Reece (Stud Ranch)

So when I happened to pull the ATV into the barn after tagging several more newborns and caught Reece washing his hands at the sink, my heart started hammering.

I should head into the house and start getting lunch together. That was absolutely what I should do.

But instead, the same recklessness that had driven me to the stables the other night had my feet taking me towards Reece.

He turned, watching me as I came towards him. Was I just imagining it or did his eyes widen and his nostrils flare as I approached? Maybe it was all just in my head, but it gave me the confidence to go up on tiptoes and whisper, “You want to play pretend again tonight?”

His pupils definitely darkened at this and I was gratified that there was no hesitation before he nodded, a definitive up and down motion.

A rush of adrenaline hit and I felt more awake, more alive than I had all week, since I’d last been in his arms. I took a step back, looking around to double check no one else was nearby. But still, the barn was the center of life on the farm and anyone could come in at any moment.

“Eleven o’clock.” I bit my lip, a scenario popping in my head. After another quick peek around to make sure no one else was coming, I leaned up and whispered in his ear the idea I had in mind.

“Fuck,” he spit out. “That’s hot.” He reached for me but I danced back.

I arched an eyebrow. “Don’t be late.”

He shook his head. “I won’t be.”

I smiled at him, shoved my hands in my back pockets, then turned and headed in to make lunch.

“What are you grinning like a fool about?” Ruth asked as soon as I stepped inside. She’d come downstairs to help me make sandwiches.

“What? Me?” I shrugged, trying to rearrange my features and stop the admittedly stupid grin I could feel fighting to reemerge on my face. “It’s just nice weather out.”

“Uh huh,” Ruth said, obviously still suspicious.

“Coffee?” I asked, eager to change the subject, reaching for the carafe. She rolled her eyes but then gave in. “Is that even a serious question? Always.”

It was ridiculous to get so excited about my “appointment” that night. I mean, I was exhausted as always after the strenuous day of work, and part of me wondered if Reece would even show. He’d looked tired during the evening meal, and there was no chance to get him alone again all day to double check that we were still on.

And slipping out of the house at ten to eleven wearing what I was wearing—well, I’d feel like a giant idiot if he didn’t show.

I hesitated at the doorway, wondering if I should just go back upstairs and forget the entire thing.

I mean, yes, I had belabored over what I would wear for hours until figuring out that if I folded in the top of one of my skimpy camisoles and shimmied it down over my hips it made for a fabulous little miniskirt.

And yes, I was wearing the siren-red lipstick that Ruth had given me a few weeks ago— saying it was a shame for a woman to not have even an ounce of makeup. Considering the scenario we were playing out, I hadn’t been shy when applying it. I’d even rubbed some on my cheeks for rouge, an old trick my grandma had shown me.

Granted, I still had just my boots instead of pumps, but I thought I was pulling off the whole prostitute vibe pretty well. Especially with just my lacy black bra up top, though while still in sight of the house, I was all covered up with my thick terrycloth robe.

I bit the inside of my cheek, then opened the door and rushed out. No more overthinking. I wanted to feel how I’d felt the other night.

And to be honest, I wanted Reece’s body against mine. I wanted to be someone else tonight and the freedom that came with that.

So I shut the door ever so carefully behind myself so that it barely made a sound, then rushed down the stairs into the cool, crisp spring air. I hurried past the vehicles in the yard to the road and continued down it for about a quarter of a mile, over the first little hill so that any headlights wouldn’t be visible to the house.

Then I threw off the robe and I waited.

And immediately felt ten kinds of foolish. And cold. I crossed my arms over my chest. Was I really standing here alone in the dark, when only weeks ago I’d hitchhiked and been in real danger—

What the fuck was wrong with me anyway? Choosing these situations that were a little too close to my real life for comfort?

But just then, headlights split the darkness. For a moment I panicked, but I fought back with logic and reason. The headlights had come from the direction of the ranch. It wasn’t a scary trucker come to hunt me down. Maybe that was part of why my subconscious had been drawn to this in the first place.