by Terry Towers
Frowning, she glanced over her shoulder to see a skinny kid she guessed to be maybe fourteen strolling up behind her. She groaned inwardly; if these were the types of farm workers Connor employed she could forget about the eye candy. Being able to flirt with some well-built guys was the only thing she could think of that would have made this place bearable. Her hopes were being crushed.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” She looked back toward the horses. She had no interest in chatting with the kid.
“I’m Jacob Miller.” He extended his hand to her.
Samantha turned back to him and looked down at his extended hand. His hands were cut and bruised with dirt under his nails. She cringed as she accepted his hand and shook it as briefly as possible, without appearing too rude – figuring she didn’t want to offend him, since he may be useful to her during her stay there. “Samantha.”
“Nice to meet you, Samantha.” The kid leaned against the railing and eyed her intently. “Does Connor know you’re here?”
“Don’t think so. Where is he? I want to go to my room.”
The kid shrugged. “Last time I saw him he was in the milking parlour.”
She crinkled her nose up at him. “What’s the milking parlour?”
The kid pointed to the building she’d considered to be a barn. “That’s what they call that?”
He nodded, still intently focused on her, as if she were the first woman he’d ever set eyes on.
She looked over at the milking parlour. It was a long walk in the boots she had on. She’d be lucky if she didn’t break a leg stumbling over the rocks and then grass and mud. “Hey, can you do me a favour?”
He nodded eagerly. “Sure thing.”
She nodded toward the milking parlour. “Tell him I’m here and he needs to come and let me in the house.”
“You got it.” Pleased to be of assistance and get into her good graces, he sprinted off toward the barn.
Guess he can be useful…
~*~*~*~*~
“Samantha’s here,” Jacob announced, jogging up to Connor, who was in the process of supervising a couple of workers during the milking process.
“Yeah, I know.” Connor made sure they worked extra hard and long the previous days to ensure he freed up enough time to properly show Samantha around.
“You’re not going to go meet her?” the young man asked, strolling over to the tool wall and grabbing a shovel and bucket. He was in charge of shit removal from the stalls.
“Nope.” He’d gotten a call from his driver moments after she was dropped off. According to his driver, who also happened to be a good friend of his, she was a bitchy little snot, which pretty much echoed the sentiment of his brother about her attitude. He’d been hoping his brother had been exaggerating, but apparently not.
“Why?”
“She can wait, I have work to do.” He didn’t. The place worked like a well-oiled machine. Being on a farm meant there were always things to do, but nothing so pressing that he couldn’t pull himself away to greet her, especially after working everyone so hard already.
Connor glanced out of the barn and spotted her, leaning over the rail and attempting to coax one of the horses over to her. A loud laugh escaped him when he examined what she was wearing: a red dress that appeared to be made of satin, with big, flowing sleeves and tight around her torso and round bottom. It was so short that if she leaned over the rail, Jacob would be getting his first view of a woman’s snatch. Her boots were the kicker – they were knee-high boots with a heel so high the fact she could walk in them was a wonder all in itself.
Shovel in hand, Jacob came to stand beside Connor, admiring Samantha. “She’s hot.”
“Yeah. I have a feeling she knows it too.” Connor’s eyes caught sight of her long dark hair as a gust of wind lifted it, tossing it around her head and into her face. Her hair shone beautifully under the sun’s rays. He lowered his gaze to her ass again; it was perfectly round and tight. He wouldn’t lie, he wouldn’t mind running his hands up and under that skirt and caressing her ass cheeks… and more. He groaned inwardly as his dick jerked alive in his jeans. Angry with himself for allowing himself to fantasize about her, he forced the image from his mind. She was sent to him to learn that life isn’t just about partying, men and spending money. She hadn’t been sent there to be his personal fuck doll.
“Think she’ll let me take her out on a date?”
Connor glanced down at him and grinned. “Think you might be able to score with her slugger?”
The young man bristled up, pushing his chest out and lifting his chin. “Maybe.”
Connor waved his hand toward Samantha. “Then by all means, give it a shot and report back to me.”
Jacob’s brown eyes widened in horror at being called out, but quickly composed himself and shook his head. “Nah. Can’t, Boss. She’s your niece, right?”
Connor shrugged. Sort of, but not really. “Guess it depends on how you look at it, but not really.”
Jacob pasted a frown on his lips and gave his head another shake. “Yeah, Boss. See that’s the problem there. Can’t date her. Out of respect for you.”
Connor frowned, forcing a grin from emerging on his lips. “How’s that? I’m giving you permission.” He waved at her again. “Go on. I won’t interfere. You’re a good kid, I see you two being a beautiful couple.”
He watched the boy’s expression with amusement. He could almost see the wheels turning in his head as he searched for a good way out of the hole he’d dug himself into.
The boy huffed and turned his back to her. “I have a few girls in town who have a thing for me.” He shrugged. “Can’t commit myself to Samantha. You know, ’cause it wouldn’t be proper not to since she’s your responsibility, and all and I wouldn’t want you getting mad at me.”
Connor rubbed his jaw, which had a slight shadow due to his failure to shave that morning. He decided to stop the teasing and put the kid out of his misery. “Yeah. I get that. Makes sense. You’re a wild stallion and I can’t expect you to be tamed for a girl.”
Either he chose to ignore Connor’s sarcasm or was so relieved that he didn’t pick up on it. He puffed his chest out again, a smile forming on his lips. “That’s right. I’m a wild stallion. ” He nodded at Connor. “Guess I’ll get back to work.”
“Yeah, that would be a wise choice.”
Jacob nodded and took off heading for the first stall, leaving Connor chuckling in his wake. Turning back in the direction of Samantha he heaved a loud sigh. Might as well get this over with.
Chapter 2
It took over ten minutes of coaxing, but she’d finally convinced the mother horse to come over to her. A smile spread across her lips as she tentatively reached out and touched its nose. It snorted, making her yelp and jump back. As she jumped back her heel slipped into a hole in the ground and she began stumbling backward. Closing her eyes, she prepared herself to hit the ground, but instead she found a pair of strong arms slipping around her waist and pulling her back against the owner’s hard chest.
“Hope you brought sensible shoes, darlin’, otherwise you’ll end up breaking your neck.” The voice of the man behind her was deep and sensual and his aftershave had a deep woodsy scent – very appealing – it made her want to fall deeper into him, folded in his tight embrace. But she denied the urge.
Once she was steady, she stepped away from him and turned to face the man she was going to spend the next few months with. The man who stood before her was nothing like she’d envisioned. Towering roughly six inches over her 5’9”, his black t-shirt stretched over his broad chest and arms, accenting the pure muscle underneath. As her gaze rose to meet his eyes, she was shocked to see how young he appeared, perhaps late twenties. His dark hair was worn just a shade too long to be considered short. But it was his uniquely colored grey eyes that drew her in and left her staring at him not sure what to say. Nope, not even close to what she’d envisioned.
“I’m Connor and welcome to my home
.” He extended his hand to her and she gingerly accepted it. His large, callused hand wrapped around her dainty one. Everything about him made her feel tiny and fragile, from his size to the confident – bordering on arrogant – way he presented himself.
He took a step back and his eyes travelled up and down the length of her. “And I pray you’ve brought some sensible clothes. You look good, but lookin’ good ain’t gonna do ya a lot of good here.”
She felt her face grow warm. When her mother told her she was going to stay with Connor at his farm, she assumed it was like one of those farms or ranches she saw on television. The ones that were glamorous homes with a farm backdrop. She didn’t imagine it was actually a real farm. Once the realization of the fact it was a real farm set in, her view of everything and everyone on the property changed.
He cocked his head to the side, eyeing her, slight disbelief in his expression. “You did bring jeans and t-shirts and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty, didn’t you?”
She shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, avoiding his stare, feeling severely embarrassed. “I ummm… I didn’t think I was being sent to an actual farm.”
Connor folded his arms over his chest and cocked a brow at her. “Did your mother not tell you it was a farm?”
“She did… but…”
“Then what did you expect it to be?” When she didn’t answer, he began laughing. “You thought you were being sent to some house that looks like houses on that show Dallas, or that housewives show, didn’t you?”
She looked down at the ground between their feet and kicked at a little rock. This was one of the most embarrassing moments of her life. She was Samantha Wilkes, model and daughter of luxury fashion designer Virginia Wilkes. Her peers looked up to her, envied her, wishing they were her. They never made fun of her or had the nerve to make her feel stupid. The man before her was doing both.
“Sort of.”
She looked up as he laughed a second time, this time harder and louder than the first. He was starting to piss her off. So she didn’t know how to live on a farm, so what? She bet he wouldn’t last a day in her world. Being her wasn’t as peaches and cream as people thought it was. She had problems that went beyond whether she was going to wear the Louis Vuitton or Christian Louboutin heels to the hottest club in Manhattan, she just kept them well hidden.
“What’s so funny?” Her eyes narrowed at him. He may be hot and her body may be responding to his presence, but apparently he was also an asshole. This wasn’t going to work. They were like oil and water, surely he’d see she didn’t belong there soon enough and send her home.
He’ll be sending me out of here on the next plane to New York by the end of the week. I’ll get to go home, Mother will apologize for listening to his brother’s suggestion to send me here and life will go on.
“What’s so funny is that if you think staying here is bad, just wait until you find out what you’re going to have to do for your pay.”
And there it was, her big issue, thrown right into her face. She had no money and was seriously regretting how fast and loose she played with the money she made on her own from her modelling gigs. She always assumed money would always come her way, one way or another. Saving and opening an account that her mother didn’t have control over would have been wise. She sighed, Live and Learn. She was at his mercy – for now. But once she had enough money, she was outta there!
“Come on Princess, I’ll show you to your room.” A smile still on his lips, he turned and began walking toward the farmhouse, expecting her to follow behind.
She stuck her tongue out at him as she trailed behind, not caring that it was an immature gesture. She attempted to keep up but his long, fast strides combined with the fact she was fighting to keep her balance was making keeping up impossible. She’d only made it halfway to the front porch by the time he reached it, so she was forced to endure his condescending smirk the remainder of the way.
“Darlin’ you did at least bring reasonable shoes, right?”
“I have a pair of sandals and boots with a three-inch heel.” As she reached the top step of the porch, the barking from inside began.
“Well, shit.” He grabbed one of her suitcases and opened the front door.
Samantha’s dark eyes widened in horror as a large wolf came rushing out of the house, heading straight for her. “Holy shit!” She raced behind Connor, pressing her front tight to his back, using him as a shield, keeping the beast from her. “What the fuck do you have a wolf inside the house for?”
Her question was greeted by a roar of laughter. “Max isn’t supposed to be in there, someone must have shut him in. And he’s a hybrid. Part German shepherd, part wolf. He’s a big baby, nothing to worry about.”
She peered around his massive frame to see the wolf dog sitting back on its haunches, its tail wagging happily, craning its neck attempting to see her. He didn’t seem as ferocious as he’d sounded on the other side of the solid wood door. She slowly released her hold on Connor and walked around him to inspect the dog.
Seeing her approach, his tail began wagging with more vigor, excitement reflecting in his eyes. His butt began to wiggle and before Samantha had a chance to brace herself, Max was on her, sniffing and licking at her face, his massive frame pinning her to the porch, as she screamed and attempted to push him off.
“Get him off! Get him off. Connor!” She attempted to cover her face from the assaults of dog slobber but it was useless; its gross tongue and disgusting doggie breath were overwhelming her. It seemed like an eternity before Connor’s voice boomed, ordering the dog off of her and into an obedient sitting position at his feet.
“Why did you let him do that!” Samantha scrambled to her feet, glaring up at Connor. “You could have warned me.”
He shrugged. “Guess I forgot.”
“Asshole.” She swiped at her lips with the back of her hand, attempting to remove the dog slobber.
“Whoa, quite a mouth you have on you for such a pretty little thing.”
She hated how he found such immense enjoyment out of her discomfort. She was the victim of this situation and he seemed to be relishing every second of her misery. She didn’t do a damned thing to him to deserve the treatment.
“A little consideration would be nice, you know.”
He nodded. “Yeah, well. From what my driver told me, you didn’t give him much consideration. From what I’m told you had quite a diva complex with him.”
She planted her hands on her hips and continued to glare. “He’s a driver, Connor. A driver. He’s in the service industry, it’s his job to make me happy.”
“No, it’s his job to take clients to and from their destinations. It’s not his job to put up with childish temper tantrums and insults.”
“Oh please. I don’t know how you people do it here in Farmland, but in my world there are two types of people: People who matter and those who serve them.”
She could see the muscles tighten in his neck as his smile slowly faded, anger filling his eyes. “Well, Princess. Here in Farmland, your ass is broke and until I say the word, you’re stuck here. No money, no credit cards, no trust fund and nowhere to go until I say so. So I would suggest you check that attitude right rickety tick because it won’t do you a damned bit of good when you’re shoveling shit from the stalls.”
Her eyes widened in horror at the thought of shoveling shit. There was no way, absolutely no way. “Oh, I don’t think so.”
“Until I say otherwise, you, honey, are nothing more than hired help, believe that.” He dropped the suitcase he was holding on the porch. “And you know what? You take the cases up the stairs yourself. You’re going to want to start working on building some upper body strength, each horse shits at least thirty pounds of shit a day. That’s a lot of shovelling.”
He gave her a wink, spun on his heel and walked into the house, expecting her to follow.
~*~*~*~
Connor grinned as he turned his back to her and stepped into
the house. The look on her face when he’d told her she was going to have to shovel shit had been priceless. She was going to be more of a handful than he’d expected; he’d never met anyone who acted so entitled in his life. Her attitude bordered on hostility. There had to be more to her story than simply being spoiled all her life.
“You’re seriously not going to help?” she called out from behind him.
“Nope.” His grin widened as he heard a low growl of frustration coming from her, followed by a grunt as she began pulling them up the stairs to the second floor. He had to force himself to keep from turning and helping her with her baggage. Under normal circumstances he’d have never allowed her to carry her own luggage up the stairs. However, she had to learn her actions and ill treatment of others had consequences, something she apparently failed to learn thus far. His making her life on the farm a vacation wouldn’t do any good.
He made it to the second floor when he heard a yelp and a loud crash. Quickly he turned to see Samantha was a third of the way up the stairs, clutching to the banister with one hand. One of her suitcases was laying at the bottom of the stairs; the other she was hanging onto as if her life depended on it as she swayed on the step, her struggle in the high heels making it nearly impossible.
Oh, for the love of God, he groaned inwardly, quickly making his way back down the steps to assist her. “Give me the bag, Sam.” He grabbed the bag from her death grip.
She glared up at him. “It’s Samantha, only my friends get to call me Sam.”
He cocked a brow up at her and grinned, but said nothing before proceeding down the stairs to retrieve her second suitcase. Her journey up the remainder of the stairs was somewhat easier, beating him to the top and looking down at him with hostility.
Connor let her hostility go for the time being, letting her get it out of her system. Reaching the top of the stairs he led her down the hallway to the bedroom next to his. The closer he had her to him the better. He couldn’t even begin to imagine the surprises she may have in store for him. He had no doubt she was going to make living with her unbearable.
