“Yes, and I sounded stupid saying Howdy and calling her little lady.”
“Dude, that’s what women want—the full cowboy experience. Stick with me, and you’ll have her eating out of your hand in no time.” Ryland slaps me on the back, a mischievous grin on his face. “Women love that stuff.”
Ryland is known as a player on the ranch—he works hard but plays harder. He’s been known to keep company with some of the bored housewives who have come to the ranch with their husbands, who are also looking for the cowboy experience, only in a completely different way.
As long as everyone consents, who am I to judge? It’s just not something I’m into. I’m a one-woman man with no interest in being involved with married women. Hell, I’ve never been interested in any woman until I met Cheyenne three months ago.
I still remember the first day I met her—it was her first day on the ranch. She stepped out of her Jeep, completely oblivious to the fact that she had just shook my world. It took me three months and Ryan’s help to finally work up the courage to carry on a conversation with her.
“Yeah, well, we’ll see about that. Grab a couple of the guys. We’re going to help Cheyenne hang fairy lights in The Barn.”
“No way. I have an afternoon appointment.”
“I’m sure she can wait unless she’s planning to go to the dining hall for the early-bird dinner for senior citizens.”
“Very funny, but I’ve got to tell you, those cougars know exactly what they’re doing. Maybe you should forget about Cheyenne and let me set you up with a real woman who can make you beg for mercy.”
“No, thanks, Ryland. I’ll stick with Cheyenne.”
“Suit yourself, but you don’t know what you’re missing.” If Ryland only knew that, as a thirty-eight-year-old virgin, I’m missing a lot.
***
“A little more to the left. That’s it. Right there is perfect.” Hearing Cheyenne give me instructions on where to hang the fairy lights is an erotic experience. Her sensual voice guiding me to the perfect spot has me conjuring up all kinds of ways she could direct me in bed. I refocus on hooking the last of the fairylights onto the wooden beam, loop the wire one last time, and secure it with an electrical tie. “It looks amazing, Wes. Thank you so much for helping us. It would have taken Amber and me all day and into tomorrow to finish it.”
“Anything else we can help you with?” I ask, hoping to extend my time with her.
“You and your team have done plenty. I’m sure you have to get back to your real job. I don’t want the boss to get mad.” The genuine concern in her voice makes me smile.
“Anything that happens on the ranch is my job.” I step closer to her, clenching my hands at my sides to keep from tucking her curly black hair behind her ear, like I’m dying to do.
“Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” With a smile, she turns to my guys, instructing them on which tablecloth color goes on which table, giving me a chance to take in her curvy body and how well she fills out a pair of jeans. “Thanks again, Wes.” She turns to face me, catching me staring at her lush ass. “You saved the day. I owe you one.”
“Have you ever ridden a horse before?” The words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them.
Real smooth, Wes, asking her about riding horses.
I’ve seen many other employees ride horses on their days off, but never Cheyenne. It’s part of the employee perks at the ranch.
“No, I’ve never ridden a horse before.” She lowers her long, dark lashes, as if embarrassed to admit it.
“Good.” Her eyes snap back to my face. “Tomorrow during lunch, I’ll teach you.”
“Wait, you want me to repay your kindness by letting you teach me to ride a horse?” Her big brown eyes blink up at me in surprise.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
three
Cheyenne
“Where’s my horse?” Iglance around, looking for a second horse for me to ride, but all I see is Loki.
I spent half the night worrying about my riding lesson with Wes today and the other half imagining what it would be like to ride Wes. Between the two, I didn’t get much sleep.
“You said you’ve never been on a horse before, right?” Wes takes my hand and leads me toward his horse. “I’m not letting you get on a horse by yourself until I know you can handle it. For now, you’ll ride with me.”
My heart pounds in my chest. It’s one thing to spend time in The Barn hanging fairy lights and placing tablecloths on tables with Wes—it’s another to sit together on a horse.