Page 13 of The Stars in the Sky
Hay
SOMETHING FLIP-FLOPPED DURING THE ride in the gas-guzzling, mega truck back to the Headlands Ranch compound. Instead of me asking Will questions and receiving one-word answers from him in response, he started asking me questions: about my family (my older brother, responsible, my younger sister, not), my school, my work, and my friends. And me being me, of course I talked a lot. Aside from his obvious good looks, there was something so attractive about this strong, mostly silent guy, taking an active interest in me, seeming to really listen, and asking follow up questions. This was probably because we were talking about safe topics, not politics or country music, which would have put us both into our default positions of protecting our belief systems. It was much better when we were being ourselves, without the political designations.
As we drove, I became acutely aware of the distance between us in the truck cab. He was so close, but not, since he wasn't touching me. I kept watching him—the muscles on his powerful thighs flexing as he moved his leg from the gas to the brake and back; his meaty biceps and forearms clenching as he shifted the car into drive and back into park; his flat belly moving as he spoke or took a breath; his dark eyes looking at me during the times that he tore his gaze away from the dirt road; his hewn jaw jerking if he found something I said amusing.
He drove me to a few other places on the ranch, which, size-wise was ridiculously large. I had no idea how many acres we saw. It seemed like his family owned half of California. He told me his dad had retired and left the operations to him. He employed office staff and a lot of workers, both seasonal and full-time. I saw the rangeland for the cattle, more of the orchards, and some of the fields of row crops. He also drove me to a section that had vineyards, and then to the Headlands Ranch winery. Apparently nearer to the highway, there was a small tasting room for the winery and he told me that he'd take me there to try the wine.
Could I potentially go there on a date there with Will? I liked that idea. A lot.
When we arrived at the compound, he parked the truck and Trixie jumped out. I leaped out of the high truck cab, and Will came around and walked me up to the bunkhouse. So, apparently for every Asshole Will, there was a Gentleman Will, too. When we got to the bunkhouse, he looked down at me, ran his hand through his longish, wavy dark hair, gave me a half-smile, and took off.
I watched him saunter back to his house, Trixie prancing at his side.
I’d left my phone in the bunkhouse and when I got to my room, I picked it up.
How was your second day of work?
This was Amelia. I texted her back.
I found out the hot guy who I thought is my boss is not actually my boss and he wants to do the nasty with me.
I thought this was summer camp, not a swinger's club.
We are complete political opposites and he is an asshole . . . sometimes.
How much of an asshole?
So far, less than fifty percent.
How hot?
Scale of 1 to 10?
Yes.
57.
Do the politics matter that much?
I don't know. I mean, yes, of course they do. This is me we're talking about. I live my beliefs. I’d be a moral failure if I slept with the enemy.
Girl . . .
I know. He's sexy as fuck, Amelia. I want to lick him. What do I do?
Lick him first. Ask questions later. If he's an asshole to you, dump him. It’s not a moral failure to have sex with a handsome man you like.
That's the strangest advice I've ever been given.
But I just might take it.
I'm here to serve. Speaking of serving, Ryan's at the door. Gotta go.
Fuck it. I was jumping Will's bones as soon as I could. I needed to get laid and I felt so attracted to him, obsessively so. There was no privacy around here, but I'd find a way.
In the evening, after dinner, I drank beer with Janine, Stephanie, and Cookie, sitting on the porch of the bunkhouse, watching the sunset, but Will was nowhere to be seen.
The next morning, Sunday, was my last day of prep before the kids got there. Officially, I had the day to myself, but I wanted to ride the horses again. After the motherfucking metal triangle woke me up way too early, again, I got up. I put on jeans, a white tank top, and boots, and fortified myself with coffee and cereal made with soy milk. Then I went to the stables with Janine and Stephanie.
