Page 3 of Gifting the Cowboy
“Yeah, I’m sure. Now get out of here before I change my mind.”
Rhett drops his shovel, swings Charlotte over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and rushes out of the barn, both of them yelling their thanks on the way out as I push down the jealousy that threatens to burst free. Someday soon, Brynnlee will be my horny little baker, and I’ll be swinging her over my shoulder to spend the night wrapped around each other.
three
Brynnlee
Taking a deep breath,I glance down at my outfit for what feels like the hundredth time in the last thirty minutes. Rue promised me that if I don’t get a reaction out of Rex by wearing one of the sexy lingerie outfits she sent home with me, then he’s not worth my time.
I wasn’t about to let the poor teenage pizza delivery guy see me in this outfit, so I made sure to cover up with my old terrycloth bathrobe when I answered the door. It’s the same robe I’m thinking about putting back on, so I don’t embarrass myself in front of Rex. But Rue has a plan—I just have to follow it.
After work, I stopped by to see Rue at the dress shop like she told me to. I was surprised by the bag of goodies, as she called them, that she handed me. The custom bag was imprinted with the words "Hot Mountain Nights Collection." She told me not to look into the bag until I got home. Instructing me to take a shower and shave everything before slipping into one of the outfits, which I did.
Now I’m standing in the middle of my kitchen wearing the least revealing outfit I could find in the bag, a black satin corset with a red and green bow in front that reminds me of a Christmas present—along with a pair of black silk sleep pants. I love the way the corset accentuates my figure, making my waist appear smaller than it is, and my breasts almost pop out of the top.
I hung up the rest of the items in the bag or put them in the bathroom, since it was a mix of lotions, perfumes, and lingerie. The only thing I didn’t leave out in the open was the vibrator I found at the bottom of the bag with a note from Rue that said, “If he’s not the one, this guy will get it done.” I hid that in my nightstand.
My face heats up at the thought of actually using the vibrator. I’ve always been curious, but as a shy, twenty-four-year-old virgin, I’ve never had the nerve to buy one. But if this night falls through, I’m definitely going to give this one a try.
A dampness spreads between my thighs, reminding me I’m not wearing any panties under the silk pants—something else I’ve never done before. It feels wicked, and for the first time in my life, I don’t feel shy. If anything, I feel empowered. Okay, that might be a bit of a stretch, but I definitely don’t feel like the shy, fat girl who’s never dated before.
Sure, I joke around with my friends, coworkers, and even Rex now that I’ve gotten to know him. But honestly, flirting with a guy is completely new territory for me. Rue gave me tips and ideas for flirting with Rex—hopefully, I don’t embarrass myself.
The handle on the front door jiggles, and I take one last deep breath, my eyes drifting to my old robe on the recliner, wondering if it’s too late to throw it on. The door swings open before I can change my mind about the plan. “Hey, Brynnlee, I’m hom...” Rex doesn’t finish his sentence, his eyes landing on my body as the door slams shut behind him. “What are you wearing?” His eyes drift down my body, then back up to my face.
Stick to the story.I silently remind myself.
“I’m doing a favor for Rue from the bridal shop. She has a new line of intimate apparel. She asked for a few volunteers.” I slowly shrug my shoulders like Rue taught me, making sure to draw his attention to my almost naked breasts. “I thought I would help her out. What do you think?” I spin slowly in circles, making sure he has a chance to see me from every angle.
“I think you look beautiful.” He takes a step toward me, his hands opening and closing at his sides. This is it. He’s going to sweep me into his arms and kiss me—except he doesn’t. Instead,he turns around, takes off his cowboy hat, and places it on the coat rack. Then he removes his cowboy boots and lines them up with mine by the front door, just like he does every night.
Blinking back tears of humiliation, I busy myself with dishing up the pizza for both of us and grabbing a couple of bottles of water from the refrigerator before taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I hope you don’t mind.” I motion to the pizza box on the table. “I didn’t feel like cooking tonight.”
“Are you sick?” He rushes to my side and places a hand on my forehead, concern thick in his voice. “Do you want me to take you to the urgent care clinic?” There he goes again, treating me like nothing more than a friend or worse, a younger sister.
“I’m fine.” I lean back in my chair, keeping my distance from his touch, but I notice the hurt look in his eyes when I break contact. “It’s just been a long day. Let’s eat and watch a movie before bed.” This time, I see the flicker of desire in his eyes when I mention going to bed. Maybe he’s interested in me after all.
***
“Are you sure you want to watch a scary movie?” Rex’s thumb hovers over the play button on the remote.
He took a shower after we ate, while I kept busy cleaning up after our dinner. I nearly swallowed my tongue when he came out of his room wearing gray sweatpants and a tight t-shirt.
“It’s Chucky. It’s not that scary. Besides, we’ve seen it before.”
“I know we have, but every time there’s a scary part, you end up hiding under the covers.” He’s not wrong, but that’s all part of my plan—or Rue’s plan to be exact.
“Very funny.” I grab the blanket off the back of the sofa, but instead of taking the seat on the far end of the couch like I usually do, keeping an appropriate amount of space between us, I slide right next to Rex’s big body, leaving no room between us.
I take a risk by adjusting the blanket so it drapes over my lap, leaving my upper half fully exposed to his heated gaze. The lights are off, with only the TV's glow illuminating the room, creating a romantic atmosphere. Or it would be if we were watching something other than a movie about a possessed, killer doll.
To my surprise, he drops his arm behind me, resting it on the back of the couch. I take the opportunity I’ve been given and lay my head on his chest. He doesn’t say a word--the only sign that he’s affected by our closeness is his sharp intake of breath. “Ready?” His strained voice makes me smile.
“Bring it on, Chucky.” I snuggle deeper into his chest, the rumble of his groan vibrating against me.
He pushes the start button and places the remote on the arm of the couch. I use the distraction to take a peek at the impressive bulge in his sweatpants. Even in the soft light of the horror movie, it looks enormous.
A shiver runs through my body just thinking about what it would feel like inside of me. “Are you cold?” he says against my hair, reaching for the blanket.
