Allison

I Don’t Need A Sexy Cowboy Anyway

The day my boss called and told me I had the lead on the Sexiest Man Alive, One Year Later story I almost broke my ankle jumping up and down in my heels. I’ve been working for Realm Magazine since I graduated college five years ago, and this is my first big story. I was an assistant for the photojournalist who had the Sexiest Man Alive story last year, but she got all the credit.

Now here I am standing next to the indoor pool of billionaire rancher, Ash Pride, getting set up to do his photo shoot. But instead of thinking about angles and lighting, my mind is stuck on the massive hunk who opened the door for me.

What is wrong with me? I haven’t been guy crazy since the seventh grade, but this guy, he makes me crazy. I think the neurotransmitters misfired in my brain when he spoke to me. That sexy, low gravely voice, his chiseled bone structure, sandy blond hair, and mysterious gray eyes made me weak in the knees.

I thought that was just an expression since it’s never happened to me—I was so wrong. And on top of all that, he somehow seems familiar. I would never forget a face like that if I had met him before. He’s got to be someone from a movie or a magazine or oh, maybe he’s a musician? I love musicians.

I’ll have to figure it out later, though. Right now I have a job to do, a job that I need to do well so I can get the promotion that’s been a long time coming.

“Good morning, Mr. Pride, it’s so good to see you again,” I say shoving my hand out to shake his. My palms are sweaty, and my nerves are shot, but I’m going to stick to my motto—fake it till you make it.

He stands from the table where he has been drinking coffee and reading on his tablet. “Allison, it’s good to see you again, too. How was your flight?”

“Oh my gosh, it was wonderful. Thank you so much for sending your private jet. It wasn’t necessary, but it was much better than flying coach.”

I couldn’t believe it when I got the email saying he was sending a jet. My boss almost didn’t let me take him up on it, but when Ash insisted, she didn’t have a choice.

“It was nothing. Is your crew here yet?”

“They should be here any minute. In the meantime, I thought we could take some candid shots in different areas of the house. Would that be okay?”

“Perfect, do you want to start here?”

“Sure.” I set my things on the table and remove my camera from its bag. “How about over there by the window, we can get a profile shot of you looking out on the grounds.”

“Sounds good.” We move to the window, and after tweaking his clothes a bit, I take some shots.

“Go ahead and look around like you’re interested in the weather or something,” I say. He turns his head to face me unexpectedly, and I get a perfect picture of his contemplative face.

“I am interested in the weather. I’m a rancher. It’s going to snow today, I can feel it.”

I stop taking pictures and move my camera to the side, “Snow? It’s March. It can’t snow.”

“Oh, but that’s where you and the weatherman are wrong. It can, and it will, a lot.”

“Well, shoot, if you’re right, we should get some shots outside before it starts.”

“Good idea. I’ll grab my coat. You can come upstairs and wait in the kitchen if you like, it’ll only take me a minute.

“Okay, thanks. Lead the way,” I say grabbing my coat and camera bag. I don’t need him to lead the way. I remember this house. I studied it last year before coming to do the initial shoot. I’m a serious planner. I plan everything down to the last detail, and then I find some more details and plan those, too. So when I learned I was coming to the country’s largest ranch to take pictures of the richest rancher in his mansion, I looked up the blue prints on the county assessor’s website. I studied the plans and poured over pictures from other magazine shoots like Better Homes and Garden. I researched Ashton Pride and his climb to the top of his business and his personal background as well.

None of that was required of me, and a lot of it was unnecessary, but I don’t like surprises. Anything I can do to avoid stepping into the unknown, I’ll do it.

In the kitchen, I stand and look out the French doors at the dark clouds forming in the sky, and I could swear I see flurries. When I squint and lean forward, I’m sure. It’s starting to snow, and Ash said it was going to snow a lot. Crap, I hate it when weather messes with my plans. I have three days to do this job—three. Then I have to be back to pick David up from at his friend’s house before he wears out his welcome.

“See, what’d I tell you?” Ash says from behind me.

I turn and find him standing there wearing his coat, gloves, cowboy boots, and hat. He is an incredibly handsome man and worthy of the title Sexiest Man Alive for sure. But this year, I’d like to get his assistant on the cover. That man is sex on a stick personified.

“You were right. I can’t believe it. The forecast today was partly sunny, fifty degrees, zero chance of rain, and thirty-five percent humidity. Wind six miles per hour.” I couldn’t help throwing in that last part. The wind is important you know.

He lifts his eyebrows. “Wow, you’re quite the weather person, aren’t you?”

I smile a small, embarrassed smile, “I’m into details. Sometimes I get carried away, sorry.”

“No reason to apologize, being detail oriented is a great trait to have. Too bad your forecast wasn’t correct, though. I don’t need this today.”

Mr. Gorgeous enters the kitchen and stops short when he sees us. He closes his eyes for a second as if he’s been caught doing something he shouldn’t and opens them when Ash speaks to him. “Oh hey, I didn’t think you’d be downstairs this early, sorry man,” Ash says. This is confusing to me. He apologized like this was his hot assistant’s house and not his.

“It’s fine. I’m watching Cannon for Stella so she can study, and he’s thirsty.”

“Ah, I see. Thanks for doing that, she’s struggling with everything right now.”

Hot assistant nods, and the room falls into an awkward silence. Ash isn’t introducing me, and it’s making everyone uncomfortable. I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to meet a sexy-as-hell man, so I step up and take control of the situation.

“I don’t think we have been properly introduced. I’m Allison Green, it’s nice to meet you,” I say stepping forward to offer my hand. He looks at it like I have a contagious disease for a moment before he answers.

“Ridge. Nice to meet you, too,” he says taking a jerky step closer to shake my hand. When we touch, a surge of energy shoots all the way up my arm, and then there’s more awkward silence.

What is wrong with these guys?

“Well, we should get outside before it starts blowing. See you later, Ridge,” Ash says popping the weird bubble of silence.

Ridge walks to the refrigerator and opens it without another word to me. Is this guy an asshole or just super rude? I can’t decide. Either way, he doesn’t deserve a goodbye from me. I shrug it off and follow Ash outside into the falling snow.

Who needs a sexy cowboy anyway?