by Melody Anne
“Let’s go, daylight is wasting,” Mark called. Trevor was on his heels as they headed out the back door and toward the helicopter pad.
Emily followed at a much more sedate pace, still dragging her feet. When they got to the helicopter and she saw it up close for the first time, her fear kicked in even greater. She might end up passing out on the ride. Of course if that happened, it would all be over much sooner.
Mark did a pre-trip on the aircraft and then said everything was ready to go. He helped Trevor inside and got him buckled. Trevor grinned hugely when Mark placed the headphones on his head and explained they could talk back and forth through the built in microphones.
“Ready?” he asked her when she was still staring in the door.
“I guess so,” she answered, slowly stepping forward.
Mark placed his hands on her hips and boosted her inside. Emily felt goose bumps rise as his hands lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. When he placed her in the seat, their mouths were only a couple of inches apart.
She nearly fainted at the instant heat flaming in his eyes. He continued to stare at her for a few more moments, before handing her the headset and then shutting her door. She let out the breath she hadn’t even realized she was holding and was surprised by the disappointment she was feeling he hadn’t closed the gap and kissed her.
She didn’t have time to feel sorry for herself though, because Mark had started the propellers and she was focused on nothing but her fear. As the helicopter started to rise straight up in the air, she was once again holding her breath. The higher up they got, the more she started sweating.
She couldn’t believe she’d let them talk her into this. She was thinking about demanding to be put back on solid ground, when they shot out across the countryside.
“Wow Mark, this is the coolest thing ever,” she heard her son say into the microphone.
“The first time up is the greatest but it’s still pretty cool even after hundreds of times,” Mark said. She saw him reach over and ruffle Trevor’s hair.
“Mom’s just silly. There’s nothing to be scared of,” Trevor said bravely.
“Careful young man, your Mom can hear us,” Mark said and then looked back at her and winked. She was more horrified he’d looked away from the front window than by anything they were saying.
“Sorry Mom.”
“It’s okay, you’re just braver than your Mom,” she replied with pride.
“That’s okay Mom. Guys are supposed to take care of their special women,” Trevor said in all seriousness.
Emily was so proud of her son. He really was growing up fast. He was already a gentleman. She knew there wouldn’t be a lady out there who would ever be good enough for him.
Emily finally realized while she’d been talking to Trevor her fear had started to dissipate and she was even looking around at the scenery below her. She was shocked to find she was starting to enjoy the thrill of being so high up and yet close enough to see all the buildings and fields.
There was no way she was going to admit to Mark she was starting to enjoy the ride though. The man was right far too often and she refused to give him yet another victory. She sat back and enjoyed looking out the window and listening to Mark and Trevor talk back and forth.
Before the ride had barely started, they were making their decent. “Is something wrong?” she asked with concern.
“We’ve arrived at my dad’s,” Mark said.
“That really was fast,” she replied.
“We’ve been in the air about thirty minutes. I told you I was taking the scenic route,” he said smugly. She glared at the back of his head. He sounded far too smug. Well he could think she enjoyed the ride but she wouldn’t confirm it to him. That comforted her somewhat.
She looked over the lands as they were approaching and was once again awestruck. The house that sat centered made Mark’s place look small. It seemed like a castle, with its rising towers and brick exterior. She looked around, expecting to see a moat and drawbridge. She found herself giggling at the image. Mark was most certainly a man she could imagine rescuing the princess from a tower.
When she thought of money before, she pictured her ex in-laws who weren’t good in any shape or form. They used their money to lord over other people and look down on the masses. But they’d be considered poor compared to the Anderson’s.
They landed smoothly, much to Emily’s relief and Mark turned the chopper off. They all climbed out and headed towards the mansion. Joseph came out to greet them about half-way there.
“Hi Little Man, did you enjoy the ride?” Joseph asked.
“It was the funnest thing ever,” Trevor exclaimed.
“Most fun,” Emily automatically corrected her son.
“Ah Mom,” Trevor complained. She let it go.
“Do you want some breakfast before you head off to your new school?” Joseph asked.
“Sure,” he said and followed Joseph up to the house, with Emily and Mark right behind them.
“How did you enjoy the ride?” Joseph asked Emily.
“It was fine.”
“She was scared,” Trevor piped in.
Joseph chuckled, as Emily’s face turned red at her son’s statement. “It’s okay young lady, my son is a bit scary.”
“Thanks dad,” Mark said with a smile.
“You and your brothers would upset your mom all the time with your daredevil ways. I don’t think she got a full nights rest all the years you were growing up.”
“Well who taught us those dangerous things?” Mark asked, with a pointed look.
“There’s no use in pointing fingers,” he grumbled and then decided to change the subject.
They had a wonderful breakfast at the house and then headed over to the school to get Trevor registered. Emily was pleasantly surprised by the place. It was large but not overwhelmingly so and the staff was friendly. Not one of them seemed to look down on her or her son. If she would’ve felt any of them judging her or Trevor, she would’ve marched right back out the front doors.
When they got to Trevor’s classroom, Jasmine came running around the corner. “You’re finally here,” she said and gave Trevor a big hug.
“I got to fly with Mark.”
“Oh that’s so fun,” she agreed. They both chatted back and forth, faster than Emily could keep up.
“Mrs. Parson, this is my cousin Trevor,” Jasmine said and dragged him over to the teacher.
Emily stopped what she was doing and looked guiltily over at Mark, who hadn’t even seemed to notice anything was wrong. Lucas was chatting with his brother and neither of them made the slightest indication they’d heard anything. She was grateful. She would have to pull Trevor aside later and explain to him Mark was just their boss and they weren’t related to Jasmine. How did you break a young man’s heart though? Maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal but she didn’t want her son to think they were a family and going to live together forever. What would happen to him if they had to move? It would break his heart.
She would have to think about what she was doing and what was best for her son. She didn’t want to leave but she better make sure Trevor knew Mark was the employer and not a substitute father.
They visited the school for a few hours and got Trevor signed up and Emily was feeling pretty good about letting him attend. They did have some amazing programs she knew he wouldn’t get from a public school. The field trips alone were spectacular. She’d definitely volunteer to chaperone. She hadn’t been to any of the places they talked about.
“We are going school shopping now; please tell me you can come with us?” Amy asked her, as they were heading out of the school.
“I guess that’s up to Mark,” Emily said and looked over at him.
“Well in that case, it’s a definite yes,” Amy said, as she dragged Emily behind her. “Let’s take our car so we can chat and let the guys do all the driving,” she added enthusiastically.
Emily had an incredible day. S
he purchased new clothes and school supplies for Trevor and enjoyed lunch at Chuck E Cheese pizza, watching the guys compete with the kids in the games. She laughed so much that by the end of the day her stomach hurt a bit.
“I’m so glad the kids are going to the same school. We’ll have to chaperone together so we can see each other all the time,” Amy said, as they were getting ready to leave.
“I was already thinking I would love to chaperone those field trips. I’ll be more excited to go to the places than Trevor will be,” Emily added shyly.
“Me too,” Amy exclaimed. “These guys are used to all this fun stuff but I still can’t get enough of the amazing world around me,” she added.
Emily loved how much she and Amy had in common. It gave her hope to see someone who had so much, be so sweet and genuinely great to be around.
“I will see you soon,” Emily said and hugged Amy goodbye. She knew if for some reason her employment with Mark ended she and Amy would continue to be friends.
By the time they got back to the ranch, the sun was starting to set. Trevor was rubbing his eyes and Mark carried him up to his room. Emily quickly got him ready for bed and then barely managed to drag herself to her room. It had been a wonderful day and she felt her life was finally starting to be normal. It was a great feeling.
“Mom, I’m leaving now,” Trevor said, snapping her out of her daydreaming.
“Sorry Trevor, I lost track of time,” she apologized. She gave him a big kiss and walked out the front door with him. She watched him climb in the car with Edward. Emily waved and stood watching them drive away until they were out of sight.
It was Trevor’s second week at his school and he couldn’t wait to get out the door each morning. He loved the place so much and always came home telling her the amazing things he’d done.
She still felt a little bit guilty over the exorbitant cost of the school’s tuition, so she worked from morning until night, making sure the house was spotless and the meals were incredible.
She headed inside and finished making breakfast for all the hands. They’d started coming in earlier each day and were usually there about an hour before the actual meal was ready. She loved to talk with them and started preparing some fruit and breads the night before so they had things to munch on while waiting on their hot food.
“Emily I think I’ve gained ten pounds since you became our cook. Pretty soon I’m not going to be able to button my Wranglers anymore,” one of her favorite ranch hands said. He leaned back in his chair and groaned.
“I don’t think you could gain a single pound with how hard you work. You need your fuel for the day.”
“I think I’m in love with you,” John said and gave her an adoring smile.
“You’re in love with my cooking skills.”
“Come on Emily, run away with me,” he teased her.
“John, don’t make me call your Mom. She wouldn’t be happy to hear her eighteen year old son was hitting on an older woman,” she teased.
“Heck she would tell me how smart I was,” he replied.
“John don’t make me put you on muck duty all day,” Mark said, as he entered the room. He ruffled John’s hair showing how fond he was of the boy.
“I’m trying to convince Emily to run away with me. She’s being stubborn though,” John said, with a full blown grin at Mark and then Emily.
“If anyone tries to convince Emily to run away with them, it would be me,” Mark said in a teasing voice but also with a serious look in his eyes.
“Okay no more chocolate muffins for you guys in the morning. It makes you all too rowdy. Now go get to work,” Emily said and pushed all the men out of the kitchen. “I will see you at lunch.”
She watched the men fondly as they made their way towards the barn. She cleaned up the kitchen and started her prep work for their lunch. She loved the huge country kitchen and couldn’t imagine ever getting bored working her magic in it.
Even more, she loved to cook for people who appreciated her food so much. It wasn’t as fun to prepare meals only for yourself and a toddler.
She was also well used to the men flirting with her. She knew it was all harmless but it was good for her ego. If any of them flirted a little beyond what she thought was appropriate, she quickly put them in their place and things went back to normal.
There was a new guy though who Mark had hired a couple of weeks after she’d started who gave her the creeps. He never talked to her but she would find him leering at her every once in a while. She was sure she just had an over exaggerated imagination.
There would be no way she would say anything to anyone about her fears of the new guy. She was sure he was harmless, like the rest of the men and just trying to make a living.
The guys returned for lunch in no time. Mark always looked so sexy in his dust covered wranglers and worn out Stetson hat. It took every ounce of willpower not to stare at him, or pull him close.
“Hey Emily we’re going over to the Three Rivers tonight. There’s this great new singer who’s performing. Do you want to come with us?” one of the hands asked her.
Emily was pleased to be invited but she was worried about her son. Edward was in the kitchen and seemed to be able to read her mind. “I can keep an eye on the Little Man if you want to get out for a while,” he offered her.
“Are you sure?” she asked Edward.
“I would love to watch him. We’ll make some buttery popcorn and watch the new Disney Movie,” he said.
“Well in that case I would love to,” she said. She was mentally going through her closet, really excited to have a night out. It had been far too long.
“I can give you a ride in,” John offered.
“I will bring Emily,” Mark said, brooking no room for argument from any of the men.
“I thought you said you couldn’t make it boss,” John whined a little.
“I changed my mind,” he stated, before throwing his hat back on and slamming out the back door.
“What’s gotten under his burr?” John grumbled.
“I think he’s marking his territory,” one of the other guys said.
“We’re not a couple. He probably just didn’t want to put any of you out,” Emily defended.
“Sure,” a couple of the guys chorused together. Everyone suddenly found great interest in their food and no one else said a word as they finished their lunch and then rushed out the door.
Emily cleaned up quickly and rushed upstairs to get ready for her evening out. She had the whole afternoon to pamper herself, since everyone was going to eat dinner at the bar. She was actually a little giddy as she took a long bath and spent extra time on her hair, clothes and make-up.
“Damn girl, you look good. I call the first dance,” her favorite ranch hand, Eric said, as she walked into the smoky bar with Mark, who hadn’t said one word to her on the ride there. He seemed to be angry with her and she couldn’t figure out why.
“Thank you Eric and yes I would love to dance with you,” she told the man. He wasted no time in abandoning his seat and pulling her out onto the dance floor.
Emily was having an amazing time. She had no idea how long she’d been dancing, because as soon as one song ended another of the hands grabbed her and she was off doing another two-step. She had not laughed so much in far too many years.
“It’s my turn to take this lady around the dance floor,” the creepy ranch hand Chris said. He was standing far too close to her and placed his hand on her back. She felt violated by just that little bit of touching.
She was trapped because she hadn’t turned any of the other guys down but she really didn’t want to dance with him. He didn’t put off good vibes at all. She was getting ready to get through the dance as best as she could.
“This dance is already taken,” Mark said, as he cut in. Normally Emily would’ve been really irritated with any man who was as high handed as Mark was being but she was so relieved to not have to dance with Chris she gladly accepted his offer.
Neither Mark nor Emily noticed the look Chris gave them both. He didn’t say a word but his hands clenched tight and if looks really could kill, they both would’ve been dead.
“You seem to be having a good time,” Mark said through clenched teeth.
“I haven’t been out in such a long time. I’m always just Mom, so yes I’m having a really great time. It’s nice to have some adult time,” she said and then actually giggled as he spun her around.
The giggle stopped instantly when he slammed her body into his, pressing her close. He rubbed his hands from her shoulders, down her lower back and up again. She felt electricity shooting from her stomach, all the way to her toes.
“If you’d wanted to go out, all you had to do was say something,” he snarled.
“Mark why are you so upset? This is a fun night and you should be enjoying yourself,” she said to him, completely clueless.
“How do you expect me to enjoy myself when you’re in the arms of other men? I’ve respected your wishes and haven’t been pursuing you but damn it, I shouldn’t have to watch you in the arms of my crew,” he said, growing louder with each word he spoke.
He had her pulled so tightly against him she could barely breathe. She didn’t even notice they’d stopped dancing. Luckily the bar was loud and smoky, with a lot of people on the dance floor and no one was paying them any attention.
Mark finally growled low in his throat and then crushed his lips down to hers. He pushed his tongue up against her bottom lip, demanding entrance and she willingly obliged. She forgot about all the reasons she’d decided being with him was a bad idea and just enjoyed being in his arms again.
His hands caressed her silk covered thighs, making the fabric draw up inch by inch. He was slowly walking them into a dark corner, where they could have more privacy. She couldn’t even feel the movement of her own two feet. She was focused on nothing but Mark and what he was doing to her body.
His caressing fingers reached the edge of her dress and were stroking the uncovered top of her thighs. She could feel the heat pooling in her core and she wanted him to relieve the pressure continuing to build there.
