The Cowboy's Rules: 2 (Cowboys After Dark:) (7 page)

“We’ll do it together,” he smiled. “Could be good trainin’ for her.”

“You’re right,” she nodded.

“I was thinkin’,” he said lowering his voice, “that we should christen that barn tonight.”

“What did you have in mind?” she winked.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I have mind,” he replied with a wry grin. “I’m having Jeb and Tommy bed all the stalls this afternoon, so why don’t you have them help you move your tack up there at the same time. They can load your trunks on the back of the truck along with the shavings.”

“I think that’s an excellent suggestion,” she twinkled back at him.

“Make sure you have all your crops, and leather straps, anything you might need,” he said, leaning across the table.

The butterflies sprang to life, and even after their many months together she felt the flush cross her face.

“I think I’ll bring us up a night time picnic,” he continued. “We’ll eat a bit, drink a bit, I’ll whip your butt a bit, and maybe do a few other things to bring life into that barn.”

Staring at him she sighed heavily, and bit into her sandwich.

“Nothin’ to say?”

She waited until she’d finished chewing, then shook her head.

“What is there I can possibly say, except, I’ll be counting the minutes until sunset,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

“That makes two of us,” Chad chuckled.

“What will you be up to this afternoon?” she asked.

“Bunch of stuff in the office. I’m thinkin’ I might get a full-time secretary when our house is done. She can work here, and I’ve got some ideas about the boys livin’ in this house and havin’ the cabins for the clinic visitors, or visa versa. Gotta think it out,” he frowned.

“You are in that office an awful lot,” she nodded, “and you don’t get to ride every day. I know you’d like to.”

“This clothin’ line, and Mandy’s shows, and the clinics, and videos and on and on. I’ve done most everything myself for a long time, but I’ve got a beautiful girl now,” he winked at her, “and I’d kinda like to spend more time with her rather than stuck behind my desk.”

“You know whatever I can do to help I’m happy to,” she said earnestly.

“I know, but then we’d both be stuck in that office all day,” he declared.

“Good point,” she laughed.

They finished their lunch, cleared up the plates, and as Chad ambled back to his study, Cassie hurried down to the barn to talk to Jeb about moving her things up to her new horse home.

W
hile the boys were loading the truck Cassie drove up ahead of them; anxious to see her new barn she simply didn’t have the patience to wait. Though her facility was finished, the labor on the house was in full swing, and as she approached the site she grimaced; it really was very loud.

Shoot. Maybe if I put Shelby in the pasture that’s the furthest away it won’t be so bad.

The tractor had left a track alongside the ring, and she drove her car carefully over the flattened dirt around to the barn on the opposite side of the ring. As she neared she broke into a large smile; it was hunter green and white, and looked like a million bucks.

Wow, this is so much nicer than I thought it would be. How did they do this in three days? It’s amazing.

Jumping from her car and walking quickly inside, she found a wide barn aisle, six generously sized stalls with sliding doors, a wide open area that she assumed was for hay and feed, a tack room, and a small room opposite the tack room that could be anything she wanted it to be. Staring at the empty space she thought it could be an office, then it occurred to her she could have a washer and dryer installed, saving her the trouble of carting all her horse laundry down to the wash room in Chad’s barn.

She suddenly realized the hammering had stopped, and stepping outside she saw all the men sitting down eating sandwiches; checking her watch she saw it had just turned one o’clock.

“Huh, kind of late for lunch,” she muttered.

“That’s what I’ve been telling them, but no-one listens to me.”

The unexpected voice made her jump, and spinning around she saw Jason Lewis, the attractive, sandy-haired architect.

“Jeez, don’t creep on people like that,” she declared. “You scared me.”

“I’m sorry,” he apologized softly. “The last thing I’d want to do is scare you. A beautiful lady like you should never be scared, not of anything.”

His smile radiated confidence and warmth, and as he moved towards her she felt a strange pull.

“Where’s that cute dog?” he asked, scanning the area around them.

“He’s on his way with Jeb and Tommy,” she lied, thinking she’d answered him a tad too quickly.

“Ah. Are they on a mission?” he inquired, continuing to move closer.

“They’re going to bed the stalls, and they’re bringing up my tack trunks and saddles, my riding stuff,” she answered.

A part of her wanted to turn away from him, but another part of her felt drawn him, to his smile and twinkling, mischievous eyes.

“Nice ring,” he remarked.

He was almost next to her, and grateful that he’d given her a reason to take her eyes off him she shifted her gaze.

“It’s the perfect size,” she nodded. “I haven’t walked it yet, I need to check the footing.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” he smiled. “I’m sure you’re dying to test it out.”

“I am,” she replied, and snatching the excuse she walked forward and opened the gate.

The ground beneath her feet felt soft and spongy; Chad had been true to his word and brought in the very best.

“Does it feel good?” Jason asked.

His voice sounded closer than she thought it should have, and turning her head she found him only a few feet behind her.

“Again with the creeping up,” she quipped, trying to make a joke.

“Hmmm, yes, I suppose I am rather good at that. Maybe I missed my calling, maybe I should be a cat burglar,” he chuckled.

“Maybe you should, dogs don’t seem to like you very much,” she laughed.

“Good point,” he laughed.

The sound of an approaching truck caught her attention, and looking across the ring she saw Jeb and Tommy rolling forward, the bed of the pickup carrying bags of shavings and her tack trunks.

Thank God, the cavalry,
she sighed.

She watched it slowly drive around the ring towards her, and assuming Jason was still standing behind her she turned to say goodbye, but to her surprise there was no sign of him.

Huh, that’s weird. Maybe I need to tell Chad about this.

“Ring looks great, Cassie,” Jeb called as he climbed out of the cab.

“It does, it’s amazing,” she grinned. “I guess we’re going to have to lay some pipes and put in sprinklers.”

“Yep, that’s planned for the week after the clinic,” he nodded. “Better get crackin’ on beddin’ the stalls.”

The three worked as a team, with Jeb and Tommy unloading the heavy bags and carrying them into each stall, and Cassie cutting them open and raking the contents. It took them an hour to finish the job, and though she wanted to make a start on organizing the tack room she decided to follow the boys back down; she had no desire to be alone with the good-looking, charming, mysterious architect/laborer again.

Seems like they’re all back at work,
she thought climbing into her car,
but that doesn’t mean they won’t take a coffee break.

She drove straight to the house and made her way to Chad’s office, eager to tell him what she thought of the new barn, and the strange meeting with Jason Lewis.

As usual Chad was on the phone, but when she walked in he lifted his eyes in a warm welcome. It only took a minute for her to realize it was an intense conversation, something about one of Mindy’s shows, so she moved into the bedroom, and stripping quickly she stepped into the shower.

As the hot water splashed around her she closed her eyes, relishing the dust and dirt being washed away. The odd meeting with Jason was still in her thoughts, but as she began to towel off and dress she wondered if she’d overreacted.

He didn’t do anything overt. I don’t want to get him fired if he was just being friendly. Shoot, maybe I shouldn’t say anything.

You could say something, but keep it light.

I could, but Chad can be really protective. He might go and say something to the foreman, and if I’m reading stuff into the meeting that wasn’t there…

The guy was overly friendly.

Yeah, but a lot of guys are like that.

Mickey growled at him.

Yeah, Mickey growled at him. You’re right. I’ll say something.

By the time she wandered back into Chad’s office he was off the phone, and he immediately walked across to give her a welcome hug.

“So, what did you think?” he grinned.

“I thought it was spectacular, really fantastic. I’m absolutely thrilled,” she said excitedly, “and the jumps, when will they come?”

“Sometime in the next day or two. With everything going on up there I didn’t think it would matter to just add another truck to the mix,” he remarked. “Now, I believe you and I had some plans for tonight.”

“We do, but it’s a bit early to go up there now. Shouldn’t we wait until it’s dark?”

“No, I think we should go up there, have a leisurely dinner while the sun is still settin’, and after all the workers take off, I think it will be just about time for me to do a little playin’.”

“Playing?” she repeated, “what do you mean, playing?”

“You’ll just have to wait and find out,” he whispered, dropping his lips to her ear, “but you can expect somethin’ I don’t think you’ve had done to you before.”

“Oooh, I love it when you say things like that,” she breathed.

“I know,” he said, kissing her neck, “and you like it when I do this too, don’t you?” he purred, grabbing her hair and yanking her head back.

“Uh-huh,” she stammered.

“And when I kiss your neck like this?” he continued, laying his mouth upon her neck, sliding it down to her clavicle.

“Ooooh, Chad, I do love that, it makes so weak,” she mumbled.

“If I bring my fingers up and slip then underneath your shirt, will I find a bra?”

“No, Sir,” she quivered.

“What a good girl. You remembered the rule, when it’s just the two of us on a special night, no bra or panties. You’re not wearin’ panties are you?”

“No, Sir,” she replied.

His hand whispered across the thin cotton and deftly undid the top buttons, then slid inside her shirt. As his fingers lightly tweaked her nipples, she moaned, leaning against him.

“I think it’s about dinner time,” he crooned, releasing her hair.

“Can’t we play first and have dinner after?” she begged, her eyes half-lidded.

“Nope, you can just think about all the wicked things I might do, and by the time we get through dinner you’ll be all wet and wantin’, won’t you, Cassie?”

“But I am already,” she protested.

“Yep, I’m sure you are,” he murmured, pulling his hand from inside her shirt, “and that’s exactly how you should be. Come on, let’s pack us up a hamper and mosey on up there.”

“You are a cruel man,” she whimpered.

“You just got through tellin’ me how wonderful I am,” he chuckled.

“Yes, you are,” she sighed, “the most wonderfulest of men.”

As they packed the hamper to leave, Mickey danced around their feet, excited they were about to go on an outing.

“Sorry, Mickey, you have to guard the house,” Chad said seriously. “You know you have to protect it while I’m gone, right?”

Mickey barked several times, then ran to the living room and on to the couch.

“I’m not sure who I love the most, you or Mickey,” Cassie laughed.

“He’s somethin’ special all right,” Chad smiled. “He’s smarter than most humans I meet. Come on, we’re losin’ the light. Best get movin’.”

Chad grabbed the hamper, and as they headed into the garage he turned to her and smiled.

“I hope you’re up for a little adventure.”

“Always,” she grinned back, “though you’re making me a wee bit nervous with all this mystery.”

“Good!” he exclaimed. “A little bit of fear can be a powerful aphrodisiac.”

No kidding,
she thought, and climbing into the Range Rover she took a deep breath.
Whatever it is you’re planning, bring it on. I can’t wait.

I
nside the tack room, the red cotton table cloth had been draped across one of the tack trunks. Upon it sat a bottle of wine which was almost empty, and the various goodies they’d packed in the hamper had been devoured with gusto. The sun had just set, and the dusky light still flowing through the wide barn doors was quickly fading.

“I brought this,” Chad announced pulling out a small LED lantern he’d tucked into the corner of the hamper. “Much safer than the old hurricane lamps and far more romantic that the barn lights.”

“No kidding,” she laughed.

Her heart was warm and her head was light, the wine having heightened her euphoric state, and when he began clearing away the empty containers, returning them to the hamper, she felt her pulse quicken.

“You go take yourself into one of those stalls,” he instructed.

“One of the stalls?” she repeated.

“That’s what I said,” he declared, shooting her a look. “Shavings are perfectly clean aren’t they?”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“Then get your butt in there,” he said firmly, “and lose the jeans.”

Butterflies fluttering, she hurried into the last stall at the back of the barn. She couldn’t imagine anyone wandering in, but if they did at least she’d have plenty of warning, and no-one would be able to see inside the stall unless they were right next to it. Pulling off her jeans, boots and socks, she settled nervously into the shavings, surprised by their remarkable softness.

She didn’t have long to wait before he appeared, looming over her at the stall door. The dark was creeping in, and the small LED lantern he’d set outside the stall sent its ghostly light against the walls, creating sharp patterns at odd angles.

Items were dangling from his hands, and she squinted, trying to make out what they were. In one hand he was carrying some leather straps, wrapped around something she couldn’t make out, and in the other some kind of bondage equipment, though it was unlike anything she’d seen.