The Ranch (2 page)

     The next month
flew by. Emma was busy packing and before she realized it was moving day. The
movers packed the truck and with no sadness in her heart she said goodbye to
the city life and happily faced the future and the "country life".
She spent the next several weeks unpacking and arranging things to her liking.

     One evening, just
as darkness had fallen, she heard the sound of a vehicle coming down the
driveway. She glanced out the window and recognized a familiar truck pulling to
a stop in front of the house. She watched as Nina jumped out and bounded to the
front door. Emma found that her heart was pounding so loudly, she thought it
would bounce out of her chest. She opened the door just as Nina knocked. Emma
said, "I thought maybe you forgot about me out here."

      "No
chance of that," Nina said honestly, "we've just been so damn busy. Hey,
the place is looking great, you've done a lot already. "she said with
appreciation. They went into the living room and Emma brought Nina a beer. They
talked quite a while about a variety of things, both just enjoying the company
of the other.

      Emma got up
to go upstairs for the notebook she had started with ideas for other
improvements. When she returned, it was to find Nina fast asleep on the couch,
the beer bottle still clutched in her hand. Emma smiled to herself, thinking
how cute she looked asleep. She didn't have the heart to wake her so she took
the bottle from her hand and gently covered her with a quilt. She went to bed
herself with a content feeling, knowing Nina was there...and dreamed pleasant
dreams.....

     Nina woke at her
usual early time and was momentarily confused as to her surroundings. She
remembered with a groan..."oh great, way to go, way to make a good
impression...fall asleep on her couch..." She got up and stretched and
made her way to the kitchen. She hoped Emma wouldn't be too mad but she needed
her coffee in the morning...she also needed a shower....bad...having come
straight from a job last night. She found a towel in the bathroom that was off
of the kitchen in the smaller bedroom and jumped in the shower.

     Upstairs, Emma
woke with the aroma of fresh coffee and smiled to herself...she could get used
to that every morning. She put her robe on and padded down the stairs and into
the kitchen. She heard the running water from the bathroom and stepped into the
small bedroom. The adjoining bathroom door wasn't shut and she noted that she
could see the outline of Nina in the shower. She was somewhat embarrassed but
also curious. she called out, "Do you want something for breakfast?"

     Nina opened the
shower door and for a heartbeat Emma saw Nina, all of Nina, and her heart
stopped. Nina leaned out and Emma noted the muscled arms and legs, small firm
breasts, flat tummy, and neatly trimmed pussy, all in that second in which time
seemed to stand still..."Don't go to any trouble, whatever you normally
have." and she closed the door. Emma felt a flip-flop in her tummy and a
jolt between her legs and was momentarily rooted to the spot.

     At that moment she
heard the taps being turned off and she quickly ducked out into the kitchen,
chiding herself, "She is just a friend, don't ruin it by doing something
stupid." She just hoped she would be able to do that, considering how warm
she was and with the tingle between her legs....this is going to be tough.....

     Nina walked out of
the bathroom to the smell of bacon cooking, "Need any help in here"
she asked Emma..

     "Sure you
could make the toast if you don't mind." So as the two made breakfast they
chatted about the repairs that would be made to the ranch...Emma figured it
would be the perfect time to bring up the question that had been haunting her
for some time now.."So Nina, your partner does not mind that you will be
spending all your extra time out here helping me?"

     Nina turned
laughing.."Partner what is that? It has been so long since I have been in
a relationship I almost forgot what partner meant"...

     "So how long
have you been single" asked Emma.

     It had been so
long since Nina had talked about Laura. "My partner died two years ago Her
name was Laura. We were together for ten years. She was diagnosed with breast
cancer and died a year later, since then I have put so much of my time and
energy into my business that I never really had time to date. What about you
Emma, no one special in your life?"

      "No not
for some time now..I finally have come to the realization that I am destined to
live my life alone," Emma answered with a chuckle.

     Just as they were
about to sit down and eat breakfast the phone rang..Emma excused herself to
answer the phone..It was Amber calling to see how things were coming along.
When Emma told her that she and Nina were having breakfast, Amber was elated.
"Now now calm down Amber it is not what you think, Nina came over last
night to discuss repairs on the ranch and fell asleep on the couch". Emma
asked Amber and Amy to come for dinner. She had picked up some steaks at the
butcher's the other day and had meant to call but just did not get around to
it.

     "Sure,"
said Amber "we will be there say around seven."

     "Great see
you then, tell Amy I said hello."

     As Emma walked
back in the kitchen she was laughing to herself..."It was Amber calling to
see how things were going. When I told her we were having breakfast she jumped
the gun, thought we had something going on"

     Nina
laughed.."leave it to Amber she is always playing match maker"

      "Well I
asked them to come for dinner tonight, so they will be arriving around
seven..What do you say about joining us Nina?"

      "Sounds
great to me, actually took the day off today so I'm free."

     "Well why
don't you stick around today and we can putt around the ranch maybe get a few
things done?"

     Nina wanted to go
home ,pick up a few things, change her clothes and told Emma she would be back
in a couple of hours. After Nina left, Emma did  the breakfast dishes and
jumped in the shower. Thoughts of Nina drifted through her mind. Seeing her in
the shower this morning naked, that body, her personality, her smile she could
not stop thinking about her. Slipping on her shorts and t-shirt, Emma was ready
to do work on the ranch. As she walked down the stairs, she heard the truck
coming up the drive...Emma's heart started to race, she felt a little foolish
,all these feelings, she felt like she was back in high school. She opened the
door and there was Nina getting out of the truck, shorts t-shirt, bandana in
her hair..God she was sexy. "How can I possibly work with this woman all
day without touching her" thought Emma.

      Nina got
back to Emma's in record time, bringing a change of clothes for dinner. She got
out of the truck and saw Emma heading towards her in a T-shirt and shorts. She
looked so sexy, even in the non-descript clothes, she wondered how she was
possibly going to get this job done without getting involved with her...
"Hey, where do you want to start?" asked Nina as Emma approached her.

     "Why don't we
work on the back deck?" Emma replied.

     Nina got her tools
and they started to the back of the house. Emma helped her measure and Nina
made some calculations for the lumber and other things she would need."Do
you want to come along to the builder's supply so you can pick out the kind of
wood you would like?"

      "Sure,
it will give me a good excuse to stop and get a few things I need for dinner
tonight" said Emma.

     They jumped into
Nina's truck and headed to the city. The trip passed quickly with the easy
conversation between them. They stopped at the builders supply and they got the
things they needed and went to the store. Nina offered to go in with Emma and
she accepted. Nina steered the cart while Emma picked out the things she
needed...this brought back bittersweet memories for Nina...she and Laura did
this every week....Emma, meanwhile, was thinking how very natural this seemed
with Nina pushing the cart and she, doing the shopping....

     With the groceries
bought they headed to the truck. Now there was only one problem...the truck bed
was filled with lumber so the groceries had to go in the cab with them. They put
them in on the passenger side and Emma was forced to get in on the drivers
side. Nina piled in beside her and it was close quarters, as Emma sat close to
her. Nina started the drive back to the house. Each time she needed to shift
gears she brushed Emma's leg which caused that flip-flop feeling again...she so
wanted to just run her hand up the length of her leg, so smooth and so soft, to
just rest it on her thigh.....

     Emma was really
starting to feel warm...being this close to Nina, feeling the warmth of her
seeping into her own skin, the subtle smell of musk, and the feel of her hand
as it brushed her leg...she found herself shifting just slightly, so she and
Nina were touching. The sexual tension in the truck was almost a palpable thing
and neither of them wanted to break the spell.....All to soon they arrived back
at the house, and the moment was gone.

     Reluctantly Nina
got out of the truck and helped Emma out, her hand lingering for just a few
seconds on her back, their hands clasped together..for a moment Emma thought
she was going to kiss her, but then Nina seemed to snap to the present and let
her go, mumbling about helping her into the house with the groceries....

      While Emma
put the groceries away, Nina unloaded the truck and placed the lumber in easy
reach for the job. She slung her tool belt around her hips and began tearing up
the old deck. She worked quickly, efficiently, and Emma was surprised at the
pace Nina set. Emma decided to work on the yard and surrounding flower beds so
she could be outside and close to Nina...and because she liked watching Nina
working, her muscles flexing, a fine sheen of sweat covering her tanned limbs,
the look of concentration on her face....

     Nina was glad that
Emma had decided to work outside. She watched as she worked on the flower beds,
on her hands and knees, that nice tight ass against her shorts, her shapely
legs, her hair blowing softly in the wind...."damn, it's hot out
here" and it isn't just the sun she added to herself....

     Emma got up and
stretched, pushing her chest tight against her T-shirt as she needed tired neck
muscles. She heard a stream of curse words and looked to see Nina shaking a
hand in the air..."What's wrong?"  she asked as she quickly
walked onto the deck.

     "I accidently
hit my thumb with the hammer"...she didn't tell her it was because she had
been watching Emma stretch and had been careless.

     "Let me see
it" Emma said as she gently reached for Nina's hand and took it in her
own. It was if an electrical shock passed between them, and they both felt
it...Emma rubbed Nina's hand, a contrast between her soft one and Nina's
slightly rough, work-conditioned one. They stood there, as if transfixed, and
slowly Nina brought Emma's hand to her lips and gently kissed the back of her
fingers and hand. Emma looked so intently at Nina's lips as they touched her
hand, her heart pounding, as she stepped closer narrowing the distance between
them.....just then Emma's phone rang, causing them both to jump...and the spell
was broken.......

      Emma raced
inside to get the phone, her heart still pounding from the moment before.
"The damn phone" she thought as she picked it up.

     "Emma, it's
Amy, Amber and I are not going to be able to make it this evening. Amber put a
new listing on the market and she is getting swamped with calls. Can we make it
another night?"

     "Um
sure," Emma stuttered ,"that will be fine. Give me a call when your
schedule calms down. Tell Amber that Nina and I said hello."

      "Oh
Nina is there" Amy responded.

     "Ya I
had asked her for dinner also. We are working on the deck this afternoon."

      "Well
you two have fun, we will call next week"...

     "Ok, bye Amy
talk to you then." Emma hung up the phone, went to the fridge grabbed two
beer and headed back outside. Thoughts of what had just happened between her
and Nina still lingering in her mind. As she walked to the back yard she heard
Nina singing along to the radio, she came around back and stood by the side of
the house just watching Nina as she worked on the deck. The sight of her made
Emma get butterflies in her stomach. She felt like a school girl. As she got
closer to the deck she told Nina about Amber and Amy and why they would not be
coming for dinner.

     "That's too
bad" Nina said, but in the back of her mind she did not mind the fact that
she and Emma would be spending the evening alone. Nina wanted to continue what
they had started. Just remembering the feeling she got from touching Emma
brought a warm sensation between her legs.

     Emma handed Nina a
beer and said it's time for a break. They sat there on the deck looking into
the back yard. "It is beautiful out here isn't it?" Emma said.

     Nina did not hear
Emma she was thinking about what had happened before the phone rang...Could
this be the one? Could it be possible that God would grant her twice the magic
of falling in love. She thought she was going to spend the rest of her life
alone, after Laura died. She promised herself she would never allow herself to
go through something like that again. But Emma was different, the feeling she
had  deep in her soul the very first time she met her, like she knew Emma,
that they had met sometime before, but she knew she hadn't.