I don’t even think I can get up and walk at this point.”

  “Then you stay here and rest. Paul and the others can pick up the slack for a few days,” she said. “Now, would you like for me to fix you something to eat?”

  “Just some coffee. I don’t think I will be able to keep anything down yet,” he replied.

  Amanda spent the rest of the day attending to her husband’s every need. She gave him a bath, changed his clothes, fixed him some broth that he actually liked, and just sat by his side while he was sleeping. That night when she finally crawled into the bed beside him she fell quickly asleep, exhausted from the scare.

  When the sun came up the following morning Amanda awoke with a start when she heard Ernest groaning. She started to jump out of the bed but Ernest reached out and grabbed her.

  “Not so fast,” he said. “I am not yet ready for you to leave this bed!”

  “You rat! I heard you groaning and thought you were in pain!”

  “I do still have a slight headache, but thanks to you I feel much better. I think I will take the next couple of days to get back on my feet, but I am definitely on the mend. Now crawl back in here with me. I know you haven’t had much rest to past couple of days,” he said.

  “And I won’t get much rest if I stay up here with you either,” she said. “Besides, we both have to eat and the last time I checked you were not a very good cook. Now let me up so that I can go fix us some breakfast!”

  It was a short time later when Ernest made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen where Amanda was hard at work preparing their breakfast.

  “Do you always get flour all over yourself when you make biscuits,” he asked

  “You are not supposed to be out of bed,” she said. “And yes, I do get flour all over me every time I use it, but don’t worry, I will clean it up.”

  “I’m not worried; I just don’t understand how you manage to get it all over you. But you look adorable in all white. I may have to buy you a white dress the next time we go to town,” he said.

  “Don’t be silly. I do not need a white dress because it would not be practical. I would ruin it the first day I wore it. Now have a seat at the table while if finish. I will get you a cup of coffee while I finish up.”

  “I have an idea,” Ernest said. “Since I am not able to go work out on the ranch, why don’t we go on a wagon tour? I can show you the land, and perhaps you could pack us a picnic lunch and we could find a quiet spot to enjoy it.”

  “That sounds wonderful, but are you sure that you are up to it,” she asked.

  “I will be perfectly fine. I’ll get Paul to hitch up the wagon. We can leave right after breakfast if you like.

  Amanda was excited to be able to get out of the house and see more of the ranch that her husband owned. She also liked the sound of a picnic lunch. It sounded sort of romantic.

  “I’ll go find Paul and have him get the wagon ready,” Ernest said. “Don’t forget to grab a quilt for us to sit on. I’ll be back in a few minutes.

  Amanda tried to think quick about what she could pack for a picnic lunch. She filled a large container with water, sliced some of the leftover biscuits, and filled them with ham that had been left over from a previous meal. With that she found a block of cheese that she cut in manageable slices. That should be enough for their lunch. This was going to be such a great day!

  By the time Paul pulled the wagon in front of the house, Amanda was packed and ready. She allowed Paul to help her up on the wagon while Ernest took the reins.

  “I think that first I will take you to the south pastures. That is where the majority of the cows are at the moment. You should even get to see some of the newborns that have found their legs,” Ernest said.

  Amanda took in the entire scene around her and held onto to ever word that Ernest spoke. He pointed out the different landmarks along the way and explained to her the reason for keeping the cows in the south pastures at this time of year. His voice was like a soothing balm to her soul. She realized that she was rapidly falling in love with this man that she had married. She had only known him for a few days, but already she could not picture her life without him.

  It was just before the noon hour when Ernest topped a hill that overlooked a large body of water. The scene before them was beautiful and serene.

  “I did not know you had such a large lake on the ranch,” she exclaimed.

  “The lake is our primary water supply for the cattle,” he said. “It is fed by an underground stream so there is always a fresh supply. Sometimes in the heat of the summer the ranch hands will take a dip in the lake to cool off. I think we will stop here to have our picnic.”

  Ernest found a shady spot beneath a grove of trees to spread out the quilt. Amanda thought this might just be the most beautiful spot on earth with its glistening waters and a cooling breeze that blew across the lake.

  Amanda grabbed the basket she had packed for lunch and offered Ernest a ham and biscuit. She had brought a couple of glasses from the house so that they could have something to drink from.

  “Amanda, I know that your life has changed drastically since you came to the ranch, but I want you to know that I am so glad that you did. With you I feel like my life is almost complete. I could never have found a better woman than you to spend my life with,” Ernest said. “And one day, when God is ready, we will hopefully raise our family together.”

  “I too, am glad that I came here. I had planned to do whatever it took to please you, but I find pleasing you one of the easiest things I have ever done,” she said. “I never expected love to be a part of this marriage, but I find myself falling in love with you more and more each day. When you were injured I was scared to death that you would be taken from me. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

  “I think I fell in love with you the first day I met you. You stepped off that train and I spotted you right away. You looked so young and innocent, but I could detect your determination to make this work,” Ernest said
. “It was a very brave thing you did, leaving your home and all that was familiar to you, and come out here to meet a perfect stranger and start a new life that was unknown to you at the time.”

  “I must admit; I was a bit scared. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I didn’t have a life in South Caroline anymore. God knew all along what was best for both of us, and I am so thankful that He brought us together,” Amanda said.

  Ernest leaned over and kissed Amanda lightly on the lips. Something about the fresh air made him feel normal and energized.

  “Well, Mrs. Latimer, if God knew what He was doing when he brought us together, then perhaps he will help us start our family very soon. I can’t think of a better time and place to start working on it,” Ernest said.

  For the next couple of hours Ernest and Amanda were completely lost in each other. They may or may not get pregnant on this day, but they would find joy and pleasure in the glorious union that God had blessed them with.

  The End

  Mail Order Bride Book 9

  Neal gently set his glass down. He extended his arm towards the square shaped bottle of rum and poured himself a generous amount of it.

  ‘It’s only fair,’ He thought. ‘After today, I think I’m a saint if I don’t finish the whole bottle.’ His eyes flitted to the bottle, already half empty. He shrugged and reclined in his brown leather chair.

  ‘There was Miss Ashton, with the damn cat incident.’ Miss Ashton, one of his long time clients and a lonely spinster that specialized in giving all of the local cats a place to call home, had burst into Neal’s office that afternoon. She had moaned and wailed about how her neighbor, Murphy George, was feeding all of her cats fish bones.

  “I only feed my cats the highest grade of food.” She had insisted. “Fish tails are terrible for them. It doesn’t offer any health benefits, it won’t make their coats shiny.” She sat across from him, an invitation he had not extended.

  “We can not allow him to get away with this, Mr. Powell. Let’s bring him to justice.” She smacked her fist upon her palm, which she must have thought made her seem serious.

  Stifling a laugh, Neal replied, “Why don’t you come back next week and we’ll see if you feel the same way?”

  “But we must act while the fire burns!”

  “And if your passion isn’t right where you left it next week, then we will know what to do next.”

  Neal shook his head, extending his legs, not caring that he nudged the coffee table.

  ‘I don’t even know why I put it that close to this thing.’ He thought, but he knew that he did know. He knew the reason why it was so close to the chair was not only a stylistic choice but because women had shorter legs. He had set up his lounge or den, to appeal to a woman. He hadn’t managed to appeal to a woman himself, however. Women came in every day, and they oohed and ahhed at his swanky office, at the women bringing coffee, the pristine wooden floors and glass doors.

  But none of them wanted to stay. It had seemed that time and time again, the man behind all of the impressive trappings and his clean, pressed suits was not as interesting. He had entertained a covenant’s worth of women, and the only person that seemed interested in a lasting relationship with Neal Powell was Stephen Mitchell.

  Stephen Mitchell had been relentlessly pursuing Neal to help run his campaign. A campaign that Neal hadn’t even decided he wanted to go through with. He was liked in Nevada, that much was true. Democratic partners seemed to tolerate his conservative beliefs but also respect that they were different. There wasn’t a single person in Delamar that Neal could not do business with.

  The papers, that Neal risked spilling rum on and having to sheepishly explain the stain to Stephen, sat on the coffee table as well. It was the official paperwork that required a few signatures and glances that would certify Neal as a candidate for governor. His head pounded at the work ahead, the advertising, the smarmy behavior he might have to engage in to secure a vote.

  ‘Not to mention, most of Nevada is a blue state.’ Neal considered. He could always ask Stephen over to his office tomorrow, figure out what Stephen’s stake in the race was. If there was even going to be a race.

  Cecilia Vaughn used the palm of her hands to guide her sister around in a circle. Needles between her lips, and tears in her eyes that she would not pay any mind to, she lifted the train of the white dress.

  “It’s gonna be so pretty, Cecilia!”

  ‘I’ve got an excuse not to talk.’ Cecilia thought, as she reached for her measuring tape. She put it snug around Alice’s waist and sneered at the perfect 22 inch measurement. The scene was so perfect, it made her want to spit. Or at least rip the dress up, spill some old fashioned tomato soup on it. Everything didn’t have to work out. Lacey had already been married and moved out last month. Now, Alice ran around the house with zeal, giggling about her wedding, making Cecilia taste samples of her wedding cake.

  The cake samples tasted too sweet, almost as sweet as Alice and Cecilia had grown tired of sweet things. She was sick of sweet proposals that weren’t asking for her hand, she was tired of sweet smiles between lovers. Cecilia was especially nauseated by the idea of more sweet things, because she had yet to have a single response to the ad she put in the paper.

  ‘Isn’t it enough that I’m willing to put myself in the paper? Publicize to the country that I’m going to reach spinsterhood any day now unless some sweet man saves me?’

  “Are you listening, Cecilia?”

  “What?

  Alice wheeled around and danced in the long, white gown. Cecilia scowled as a pin she was going put on the dress stabbed her in the pinky.

  “Cecilia the band is going to play the best music, you know, some of those old, classic love songs?”

  ‘The same love songs that everyone has at their wedding.’ Cecilia thought, with an eye roll. She picked up the train of the dress and fiddled with it. The sun blinded her momentarily. The tailoring room had some of the best lighting in the whole house. It was going to be one of the rooms that Cecilia missed the most. They were fortunate enough to have a house that was large enough to have a separate room for tailoring. After the death of both of their parents, the house had been left to all of the Vaughn girls.

  ‘And now they want to abandon it and me for marriage, not that I wouldn’t do the same to them.’

  “I hope Ernie gets promoted, we’re going to need more money if he wants to have a baby.”

  ‘I could never earn enough money to keep this house running properly, even if I do alterations out of this room to gals around town every day.’

  Alice waltzed out of the room and the heavy and expensive gown that got her so wound up was collecting dust from the hard wood floors in the hall.

  Cecilia let a heavy sigh fall from her lips. ‘Try to be happy for your baby sister.’ She thought, gathering her sewing equipment. She fell back on to the crimson sofa that her mother had insisted on having put in the tailoring room.

  “I’ll be damned if I don’t get to rest my feet after hemming dresses on every woman in Georgia!”

  And she had hemmed an outfit for just about every woman in Georgia. It was widely known that Nicole Vaughn was one of the best seamstresses the state had to offer, and people from clear across the state would travel to Augusta to get their garments mended when they had a special date coming up.

  Shortly after the sofa argument, Cecilia’s father had two, huge, burly men shoving the crimson sofa in through the narrow doorway of the tailoring room.

  ‘He would bend over backwards to do anything she asked for, if she asked nice enough.’ Cecilia thought.

  She took in the wood floors, the long crimson curtains, and the peach colored walls. She wanted to burn the vision of this room into her memory, the room that spoke the most about the story of her father and mother’s love.

  ‘I’ll get that kind of love… maybe not by sitting on the couch though.’

  Sally that owned the diner on 24th street still needed to be asked to
cater the event. Cecilia needed to hunt Lacey down and put her to work, maybe have her gather up all of the roses from the garden for Alice’s bouquet. Her sisters always relied on her to plan the weddings and big parties. They would throw compliments at her whenever an event was being discussed,

  “Oh, ‘Ceilia, you throw the best parties. You have Mama’s brain!” Both of her younger sisters would insist until she agreed.

  Good thing I got smart enough to make them do the grunt work.’ She smiled, and stood up. She pushed her fist into the small of her back. She smoothed the wrinkled of her dress, and fluffed her maroon colored hair.

  “Alice! Alice, stop dancing in that dress and run down to Sally’s diner for me-stop dancing!”

  Neal sat down in the chair opposite of Stephen. Stephen tittered and drank the rest of his coffee, wiping donut crumbs away from his beard.

  “Mr. Mitchell?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’d like to know what your plans are.” Neal leant forward and wipes a few stray crumbs off of his desk.

  “Yes, yes, um, I think you need to seriously consider running for governor.”

  Neal rolled his eyes. “Mr. Mitchell, you do know that I’m a conservative, yes?”

  Stephen nodded. “I do. That doesn’t mean that you won’t votes in Nevada. You’re a respected member of the community in Delamar.”

  “People are sick of tradition, every time I turn around there’s a new liberal law introduced.”

  “Society must evolve. And true progress is someone bringing what’s always worked to the future, and making sure that some things don’t change.”

  “Fair enough. It would be a wonderful experience, even if I don’t win.”

  “Well, you have very little opposition, one little dem on the other end of Delamar. I don’t even know his name.”