Caleb's Blessing(12)

She wasn't too happy with that but what could she do, she certainly didn't want to be rebuffed in front of an audience, which is what I usually did in private when she started her shit.

Since she usually saved her bullshit for the rare occasions that she caught me alone, she couldn't know if I would or wouldn't do the same with Amanda standing there.

I don't know how many times I could say no and in how many ways but damn. The idiot seemed to be under the impression that she could buy me with daddy’s money, little did she know I’d walk the streets bare assed naked before I let that shit happen, had it even been possible.

I’ve known bulls with more warmth and personality than her simpering ass. Not to mention she’s worst than a guttersnipe and if I was to ever lose my mind and go there, chances are I’d find her ass up in a trough somewhere, since to a man the boys all hated her guts.

"You must be the new maid I heard about." She focused those eyes that were all but oozing malice Amanda’s way. The smile on her face was pure venom; she'd found a new target had she, no way in hell.

"You must've heard wrong, Amanda is my houseguest, now if you'll excuse us Mikey will take care of you." I had my arm around Mandy as I addressed the harpy who was none too pleased.

Her face had fallen and she was gearing up to say some shit, but I didn’t give her the chance. “Your horse?” My tone brooked no argument, unless she was brain dead, she got it.

I was mad as fuck but held onto my temper; one thing was for sure, it will be a cold day in hell before I did business with her again, and the first chance I get, I'm having a word with her old man about her behavior.

I'd held off telling him before now, but this shit she'd just pulled crossed the fucking line; how dare she try to put down someone in my home?

Amanda hadn't said a word throughout all this and it hurt me to my fucking core that she’d been hurt on my watch. She looked fucking whipped when I looked down at her and my heart hurt for the sadness I saw there. I could only imagine what she was feeling.

She's a young girl after all, who's been through some shit in her life and was in a place where she probably felt like she couldn't compete with the high society, designer wearing Cecily, who had all but looked down her nose at her.

I didn't know her well enough to draw her in for a hug, but that's what I really wanted to do.

Cecily had stomped off in the direction of Sapphire's stall after I'd dismissed her, but I could tell Amanda was no longer interested in what we'd been doing.

I couldn't just leave things like that though so I sweet-talked her into going down to the creek with me.

It took some doing, but eventually she put aside the hurt and her smile shone through again as she wet her feet in the cool water.

The place was one of the most relaxing spots on the ranch; old pine trees, prairie bush, wildflowers and water. If I'd thought ahead I could've organized a picnic, but since this was an impromptu decision I'll have to save that for another time.

The sound of her laugh got to my gut. It was nice to see her enjoying herself if only in this simple way.

Maybe it was the way the sun hit her just right at that moment, or the way her scent seemed enhanced in the day's heat.

It could've been her laughter that did it, but whatever the cause, I found myself taking her in my arms for a slow, lustful kiss.

It was everything I expected and so much more, like all my winnings rolled into one. I kept after her lips for what felt like forever, never wanting to let go, but alas we needed to breathe.





Chapter 10




Damn, I've done it now. I was expecting her to either slap the shit out of me, or run screaming from the ranch; both of which I was ready to combat. What I didn't expect was for her to blush prettily at me and try to hide her face shyly in my neck.

I tipped her head back gently with my fingertip and smiled back at her. Instead of beating it to death I decided to act as though it was the most natural thing in the world for us to do. Though I’m sure that her heart had to be beating at least half as fast as mine was.

There were a million questions floating around in my head, and all of them were inappropriate at this time.

I reminded myself to keep it cool, not to rush anything as much as I wanted to. Her slight weight felt right pressed up against me, and I could honestly say there wasn’t a damn thing I’d rather be doing than sitting here like this with her.

I couldn’t resist taking her mouth again when the pull was too strong. I held her face between my rough palms as I nibbled at her lips softly, tenderly.

I tried to convey in that one act, just how much she was coming to mean to me. I wanted to make promises, things that I had no way of knowing if she was ready for.

Her response was even more passionate this time and I fought myself not to lay her back on the grass with the wild flowers shielding us, and take her.