Two Weeks of Sin

I stop in my tracks and look at him, blinking rapidly. He doesn’t really mean-?

Luke takes one look at my face and bursts into a fit of laughter. “Oh man, if you could see your face right now!” he hollers, slapping his thigh with a meaty hand. “I’m totally joking,” he finally sputters, through his giggles.

I put my hands on my hips and kick a clump of dried grass at him. “You are not funny,” I say, though I can’t help my mouth from twitching. He really had me there for a minute.

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself,” Luke says. “We don’t get too many pretty ladies around here. Actually, now that I think of it, we don’t get any.”

Before I can say anything in response, Cole stalks out of the barn and fixes a dark gaze on his younger brother. “Luke, we have a lot of cattle to feed. Quit screwing around,” he barks before stomping back inside.

“Is he always like that?” I ask, watching his perfect ass as he goes.

“You mean a crabby sonofabitch?” Luke says with a smile. “Yeah, kinda. Listen, it’s not personal, he just takes the business very seriously is all. He’s the oldest and so he’s always been the one to take care of all of us. It’s a hard thing for him to give up. Don’t sweat it.”

I nod and let Luke get back to work after asking if it would be alright if I walked around a bit. He tells me where the gardens are and which areas to avoid due to the electrical fencing and then he leaves me to go back to his duties.

I stroll around for a while, looking over the pastures that stretch farther than my eyes can see. I realize how daunting it must be for one man to feel like he has to take care of all of this. Being the one in charge is never easy, but in this open environment where you have little control over predators, weather, and market, it must be even harder. I find myself feeling a little sympathetic toward Cole.

I shake my head and continue to walk on, taking in the perfect order of the ranch. I wander over toward where Luke said the garden was and I stop short. I had been expecting a vegetable garden, but instead what I find is a magazine-worthy flower bed. Several rows of meticulously groomed Marigolds, Phlox, and Columbine stretch out in bright colors, surrounded by strategically placed rose bushes in reds and golds.

I take a deep breath an inhale the scents as I carefully tiptoe through the neat aisles. All of a sudden, a thought pops into my head. Luke said there were no women on this ranch, so that would mean that either he or Cole had planted this garden. Seeing as Cole was the one in charge, I realize this work of art must be his doing. Cole Parker is quickly evolving into quite the complicated character. Though he’s rough around the edges, anyone who keeps a garden this vibrant and beautiful, must have a soft center. I groan inwardly to myself as I realize I’m starting to like this guy.

“You like it?” a deep voice says from behind me.

“Yes, it’s breathtaking,” I say, turning to see Cole watching me from the end of a row

.

“Aunt Nora always kept a nice garden when we were growing up and I used to sit and do my homework in the rows when I was a kid.”

“Well if hers looked anything like this, I can see why you’d be drawn to it,” I say.

Cole nods and looks at me a for a long minute. The intensity of his eyes on me forces a bead of sweat to roll down between my breasts and my nerves begin to hum. I shift unconsciously from foot to foot, unable to look away from him until he finally breaks the spell.

“I’m going in to get some lunch, are you hungry?” he asks.

I nod my head vigorously and follow him up to the house, my eyes glued to his ass the whole way.

Chapter Six: Cole

I walk toward the house to grab a bite to eat and I see Sydney standing in the garden. She’s wearing a soft blue sundress, the breeze lifting her dark hair off of her bare shoulders. She is a sight for sore eyes and I feel my gut clench, deciding right then that this woman will be mine sooner or later. To hell with my old-fashioned ways, fling or not, Sydney Baines will be in my bed.

As I approach, I notice that she is admiring my garden and can’t help but feel some pride in that. The ranch is my work, the garden is my therapy. I stop a short way behind her and admire the view. The breeze lifts the hem of her short sundress, giving me a nice peek at those long legs. I imagine my face planted firmly between those supple thighs and my dick strains against my zipper. I take a deep breath and try to think of something gross before I approach her. I can’t just walk up to her with a giant hard on.

As if sensing someone behind her, Sydney turns around and our eyes meet. A look passes between us and I know for certain, her thoughts are running parallel to mine. Jesus. I start to walk toward her and she turns back to the garden.

“This is really beautiful,” she says. “The only thing I’ve ever been able to grow is a cactus.”

She laughs softly and the sound tugs at my heart. She looks almost sad and I’m struck by the impulse to gather her in my arms and tell her whatever is bothering her will be ok. This girl is dangerous.

“Thanks,” I say, trying to push the need to take care of her from my thoughts. “My aunt always had a garden and I used to work in it with her. It helps clear my mind.”

Sydney nods. “You and Luke both speak very highly of Nora.”

I nod my head in response. I don’t know if I’m ready to divulge all of my secrets to her just yet. Instead, I clear my throat and change the subject.

“It’s getting close to dinner time. You must be hungry,” I say.

Her eyes light up and she involuntarily licks her lips. It’s all I can do to keep from groaning out loud at the gesture.