by Jenna Chase
I rounded the edge of the house and waved to Laurissa. It hadn’t been that long so she was still sitting in her car. She was intensely focused on filing her nails and didn’t notice me until I leaned in through the passenger side window.
“Wow, that was quick!” she beamed. “I told you he’d love you. So when do you start?”
“Actually, we haven’t had the interview yet. He said he wanted to do it over dinner.”
“Oooh, I see how it is. Ok, you go get you some, girl!”
“No! It’s not like that. I mean…well, I don’t think it is.”
“If he asked you to dinner instead of just giving you an interview here, then it’s about more than the job. Plus, I saw the way he couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“Oh god, what do I do?” I asked begging her for guidance.
“Just be you. You’re pretty and charming. Even if nothing else comes of it, he’s bound to give you the job. Focus, and don’t lose yourself in his good looks. Think of him like any other boss and you’ll do fine.”
“But you just said he wants more than to just be my boss!”
“Well, yeah. If he makes a move, and you’re into it, then go for it. Boss with benefits,” she joked.
“Aren’t people supposed to stay away from those.”
“Old people that know better. Pretend you don’t know better and go for it! That’s what I say.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “I better not keep him waiting. I’ll give you a call later,” I said as I stood and turned back towards the house.
“I’ll be waiting!” she called out through the window. I glanced back over my shoulder and shook my head. God, what has she gotten me into? I just wanted a nice job for the summer, now I’m going to dinner with a billionaire.
Before I could turn around to head back to the house, I could feel his presence behind me again. I had no idea how he could be so silent but it was unnerving the way that he could sneak up on me without warning. I turned to face him, as if on cue he responded with his picture perfect smile. Before I could say a word, he spoke up in his smooth, deep, and inviting tone, “I just realized I haven’t even introduced myself. I’m Shane,” he said as he held out his hand.
I was reluctant to take it. I was worried how I would react to the contact. Just being near him already had me flustered, but I couldn’t just leave it hanging. I reached forward and gripped his hand firmly. His large hand completely engulfed mine, and as he continued to hold my hand I felt a flood of warmth travel down my midsection to collect between my legs. I attempted to release his hand knowing I wouldn’t be able to stand much longer if we continued touching, but he held my hand tight and didn’t let go. I looked at him, almost begging him to release me, and when he finally did I regretted it immediately. I wanted him to touch me again. I wanted him to need to touch me again.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I finally managed. It was seconds too late but he acted as if he hadn’t noticed.
“I have a special place I want to take you,” he said as his hand slid around my waist and guided me to his car. I expected a nice pickup truck, but of course it was a brand new Jag – what else would a billionaire be driving? I could feel the warmth of his palm radiating through my shirt and I longed to feel it against the bare skin of my back. “I hope you like seafood,” he continued as he held open the passenger door.
“I do,” I said. “It’s my favorite actually, but um…I want you to know that you don’t have to do all this. If it’s just for the interview, then I’d be fine with a burger. Or… we don’t have to go out at all,” I hastily added before I realized how the words sounded.
“Don’t have to go out at all, huh?” he said with a laugh as he placed his hand on my thigh. “Just to be clear, this isn’t just an interview and I want to take you somewhere nice,” he said as he pulled away and closed the door.
My whole body shook as I worked to pull the seatbelt across my torso. Was he actually saying what I think he was saying? My mind tried to work through the probability, but before I could come to a conclusion he was climbing into the driver’s seat and we were on our way.
“So, have you worked with horses before?” he asked as he turned out of his driveway and onto the main road.
Oh, so he was going to ask me some actual work experience questions after all. “To tell you the truth. Not much. I learned to ride when I was a kid but it was a long time ago. I do love animals though and I’m definitely up for learning whatever is necessary,” I said jumping at the opportunity to show enthusiasm for the job. I was always taught to act like you’re willing to learn any new skill they need, that it makes you desirable.
“That’s fine,” he said. “Give me a chance to mold you into the assistant that I need.”
Mold me?
“Sometimes you get these employees, they come in and they think they already know everything, but each horse is different. They have their own personalities. I can teach you all of that,” he continued. “I don’t try to be an asshole about it, but I know some people perceive it that way. I just want the best for the horses and sometimes people are unwilling to accept that they don’t know what is best for my animals.”
“I don’t think you seem like an asshole, and I’m fine with whatever you want to teach me,” I replied feeling painfully transparent. I can’t explain the power he held over me. There was just something about him, this strange connection I felt. The second I saw him, it felt as if I’d known him my whole life. For all the rumors I’d heard, I couldn’t remember a single one as I looked at him. Any ideas I had about the kind of man I thought he was disappeared and now he was only a handsome man that was taking me to dinner.
“No more questions,” he said as he held his hands up. “Interview is over. You’re hired. Now we can enjoy dinner without any of the other stuff.”
“That’s it? That’s all you want to ask me?”
“That’s all I need to know. A beautiful girl that wants to do what’s best for my animals sounds pretty damn good to me,” he said as he glanced my direction with a wink.
“Thank you!” I exclaimed. “You’re not going to regret this.”
“I’m sure I won’t,” he said as he bit his lip. It was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
We rode in comfortable silence for a few minutes and then his hand reached over and took mine. His fingers slid between mine expertly, and as we held hands it felt both exhilarating and natural, as if our hands were meant to hold one another. Suddenly he began to laugh. I looked at him and couldn’t stop myself as I began to laugh as well. This was all so absurd, we’d only just met, and here we were, holding hands, going to dinner, and he’d already given me the job after a single question.
“I’m sorry. I promise I’m not normally so forward, there’s just something about you. I just couldn’t resist holding your hand any longer,” he said as he stared forward at the road, an awkward, almost embarrassed smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
“I like it,” I sad as I squeezed his hand. “It’s nice to meet someone that is willing to do what they feel.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I’m feeling a lot and I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold back on it all.”
“Then don’t,” I said feeling brazen.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I saw you,” he said as he turned to look me in the eye during a straightaway.
“Then do it,” I said feeling my blood rushing to my face.
Shane hastily swerved to the side of the road and slammed the car into park. He released my hand and reached both of his up to cup my face, his palms falling beneath my chin. He held me and then pulled me forward to meet him as he leaned in. He looking deeply into my eyes as I felt my heart pounding in my chest, and then he closed the small gap between us. His mouth pressed lightly against mine and then pressed harder and deeper. I could feel the hunger in his kiss, it was there for me too. I closed my eyes and opened my mouth to him. He kissed me like I’d never
been kissed before, and when he pulled away I gasped. I wasn’t ready for it to be over. When I opened my eyes he smiled, and I smiled too. It was sweet and I could tell he was being careful not to push me too far.
“I don’t…I just don’t get it,” he said as his hands searched for mine again. “I don’t know how to explain this crazy pull I feel towards you. I’ve never felt anything like this,” he said as he sat back in his seat. “I can’t believe I’m even telling you this. This is nuts. I mean…well you know, I’ve got money. I can have anything I want, I’ve been able to fulfill every material desire I’ve ever had, and yet none of it has ever made me feel like I do just sitting here with you. How can I feel like that about a stranger? A beautiful stranger, but a stranger all the same.”
“I don’t know either. I mean…I thought I was just coming out for a job today. I never expected anything like this. This is so far off my range of expectation that I might as well be floating in space,” I said with a laugh. “I like it though. It feels nice. I feel good with you.”
He pulled me to him again and kissed me hard and quick before releasing me. “Then let’s not spoil it. Let’s go have some great food,” he said as he put the car back into gear. He pulled back out onto the road and let out a long sigh. I admit I liked seeing him flustered and I wondered if his heart was pounding in his chest like mine was.
I turned and grinned out the window and thought about what Laurissa would think if she knew how things were turning out. I watched as we passed field after field of green pasture and I thought about what it would soon be like to be working somewhere like Red Mountain Acres. To be working for someone like Shane.
“Here it is,” he said as he pulled up to a small hole in the wall burger joint.
I scrunched my forehead and leaned forward. “Um…I thought you said seafood.”
“Yeah, I did, but you said burgers. This place has the best burgers in town. Have you eaten here before?”
“No. I didn’t even know this place existed. It looks a little…” I let the word trail off as I continued to take in the tired building that was in desperate need of a new paint job.
“How about we just call it quaint. I promise you’ll forget all about the looks once you get one of their burgers in your mouth.”
“I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
“You’ll love it, I swear,” he said as he pulled me from the car and led me inside.
They waitress seated us at a corner booth with red leather seats and a scratched white table. I had to stifle a laugh as I looked to Shane and he raised his eyebrows at me teasingly.
“What can I get you to drink?” the waitress asked as she held her pen perched over her order pad.
I put on my best mischievous look and said, “I’ll have whatever beer you have on tap.”
“Ooh so that’s how it’s gonna be then,” Shane teased. “I’ll have the same.”
“Great. I’ll be right back with your drinks. The menu is in the holder there by the salt and pepper,” she said with a gesture as she turned her back to walk away.
As soon as the waitress was gone Shane leaned in over the table conspiratorially and whispered, “Are you planning to get me drunk and seduce me?”
After the way that he’d been perusing me, I’d begun to gain some confidence and I teasingly said, “Honey, I don’t think I’d have to get you drunk to have my way with you.”
He grinned broadly and sat back, “You’re right about that.” Reaching forward he grabbed the menu and slid one in front of me. “This right here is my all-time favorite,” he said as he tapped his finger at the middle of the menu. I couldn’t help but notice how enticingly large his hands were. I remembered the slightly rough feel of his callouses as he had held my hand earlier. Some women act like its off-putting, but I liked it because it meant that despite his money he still knew how to work hard, that he still liked to be one of the men out there every day working his ranch. I found them sexy.
“I guess I’ll have to give that a try then,” I said as the waitress arrived with our beer. The glasses were nice and chilled and when I gripped mine I could feel the cool frost under my fingertips. I took this as a good sign for the burgers that we were going to be eating soon. If a place knows to chill their glasses, you can hope they know how to grill a good burger.
“We’ll have two Sloppy Jack’s with fries,” Shane said as he slid the menus back into their holder.
“Alright, I’ll have that right to ya,” the waitress said as she slid her notepad into her pocket and dashed away.
“You know these burgers have quite the reputation to live up to now,” I said teasingly as I reached for my beer.
His hand darted across the table and slid over mine around the coolness of my glass, it was strangely one of the most erotic feelings I’d ever experienced – the warmth of his hand on mine mixing with the cold of the frost. He held my hand steady for a few moments and then released it. I could tell by his reaction that it was something he’d had to do. He was compelled to touch me and hadn’t been able to stop himself as he reached across to me. His face was a mixture of confusion and excitement and I wondered if mine looked the same. Finally, he spoke up. “Don’t worry, you’ll never want to have a burger anywhere else ever again.” I believed every word. Even if the burger wasn’t the best, this place was quickly becoming my favorite restaurant.
Before the waitress returned, he shimmied out of his seat and crossed to my side of the table. He moved in and sat beside me, his hand moving down between us to grip mine. I could feel the brush of his thigh as his leg laid against mine and it sent a rush through my entire body. I felt comfortable with him in a way I could never explain in words. We simply felt right. I leaned over and placed my head on his shoulder as if it was an act I’d done a million times before. Neither of us said a word as we waited for our meal. I think each of us was fully content in the moment and there was no need to ruin it with idle chit chat. It was so relaxing to sit with him that I could have closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep if the waitress hadn’t returned with our burgers just then.
“Here you are,” she said as she set them down on the table. “Need anything else?” she asked cheerfully.
“Need anything?” Shane asked turning to me. I shook my head no. “Nope, looks like we’re set.”
“Just give me a wave if you two need anything else,” she said as she walked off to refill some drinks for the next table over.
“You’re going to love their fries,” Shane said as he plucked one from his plate and held it out to me to try. When I leaned forward to take a bite he waggled it up and down making it difficult to clutch between my teeth. With a miss I pulled back and glared at him playfully.
“Do you want me to eat the fry or not?” I questioned.
His now familiar grin played at the edges of his lips as he stilled the fry and allowed me to take a bite. He was right. It was deliciously crisp on the outside and soft on the inside – the perfect French fry. “See?” he said with a cocky raise of his eyebrows. I shook my head in agreement. “Alright, now you gotta try the burger. If you thought the fries were good you’re going to be dreaming about this bad boy,” he said with a gesture towards the burger on my plate. It was giant and oozing cheese.
“There’s no way I can fit that in my mouth,” I said as I lifted the burger from the platter.
“Sure you can, you’ve got a big mouth, just open it wide and cram it in.”
I laughed and lifted my burger closer to my face, the tempting smell of the grilled meat wafting up to greet me. “I bet that’s what you say to all the girls isn’t it?”
“Aww shit, now you’ve caught on to one of my signature lines.”
“Here goes nothin’” I said as I opened wide and took a big bite. I could feel the mustard and ketchup staining my cheek as I chewed and reached for a napkin.
“Let me help you,” he said as he took the napkin and dabbed at my face. “Good huh?”
I waited until
I’d finished chewing and then I agreed, “Yeah, you win, it’s pretty damn good.”
“C’mon, admit it, it’s the best burger you’ve ever had.”
“Fiiine, yes, it’s the best burger I’ve ever had oh great burger master,” I said as I used my hands to pretend that I was bowing down before his majesty.
“Damn straight. Now eat up,” he said as he lifted his own burger and dug in.
We ate the rest of the meal in near silence, each of us enjoying the tasty food. It felt nice to be sitting with someone where conversation wasn’t a necessity. Every now and then he would reach for my hand again and a pulse of heat would shoot through my body. It was heartwarming to think that he wanted to maintain contact with me and the small gestures had me wanting more from this handsome man. I found myself wondering if we really could work out a system where I could work for him and be more.
I finished my beer and he ordered us another round. By the time we left I was feeling a bit tipsy, he clearly took his alcohol better than I did but I’d always been a lightweight. He helped me back into his fancy Jaguar and then walked around to his side and slid into the driver’s seat with a single fluid movement.
I leaned over to kiss his cheek. “You know; ranchers are supposed to have big pickup trucks.”
“With a bench seat so you could move closer?” he asked.
“Something like that,” I said with a tipsy grin.
“I have one of those too,” he said with all the cocky air of someone that has everything they could ever want.
“Of course you do,” I said leaning back into my seat as I crossed my arms over my chest. I don’t know why but it suddenly bothered me that he had things so easy.
“Does that bother you?” he asked with a look of concern wrinkling his forehead.
