Page 37 of A Cowboy Takes A Chance

Presley glanced at the card then stuck it in the pocket of her jeans, and left the lodge to head back to her cabin. She’d enjoy the pool later. As hot as it was outside right now though, it would be sooner than later. The sweat trickled between her breasts and shoulder blades as she walked to the cabin. Shading her eyes, she looked up to see a cloudless blue sky. It was going to be a gorgeous day and she was anxious to just be lazy by the pool. Looking toward the mountains, she wondered how the trail ride was going. They’d all be returning in about thirty minutes.

How many women were flirting with him on this trip? She couldn’t blame them though. She’d thought he was so hot when she’d first seen him two years ago, and now seeing him in his element just made him sexier. Willa was right, she needed to wait and see. Should she try to wear him down or just step back and see what happens? Therewere three weeks left on her vacation, but if they flew by as fast as the first week she’d be leaving in no time. What to do? As she walked along the road, she tried to think about what she needed to do. The job was important to her.So you’re saying Jaxon isn’t?

“I’m not saying that at all. He’s especially important, but he also made it clear that it could only be a sexual relationship with him. Would he ever love again and if so, could it be a strong love or would his wife always be there?” Quickly, she glanced around to see if anyone was close. She really needed to stop talking to herself when she was out in public. She snorted. Like being in the cabin made it better. Walking up the steps, she unlocked the door, entered her cabin, and took a seat on the plush sofa then decided to head for the pool. Making her way to the bathroom, she changed into her swimsuit and after grabbing a towel and her suntan lotion, she left the cabin to head for the pool. Once there, she found a lounge chair and sat down then slathered herself with lotion. Then she leaned back and relaxed. She could already feel the sweat beading on her forehead.

“Hi. Do you mind if I sit here?”

Presley opened her eyes to see a young brunette woman standing beside the empty lounge.

“Of course not.”

“Thanks. My husband is taking a nap. What a go-getter he is.” She laughed.

Presley chuckled as she looked over at the woman. “I’m Presley Reynolds.”

“Christina Newton. My husband is Brad. We worked the ranch this morning and I loved it. Brad said he needed a nap. Men.”

Presley couldn’t stop the laughter from erupting. “It doesn’t take much to make them want to nap, does it?”

“Oh, dear God, no. He naps after he cuts the grass, works on his car, comes home from golf, and all women know they need naps after sex. Excuse me but I do some of that work too, and I never get to nap.”

Chuckling, Presley closed her eyes. “Yeah, men.”

Christina laughed. “I do love him though. At least with him napping, I can relax by this gorgeous pool. Maybe we can have lunch together in a little while?”

“I’d love it,” Presley said and meant it. Christina seemed like a nice woman, and maybe it would keep her mind off Jaxon.

****

Jaxon led the group of twelve along the trail. It wasn’t unusual to see single women on the ranch but there was more this time than any other time he could remember, and he wasn’t really sure how to feel about that.They didn’t want the ranch to be a single’s retreat, but they couldn’t turn people away just because they were single. But if there were too many single women, the ranch hands needed to be taken away from their work to go along on trail rides and camping trips. It was safer that way for women. One man couldn’t protect a lot of women if an animal came around or if they needed help with tents, Jaxon didn’t expect the women to do it unless they wanted to.

Sighing, he glanced over the group and immediately knew which two was the married couple since they couldn’t keep their eyes off each other. It was their honeymoon and they want to spend it on a trail ride. Mentally shaking his head, he knew he’d prefer to be spending as much time in bed as possible. When he and Bethany had been on their honeymoon, they rarely left the bed. He’d taken her to Niagara Falls, and they didn’t even get to see the Falls until the day before they were scheduled to leave. Damn it, he missed her so much. Although lately, she didn’t plague his mind as often and that scared him since he didn’t want to forget her. Smiling, he remembered the first time he saw her. He’d been straddling a bull in the chute and glanced up, and his eyes met hers. Her lips lifted in a smile, and he grinned at her and nodded. The men thought he wasnodding for him to go, so they opened the gate. Jaxon hit the ground as soon as he cleared the chute. A champion bull rider should stay on for longer than two seconds. After picking himself up from the sawdust floor, he looked at her to see her laughing. Shaking his head, he climbed the rails and made his way to her. They went to dinner and he’d teased her by telling her he wanted to marry her, and she agreed. A year later, they married and were together only three years before the accident that took her life. Jaxon shifted in the saddle, making the leather creak and Zander dance under him. Patting the horse on his neck, Jaxon murmured to him.

“It’s okay, boy. We’re good.”

“He is a beautiful horse,” a woman said from beside him. Jaxon glanced over to her and nodded.

“Thank you.”

“I’m Krista Jenkins.”

“Nice to meet you,” Jaxon put his fingers to the brim of his hat.

“You cowboys are always so polite. Your mamas raised you right.”

Jaxon grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”

Krista laughed. “See? My girlfriends and I are experiencing the great outdoors. It really is gorgeous here. A lot of hot cowboys.” She grinned at him, letting him know she meanthim. She was a stunning redhead but did nothing for him.

“How many of you?”

“Fourteen of us. We’ve been friends since high school.”

“Fourteen women, who are friends?” Jaxon laughed, shaking his head in wonder.

“I know. We women don’t like each other. It’s a fact, but we’ve always been close. Seven are married and the rest of us are single. We get together every summer and take a vacation together.”

“That’s good to hear. We’re happy you chose Bur Oak this time. How long are you here for?”

---