Most Obnoxious Cowboy Page 6

  There was no way in hell I was going to share that with him, of course. Not now, not after everything. Now we were going to spend the day together, it just felt too intimate, too real, and too embarrassing.

  “I’m going to take that as a yes.” Chet leaned forward and turned the volume down. “You know what that means, right?”

  “Know what?” I whispered.

  “It means it’s almost like we made love.”

  “What?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, if I pleasured myself thinking of you, and you pleasured yourself thinking of me, and we both came, well, it’s like we both came with each other.”

  He winked at me, and I just stared at him. I couldn’t get the image of him touching himself and thinking about me out of my mind.

  “So I guess the big question is…” He licked his lips and winked at me. “Arya…”

  “What?” I said again.

  “Did you come? And when you came, was it my name you screamed out loud?”

  “I’m not finishing this conversation,” I said. “Let us talk about something else.”

  He laughed then. “I knew you’d be a little scaredy-cat.”

  “I just don’t think this is an appropriate conversation for us to be having, Chet Hamilton. What would your mother say if she knew this is what you were asking me?”

  He didn’t respond for a couple of seconds. “You know what, Arya, you’re not always going to be able to change the subject when you don’t feel comfortable. One of these days, we’re going to have a real conversation, face to face, eye to eye, hand to hand, and it’s going to end in a much more explosive way.”

  “Yeah. It’s going to end with me screaming and shouting at you.”

  “Aww…I don’t think so.” He laughed. “I think it’s going to end one of two ways.”

  “Oh yeah? And what are those ways?

  “Either with me on top of you, or you on top of me.”

  I turned away from him quickly. My entire body felt warm, and I wasn’t sure how to respond. The thought of making love to Chet Hamilton turned me on more than I was willing to admit.

  “You’re the most obnoxious man I’ve ever met in my life,” I snapped. “You know that right?”

  “Well,” he said. “whatever I do, I like to be the best.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Chet

  * * *

  “Wow, this is so beautiful,” Arya said as we stopped next to the creek. I looked around trying to imagine what it would look like to her, someone who hadn’t been here before, and I realized how right she was. It really was beautiful here. I watched her walk down to the river and dip her fingers into the water.

  “It’s colder than I thought it would be,” she said with a smile as she looked back at me. When we’d gotten out of the car, all talk of sexual innuendo had stopped. It was as if she didn’t want to encourage me in that regard. I was frustrated, but I respected her wish to not go down that road. Perhaps it was smarter. For all I knew, she wasn’t attracted to me that way, but the demure looks and the way she touched me and talked to me led me to believe that she also felt a spark for me as well.

  “So what are we going to do here?” she said as she stood up and headed back towards me.

  “Well, we have our picnic,” I reminded her.

  “I’m not ready to eat quite yet. Are we going to go swimming?”

  “If you want. We could go skinny dipping.” My lips twitched as she rolled her eyes.

  “No, Chet, we’re not going to go skinny dipping. Did you get that idea from one of your brothers?”

  “What?” I said innocently, not wanting to let her know that my brothers and I talked about absolutely everything. “We could fish,” I said. “I’ve got some rods in the back of the truck.”

  “Oh? What sort of fish are in the water here?”

  “Lots of different kinds, actually,” I said, my mind distracted as she ran a hand through her hair.

  “Lots of different kinds? That’s very descriptive,” she said with a laugh.

  I turned around and headed to the truck and grabbed the fishing pole. I needed to take a breath and a moment. I was too attracted to her. I didn’t want to do something that I would regret later.

  “Let me see if I’ve got the tackle and some bait as well,” I said, fishing around in one of the tool boxes.

  “We don’t have to fish if you don’t want to,” she said. “Maybe we could go for a walk.” She pointed up to the left near the forest. “It looks quite mysterious in there.”

  “It is not mysterious.” I laughed. “I guess I’m so used to being here that it doesn’t feel as special.”

  “No way!” she said. “It’s amazing here. It feels magical. Eloise would love it.”

  “Maybe next time we could bring her.”

  “That would be nice,” she agreed, “if I’m still here.”

  “What do you mean if you’re still here?” I knew I should keep my mouth shut. I knew I shouldn’t push the issue, but I thought she’d be staying now that Chip had closed up the bar for a month.

  “Well, I’m still looking for a place. Just because I can’t work at 12 Point Buck Bar right away doesn’t mean I’m not going to look for another job and accommodation. I’ll just have to spend my entire paycheck on it as opposed to getting free rent.” She shot me an aggravated look, and I swallowed hard.

  “You know you don’t have to—”

  “Please, Chet.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to have this discussion. Not again. Not today. Let’s just enjoy our time in nature.”

  “I’m more than willing to enjoy our time in nature. We could also be one with nature,” I said with a wicked grin.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, if we actually lived in nature, perhaps we would be naked.”

  “Chet Hamilton, really? Would you say those words if your mother was around?”

  “Maybe not.” I Chipled. “But she’s not around.”

  “You’re really bad, aren’t you?”

  “Did I ever say I was good?”

  “No,” she shook her head, “you didn’t. But I figured you’re a Hamilton and you were raised by Amelia and Ranger and, well, they have manners.”

  “Are you saying I don’t have manners?”

  “I’m saying that some of your comments are quite inappropriate,” she said primly.

  “Really? How so?”

  “Asking me to skinny dip? Suggesting we get naked?”

  “Well, it’s not like I just stripped my clothes off.” I laughed. “I think that would be much more inappropriate. Don’t you?” I pulled my t-shirt off and stood there naked from the waist up, noticing the way her pupils dilated as she took in my bare chest.

  “W-what are you doing, Chet?” she stammered.

  “I was feeling a little bit warm.” I shrugged. “No big deal, right?”

  “No,” she said, “Not at all.” She walked towards a big oak tree and stared up at it. “I wonder how old this tree is.”

  “No idea,” I said as I followed behind her. “Hundreds of years, I’m sure.”

  “It’s magnificent,” she said. “It’d be really cool to have a swing hanging from the branches.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “I think that would be a good idea. In fact, we’re planning on building some log cabins around here, and I think this would make a perfect spot for kids to play.” I frowned. “Though, maybe it’s too close to the creek. I don’t know that we’d want them to be too close to the water, just in case they’re not supervised.”

  “Yeah. You’d really want to have a play area that was far away from anything potentially dangerous, though it would be a beautiful area.”

  “Yeah.” I sighed, and she looked at me with a curious expression.

  “What’s that for?”

  “What was what for?”

  “You sighed just now. Are you not happy with the eco-resort you guys are building?”
br />   “I don’t know,” I admitted. “This has always been a family homestead, you know? It will be weird having strangers here, making noise and taking up space. It feels like it will become something that I’m not sure my ancestors would’ve wanted.”

  “Or the Native Americans,” she said.

  “Yeah, this was their land.”

  “Does that ever make you feel bad?” she asked softly.

  I tilted my head to the side and stared at her. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, this land wasn’t yours initially, right?”

  “No. It’s not mine now, either. It belongs to the Hamilton family.”

  “I mean before the Hamilton family took it over.” She paused and shook her head. “Sorry, I won’t get into it.”

  “No, I’m curious what you mean.”

  “I mean, this was Native American land, right? And some people say it should go back to the Native American tribes.”

  “Oh, I see.” I nodded. “Yeah, I understand the complexities of the situation.”

  “Oh yeah?” She sounded curious.

  “I mean, I understand that when colonizers came to the United States, they took over land that didn’t belong to them. And when families made it to the west, like mine, deals were made.” I sighed. “There’s a lot of complicated history in this country and I, for one, don’t really know the answers to the question you’re asking. Do I think that I own the land or my family owns the land? Technically, yes. Do I think that it’s ours to do what we want with? No.” I shook my head. “I think it’s precious, and I think that it should be respected and kept pure and clean. I just want to do what’s right for me, my family, my ancestors, future generations, and for the Native American tribes in the area.” I looked at her. “My father’s thought about this a lot, and actually, a percentage of our income goes to the local tribe.”

  “Really?” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t know that.”

  “It’s not something we advertise.” I kicked at a pebble. “Just like philanthropists don’t advertise their good works and deeds and donations, at least not the ones that are giving because they think it’s right.”

  “Yeah.” She nodded. “I guess there are those who give and want the world to know just so that they can get the acclaim.”

  “Yeah, my dad’s not like that.” I smiled at her. “What made you think about that?”

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I think about all sorts of things, you know? Inequality, equitable distribution of wealth.” She laughed a little.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “I don’t know why I care, seeing as I have no wealth.”

  “Maybe you care because you just want the best for everyone.”

  “I do.” She nodded. “I just think that everyone should have an equal playing field, you know? If we all had the same options in life, the same chances to make it then, well, whoever rises to the top rises to the top, right?”

  “Yeah. I got it. You’re right. You’re wise beyond your years, Arya.”

  “I don’t know about that. Then I just think about Eloise and…” Her voice trailed off.

  “What is it?”

  “I want her to have everything in life. I want her to have all the options. I want her to be whatever she wants to be. I want her to dream big, and I don’t want her to feel limited by what I can offer her, which isn’t much. It makes me sad sometimes.”

  “Why?” I said softly.

  “I feel like she’s already got a bad start in life, you know?”

  “What do you mean? She’s such a happy girl.”

  “She is, but she’s young. She doesn’t have her mother. She doesn’t have her father. She’s with me, and that’s not saying much.”

  “Don’t say that, Arya. You’re wonderful.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t have a job. I don’t have any money. I don’t have a home. I don’t have much of an education. Right now, she’s young, and it’s not a big deal, but soon she’ll be going to school, and I just don’t want her to be behind. I just don’t want her to feel like she doesn’t have the same options in life, you know? I want to give her the world, but right now I can’t even give her a crumb.”

  “Hey, you’re giving her the world. Your love means so much more than money.”

  Her eyes watered and she looked away from me. “I wish that was true,” she said softly.

  “Hey, you’re wonderful. You’re worried about so many important things that put my own worries to shame.”

  “Oh Chet,” she said. “Don’t say that. I’m sure your worries are also important. I’m sure…”

  I shook my head. “No. Today is about you. Let’s have some fun.” I took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I know you’re an independent woman, and I know that you don’t need my help, but anything I can do, absolutely anything, you just let me know.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Arya

  * * *

  “Wow, this log cabin is really beautiful.” I looked around. “Do you stay here often?”

  Chet nodded. “I wouldn’t say super often, but I like to stay here as much as I can. In fact, all of my brothers do.”

  “I can see why. It’s beautiful.” I looked out the window at the mountains. “The view is magnificent.”

  “It is,” he agreed. “We’re hoping to build more cabins like this along the creek for the resort.”

  “I think I heard Olivia saying something about that. For tourists?”

  “Yeah.” He sighed. “I’m not really cool with it, but what are you going to do?”

  “If you’re not cool with it, then…”

  “We need the money.” He grimaced. “I mean, we’re doing okay, but we’re not making as much money from our crops as we need to keep the ranch going.”

  “I guess it’s quite expensive, huh?”

  “You can say that again. So we’re investing and getting a loan, hopefully. I guess Beau’s the one taking care of that.”

  “You sound… angry, almost,” I said carefully, not wanting to upset him.

  “I guess. I just feel helpless, you know? I’m not the oldest. I’m not the second oldest. I don’t really have much of a say in what happens.”

  “But don’t you all have an equal say?”

  “I mean, yeah, there are seven brothers, and we all have a vote, along with my mom and my dad, of course, but really it’s up to Beau and Austin. They’re the ones in charge. They make most of the decisions.”

  “But Wyatt, he’s buying those horses, right?”

  “Yeah, he is.”

  “I mean, that’s good, don’t you think?”

  “Wyatt’s a good kid, and I think he can make a real success of horse breeding or whatever it is he’s doing.” He shook his head. “I don’t know. I guess I’m just frustrated.”

  “Why?” I walked up and touched him lightly on the shoulder. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s got you so upset? It can’t just be because Beau and Austin are the oldest.”

  “I guess I just feel like I don’t have any real input. I’m not doing anything. I’m just following orders. And I’m not a follower. I’m a leader. I was born to lead and, well, I’m not getting to do it here.”

  “Do you want to leave Horseshoe Ranch?” Suddenly, it hit me. “Are you not happy here?”

  He stared at me for a few seconds, the light in his eyes dimming. “Sounds sacrilegious when you say it.”

  “You don’t want to be here.”

  He let out a long sigh. “I had an opportunity to buy a smaller ranch, something that I could run and maintain, but, I mean, I can’t do that, obviously.”

  “Why? Money?”

  “No, I have money. We all have a trust fund, but I just wouldn’t feel right leaving the family to do this, you know?”

  “But is it your dream?”

  “My dream is for Horseshoe Ranch to be around for many generations. I want my kids to see where I grew up, where their grandparents grew up, and where their great-great-gr
andparents grew up. I want my grandkids to sit on my knee at that rocking chair in the living room, you know?”

  “I get it. It’s a family legacy.”

  “Exactly. And if I have to stay here and just follow orders, then that’s what I’ll do.” He looked around. “I guess I should fix the roof.”

  “You’re a good guy, Chet.”

  “Really? Do you really think I’m a good guy, Arya, or are you just saying that to try and make me feel better about my situation?”

  “Maybe both.” I laughed. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No, you can just sit pretty and—” he paused. “Sorry, is that not PC?”

  “You can call me pretty if you want,” I said.

  “Can I call you beautiful?”

  “Only if you think it’s true,” I said shyly. He burst out laughing. “Hey, why are you laughing?”

  “Because that’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “What is?”

  “That I should only call you beautiful if I think it’s true. Arya, you crazy girl, you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life. Hands down.”

  “You’re just saying that.” I could feel myself blushing.

  “Trust me,” he said softly, “I don’t ‘just say’ anything.” We stared at each other for a few seconds.

  Chet thought I was gorgeous. He thought I was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in his life. I didn’t believe him, of course. He had to have seen much more beautiful women than me, but his words made me feel warm inside and special and…

  “So I was thinking,” I said quickly, wanting to change the subject. “Have you ever heard of goat yoga?”

  “Can’t say that I have. Why?”

  “I was thinking, if this was going to be a resort and you really wanted to attract people and bring in large crowds, maybe you could have goat yoga. I noticed that near the stables, there was a barn you weren’t really using, and it has a really cool view of the mountains and the forest. And I was just thinking, how cool would it be to…” I stopped. “Sorry, I’m talking too fast, aren’t I?”

  “No, continue.”