The Heiress and the Cowboy Contractor Read online

  The rest of the week seemed to drag, and though he was busy with ranch work she remained in the forefront of his mind. When Geoff called and told him he and Nicole had signed an agreement and he was going to start drafting the new plans, Beau felt a wave of relief, and realized it was because it meant he could finally have her out to the ranch.

  Why has girl this crawled under my skin? What is it?

  “She’s given me a check,” Geoff declared breaking into his thoughts, “and we’re ready to move forward. I’m meeting with Dan tomorrow.”

  “That’s great news,” Beau said. “Let’s meet at the hotel around six tonight, then I can swing up and say hello to her when we’re done talkin’.”

  “Works for me. I think you’ll like what we’ve come up with.”

  “Hey, as long as it’s legal and she can live with it, I’ll like it,” he replied.

  Beau was standing in his barn when the call had come in; he’d just finished throwing his saddle on Pepper.

  “How about them apples?” he grinned as he patted his horse’s neck. “You think this crazy woman has calmed down?”

  As if he’d understood Pepper snorted then shook his head.

  “I agree, fella. Not for a minute. A leopard don’t change his spots that quick, but it seems like she’s been behavin’ and that’s somethin’. I think she’s earned a phone call.”

  In her room Nicole was getting changed to go for a walk. Her foot had healed up and it was only on the odd occasion that it reminded her she’d stepped on a nail. Though she’d spent her days talking to Geoff and wrapping her brain around the changes to her house, she’d also napped a great deal, getting rest she didn’t even know she needed. To her surprise, an ongoing ache she’d carried in her shoulders had virtually disappeared, and she was feeling happier than she had in a long time.

  She’d ventured out, but just to amble across to the lake and sit on one of the benches, and though she pondered many things, her thoughts always ended up with the cowboy.

  When her phone rang she knew it was him. She didn’t know how she knew, she just did; her pulse quickened and she took a deep breath before answering.

  “Hello?”

  “Nicole, it’s Beau.”

  His deep voice sent her heart racing, and she sat down on the small vanity stool at the bathroom counter.

  “Hi Beau. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, how are you? How’s the foot?” Damn it’s good to hear your voice.

  “The foot is almost like new. I’m up and around, no problem, and thank you so much for putting me together with Geoff. He’s a genius. I think everything’s been salvaged.”

  “He said you two were gettin’ along. I’m real glad to hear it, Nicole, real glad.”

  He could scarcely believe the bright cheery voice on the end of the phone was the same girl. She sounded nothing like the edgy, stressed woman he’d first met.

  “He was very easy to understand,” she remarked. “The way he explained things, and his ideas, I’m really excited. I can’t wait for the work to start.”

  “I’m meetin’ him for a drink around six, gonna take a look at the sketches. Would you like to have dinner afterwards?”

  “I would love that, yes, definitely,” she said enthusiastically. “Should I just come down? Do you want to eat here?”

  “Seems like a plan,” he replied. “Why don’t you meet me at the restaurant at seven, an hour with him should be long enough.”

  “Fantastic, and Beau?”

  “Yes, Nicole?”

  “Does this mean you’ll build it for me?”

  “It means we’re havin’ dinner, and you’re comin’ out to the ranch,” he replied.

  “You’re tough,” she sighed, and why am I really liking that about you?

  “I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” he added. “One step at a time. Dinner, then the ranch.”

  “Thank you! I can’t wait. I’ve been thinking about it all week. I really am so excited about being around horses.”

  “Be a good girl at dinner and you might even get to sit on one.”

  “Oh, my gosh,” she breathed, feeling the wonderfully strange surge in her belly. Why does that happen when he calls me a good girl? So bizarre!

  “Do you have a pair of comfortable jeans and boots?”

  “I’ll get some today,” she said quickly. “To be honest, I may work for a big-time jean company but I don’t wear them, not often anyway.”

  “There’s a store in town called Wally’s Western Duds. You can’t miss it. Tell Wally I sent you. He’ll make sure you get what you need.”

  “Oh, thank you, I will,” she replied.

  “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Yes, see you soon,” she said, and ending the call she dropped her head in her hands.

  “What the hell? You’re a cowboy! I can’t believe I’m feeling all this for a fucking cowboy.”

  Straightening up she stared at her reflection in the mirror; the forced week of rest had done wonders. The dark circles around her eyes had vanished and she didn’t look stressed and wired.

  I do feel better, a lot better, and I think this house might actually get built.

  At the ranch, Beau had ended the call with a huge smile on his face.

  “Well, Pepper, that was interestin’. If I didn’t know better I’d be thinkin’ I’ve misjudged her,” he sighed leading his horse out into the yard.

  Placing his foot in the stirrup he swung himself into the saddle, and as he headed towards a trail that would take him around the lake, two completely separate images of her floated into his mind; the arrogant polished city woman who had spat at him from behind large dark glasses when they’d first met, and the injured, vulnerable girl that had gazed up at him sitting in her car after the accident.

  A brat and a beauty, you’re both. I know why you’re a brat, you’ve been handed everything on a silver platter. I’ll bet you’re a nightmare to work for. As much as I wanna help you, and as much as I wanna spend time with you, do I really wanna take this on?

  It was a warm day, puffy cotton clouds were drifting aimlessly across the sky, and as he approached the lake he stared up at the hill where the unfinished house could be clearly seen.

  What an ugly sight. Yep, I’m gonna take it on. I’m gonna make sure it’s done right and looks like it belongs up there, and if she gives me a hard time I’ll just put her over my knee. I’ll put her over my knee anyway. She needs that attitude spanked outta her, and I don’t believe it’s gone, not for a minute. Heck, let’s face it, she just needs to be spanked good and proper, period.

  He could see it so clearly; seated on a hay bale in the barn, her bared backside turning a bright pink as he slapped her perfect cheeks.

  Hard, I’m gonna slap you hard, girl.

  His cock had sprung to life; turning Pepper into a thicket of trees he slid from his saddle, and leaving his horse to happily graze he quickly unzipped his jeans. Leaning against a tree he wrapped his fingers around his engorged cock, closed his eyes and pictured her.

  She was wearing a white cotton dress and sandals, her long auburn hair was tousled from the wind that was blowing off the lake, and they were standing in the front of her new house on a redwood deck. Moving tentatively forward she stopped in front of him, lowered her eyes, mumbled an apology then bent over.

  His climax was building fast and he paused, lifting his gaze to the glassy water; it was serene, a living postcard. Soaking it in for a few moments he caught his breath, then closed his eyes again and sent his hand back to work.

  He could see himself wrapping his arm around her waist, then lifting her dress to find lacy white panties. His hand began bouncing off her vulnerable backside, and as he imagined her gasps and ouches his cock suddenly burst, exploding across his hand.

  The orgasm sent its prickling tingles through his limbs, and sighing heavily he slid down the tree to sit in the grass. The shards of sun beaming through the tree’s branches kissed his face, and he felt
himself smile. Reaching into his pocket he grabbed his kerchief, and as he wiped himself up he shook his head.

  “Damn girl, what the hell,” he muttered. “I don’t even remember the last time I stopped to do this. You’re trouble, you’re big trouble.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  When Nicole walked into Wally’s Western Duds she almost dropped her jaw; there was everything anyone could ever want if they were searching for something western. Dressed in her cream pressed slacks, pink silk shirt and high-heeled cream sandals she felt distinctly out of place. An attractive man with a twinkle in his eye and a swagger in his step wandered over to greet her.

  “Hi there. I’m Wally. Anything I can help you with?”

  Nicole stared at the vast array of goods. There were saddles, bridles, halters, and a variety of equipment at one end of the store, while at the other were racks of clothing.

  “I’m a friend of Beau Chapman’s,” she replied. “He’s going to put me on a horse. I’ve never ridden and he suggested this was the place to find the right clothes.”

  “Beau? Then you get my gold star service,” he grinned. “Let’s start with jeans and a shirt, then the boots. The boots are real important.”

  “I own a ton of boots but they all have heels.”

  “I doubt you’ve got the kind of boots you’ll need,” he remarked. “Tell me what kind of budget we’re dealin’ with.”

  Wally always asked, and even though Beau’s new friend was wearing a Cartier watch, and clothes that looked as though they cost as much as it would take to feed a horse for a month, he made no assumptions.

  “I’m not too worried about that,” she replied, “but I’d like to wear whatever I buy somewhere other than on a ranch.”

  “The jeans I’m gonna suggest are tapered and stretchy.”

  “That’s good, yes, that works.”

  “Come on over here and I’ll show you which racks to check out, and when you’re ready to start tryin’ on just give me a holler.”

  “Thanks,” she smiled.

  He escorted her to the opposite side of the store, showed her where to look, made some suggestions, and had just turned to walk away when she stopped him.

  “Wally, I have a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Beau’s been extremely helpful and I’d like to buy him something to say thank you. If you think of anything he might like, or need, would you let me know?”

  “You bet. I’m sure something will come to mind.”

  It took an hour of trying on various jeans and shirts before she was satisfied, and when it came to the right footwear Wally suggested paddock boots, rather than the traditional western ones.

  “These will give you more stability in the saddle,” he explained, “and you can walk a mile in ‘em and they’ll still be comfortable.”

  When they were finished she stared at herself in the large mirror that hung on the back of the dressing room door; she was ecstatic.

  The stretch blue jeans hugged her curves, and tapering down into the ankle-high black boots, they gave her legs length and accentuated their shape; the white and red check shirt was snipped in at the waist, but still comfortable with its lycra blend fabric.

  “Wow. I love this look,” she exclaimed. It’s sexy as hell, and talk about flattering my figure!

  “Knowin’ Beau he’ll wanna put a helmet on you, but I think you need the finishin’ touch,” Wally declared, and walking quickly across to a display of hats he selected one and hurried it back to her. “There ya go!”

  It was a white cowboy hat, and when he popped it on top of her head she let out a holler.

  “Whoo hoo, I’m there!”

  “You look pretty damn good,” he said cocking his head to the side. “If Beau hadn’t beaten me to it, I’d be invitin’ you out to sit on one of my horses.”

  “Wally, I want a pair of these jeans in the black, and this shirt in aqua, and the pink as well.”

  “You want me to wrap up your other clothes?”

  “I’ll be changing back into them, thanks though. Did you think of anything for Beau?”

  “I did, I’ve got some choices for you. When you come to the counter I’ll show you.”

  As she slipped back into the dressing room and peeled off her new look, she sighed happily.

  This is so much fun. I’m going to sit on a horse. I can’t wait. I’m sure this is all going to be fine. Beau will build my house and we’ll become…what? Friends, more than friends? Oh, Lord, I want to be more than friends. Of course I’ll have to deal with Gerald, fuck, that won’t be easy. I just have to do it, I have to make it official.

  As she left the dressing room she paused, and turning around she looked at herself in the cream pressed slacks, pink silk shirt and high-heeled sandals.

  “Ick, talk about boring. I mean, ick,” she muttered, and delighted with her new garb she headed to the counter.

  “Let me put that shirt in this garment bag,” Wally offered placing it on a hanger and adding it to the others. “While I’m doin’ that, why don’t you take a look at what I found for Beau. He’d be tickled to get any one of ‘em.”

  She studied them for a minute, then pointed.

  “This one, and…that!”

  While Nicole had been shopping, Beau had returned to his ranch, taken a shower, then called his housekeeper, a woman who was also one of his dearest friends, asking if she could stop by the following morning to make some of her baked chicken.

  “I’m havin’ a guest here, Gina, and I’d love to serve it for lunch,” he explained.

  “A guest? That right?” she tittered. “I’ll be happy to, and I’ll make some of my chocolate cheesecake tonight and bring it over.”

  “Thank you, that would be fantastic.”

  Hanging up the phone he couldn’t deny the burgeoning excitement, and though he planned to drive into town to see Dan at the city, he took a minute to think about how much fun it would be to show Nicole the joys of the ranch.

  She might hate it.

  She’s not gonna hate it.

  She might not like the dirt, or the smell.

  She’s gonna love it, she’s gonna be so damn excited…

  He shook himself as he felt the stirring in his jeans, and grabbing his hat and a jacket he headed into his garage. He owned a regular car, a late model Jeep Cherokee, which he preferred for driving at night; it could get nippy after the sun set and as much as he loved Betsy, her heater wasn’t the best.

  As he headed into town he did his best to push the image of Nicole to the back of his mind, and focus on his meeting with Dan. They’d been friends since they were kids, and he wanted to reassure him that if he took over as the contractor, all the hassles and drama would be history.

  Pulling into the parking lot he jumped from his jeep, walked into the small building that housed city hall, and poked his head around Dan’s office door.

  “Time for a humble contractor,” he grinned.

  “Hey, Beau, good to see you. Come on in. Did you get everything worked out with the Diva? Geoff’s done a great job with the modifications. What a relief.”

  “Yep. The house is smaller for a start,” Beau nodded. “She was tryin’ to put a monster on that lot.”

  “So the question is,” Dan said raising his eyebrows, “are you going to build it?”

  “That is the question,” Beau chuckled. “Looks like it. What else can you tell me I might not know? Is there anythin’ besides the obvious?”

  “Are you aware that she’s had it wired to be a smart house? Blink and the lights go on kinda thing.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Beau frowned. “Damn, I don’t know crap about that techie stuff.”

  “It was done by an electrical company I’ve never heard of. I don’t see it as a code problem, at least not yet, but it’ll be a notch above Lyle’s head, that’s for sure.”

  Lyle Brady was Beau’s electrical contractor, the best in town, but Daniel was right; Lyle was steak and potatoes.

&n
bsp; “I’ll talk to her about it. Anythin’ else?”

  “She didn’t get a permit for a pool, but I know it’s been staked out.”

  “Right,” Beau nodded. “I wondered about that myself. It looked like a big pool. I’m guessin’ a geology report was done but it looks dicey to me.”

  “Like I said, she didn’t even apply for a permit, and that’s gonna take a while. Those are the only things that come to mind, but if I think of anything else I’ll let you know. You sure you wanna get involved with that woman? She was hell on wheels when she came in here.”

  Beau paused, leaned back in his chair and smiled.

  “To be honest, Dan, I’m really lookin’ forward to it. Life’s been a bit borin’ lately, and I don’t think that girl has a borin’ bone in her body.”

  “You’re one brave cowboy,” Dan chuckled.

  They shook hands, and as Beau headed back to his Jeep to drive to the hotel, he thought back to his last big job; it had been over a year. He knew if the owner was anyone but Nicole he’d be having second thoughts about getting involved. He didn’t need the money, and he certainly didn’t need the early mornings and late nights, but Nicole was interesting, and she was also a challenge.

  “The thing is,” he mumbled as he rolled down the main road, “just how much of a challenge will she be?”

  Pulling into the hotel parking lot he wandered inside, stopped at the front desk to say hello to everyone, then ambled into the hotel bar. Geoff was already there, sitting at a table with his sketches laid out. Beau settled in, ordered a beer, and started to look them over.

  “This is real good, Geoff. Straight forward. You’ve left a ton of open space inside, her idea I’m guessin’, but you’ve closed in these front walls and reduced the amount of glass.”

  “I had to,” Geoff remarked. “With the winds and the debris, those big sliders, scary, and talk about expensive.”

  They were discussing the details of the modifications when something made Beau lift his eyes from the table, and looking across the room he thought he saw Nicole.