by Ashlee Price
She was moving ahead of herself of course. First she had to prove her skills to Ted Ashton and his business partner Jaxon Brooks. They were two of the best in the business and they were the first people that she had to make happy and prove herself to. She was a bit young to be where she was, but Penny had put in a lot of applications with all of the top breeders and trainers, Ashton’s called back, so she was there to try her hand in the real world training. It just seemed much more unique out west.
Tommy turned down another dirt road, but there was a huge ranch and stables at the end of that road. The faded white letters on the sign told her where she was and Penny sat up to get a look at all of the horses in the stables. They were beautiful and she was starting to feel more excited than nervous.
“Thanks for the ride Tommy.”
“No problem. I hope it works out for you Penny.”
She got out of the vehicle and insisted that she could get her own pack. She brought no more than she could carry. It had been the only way, especially when half of the traveling time had been layovers in various cities. The bus was the longest she had ever traveled at one time and she had already decided half way there that she would definitely take the train on her way back east.
Walking up the last couple hundred feet was a bit much for her senses and she was thankful that there was no one out to see her. She needed time to take in the area and it wasn’t disappointing. She didn’t know where she was going to stay, but she knew that she sure had her work cut out for her. There were tons of horses and the place got bigger as she walked up. There was just so much to see that Penny did not see the man standing on the porch.
“You must be Penny.’
She jumped slightly and then blushed, embarrassed that she had made such a girly startled noise. She had not been expecting anyone to pop up like that.
“Yes I am Penny and you are?”
“Your boss.”
“Which one?”
The man pushed away from the column he was leaning on. “I’m Ted. Jaxon is second.”
“I see. Well nice to meet you Sir.”
“Please call me Ted.”
“Okay. So where do you want me?”
Ted’s dark eyes squinted towards her and she looked away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. She had heard many things about the two partners, but she had not heard about how handsome they were. It was a shame, because she would have made better effort to look nicer.
Her red hair was a mess, frazzled in the braid she had put it in that morning and the only thing she could do was smile and shake the hand that was stuck out.
“So Penny because of your hair?”
She shrugged, “I guess so. Not very unique I suppose.”
She was rambling and Penny was surprised that he guessed that. While it seemed obviously most people thought that her mother had one of those creative minds. Nope. She saw her copper red hair and that was her name. Lily was a close second, but Penny got the first thing that popped in her head when she was born. Her mind was as bad as her mouth and she tried to wait for him to tell her one way or another to go. Ted seemed to be having his own issues and he looked at her for several more moments before shaking his head.
“This way. We have you in the main house, because well the bunk house is full of a bunch of rowdy men.”
“Well you don’t have to go to any trouble for me. I can stay there.”
“Do you want to stay in a house full of men?”
“Aren’t there all men in this house as well?”
Ted chuckled for a minute. “I guess there is. Not a lot of women try for these kinds of jobs. Certainly none that look like you.”
“Where ever is fine. I have no real preferences, just happy for the opportunity.”
“Hold that thank you till you have been here a week.”
Chapter 2
Ted had meant that the work was hard and grueling. While Penny was used to hard work, she was not used to so many horses. There were a couple other trainers but she was still responsible for twice as many horses as she was used to at home. Penny took it all in stride though, making sure to take a hot, steamy shower at the end of the day. It was the only way to work out all the kinks that had developed in her back. What she needed was a good masseuse, but there was a shortage of them in Clayton.
There was a shortage of everything there and Penny was forced to order some things to keep a few must-haves on hands. She had yet to meet the other partner Jaxon, but she had heard good things. Actually none of the other guys had anything bad to say about the two bosses. It was rare, but if Jaxon was anything like Ted, she could see why.
Ted took the hands on approach and Penny had seen him out every day working right along with everyone. One minute he was putting a fence up and the next he was feeding and then helping train. Penny had liked the extra view, but it was distracting, especially went he took his shirt off. She tried not to stare, but there were a few times that he had looked over to catch her staring and she had looked away, pink and embarrassed. It was the man’s haunting eyes, she was sure of it.
It was in one of her moments of fantasy, that she did not see Ted walking up behind her, nor did she hear him. There was a deep voice behind her that took her out of her thoughts and she blushed from the content, thankful that he could not read her mind.
“Penny I was hoping you could join us for dinner tonight in the house. Jaxon would like to meet you. He wasn’t sure if you would last, but apparently we were both wrong.”
Penny nodded. She had been dining at the bunk house, already feeling outside of things living in the ranch house, instead of with the rest of the help. Her eyes trailed down his sweaty body and it took her a moment to move back up to his face. She could feel her own temperature rising and she nodded her head, not trusting her voice.
“Good, we will eat around seven. You can uh, dress up a bit if you want.”
Penny looked down at her jean shorts and button up.
“When did cut-offs lose style?”
“On you never, but Jaxon is a bit more refined and he may find them…distracting.”
The look he gave her may Penny blush and she wondered if Ted found her distracting as well. It would serve him right. He had been distracting the hell out of her for a long time and it just seemed fair that she could get him a little hot under the collar as well. “I will make an effort.”
He thanked her and turned away abruptly. She smiled to herself and got back to work. Her mind went to what she had brought to wear for the first time and there was only one summer dress that wasn’t work clothes and that was for if she found herself going to church. It would be distracting in a different way, she was sure of it, but it was not like there was a formal clothing store for a hundred miles. It would just have to do.
***
Penny quit work at five and looked in the front to see if her package had arrived and it hadn’t so she went in to take a quick shower. The shower became longer when her fantasies from before filled her mind and the hot water relaxed her body. She needed her bullet, but it had broken the second night in and there were no adult stores anywhere around to get another. The package had been sent days ago and after leaving the shower agitated, there was nothing else to do but get dressed. Penny put on a little makeup and did her hair, but it still only consumed about ten minutes. She never understood what women did in the bathroom for hours at a time.
It was almost dark when she got downstairs and she was a little late because of the extra effort in the shower. Her other boss was there waiting at the table beside Ted and he seemed perturbed. She skipped a step when he looked up and it stopped her in her tracks for a minute.
“Sorry about that. Time seems to have gotten away from me.” Penny was moving again, though she could feel a little heat on her cheeks. She stretched her hand out across the table. “You must be Jaxon.”
The man was much like his other partner, dark and handsome. Instead of tight Wranglers and button downs though, Jaxon was wearing a s
uit and looked quite nice in it. He was almost a refined version of Ted and she didn’t know which one she preferred. She certainly knew that there would be an addition to her fantasies, but even that quick thought made her face brighten.
“Nice to meet you Penny. Ted has said good things, yet he forgot to mention how beautiful you are.”
Penny’s face couldn’t get any redder. “Oh well thank you. Ted is very professional.”
Jaxon’s eyes took in the swell of her large breasts and the way the cotton material hugged her curves. “Professional indeed. I am speechless. I do not know what to say, but welcome.”
She thanked him for the job, but it was hard to look him in his eyes and she paid more attention to the empty plate in front of her. This was seen that she must be hungry and she didn’t argue when Ted had the first course sent out. It was definitely different than the stews and bread they ate in the bunkhouse. Truth be told, the other food was better, but it kept her mouth occupied so she couldn’t say something to embarrass herself. Out of all the challenges that she had thought would be a problem with her new job, gorgeous bosses that left her tongue-tied had certainly not been one of them. Penny really needed to find her a boyfriend.
“So Penny, how do you like it?”
Her mind instantly went to her bent over the table and him slamming in from behind. The thought made her squirm and re-cross her legs.
“Pardon?”
“How do you like the ranch?”
“Oh, it’s wonderful. Everyone is so helpful and nice.”
‘You seem very young to be so good.”
Penny looked at Jaxon for the first time in several minutes. His dark brown eyes held hers and it seemed that everything he said could have a double meaning. “You know, practice makes progress and all. Started young.”
“Indeed.”
The table got silent and was saved when the housekeeper brought in dessert. Penny was happy the awkward meal was almost over. She had driven herself crazy in the shower and they were driving her crazy in front of her. Penny just needed ten minutes in her room to take care of her needs. Her eyes went from one man to the next as they talked about business matters that didn’t concern her. She had zoned out again, the pie in front of her long since forgotten for the two gorgeous men that employed her.
Penny could see that they were completely different side by side, but they both had the same feel. She tried to imagine Jaxon dressed as Ted and then shirtless. Her heartrate jumped and she chided herself for her reaction. She needed a day off to check out what the local bar had to offer. If not, she was really going to make a fool of herself.
“Well I am tired. Nice to meet you Jaxon and thanks for the meal, but I am going to head to bed.”
They seemed surprised by her departure, but it was for her own good, she reminded herself. She had that Saturday off, so she could satisfy her cravings and get her brain to work again. Not looking back, she headed upstairs for the bedroom she was staying in.
Chapter 3
“You definitely did not tell me she looked like that.”
Ted nodded his head, “I said she was cute.”
“That is not cute.’
“Calm down Jaxon, she works for us. No funny business.”
“To hell you say. I call dibs.”
“What are we still in college?”
“I called it.”
“You can’t. She is not interested.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“We need a trainer more than you need another woman in your bed.”
“I don’t know Ted. She could be the one.”
Ted sighed. There was no stopping Jaxon and that was why he hadn’t mentioned it and had kept him away as long as possible. Because he knew that he was going to act exactly like he was acting. “So you are going to tell me that you have serious not tried, her the next room over?”
“No. Of course not Jaxon.”
“What is wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I just think we should keep it professional. She actually is really good and she will make us a lot of money.”
“I have enough money Ted.”
Ted sighed. He knew that Jaxon was the way he was, but it was still irritating. He was like a dog that had to be kept on a lease or he would go dry hump whatever he could reach. It was sadly more literal than metaphorical and the image left a smile on his face.
“Weren’t you the one that said you could never have enough money?”
“I am growing, priorities are changing. See, she is the one.”
“You have lost it.”
“She looks so innocent. You think she is a virgin? How old is she?”
“She is like nineteen. Way too young for you.”
“We are the same age.”
“I am not trying.”
“Then why can’t I?”
“You are impossible and I doubt she is. Now drop it before she hears you and quits in the morning. Why do you think I haven’t invited you over?”
“I wondered why you sent me on the last supply run. I think you were trying to keep her all to yourself. Well don’t worry Ted. I will be around to help out more. You are always saying how I don’t do my part.
“I figured you would say something like that.”
***
Ted went to bed that night, thinking about Penny, as he had every night that week. He wondered if she knew how much he wanted her. Ted had seen her looking his way a couple of times, but as soon as he looked over at her, she looked down or walked away. It was clear that she liked what she saw, but he didn’t think she was too happy about wanting him. Maybe she felt the same way about mixing business and pleasure. Or maybe she was innocent like Jaxon had suggested.
He would have believed that, especially by the way the other guys talked about her. She didn’t really flirt with any of them and there was a wide variety of men to choose from with almost 20 other employees. The fact that she had not started talking to one of them was suspect at best. While he liked to think that it was because she had the hots for him, Penny had more eyes for Jaxon it seemed. It was the smooth talk and the suits he presumed.
It was a shame, but Ted had more things than a woman to worry about. Everything was going good in the business, yet it was hard to ignore the competition that was moving in and how to stay ahead of it. Jaxon wanted to expand, but Ted wanted to keep it manageable. He didn’t want to hire someone to manage the place or several people. He also didn’t want to go public with the company, but the expansion Jaxon had in his eyes would make it necessary. They had never been so off page with each other and Ted was worried that it would send the two friends on opposite sides.
Ted was lying in the bed, trying to think of anything else but the issues with Jaxon and it was so quiet in the room that he could hear his own heart pounding. He got up to turn on the radio for some background noise, but stopped when he heard a sound from the next room over. It was a small moan, a whimper and it made his blood boil.
He moved towards his side of the wall and held his breath, afraid that what he had heard was just his imagination. The reality hit him like a ton of bricks and his pants became almost immediately uncomfortable.
“Mmm yes, oh…”
Ted listened as the young woman came on the other side of the wall. He bit his lip to stifle the groan that was dying to come out. He didn’t know how innocent she appeared, but she definitely knew how to take care of herself. He wished that he could have helped her. It was even harder to get to sleep after listening to her moans. It made him want her more and the feeling he had felt from Jaxon was taking over his own body. He needed her ever so badly all of a sudden.
Chapter 4
Penny woke up slightly refreshed, but there was still an aching need from the dreams. Ted had been in her dreams since she had arrived and saw him that first day. But now there was an addition and the combination was a bit more than her conscious mind could take.
Her hands were slightly shaky on the glass of wate
r on her bedside table, but she managed to clear the dryness in her throat. She had a lot of work to do and since she wasn’t going to be able to sleep anymore that morning, she figured she might as well get a jump on her morning chores. Grabbing up her gear, she went downstairs to grab some coffee before she left.
“Well good morning Penny. You are up early.”
“Yeah I couldn’t sleep. What are you doing here?” She looked down for a second. It had come out wrong. He owned the place of course, along with Ted and it was none of her business. “I mean, I did not realize you worked here as well. I have never seen you here in the morning.”
Jaxon had this grin on his face that made her breathe a little faster.
He was certainly disconcerting first thing in the morning and he was dressed closer to what Ted usually wore and she had to say, it did not look like the man had gotten soft. He filled out the shirt and jeans quite nicely and she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him.
“I have decided to help out for the next couple of days or maybe a bit longer. See how it goes.”
“Oh, well it will be good to have you around. There is a lot of work to do for sure.” Penny moved to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup before moving back away and putting some space in between them. He had a way of pulling her in with his eyes, much like Ted could.
“I was going to go out for a ride. Would you like to come?” Penny wasn’t sure. She still didn’t really have a horse and she finally used that as an excuse. There were of course many that she could ride, that needed the exercise, but he had another idea to persuade her.
“You can just ride with me. It would be quicker and I have Bladdy out anyways.”
How could she refuse? She agreed and drank the rest of the coffee in her cup. He was ready to go and she trailed behind, trying to find a good excuse not to get behind him. The mere idea of being tight up against him was not near as bad as the reality and her body reacted almost immediately to his touch. She felt her nipples get hard and press up against his back. She had to hold onto him and her hips nestled against him. Penny thought she heard a groan and it made her feel a little better. At least it wasn’t just her that was being driven crazy.
