Take It Easy

by Scarlett Brooks

  “Take your time. I’m going to keep it thorough so all we have to do is sedate and fix Trigger up this afternoon,” she said.

  I shivered at the thought of sedation.

  As I filled out my paperwork, my eyes kept darting up from the clipboard. The way she nuzzled into Trigger and the way she calmed him while poking around was astounding. She looked in his ears. Flashed a light in his eyes. Trigger even opened his mouth and bared his teeth for her to check. She was working intently, focused completely on Trigger.

  And I was completely focused on her.

  Even though she had her white coat on, her curves weren’t nearly as concealed as they had been in that dress at the charity event. Her breasts easily protruded forth against her t-shirt and her jeans clung to every luscious part of her legs. She had perfect thighs. Thick enough to grip hold of and rounded enough to fill out any piece of clothing she put on. They were easily her best asset. Not to mention, her ass. She walked around and bent over, looking at Trigger’s stomach from underneath him.

  My eyes danced around the voluptuous cheeks of her behind, and I felt heat trickle up the nape of my neck.

  The things I’d do to her body were disgustingly fantastic. I’d pin her hands above her head and take her against any wall of this barn. I’d bend her over her damn desk in her office inside and watch that beautiful ass jiggle at me as I pounded into her. She had a head full of brown tendrils that would easily wrap around my hand twice. Enough to really grab on and take her for a fucking ride. I’d ravish her. Destroy her for any man that ever came along again. I’d mark those tits of hers and nibble that neck of hers and lick that beautifully-scented pussy of hers until she begged me to stop. Until her thighs clamped down for more but her hands pushed me away.

  “Logan?”

  Her voice snapped me out of my trance.

  “Yes, Gwen?”

  “He’s going to need surgery a lot sooner. He’s already swelling in his ankle area, and I don’t want to have to drain the fluid if I can help it. That type of procedure is too painful and unnecessary if I can get my assistant to handle my schedule,” she said.

  “Are you sure it has to happen now? I’m concerned he hasn’t adjusted to his surroundings yet. That he might become uncooperative.”

  “Trust me, Logan. This is my profession. My life. Let me go notify Cara of what’s going on, and when I come back I’ll be ready to sedate Trigger and get him fixed up before lunch time. Okay?”

  “How long will his stay be here, then?” I asked.

  Gwen snapped off her gloves as she walked to the barn exit. “A week is usually what’s recommended. Though I won’t know an actual date until I get in there and do what I have to do. Depending on the range of the issue, it could be as long as two weeks.”

  “It’s just that Trigger doesn’t--.”

  “I know, Logan.”

  There was something in her voice that stopped my sentence in its tracks.

  “I know he doesn’t like to be away from home. I promise you, things are going to be okay. Let me go speak with my assistant and I’ll be right back. Twenty minutes, at the most. We’ll get Trigger fixed up and talk actual dates as he’s coming out of sedation. Okay?” she asked.

  “Sure. Yeah. That’s fine,” I said.

  Disappointment flooded my veins as she walked away. I turned back and looked at Trigger, watching as he settled himself down to the ground. I looked at his hurt ankle. At the one that was swelling right before my very eyes. I went and crouched down next to him, rubbing his side and looking over at his face.

  “I’m so sorry, buddy. I can’t help but feel that I did this to you,” I said.

  And as if he could hear me, he shook his head ‘no’. Like he was trying to comfort me or something.

  I felt guilty. Maybe the ride to and from the charity event had been too much on him. Maybe carrying my weight like that had put him in this position. The thought made me sick. No more long trips for Trigger, that much was for certain. Quick joyrides, and nothing else. Once we could get him better. I sat down and crossed my legs, continuing to pet him. Comfort him. Talk softly to him.

  “It’s gonna be okay, bud. We’re gonna get you all fixed up,” I said.

  On the one hand, I didn’t like the idea of Trigger being away from home. But, being able to come visit him here meant more time to get to know Gwen. Her barn looked well-equipped for things like this. She even had contraptions in her barn that I didn’t have in mind. I committed a few of them to memory. Their shape. Their color. Just so I could look up later and see what they were used for. If Trigger could use them at his home, then he needed them there.

  And I’d be happy to purchase them.

  Getting to know Gwen by coming by the barn to visit Trigger as much as I could was the only good thing that came of this. It would give me a chance to change her first impression of me before she recognized me. Something I found myself wanting to do. Whatever had to be done to take care of Trigger, I’d do. I wanted him safe and healthy. Nothing else mattered to me. And if one of the perks of that was getting to know the beautiful woman in the blue dress from the charity event that had stolen my attention? Then, I’d take that hit.

  I’d roll with it in stride, and hopefully come out better for it on the other side.

  11

  Gwen

  Trigger’s surgery went off without a hitch. He sedated down well and stayed sedated throughout the entire surgery. I set up a sterile tent environment in my barn and slowly got to work. I slowly opened him up with my scalpel and moved things around until I found the source of the issue. Fluid poured out from the areas that had swelled to try and protect the mangled tendon. It hadn’t ripped. It had snapped. Which was good, in a way, because I could tell Logan it wasn’t his fault. Most likely, Trigger had gotten his foot caught up somewhere and pulled out of it a little too hard. That was the only type of pressure that could snap a tendon like this one. I frayed the ends and stitched them together, making the connection as strong as I could. I laid everything back into Trigger’s leg and placed everything back where it needed to be. Then, I stitched him up.

  All in all, it took only a couple of hours.

  “So, what’s the prognosis?” Logan asked.

  I snapped off my gloves and shoved them into the pockets of my scrubs.

  “Well, the good news is that the walk to the charity wouldn’t have done something like that, “I said.

  “So, I didn’t do this to him?”

  The guilt in his eyes punched me in my gut. “No, Logan. You didn’t.”

  “Holy fuck. I mean, sorry for the language. But I was terrified that I’d done this to him.”

  I smiled softly. “You didn’t. Don’t worry. His tendon wasn’t ripped. It was snapped. Most likely from getting his foot caught up somewhere and ripped it out a little too hard.”

  “Then it sounds like I need to go around my fields one last time and cut down any trees or things that could’ve caused issues,” he said.

  “There’s no telling what it could have been. I don’t see any bite marks around the surgery sight, so I don’t think Trigger was attacked by anything. For all we know, he got his foot caught in a hole in the ground. Caused by a burrowing animal or something.”

  “I could fill those in, too.”

  I reached out and put my hand on Logan’s arm. “You can’t protect them from everything. It sounds like you’re doing what you can, and you got him here when the issue didn’t resolve itself on its own. That’s good work, Logan.”

  He raised his hand up, taking mine within his. The feel of his calluses against my skin forced me to bite back a shiver. I gazed into his eyes. I watched a mixture of relief and joy flood his vision. He really had been worried about Trigger, and that emotion and care he had for his horse made me fall for him just a little more.

  He squeezed my hand, and the pressure made me bite back a soft moan.

  “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for him today, Gwen.”

&
nbsp; “It’s my pleasure. His stay here should only be a week, and you can come by anytime. Morning, afternoon, or night. The office doesn't have to be open. I’ll show you where the key to the barn is,” I said.

  “I’d really appreciate that, thank you.”

  Over the course of the week, Logan came by often. The first day was nice enough. I went out to the barn to feed the horses already in my care and found him tending to Trigger. Doting on him and feeding him sugar cubes and kissing on his neck. The sight warmed my heart, and I didn't want to disturb the moment.

  But when he came back that evening, he came bearing the gift of dinner.

  “Figured you’d be hungry. You look like the kind of woman who works through lunch,” he said.

  It was a sweet gesture, and one that had been on my mind throughout the second day. He came by that morning to see Trigger, and then again that evening. Like clockwork. I didn’t get to see him much that second day before my office was full from morning to close. But, I did get to see him on the third day of Trigger’s recovery.

  “Figured you could use some coffee,” he said.

  He set a cup of coffee down on my desk before leaning against the wall. The wonderful aroma of cream and sugar filled my nostrils and I took it thankfully. I brought it to my lips and gulped it down, ignoring the searing hot pain it caused my throat. I had gotten up early on the morning of day three, and I hadn’t had enough time to brew myself my own cup.

  “Rough morning?” he asked.

  “Mm, I wanted to come in early and check up on some of my patients. Trigger’s doing great, by the way. He’s finally got his hoof on the ground a bit,” I said.

  “Really? Well, I can't wait to go out there and see it.”

  “Want me to take you out there?”

  “I’d love the company,” he said, grinning flirtatiously.

  I walked him out to the barn and I felt his body walking a little too close to mine. We bumped arms and our hands knocked together. I felt like a schoolgirl on the playground trying to get the popular boy to take my hand. I opened up the barn door and the two of us walked in, and for a split second I felt his hand on the small of my back. Leading me down the small hallway that led to Trigger’s barn.

  But once we approached his stall, the touch fell away and his attention turned to his horse.

  Day four soared by, but I grew concerned. Logan hadn’t come in at all that day, and it caused me to worry. Why I worried over something like that, I wasn't sure. It was common for owners of my clients to sometimes take a day to themselves when their beloved animals were recuperating. They needed their rest emotionally and physically just like their animals did. And sometimes, the constant stimulation of them being around wasn’t always good for their healing counterparts. I took care of Trigger like I would my own horse. I fed him. I stayed late to brush him. I cleaned out his hooves and made sure he had plenty of water and fresh hay before I went to bed.

  But on day five, Logan was bright and early. He was there before I opened my practice at seven in the morning. And when he saw me, I could have sworn his eyes lit up.

  “Thank you for taking care of Trigger yesterday. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it in. Things were rough at work and I didn't close up until almost nine,” he said.

  “It’s not a problem. Most of my client’s owners take a day to themselves while their animals are recuperating. Sometimes the constant stimulation of having their owner around can be tough. Especially when they’re not at home,” I said.

  “Well, then that makes me not feel so bad,” he said, smiling.

  “I promise, you shouldn’t feel bad.”

  “You make a lot of promises, don’t you?”

  “My word is my bond. I have nothing stronger than that.”

  “Wise words from a beautiful woman. How ever will you surprise me next?”

  I blushed underneath his words. I had no idea what made me say the next thing I did, but I was kind of tired of waiting. I knew there was something between us. A connection we shared that night that had bled over into our week of interaction. Trigger still had a couple of days at the barn he needed before he could go home, but I was tired of waiting for Logan to make a serious move. I knew he felt it. The way he put his hand on the small of my back. The way he took my hand after surgery. The way he brought me food and coffee and smiled at me in the close confines of my office.

  “Would you like to go out with me Friday night?” I asked.

  I watched his beautiful eyes dance between mine. But, the second his smile slipped from his face, I knew I had screwed up. Misread something. Over-analyzed my position in his life. I felt my stomach fall to my toes as he opened his mouth to speak, even though nothing came out.

  “Sorry. That was incredibly unprofessional of me,” I said.

  “No, it isn’t that. It’s just that I’m not free Friday night is all,” Logan said.

  “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it. That was something I could have lost my job over anyway. I’m very sorry for overstepping my boundaries.”

  “Gwen, you didn’t--.”

  “I should check up on Trigger. It’s time for me to change his dressings again. Do you want to help?”

  “Gwen, it isn’t what you--.”

  “Hold that thought. I really need to tend to Trigger,” I said.

  I walked past Logan as a crushing sensation barreled over me. ‘Not free’. I knew that excuse. I got it all the time because of my last name. It never ceased to amaze me, the selfishness of men. He was willing to fuck me, but not have me on his arm. Guess that’s what I got from being born from between the legs of the ‘town whore’, as they called my mother. I pulled a couple of gloves out of my pocket and snapped them on. I went and grabbed all of the things I’d need to clean Trigger up and change his dressings. I made my way into his stall, ignoring the fact that Logan was hot on my heels.

  Maybe something hadn’t been going on between us at all. Or maybe I was nothing but his dirty little secret. It didn’t matter, however. If he didn’t want to go on a date with me, it was fine.

  But he wouldn’t get the milk without buying the cow. I wouldn’t make that same mistake with him again.

  He was closer than I realized and he grabbed my hand. “It’s not that I don't want to, I just already have something Friday night, a business meeting. But I’m free Saturday…” He winked at me. Maybe I hadn’t misread this after all.

  12

  Logan

  I chuckled as she dipped her head and smiled. I released her hand, crooking my finger underneath her chin. I lifted her gaze back up to mine. Our eyes connected and I felt my heart slam against my chest. Her gaze danced between mine, taking me in as her cheeks flushed with just the smallest contact I had with her skin.

  “Will you, Gwen Kennedy, go out with me Saturday night for dinner?” I asked.

  The broadest smile crossed her cheeks, and I started inwardly cheering the second her eyes lit up.

  “I, Gwen Kennedy, would love to go out to dinner with you,” she said.

  Oh she had no idea what she was in for. When it came to money I didn’t just like to donate it, I liked to spend it. A woman like Gwen deserved to be doted on. Anything she wanted, she could have. And I would show her that.

  13

  Gwen

  Saturday came quicker than I expected. Emily had even come over and helped me pick out a dress. I hadn’t been on a date in ages. Nobody seemed worth my time, until Logan.

  He picked me up and drove me to a beautiful pasture in front of a huge home. “This is where you live?” I asked.

  “Yep. This is the old homestead,” Logan said.

  “It’s… it’s beautiful, Logan.”

  “It’s the place I call home. I renovated it myself. Did all the interior and exterior repairs. Though, I had to bring in someone to level out the foundation.”

  I knew he had money, but this was incredible. I had never been with someone who could afford something like this.

  “But this
house is huge. It must’ve taken you--.”

  “Nine years, all in all,” he said.

  When he picked me up for our date, I figured we’d be going out to dinner. But the house was gorgeous.

  The cream-colored home boasted dark green shutters that accented the nature around the house. It sat well off the road. The driveway itself was lined all the way up with thick foliage. But once it dumped into the clearing where the house was, the rolling expanse went on as far as the eye could see. There was a massive freshwater pond that had obviously been put in by Logan in the front yard. A hitching post for his horses so they could drink from it as well as feeding troughs. Trees were scattered across the property for shade, and the house boasted of a wrap-around porch so anyone could view the property from any angle.

  “Would you like to take a look inside before our horse ride?” Logan asked.

  “Our… our what?” I asked.

  “Horse ride. That’s what we’re doing before we eat.”

  “There’s nothing else I’d rather do than a horse ride, Logan.”

  “Then by all means, follow me,” he said.

  He offered me his arm and we walked into the plush green grass. We moved around his beautiful home that looked to be three separate stories. The backyard was painstakingly groomed, with beautiful flowers lining the house and a gorgeous garden to walk through. But once we got off the porch and past the garden, there was a small downward slope that led into a fence.

  And beyond that white fence were acres and acres of land.

  I gawked. The man’s house must’ve sat on at least--.

  “One hundred and twenty-two acres,” Logan said.

  “Say what now?” I asked.

  “I got it for a steal as well, since none of the trees were cleared out before I purchased the land,” he said.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone owning so much land.”

  “I’m working on purchasing the other one hundred acres that went with the original sale.”