Chapter 7

Ophelia

My eyes popped open, and I jackknifed up in bed. Another dream? Damn, that one was so real.

The bed shifted and I slowly turned to look down beside me. Holy mother of sexy naked men. It wasn’t a dream. Last night I’d been thoroughly fucked by James Locke. My online dream guy. My childhood crush. A dreamy sigh escaped my lips, and James’s mouth tipped up at the corners.

“I hope that sound was because you’re thinking of me,” he teased. Reaching out, he slid his arm around me and dragged me down and on top of him. His hands palmed my butt and he sighed contentedly. 

“We should probably go,” I sighed halfheartedly, wishing we could stay in bed and make love all day. “I can’t leave Andy with all the chores. He works hard enough.”

James popped an eye open and squinted it at me. “He told me you tried to get him to retire. I wouldn’t hold my breath for that day to come.” He closed his eye again and chuckled.

I frowned and smacked his muscular, sexy as sin chest. “He’s going to work himself into an early grave. Most days I have to get up extra early just to beat him to the tougher chores. Stubborn old man.” My grumbling caused James to snicker again and I huffed, trying to roll off of him so I can get up.

“Stop your wiggling, Ophelia,” he said sternly. His arms tightened and he trapped my legs between his, preventing me from moving any further. “Baby, I think it’s amazing that you are trying so hard to care for him. But, he’s a rancher and a proud one at that, he’s not going to let you coddle him.” He frowned and opened his eyes. Regret poured from them and he loosened his hold enough to caress the side of my face. I leaned into his hand and practically purred.

“I’m sorry for the things I said, Lia. I made stupid assumptions and was too stubborn to even make sure they were true.” His genuine sorrow spread warmth in my chest, my heart melting.

“Thanks,” I murmured.

“After I figured out it was you I was chatting with, I had a talk with Andy. He told me about how you worked with Nick to learn to run the ranch and train the horses.” He gave me a wry, lopsided smile. “He might have mentioned your attempts to make him take it easy. In fact, he seemed rather insulted, baby.”

I couldn’t help giggling. I wasn’t surprised, I’d been on the other side of one of Andy’s lectures, informing me that he wasn’t an invalid and to back off and let him do his job.

James yawned and stretched. I used the opportunity to scramble away but not before he landed a hard slap to my ass. “Hey!”

“Naughty girls get spanked, baby.”

The idea didn’t exactly repulse me like it probably should have. James groaned and scrubbed his face. “Of course that makes you hot. You’re fucking perfect.”

I grinned and shook my head. “Far from it, but you keep thinking that.” He watched me as I walked around gathering up our scattered clothes. His eyes lazily following the bounce of my breasts and ogling my ass when I bent over. “Look your fill, perv,” I taunted, adding a little more swing in my hips. “I’ll be covering it up soon.”

James grinned, a sight that still sent me reeling, but in a good way, since it reminded me that he had changed.

“That’s okay, I can see it anytime I want by closing my eyes.” He sat up and swung his feet over the side of the bed and stood. “Besides, I’ll get to see it any time I want once you move in.” His tone was playful but when he faced me, I could see that it wasn’t all a joke.

“Move in?” I didn’t bother to hide my confusion or my wariness as I waited for his explanation.

“I’d like to do it before school starts up again for Rose. I think Andy could handle things at Red Hill Ranch while we find a new manager. It’s not like you’ll be far anyway.”

He sounded so matter of fact. Like it was a foregone conclusion that I’d be uprooting my life and moving in with him, just like that. Shouldn’t we at least be in love first?

Living in denial, are we?

Okay fine, I already loved him. But, it should be mutual before we go playing house!

“James, I told you I’d give us a try and I’m more than happy I did. But, we’ve been on one date.” I felt my face heat at my next words. “Granted we slept together but, um—”

James was suddenly standing right in front of me, gripping my biceps firmly. “I told you that if you gave yourself to me, there was no going back,” he growled. ‘You agreed.”

“Yes,” I confirmed. “I’m yours right now and we’ll see where—”

“Forever,” he interrupted, his tone dark, almost menacing. “Mine forever. You gave yourself to me. Only me and I’m keeping you. I won’t let you go, Ophelia.”

“Y—you can’t just—just, keep me!” I sputtered.

He leaned in close until our noses were practically touching. “Watch me.”

He looked angry, his scowl carved out of stone, and his voice acidic. My world tilted on its axis as I recognized the man in front of me. The man who’s caustic comments and demeaning assumptions hurt me time and again.

This was the James Locke I knew.

Using every bit of my strength, I tore myself out of his grip and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door behind me. I put my clothes on as quickly as possible, splashed some water on my face, and threw open the door once more.

James was sitting on the bed, facing me, his elbows on his knees and his face buried in his hands. His head snapped up when he heard the door, but I didn’t waste any time blowing past him. I’d taken his clothes with me into the bathroom, so I had time to get away while he dressed.

I hurried out of the hotel, trying hard to ignore the stares. It was glaringly obvious that I was doing the walk of shame.

They had no idea how true that was.

The town we were in was only slightly larger than Fort Mavis, which is to say, still super small. Calling a cab certainly wasn’t an option. I was on the verge of breaking down, right there in the circle drive, when someone touched my shoulder. I spun around angrily, assuming it was James.

But instead, I found an older couple with kind faces, watching me worriedly. “Are you alright?” the woman asked.

I nodded, but the tears starting to leak contradicted me. “I just need to figure out how to get to my car. I came here with someone but—um, I need my car.”

“We can give you a lift, young lady,” The silver-haired man patted my hand gently as he spoke. He reminded me so much of my grandpa that it sent another fresh flood of tears to the surface.

“It’s only a few blocks away,” I said hopefully. “If you wouldn’t mind...?”

“Of course not,” his wife said with a smile. “Here’s our car now.”

The valet hopped out of a sporty, cherry red SUV. It was a pretty hip car for a couple who were most likely in their seventies. My surprise and amusement must have shown on my face because the older man winked at me and quipped, “We’re old, not dead.” I laughed as I climbed into the back seat. It felt good, washing away a little of my grief. But as I shut the door, I spotted James running outside, calling my name. I ignored him, but I think the couple suspected it was me he was looking for. Still, they didn’t say anything as we pulled through the drive. His hand moved to rest on the console, palm up, and she laced their fingers together.

It was sweet and I envied their easiness with each other and the deep love they obviously had for each other. Maybe I should have given James a chance. I wondered if I had, would he have confessed his love?

If he did, he would come after me, right?

I gave them the address of the restaurant, and we chatted for the few minutes it took to get there. They were Sandy and Bill Presley, from Dallas, Texas. They’d raised four kids and had recently retired and decided to do some traveling. East Wellsville was halfway to their daughter’s house. I told them my name and for a second, I thought I saw a flicker of recognition on their faces, but it was a silly thought. I told them about my dreams for the ranch, omitting the news that I would no doubt be selling it soon and all of those dreams would go up in smoke.

We reached our destinations and I thanked them profusely. They wished me luck and Sandy even got out to give me a big hug. It reminded me of my mom’s loving arms and I thought, for the first time since I arrived at Red Hill Ranch, that maybe I wanted to go home. They waited until I was inside my Jeep before driving off with a wave. I returned the gesture, then drove the hour long drive home that didn’t seem so lonely the day before.

Once I got home, I threw myself into helping Andy with the remaining chores. When we were done, I took a shower, made myself some dinner, cleaned the kitchen, then cleaned everywhere else, then read a book... Finally, at one in the morning, I accepted that James wasn’t coming after me and crawled into bed where I cried myself to sleep.

***

“Lia. Wake up, baby.” A low, gravelly voice crooned in my ear. He gently shook me. “Please, Lia.”

I dragged my eyelids up, no small feat considering they were puffy from all the crying. Blinking, I focused on lovely blue eyes and a handsome, chiseled face. “James?” I asked groggily. He was crouching at the side of the bed.

“I’m so sorry, Lia.” It was then that I noticed the ragged edge in his in tone and the weariness in his eyes. “I tried to give you time, but I just couldn’t stay away from you another minute.” My head lifted and I blearily peered at the clock. I’d only been asleep for a half hour. I had exhausted myself and then drained everything left crying, so I was in a bit of a fog. I sat up and it helped to clear away some of the haze.

James tenderly brushed a finger around my eyes, his face anguished. “You’ve been crying because of me. I hate that. I want to kill anyone who hurts you, so when it’s me, that puts me in a bit of a spot.”

I smiled helplessly, he made it as easy to like him as to hate him. Thin line and all that.

He moved to sit next to me and I scooted over to make room. “The idea of losing you . . . it makes me crazy. That’s the only excuse I have for reverting to being a complete prick.” Gingerly, he reached for my hand and when I let him take it, he sighed and some of the tightness in his expression relaxed.

“So, we’ll take it slow?”

James’s face twisted into a scowl before he quickly schooled his features, though a trace of frustration remained in his narrowed eyes. “How slow?”

“You’ve had more time to get used to the idea of us,” I explained. “Give me at least the same amount of time and then we’ll revisit moving forward. That’s fair, right?”

He shifted uncomfortably, clearly unhappy with my logic, because it meant he wasn’t going to get his way. His arm came around my shoulders and he pulled me close. “Yeah, that’s fair. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” His voice was gruff but he kissed my forehead sweetly. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart and falling even more.