I look around in search of Jacqueline when I see her standing with King Bryant. Just looking at him causes a stir in my lower belly, but I refuse to even think about why that is. I mean, he’s probably the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, so of course I’m going to feel some attraction to him. But still, it’s surprising. After everything with my ex, I’ve sworn off men and have found it hard to even talk to the opposite sex most of the time. I shake my head, refusing to stand here and just gawk at him. I almost force myself to turn my head when I see Jacqueline put her hand on his arm. He takes a step back, saying something, but there’s no telling from here with the way his hat is pulled down low on his head. When he stalks off in the direction of the barn, I watch as Jacqueline, unbothered, walks back over to her friends.
I take a deep breath. I may not want to, but I know I need to go and talk to King. I need to thank him for the scholarship for Elijah. I pull the papers from the bag on my shoulder and run my hand over the signature again. It was King Bryant that signed the sponsorship.
With a sigh, I put the papers back in the bag and start walking toward the barn. It’s quiet, and I would almost bet it was empty if I didn’t just see Mr. Bryant walk in here.
“Hello...” I call out.
Seconds later, King Bryant steps out of a side room. He looks at me from head to toe, and I swear I feel that gaze as if his hand is caressing me along its path. “Hi,” I say and almost flinch at the breathless way it came out. I clear my throat and try again. “Hi, Mr. Bryant.”
“You too, huh?”
“Uh... I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute.”
He walks toward me, or maybe I should say stalks toward me. He doesn’t stop until he’s right in front of me. His nostrils are flared, and the way he’s looking at me, I feel like he’s both mad and frustrated. I take a step back, and he takes one forward, lifting my hand in his. “Well, at least you aren’t married.”
I should pull back or get the hell out of here, but right now, all I can think about is the feel of his huge, rough hand holding mine. It’s been a long while since I’ve been touched by a man, but I sure don’t ever remember this feeling. I swear there’s butterflies in my belly. “Uh, I...” I bite down on my lip when his thumb starts to trace across my wrist.
“You’re not as pushy as Jacqueline. You almost seem innocent even though I know you’re not.” His other hand goes to my neck, and he bends down until we’re so close I can feel his breath on my cheek. “I usually don’t like to be chased, but I’d make an allowance for you. What were you thinking... a roll in the hay while your kid’s here on a field trip?... You going to go out there and brag about it to your friends that you got King Bryant to succumb to your wiles? Fuck, I should say no, but I have a feeling you’d be worth it.”
I’m trying to focus on what he’s saying, but the way he’s holding me, I keep thinking all I’d have to do is lean a little forward and our lips would probably touch. That is until his words start to sink in. He suggested that I want to roll in the... what the?
I jerk backward breathlessly. “Mr. Bryant, no, that’s not... I mean, that’s not why I came to talk to you...”
He laughs, and it sounds bitter. “Right. You can call it what you want, honey, I know why you’re here. It’s the same reason all those women are here...”
I cross my arms over my chest. Probably the worst part about all this is the fact that I am attracted to him. My nipples are hard, pressed against my shirt. Damn my body. “I promise that I didn’t come in here to, to, to...”
He lifts his arm and looks at the watch on his wrist. “We’re running out of time, honey. We’re going to have twenty kids in here in around seven minutes. And well, I’ll be honest with you, I can be quick... it’s been a while.”
My mouth falls open. “Of all the arrogant, egotistical... Forget it, I’m leaving,” I tell him as I turn on my heel. I’m stomping toward the big barn doors when he calls out to me, “You know where to find me when you change your mind.”
I can feel my face flush as I walk out of the barn and Jacqueline and all her cronies are staring at me. I walk off in the opposite direction, and luckily, I don’t have to deal with anyone else because one of the other brothers has the kids preoccupied learning how to tie knots. I stand in the back of the group and try to pay attention, but my thoughts keep straying back to King. He’s a womanizing, arrogant son of a... Damn, get it together, Natalie. Take a breath. Once I’m off this ranch, I’ll never have to see that man again. It’s a good thing that Elijah didn’t know about the camp or the scholarship because his heart would be broken. But there’s no way I can let a man like that teach my son anything.