Typical.

City girls always thought we were hicks, living in trailers or rundown old shacks.

“Yes, ma’am. Gran and Pops are sleepin’, so I’ll take you up and get you settled.” Casting a look around, I questioned, “You don’t have any other bags?”

I noticed when she had gotten her stuff from the car that she only had one snotty looking bag and nothing else. The damn thing looked like it could hold a newborn calf; it was that big, but it appeared to be fairly empty.

Blushing, she looked past me and bit her pretty pink lip. “Oh, no. I—I left in a bit of a hurry. I’ll just pick some things up in town tomorrow. If I can use the phone, I’ll call a cab.”

I burst out laughing at that. “Darlin’, catchin’ a cab’s gonna cost ya a fortune. I’ll have one of the boys take ya in.” Her chin lifted up as it occurred to me she probably didn’t give a good goddamn what it cost to get outta here.

“Thank you. That’s very kind.”

I bit the inside of my mouth so I didn’t go making it worse by laughing at her snobby little attitude. Clearing my throat, I pulled my hat off and dusted it across my jeans. Stomping my boots, I stepped through the door as I ran my hand through my hair. ”Guest room’s up stairs. I’ll show you the way, and then you’ll have to s’cuse me. I’ve gotta be up in a few hours.”

Toeing my boots off, I hung my hat up and watched her eyes go wide, darting around the room; her mouth dropped open a little before she composed herself and stood tall again. I turned, hiding the smirk on my face as I lead her up the stairs and opened the door gesturing inside. “You’ll find extra blankets in the closet. Wouldn’t think you’ll need ‘em though.”

It occurred to me she didn’t have any personal belongings with her so I held up my finger, wordlessly telling her to hold on for a moment before ducking out the door and across the hall to my own room. A few seconds later, I returned with one of my t-shirts and threw it on the bed. “Bathrooms across the hall. You’ll find a new toothbrush in the cabinet. If you’re all set, I oughta get some shut eye”

“Thank you again, Destry. I appreciate your kindness,” she told me, looking from my shirt to the door and back again. A slight blush coloring her creamy cheeks.

I left with a grunt and made for my bedroom, flopping face down on the big bed with a groan. “Fuck,” I said to the empty room, my voice muffled in the comforter. Why were the pretty ones always stuck up princesses? I rolled and popped the button on my jeans to relieve some pressure; I’d almost had my raging hard-on under control. That was until my name slipped from between her pretty lips and the blush came across her face. I was gonna be laying in bed all night imagining her in my shirt, wondering how much of her legs it’d cover.

X X X

The sun was close to setting and I’d had a long hot day of fixing fences and checking on cattle among the other ranch duties. As I approached the main house, I heard a tinkling laughter followed by a louder male laugh, which meant one thing.

My brothers.

One of them had gotten on her good side.

Annoyance riled through me at the thought of one of them getting her to laugh. I ripped my hat off and stomped up the few stairs that lead to the huge wrap around porch. I stumbled over my feet as I registered her leaning over the big table, placing bowls of food down. She was wearing my t-shirt, which was tied up at the side, showing just a tiny hint of her flat, smooth stomach before the itty-bitty denim skirt rode low on her hips cut off the view.

My mouth went dry when she looked up and met my eyes. “Destry. Thank you so much for having Ellie May take me into town this morning.”

“Hmpff.” I grunted as I quickly moved behind the counter to hide my instant problem. The instant problem seemed not to understand my family was in the same room. Puppies, just think about puppies, I told myself.

I continued watching her moving around, flashing bits of skin here and there. Sending my little sister, Ellie-May, to run her into town might have been either the best or worst idea I’d ever had.

My head snapped down as a hand connected with the back of it.

“Oh, hell no. Where’s them manners of yours, boy?” Gran stood behind me, hands on her hips and looking mighty mad. “You know I taught y’all better than that. Give me some suga’, baby.” She pointed to her cheek.

“Sorry, ma’am.” I ducked my head and gave her what she was after.

I hadn’t even pulled my head back before I copped another whack to the back of my head. “What was that—”

She wiggled her finger in front of my face. “Now, you can apologize to poor Amelia over there for bein’ so rude before you go wash up. Supper’s just about ready.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I sighed as I made my way through the kitchen, tipping my head to Amelia and mumbling a half-assed apology as I went.

She simply nodded her head and looked away quickly as I passed.

X X X

To say dinner was the most awkward meal I’d had since my grandparents had sat me down for the sex talk when I was just a boy would be the understatement of the century. Amelia prancing around barefoot in her tiny denim skirt with sparkles on her ass—topped with my shirt—was killing me one blood starved brain cell at a time. Every time she moved around to fetch something, I could smell the sweet scent of vanilla. I could also see way too much skin, and the moment she laughed, my groin tightened to the point I couldn’t even shift in my seat for fear of grabbing her and dragging her off to show her what she was doing to me.