Authors: Heather Rainier
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Western, #Erotica, #General
Spurs and Heels (8 page)
* * * *
On the way home, Ash had a weird, unsettled feeling. He didn’t like leaving her to fend for herself. He felt a burden of guilt for the condition she was in because of his lack of forethought the day before. She needed to get her rest, and he needed to be at the ranch for work early the next morning. Leaving her warm in her bed and going home alone to his empty, cold bed was depressing.
He should feel happy that she wanted to spend time with him and give the attraction between the two of them a chance to grow. Even walking into the house the ranch hands shared didn’t cheer him all
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that much when they all greeted him from the kitchen or living room where they were watching ESPN. After making small talk and answering their inquiries about Juliana, he went on to his bedroom, showered, and went to bed. As he stripped off his robe and settled naked under his sheet and blankets, he wondered if she was already asleep and hoped she was comfortable.
He lay there with the light from the moon shining on his bedroom window and remembered his encounter with the fair queen contestants earlier that afternoon. They’d flirted with him harmlessly, and one of them had asked him if he was married. Right about the time the young woman asked, he’d spied Juliana. He’d pointed her out to the girls and said, “You see that redheaded beauty over there?
She’s
my wife. She just doesn’t know it yet.” They’d all giggled and sighed telling him how romantic they thought he was. He’d meant every word of it.
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Chapter Seven
Early Friday evening, Juliana took out her cell phone and dialed Ash’s number. Her stress level was going straight through the roof.
“Ash?”
“Hey, darlin’, what’s up?”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to work late tonight if I want to be off for Teresa’s wedding tomorrow. More freight came in, and they aren’t done rotating the Valentine’s Day stock out onto the sales floor. Two of my stockroom employees are down with the flu.”
“I’ve got two down with it here, too. Makes for a long day when that happens. I’m done for the day. Would you like me to come and help you?”
“It’s thoughtful of you, but if you came to help me, I’m not sure how much actual work I’d get done,” she replied with a chuckle.
“But I get brownie points for being willing?”
She smiled at the relaxed good humor in his sexy voice. “Big-time brownie points. Thank you for understanding.”
“I do. You’ve got a store to run. Will there be people there to help you? What about Leah?”
“Yes, I’ll have help. I’ve called in two other workers to come in, so I won’t be here alone. I didn’t ask Leah because she’s covering for me tomorrow evening so I can be there for the wedding.”
“She okay about the change in her duties?”
“She does seem a little disgruntled, and I think you may have been right in your assumption the other night, but I can’t talk about that right now.”
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“I understand, darlin’. I hope you don’t have to work too late.
Have you eaten supper?”
She wanted to kiss him for not lecturing her at the moment. “Yes.
I was afraid you’d be upset. Thanks for understanding.”
“How are you feeling? Is your back still bothering you?”
“Yes, it’s twinging painfully. I think a nerve must have gotten damaged, but it’s okay otherwise. My wrist feels fine, awkward but fine. I’m sorry I won’t get to see you.”
“Me, too. Darlin’, I’m not your boss, but please don’t push yourself too hard.”
“I won’t overdo it. They just need someone to direct them and help out. If we can get it all off the five-highs and onto the sales floor, then they can stock it in the morning, but I’m looking at a mountain of boxes. That’s the part that has me worried because I know there’s Valentine’s Day merchandise in those boxes. It can’t stay back here.”
“Cupid waits for no man. Don’t work too hard.”
“Thank you. I’ll be careful. Bye.”
Juliana sighed in relief. The worst part about all this was telling Ash she wouldn’t see him that night. She’d been worried he’d accuse of her of not being able to give up her workaholic lifestyle. She’d sat down with Leah and Evelyn earlier and talked with them, detailing a few changes she was making in operations. Juliana had Evelyn’s full backing in the changes, which shaved a full seven hours off of her work week. Leah was happy with the current status quo because it left her a lot of time to enact some of her changes, which still weren’t bearing fruit. That newsletter had to go. Leah hadn’t been recalcitrant about the changes so much as trying to figure out how she would accomplish it all.
Welcome to my world
.
Being given more responsibility had helped Leah’s outlook some.
Juliana had already called Doug to let him know. He didn’t keep up with her hours and had no idea that it’d gotten that bad, but he was still pushing for Juliana to let Leah make her changes while
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supporting Juliana as she turned over more responsibility to his daughter. She should have felt relieved, but there was a small part of her that wondered if maybe Doug hadn’t been hoping to see that happen anyway. He’d hinted that he had some changes in the works for the store, though gave her no details. Doug was always one to hold his cards close, not letting others know what he was up to until the last minute.
It was a long evening for her, and by the time she fell into bed at eleven thirty, she was beyond exhausted, and her body simply ached.
If Ash could see her now, he would fuss, and she’d have nobody but herself to blame. Using her arms and shoulders too much throughout the evening had made the pain in her back almost unbearable. During the evening, she’d hadn’t taken the pain reliever because it upset her stomach but took one right before she climbed into bed so that she’d be able to sleep.
After waking up early, Juliana had struggled through getting herself ready for work then stopped to pick up breakfast tacos for all the morning crew that had agreed to come in and help put the stock away. She took another pain reliever while she ate because she had a feeling she was going to need it.
* * * *
Ash found her in the stockroom, on the top step of a tall rolling stepladder. Her smile faded when she saw his face. She lowered the plastic-wrapped dresses on the extension pole to the employee waiting below then slowly descended down the steps. Ash held his peace while she gave directions to the employee about what else needed to be gotten down, and then she beckoned him to come with her through the stockroom to her office.
“I brought some lunch for you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured as she opened her office door. The succulent smell of cheese enchiladas from Rudy’s filled the room.
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“Oh, that is heavenly. Okay, you can fuss at me now,” she said as she closed her door behind him.
“I’m not going to fuss at you, darlin’, though I do question whether or not you are living within your limitations right now.”
“I’m used to doing that job. It’s easier for me to get up there and hand down what they need. Otherwise, they’d bring it all down at one time. I spent some time with Leah up there this morning, discussing the importance of separating the boxes by seasonal code before letting them stock the upper racks.”
“With both your hands being injured, it scared me to see you up there so high. What if you’d slipped coming down?”
“You saw how careful I was coming down. I take my time, and I’m careful while I’m up there. But I won’t be climbing anymore today. That was the last of it, which is a good thing because my shoulder is killing me.”
“Is Leah still put out about the changes you’re trying to make?”
“Oh, no. She came in this morning ready to learn. I think she talked to her dad. Leah’s teachable, and I like that about her. She doesn’t just want it done her way because it’s her Daddy’s store.
She’s disappointed that she won’t have time for some of her projects, but I think she’s okay with the increase in responsibility. You’ll be happy to know I’ve scheduled myself for seven fewer hours next week, one per day.”
“Wow, what’s got into you, girl?” Ash teased, settling in the chair in front of her desk.
Juliana shrugged and grinned at him as she peeked in the Styrofoam box and rolled her eyes at the heavenly aroma. “Oh, there’s this guy…”
“Bet he’ll be relieved to see you not working so hard, taking time for yourself.”
“It’s not easy for me to release control like that when I’m so used to doing things a certain way. There’s more room for error.”
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“But that’s how she’ll learn. They all will. You’re real big on taking responsibility, but they have to be responsible, too. Otherwise, it’s all on you. I’d like to see some of that burden come off of those pretty shoulders.”
“Sweet talker. Now if I could just get Doug to back off from making the big change Leah’s proposing. I don’t want to think about the fallout from all that.”
“All what?”
“She wants to eliminate commission sales and have everyone go to straight hourly status, or regular salaries like I am.”
“Shoot. Even I know that’s not going to be a popular change around here. Commissions are what motivates a lot of your workers.”
“Exactly. But sometimes experience is the best teacher, and I’d rather do this with her during these months than during the Christmas holidays, you know? But things may get worse with my hours before it gets better.”
“Stick to your convictions, darlin’.” She was still overworking herself, but Ash admired the fact that her foremost concern was for her employees.
“I will, but, Ash, if it gets nuts for a while, please don’t think it’s because I don’t want it to get better. I worked myself into this mess, and I’ll need time to get through it.”
“I know it. Well, I’m going to get out of your hair now.
Everybody’s out at the ranch playing worker bee for Grace, getting the food done and the decorations for the wedding put up. I’m going to help out with directing traffic and parking. What time are you taking off?”
“Three. I have an appointment to get my nails and hair done, so I won’t have to fiddle with it with my bum hands. My hair stylist is a good friend, and she’s going to help me get dressed at the salon.”
“I’m available to come and help if you need me,” he said, sitting on the edge of her desk.
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She smiled up at him and said, “I know you are, cowboy, but I want to get back some of the mystery. You seeing me naked before the wedding is kind of anticlimactic. I’d rather show up looking pretty and put together, and my friend doesn’t mind.”
“On the contrary, darlin’, seeing you naked would be very
‘climactic.’”
“Har-har. Nope, you’ll get to see me all dolled up, without also knowing how much effort it took to get me that way. I want to surprise you.”
“Seeing you naked would be a great surprise.”
“Yeah, with my big, clunky cast and stitches all over my back, very sexy.”
“You’re beautiful no matter what, darlin’. You won’t go for it, so I’ll leave you to finish your lunch.”
Juliana took a sip of her tea and stood up as he did. “Thanks again for lunch. You brightened my day.” She went to him, and he wrapped his arms around her carefully. He tipped her chin up and looked into her pale blue eyes. Her scent filled his nostrils and stirred his senses as he kissed her gently. She felt delicate in his arms, and he was mindful of not squeezing her too hard. Her tender lips opened, and he deepened their kiss, stroking her tongue with his. His cock responded instantaneously as she enthusiastically returned his kiss, moaning quietly to him and snuggling close in his embrace. He smiled with satisfaction at the dazed look in her eyes as he released her.
“You’re welcome, darlin’. I’ll see you at the ranch.”
* * * *
Ash stood on the driveway of the Divine Creek Ranch, directing drivers to the wide expanse of grass along the fenced pasture to one side of the drive.
He turned and looked up the driveway, smiling when he recognized Juliana’s white Camaro cruising down the driveway. He’d
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been looking forward to seeing her in her red dress. He stepped to the edge of the driveway as she pulled up, another car directly behind her.
He squatted down and smiled at her.
“Damn, darlin’, you look gorgeous. Why don’t you park next to the Cadillac, and I’ll help you get out of the car.”
He gestured to the driver behind her, indicating they should pull in beside her. There were no more cars coming for the moment, so he walked over to her driver’s side door and opened it for her. He smiled when he saw the long slit in the dress she wore, which showed her ivory skin clear up to above her knee. She smiled up at him as she took the hand he offered.
“Now see? You get to see me all put together.”
“And absolutely stunning, darlin’,” he said, twirling his finger so she would turn for him.
The dark red made her ivory skin seem radiant in the fading sunlight. Her eyes sparkled as if she enjoyed the admiration in his gaze. His eyes drank her in, all the way down to the sexy heels she wore.
“I take it you like the dress?”
“You glow tonight,” he said, smiling at her reaction to his compliment, a measure of disbelief and gratitude.
“Thank you,” she said, blushing when he pulled her to him. He slid one hand around her waist, his fingertips sensing her body heat through the slinky fabric of the dress as they drifted down over her hip. He felt her tremble slightly as he traced a finger along the inner edge of the deep V-neck halter, not stopping until it reached between her full breasts. He looked up into her eyes, knowing she could probably see lust there. He didn’t try to hide it and was pleasantly surprised to see it mirrored in her sky-blue eyes.
“You’re looking handsome yourself, cowboy.” He smiled, glad he’d pleased her. When he’d told Rosemary what Juliana was wearing earlier that day at Cheaver’s, she’d helped him find a dark red twill shirt that would coordinate nicely with her dress, and he’d worn it
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with the freshly pressed black jeans and his black snakeskin cowboy boots, which he’d taken the time to polish up. He was also wearing his new black felt Stetson his sister had sent him for Christmas.
She shuddered lightly when his fingertip brushed the flesh between her breasts, and he growled softly when he saw her nipples peak. He lifted his hand to her jawbone and slid his fingers into the hair at the nape of her neck. His thumb tipped her chin, and he slowly lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss, encouraged by the faint moan that escaped her lips as she parted them for his exploration. He’d never experienced a sweeter kisser than Juliana as she leaned into him, clinging to him while he stroked the silken recesses of her mouth.
The spell was broken by the opening of the car doors next to hers and the conversation that continued as the occupants of the vehicle climbed out before suddenly going quiet. He drew back from her lips long enough to greet the elderly wedding guests who were smiling indulgently at them.
“Evening, folks. If you’ll follow the driveway down, the wedding party is at the back of the house. Just walk toward the music.”
“Thank you, sir. Sorry to interrupt,” the husband said with a wink before taking his little wife by the hand and leading her onto the driveway.
Juliana caught her breath and said, “I–I’d better let you get back to work out here. There are more vehicles coming down the drive. I—
oh—”
He leaned down and kissed her a little harder a second time before saying. “I guess that one will have to tide me over.”
“Uh—wow,” she whispered. “You—”
He smiled broadly as she fumbled for intelligent speech. “That good?” he asked hopefully.
“Yeah-uh-huh. Hmmm.” She sighed shakily. “My gift is in the trunk.” She pressed the release button on her remote, and he lifted the box wrapped in shiny white paper out of the trunk for her.
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Handing it to her, he caressed her jaw and kissed her one more time. “Save me a seat beside you?”
“Sure. I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
He watched in utter male appreciation as she stepped away from him, up onto the concrete drive. Looking back, she blushed when she found his eyes were still on her. He watched her hips sway as she walked away. Her heels were high, accentuating her long legs.
The mild evening breeze pressed the long skirt of the dress against her right side, conforming the fabric to the curve of her hip and thigh, and he felt himself harden. The wind fluttered her hair a little, and he thought he caught a whiff of her perfume. The sway of her derriere was hypnotic, and he didn’t look away until he heard another car pull up to him on the driveway. When he looked up to find her departing form, she was turning the corner around to the back of the house.