Chapter Ten

Evelyn

 

Two days had gone by since I’d seen James, and that hunger was clawing at my belly once again. I’d been avoiding him as much as possible, hoping the feeling would pass, but it was clearly there to stay.

I was professional. I could handle this, and with the new paperwork I had for him to sign, I wasn’t going to have a choice anyhow.

The message he’d sent Sunday morning was sweet, but I hadn’t heard anything since. My reply to his ‘good morning, beautiful’ was short, a simple ‘good morning.’ I expected he would continue to chat, but he didn’t.

Partly, I was relieved, knowing that sending cute texts back and forth was the last thing either of us needed. Focus should remain on his battle to keep the ranch; anything else is just a distraction.

The pep talk to myself still fresh in my mind, I sent James a text.

Me:James: I have more papers. I’ll bring them by shortly.

I hated the coolness in my message, but it was business. I suddenly hated that I was James’s lawyer. The thought of calling someone in from New York crossed my mind, but what was to prove he’d want me around without a reason.

I sighed as I dressed in my most dowdy suit, one that was certainly not to stir any kind of appeal in James. I pulled my hair into a tight bun, flicked on a light coating of mascara, and gathered my belongings. That first meeting, where I ended up wearing those ridiculous shorts, that was the mistake. I’d always remained professional, and even if a client was handsome, I never crossed the line.

As I drove towards the JJ Ranch, I thought about how James was by far the most handsome client I’d ever taken on. Still, I let myself get wrapped up where I didn’t belong. It was time to get back on track.

I pulled onto the lane that led to James’s ranch, telling myself that a man like him wouldn’t care that I was calling off our, our, whatever it was. I was certain he had plenty of women ready to warm his bed. I was a matter of convenience, that’s all, and he, just a moment of weakness.

His red truck wasn’t in its usual spot as I pulled in, but a small car was parked by the house. My stomach rolled as jealousy worked its way into my veins.

I sat in my car for a moment, trying to decide if I should just leave. No. I’d leave the paperwork for him on the porch, and he could get it to me when he signed it, mail it to me even if he wanted.

I gathered my briefcase and headed towards the porch, taking my first step up when a woman appeared from around the back of the house.

“Can I help you?” she asked, her tone as arrogant as her demeanor.

Jill Jasper, I recognized her from her previous visit, wore a pair of lime green slacks, tight at the ankles, strappy black sandals to show off her perfectly pedicured toes, and a slinky black blouse. Her nose wrinkled as she glared at me, waiting for, no, demanding an answer to her question.

“I’m meeting James here,” I stated firmly as I tried to stand tall and proud, even though my attire choice left me feeling frumpy and embarrassed in her presence.

“Good. How long until he returns?” Jill questioned.

I fumbled with my briefcase, pulling out my phone. James text back, it was close to ten minutes earlier, but it said he’d be at the ranch in thirty minutes.

“He may be a while,” I smiled politely as I shoved my phone back into my worn leather bag.

“Are you his lawyer?” Jill asked, giving me a quick glance up and down as if to disapprove or find amusement in the fact.

I nodded, extended my hand, and introduced myself, “Evelyn Pierce.”

Jill Jasper didn’t attempt to reach for my hand in good politeness, nor did she act as if she cared to address me in any way.

“You know what you’re doing here is wrong,” Jill snarled.

“I’m sorry for your loss, but there is a will in place, and it clearly states your fathers last wishes,” I said politely.

Jill rolled her eyes, tossed back her fire red hair, and glared in my direction. If possible, I believe she could’ve caused me to burst into flames right where I stood.

“James Laurie is nothing but a con artist,” Jill scoffed.

I refrained from any comment, and instead looked down the lane in hopes I’d see James’s truck, but there was nothing.

“I don’t even think the will is real, and if it is, he manipulated my poor sick father into creating it,” she continued.

“The will is a legal document, proved to be factual, and there are witnesses to the effect to prove it even further. You’ll have your day in court soon enough, so what is it you’re doing here now?” I responded hastily.

Jill took a step up onto the porch, her nails curled around the post of the wood as her eyes narrowed on mine.

“I have my own documents, ones I’m certain you won’t like,” she hissed.

Dust filled the end of the lane as James’s truck turned in. I was relieved that she was already heading in his direction, but left confused by what documents she referred to.

The red truck pulled into its usual spot, the driver’s door opened quickly, and James slid out of the seat as Jill Jasper made it to him. His white t-shirt was dirty and torn, and his hair mussed up from sweat, wind, and probably his thick fingers rolling through it. It was rare to see James’s without his hat. Something about it made my belly stir.

“How did the auction go?” Jill snapped.

James walked towards the back of the truck, his strong arms reaching in the back and pulling out a large bag of feed. I watched as his muscles jumped and stretched as he tossed the bag near the barn.

“Any money you lose before its sale, you’ll owe the estate after,” Jill gnarled.

“Any money lost is the fault of your rumors, and the ranch is not for sale,” James retorted, reaching in to grab another bag of feed.

Jill continued ranting about James running the ranch into the ground, how he manipulated her father, and how she’d prove he was a fraud and ruin his reputation in this town and fifteen more over.

“You need to back down while you still have your dignity,” she hissed as she walked away.

James continued unloading the feed bags as she rattled, and I became lost in the magnificence of his body, Jill becoming simple white noise. My fingers tingled as they remembered the feel of James’s rippled abs. My breasts stung as they remembered the pinch of his teeth. My pussy swelled as it remembered the stretch from his cock.

“Sorry about that,” James startled me.

“You okay?” he asked, his eyes filled with amusement.

I’d let myself start daydreaming and forgot the world hadn’t stopped for everyone like it had for me, like it had for James and me Saturday night.

“I’m fine. Sorry, I was lost in thought I guess,” I stammered, quickly pulling my briefcase between us as he started to close our gap.

He reached his arms around me, pulling me into him for a friendly hug. I panicked, realizing the scent of his sweaty body, the grime mixed with sweat on his skin, and the hardness of his overworked muscles were more arousal than I could fight.

James looked disappointed as I squirmed from his arms. I wrinkled my nose, pretending that the dirt and sweat were offensive.

 He chuckled as he gripped the bottom of his t-shirt. I watched his biceps flex as he lifted the cotton from his body, displaying the rippled abs that made my bottom lip quiver. He tossed the shirt on the porch railing and headed into the house. I was frozen in my spot, unable to think straight as my blood rushed to my breasts and between my legs.

The screen door slammed against the wood frame, pulling me back to earth. I shook off my arousal, walked inside, and found James over the sink washing the sweat and dirt from his skin. I watched helplessly as he splashed water onto his face. I watched it dribble in small beads down his chest, rolling, rolling, until reaching the waist of his jeans. This man is going to destroy me, and I am going to beg him to do it.

“You have papers for me?” he asked, wiping his face with a small hand towel.

“Yes, I-uh, I just need your signature,” I stumbled over my words as I started digging in my unorganized briefcase.

His eyes were piercing through my already quivering skin. My hand shook as I handed him the set of papers that required his signature. His lips curled into a crooked smile as a soft sigh escaped them. He took the papers, moved to the table, and sat down at one of the empty chairs.

I watched him diligently, taking in every movement. His chest lifted and dropped as he took a deep breath, his muscles flexed along his forearm as he gripped the papers between his fingers. The tongue that had given me so much pleasure rolled slowly across his upper lip as his eyebrows pushed downward. Everything about James Laurie was fascinating to me. I needed to get out of there.

“So, this is the estate insurance you told me about?” he asked, catching me gawking at him as looked up.

I was acting like a foolish school girl, not a professional attorney who attended Columbia University. I certainly wasn’t acting like a Pierce, well-known and revered members of the high society in New York City.

“Yes, and-uh, and the one underneath is the notarized witness form already signed by the attorney who originally created the will for Mr. Jasper,” I stammered.

James smiled in my direction, instantly causing my panties to cling to my flesh with arousal.

“The estate insurance will keep Jill off your back about the cost of running the farm. You’ll be able to do what you need for upkeep, but you will be required to keep all receipts,” I added, trying desperately to regain my composure.

Wouldn’t daddy be proud now, his little girl taking on a client pro-bono, and taking the client’s bone as well?

“I also need to mention, it is extremely important that you make sure nothing you spend from the estate's account could be considered frivolous,” I noted.

James chuckled as he signed his name near the x.

“Frivolous, like feed for the cattle, nails, and wood for the fence?” he scoffed.

I knew it was invasive, the way the process worked, but there was nothing I could do to change it. Jasper’s kids were relentless, and they would poke at everything they could, use anything they could to prove James dishonest.

“I know it’s ridiculous, but you have to be careful. I don’t trust these kids, and they do have money at their disposal,” I warned.

“Nothing more dangerous than a spoiled brat with money,” James snarled.

“Except three spoiled brats,” I teased.

“What are you wearing?” James gasped, looking me up and down.

I fidgeted with the hem of my skirt, pulling it down past my knees. I shrugged and started to blush as he shook his head.

“Of all the things in your closet, that’s what you chose?” he teased.

“Well, it’s not like you were all dressed up in that ripped up t-shirt covered in manure,” I snorted, causing James to laugh deep and hard.

“Touché,” he grinned.

I wasn’t about to admit I’d worn the hideous suit so he would find me less attractive, so he wouldn’t want to touch me and render me helpless once again.

“I hoped you would go for a ride with me, but I doubt you’d fit in my jeans,” he smirked.

James Laurie’s jeans, the place where his masterpiece is kept behind denim, only unleashed under the moonlit sky, only for me.

I was blushing as my thoughts rolled to the place of passion, the place of weakness, the place where James lived in my mind.

“I don’t think I would,” I blushed, quickly scooping the papers from the table.

“I need to get these on record,” I rushed towards the door.

“Next time bring a change of clothes so we can ride,” James called out to me as I made it to my car.