Simmer: Erotic Romance (Fireside Series) Read online

  A lot of my life hadn’t gone as I had planned since I had graduated college only two years ago. After Luke had left I spent the last several months trying to find myself. Collin had moved on, he was already married and starting a family, and here I was, a scared child sitting in a bank asking for money. My father had helped me move in with Jade but things hadn’t been the same since our argument about Luke, not that they were really that great to begin with. He was more positive about my reconnection with Jade and my plan to buy my own ranch. He refused to be an investor, but that was fine with me, I had no intention of asking him for money once I had moved out. Deciding to strike out on my own was terrifying but in less than six months I had gotten my own apartment and started building my financial portfolio. Luckily Daddy hadn’t taken away my trust fund, and honestly somewhere deep down I think he appreciated that I was using it for a business venture instead of picking out china. I really think my mother would have supported my decision. Linda and Fred come over and visit once a week, she still makes me the best homemade bread pudding. We sit in front of my fireplace and talk about the more simple things in life. They don’t ask about my business and I don’t open up to them about either, and we never talk about my love life. The cowboy with scars on his back had scared my heart forever. I had dated a few guys here and there, but no one local struck my fancy and I was content with that. I had my great love in my life even if was only for a few days. And what’s that saying? Better to have loved and lost than to never loved at all? What they don’t mention in that is how bad it hurts when you lose that love. But at least I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life and that was something. So now I was a career woman. I would be strong, brave, and completely stubborn. I considered all of those great qualities. Now… I was hoping the bank would too.

  I gripped my portfolio to my chest and waited anxiously for what could be the most important meeting of my life. I was looking at my reflection in the shiny linoleum floor when I heard my shoes clicking down the hall.

  “Cheyenne? Cheyenne is that you? They told me I was meeting with the beautiful client today but I never expected it to be you.”

  I turned my head to see Blake Howard standing in a crisp black suit with the black tie and a white collared shirt. I hadn't seen Blake since high school, we had a little bit of a fling Junior year but that seemed like a lifetime ago. Time had been awfully good to him. I stood up quickly dropping my portfolio from my lap.

  “Blake! I didn't expect to see you here either. Oh I'm such a mess today. I guess it's just nerves.” I reached down to pick up my portfolio at the same time that he bent down and our hands brushed for a moment. When we looked up our eyes met and I was surprised that I remembered how they had had little gold flakes in them.

  I stood up chewing on my lower lip, “I'm sorry I must seem so ridiculous right now.”

  He shook his head handing me back my portfolio. “Not at all. Why don’t we go into my office and discuss your business plan?”

  He opened an old wooden door that I had been sitting next to and extended his arm for me to walk in. “Thank you, listen if this makes you uncomfortable…”

  He closed the door behind him and strode over to sit behind his expensive looking desk. “Not at all, it’s been years since I've seen you! How have you been?”

  I smiled as brightly as possible concealing the lies I held underneath my skin. “Oh just great! You know I was just living with my dad, but now I’m trying to get a place of my own.”

  He nodded his head and leaned back in his chair. He was getting comfortable which made me feel more at ease.

  “That's right weren't you supposed to get married? I remember someone saying something about last year. You know bunch of us still go down to Shakey’s and drink on Fridays.”

  “Shakey’s? Really? I thought they only served beer to underage kids.”

  He laughed, “Not anymore I guess. We just go down there and see what everyone's up to. You should come. I know everyone would really like to see you.”

  “Really?” I scoffed. “Like who? High school people?”

  He nodded, drawing me in with his light golden eyes.

  “I haven't seen any of those people in the years. Probably since my sophomore year in college. I don't know why any of them would have any interest in me anymore.”

  He smiled and shook his head, “I know one reason.”

  “Oh?”

  “You're single. You were one of the most highly sought after girls in high school. Don't think much has changed.”

  I laughed to myself, “Well played. Okay I'll come, but can you promise me one thing first?”

  He smiled, “Sure.” He leaned forward on the desk to be closer to me placing his face only inches away from my own.

  “You'll help me get a ranch first?” I shook my portfolio in my hands.

  He sat back slowly placing his fingers together underneath his chin. He was studying me with his eyes. And from where they were settling I could tell he was interested in all my assets. “You’ve got a deal.”

  +

  I watched as Jade curled her braids around thick curling iron preparing for a night out in our small town. I could never understand how she got her hair to look like that. Even in college I would spend hours in front of the mirror and she would get out her curling iron, some mascara, and a hot dress and be ready to go. It was a complete mystery to me, I had stick straight hair that refused to do much of anything. Jade was so stunning with her chocolaty brown skin and dark black hair. And tonight she was practically glowing with excitement.

  “I can't believe Blake Holden invited you out! You know what this means?”

  She had her eyes on me in the reflection of the mirror, watching for what she expected would be an epic reaction, but I just shrugged. “Jade you know he's not really my type. I was just flirting to get the bank deal, and I must know what I’m doing since I was so successful. Can you believe it only took a week for me to get all the paperwork approved?”

  Jade shook her head, “You know he pushed for you to get passed faster than probably any client he’s ever had. And girl, you also know if he asked you out, you’re getting a lot more than a loan.”

  I ignored her little quip so she moved on, “Have you picked a place out yet? You know I think getting out of this apartment would do me some good too.” She winked in the mirror.

  “I did actually. I'm going put an offer on it next week. I already discussed it with my commercial realtor and she thinks that it's a really great piece of property. The house was recently flipped so it’s brand new on the inside, but the barn needs some work. And then I'm going have to purchase horses and cattle, but that will come by the end of summer. I can't believe it's all coming together Jade, I'm finally getting my life back on track.”

  “And don't you think it’s about time to have a man back in your life? And don't tell me about how you've dated, because we both know that isn't really true. A couple one night stands here and there doesn't count as dating someone.”

  She put down her curling iron to cross her arms and turn around to assess me. As she leaned back on the sink counter I had to admit she was a little bit right, and with her jacked arms and steely gaze she looked formidable. I wasn’t going to argue with her.

  I put my hands up in surrender, “Okay you're right. It would be nice to have Blake visiting me on my new ranch. But really Jade he's not my type. Besides I think I heard once that he goes for girls with a little bit more darker complexion, if you know what I mean?”

  She smiled devilishly, “You mean he likes a little chocolate with his white milk?”

  I rolled my eyes and laughed, “You're such a mess.”

  She turned back around to the check her lipstick in the mirror, “Look who's talking.”

  I fake pouted, “That's not fair! I'm doing a lot with my life, it just took a little while for me to get going.”

  “Right Cheyenne. I know.”

  +

  “One, two, three, c
hug!” Blake was holding up my third shot of the night. I was feeling looser than I had in months. My head was swimming with thoughts of success, of my new ranch, a great business plan, and the delicious man sitting on the barstool next to me. This was the first time I felt free since the cabin in the woods. But I felt open in a different way, careless, perhaps even a little reckless. Jade was also drinking, but she had downed a lot more than I had. I’d lost count after her sixth shot of the evening, and that was at least two beers ago. But she was chatting it up with some guy at the end of the bar I didn’t recognize. He looked a little sketchy with an unshaven face and dark features, but Jade liked a bad boy. She had ditched our group almost immediately when she realized they were old high school friends of mine. She and I met later in college. Jade and my friendship had been easy once we realized that we lived in the same town. But her parents had moved here when she started college, so she didn't know any of the townies.

  “So how do you feel to be in a landowner? A successful business woman as it were?”

  I smiled at Blake as he lazily hung his heavy arm over my shoulder. “I'm not a landowner yet. But I am one step closer thanks to you.”

  “Oh sure, anything I can do for a friend.” He winked at me sloppily in his drunken state.

  “I’m sure.” I raised an eyebrow at him. I hadn’t felt so alive since Luke. Something about Blake brought out the wild side in me again.

  My subtle flirting had worked like a charm, or maybe it was the copious amounts of alcohol in his system but suddenly he was very close to my face whispering just along my cheekbone. “Do you want to get out of here?”

  Could I do that? Could I go somewhere with this guy had known since high school and let him take me? I didn't know. It was the first time I had felt anything since Luke, and I wasn't sure what those feelings were. Just as I was about to agree to go find a quiet spot to discover my true feelings, a stranger walked into the bar. A stranger, who wasn’t so strange to me.

  He had a dark navy hoodie on covering his head, but I knew that gait anywhere. I knew that strong upper body, and those thick riding legs.

  “Luke,” I whispered.

  I attempted to make eye contact with the new arrival but he just walked up to the bar and sat down right next to Jade. She hardly noticed his presence, still flirting with her new potential boyfriend. Jade had never met Luke, she was one of the girls I had told my father I was spending the weekend with when instead I spent it alone at the cabin with Luke. But he was in my life for such a short time, she never got the chance to see us together. It didn’t surprise me that she didn’t recognize him.

  Blake still had his arm draped over me and as much as I wanted to find out if this flirtation had a chance to go anywhere, I couldn’t do it in Luke's presence.

  “I'm really sorry but I have to go,” I told Blake.

  “We have to go,” I called to Jade. She didn’t even look at me, still deep in conversation with her potential fling.

  I knew he would hear me, I knew he would look up and I would recognize his eyes from underneath the dark hood. But instead when he heard my voice he just turned and looked the other way. Maybe I was wrong, maybe it wasn't him. Or maybe he didn't think that I would be here. Maybe he didn't want to see me with someone else.

  I still held on to the shred of hope that one day we would be together. And now my hope was renewed, if it really was Luke.

  “Jade come on, we need to go.”

  I thought the Blake would be harder to get away from but instead all that I had to do was peel his arm off of my shoulders and he slumped over in his barstool, placing arm on the bar and allowing his head to find it. He looked a little ridiculous, but I guess everybody has those evenings. And if I was lucky he wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. I didn’t want to reject him, I just had to be sure about the stranger.

  I walked over to Jade right past the hooded stranger, but when I tried to untangle her from the man that she was currently making out with, he wouldn't let go.

  I quickly realized the situation could escalate if I didn't stop it. She was trying to get some air but he dug his hands further into her hair. I tried to put myself between them. “Hey buddy listen, my friend and I, we've got to go. She’ll call you I promise.”

  I had successfully gotten his attention which gave Jade enough time to get some air. She stood up, collected her things, and attempted to move away from the bar. But she stumbled and I realized he hadn’t let go her hand. I attempted to break his grip on her wrist but when she tried to move away he yanked it back.

  “I'm not done with her yet.”

  I heard Jade giggle but she also tried to remove his hand from her wrist and I caught a glimpse of a panicked look in her eyes when she realized she couldn't get him off of her.

  “Oh come on baby I got your number. I'll call. But my friend and I, we gotta bounce. You understand don't you?”

  He shook his head, “I said you're staying.”

  Now typically Jade wasn't the type of girl to back down that easily but after a few drinks I could tell that she was scared. She knew she couldn’t fight him if she had to.

  “I promise she'll call you, but we’re leaving. You need to let go of her or I'm calling security.”

  There was still no reaction from the stranger in the navy sweatshirt, but I could almost feel his presence coming closer to us. If push came to shove would Luke reveal himself to me?

  “Listen bitch I don't know who you are but I said she's staying with me. If you’ve got a problem go ahead and call security but there ain't nothing they're going to do about it.”

  I was starting to panic, what if this guy tried to hurt one of us? I pulled Jade a little bit harder but his grip was too tight.

  The group I had arrived with had dwindled to just Blake, myself, and Jade. With him passed out on the bar, he wasn’t going to be much help. I looked behind me to see if the stranger was still there, but he was gone. We were in some serious trouble. And that's when I heard him.

  “I'm pretty sure the lady said that it's time for her to go.” The voice was gravelly but strong and I knew exactly who it belonged to. “Now if you don't let her go I'm going to break your God damned neck. I don’t think security is going to do anything about that either.”

  I turned around to see the man with his hood still up with one arm around Jade’s assailant’s neck.

  The man simply nodded and let Jade go. I wanted to stay to confirm my suspicion about the knight in shining armor but Jade quickly grabbed my hand and we ran from the bar.

  “Oh my God Cheyenne! That was crazy!”

  “I know. In so many ways, I know.”

  I looked back, hoping I would catch a glimpse of Luke leaving the bar, but sadly I saw nothing. Just the shadows of the night, once again, taking in my secrets.

  +

  Three weeks later I sat at my new desk in my shiny new office. I had gone to the bar to find Luke every other night since the incident with Jade, but he hadn’t been there. Part of me wondered if I had made him up. If I just wanted that guy to be him.

  There was hardly any furniture at Jade and my new house. Most of our belongings were still in boxes, but I had a desk and that was all I needed. I was working diligently on purchasing a few foals when I heard a knock at my door.

  “Give me a second Jade, I’m just trying to find this last figure.”

  “I heard you’re looking for ranch manager.”

  I knew the voice without even looking up. There was a different texture to it though, almost gruff. Much more mature than that once been. But it had been months since I had heard his voice clearly and I had learned that a lot can happen in that time. A lot, and sometimes not so much.

  Slowly I put down my pen and took a deep breath allowing my eyes to travel up to see Luke’s face. He stood smugly leaning lazily on the door frame with his hand in his pocket, one of his legs supporting the other. It was exactly how I expected to see him, but not here. Maybe never even in Colorado, he left
me. He wasn’t ever supposed to come back. I had even almost convinced myself it wasn’t him in the bar that night. But here he was in all of his mysterious glory and I was taking in every inch, reveling in his rugged beauty.

  “Been in any bar fights lately? You gotta keep that one on a leash.” He pointed over his shoulder at what I assumed was Jade in the front of the house.

  “Luke,” I breathed barely above a whisper. I shook my head to calm myself and pull it together. There were so many things I planned on saying to him that had run through my head a thousand times in the past few months, but now that he was standing in front of me, my mind was completely blank. I felt a surge of hope that he was here for more than just a job.

  I stood up and walked around my desk still in my business skirt, a black pencil skirt that I had kept from college interviews and a button up blouse. I didn’t look like my usual self, but Luke wouldn’t know that anymore.

  “It was you at the bar the other night? Why didn’t you say something?”

  He ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t expect to see you there. I mean you are a businesswoman now! I knew you had it in you.”

  I stood in front of my desk and leaned back on it attempting to appear casual but his proximity was killing me. How could he look so good after all that had happened between us? And how could he act like any of it didn’t matter?

  He took his hat off and sat it on box next to an overstuffed chair where he gingerly sat down still trying to appear calm. It still had the plastic on from the store, and made a noise under his weight.