Page 11 of Enamored
She flips the book open to a page showing one of her designs. She starts pointing out her different ideas, including changing the set-up of the current cabins. She suggests taking out the dining table and the small kitchen area and expanding the living room. This includes new furniture and window treatments. One of her ideas includes adding more windows to the current cabins, but that’s not going to work, so I nix the idea.
“You want something simple, so guests feel like they are still outside in nature, even when they are under a roof. Guests choose this ranch because they want the cowboy experience. Give that to them every chance you get. Those pictures you sell in the gift shop of the horses and field? Why not blow some of them up and add them to the walls.”
She’s so animated, I don’t want her to stop, but I also know that revamping all the cabins is too costly. I won’t be able to do it right now. “How about we focus on the new cabins for now? I like some of these ideas, and I think they would work well in the new designs.”
She sighs and pulls the sketchpad to her chest. “Tristan, I think you would be making a huge mistake to take the all-inclusive part out of staying here for some guests. That’s what made it seem so special—at least, I thought so.”
I narrow my eyes and purse my lips. “How so?”
She shrugs and shakes her head, taking a minute to figure out what she wants to say. “It felt like one big family. I knew I was just here for two weeks, and then I was going back to my real life, but everyone was so nice and welcoming. Every time your mom or dad saw me, they would call me by my name. There aren’t many places where that happens.
“If you have guests here for only a day or two at a time, they won’t get the same experience. They’re going to be a number. Those people are just as happy to stay in town for less money than they would be to stay here. They don’t care. When people chooseBlack Stallion Ranch, they choose it because they want a once in a lifetime experience.”
I hear that same sentiment from guests from time to time, but I’ve also heard from day visitors who have said they would love to stay at a place like this for a few nights as they travel around the state. I figured I could combine the two.
“Have you thought about keeping it all-inclusive, but offering three-night stays and seven-night stays? The new cabins could be used for the three-night stays, and the cabin could still be split into thirds. People that want the three-night experience get smaller sleeping quarters, but they get the benefit of everything the ranch has to offer.”
I tilt my head side to side, contemplating her idea. What she says holds some weight. “I suppose something like that could work. I would keep the price point per night a bit higher to make sure we can cover the cost of food and employees.”
She smiles and looks down at her sketchbook again. She continues to show me her plans, and I love everything about them. It’s like she tapped into my brain and knows exactly what I want. But if I tell her it’s perfect, she’s going to return to Boston. I’m not ready for that to happen yet, so I pretend to hate specific elements of them—pointing out flaws in the designs or not liking how the rooms are set up.
I stand and stretch my arms above my head in an exaggerated attempt to get her attention. I glance down at her and see her eyes are glued to the small amount of skin exposed where my shirt lifted. I stifle a smile and clear my throat. Her eyes dart to mine. “Work on it some more. We will discuss it tomorrow on our hike.”
She sighs and rubs her forehead in frustration. “I don’t have anything for a hike, Tristan. I’m not here for a vacation. I’m here to work. Let’s meet again at lunchtime tomorrow, and I will have some new sketches ready for you.”
I know she’s right. My thought was, I could bring her to the same spot we kissed the last time we hiked. Remind her of how well we fit together. Hell, even the two times we’ve kissed today, it’s been insane. The energy and want that surrounds us is unreal. I know she feels it, too. The way she fits into my arms is like she was made for me. I’m not ready to lose her again. Ten years was too long to not have her in my life.
I know now isn’t the time to push her. She’s trying to sort things out, and I don’t want to spook her. I wish her a good night, and I could have sworn I saw her frown when I turned to the door. I stop in the archway and look back at her.
“Dinner is in an hour, and we have s’mores by the fire tonight. It would be a shame if you missed it.”
I don’t wait for her response as I close the door. I smile to myself and whistle the entire way back to the house. One day back with me, and I’m already starting to wear her down.
* * *
She doesn’t show for dinner, and I’m tempted to march over to her cabin, toss her over my shoulder, and smack her ass. She has to eat, and I don’t want her hiding away because I’m there.Whoa, calm down, caveman!She’s an adult, and I pushed her buttons enough today. She needs some time to figure out how she feels, and I need to not be a jackass and let her.
I pile some food on a plate and cover it so I can take it to her. I pass by a few of the kids staying with us and smile and wave as they run to the house for s’mores. I reach cabin seven, take a deep breath, and raise my hand to knock. Centimeters before my knuckles rap on the wood, I hear her yelling at someone.
I lower my hand and strain to listen through the thick wood.
“It’s over. Don’t contact me, don’t call me. I can’t believe you had the nerve to pull shit like that and not tell me.”
Her voice fades out, and I imagine she’s walked into the back bedroom to finish yelling at her mystery guy. It sounds like she’s breaking up with a boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Shit. I never even asked if she had one. I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts of having her back and what I want to do to her. I shake the thoughts from my head and raise my hand to knock again. She pulls the door open and gasps in surprise at seeing me.
“What are you doing here?”
I hold the plate out for her, catching her eye. “You missed dinner, and I wanted to make sure you got something to eat.”
I pull my brows together and really look at her. She’s dressed in a white cowboy hat, a red sequined tank top, a jean skirt, and a pair of fucking cowboy boots. They look like the ones she wore when she was here ten years ago, but that’s impossible, right? She’s not going out like that. Guys will be on her the second she walks in.
“Oh, thanks. I’m not hungry.” She gives me a sad smile and tries to brush past me.
I grab her arm, stopping her. “Wait, where are you going dressed like that?”
