Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Ben

One day.

He’d only been at Littlecreek Ranch for one measly day before he’d seen someone so beautiful and sweet that it had almost stopped his heart.

Louisa Hart.

That was her name.

Lulu.

The kind of name that turned you on just to say it.

She was a breath of fresh mountain air on a warm summer day, her wavy chestnut hair cascading around her shoulders in a way that was somehow playful and sexy. Her emerald- green eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint, hinting at all the naughty things she was capable of.

He’d only seen her for a moment, but her image was burned into his memory like a brand.

“Come on, Lawson, focus.”

Papers were sprawled on the table before him. He was meant to be reading through the financials for the ranch, as well as the schedules of key staff members, but instead, his mind kept replaying his meeting with Lulu. Her radiant smile and the adorable innocence of her horse-in-a-Santa-hat drawing tugged at something deep within his chest. A warm flutter he hadn't felt in a long while, not since. . .

He shook his head, chastising himself. "Snap out of it. You're here to learn the ropes from Chuck, not chase after pretty green-eyed girls with stuffed bunnies."

The pain of his last failed relationship still throbbed like a bruise when prodded. No, he couldn't afford distractions, not when his dream of opening his own ranch back in Texas was finally within reach.

The problem was, Ben rarely saw girls he liked. Obviously, he saw a lot of Littles in his line of work. Tons of them. And he definitely felt protective around them. He was fond of them, like they were precious souls to be taken care of. But it was only very rarely, very rarely indeed, that his Dom side lit up around someone new.

What was it about her? Something indefinable, perhaps. Something in the way she smelled? Which was a cross between cinnamon and powdered sugar, as it happened. Or was it something deeper, something more chemical? Something in the hormones she gave out, the way she lit up parts of his brain that rarely came to life?

Ben squared his shoulders and refocused on the building schematics and pasture maps strewn across the oak desk. "Stay professional," he muttered under his breath, determination steeling his voice. "Head down, eyes on the prize."

But even as he redirected his attention to the paperwork, a rebellious corner of his mind continued to mull over shy smiles and chestnut curls, an unbidden warmth blossoming in his heart. He had a feeling keeping his distance from Louisa might prove more challenging than any ranch plans. Ben rubbed his stubbled jaw and settled in for a long night of work, willfully ignoring how a certain artist had already begun to sketch herself into his thoughts.

The next morning, Ben strode into the main lodge, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeting him like an old friend. He spotted Chuck at a corner table, his weathered hands wrapped around a steaming mug as he pored over a stack of papers.

Chuck was sitting with his brothers, Duke and Trent. He’d had a little time with all the McCoy brothers now. Duke was impulsive and mouthy, and Trent more thoughtful and quiet. They had a good dynamic going.

"Morning, boys," Ben said, sliding into the seat across from him. "Busy day ahead?"

Chuck looked up, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "Always is around here, especially with the holidays coming up." He pushed a plate piled high with fluffy scrambled eggs and crispy hash browns toward Ben. "Dig in. We have a lot to discuss."

As they ate, Chuck and Duke regaled Ben with stories of Christmases past at the ranch—laughter-filled sleigh rides, gingerbread-house contests, the joy on the Littles' faces as they opened presents from Santa.

"Truth is," Trent chipped in, leaning back in his chair, "with the ranch expanding, organizing the Christmas carnival has become a real challenge. We've got more guests than ever, and I want to make sure everyone has a magical time."

Ben nodded, understanding the pressure of growing pains all too well. "It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless."

Chuck's gaze sharpened, a calculated gleam entering his eye. "Say, Ben, you've got experience running events, right? From your days in the corporate world?"

"Sure do," Ben replied, curiosity piqued. "Managed my fair share of conferences. Why do you ask?"

A slow grin spread across Chuck's face. "Well, I was thinking . . . how would you feel about overseeing this year's Christmas carnival? It'd be a great way for you to learn the ins and outs of the ranch, get to know the staff and guests."

Ben's eyebrows shot up, surprise mingling with a thrill of excitement. "You want me to run the carnival? Wow, Chuck, that's . . . that's a big responsibility."

"One I think you're more than capable of handling," Chuck replied. "You've got the skills, the leadership experience. And frankly, I could use the help."

Duke arched an eyebrow at Trent. “Trent? You alright with this? I know how you love to play Santa each year. How you adore organizing the carnival.”

Trent rubbed his temple. “My bone-headed brother is being bone-headed, surprise, surprise. I like Christmas, but I’m a doctor, not a party planner. I’d be delighted to have you take over, Ben.”

Ben leaned back, his mind whirring with possibilities. Running the carnival would give him a front-row seat to the day-to-day operations of the ranch, invaluable intel for when he opened his own place. Plus, it was a chance to really make his mark, to contribute something meaningful to the community that had welcomed him so warmly.

"Look, Ben, I know you're here to learn, to focus on your own goals,” Chuck said. “But sometimes, the best way to grow is to dive in headfirst, to immerse yourself in the deep end." He clapped a hand on Ben's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, and an even better heart. The carnival, the ranch, the community . . . they could all benefit from that."

"I appreciate the vote of confidence, Chuck," Ben said with a determined nod. "I'll do my best to make sure this carnival is a success. For the ranch, and for the community."

Chuck grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know you will, son. And speaking of community . . ." He leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "There's someone I think you should meet. An artist, collaborating on a book for the carnival."

Ben's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression carefully neutral. "Oh?"

"Her name's Louisa," Chuck continued, oblivious to Ben's inner turmoil. "Real talented gal. I think you two would hit it off."

Ben swallowed, trying to ignore the sudden flutter in his stomach. It couldn't be the same Louisa, could it? The one with the emerald eyes and the smile that could light up a room? The one he'd been trying so hard not to think about since their chance encounter? The one who had loads of drawings with her so was almost definitely an artist. . .

"I'll keep an eye out for her," he said casually, hoping his voice didn't betray the sudden quickening of his pulse. "It's always good to meet new people, especially if they're contributing to the carnival."

Chuck nodded, satisfied. "She’s working with Zoey on the book. Every year, we make a present for all the ranch’s residents. This year, it’s a book. Littles aren’t always the best at keeping to deadlines, though, so you might need to stay on top of her."

Stay on top of her .

Ben’s mouth went dry. “R-right,” he managed. “Will do.”

“You know,” Trent said, “We have a meeting about the carnival later today.”

“I’ll be there,” Ben affirmed.

“Great.” Trent nodded. “In the meantime, let’s go over the plans for the carnival. That way, you can chair the meeting.”

Well, he was really being thrown into the deep end. Luckily, Ben was a strong swimmer.

For the next couple of hours, Trent went over the plans for the carnival with Ben. There would be stalls, games, a show and, of course, the gift giving. Louisa’s book. They needed to print and bind forty copies of it.

It would require careful planning, and a lot of work. And there were only two weeks to go.

The conference room buzzed with excited chatter as the volunteers filed in, their faces bright with anticipation. Ben stood at the front of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, taking in the eclectic mix of people before him. There were the old-timers, their weathered faces etched with the wisdom of years spent on the ranch. There were the younger folks, their eyes shining with the thrill of new adventures. Littles and Bigs. And then, there was her.

Louisa walked through the door, her chestnut hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald eyes scanning the room. When her gaze landed on Ben, she froze, her eyes widening in recognition. For a moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of them, locked in a silent exchange of memories and unspoken questions.

Ben cleared his throat, tearing his eyes away from hers. "Welcome, everyone," he said, his voice carrying over the din of conversation. "Thank you for being here today. For those of you who haven’t met me, I’m Benjamin Lawson. Ben. I’m here at Littlecreek to learn all I can, so that I can open a sister ranch in Texas.”

A chorus of “oohs,” and “aahs,” sounded out from the crowd of Littles who were watching.

“I’m going to be planning the Christmas carnival this year. Now, as you all know, the carnival is a cherished tradition here at Littlecreek Ranch, and this year, we want to make it bigger and better than ever."

As he spoke, Ben couldn't help but sneak glances at Louisa, who had taken a seat near the back of the room. She was leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made his heart race.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us," Ben continued, forcing himself to focus on the task at hand. "But with your help, I know we can create something truly special. Something that will bring joy to everyone at the ranch this holiday season."

He spent the next half hour outlining the carnival's objectives, going over timelines and assigning roles to each volunteer. Throughout it all, he could feel Louisa's eyes on him, her gaze burning into his skin like a brand.

Finally, it was Louisa and Zoey's turn to present their idea. As they made their way to the front of the room, Ben found himself leaning forward, his curiosity piqued.

"Hi everyone," Louisa said, her voice soft but clear. "I’m Lulu! Zoey and I have been working on a special project for the carnival. It's a picture book, a story about friendship and the magic of the holidays."

She held up a stack of sketches, her eyes lighting up as she flipped through them. "The illustrations are still a work in progress, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek."

As she spoke, her passion for the project was evident in every word, every gesture. Ben found himself captivated by her creativity, by the way her face glowed with excitement as she described the story and the characters.

"It's about a Little at the ranch who feels lost and alone, until she meets a magical bunny near the maple cabin who helps her find her way," Lulu explained, her eyes shining. "He leads her into an enchanted forest, and at the center, she meets Santa! It's a story about trusting your instincts, and following magic, even if it’s scary! Also, the bunny has a waistcoat."

Laughs sounded out around the room.

Zoey spoke next. “When we’re done, we’ll give you all a copy as a special thank you, and a way to remember your time at the ranch.”

As Louisa and Zoey finished their presentation, the room erupted in applause. Ben joined in, his hands coming together almost of their own accord, his heart swelling with pride and admiration.

"That’s impressive," he said, once the clapping had died down. "I can't wait to see the finished product. I have no doubt it will be a hit with all the guests."

Lulu beamed at him, her cheeks flushed with pleasure.

“In fact, I’ve got an idea,” he said. “Why don’t we make an enchanted forest the theme of the carnival? We can make hold it in the real forest on the ranch, with lights strung up between the trees? It would be the perfect spot for a secret Santa’s grotto.”

Waves of excitement buzzed around the room.

“Yeah!” called out one of the Littles, who he recognized as Chuck’s Little, Millie. “And we can put pretend antlers on some of the horses!”

“Who’s gonna be Santa?” someone else piped up.

“Santa will be Santa, of course!” someone else called out, to more laughter.

As the meeting wrapped up and the volunteers began to disperse, Ben found himself lingering, his gaze drawn to Louisa like a moth to a flame. She was chatting with Zoey, her laughter ringing out like bells, her smile brighter than the sun.

He saw Chuck interrupt the two of them, and then bring her over to him.

“Have you two met properly?” he asked.

Lulu blushed.

“We, uh, did bump into each other,” Ben admitted.

“Good. I think the two of you should work closely together. You’re both new to the ranch, and it’d do you good. Louisa can be Artistic Director for the carnival. What do you say?”

Lulu nodded thoughtfully. “I’d like that very much.”

“Sounds good,” Ben said, swallowing.

“Good,” Chuck said. “You’ll be spending lots of time together.”

So much for not having any distractions.