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Roxie had pitched us the idea of filming the dude ranch and other activities around the ranch for a day-in-the-life kind of thing. She was giving guests with traumas and PTSD veterans around the place a wide berth. She thought there was a definite audience and wanted us to give her a shot. I knew everyone was leaning in that direction as I glanced up and down the table. I figured maybe I could feel her out and her commitment to this project. Mostly, I just wanted to see if I could get her alone again.
Yes, I didn’t want her to leave quite yet. Though having my life filmed wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. The sex was off the charts, and something about how seriously she took her job resonated with me.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I said as a round of inhaled exclamations sounded around the table. I was pretty sure they were all waiting for me to drop the hammer on her. Oh, little did this group know about what we’d been up to. “You do the trail ride and dude ranch experience for the next three days. I have a group that’s here for team building. I’m certain we could get them to allow Luca to shoot during the ride.”
“Okay, you want me to get on a horse for three days?” Roxie asked, challenging me with those direct gaze of hers.
Those blue eyes spoke volumes. When she was calm, they were this light blue color. Stormy darker hues when she was mad, and right now, tiny pinpricks of the iris when I knew I had her full attention. I sort of wished I could have her mouthing off to my dick right now instead. However, this back and forth across the table would have to do as we had an audience. Pretty sure that as I was in charge of the trail ride, it wouldn’t be happening out in the wilderness beyond Safe Harbor Ranch. That was a crying shame, as it was sort of my fantasy. Mixing a hot, willing woman with the landscape I adored could be a memory worth making, and I was here for it. I guess we might need to take a private ride after our return.
I shook my head, trying to stay on target with my thoughts and feeling that I had failed miserably. Roxie was a distraction, but it was no longer anger rising inside of me when I glanced in her direction. It was curiosity. Could she cut it out here, or would she cut bait and cry uncle instead? There was only one way to find out.
“Yes, three days, and you have to live the experience alongside all of us,” I muttered. “If you do it, you can remake a plug to us for how to use the footage, maybe create some television or film. Whatever that pretty head of yours is concocting.”
She grinned, and it was that kind of grin when a woman knew she had you. I wanted to kick myself, but I was not the sort of man that would allow her to see me sweat.
“Deal.” She said.
“Wow, that was easier than I thought,” Anders bit, noting our little moment.
“Great idea,” Linc replied.
“I hope she doesn’t regret this,” Bentley sighed. “He did forget someone on the trail once.”
“Wait, you forgot someone?” Roxie asked me with horror in her eyes.
“The man fell asleep and didn’t wake on time,” I mumbled. “I found him before he perished, just a little scared. He never did it again, though,” I said, remembering the incident Bentley was referencing. And it was possible that I left the guy a few minutes longer out of spite – as I didn't like being shown up on my rides.
“I won’t let them leave you,” Luca replied from next to her.
I had looked into the guy because I didn't like how close he hung to Roxie. It turned out he was married, and from all social media and even some conversations I’d had with Roxie, he seemed smitten with his wife. I could allow that as long as he didn’t get between Roxie and me.
“Be ready in an hour,” I let her know.
“Wait, I need to tell Randy,” she muttered.
“Oh, I got this one,” Anders said. “I owe him a good chat anyway.”
“One hour,” I repeated to Roxie, whose face flushed a deep crimson. She turned tail and walked that fabulous backside out the door.
When I turned, four sets of eyes were arched in my direction. I didn’t give them a chance to share their thoughts. I turned in the opposite direction and fled.
Chapter 5
(Roxie)
______
I am so sore as I slide off the horse I’ve been riding. I’d prefer to sit on a bag of ice rather than around a campfire. I had to chuckle when I considered my friends back in Los Angeles and what they might say seeing me out here like this. I gingerly stepped to the far edge of the space where we would be sleeping and had my breath stolen from my body. The mountain expanse and land below us provided a view that was second to nothing I had seen in this life.
“How are you doing?” Easton’s deep voice sounded right behind me.
I wondered if I leaned back into all that cozy warmth of his if he would be disgusted or let me rest in his arms. He had a job that required keeping a lot more people than just me safe and fed this evening. He was also a saint if he had the same issues as me concentrating on anything than his body. I was confident that I didn’t care how sore I was or where – this man could fix it.
“I’m doing okay,” I said, turning from my thoughts and the scenery. “I think I could use a big rest right now,” I said as I looked at the lumpy ground. “I’m not going to get that tonight, though, am I?”
He chortled loudly at the look on my face. “I can promise you will sleep like a log.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, not sold on the words coming out of his mouth. This seemed like such a good way to prove my toughness and sell him on letting us shoot a film here. However, after riding on a horse, not having the luxury of anything but trail food, and now sleeping outside, I was second-guessing my decision.
