AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Stephen lifted his glass. “To new beginnings.”
Chapter 3
Wearing her warmest sweater, gloves, and a hat, Kaylee peered out the lobby windows of Rawhide Ranch. Her heart leapt with excitement. Snow. It had just started snowing. She’d planned to enjoy a quick hike this morning, and she hadn’t counted on snow, but she supposed if she didn’t stray too far from the main building, it would be okay.
She headed for the exit, passing by the main desk on her way, and smiled at Sadie. She’d met the adorable brunette about a year and a half ago during her first visit to the Ranch and always enjoyed watching the Little’s interactions with her husband and Daddy, Derek Hawkins, who was the owner of Rawhide Ranch. They were the cutest couple.
“Hey, Kaylee!” Sadie waved and smiled. “Where are you going? Are you seriously going out in that storm? If so, you’d better hurry up and escape before some bossy person sees you and tries to stop you for not wearing a coat and proper boots. There area lotof bossy people around here.” As she spoke, she shifted uncomfortably in her chair, and Kaylee couldn’t help but shoot the younger woman a knowing grin.
“Yes,” Kaylee said, “I am headed out in the storm. But in my defense, it wasn’t snowing a few minutes ago when I left my room. I don’t plan to go far though, just want to get my morning mile in.”
“Morning mile?” Sadie affected an exaggerated shudder. “You should join the dark side and take your mornings nice and easy with a side of delicious hot chocolate.” She lifted a mug with a lid to her lips, took a long sip, then sighed with contentment.
“Maybe I’ll do that tomorrow.” Kaylee glanced out the windows again and started moving in the direction of the door, only to pause mid-step when Sadie suddenly emitted a loud gasp.
“Oh! Actually, I have an extra hot choccy that you’re welcome to have.” She quickly produced a second mug. “Promise you won’t blab to my Daddy, but I swiped two from the cafeteria this morning. I’m happy to share!” Sadie’s expression turned serious. “No offense, and maybe it’s none of my business, but you look a little sad, and hot choccy might cheer you up.” She held the mug out with an air of determination Kaylee couldn’t resist.
“You know what? Hot chocolate sounds great.” She removed her gloves and shoved them into her pocket, then stepped forward and accepted the mug. “Thank you, Sadie, you’re very thoughtful.”
Sadie beamed, but a moment later, her expression went serious again and her eyes widened. She drew in a deep breath before an explosion of words left her. “I’m sorry your Dom cheated on you with your cousin right before the holidays and now you’re here because your aunt whose house you spend Christmas at is that cousin’s mother and I can’t imagine how sad you must be, but I wanted to tell you just how sorry I am and that I hope you feel better soon and I hope you have the best Christmas here and I also hope your cheating ex stubs his pinky toe on a coffee table every day for the rest of his life.” In the aftermath of her rapid speech, she panted a bit.
Kaylee was stunned. She’d confided in Master Derek, but only because he’d found her crying in a hallway on her first evening at the resort. He’d coaxed her into his office and gently questioned her. And so, she’d confessed the entire sordid tale while he listened patiently and offered words of comfort. She hadn’t expected he would tell anyone, especially not all the dirty details. But it would seem Sadie knew everything.
“Um, how exactly do you know all this?” Kaylee asked, still surprised that Master Derek would share her personal business. In her shame over what had happened, she’d specifically asked him not to tell anyone.
A guilty look came over Sadie and her cheeks turned bright pink. She fidgeted in her seat and toyed with the lid on her hot chocolate. “Um, I kinda sorta overheard you telling my Daddy everything. I know I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, but I was looking for my Daddy and neither of you heard when I cracked the door of his office open. I know I should’ve left immediately when I heard you crying, but I couldn’t make my feet move, honest I couldn’t, it was like they were super glued to the floor.”
It was difficult to be upset with Sadie when she looked so adorably remorseful, especially when she meant well. Kaylee released a long breath and gave the young woman an understanding smile. “It’s okay. I-I suppose I didn’t want anyone else to know what happened with Chad because it’s humiliating. They were going behind my back for three months and I never once suspected. I feel like an idiot.” She also felt like there must be something wrong with her, though she didn’t voice this thought out loud.
What did she do that caused her to lose Chad? Why couldn’t she satisfy him enough to keep him from straying? Maybe she wasn’t submissive enough or pretty enough or maybe he thought her personality sucked. She blinked back an unexpected wave of tears.
“Hey, hey, it’s gonna be okay.” Sadie set her beverage down and circled the desk to give Kaylee a quick hug. “He’s the idiot, not you. He’s also a lot of other bad words I’m not supposed to say.”
Kaylee managed to blink away her tears. Thank goodness. She’d believed she was done crying, but apparently her emotions were still raw. “Thanks. Logically, I know he’s the idiot, but it doesn’t lessen the sting of what happened.”
She glanced over her shoulder as a couple entered the lobby, their noses pink from the cold. A pang of envy resonated in her heart when she watched the handsome Daddy help brush snow off his Little boy’s coat. Once they’d wiped their boots, they hurried by and headed for the elevators, only pausing for a second to utter a brief greeting to Kaylee and Sadie.
“I should probably head out for my walk before the snow gets worse,” Kaylee said. “Thanks for the hot chocolate—I’ll take it with me—and thank you for your kind words. I promise I won’t tell your Daddy that you eavesdropped, just please promise you won’t tell anyone else about my breakup with Chad.”
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Sadie mimicked zipping her lips and throwing away the key. She ducked behind the desk as a guest entered the lobby, Moses trailing behind carrying two suitcases.
Clutching her hot chocolate, Kaylee headed for the double doors, her steps rapid. She flung open the door, eager to get outside and hopefully clear her head, only to collide with a huge body. The lid on her mug popped off and hot chocolate splattered everywhere, including her hands. She hissed in pain and backed up, but momentarily forgot her discomfort when she met the gaze of the most handsome man she’d ever seen.
“Sorry!” they both blurted at the same time.
Wow, he sure was a looker. He had a strong square jaw and the lower half of his face held just the right amount of stubble. The beginnings of a beard, perhaps. His blue eyes were so bright they were almost otherworldly, holding a depth of wisdom. His dark hair was tinged with streaks of white, giving him a distinguished appearance. Late forties or early fifties, she guessed, and totally yummy.
Not only was he hella sexy, but he was wearing a uniform. Talk about icing on the cake. A security guard, she realized as her libido performed a little jig. She’d been at the Ranch for four days but this was the first time she’d glimpsed him.
Concern brimmed in the man’s eyes, such a soft caring look that she instantly melted. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gently guided her to sit down on a nearby bench, allowing the door to shut behind them and keep out the cold. He grasped her hands, peering at the red splotches on her hands and wrists.
“I’m sorry I ran into you.” He caressed a finger over a red mark. “Does this hurt?”
“It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault, I was in a rush and not really paying attention. It just hurts a little. It’s fading already.” Kaylee couldn’t help but blush. Her cheeks felt so warm she almost worried she was coming down with a fever. “Um, I’m sorry I got hot chocolate all over your uniform.” He was wearing a coat, though it was partially unzipped, and the hot beverage had stained both his coat and the top of his blue uniform shirt. She glanced at the mess and realized his hat and gloves were on the floor. He must’ve been holding them when she ran into him and they went flying along with the hot chocolate.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. Accidents happen.” The concern in his eyes deepened as he continued inspecting her hands and running his fingers over the red marks. “You know what, I think we ought to get your hands under some cold water. I don’t want you to develop any blisters.”
She opened her mouth to protest, only for him to level an authoritative look on her. Her pussy clenched, and she swallowed hard. “Okay, I guess that would be fine.”
