Crashing Hearts: An Oakport Beach Romance Page 3

  I can’t afford to lose this job. Walking around the house, I look to see if they’re outside. Feet lay out from under a ride-on tractor. I can hear muffled humming from underneath as I stand towering over the pair of legs.

  “Um, Mr. Jennings?” a soft, sweet voice calls out.

  I can’t hold back the smile, hearing her voice. It instantly makes my cock twitch. I suspected Piper was the girl who I had been emailing back and forth with for the job, and now I’m certain.

  Turning my body, I can see her brightly painted toenails in wedge sandals. Not the best shoes to be working in, but who am I to complain? I’m not the one wearing them. Slowly, I inch myself out from under the tractor, my eyes sliding up her long, toned legs.

  Truth be told, I’m excited to see her reaction that it’s me. Every time I’m near her, there is this fierce energy that coils around us. Easing myself fully out, I stand up, cleaning my hands off on my work jeans.

  Her smile immediately falters into a frown. Her light-pink lips purse, looking incredibly kissable. Her face is pale, obviously from working indoors most of her time, and framed with long, thick curls that cascade over her shoulders. Her light-green eyes sear into mine, lasting for what seems like forever.

  She arches a brow in question before crossing her arms, pulling her white, silky shirt across her chest, giving me just a hint of cleavage.

  “Aren’t you sweating in that blue sweater?” I ask, trying to play off the affect she has on me.

  She huffs out, pulling the cotton from her shoulders. “I was trying to go for professional.”

  I look her up and down, that jean mini skirt looking sexy as hell on her hips. Suddenly, I wonder what she would feel like clenched around my dick. Jean skirts have always been my Achilles’s heel. I’ve never been able to turn one down.

  The peaks of her nipples point through her thin tank top, and there is nothing cold out here. It’s almost 86 degrees out. I take in the complete package of her, and she’s breathtaking. When Aunt Millie gets better, I’m going to have to thank her for sending me this woman. Dragging my eyes back to meet hers, she tries to play up her annoyance, when I can see the smile wanting to tug at her lips.

  “I should have known. You seem to own everything in this town. Why wouldn’t you need a nurse for your aunt Millie?”

  “See, you’re coming around. I’m quite charming if you let me be.”

  “I knocked on your door, but no one answered. Is your aunt around?”

  I should tell her the truth right now.

  I turn to pick up the tools I was using. “She’s not in the house right now, but why don’t we go over a few things in there. I have AC, and it will be nice to get out of this heat for a bit.”

  Picking up my tool kit, we head toward the house. Piper looks to be taking everything in each time I steal a glance at her.

  “Home sweet home.” My house is designed to be a cabin. Walking in, there is a large fireplace as a focal point of the room. With comfortable but dated couches. I have a TV screen mounted over the fireplace mantel. This is my favorite room. Huge windows start at the entrance and go to the wall, allowing me to look out at my beautiful land. Behind the fireplace wall is the medium-sized kitchen. To the right are two bedrooms. Each room has a queen bed, a small place to sit, and they have an adjoining bathroom.

  “Wow, this is beautiful.” She turns in a complete circle, looking impressed with my handy work.

  “Thank you. I worked hard on it.”

  “You built this?” She looks at me wide-eyed.

  “No, but I upgraded it and added the fireplace.”

  I keep going past the wall, heading into the kitchen. I have a small raised four-person table I never use. I typically eat in the living room if I’m here.

  “Here is the contract.” I slide her the paper already resting on the table.

  “You would be required to live here, as she’s very sick and needs care twenty-four seven. I will be able to give you breaks and days off, since you and I will be switching on and off.”

  She hangs on every word I say, nodding.

  “Salary is non-negotiable as I mentioned before you came down. But if you accept, I can include the payment of having your car fixed at my shop.”

  Picking up the contract, she glances at it before asking, “Can I meet her first?”

  I initially planned for them to meet first, but I’m too invested now. I want her to stay, and I have a feeling if she met her first, it would only scare her away. “She gets attached to people very quickly. I think you should meet after the contract is signed. I will need you to start right away, as in today.”

  “What are her symptoms?”

  “She is very lethargic, needs constant motivation to get up and move. She will need help with eating and drinking. There will be nights where you will have to stay in the same room with her.”

  She picks up the paper, starting to read it through. “Why is the contract only for a month?”

  “I’m hoping she will be better by then. I’m open to extending it if she still needs help after the one-month mark.”

  “Can I see where I’ll be sleeping?”

  “Definitely.” I stand up, extending our tour to her bedroom.

  “Is she staying in there?” Piper points to the other room.

  I make a grunting committal sound as I open the room. The sun is shining in brightly, making it appear cozy.

  “Nice crash pad,” she uses my saying from the other day, making me laugh.

  “You will be sharing a bathroom, as it’s Jack and Jill style. Is that okay?”

  “That will be fine. Honestly, it will be good for me to be able to check on her easily.”

  I refuse to meet her eyes. Hopefully, she’s not one of those girls who hold grudges for long.

  “What do you say?” I asked, walking back to the kitchen. I grab each of us a glass, pouring water into them.

  “So far, so good.”

  “Why don’t you relax in the living room, go over the contract, and come get me once it’s all signed?”

  “You’re not going to stay in here?”

  Pushing my hands into my front pockets, I honestly answer, “I don’t want you to feel pressure in signing it.”

  She considers what I say. “Okay then.” She flashes me one of her big smiles, and immediately I feel my dick harden.

  “Anyway, this will be your home for the next month. Might as well get comfortable, right?”

  CHAPTER 5

  The contract looks like normal stuff; it takes me about a half-hour to go through it and sign. I feel good about this choice. I can see myself living here. It’s beautiful. Way better than my last place. I shared a bedroom with another roommate, and I still could hardly afford it. At that thought, my phone rings with an unknown number.

  Against my better judgment, I pick it up. “Hello?”

  “May I speak with Ms. Stone?” The tone is formal, and my stomach sinks further.

  “Yes,” I say slowly, looking back at the contract. This job is my way out and answers everything.

  “Your previous landlord has sent your information to us in regards to you not paying your rent.”

  I can feel my eyes prickle with wetness. “I gave them a week notice, and they had me replaced in less than twenty-four hours,” I argue my point.

  “Did you not sign a contract stating six weeks’ notice will be given? By law, it should be sixty days, but they’re holding to your agreement, which is in your favor.”

  I’m completely overwhelmed. My room was back to being occupied the day after I left. Not knowing how to deal with this right now, I hang up without a word. I need this job before I can even consider dealing with everything I left behind in the city.

  I can hardly hold the paper in my hands without my tremble being noticeable. Everything about this place screams for me to accept. I have to keep reminding myself of this and that it will be okay. Taking a few deep breaths, I clear my head, pushing down my stress to a reasonable
level.

  Walking out, I find Crash trying to start the engine of the ride-on tractor. He’s back to having his shirt off. Part of me is hoping I’ll be able to get to know him better too. He has this contagious personality that makes people want to be around him. I’ve felt it every time I’ve seen him.

  I watch and admire him work before I say anything. “All signed.”

  He looks back and gives me that smile of his, and I nearly melt. I hand it off to him, and he quickly looks it over in less than thirty seconds.

  “Let’s meet Aunt Millie!” He claps his hands together.

  “Right now?” I look around. “Did she just get here?” Everything in the yard is silent. Not even the sound of wind can be heard. Crash’s Jeep is the only vehicle in his long driveway. I would have noticed someone stopping by.

  “She’s waiting in the barn.”

  “Should she be in there?” From what he’s told me, she sounds pretty sick. He grabs hold of my hand, pulling me toward the barn. He seems excited, so I go with it, trying to ignore my heart palpitations. As soon as I meet her and assess the situation, I can start pulling rank. Between the two of us, only one is a nurse, that I’m pretty sure that’s me.

  Coming to the door, he stops and reaches for my other hand, bringing them up. “I want you to know that I do need you. In the short time I have known you, I already know you are kind and passionate. This is what Auntie Millie needs. I promise you that this job will hold a special place in your heart by the time you leave.”

  Crash’s eyes are tearing up, looking like a swimming pool on a summer’s day. It’s endearing that his aunt means so much to him.

  “You can trust me. She’s in good hands.”

  Blowing out his breath, he begins to slide the door open. I don’t see anyone. A small rabbit scurries out of his hiding place to go right back into the open stall he was just in.

  Crash is starting to give me this sinking feeling. I know this feeling. The dread builds with each small step I take. He still hasn’t let go of my one hand, pulling me into the same stall the rabbit hopped into. I finally slip my hand out of his, preparing myself for the unknown.

  Stepping in, a small, thin horse lies on its side in the middle of hay. “This is Aunt Millie.”

  I look from the pony to Crash, waiting for him to correct himself. “Aunt Millie is a pony?” Silence. My hand drags down my face, hoping I’ve confused things or heard him wrong.

  Crash kneels as he gently pets the horse, who I guess is also known as Aunt Millie. “She’s an orphan foal.”

  I should have known better than to answer an ad on Craigslist. “I’m a nurse, not a vet.”

  Both hands go to the back of my neck, my fingers interconnecting as I glance around at the stall.

  “Look, you need a job, and I need a nurse for my horse.”

  I look down at this sleek black, tiny horse that rests on its side. I’m so far out of my element; I don’t even know the first thing I should do to help.

  “Anyway, the vet’s already been here. This horse needs love and kindness. I figured a nurse would be the perfect type of person. I’m too busy to be here all the time looking after her.”

  “What do I even need to do?” Google can only tell me so much.

  “She will need to be bottle-fed every few hours, just like a baby. You will have to make sure she moves around. The foal can’t be lying down the whole time. Sometimes with bottle-fed horses, their leg tendons can twist, and then you might have to make a leg brace. Give her love and encouragement. I’ve had her for about a week so far, but it will take anywhere from one to three months for her to get better.”

  Between my maternity ward rounds and Google, it can’t be that hard, right?

  “When you said I’ll have to do some overnights, you meant here in the barn, not in some little old lady’s room next door to mine.” My words hang in the air. “Whose room is next to mine?”

  At least Crash has the decency to look sheepish. “That room is mine.”

  I pull in my lips, taking in all this new information. I’m babysitting a horse, not using what I went to school for, and my car is undrivable for the foreseeable future—oh, and I’m broke.

  I need a moment to let myself digest this news. Stepping out of the stall, I walk the large perimeter of the barn. It has four stalls and an open area of horse stuff. There is a rope, a thing you sit on, and blankets. I don’t know the first thing about horses other than they sometimes look pretty. I should tell him this, convince him that he’s making the worst mistake ever. I can’t keep a house plant alive. My patients at the hospital typically aren’t going to die on me. It’s like babysitting a toddler. As long as you keep a reasonable eye out, they’re good to go. This horse already looks dead.

  But I’m selfish, I need the money, and that part of my brain screams at me to accept. How bad can it be? I get to watch this gorgeous, sexy man walk around without a shirt on all day. I’ve had worse jobs.

  He comes out of the stall with his hands in his back pockets, looking at me expectantly.

  “Fine, but I need two nights off a week.”

  He pulls his hand out, shaking mine. Well, this just got interesting.

  CHAPTER 6

  “Well, let’s start!” I clap my hands together, and her eyes widen.

  “Now? My stuff is still at the shop.” She looks down at what she’s wearing, and I have to hide the amused smirk that wants to surface.

  She will be the prettiest thing in this barn, and I like what she’s wearing. I’d hate for her to cover it all up. Her ass in that skirt looks like its begging to be slapped. My hand itches to do just that.

  Placing my hands in their pockets, I have to remind myself to behave. She still looks like a deer caught in headlights. She just might be the best distraction I have. Her legs would look amazing wrapped around me. Shaking my head, I try to stop thinking about all the things I would love to do to this woman.

  Walking past her, I head to the wooden bench, her light scent of flowers has me almost stopping to get a better smell.

  “Here is the mini-fridge where I’m keeping Aunt Millie’s milk.” Opening the door, I show her the pre-portioned formula. “The bottles are here.” Right beside the three-foot fridge are the bottles. “I’ll make sure it stays stocked. But if you ever get down to only three feedings, let me know.”

  Turning, she’s hanging on my every word. Her lips part, and the tip of her tongue darts out like she’s concentrating. “Got it.”

  “Horses don’t automatically suckle like babies. Getting her to latch on can be hard.” I start making the bottle, showing her each step. I watch her nod before placing the milk back into its original container and signaling for her to do it.

  We walk to the baby horse, and I let her go in first. She said in an earlier email that she was a sink-or-swim type of person. Her steps are still unsure, but she crouches down in front of Millie, talking sweetly and softly. “Hi, girl, I hear you and I are going to become best friends.”

  With her knees tucked under her, she brings the glass bottle up and appears to be looking for the best approach. When she tips the bottle over, having its black nipple inverted, she is smiling adorably at the horse. The bottle is held high as she begins to make an airplane sound much as one would do for a toddler. I have to clear my throat not to laugh. Splash! Without warning, the liquid spills all over the foal’s head, the milk escaping from the bottle before Piper even has a chance to attempt her first feeding.

  Aunt Millie shakes her head, still not moving more than she has to, and Piper is staring at the mess she made. The crimson starts rolling up her body like a storm, starting at her chest, covering her neck, until it rolls right into her cheeks.

  Her mouth opens a few times, no sound coming out, and she’s looking back at me, almost expecting an outburst of rage.

  “First time could have gone better, but you’ll get the hang of it.” I shrug, more than a little amused.

  She’s still shell-shocked, unmovin
g, staring wide-eyed at the horse and then to me. “I don’t know what happened.”

  “The nipple wasn’t on right. Rookie mistake.” Standing, I brush the hay off my pants. “No use crying over spilled milk.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need to head into town to check on a few things. Want me to bring your suitcase back?”

  “No!” she screams and stands.

  “Um… okay.”

  “It’s just… I want to make sure the room you let me stay in is in the same shape you gave it to me in.”

  “Suit yourself. When I get back, we can head there together.” I leave her in the barn, knowing she’ll figure it out. If I stay any longer, I might do something like kiss her, or worse, fuck her right here, in the barn.

  I try to clean up Millie the best I can. This could not have gone worse. Crash should be sending me packing. I’m sure someone in his ten different businesses knows more than I do. Standing, I go get more milk, this time placing the nipple securely on, double-checking it. Aunt Millie and I watch a few YouTube videos to make sure we know what we’re doing. All of the foals seem to be standing when they eat.

  Going behind her, I crouch down, picking up her behind to give her the nudge to stand. Her folded legs come up for a second before she goes right back down to the same position. Trying again, I get one arm around her back section while lifting her tail, all for her to let out the ripest gas that has me dropping her instantly.

  This is worse than my parents’ dog that farts all the time. My arm comes up to cover my face while my hand tries to wave the god-awful smell away. “Baby Jesus, what are they feeding you?”

  Millie looks behind her before she slowly stands up by herself. My hand glides across her back. “Good girl.” Trying to mimic the videos we watched, I angle my body to hold her head while I use my other arm to feed her. It works for a moment, and she starts sucking, only to push it away.

  I can already see this is going to be super fun at three in the morning when I’m half asleep. Going back at it, it’s like a tug-of-war between eating and stopping. But I find she likes when I talk to her while she eats and getting the back of her ear scratched once in a while.