Alice could feel a blush rising in her cheeks and was grateful for the darkness of the porch. She dared not look at Billy.
“Um, well, do you want to come in? I can put on the kettle,” Alice offered, fumbling for composure.
“I’m just going to grab my binder and head on back to my room, let y’all catch up,” Billy said, walking behind Alice.
The old farm door creaked loudly as he opened it and stepped inside. Alice turned back toward Joe.
“You coming in?” she asked.
Joe shook his head and walked to the edge of the stairs.
“No, it is getting late. We can talk tomorrow. I’ll come by the office around noon. Will you be there?” he asked, his voice a little strained.
Alice was concerned about him. Although he was usually a stoic man, and somewhat introverted, she could tell that something was troubling him. She had known him a long time.
“Of course. Come by and we will talk,” she encouraged.
Joe gave her a strange look, a cross between confusion and maybe anger? It was hard for her to tell, but one thing was for certain, he held his gaze longer than was typical for him. Alice smiled to reassure him, just as Billy opened the screen door. Joe broke his eyes away from Alice and they landed on Billy behind her.
“Well I’m off,” Joe said flatly.
He turned around and walked down the steps, and they watched him make his way across the yard, heading toward the barn. Billy placed his hand in the small of Alice’s back and stroked her softly, reassuring her.
“What was that about?” he asked cautiously.
Alice shrugged and turned around to look at him.
“I’m not sure,” she admitted.
He looked at her, his eyes twinkling, as though flashes of earlier memories had just crossed his mind. Alice wanted to kiss him, but dared not. Billy gave her a quick wink, assuring her that he understood. He gently caressed her back once more then made his way down the stairs, ledger in hand.
“Goodnight, Cowgirl. See you tomorrow,” he said, turning around to blow her a kiss.
Alice smiled and nodded, sad to see him go. Part of her wanted nothing more than to invite him to share her bed that night, but the other part of her, practical Alice, knew that it wasn’t the right time. Maybe it never would be.
“Oh, you said you wanted to tell me something?” he said, turning back.
Alice nodded.
“I did, but it can wait. Goodnight,” she said, giving him a dismissive wave.
She needed time to process everything that was happening with Billy, with Joe, with the construction. All of a sudden, everything seemed overwhelming.
Alice went inside and closed the door behind her, exhausted. Sleep. She just needed to sleep.
Chapter 12
Billy
Billy walked into the lodge and was greeted by six or seven of the guys. A few of them were shooting pool, while a couple others were playing video games. Although he had never been to college, he imagined that this was what a frat house was like. Sharing a house with a bunch of sloppy, noisy guys wasn’t his idea of a good time and he was looking forward to having his own space again. He thought of his quiet, pristine apartment, but that didn’t seem to hold as much appeal as it once did either. He gave them a wave and then made his way to his room, stopping by the bathroom to wash up.
When he got to his room he opened his laptop and emailed James an update, letting him know that Alice had given him the second installment. That would appease him for the time being. He then opened some work-related documents that James had sent, mainly things that needed his approval, and set to work reading them and making revisions.
He was glad to see that James was effortlessly managing things without him. In fact, ever since the construction began and the plan was set into motion, James had eased up on him, rarely pressing him anymore.
When Billy finally slipped under the covers, he wished he were crawling into bed beside Alice, spending the night with her tucked in close to his chest. He thought it would be pretty easy waking up beside her, but she made it clear to him that they needed to be discreet, which to him meant she preferred to keep things casual. That was probably for the best anyway, given the fact that he was screwing her while he was screwing her.
All of this would be over soon and it was highly unlikely that they would remain friends. The thought of never seeing Alice again suddenly made him anxious. He sighed deeply, turning out the light beside him, and reflected on his feelings. The whole day with her had been amazing.
He had been with plenty of beautiful women, and had his share of great sex, but it was different with Alice. He noticed things about her that he had never paid attention to with the others, and when she held him after they had sex, he could feel her heart beating against his chest, like some sort of sexy Morse code he was determined to decipher. He felt so present around Alice, clicking with her from one moment to the next, hanging on to every word even when she teased him, afraid to miss even one of her precious thoughts. She intrigued him. The truth was when he was around her he felt anchored, for the first time in his life.
Fuck, no wonder he felt anxious, Billy thought woefully. He felt confused by his feelings and did his best to shut them down. It took a while for him to drift off to sleep, but once he did, he slept like the dead.
Chapter 13
Alice
Joe ambled into Alice’s office and she waved him over. He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his thinning blonde hair. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.
“Hi, Joe,” Alice said, looking up from her work. “You look tired, is everything ok?”
Joe shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m fine,” he said setting his hat down on her desk.
He didn’t look fine.
“What’s up?” she asked kindly.
“Not much. Ted Collins stopped by this morning asking about Solomon. He wants to buy him next spring. He liked the look of him I guess. I suppose we should start his training soon. Misty is a little more relaxed with him now,” he said casually, sitting back in the chair.
“What about Jewel? She’s ready to breed and she should be in estrus again in a week or so. I was thinking about pairing her with Amedeo. Do you think they would be a good match? He sires some gorgeous offspring, and they both have lovely temperaments,” she suggested, knowing Joe would give her good advice.
“Yeah, I think she will respond well to him. He has been sniffing around the fence when she is in the paddock and she has been showing signs of approval. Can’t hurt to try. We can always pair her with Zeus on her next cycle if she doesn’t take to Amedeo. He’s always a sure thing, the horny beast.”
He grinned. Alice chuckled in agreement.
“Ok, let’s get them together,” Alice proposed confidently. “Also, since this will be our last breeding season, I think we should breed Skye. It’s been almost three years since she has foaled. Pair her with Fergus again. That was an excellent match.”
Joe sat forward and nodded, playing with the edge of his hat, his eyes downcast. Alice waited to see if he had anything else to offer before she spoke again, breaking the silence.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about last night, Joe?” she prodded cautiously.
Joe looked up at her, but didn’t speak. She could tell he had a lot going on behind those eyes. She waited patiently. Joe was a man of few words, and he always put a lot of thought into them before sharing them.
“I have been on the ranch here with you a long time, Alice, and for your daddy before you,” he began.
Alice nodded kindly, encouraging him to continue.
“I have always been loyal and I’ve just done what needed doing. I suppose that will never change. I like being here. I guess I feel like this is home,” he shared quietly.
Alice’s smile was guarded, wondering where he was going. He continued.
“Things are changing around here, good or bad, who is to say. This is your business,
Alice, but I like to think that in some ways, we are family. I have always tried to give you good advice and look after you,”
He paused and carefully looked at her. Alice nodded but offered no verbal reply, waiting for him to continue.
“Well, I guess two things are on my mind. I have been wondering, with all of the changes happening, where I fit in. I’m a rancher through and through. I’m just not sure I’m cut out for resort life. I’m not exactly a social director,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
Alice softly raised her brows and smiled back kindly.
“The truth is, I’m better with horses than with people, and the thought of tourists rotating in and out of here on a constant basis kind of makes me jumpy,” he admitted.
He picked his hat back up and brushed the rim with his fingertips nervously. Alice smiled and leaned forward.
“I get that, Joe, but you don’t need to fret about it. I know that you aren’t comfortable around people, but there will be plenty for you to do around here. The horses are still going to need a handler and someone to care for them, and no one knows their temperaments better than you, Joe,” she assured. “We won’t be breeding anymore, true, but I’ll still need you.”
Joe looked down and nodded his head solemnly.
“Do you Alice? Do you need me?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Alice looked at him carefully, uncertain of the depth of his question. She paused for a moment considering her response.
“Of course I do, Joe. Like you said, we are family,” she offered kindly.
Joe looked up, his eyes swirling with emotion. He looked confused, yet hopeful at the same time. Alice smiled at him cautiously, uncertain what he needed from her.
“You’re like a brother to me, Joe. I can’t imagine you not being here,” she added.
Joe let out a quick sigh and shrugged his shoulders, leaving Alice to interpret his body language. What more could she do to reassure him, she wondered.
“I see,” he said, nodding softly. “Well I guess that’s fine then.”
“Please don’t worry, Joe, everything will be fine as soon as we put all this construction behind us. You’ll see. Things will be great. I just know they will. The arena will be done before the end of summer and I’ll be looking to you to manage the operations,” she assured him enthusiastically.
Joe raised his brows and looked at her cynically.
“You think this will all be done in five to six weeks?” he asked skeptically.
Alice shrugged.
“Sure. We’ll be installing the plumbing and electrical in a few weeks. You can see the framing is almost up and the roof is being installed next week. We have already placed an order for the wood and drywall panels for the offices and for your living quarters in the back. Billy said we will be able to open for business by the end of September,” she offered confidently.
When Joe winced at the sound of Billy’s name, it didn’t go unnoticed. Alice cocked her head and regarded him for a moment, uncertain if she should question his doubt. Joe offered his opinion anyway.
“Billy said that, did he?” he asked, unamused.
Alice nodded cautiously.
“Yes. We went over everything last night and he updated me on the progress,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
She knew Joe had reservations about Billy and didn’t want to trigger an argument.
“Is that all you did last night?” he asked tersely.
He met her eyes, challenging her.
Alice sat back in her chair and tightened her lips, sighing deeply. His question was laced with accusation, but it was his tone that confused her. He sounded more jealous than concerned and this was completely out of character for him.
Joe shook his head a let out a sardonic snort. Alice looked away and shook her own head slowly, unsure how to respond. She remained silent for a minute until she heard him take a deep breath. She looked back at him, trying to hide her discomfort.
“You two are getting quite cozy with each other is all,” he said, a little less abrupt, perhaps regretting his terseness.
Alice questioned him with raised brows.
“I’m not blind, Alice. I see the way y’all look at each other and the boy had his arm around you when you were on your way back to the house. Is there something going on?” he asked flatly.
As much as Alice wanted to deny it, she couldn’t lie to him, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t understate it a little. Alice had been single for many years, dating only here and there, but nothing serious, and she had never brought a man around the ranch. Maybe Joe was feeling threatened by Billy, but for what reason exactly? The worst part was that he was treating her like she was stupid, and he should know better, she thought. Alice tried to calm her frustration before offering him an answer.
“I guess there is some flirting going on. I won’t deny that I like him, but I’m not a silly young girl anymore, Joe. I’m well aware that he has a job to do, and I don’t mean to interfere with that. He told me early on that he means to keep moving, so I’m not about to fall head over heels,” she sugar-coated.
She was falling head over heels and doing her best to keep herself in check.
Joe nodded his head, trying to keep his expression flat, his feelings hidden, but Alice could see he wasn’t happy. She waited for him to speak.
“Just be careful, Alice. I still don’t trust the guy,” he warned. “Plus, you need to keep a level head so he doesn’t forget who’s boss. It don’t take much for a man to forget his place.”
Alice shrugged and slowly crossed her arms in front of her, partially concerned but mostly just frustrated. She needed Joe to relax about the whole thing. She had enough on her plate without having to placate him too. At the same time, she knew he was just watching out for her.
“I know how you feel, Joe, trust me. My head is in the game,” she assured him, her voice thick with forced confidence.
Maybe she was distracted, she thought. When Billy was around all she wanted was to get lost in his kisses, and when he wasn’t around she couldn’t stop thinking about his mouth, and his hands, and his...
“Alright, Alice. I guess I’ll get back to work,” Joe said, placing his hat on his head.
He stood up and moved the chair back under the desk.
“What was the second thing, Joe?” Alice asked, remembering he said there were two things on his mind.
Joe looked at her, his brows raised.
“What’s that, Alice?” he asked.
She got the sense he was stalling, considering something important.
“You said there were two things on your mind,” she reminded him.
Joe shrugged and let out an impatient sigh.
“Nothing. It was nothing. I’ll see you later,” he replied, and quickly showed himself out.
Alice filled her afternoon with plenty of hard work, staying out of the way of the construction site. She did catch a glimpse of Billy here and there but he was busy himself, only having time to wave at her from a distance.
She didn’t mind. After her conversation with Joe, she was feeling conflicted. Maybe Joe was right. Maybe she needed to stay focused and keep things professional with him. In a few weeks, things were going to become even more complicated, and a romantic fling didn’t fit into the picture.
Chapter 14
Billy
Alice was in the barn cleaning stalls when Billy came up behind her. He pulled her into an embrace and kissed her playfully on the neck. She relaxed into him for a moment, but then quickly stiffened up. Billy turned her around and took the shovel from her hand leaning in to kiss her, but Alice turned her cheek and dropped her head down. Billy ducked down, trying to make eye contact with her.
“What is it, Alice? Don’t worry, I made sure we were alone. Nobody here but you and me and some nosy horses,” he said with a cheeky grin.
Alice looked at him, offering a thin smile. Billy stepped back a little, respecting her space, but his expression held
confusion.
“I’m sorry, Billy. I guess my head is just a little muddled right now. I have a lot to finish up before supper and it is already getting so late,” she offered weakly.
Billy brushed her bangs back with his fingertips, looking carefully into her eyes. She smiled awkwardly and broke eye contact, as if trying to hide her true feelings. He smiled back at her gently.
“Not even time for a little kiss?” he asked playfully.
Alice shrugged and laughed nervously, stepping a little further away from him.
“Honestly, Billy, I should really get back to work,” she said softly, holding her hand out for the shovel.
Billy shook his head and smiled at her playfully, trying to wear her down.
“No, ma’am. Not until I get a kiss.”
Alice smiled despite herself, and finally leaned in. Billy placed his free hand in the small of her back and tried to pull her closer, but she quickly pulled away, ending the kiss as fast as it began.
“Shovel,” she said with mock sternness.
Billy was confused by the sudden chill, a vast contrast from the passion she shared with him the night before. He wondered what had changed overnight and sifted through his memories to recall something he might have done or said to upset her. Satisfied that they parted on good terms, he decided to press her for answers.
“Did I do something to upset you, Alice?” he asked cautiously.
Alice sighed and shook her head slowly. She looked unsettled. Billy suddenly felt uneasy.
“No, it isn’t you, Billy. I just have a lot on my mind. I’m sorry,” she admitted.
“Alice, I’m confused. I feel like every time we move forward a little, you pull yourself back. I thought we really connected yesterday,” he said, choosing his words carefully and offering them cautiously.
He didn’t want to spook her, but at this point, they couldn’t afford to go backward.
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