Always On My Mind: A Bad Boy Rancher Love Story (The Dawson Brothers Book 1)

by Ali Parker

  We stopped out front of a large building and I approached the door, seeing a large sign that read: Elder Tree Management and went inside to the front desk. The lady gave me instructions and I took the elevator up and it opened to a registration desk and a small waiting room.

  The lady behind the desk smiled politely. “May I help you?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I’m here to see Rowena Burke. I have an appointment. I’m David Dawson.” The door behind her opened up and there was a room full of desks just on the other side of the wall. I heard phones ringing and voices and wondered if that was where Sarah was. I missed her. I took a deep breath as the lady told me to take a seat. I sat down, tapping my foot nervously. I rubbed my palms on my jeans, hoping I wouldn’t appear as nervous as I felt. This was the big chance I’d waited my whole life for.

  “Right this way, Mr. Dawson.” I stood and followed her into the room, and though there were a handful of people inside, I didn’t see Sarah anywhere.

  I hoped she’d be in the office with Rowena waiting on me, but as the receptionist opened the door, I could see that Rowena was alone.

  Rowena stood and walked around her desk to welcome me. She extended her hand, which seemed harmless enough, and then took the liberty of pulling me into a quick embrace. I stiffened but forced a smile.

  “I’m so excited, David. Today’s the big day. I went ahead and got your contracts fast-tracked in so we’re all set if you are. I think you’ll find we’re going to take very good care of you here at Elder Tree.” She patted a chair, offering me a seat and then hurried around her desk.

  I took a seat and glanced to the stack of papers on her desk. “I’m sure you will. Sarah’s said some great things about your company.” I noticed her back stiffen at the mention of Sarah’s name.

  “Yes, well, she’s certainly a great young woman. We appreciate her so much here.” She pushed the papers toward me and then slapped a pen down atop the stack. “I say we shouldn’t waste any more time. Glance over these and sign or initial where indicated. The sooner we get the ball rolling, the better.”

  I took the pen and then pulled the papers closer. I turned through the pages, glancing over a lot of numbers and percentages that seemed almost surreal, and though I wasn’t any kind of dummy when it came to figures, I still didn’t know this industry. I needed Sarah. Before I could speak, something caught my eye on the page. “Who’s this Patrick Delaney person?” His name was mentioned several times and indicated as my agent, if I was reading the thing right.

  Rowena let out a long tiresome breath. “I almost forgot. Glad you mentioned it.” She rolled her eyes and laughed, waving a dismissive hand. “Patrick Delaney will be your representing agent.”

  “Which agent will Sarah be?” I narrowed my eyes and met her cold, grey ones.

  She loosened her collar and let down her hair, shaking out her long blond layers. “You know I think very highly of Sarah as a person, she’s been just a wonderful little ray of sunshine around here the past year, but quite frankly she’s not got the experience that your talent deserves.” My blood started to boil as she got up and walked around her desk, putting herself between me and it. “A man with your talent needs special attention, David, and you’re just the type of client that I’d like to nurture personally. Patrick will see to it that things are done my way, with your best interest in consideration.”

  I handed her the contract and the pen. “Thanks for your time, but I’m not interested if Sarah’s not involved as my agent.” I started to leave, but she put her foot up on my chair between my legs to stop me.

  “Don’t be impulsive, David. In case you haven’t heard, we’re the best in Nashville and you’ll be hard-pressed to get anyone else’s attention, much less a contract like this one.” She tossed it back at me and I let it fall to the floor. “A smart man would pick that up and sign it.” I glared through her so hard I was losing my focus. She leaned down, her lips close to mine. “I know you’re talented David, but trust me, I know what’s best for you and your career. Let me take care of you.”

  I sucked in a long, tired breath. “Sarah and I are a package deal. You let her be my agent or I’m out of here.”

  “Don’t be foolish, David. You think some young pussy is going to have your back? That she knows a damned thing about what’s best for you and your career just because she’s spread her legs for you? I bet you even think you’re the first.” The words cut through me. I didn’t know what to do or say. I sat there like she’d thrown cold ice water into my face and she could tell it had damaged me.

  “I told her to do what it takes to get you here and it appears she did.” She stood from the desk and reached over to pick up the contract and then returned to her desk. She straightened the papers, giving them a hard whack against her desk and then pushed them toward me, slapping the pen atop them as if to say it was my last chance.

  “I’m not signing anything. Not today, not until I talk to Sarah.” Even if what this hateful bitch was saying was true, I had to give Sarah a chance to explain, but somehow, I didn’t believe Rowena. She leaned over her desk, deliberately giving me an eyeful of cleavage. I knew she’d say or do anything to get me to sign, even lie. I didn’t waste another minute getting the hell out of there, and as I opened the door to leave, Rowena laughed.

  “You’ll be back. And next time, the offer will be much less. That girl is going to cost you. And there’s something else I think you should know about your darling Sarah. She won’t be an agent here much longer.”

  I spun around. “What? Why? She’s done everything you asked.”

  Rowena shrugged. “I hired her as a favor to her ex and now I’m seeing that she’s not cut out for the job. She takes things too personally. I need someone who is tougher.”

  “Someone who doesn’t give a damn if the person your after’s mother is in the hospital?” I shook my head and stormed out, slamming the door behind me. The noise startled the people at their desks and I looked around for Sarah, but didn’t see her anywhere.

  I approached the receptionist and asked her where Sarah was.

  “She was sent on an errand. She won’t be back until after lunch.” The woman gave me a warm apologetic look and then went back to her computer browsing.

  I hurried out of the building and instead of taking another cab I decided to walk back to Sarah’s. It was only a few blocks away, and I needed to blow off steam. I couldn’t believe that after everything, Rowena was going to fire Sarah after all. She was going to string her along and let her think she’d have a chance. Sarah deserved better. I stopped in a store and bought a cell phone. Not having a way to reach Sarah was killing me. The man at the shop set it up and an hour later I was at Sarah’s apartment programming in numbers that I could remember. I tried to call Sarah, but she didn’t answer, so I called home to let my brothers know we’d made it and that the meeting didn’t go so well. After adding in my band members’ numbers and Kinsey’s, I made myself a sandwich and watched TV, hoping Sarah would call me back. Hours passed and she didn’t.

  ***

  When Sarah finally arrived, I was embarrassed she’d caught me watching a talk show with a panel of women all talking about their experience with orgasms. I quickly shut it off and went to greet her. I pulled her into my arms and wasted no time with the lip lock. I’d never missed anyone as badly as I’d missed her. “Today was the longest day of my life.” I held her tight and savored her scent.

  “Sorry I wasn’t able to be there, Rowena sent me on a stupid errand, but I think I must have impressed her because it was pretty important business.” She gave me a sympathetic smile and I tried hard to figure out how to tell her what I’d learned.

  “I didn’t sign the contract, Sarah.”

  “Why?” She pushed away from me searching my eyes.

  “It was a shitty deal, and I’m not taking it.” I shrugged. “She tried to stick me with some Patrick Delaney guy.”

  Her eyes were wide and she pushed my chest. “You go back there t
omorrow and sign it. He’s the best agent in the company!”

  “No, I want you to be my agent. We’re a team. A package deal.”

  “Baby, that’s sweet, but seriously, you need this deal. Elder Tree is the best company anywhere and Patrick is the best agent they have.” She searched my eyes, tears filling hers.

  It couldn’t get any worse, I had to tell her. “If I have to hear what a great company they are one more time I’ll lose my shit. I wouldn’t work for that manipulative, lying bitch if my life depended on it, okay, so let’s just get that straight right now.”

  I didn’t realize how loud I was being until she winced and stepped back. “What happened?”

  “She’s going to fire you, Sarah. She told me today. She said you lacked experience and weren’t working out. She also tried to convince me that…” I shook my head; I couldn’t mention it. It was stupid and probably another lie. I think a part of me didn’t want to know if it were true or not.

  “What?” Sarah’s tears spilled down her cheeks as I drew her close. She pushed away. “What else did she do?”

  “She tried to convince me that I’m not the only client you’ve slept with and if that’s true, I don’t even want to know. It’s in the past.”

  “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence.” She stormed past me to the kitchen, her tears quenched with anger. I followed behind her as she went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, slamming it shut. “I can’t believe this.”

  I raised my hand defensively as she spun around. “I didn’t think it was true.”

  “Good, because it’s not true. I’ve never slept with a client or a potential client. I was in a relationship with my last boss, but that was not how I got my last job, it’s how it ended.”

  “It’s not my business, Sarah. It’s in the past. I was in relationships before you, too. It is what it is.” I blocked her exit from the kitchen and took her into my arms. “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t sign with that hateful wench. It’s me and you or nothing.” I brushed her hair from her face and kissed her forehead. “We can do this without her. If I’m as good as you think I am surely you can pitch me to someone else.”

  She sagged against me. “I have a few names up my sleeve that I can give a try. They aren’t as prestigious as Elder Tree, but we might make it work.”

  “I have complete faith in you, Sarah. From here on out, we’re in this together.”

  She gave me a crazy smile and ran to the living room. I followed and watched as she took out her phone and after a quick motion, placed it to her ear. “Hello, Rowena. I just wanted to tell you that I quit.” She was so excited when she ended the call that she dropped her phone to the couch and dove into my arms.

  I pulled her in close and spun around. “Is it weird that turned me on?”

  Chapter 30

  Sarah

  I couldn’t believe I’d quit my job. The realization hadn’t set in until I was in my room getting comfortable. My mind was in a thousand places. What we were doing, what we should do.

  “We should go back to Oklahoma; I can take some time away from here now that I’m not working and we can wait until after your mother is out of the hospital.”

  “No way, we’re not quitting now. We just got here.” He stripped off his jeans and I glimpsed at his firm ass. He sat on the bed beside me as I slipped off my shirt and shrugged into my soft cotton camisole.

  “I’m not talking about quitting, but we can be there for your family and I can still call around.” I slipped down my jeans and traded my panties for a soft pair of boy shorts.

  “Well, there are things you’re not considering. One, we’ve got more privacy here. And two, the chores around here are so much easier.” I hadn’t thought that this was probably the first vacation he’d had away from home in a long time and it was nice being alone with him.

  “I guess you’re right.” I shrugged. “It is nice having you all to myself.” I lay back on my elbows and he lounged beside me. His dark hair was in serious need of a trim and his stubbly chin…well, it was perfect.

  “You just quit your worrying. This is all going to work out for the best. You don’t need that company or that. . . Rowena.” I giggled as he said her name like it carried some misfortune, and then I sat straight up, remembering a company I hadn’t thought of. “Broken Branch.” I turned and gave him a wide-eyed grin.

  “Honey, you’re getting that crazy look in your pretty green eyes again.” He looked up at me like I was insane.

  “Broken Branch is a company formed by former agents of Elder Tree. They’re not as big of a company, but they took some talent with them and they have a pretty impressive lineup. I know one of the agents that formed it. He left about six months ago, and took one of the biggest clients Elder Tree had. Rowena hates him, but I’m thinking that might help.”

  I reached for my phone and thumbed through my contacts. “Richard Miller.” I found his email address and then the digital file I’d made of David’s demo for Rowena and sent it to him along with a message. I thumbed through more names and while I was at it, sent it to the other two companies I had friends at.

  David watched me and when I met his eyes and shrugged, he smiled. “You’re amazing. You just need your little blazer and you’ll be all set.”

  I thought of how Rowena had hated my blazers. “Don’t tell me you hated them too. Do I look like a Bible salesman or a weather girl?”

  “What? I love the blazers. They’re a total turn on.” I searched his eyes waiting for him to bust out laughing, but he didn’t.

  “You’re serious?” My face glowed with a blush.

  “I’m serious. They’re sexy and powerful.” He went to my closet and opened the doors. He sifted through the clothes and found one of my blazers, a navy one-button stretch. It was one of my favorites. He held it out and I stepped inside, sliding my arms in the holes. I modeled it for him, turning and doing a little jaunty cat-walk-style step away from him and back, and he pulled me into his arms and slipped his hand up my back.

  “You really like it?”

  “I particularly love it with the little white top and tiny underwear.” He glanced down at my boy shorts and I shook my ass for him. Before I knew what was happening, he picked me up over his shoulder and spun me around to the bed. Once he had me flat on my back, he took my ankles and lifted my legs. He spread my legs and positioned himself between them, then he slipped down my panties. I made a move to shrug off the blazer, but he shook a finger at me. “No, I want to show you how much I like it.” He ran his hand up my stomach and pushed the camisole over my breasts. His hands cupped them and then he flicked the right one with his tongue, sending a warm tingle straight to my core.

  I squirmed beneath him, wiggling my hips to urge his attention lower. He released my nipple and then worked the other, and then he slipped his hand down lower, tracing little circles along my navel, and down to my soft mound, which he rubbed. I bucked my hips, pressing against him, needing the friction to ease my tender ache. His fingers parted me and slipped through my lips into my wet body, ignoring the tender aching bundle of nerves at the top of my pussy. The more he suckled, the more I wanted his mouth elsewhere. I raked my hands through his hair, hoping it would lead him downward where I needed him, the slow ache craving his mouth as he inserted another finger, spreading me and pushing them inward and upward against my g-spot. Just when I thought I’d have to scream out and beg, he released my nipple and his tongue trailed down my stomach, toward my clit. If his mouth ignored it, I’d surely break apart.

  As his fingers worked me in a steady rhythm, his tongue brushed and flicked my clitoris. I screamed out as my release sent a rush of heat through me. David pumped his fingers faster and then pulled them free to work his tongue flat against my slit, lapping there.

  I was still riding the wave of my orgasm when his tongue left me and he stepped away and grabbed his wallet off the dresser. I glanced over as he sheathed his hardened length. He was wrapped and ready whe
n he returned, pumping his cock in his hand. He knelt over me and nudged himself forward, spreading my thighs wider as he aimed his head at my opening.

  “You look so beautiful. Watch me put it in you, baby.” I rested my elbow behind my head and looked down to where his head teased around my slit. He inched forward, barely kissing it with the tip, and then rubbed it in little circles to tease me.

  He thrusted forward and pushed his head inside me, and then rested his hands on my knees, pumping his cock in and out, inching a little deeper with each thrust until he’d filled my entire depth. He worked his hips, thrusting deep inside of me.

  He leaned over and slipped his strong hand behind me and lifted me up, keeping his erection deep. He took me across the room and set me on my dresser, the cool glass of the mirror at my back as he grinded in and out of me nice and slow. He leaned forward and breathed in my ear.

  “You’re so wet. Feels like heaven inside of you, baby girl.”

  I took his face in my hands and kissed him, tasting myself on his lips. I wanted him to let me on top, so I pushed against him, and he cupped my ass, moving me on his cock as he walked us across the room and back to the bed. He spun around and sat down, and I nudged against him, trying to gain traction as he leaned back against the bed.

  I found my leverage and worked my hips on him until I’d managed a steady bounce. I leaned back, angling him against my g-spot and moaned in pleasure as my release came. David quickened his pace, thrusting up against me, and then he flipped me over to my back, pulled me to the end of the bed, and thrusted until we found a fast, yet steady beat.

  His cock hammered against my g-spot and I was just about to come again when he pushed hard against me, burying it deep as a strangled moan ripped from his throat.

  “Come with me,” he mumbled and licked at my neck. “Come hard, Sarah.”

  “Yeah,” I moaned and arched my back, giving myself over to the wicked hot heat building deep in my stomach.