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“Right. What’s with all the extra ‘u’s? Colour. Favourite. So odd.”
Millie shrugged.
“Woah, you do seem blue. Homesick? I felt that way for a while when we first arrived. Even though I love it here, it’s so different from New York. Although, at least it’s the same country.” She gave a kind smile. “You must be all over the place. Say, you know what always makes me feel more centered and at home?”
“Nope.”
Bunny glanced at Edgar. “Some time in Little Space.”
Millie shifted from foot to foot. “I don’t really know how to do that.”
It was true, she’d played a little at Rawhide Ranch, but that was so structured, it felt like a school program. Here, she’d just be playing with Bunny. What if she did it wrong, and upset her one potential friend here?
“There’s no wrong way to play, sweetie,” Bunny said. “You just, go with the flow.”
What if that idea terrifies you?
“Um, I don’t think I want to.”
Why did you say that?
Bunny looked surprised, but, to her credit, she didn’t seem offended. “Of course. I get it. You probably want some alone time to settle in.”
For the millionth time, Millie knew that she’d made a mistake. A stupid, impulsive mistake.
Later, after the moon was high and Millie was trying to get comfortable in an unfamiliar bed, she thought about her options. Did she really have any? She could leave, but where would she go? She could stay, but how would she cope?
Inevitably, her thoughts turned to the bottle of whiskey she’d smuggled into the ranch. Maybe a little oblivion would be what the doctor ordered.
Only one thing kept her from the bottle — the image of Chuck, stood over her, jaw clenched and torso bare, ready to claim her.
But that was just a fantasy. That would never happen in real life.
Still, it didn’t hurt a girl to dream… and if all thatdreaminghelped distract her from the liquor in her bag, then what was the big deal?
Millie closed her eyes and started to dream as hard as she could.
*
“Trust me, it would be a disaster.”
The following morning, Chuck paced around Takis’ office. His heavy cowboy boots clunked heavily against the polished hardwood floor. He didn’t need to look at Takis’ feet to know that he was wearing sensible, expensive, city shoes.
“But why?”
Because she’s my kryptonite. Because she’s the reason I ran away from the best-paid job in the world. Because she haunts my dreams.
“Because,” he said, “her father is one of the most powerful, wealthy men in UK equestrianism.”
A smile played on Takis’ lips. “Holy shit, I thought cowboys were meant to be tough! One of the most powerful, wealthy men in UK equestrianism?” He let out a snicker, which became a belly laugh. “Let’s just say that doesn’t exactly scare me. Look, let me speak straightforwardly: Millie is an adult, and she’s here because she wants to be. She decided to come work here. She decided to change her life. I don’t know about you, but I believe in respecting people’s decisions.”
“Well, obviously I agree with that. She’s her own woman. I’m serious about her father, though. If he finds out she’s here… at an age play ranch? There will be trouble. I guarantee it.”
“Well, I suppose it’s up to her whether she decides to tell him or not. Now is there anyvalidreason why you can’t work with her?”
For all of Takis’ bravado and impulsivity, Chuck had to admire the man. His arrogance was tempered with respect. He respected the autonomy and decisions of other people. He’d been honest with Chuck from the start about what he’d expect from him. He also seemed to adore Bunny. It was clear from the way he doted on her. Theirs was a beautiful relationship.
Respectful. That was the word.
