Chapter Three

Colt stood inside the barn, observing as the women and Lily piled into Lorna’s SUV. He realized he was hungry; it seemed like a long time since breakfast. With purposeful strides, he made his way through the barn, pausing to watch a few riders enter from the other end. He saw Brian and Jett approach them and offer help. Riders were to cool their own horses, but assistance was provided if desired.

Colt walked over to them and nodded at a blonde woman on a palomino horse who smiled at him.

“Hello,” she greeted him.

“Ma’am. Did you have a good ride?” Colt asked.

“I did. This is my first time here. I came with Janie; she boards three horses here.” The woman grinned. “I know I’ll be coming back now.”

Colt smirked, touched his hat, and replied, “Well, we’d be happy to have you again.”

He left the barn, aware of her gaze following him. He chuckled, thinking about how some women were more open about their interest in a man. However, Colt had a strict policy against pursuing clients or engaging in any romantic activities with employees while on the clock. It was an offense that would result in immediate termination, a rule instilled by Walt. And Colt upheld it; in all the years he had been here, only three people had been fired for breaking that rule.

It could create complications, and Cotton Boarding Stables was known for being strict about enforcing rules for both clients and employees. If there was a mutual attraction between a client and worker, they could pursue it outside of the ranch grounds.

Frowning slightly, Colt wondered if Chelsea planned to change the name of the ranch; she hadn’t done so yet, even though she had only been here for two weeks while settling into her new home.

As the afternoon progressed, the heat intensified and Colt found himself drenched in sweat while cleaning out a stall. He leaned the rake against the wall, removed his hat, then his shirt, wiping his chest with it before hanging it up. After putting his hat back on, he picked up the rake and continued working.

Once he finished, he pushed the wheelbarrow to the next stall. As he emerged from the stall, he spotted Chelsea entering the barn.

“Colt?”

“Yeah?” He set down the wheelbarrow.

“Do we have room for three more horses? Someone called looking for boarding options.”

“I believe we do. I think we currently have five empty stalls. I’ll double check and let you know later. Right now, I need to finish these stalls. Then I’ll get with you.”

When she didn’t say anything else, he looked over at her to see her staring at his glistening chest. Clearing his throat, he caught her gaze and she smiled at him.

“Looking forward to it,” she said before turning and leaving the barn.

Looking forward to what exactly?Colt frowned as he muttered to himself. But there was no way she meant looking forward to seeing him. Women were so confusing, saying one thing but meaning another.

After finishing up in the barn, Colt headed to his office where he checked the charts and saw that there were four available stalls. Turning off his computer, he left the office and walked through the barn and yard to reach Chelsea’s house. Knocking on the door brought no response, but he could hear music playing inside so she probably didn’t hear him. Trying again with no luck, Colt opened the door and called out her name.

He couldn’t help but grin when he heard Dwight Yoakam’s voice singing Fast as You. Walking through the kitchen and dining room, he entered the living room where he came to a stop at the sight of Chelsea swaying to the music while unpacking a box.

Leaning against the doorframe, Colt enjoyed the show until she turned and noticed him. Stopping in her tracks, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

“Well, I hope you enjoyed that. I don’t do that for just anyone,” she said.

“It was very entertaining,” he replied. “I knocked but you couldn’t hear me over Dwight.”

She laughed and Colt couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she was. Her long, dark curls cascaded down her shoulders and her striking blue eyes could bring any man to his knees.

****

“I’m sorry. I like listening to music while I work.” Chelsea walked to the stereo to turn it down.

“No worries. So, we have four stalls available.”

“Great. I’ll call them and let them know. They were hoping to bring their horses tomorrow, is that okay?”

“Not a problem for me. I have weekends off.”

“Who’s in charge when you’re not here?”

“Brian.”

“Okay.” Chelsea walked toward him and stopped in front of him. “I need a drink; would you like one too? You were sweating quite a bit in the barn.”

The tension in the air was palpable as he glanced at her lips, then back into her eyes. The heat between them seemed to sizzle and spark with every passing moment. She couldn’t help but hold his gaze, a smirk playing on her lips.

“Colt?” she whispered.

“What?” His voice was gruff and strained.

“Are you afraid of me?” Her smirk widened into a playful smile.

“You have no idea.” He cleared his throat, taking a step back before turning and striding toward the kitchen.

As he walked away, she couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders, his ass in those tight jeans, and tall, muscular frame, feeling a tingle run down her spine. But before she could dwell on it any longer, he announced that he needed to head home and shower. She watched him leave without looking back, feeling a mix of disappointment and amusement at his abrupt departure.

But as soon as he was out of sight, she couldn’t help but let out a laugh. He was certainly an intriguing man, but she knew better than to get involved with him. After all, he was her employee and she needed him here at the ranch. Plus, there were bound to be complications if they were to pursue anything.

Still, she couldn’t deny the physical attraction between them. The way his pecs looked like sculpted stone, or the defined muscles of his six-pack stomach that made her mouth water... She groaned inwardly, trying to push those thoughts out of her mind.

“No good could come of this,” she scolded herself with a shake of her head. “Just good sex, no doubt.”

With a heavy sigh, she refocused on unpacking and hoped that Colt Monroe would stay off her mind for the rest of the day.

Later, while taking a break, she opened a magazine about horses, and read an article on running a riding stable. She sat up. Could she add that to the ranch? She wondered if Colt would help with that. It would bring in more business. Not that they needed it, but some people loved to ride but didn’t own horses.

Chelsea could buy some gentle horses and offer riding lessons along with letting experienced riders use the riding trails.

“Sometimes, Chelsea, my girl, you have wonderful ideas.” She laughed as she made her way to the kitchen, then out the door to head for the barn.

When she entered the barn, she came to a halt. It was packed with people getting their horses ready for a ride. She couldn’t blame them; it was a beautiful day. In fact, if she didn’t have more unpacking to do, she’d go on a ride herself.

She blew out a sigh. It looked like she’d have to speak with Colt later, but she was excited at the prospect of adding the riding stable, along with lessons.

After dinner, she worked on a few more boxes, and noticed it was getting darker outside. She glanced at the clock to see it was after eight. She walked to the door, peered out to see the lights off in the barns. Everyone must be gone.

Colt had his own home on the property. A cabin Mr. Cotton had built for him once he became manager. The manager before him lived in his own home, but since Colt had lived in the bunkhouse and didn’t have a place, Mr. Cotton built him one.

She picked up her keys, opened the door, ran down the steps, hopped into her vehicle, and drove to his house. She hoped she wasn’t disturbing him, but she was anxious about talking with him about the riding stable.

Chelsea pulled up to the log home, and stepped out. She glanced around but didn’t see anyone, though a light was on inside. Closing the door, she walked up the steps, across the porch, knocked, and waited. And waited.

When he finally opened the door, she had to bite her lip to keep her jaw from dropping. He stood in front of her, wearing only sweatpants, and she was sure there was nothing underneath them but the man himself.

“Chelsea? Is everything okay?”

“Um, yes. I wanted to talk to you about something. I meant to do it earlier, but we were so busy...”

“Come on in.” He held the door open wider, raising an eyebrow at her hesitation.

She took a deep breath and stepped into his home, glancing around nervously.

“It’s nice,” she said.

“Thanks. Have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?”

“No, thank you. So, what do you think about adding a riding stable?”

“You mean letting people ride our horses?”

“Yes, since a lot of people love to ride, but don’t have their own horse, and we could also give riding lessons.”

“Why are you asking me? It’s your place, do whatever you want.” He shrugged.

“Would you—”

“No.”

“But you don’t even know what I was going to ask.”

“If you’re suggesting I add teaching people to ride to my already long list of tasks, forget it. I have enough to do as it is. Do it yourself.”

Chelsea gasped. “Would you talk back like this to Mr. Cotton?”

“No, because he wouldn’t try to put more pressure on me like you’re doing right now.”

She stepped closer to him. “I could fire you.”

“Then do it. Let’s see how far that gets you.”

“Why do you always argue with me? I think it’s a great idea.”

“Then why bother asking me? I won’t do it, Chelsea. If you want to fire me, go ahead. But I work from six in the morning until past nine at night most days. I’m exhausted by the time I get home and now you want to add more to my plate,” he snapped.

“I’m your boss and when I give you an order, you do it. No questions asked,” she said through gritted teeth as she stepped closer to him.

He leaned down, locking eyes with her.

“No,” he said firmly before straightening up, crossing his arms, and glaring at her.

Chelsea clenched her fists, fighting the urge to slap him for no reason other than he was one of the most infuriating men she had ever met.

“Come on, Colt,” Chelsea pleaded.

He sighed. “I know I’m the manager and it would be more efficient if I delegated some tasks to the ranch hands, but I actually enjoy doing the work and it benefits everyone when we all pitch in. But there’s no way I’m adding riding lessons to my already packed schedule.”

“So, what am I supposed to do? Hire someone else?” Chelsea put her hands on her hips.

“I couldn’t care less about what you do. Either teach them yourself or find someone else to do it. It’s not my problem. But I won’t be doing it.”

Tears welled up in Chelsea’s eyes, and she could feel her heart breaking. “Why do you hate me so much?”

Colt looked surprised by her question. “Hate you? I don’t hate you. I’m simply telling you the truth.”

“This is never going to work,” Chelsea said, shaking her head in defeat.

“Why? Because I don’t blindly follow your orders? I’ve been a manager here for a long time and I know how things work. If you would just let me do my job, everything would run smoothly. But instead, you challenge me at every opportunity. I know what I’m doing,” he reiterated.

Feeling hurt and frustrated, Chelsea turned to leave, but Colt grabbed her wrist and stopped her.

She turned away from him, trying to hide her tears.

“Please, just let me do my job, Chelsea. I’ve been here for twenty-six years, and I know what I’m doing.”

Chelsea lifted her chin and met his gaze, a playful grin spreading across her lips.

“Twenty-six years,” she shook her head, teasingly. “As I said, the wrong side of forty,” she murmured, watching Colt try to contain his laughter.

“Ouch,” he winced, pretending to be hurt.

Chelsea laughed and their eyes locked once again, the chemistry between them palpable. He smelled amazing; she could tell he had freshly shaved, but there was still a hint of stubble on his jawline. She couldn’t resist stealing a glance at his tempting lips before meeting his gaze once more. To hell with it, she thought. Just go for it.

Closing the distance between them until their bodies were pressed together, Chelsea wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. He was taken aback at first, but quickly responded with equal fervor as their tongues moved together.

Breaking apart, Colt looked into her eyes with a hunger that only intensified Chelsea’s desire.

“What do you want?” he asked huskily.

“You,” she breathed, unable to take her eyes off him.

Colt shook his head slightly. “Not good enough. Tell me.”

“I want you to make—”

“No. There’s no love involved. Hell, do we even like each other? This is about sex, so tell me what you want.”

Gathering her courage, Chelsea met his intense gaze head-on. “I want you to… fuck me,” she stated boldly.

Colt’s expression changed from hunger to pure desire as he gazed back at her in silence for a few moments before finally nodding in agreement.

“Yes,” he whispered hoarsely. “I want that too.”

A pang of anticipation fluttered through her stomach as he effortlessly lifted her up in his arms. His chest a solid wall against her, the muscles rippling. He carried her, cradled securely, feeling his body heat seep into hers like a seductive promise. Her heart thundered within her chest, matching the rhythm of his strong strides.

He navigated through the living room, each step echoing off the walls and stoking the fire building within her. She could feel his strength as he headed down a hallway and into his bedroom.

Returning from the realm of thoughts, she shifted against him when they reached their destination. Her landing onto the bed was cushioned by cool sheets, contrasting clearly with the flush that had spread over her skin. His taste still lingered on her lips as he leaned over her, sending shivers of anticipation coursing down her spine.

His sweatpants were loose, hanging low on his narrow hips while showcasing an alluring V-line leading eyes to its peak; his hard cock standing proudly against the fabric. His hand moved into the nightstand drawer, pulling out a foil packet that held a promise of pleasure. The rustling sound it made as he tore it open filled the air; anticipation hung thickly between them.

His dark gaze never strayed from hers during this sensual dance of preparation, a silent promise lingering in those depths. An intriguing balance of raw lust and gentle intimacy that made every nerve ending under her skin pulse with desire.

Leaving her momentarily breathless on the bed, he moved to stand at its end. One by one, he undid her shoes and peeled away any barrier of fabric separating them. Her clothes dropped to the floor, discarded like inhibitions, leaving her bare under his gaze.

The room brimmed with sexual tension, every breath between them acting as fuel to the flame. Every detail etched in their minds, the soft moans escaping her lips; the firm grip around his cock; the way his fingers danced over her skin, igniting sparks where they grazed. Their silent conversation was just beginning, an impending release held tightly at bay for not much longer amid moments of desire.

He lowered his head, kissed her legs, running his tongue along them, as he made his way to the juncture of her thighs, then he slid his tongue through her slit, making her gasp fill the room. He put his mouth over her sensitive clitoris, and sucked, driving her insane until her belly fluttered, and her orgasm took her breath away.

****

Colt pushed her legs apart with his knee as he kissed his way up her body, the scent of her arousal filling his nose as he lowered himself to her. He positioned his throbbing cock and she spread her legs further for him without being asked. He thrust forward, burying himself deep inside her wet heat. They both let out a moan of pleasure as he filled her completely.

Chelsea’s fingers dug into his back as he started to move, his hips pumping in and out of her in a steady rhythm that was both powerful and gentle at once. The bed creaked beneath them, as they moved against each other in time with their movements.

“Fuck,” Colt groaned, as he looked into her eyes with each thrust. Chelsea arched her back and met him movement for movement, their bodies slapping together in a primal dance of desire.

“That’s it, baby,” he groaned, capturing one of her nipples between his teeth and tugging gently. She whimpered in response, the sound echoing through the room. Her fingernails dug into his back harder now, leaving tiny red marks behind as she lost herself in the sensations coursing through her body.

The friction between them grew more intense with every passing moment, amplifying the heat that already engulfed them both.

“You feel so good,” he muttered against her lips, kissing her, before looking at her. “I could do this all night.”

Chelsea’s breath came in deep pants, and she screamed out his name as she came.

Colt slammed into her again and again until his orgasm hit him hard. He closed his eyes tight and gave into the pleasure. He buried his face in the crook of her neck and fought for breath. Her warm breath came in pants against his ear.

He rolled off her to lay beside her and his chest heaved. He could hear her trying to control her breathing as well. Then it hit him at what he had done.

“Damn it,” he said as he sat up, walked to the bathroom, and slammed the door behind him. He removed the condom, tossed it into the trash, and washed his hands. Then he caught his reflection in the mirror.

“What were you thinking?” he muttered. He hung his head. What a stupid ass move that was. It had been hot as hell, but it was only going to cause problems. How the hell could he work around her now after such amazing sex? “You dumbass.”

He sighed, then he looked toward the door when he heard the bedroom door slam. Oh, hell. He entered the bedroom to see it empty, so he quickly pulled on his sweatpants and made his way to the kitchen to hear that door slamming as well.

He walked to the door, opened it, stepped onto the porch to see her driving off. He reentered the house and slammed the door. It looked like he had a long night ahead of him. Good thing tomorrow was Saturday, and he was off. He’d at least be able to stay away from her until Monday.

****

Chelsea drove home, wiping tears from her cheeks. He regretted it. She didn’t, but he did. She knew when he swore and went into the bathroom, he was sorry it happened. God! It had been amazing though. She had never had such hot sex. Her ex-husband, Ron, never made her feel that good.

“Damn you, Colton Monroe. Why did you ruin it?”

After arriving home, she took a long hot bath, then crawled between the sheets, her body still buzzing from being with Colt. He sure knew what to do with a woman.

Saturday, she walked along the barn’s aisle, smiling at people getting their horses ready for rides or loading them into trailers to take them somewhere else to ride or to a competition of some kind.

She stopped to talk to a few of them, but looked for Brian, and found him at the indoor corral.

“Brian?”

He faced her. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Call me Chelsea, please. Could I speak to you a minute?”

“Uh, sure,” he said nervously.

“Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. I just want to ask you something.”

Brian sighed. “Okay.”

“How skilled of a rider are you?”

“I’m very good. Why?”

She explained about the riding stable and asked him if he’d be interested in running the stable. He looked shocked.

“I’m not sure. I mean, Colt is my boss—”

“I’m your boss, Brian. Colt has no say in who I move around.”

“I get that, but in here, he’s the boss.”

Chelsea shook her head. “Brian, I own this place. If I want to ask you to do something, I will.”

“What if I turn it down? Will I be fired?”

“No, of course, not. I wanted to give you the opportunity.”

“Can I think about it?”

“Of course, you can.”

“Thank you. I’ll let you know.”

“Whenever you make a decision is fine. I want you to really give it some thought.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She nodded, strolled through the barn, loving the sound of the horses in their stalls. They were usually in the pastures, but on the weekends, they were in the stalls because that was when most people came by.

As she stepped out into the sunshine, she smiled when she saw her brother’s truck pull to a stop and Eli stepped out. He waved then walked to meet her. She hugged him.

“Hey, you. What brings you by?”

“Do you have a minute?”

“Yeah, sure. Are you alone?”

“Yes, Lorna and Lily are at her dad’s place.”

“Come inside.” Chelsea led him to the door.

Eli wiped his feet on the mat, removed his hat, and followed her inside.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked as she toed off her boots.

“No, I’m fine.”

“What’s up?”

“Are you hiring anyone parttime?”

She pulled a chair out from the table, sat, and motioned for him to sit, and he did.

“I haven’t thought about it. Why? Do you need a job?” she asked with a grin.

“One’s enough. I know a kid who I think would benefit from working here. He’s sixteen and been in trouble, and has to do community service. I thought he could do it here.”

“What did he do?”

“Horse theft.”

Chelsea gasped. “And you want me to let him work here… with horses?”

“It’s a long story, Chels. His mother died a year ago, and his father ignores him. He said he did it for attention. He didn’t hurt the horses, but he still needs to pay for the crime. I’d rather he didn’t go to juvenile detention. I think that would make it worse.”

“Why can’t he work with your horses?”

“Because I only have three and if he does his chores in the morning, he wouldn’t have anything else to do. Here, he’d be busy.”

“I can see that. Sure, bring him by on Monday.”

“I’ll send him here. He has a car.” Eli grinned. “He used to have a truck, but it belongs to MDOL now.”

Chelsea laughed. “Ouch, that had to hurt.”

Eli chuckled. “I’m sure it did. His name is Joey Callaway.” He looked around. “It looks great in here—” he stopped when someone pounded on the door.

Chelsea shrugged and walked toward the door. Colt angrily entered and confronted her.

“You went to Brian behind my back?”

She could feel his anger radiating toward her.

“What I do on my ranch is none of your concern. No matter how much it bothers you,” she snapped.

Eli stood up, cleared his throat, and raised an eyebrow. Both Chelsea and Colt looked at him.

“Eli. I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” Colt said while shaking Eli’s hand.

“Yeah, I noticed. I’ll let you two talk. Chelsea, I’ll send Joey by on Monday. Have a good day.” Eli put on his hat and left. Chelsea huffed and turned to face Colt.

“Did he come running to you as soon as I left the barn?”

“Does it fucking matter?”

“Watch your language,” she growled.

“It’s nothing you haven’t heard before. This is a ranch, Chelsea. You need to get used to it. And who’s coming on Monday?”

“Why is that any of your business?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“Because if it’s another ranch hand, I need to know so I can talk to him. So, who is he?”

“A troubled teenager.”

“Great,” he muttered sarcastically.

“You’ve dealt with teenagers before.”

“Yeah, and they were always a pain in the ass.” He stared at her for a few seconds, letting her know which teenager he meant.

“Whatever. When Joey Callaway shows up, let me know. I told Brian too, but you might see him first. He’ll be working in the riding stable.”

“So, you’ve already made a decision about the riding stable?”

“Yes, I have.”

“I hope you realize that you need to hire a professional instructor for riding, not just one of the men.”

“A riding instructor? Why?”

“In case someone gets hurt, you could lose this place if you don’t have a qualified person overseeing things.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this when I asked you?”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t sure, so I asked someone.”

“Well then, I’ll hire someone for the job. I asked Brian if he was interested in running the stable and making sure everything goes smoothly.”

“I need him,” Colt snapped.

“We’ll leave that decision up to him.” She stared at him, and noticed his eyes drifting down to her lips. Memories from the other night flooded her mind, and she felt a blush creeping onto her face. She mentally sighed when he turned away from her and strode to the door, turned to look at her, then stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Chelsea couldn’t help but chuckle. Damn, he was hot when he was angry.

Chelsea waked to the table, pulled a chair out, and sat down. How was this going to work between them? There was so much sexual tension between them now. She could admit she wanted him again, but she knew it would only piss him off if he gave in. He was concerned about his job and she understood that so the only choice they had was to work together and nothing else.

“Yeah, okay. How do you plan to do that when anytime you see him, you want him?” She shook her head and wondered how they’d work together after having sex.