Serendipity Ranch (14 page)

“So, you are the young woman who got my little brother’s heart in a knot,” Jane said cheerfully, hugging the girl warmly. “It’s about time he meets someone who can keep him out of trouble.”

“Yeah, about that—” Preston began.

“When are you guys leaving?” Drew interrupted, tossing Sara into a football hold as she giggled.

“What are you talking about, Drew?” Serena asked, looking at Preston.

He shrugged. “Boss lady here informed me that I wasn’t allowed to be underfoot when she starts to work here. I planned a little surprise vacation for us.”

“And when were you going to tell me about this ‘little vacation’, Mr. Riley?” Serena demanded, hearing Sara giggle at the look on her uncle’s face.

“I, uh, well—I was just going to surprise you. Your loud-mouthed cousin blew it. Thanks, Drew.”

“You’re welcome, Doc. I assure you that it would not have gone over well if you had just kidnapped her. Little cousin here hates surprises. I tried to warn you.”

“If you think I’m just going to take off on an unannounced trip with you, Preston Riley, then you are three gallons of crazy in a two gallon bucket!” Serena snipped with annoyance. “And while you’re at it, you can take an aerial tour of San Diego on your flying pig,” she commented, stomping off in a huff.

“What did I do?” Preston asked as his sister tittered.

“Preston, honey, when are you going to learn that most people like to be asked, not informed?”

“Put a sock in it, Janie. Excuse me,” Preston said, turning to chase after Serena. He strode into the RV where she was throwing her clothes into a suitcase. “Where do you think you are going?” he asked.

“It is one thing when I choose to be here and completely another when you make choices for me. I will not be bossed around like I’m some stupid child.”

“What got your panties all in a knot? I thought you would like going on a trip with me,” Preston said, putting away her clothes as quickly as she packed them.

She slapped his hand, grabbing her bra from him. “I swear you have the intelligence of a primordial eggplant! You couldn’t even bother to ask me face to face if I wanted to go.”

“If you want to talk face to face, then you need to decide if you need me to sit down or if you are going to stand up on a coffee table. Calm down or I’m going to place you across my knee,” Preston retorted.

“There you go! You can’t compete with me on an intellectual level, so you revert to animalistic puffery!”

“Are you calling me a puffy animal?” Preston asked with a mischievous glint.

“Oh! You are a despicable, egotistical, iniquitous, bombastic, glabrous gasbag!”

“The Homo Halibis discovering her opposable thumbs say what?”

“What?” Serena stared at him, dumbfounded.

“I rest my case.” Preston broke into a gale of laughter as Serena realized he one-upped her.

She blushed and started throwing things at him. “Get out of here! You are about as useful as a windshield wiper on a goat's ass,” she shrieked with frustration as he either ducked the items or caught them mid-flight.

“Does this mean,” he ducked a flying shoe, “that you’ll be packed and ready to leave on Friday?”

“Yes! Now get out!” Serena yelled, throwing a boot at his face.

Preston ran outside, ducking once more as another shoe flew towards his head. Janie and Drew stood outside the RV, mouths hanging open. Preston brushed off imaginary lint from his shirt and smiled.

“The trip’s on. We’ll leave Friday.”

Janie watched her brother cheerfully walk away and turned to Drew. “Did I miss something?”

Drew just silently shook his head, glanced back at the RV and realized that Serendipity had finally met her perfect match.

* * *

“I miss the dogs,” Serena moped as she and Preston boarded the plane to an undisclosed destination.

“Me too. Janie would not let me bring them. She’s even bossier than you are.”

“Are you going to start with me?” Serena asked sharply. “Why in the world did you have to get such an early flight? I don’t do mornings.”

“I was thinking it would be good to get an early start before it gets too hot outside,” Preston said with a smile. He was quite accustomed to Serena’s early morning grouchiness.

“So, a thought crossed your mind? Must have been a long and lonely journey,” Serena responded flippantly. “What is really frightening to me is that you actually sound like you’re making sense. That tells me that either I’m more tired than I thought or it must be time to up my medication.”

“I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me. You need to learn to be nicer in the morning,” Preston scolded half-heartedly. He had lifted her ‘no insulting’ rules under the condition that she did not swear or put down his family or the dogs. Needless to say, she took full advantage of the opportunity when it arose.

“I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter. Deal?” Serena asked, her mood starting to improve as she heard Preston grunt. She nodded to the flight attendant offering coffee and turned back to Preston. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Trust me, my love, little Serena is going to have more fun than she knows what to do with,” Preston promised as he squeezed her hand. “Daddy has some special plans,” he whispered in her ear.

Serena giggled, suddenly transformed into a fun-loving child. She fidgeted with anticipation as they began their descent after a good six hours in the air. She clutched Preston’s hand as he led her through the airport and down to where their shuttle waited.

“Where the hell—heck are we? Florida?” Serena asked, confused as the shuttle drove towards the docks. Her eyes widened. “A cruise? Are we going on a cruise? Oh, Daddy! Thank you!” Serena squealed, throwing her arms around Preston’s neck when he nodded. The shuttle driver glanced up at the adult couple through his rear view mirror, confused. He shrugged
.
Rich Californians
.

Serena raced back and forth through their stateroom, pointing out the obvious sites to Preston. He stood quietly, amused and delighted by her reaction—especially to the king size bed that faced floor-to-ceiling windows, the extra-spacious wraparound private balcony, and the luxury shower with an oversized tub. The twinkle in her eyes told him all he needed to know—that was she was making plans to use those particular areas to make him a very happy man.

His heart swelled with love for her. Despite their rocky beginning, he knew that she was the one with whom he wanted to spend his life. He reached for her hand and led her outside onto the breezy balcony overlooking the harbor.

“Are you happy, my girl?” he asked, arm around her shoulders.

Serena turned to kiss him. “You make me crazy. Every time I turn around, you are underfoot and in my face. You push every button I have, plus ones I didn’t know about. There are more times than not I want to throw you off the side of the mountain, or at least knock you upside the head with a baseball bat.”

Preston smiled, kissing her back. “Yes, I know. But are you happy?”

“More than I could ever have dreamed. I’ve fallen in love with you, you big, stupid ox.”

“Geesh. I’m glad to hear that, and with such romantic prose. However, on that note—” He kneeled on the deck as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, ornate box. Serena’s eyes widened as he presented her with a two-carat, blue, princess-cut diamond nestled in a white diamond and platinum filigree setting. “Serendipity Nicole Mitchell, I love you and am asking you if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife,” he said, holding the ring out as he held her hand and gazed up into her bright blue eyes.

“Me? You want to marry me? Why?” she trembled, alarm crossing her face.

He grinned, slipping the ring on her finger and slowly stood, pulling her into his arms. “Because you drive me insane with your smart ass comments, defiant little pranks, and incessant need to have the last word. As many times as I want to strangle you, I also want to hold you and never let you go. I love you, Serena. I want you to spend the rest of your life tormenting me.”

“Talk about romantic!” Serena scoffed, gazing at the ring on her finger. “Well, I guess if it means that much to you, I might let you marry me. Does this mean you’ll stop treating my ass like it’s a toy drum?”

“No way, little girl.” Preston drew her to his lips, caressing her mouth with his talented tongue. “Now you’ll feel my love twice as much on that lovely little rump of yours.” He kissed the ring on her finger. “Do you like this? The diamond came from the mine.”

“Most diamonds do come from a mine, don’t they?” Serena asked mischievously, unable to take her eyes off the sparkling, blue stone. “I didn’t know diamonds came in this color.”

“They are pretty rare. This one came from MY mine, brat.”

“Pardon me?” Serena looked at him incredulously. “Are you claiming to own a diamond mine?”

“Technically, it’s not a mine. More of a pipe. They found this little beauty three weeks ago. Janie designed the setting.”

“Are you kidding me? It’s stunning! She really should do this instead of ballrooms,” Serena teased, admiring the detailed delicacy of the band. “I can’t believe you truly want me, Preston,” she suddenly softened, her defense down as she slowly fingered the ring.

“If you would allow me to show you how much I want you, I’m sure you’ll be convinced. The bed looks very inviting,” he murmured into her fragrant hair, his teeth nipping at the nape of her neck. Serena collapsed in his embrace as he clamped onto her “special spot”. Delicious shivers of delight quivered uncontrollably through her body as he sucked and teethed on her pulse point, making her pant with rapturous exhilaration. He chuckled as she slowly sank to the floor, her legs buckling under her.

“Let’s go take advantage of that bathtub,” he suddenly suggested, swinging her into his strong arms and kissing her deeply.

“What happened to the bed’s invitation?” Serena asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I changed my mind,” Preston purred, nuzzling her throat.

Serena giggled. “Excellent. Does your new mind work better than the old one?”

Serena sunk under a mountain of bubbles, moaning with ecstasy as the fragrant hot water and side jets massaged away the aches from their long trip. She felt the water rise as Preston slid in next to her. “What’s that sticking in my back? A little rubber ducky?” she asked playfully as he spooned her.

His hands stroked her breasts as he continued to kiss her neck and shoulders. “There is nothing little about it,” he grunted.

Serena began to wiggle her bottom against his swelling organ, inviting it to part her cheeks and enter her hungry pussy from behind. Preston leaned back in the tub and situated her over the bulbous tip of his rigid pole. Very slowly he entered her, his hands guiding her hips as she straddled his lap. Serena reached in front of her, grabbing the tub’s edge and being to pump her body in deliberate, languid undulations. She glanced over her shoulder to look into his face. Preston’s eyes were closed, relishing the feel of her tight muscles sliding unhurriedly up and down over the entire length of his cock.

His hands stroked the curves of her smooth, firm buttocks as they bobbed before him. He pressed his thick thumbs gently against the little pink rosebud as his fingers pressed into either side of her flushed, soapy cheeks. She gasped sharply as he penetrated her most private entrance with first one thumb, then the other, carefully stretching her as he simultaneously filled her. Overcome with sensation, Serena enthusiastically milked his shaft as the pressure of his digits in her rectum sent her soaring and yearning to extract every drop from his exploding manhood. She joined his eruption, her cry of pleasure echoing off the walls as he plunged himself deep into the sleek richness of her lustrous passage.

Preston sunk under the water as Serena continued to squeeze his spent cock with her tight muscles, begging him to stay hard within her. Alas, the exhausted member slept and slipped, well satisfied, from her velvety folds. Serena pouted, reaching between her legs to reawaken the object of her pleasure.

“Babe, please—Give me chance to recover,” Preston begged, surfacing the water and looking tired.

Still hoisted on his lap, Serena turned herself around to look at him. “I want more,” she said simply.

“You aren’t always going to get want you want, young lady. You will get what you deserve, though,” he warned her.

“What? A better lover?” Serena asked innocently. Preston released his standard grunt, sat straight up and quickly dunked the saucy girl under the bubbles. She came up sputtering and glared at him as he laughed. She splashed at him, trying to hold back a smile. “People like you don't grow on trees, Preston Riley,” she said, slapping his arm. “They swing from them.”

Chapter Nine

“I am so tired. I need a four week vacation from our two week vacation,” Preston grumbled, sinking into his first class seat on the plane. “Did you have fun?”

Serena glowed under her dark tan. “I did. Especially with my “little friend” there. Thank you so much.”

Preston glanced at her warily as she stared at his pants and licked her lips. “He’s not that little, missy. And don’t you ever get enough? You wore me out.”

“It must suck to be you, huh?” Serena giggled. “You do look like shit. Is that the new fashion trend now?”

Preston leaned into her ear. “It’s gonna suck to be you once we get home. I owe you an ass-whupping,” he whispered in a low, lazy drawl.

“No, you don’t.”

“Oh, yes I do. Consider yourself lucky that we had no privacy. I still can’t believe you had the audacity to argue with me in front of all those people.”

“You started it,” Serena said stubbornly, shrinking in her seat as Preston eyed her without a response. “Consider yourself lucky that I didn’t pour that damn milk over the top of your head.”

“It’s good for you.”

“I don’t like it,” Serena insisted.

“Do you always insist on getting in the last word?”

“Fuck you,” she whispered under her breath. His hand clenched tightly over her wrist as his eyes darkened. She swallowed nervously. “Okay, okay! I take it back. Unfuck
you!”