Sex with Ryn had always been amazing. This was just the cherry on top.
Lifting Ryn up, I carried her out of the playroom and into my bedroom. Pulling the comforter and sheet back, I gently set her down, crawled into bed next to her and pulled her into my body. Inhaling a deep breath, I let her scent invade my body. I never wanted to forget this night.
“Tristan?” Ryn’s voice sounded sleepy.
Kissing the back of her head, I asked, “Yeah, baby?”
“I think it’s safe to say you have for sure one-upped Lark’s condo. Big time.”
Smiling, I pulled her closer to me. “Go to sleep, baby.”
“I love you, Tristan.”
“I love you too, Ryn.”
Taking in a deep breath, she whispered, “I’m going to miss you after tomorrow.”
Leaning my forehead against the back of her head, I fought back the urge to beg her to come with me tomorrow. “I know. I’m going to miss you too, but you’ll be down soon. No longer than two weeks right?”
Ryn yawned as she mumbled, “Right. Two weeks max.”
Stepping up to the bar, I yelled for the bartender whose back was to me. Holding up her finger to motion one second, I glanced over to the entrance. I had been back home three days now and my old high school buddy, Chris, invited me out for a beer. I couldn’t turn him down because I was actually hoping to hire him on to help with the ranch. Dad used to have cattle on our ranch, but ended up taking them off to solely focus on outfitting; I was interested in putting them back on. Lark and I had always thought it was a mistake. I was now looking into getting them back. I had talked to my father about it last night and he shocked the hell out of me by agreeing that it was a good move for the ranch.
“What can I do ya?”
Turning back to the bar I was about to talk when piercing green eyes looked into mine. “Angela?”
Lifting her mouth into a smile, Angela tilted her head. “Why if it isn’t Tristan Williams. I heard you were headed back to town.”
Smiling, I gave her a nod.
“Hey, I’m sorry about your daddy. I’m glad he’s okay though.”
“Thanks. Yeah, he is doing really good. Trying to keep him relaxed is kind of hard to do though.
Chuckling she said, “Oh man, I bet. Hey, I heard through the grapevine that you have yourself a classic car. I’d love to take a peek at it. You know my daddy used to restore old cars. Remember?”
Giving her a look, I nodded my head. “Oh, I remember.”
Her face flushed as she looked away and then back at me. Angela and I had been each other’s firsts. I took her virginity and she took mine. In the back of one of her daddy’s nineteen fifty-five Chevys. I was pretty sure her daddy knew I had been fucking his daughter. Not only did we have fun in that car, but we snuck into his shop one night and had sex in every single car in there. I was scared shitless we were gonna get caught. “Would you mind if I came by some time and took a few pictures for Daddy? I know he would love to see what you got your hands on.”
“Nah, I don’t mind at all. Stop on by anytime and I’ll take you down there. I’m at the ranch most days now.”
Smiling she nodded her head quickly. “Perfect. I’ll stop by in the next few days.”
“I’ll be there.” Angela lifted her head and her smile faded some as she nodded and said, “Chris, how are you?”
Looking back behind me, I saw Chris. Jumping up, I reached out my hand to him. “Damn it’s been a long time, Williams.”
Smiling, I nodded my head. “It sure has hell has been.”
“What do you boys want?” Angela shouted.
After giving her our drink orders, we sat at the bar and talked for a bit. When Angela placed my beer down, she slid a piece of paper my way. Picking it up, I frowned.
“Let me guess, her phone number right?”
Glancing over to Angela and back to Chris, I nodded my head. “Yeah, that’s insane. She isn’t married yet?”
Chris threw his head back and lost it laughing. I chuckled even though I didn’t know why we were laughing. “Dude, she is married but if she thought you would fuck her, she’d be all over that.”
Rolling my eyes, I dropped the number back onto the bar. Chris looked at it. “You’re not interested?”
“No. My girlfriend is actually going to be here next week. We’re building a place on the ranch.”
Placing his hand on my shoulder he gave me a gentey push and squeeze. “Holy hell, there were two girls out there to tame the Williams brothers. Who would have thought?”
Pushing his hand away, I laughed. “Listen, I want to talk business. I want to offer you a job.”
Pulling his head back in surprise he asked, “A job?”
Taking a sip of my beer I nodded my head. “I need a vet.”
Raising an eyebrow, he smiled. “You need a vet, for what reason?”
“I’m bringing cattle onto the ranch and a few exotic animals to add to the hunting. I know my dad’s done great with just white tail and hogs, but I really want to expand it. I need a vet to check on the new animals when we bring them in and you’re also one hell of a fence mender.”
After Chris stared at me for a few seconds he chuckled. Then his face tightened and he narrowed his eyes. “Wait. You’re serious, Tristan?”
Nodding my head, I took another sip. “Yes, Chris. I’m serious. How has your vet clinic been doing?”
“Very well, I’m not sure I want to walk away from my practice. I’ve finally built up some clients.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m asking you to help me on the ranch when I need helping out. Some days it might be just a quick peek at an animal and others it might be a day full of work.”
Chris rubbed his chin with his hand. “Your dad has a vet he has used for years.”
“Not anymore. He is retiring and I’ve already talked with Dad and told him my vision. The things I want to see happen with the ranch and he agrees. It’s time for a change.”
Chris nodded his head while he thought about it. Taking another drink of my beer, I noticed two girls staring at us. Looking back at Chris, I wondered why he hadn’t settled down with anyone yet. Neither one of us ever had problems picking up girls. Chris had gotten most of his mother’s traits. She was part Hispanic and always said Chris’s brown eyes and hair came from her daddy’s side of the family. Chris’s father had blond hair and blue eyes.
Nodding his head, he held up his beer. “It will be a change working on cattle compared to my normal cats, dogs, and rodents, but I think I’m up for the challenge.”
Smiling, I held out my hand. “Perfect. I have a feeling this is going to be a hell of a lot of fun.”
Shaking his head and laughing, Chris put his beer up to his lips and smiled. “I agree, dude. I agree.”
Slamming the hood of the Jeep, I let out a string of curse words. Chris sat in the passenger seat and laughed.
“Jesus, Tristan. What in the hell is wrong with you?”
Cursing under my breath, I climbed into the driver’s seat and started the Jeep. Finally it started. “I’m just frustrated. Ryn was supposed to be here already. We’re going on a month now and I don’t understand what is taking so damn long.”
Chris hit my arm and I glanced over at him. “Tristan, listen to yourself. From what all you filled me in on, this girl is uprooting her entire life to be with you. That’s a big gamble considering how things ended with y’all the first time around. She has a business, a house to get ready to rent out; and you want her to just up and leave it all to be by your side. You even said last week she had a ton of shit on her plate with you up and leaving her to deal with it all. Cut her some slack.”
Rubbing my hands down my face, I let out a frustrated groan. “I know. I know. Fuck. It’s just I finally got her back and I feel like I’ve lost her again.”
Chris laughed. “So this is what love is like? No thank you. I’d rather just keep it open to the random date which, if I’m lucky, ends with me ge
tting lucky.”
Turning to look at Chris, Sierra popped into my head. “You know, you would get along great with our friend, Sierra. She is spit and fire, but she’s a good fuck.”
As soon as it came out of my mouth I wanted to punch myself in the face. I had never once thought of Sierra like that. That day we were together was something we had shared together and I had no right talking about it like I just did.
Chris’s eyes widened in surprise. “Did you just say this Sierra girl was your and Ryn’s friend, but you’ve fucked her?” Shaking his head he finally looked back at me and said, “Please tell me you didn’t cheat on Ryn.”
“No! Fuck no. Ah shit. I didn’t even mean for that to come out. Ryn and I weren’t together and Sierra and I are like best friends. It was one time, she needed it. Her husband of six years left her and she was sexually frustrated and well . . . it was a onetime thing for both of us and it meant nothing. We were both lonely and feeling frustrated and I’m glad we did it. Took the awkwardness away from our friendship.”
Lifting his eyebrows he mumbled, “I bet it did.”
Letting out a breath of air, I started driving. “Doesn’t matter, it didn’t mean anything to either one of us and Ryn knows about it.”
“Wow. I’m impressed. You’re really in love with this girl, aren’t you?”
My lips moved up into a grin. I was still getting used to this amazing feeling of love. Never in my wildest imagination did I think I’d be talking to one of my best friends about this. “Yeah, I love her more than anything. I’d never do anything to jeopardize my relationship with her. Ever.”
I could see Chris nodding from the corner of my eye. “Just stay away from Angela. That girl has got her sights on you.”
Rolling my eyes I simply said, “Yeah. I know.” My mind drifted back to last week when she stopped by to take a look at the classic cars.
Stepping into the shop, the lights turned on and Angela let out a whistle as she made her way over to my Camaro. She knew better than to put her hands on it so she just walked around it slowly, taking it all in. “You did all this?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “Pretty much everything but the paint job.”
Smiling she looked up at me. “Impressive. Can I take a few pictures for Daddy?”
Gesturing with my hand I said, “Have at it. Take as many pictures as you want. I’ll be right back.”
Walking into the bedroom, I took a look around. I was going to surprise Ryn and put a playroom in our house we were having built. Since I’d have a house now down here, I decided to change this bedroom into a business office. I didn’t need the bedroom anymore, so why not make use of the spot. I planned on putting a desk in here for Lark as well. I had a feeling he was going to want to keep his hand in the ranch and nothing would make Dad and me happier. I knew he was busy getting his own place up and running, so I would talk to him about it the next time he was down here.
Looking down at the bed, I couldn’t help but smile as I thought back to the night I was in here with Ryn. Adjusting my growing dick, I dropped my head back and moaned. I just wanted her here with me.
“It’s about time we picked up where we left off.”
Spinning around, I took a step back. “Holy fucking shit! Angela, what in the hell are you doing?”
Angela stood before me completely naked. She must have followed me into the bedroom and just stripped out of her clothes. They were piled at her feet as she moved her hands up and down her body. “I’ve been trying to be patient, Tristan. But I want that dick buried deep in my pussy.”
Turning, I said, “Get dressed, Angela, it’s not going to happen. I need you to get dressed and to leave. Now.”
“Ahh, come on now, cowboy. Tell me you weren’t adjusting that big thick dick because you were thinking of me?”
Blowing out a frustrated breath, I quickly made my way over to Angela. She smiled and bit down on her lip. Walking up to her, she whispered, “Yes, I knew you wanted me, Tristan.”
Reaching down, I scoped up her clothes and pushed them into her. Taking her by the arm, I led her out of the room and through the shop.
“Tristan! What are you doing? I thought you brought me here to fuck me.”
Walking toward the door I let out a gruff laugh. “I don’t know what in the hell gave you that impression, Angela. I’ve never once led you on. Besides, I have a girlfriend whom I love very much and will be here any day. She is who I want to bury my dick in. No one else.”
Stopping by the front door, I turned away from her. “Please get dressed and leave.”
Hearing her huff and puff while she got dressed, I waited before I turned around. The door to the shop opened and quickly slammed shut. Slowly turning around, I let out the breath I had been holding. My hands pushed through my hair and I closed my eyes.
“Ryn, baby, I need you here.”
Pulling up to the house, Chris and I got out of the Jeep. “Can you come in for a few minutes? I want to talk to you about the party I want to throw for Ryn.”
Giving me a smile, Chris slapped my back. “Sure. You know I’m down for any kind of party.”
As we headed into the house, I pulled out my phone. I hadn’t heard from Ryn in over five hours. She had told me she would be in a meeting today and wasn’t sure how long it would last. It was nearing five and I figured I’d be hearing from her soon.
Stepping into the house I inhaled a deep breath. “Son-of-a-bitch, that smells good,” I said making my way to the kitchen. Mom and Dad were both in the kitchen cooking. I couldn’t help but smile looking at my dad in an apron that said, “I’m the cook’s sidekick.” As much as my father loved to work, having the heart attack changed him in so many ways. He gave up control of the ranch easier than we would have ever dreamed. The first few weeks it was a hard adjustment for him, but now he was happier than I had seen him in years. He and Mom were planning on taking a cruise in March, and my mother was beyond thrilled.
Looking at Chris, he was smiling with a wide grin. “What’s cooking, Mr. and Mrs. Williams?”
Mom turned and gave Chris a big smile. “Christopher! It’s so wonderful to see you and don’t you dare call me, Mrs. Williams. Tristan said you would be here today. Come, come. I remember how much you loved tasting my homemade sauce.”
I hadn’t seen Chris move that fast in a long time. Before I knew it, he was making homemade pasta and I was cutting everything up for a salad. I couldn’t remember the last time I stood in my mother’s kitchen and had so much fun. The only thing missing was Ryn, Lark, and Azurdee.
After helping my mother, Chris and I walked out onto the back porch and sat. It was a beautiful evening for it being February. The temperatures were in the mid-sixties and the sky was clear and filled with stars.
“So, you have everything planned and taken care of?”
Nodding my head I said, “Yep. The only thing I really need to do is get a band lined up. Ryn loves to dance and I think having someone there instead of a DJ would be better.”
“I agree. Let me ask around. One of my patient’s dad’s is in a band.”
My beer stopped at my lips and I turned to look at Chris. Tilting my head I asked, “Did you just say one of your patient’s dad’s? Wouldn’t that be the owner of the animal? You call them mom and dad?”
Chris looked at me like I had grown two heads. “Of course I do. Some of these people only have their pets. They are their kids. I’m even thinking of starting a boarding business. Doggy daycare along with boarding of both dogs and cats.”
Chris’s face beamed with excitement and I was honestly happy for him that he had found his passion. But doggy daycare? I was not letting that shit go.
“Doggy. Daycare? What in the hell is that?”
“You’ve never heard of doggy daycare? What is wrong with you? You need a dog, dude.”
Laughing, I shook my head and said, “Um, no I don’t. Again though, what is doggy daycare?”
Leaning back, Chris took a swig of beer. “
It’s what it sounds like. People drop their dogs off for the day while they go to work. It’s daycare for dogs.”
I sat there stunned. Did people really love their dogs that much? Why didn’t they just keep them in the back yard? Or in a crate? “People pay for that? Seriously?”
Chuckling, Chris nodded his head. “Yep.”
Leaning back in my chair, I said, “Wow. I’ve got nothing. Jesus, the day I pay to put a dog in doggy daycare is the day someone better take me to an open field and shoot me.”
My phone went off and I saw it was Ryn letting me know she was done for the day. I quickly responded back to her text.
Chris laughed as he finished off his beer. “So, back to the party. You think she’ll be surprised and not expecting what you’re going to do?”
Grinning, I said, “Yeah, she’s not gonna expect a surprise party at all.”
“I agree. Do you think you should tell her though, you know at least give her a heads up?”
Shaking my head, I said, “I don’t know, I really wanted it to be a surprise.”
Standing up, Chris slapped me on the back. “Okay, well I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Smiling, I nodded my head. Ryn hated any attention on her. When I had asked Azurdee about throwing Ryn a surprise welcome party to introduce her to all my parents’ friends and friends of mine, she told me I needed to give Ryn a heads up. I was hell bent on surprising her though. I wanted to show her how happy I was she was picking up her life and moving here to be with me. Who doesn’t love a surprise party? I started having second thoughts. The last thing I wanted to do was start our new life and have her be upset with me.
Standing with Chris I was doubting my decision on the whole surprise aspect of this party. “Yeah, maybe I should talk to Ryn first about this.”
MY HANDS BEGAN SHAKING THE moment I pulled up to the house. I wasn’t sure why—new life, new home, new adventures? There was still a very small part of me that was scared to death Tristan would get spooked again, but it was slowly fading away as the days passed.