Chapter Two Wade

CHAPTER TWO

Wade

NASH

Morning boys. @Sergeant, thanks for taking one for the team last night and driving Ivy home. I made sure your truck was locked when I left and I can come grab you to pick it up later.

NASH

Also, did she have fun? Rae won't stop talking about her.

She had too much fun because this family never seems to keep a professional boundary

COLE

@Nash Pay him no attention. He's just pissy because he had to sit two feet from her and pretend he didn't notice how she looked in that red dress.

She's my employee

NASH

Your employee? I said that once too. Something about thinking you shouldn't that makes you want to look at her even more?

COLE

Fuck. We've talked about this too many times. It has to stop.

NASH

Sorry, you two are my only friends

NASH

I didn't even see you two leave? I came back from my office and you were gone.

We looked for you but you and CeCe were MIA and we didn't want to know why

COLE

Again, not the image I need to add to my morning coffee, Jesus.

NASH

I plead the fifth and boys, thanks for being there. I can't fucking believe I'm engaged.

COLE

LOL the best part is, he has no idea

Fuck no he doesn't, not a clue.

NASH

The fuck are you two talking about?

COLE

Just brace yourself

NASH

Brace myself for what? A lifetime of happiness?

I smirk. I know exactly where Cole is going with this.

CeCe planning a wedding. Imagine what she's like at the office and times that by about a million

NASH

You're exaggerating. She'll be fine. Weddings are supposed to be fun.

COLE

Narrator: It was at that exact moment that he realized he was fucked.

NASH

Fuck me

Have a nice day bud

I slide my phone in my pocket and glance out the window. The sun is just clearing the top of Sugarland Mountain as I pop the lid onto my travel mug of coffee and start the walk from Bluegrass to the main barns. Normally, I'd drive so I have my truck on hand for the day, but since my truck is still sitting in the Horse and Barrel parking lot, I'm relying on two feet and my heartbeat this morning and I'm looking forward to the short walk to clear my head.

My mind wanders to my father, as it usually does. He's been gone just over ten months; sometimes it feels like an eternity, sometimes it feels like yesterday. That's just the way grief works, I suppose. Everything I do on this ranch, I do hoping it's what he would've done. We've finally made a good profit this summer. Our boarding stalls are full, we're running lessons and offering training again.

Last year was lackluster for us. He was so sick, I was dealing with my separation from Janelle and we just let things fall a bit by the wayside. Now, I feel like I've got my focus back, jumping right in, and I'm seriously considering doing what my mom and siblings want. Using Ivy's time here to help me find a one-year-old horse of our own, and start training it for next year's derby qualifiers. The whole process and road to a derby will take our ranch over a year and a half, and even then, we may not make it. The Kentucky Derby isn't the most lucrative financially, but it's the pinnacle, and following in my dad's footsteps by entering a prize thoroughbred seems inevitable.

We have the time and resources to do it finally, but we need to get on finding our competitor so we can start training right away. It's going to take everything I've got, all the help Ivy can offer me and a small fortune to do it, but with our financial situation looking up thanks to Nash's help and having a much better year all around, I think it's possible. I could take Ivy under my wing, give her the training experience and a little separation from my desperate little ranch hands that can't stop staring at her.

"Morning, boss." Ivy smiles as I cross into the barn. She looks so fresh faced and ready for the day. Her raven-colored hair is piled high on her head in a big messy bun, soft little wisps frame her face, which is free of makeup. She's wearing one of her many pairs of Levi's jeans that fit her ample curves like a second skin and a white, perfectly fitted and low-cut Eric Church tour t-shirt that her full breasts are seriously challenging the confines of.

Yeah, I know, she's my employee, but I am a man. And any man would have to be dead not to notice Ivy.

"You don't seem too worse for wear after all those margaritas," I observe.

"I brought her a coffee from the big house," Haden, my lead ranch hand, pipes up from a stall. Of course he did, and of course he's already here helping her when he should be leading a small team to muck out all the stalls. Would you look at that dedication?

"Heard she needed it after last night." He grins.

Ivy smiles a megawatt smile at him that makes me grit my molars. He's the last one I want bringing Ivy anything.

"Your family sure knows how to party," she states as she closes the stall she was working in.

"Hmmphh," I grumble.

Haden chuckles at my lack of words but Ivy doesn't bat an eye at my response. At this point she's just used to it.

"Oh, and I printed out the registration info for Nashville, and left it on your desk, if you're interested. It's on the twenty-seventh. Have you thought any more about it?" she asks.

Right, the annual Nashville breeding sale. Our best chance to buy a yearling.

"I have been thinking about it," I say, rubbing my jaw. "We need a jockey and a shit ton of time to train next winter and spring, plus I'd be forgoing a lot here to work on it."

Ivy nods, used to my indecisiveness on the matter. We've been going back and forth since before she officially came on board.

"I can help Ivy in any way you want, boss," Haden pipes up, ping-ponging between my face and Ivy's. "I can accompany her for any training exercises with the yearling, take on more chores here, whatever you guys need. I could even go to Nashville, Ivy could come too … if you're too busy and you want her feedback?"

Ivy eyes him hopefully, then looks back to me. "It's a solution if you're worried," she offers.

Like fuck it is. Haden's been looking at her like she's dessert since she stepped onto this ranch, and although he's a good cowboy, the best I've got maybe, he's a proverbial manwhore. He's been with more Laurel Creek buckle bunnies than anyone in town, even Cole. And for that reason, the idea of him spending copious amounts of alone time with Ivy feels like a great big fuck no to me.

I clear my throat, an impulsive decision creeping in.

"No, I've already decided. Haden, I'll just need you to take on more responsibility for us to do this. To fill in for me when needed, be my eyes and ears here on the ranch as we go through the motions."

What am I doing ?

I pull my cowboy hat off and run a hand through my hair as they both stare at me expectantly.

"I've already booked the hotel for us in Nashville," I lie. "We'll go look and see what we think."

" We? " Ivy asks, her eyebrows raised in anticipation. I look down at her and nod.

"Yes, you're our trainer right now and for the foreseeable future, so you'll come and have a say," I say lamely.

Ivy squeals and launches her pint-sized frame into mine, taking me by total surprise as she molds under the crook of my arm and locks her hands behind my waist.

"Fuck yes, Chief. I won't let you down. I'll train the shit out of that horse for you, he'll be racing like the wind by the spring," she says excitedly into my ear. Her voice is soft and husky. It's a recognizable voice that makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up, especially when she's this close to me, and you can tell she's not trying to make it sound sexy. It just is . Her hands on my back, her soft warm body pressed up against mine, coupled with that voice makes for the exact moment that my cock decides to wake up and see what's good.

Settle down, big fella, this is not your cue.

I detach her hands and step back. "Alright. Well, there's lots to sort out so I'll be in the office when you're wrapped up here. Come find me and we'll start planning."

She nods, the look on her face an apology for hugging me. "Sounds good," she says, back to professional.

Haden chuckles from his stall, and I have the sudden urge to cuff him upside the head, as I turn to walk into the silos office.

Time to look for some goddamn hotel rooms.