Love on the Buchanan Ranch (A Romance Story) (9 page)

“Wow,” was what he said when she opened the door. “You look beautiful, Stacey.”

“Thank you,” she said, happy that her efforts had not gone unnoticed.

“You’ll be the belle of the ball,” he told her as he held out his arm for her to take.

“You look very nice too,” she said, honestly. Nate was wearing a black tuxedo, with another bolero tie. This one was adorned with a gold slider, and his hatband matched it as well. His boots were black and shiny, and when he took off his hat to slide into the car Stacey noticed there wasn’t a hair out of place.

They drove further out into the country until they came to a long driveway that was lined in a beautiful rock fence. The brass ardor above the driveway said: Denton Oil. When they got close to the house, Stacey could see that it was actually a mansion. There was a marble staircase that led up to the front door, and gorgeous stone fountains adorned each side, shooting out streams of colored water.

After turning the car over to the valets, and ascending the large staircase, they were greeted at the door by the hostess herself, Mrs. Denton. Stacey could tell that the dress the woman wore was probably worth more than Stacey would make this entire year, and the rope of diamonds around her neck didn’t even come close to outshining the rock on the ring finger of her left hand.

She greeted Nate warmly, and she seemed to be genuine when he introduced Stacey and she welcomed her to their home.

“Stanley is flitting around here somewhere,” she said, talking about her husband Stacey assumed. “He’s probably got some poor sap cornered, talking about his favorite subject, oil,” she said with a smile.

Stacey and Nate thanked her, and made their way inside. There must have been over two hundred people in the room. It was definitely big enough to hold them all. The ceilings spanned at least thirty feet, and the largest French doors Stacey had ever seen opened up to a patio and what looked from here like acres or even miles of perfect lawn. Professional looking servers all dressed in black were making the rounds with hor d'oeuvres and flutes of champagne.

Stacey followed Nate, her arm linked in his, as he made the rounds of the room. None of these people seemed to her to be the type to patronize her diner, but Stacey made mental notes about who was wearing what, and who was there with whom so at the very least she could use the information to make Edith and Vicki happy. Stacey also noticed that Nate hadn’t actually mentioned the diner or that she was the manager of it once since they had been there. One of the wives asked Nate where he had met Stacey, and he actually just said, “Through my Daddy.” Stacey was sure after only a short time that his spiel about marketing the diner was just a ruse to get her to agree to come to this dinner.

They eventually found their table. They were seated with two other couples, both of whom Nate knew. One of the couples was from Dallas, and the man was the son of one of the Cattlemen that was up for an award tonight. The woman was young, and beautiful. She nodded her head at Stacey when they were introduced, but that was the only acknowledgment she would give her the entire night. The other couple was older, the man himself the owner of a stockyard out of Austin. The woman was laden with diamonds as Mrs. Deming had been, and like the younger woman, had no interest in conversation with Stacey. Dinner started out with a lobster bisque soup which was incredible. Stacey found herself wishing she was able to ask the cook for the recipe. Next, a salad was served, and then finally an entrée of Prime rib and loaded baked potato. The steak was so juicy and tender; it literally melted in her mouth. Stacey had been to a lot of formal dinners as the wife of a doctor over the years, but she had to say that this was the best dinner she had ever been served. As the night wore on, Stacey soon realized that dinner had been the best of it. She got plenty of flirts and stares from the men, most of them old enough to be her father. One old drunk had even invited her upstairs with him while Nate was out of ear shot. She hadn’t said anything, not wanting to make a scene. Instead she just walked away, and hoped he was too drunk to remember her, if she ever ran into him again. None of the women were very friendly. They seemed to be of only two types: The new, young trophy wife who could probably borrow clothes and shoes from some of their grand daughters, and the old, rich, and probably perpetually cheated on wives who only acted bored with the whole affair. Stacey was figuring out quickly that this was not her type of crowd, even if she were to fit in.

Nate seemed to be having a great time. He talked to everyone, and reminded Stacey a little of a politician. He seemed to spend the evening shaking hands and slapping backs. Stacey had the feeling that had there been babies present, he would have been kissing them.

She stuck it out for a few hours, but then grew tired of watching these people all play the political games that rich people do. Nate was over at another table, talking with a much older couple. When she was able to catch his eye she beckoned him over.

“I’m very sorry; Nate, but I have a terrible headache. I think I will call a cab and go on home now it you don’t mind too much?”

Nate’s expression was hard for her to read. She didn’t know if he was angry or sad that she wanted to leave. He didn’t say anything for a few moments, and then said, “Are you sure you want to go? I could probably have one of the staff find you some aspirin or something.”

“Thank you, Nate. I appreciate that, but yes, I’m sure I would rather just go.”

“Well then, I’ll take you home,” he said

“Oh no, please. I wouldn’t want you to have to leave early. I can call a taxi. It will be fine.”

“No way are you going home in a cab. I brought you here, I will drive you home.” he said firmly. “Let me just go say goodbye to the Dentons.”

“Of course,” Stacey said, and before she could offer to go with him and do the same, he was gone.

Stacey waited for him to come back for over half an hour. When he didn’t, she finally fished her phone out of her purse and called for a cab. She told the dispatcher that she would meet the cab at the end of the driveway. She asked the older woman at the table to let Nate know she had gone home, and she left.

Stacey’s cell phone rang when the cab was about half a mile from her house. It was Nate, asking why she hadn’t waited for him.

“I’m sorry, Nate. My head was just hurting so bad, and you had been gone for a while. I just didn’t want to wait any longer.”

Nate told her he understood, but didn’t sound as if he really did. Stacey thanked him again for taking her, and to be nice, told him she’d had a good time until her headache had come on.

“Maybe we can do something another time?” he asked.

Again, to be polite, she said, “Sure, that would be nice.”

As the cab was pulling in front of her home, Stacey caught sight of a horse and rider out of the corner of her eye.  She stepped out and turned around to pay the driver, and when she turned back around, there was Owen on his horse.

“Oh my goodness!” she said, “You startled me.”

Owen laughed, “You startle a little easy, don’t ya?”

“You just seem to keep popping up in places where I’m not expecting you,” Stacey told him.

“I was riding by and saw you drive in. Just wanted to say, hey.”

“Hey then,” Stacey said with a smile.

“You look awfully fancy tonight.” Owen said.

“I went to the Cattleman’s dinner…with your brother,” she told him.

Owen laughed again, but didn’t say anything.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Nothin’, just wondering why my brother would let a beautiful lady take a cab home from their date.”

“It wasn’t a date!” she said, and then, “And it was my idea to take the cab. I wasn’t feeling well and I didn’t want Nate to have to leave early.”

“Didn’t cotton much to all those snobs, huh?”

Stacey smiled, “My head just hurt, that’s all.”

“Well then, I best be gettin’ on so you can take an aspirin and lie down.”

He started to turn the horse around, and before Stacey could stop herself she said, “It’s actually feeling a lot better now. I was thinking about making some coffee. Would you like to stay for a cup?”

He stopped and seemed to think about that for a minute, and then said, “Sure, let me tie her up.”

Stacey invited Owen to have a seat while she made a pot of coffee, and changed into a pair of lounge pants and a t-shirt. She also took off all of the jewelry and wiped away the makeup. When she came back, the coffee was ready. She poured them both a cup, knowing that Owen took two sugars from his many visits to the diner. When she went back into the living room, Owen was sitting on the edge of the couch looking uncomfortable.

“It’s okay to sit back and relax,” she told him with a grin. “You look like you’re about ready to bolt.”

He smiled back at her, “I’m not much good at socializing, not sure if you’ve noticed.”

Stacey laughed aloud at that, “Really? No, I haven’t noticed at all.”

“The lady is beautiful and sarcastic too,” he said.

Stacey liked that he found her beautiful. No one had said that to her in a long time. Edward had always done his best to make her feel too fat or too old. He had actually started making her believe it a little after a while.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a little bit quiet,” she said. “I’ve known people who talk all day and never say a thing worth listening to.”

“Yeah, you just went on a date with one of them,” Owen said, laughing. Stacey threw the sofa pillow at him, and then she laughed herself.

“Your brother is a very nice man.”

“I guess it depends on your type,” Owen said. And then turning serious he said, “What is your type, Stacey?”

It was the first time she had heard him use her name. Somehow he had always avoided it in all of their meetings. The way he had said it made her feel full of butterflies again.

“It’s been so long since I’ve thought about it, I’m not sure I know anymore,” she told him honestly.

“Well, that’s too bad,” Owen told her. He surprised her by reaching over and taking her hand, but she didn’t resist. “A lady like you should have any man that she wanted. Somebody musta done a number on you, huh?”

She was surprised at how perceptive he was. She had definitely given him way too little credit when they first met. When he leaned back into the couch, Stacey leaned back with him, and he slipped his arm around her shoulders. She laid her head on his strong shoulder and breathed in the scent of him. It had been so long since she’d felt desire like this. They sat that way for a long time. At last, Owen said, “I probably should get going. I’m not sure you should trust me to stay any longer.”

His honesty was so endearing. Stacey looked up at him with a smile and, returning the honesty she said, “I’m not sure I care.”

That was all he needed. His lips were on hers in an instant, and the arm that had been around her shoulders was now being used to lift her up into his lap. Stacey’s body was suddenly feeling things it had never felt before. Owen’s lips didn’t leave hers as his hands slipped up the back of her shirt and found her warm skin. Within moments of his fingers tracing her spine and the calluses on his palms gently grazing her back, she felt like she was on fire.

Stacey reluctantly took her lips from his and stood up, reaching her hand out to him and lifting him up. He stood, allowing his hat to fall back onto the couch and followed her into her bedroom. As they stepped up near the bed she felt him at her back, his arms circled her waist and he buried his face in her hair. He nuzzled her hair for a few moments and then his lips made their way down to her neck. His kisses and soft, sweet bites sent goose bumps down her arms and spine. As he kissed her, he gently lifted off her shirt, and then undid her bra and let it fall to the ground. He turned her around to face him, and whispered “Sweet Jesus,” before laying her back on the bed and allowing his sexy lips and tongue to find their way to her willing breasts.