horses

Virginia's POV

Despite my protests at being carried, Austin kept me clamped firmly in his grip as he took long, leisurely steps towards the stables. A different path than the one we took earlier, this one was gravel. It led us between tennis courts, through a gorgeous rock garden buzzing with bees busy at the colorful blooms, and around the edge of a dark lake, its surface smooth as glass.

As he walked, Austin explained his role at Galloway, Inc. He had been the last of the partners to come on board, and his investment in the company was different from the others in that it dealt primarily with the outdoor aspects.

It was Austin who had created the stone grottos that dotted the landscape of Galloway Ranch, and he had created a myriad of sensual outdoor "adventures" that led participants to explore the landscape on horseback by following a prescribed trail through the desert which would lead them to whatever culmination they desired.

Some would end at a romantic campsite set up for two, with dinner already simmering on an open fire. Others would lead to a secluded waterfall where a bottle of champagne would be chilled, and fluffy towels would be waiting for the adventurers to dry off after a swim in the falls.

I listened intently, watching Austin's face as he told me the things he was passionate about. When he gently put my feet on the ground outside the stables, I intentionally left my arms linked around his neck, as much to feel his muscular shoulders under my hands as to regain my stability. That third shot of whiskey wasn't the best idea.

Austin held onto me for a minute, making sure I wasn't going to fall over before he let go and grabbed the heavy iron handle of the barn door and rolling it open on its oiled tracks. The smells of hay and saddle oil met my nostrils and I inhaled deeply, familiarizing myself with the scent as Austin reached for a lightswitch and illuminated the vast building, lined on two sides with numerous stalls, some occupied, others empty.

The center of the building looked like a little cabin nestled under the roof of the stable. It was a two-story square structure, its outsides freckled with shelves and hooks, on which were a hundred different items and utensils for the care and keeping of horses. A simple dutch door was placed in the middle of the cabin, with a small window on each side.

"Is this your bunkhouse?" I asked, indicating the door. Austin nodded in response and I shivered at his declaration earlier, about taking me in there... I turned away from it and moved to stand by his side. "Will you introduce me to your horses?"

"That's why we're here! Come on." He grabbed my hand and pulled me along the stalls that lined the stable, introducing me one by one to the horses that lived on the ranch. We had almost fully circled the interior cabin when he stopped by the last stall and opened the gate, rather than just calling the horse over for me to pat its nose like the rest.

He stepped inside, pulling me inside with him, where I came face to face with the gentle brown eyes of a Palomino mare who snorted in my face, her steamy breath blowing a strand of hair out of my eyes. I giggled and reached up to pat her neck, and she immediately took a step forward, butting her forehead up against my shoulder.

I lost balance on my whiskey legs and leaned against the horse for stability just as Austin caught me around the waist and righted me onto my feet again.

"Frankie!" He laughed as the horse nudged me again and sent me reeling, seemingly amused by how easy it was to knock this human off her feet. Frankie snorted again and reached her nose towards Austin's hand.

"This is Frankie--Francesca--my personal horse," he explained as he scratched her ears and neck.

"She's perfect," I laughed, watching Frankie nibble at Austin's jeans, obviously searching for a treat.

"She's a pain," he said, rolling his eyes and grabbing a handful of nuggets from a pouch outside the stall and holding them out for Frankie to nibble.

I watched him silently as he fed Frankie and stroked her neck, softly talking to her as she munched.

"Do you ride?" He asked.

"Horses?" I responded, realizing too late how stupid the question sounded.

Austin just grinned that cheeky little boyish grin and nodded, waiting patiently for an actual answer.

"Uhh, no, I've never been on a horse."

"Well we'll have to change that soon, won't we?" He answered, giving Frankie another pat and gesturing for me to lead the way out of her stall.

"Umm, sure!" I replied with as much enthusiasm as I could manage. How hard could it be?

Austin laughed again and grabbed my hand as he closed the gate to Frankie's stall, leading me towards the door of the bunkhouse.

"Don't worry, Virginia. After a few lessons with me, you'll be riding like a pro." Austin opened the door and turned a key on the wall, illuminating the small, cozy space with warm flickering light.

He stood aside as I stepped up into the little cabin. The furnishings were dark and masculine, and although the space had been intentionally decorated to appear rustic, luxury oozed from the overstuffed leather sectional facing a 70 inch flat screen, to the solid oak desk that sat in place of a dining table.

I ran my hand across the butcher-block countertop that lined one side of the space, leading to a small but workable kitchen with a gas stove, french-door refrigerator, and farmhouse sink. A metal and wood spiral staircase twirled up into the dark second floor, and I tilted my head back, attempting to see into the room beyond the small opening.

"You spend a lot of time here?" I asked, noting the open ledger and date book on the desk, as well as the well-worn imprint of Austin's body in the leather task chair that was pushed back from the Apple desktop computer.

Austin gave a short laugh and nodded, leaning against the back of the sofa. "More than I'd like to admit," he said. My own ranch is over 2 hours from here, though, so during the busy season it just makes more sense to be here."

I nodded, although I couldn't really imagine the idea of having 'my own ranch' plus a state of the art horse-stable-bunkhouse-cabin to occupy. Maybe it was just the whiskey, but my head was definitely spinning from everything I had absorbed today.

First Aaron showing up, then Derek, then meeting Jake, Austin, and Luc... and the way everything they touched seemed to drip luxury and sensuality, while being casual and comfortable at the same time... it was no wonder the foursome had amassed such a great fortune with the "experiences" they gave their patrons.

I heard a clinking sound from behind me, and I turned to see Austin pouring whiskey into two glasses of ice, and adding a splash of ginger ale to each. Watching his lean, wiry muscles flex and clench under the thin blue t-shirt, I licked my lips, knowing I shouldn't, but I felt myself craving the liquid courage as the scent of leather and fresh hay made me lusty.

Austin turned to see me watching him and his eyes grew heavy as he slowly approached me where I stood between the spiral staircase and the oak desk.

"Do you want to see upstairs?" He asked softly as I took the drink from his outstretched hand.

"Yes I would--" I began, only to be interrupted by the top of the dutch door banging open, and Derek's head poking inside.

"There you are!" he exclaimed, reaching in and turning the knob from the inside to let himself in. "I've been looking all over for you two."