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Everyone stood to help Norma clear the table except Jed, who lingered in the doorway. “You know, we’re behind on updating the spreadsheets on the herd.”
I thought of the stack of notes sitting by my computer and the spreadsheet I’d bungled earlier today. “I know.” I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose, feeling the tension spreading along my shoulders. There was too much work and not enough workers. “I’ll get to it tomorrow if I can.”
Jed nodded toward Richard. “I was thinking we could get him to do it. I’m sure a city boy like that probably knows his way around a computer. I could show him how tomorrow after lunch. I figure a few hours a day in the office doing data entry would probably suffice, don’t you think?”
He gave me a knowing look, and I realized he wasn’t making the suggestion just because he thought Richard could do the job. He was coming up with an excuse to give Richard a break from physical labor, the same way I had by taking him into town this afternoon while also keeping him working.
“Good idea,” I told him.
Jed smiled and disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Richard. I looked over at him, still fast asleep in his spot. It struck me how young he looked with his eyes closed and his face relaxed. And how innocent. Which caused me to snort because Richard awake was nothing close to innocent with all his saucy innuendos and dirty jokes.
Seeing him like this, though, made me realize how much I didn’t know about him. And how I wanted to learn more.
I shook my head at the thought. He was temporary, I reminded myself. Plus, he was my employee. He was off-limits. With a sigh, I stood and moved to where he sat.
“Come on, cowboy,” I said softly, shaking his shoulder a bit.
“Mnff,” he murmured. “Don’t wanna.”
“Trust me when I tell you, sleeping on this hard table won’t do you any favors. You’ll be as sore as a bucked-off bull rider come morning if you don’t get to bed.”
He lifted his head with great effort and blinked up at me. He was wide open in that moment, none of the usual bravado and swagger. “So sleepy,” he murmured.
“I know,” I said gently. “Let’s get you to bed.” He let me slide an arm under his shoulder and around his back as I helped him stand. That had been a mistake. The moment he was on his feet, he slumped against me, the entire side of his body pressing against mine. I could feel the heat radiating from him, the way his muscles tightened and shifted as he tried to find his balance.
He stumbled a step, and I pulled his arm across my shoulders to steady him. That only served to press him closer against me. Despite whatever fancy deodorant and overpriced beauty products he wore, I could still smell the hint of hay and horse on his skin. It was a familiar scent, one that caused my gut to twist.
I’d gotten him halfway to the door when he tugged against me. “Have to thank Norma for the hamburgers,” he mumbled.
Norma overheard him and got a laugh out of that one. “That was meatloaf, sweetie.”
Richard was so dead on his feet I wasn’t even sure he heard. I led him out through the mudroom, grabbing his boots on the way. Outside, the air was crisp and cool, with remnants of daylight still faintly glowing below the horizon in the distance. Above, the stars had come out, the pinpricks of light sharp and bright.
Richard nuzzled closer against me, his warmth seeping through my clothes. I gritted my teeth, trying not to notice how good he felt, how well his body fit mine. Like this, it was impossible to keep my imagination from going down those roads I’d avoided earlier in the day. Roads that led to Richard naked beneath me, his soft hands and lush mouth wrapped around my cock.
I swallowed a groan and picked up my pace, but this only caused Richard to stumble, forcing me to slow down again. Once inside the bunkhouse, Birdie trotted ahead of us, nosing open the door to his room. Clearly she already knew the way.
Following after her, I led Richard straight to the bed. As he turned to sit, he winced, grabbing for the trapezius muscle along his shoulder. “Ah, fuck. I think I used muscles we don’t have in New York. Is that possible?”
His voice was rough with exhaustion, and his eyelids were still drooping. Without thinking, I reached out and massaged the stiff line of his shoulders. Richard groaned and closed his eyes, dropping his chin to his chest.
I imagined how easy it would be to slip my hands under his shirt, just to make it easier to work his sore muscles, but simply putting my hands on his neck was already almost unbearably erotic. I used my thumbs to ease away the knots of tension while my work-rough fingertips dragged against his smooth, tan skin.
