Lara (Reynolds Ranch Book 1) Read online

  Lara

  Reynolds Ranch

  C.M. Steele

  Copyrighted © 2022

  All Rights Reserved

  No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without written expressed permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  Cover design: Covergirl Designs

  The use of actors, artists, movies, TV shows, and song titles/lyrics throughout this book are done so for storytelling purposes and should in no way be seen as advertisement. Trademark names are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringement of the respective owner’s trademark.

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment. This book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return it to the seller and please purchase your own copy.

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Epilogue

  Going away to college was supposed to be a way to escape overbearing men trying to claim me. Still, I ran right into the king of security, thinking I could get past his guards.

  I strolled into his party uninvited, thinking I had the upper hand. I was sorely mistaken—deliciously sore and craving more. Landon Black sees, takes, and retains. The thing is, I need his possessiveness.

  I want to be his only obsession.

  And I quickly learn that I am.

  My wicked little sneak strolled into my world, and now I can’t ever let her go. I never expected to let anyone in, but the second I saw her, I knew Lara Reynolds would be Lara Black before she knew it. Unfortunately, I’m not the only one who has eyes on my girl, but they’ll learn quickly that I haven’t gotten to where I am by giving up on what I desire.

  And Lara’s my greatest obsession.

  Chapter One

  Lara

  “Hey, Lara. It’s been a while.” I twist my head around to see David, my father’s ranch hand, walking up to me as I brush my favorite horse. Doing my best to be polite, I smile while I continue to treat my Sugar Cube to her grooming. Riding has always been on my list of most enjoyable things to do on the ranch. Although at the moment it’s just lost it’s fun.

  A couple more days, I mentally chant.

  The ranch itself has never held a place in my heart; my family is what has always mattered to me. Frankly, I hate the dust, the quiet, the smell of life here on Reynolds Ranch. Other than Sugar Cube, who stole my heart when I was twelve, nothing else holds me here. It’s why I can’t wait to go to school in Chicago.

  “Hi, David.” I dust off my hands on my jeans, stopping Sugar Cube’s grooming which gets me a gruff little puff and whine. I pet her and continue speaking to him. “Yes. It’s been a bit. I’ve been getting ready for school. How are you?”

  In truth, I’ve been doing my best to avoid him since he asked me out a couple of times over the summer. Apparently, he hasn’t figured out that I’m not the girl for him.

  “Good. Working hard and growing stronger every day so you’ll be interested in me instead of your brother’s buddies.” Damn. My temper rises instantly, and I want to punch him in the balls because he sure as hell has brass ones right now.

  If my father overheard him, good employee or not, he’d be unemployed really fast. “I’m not interested in anyone. Believe it or not, I enjoy remaining single and without obligation or beholden to any man. It’s bad enough I have my father and brother bossing me around, so why would I want a man to control me?”

  He moves closer to the stall, and I’m not about to get cornered even if he means nothing by it. “I wouldn’t control a beauty like you. You need to be worshiped and loved,” he coos as if he’s thinking this will win me over. The shift in his tone grosses me out.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I’m happy all alone.” I give a half smile and set down the brush, giving Sugar Cube another pat before turning to leave.

  “Are you sure?” he asks, trying to reach out for my hand, but I move quickly out of the way.

  “I’m positive, David, but it was nice seeing you again.” I’m so tired of his efforts because I’ve made it perfectly clear that I have no intention of dating him.

  The walk to the house seems to take an eternity as I think about him watching me. I can feel his eyes on me as I make my way back. I open the patio door and step through the back, taking off my mucky boots and slipping on some sandals to head upstairs to wash up.

  After I’m all clean, I walk through the house looking for my mother, who is probably in the kitchen preparing dinner for the men. I’m sure they’ll be pleased, but I could never be that woman. I’m not a great cook, and I don’t want to do it every freaking day for ten plus men.

  “There you are, Mom,” I say, strolling up to the counter, setting my hands on the surface and smiling at her.

  “How was your ride?” she asks while moving around the kitchen like a busy bee.

  “It was good until I ran into David.” I sigh, snatching up a carrot stick and taking a bite. These are fresh from our garden and I love them.

  She spins on her heel, pressing her hands to her apron covered hips. “Oh goodness. Did he ask you out again?”

  “Yes,” I mutter as I chew, distaste written on my face and not from the carrot.

  The concern on her face makes me feel bad for even mentioning it, but I promised to do my best to be honest with her, especially when it came to boys. “Do you want me to tell your father about his behavior?” I’ve told her every single time he’s asked me out, but not how much it’s bothered me. I don’t want her to be overly concerned because I can handle myself.

  “No. I’ll be leaving in a couple of days, and you’ll need someone to still work here.” The ranch always needs farmhands, and even though David has annoyed me, he hasn’t done anything to me. I just want to enjoy my last couple of days with my parents before heading to college.

  “That is the truth. Good ranch hands are hard to come by, and David is gifted for his age. What is it that you don’t like about him?” It’s a fair question. He’s good looking, hardworking, and appears decent. Well, he did until today’s comments, but I’m not into being a farm girl. I don’t want to date someone I know there’s no future with.

  “It’s not that I don’t like him. I just don’t want to date him and when the relationship doesn’t work out, he’ll have to be fired or he’ll quit because tensions will be high and everything will be completely uncomfortable.” He seems like the jealous type who would want to control my every move and anyone who knows me in the least knows that isn’t going to fly.

  “That’s also valid.” She purses her lips, nodding her head.

  “I want to have a love affair so profound that he sets my soul ablaze, just like you and Daddy. There’s no way I’ll settle for less. I’m too damn fiery to put up with anything else.”

  “That’s wonderful. I can’t imagine falling in love with anyone else but your father, even after I gave him hell. I’m going to miss you, sweetheart. Your daddy and I are worried about you going all the way to Chicago for school.”

  “You don’t mind that Tobias is playing for Chicago.” My accusation is loud and clear and repetitive. We’ve had this conversation more than once since I applied there—all to the same end.

  “That’s not true. We mind, but it’s not the same thing. You know that. It’s just he’s a little older, and it’s his career. Besides, we’ll always worry that he’ll be injured or fall for a woman that will trap him with a baby and take him for all his money.” Unfortunately that’s pretty commonplace for athletes, but my brother’s not the kind of guy to fall for a woman’s schemes, or at least I hope he isn’t that full of himself.

  “He’s doing great, but I’ll have him there to look after me, so please don’t freak out too much. So what’s for dinner tonight?” I change the subject because my stomach starts rumbling and these carrots aren’t doing the trick.

  “We’re having homemade pot pies.” My mouth waters immediately.

  “Oh wow. That sounds fabulous. I can’t wait for that. Is there anything you need me to help you with?”

  A beaming smile crosses my mother’s face that I’m going to miss when I move away. “Sure. I’d love that. We’re not going to get much time together before you leave and spread your wings. How about you wash these vegetables, and I’ll start working on the dough.”

  As much as I don’t like doing this on the regular, I enjoy spending time with my mom. She’s been my best
friend even though I’ve given her a pretty hard time when I misbehave.

  “Mom, I know I’ve been in trouble a couple of times over the years, and I’m sorry about that.”

  “A couple of times?” She purses her lips with a look of total bullshit on her face.

  “Okay, but it’s never been anything serious.” I can’t help that this town has been boring to me to the point that I’ve actively tried to get in trouble. Granted, never enough to get me more than a spanking here and there—or grounded, which was so much worse than a butt whooping. Dang, I prefer a tanning instead of being forced to muck stalls for three weeks while being locked in my room for weeks on end.

  “That doesn’t mean I won’t be concerned.” She has a fair point, but it doesn't mean anything because all parents are the same.

  “Is a mother ever not worried about her kids?” I don’t know a mother that doesn’t fret over her children especially the girls because of men like David. Not all women my age would say no to him; in fact, I’m surprised he’s wasting his time with me when there are probably a thousand girls in town that would fall at his feet to be with him. Hell, maybe he’s already been there, done that.

  “That is the absolute truth.” She nods with a smile. “We always worry about our babies no matter how old they are.”

  “I love you, Mom. I’m going to miss you so much, but I promise to call often.” I throw my arms around her neck and give her a kiss on her flour-covered cheek.

  She gives me a side squeeze before getting back to finishing the prep work. Then, we set the pies inside the oven and clean up our mess. We’re just about to sit down and have some coffee when my father comes in, placing his Stetson down and pulling my mother in for a kiss. “Hello, my beautiful ladies.”

  “Hello, Daddy.”

  “Hello, cowboy,” she calls out to him with a smile meant only for his eyes.

  I look at them and see their happiness and want a love like that for my own. “Goodness, get a room.” I roll my eyes and scoff playfully, knowing that it only makes them kiss even more. Nothing will stop them because they love each other, and that’s the way it should be.

  ****

  “It’s move-in day. Are you excited?” my brother asks, calling from training camp during one of his breaks, which are few and far between as preseason starts this week.

  “Yes, I’m so excited and insanely nervous. There are so many people everywhere. Why didn’t you tell me there’s a bazillion people in the city?” I exclaim. It’s not like I haven’t been here before, but somehow I just thought it had to do with the football crowds. Maybe it’s my anxiety of being left to my own devices.

  “There aren’t that many Chicagoans. Relax, sis. You’ll be just fine living in your fancy dorm room with your first roommate.” Yes, that’s a whole new experience I’m not sure I’m ready for.

  “Thanks. She’s not here yet.” We spoke briefly on the phone the other day once we got our room assignments just to see what we were bringing. The room was fully furnished and hooked up before we arrived, so we only needed to bring our clothes, toiletries, and a few things that we would need for comfort.

  My parents want me to get what I need while I’m here because it would be easier, so I’ll be doing some Amazon deliveries over the next two days once I get settled. I have my bedding, but that’s pretty much it.

  “Well, I’ll check in with you later in the week,” Toby says, reassuring me that he’s close.

  “Okay. I have to finish unpacking.” I don’t want him to think I can’t handle things on my own because he’ll tell my parents.

  “Where’s Mom and Dad?”

  “They’re running down to get some food for us at the local pizza place.”

  “Give them my love.” That’s the one thing my brother isn’t shy about admitting and that’s the love he has for my parents and me.

  “I will.”

  As soon as I hang up, there’s a young girl with brown hair who’s at the door with her suitcases and a nervous grin. Her eyes are bright and wide. “You must be Lara?”

  “Kelly?” I ask, smiling at her. She’s cute in her “totally not okay, but they let me out anyway” tee shirt. Immediately, I know we’re going to get along.

  “Yep.”

  “It’s so good to meet you.” I stick out my hand as she stops inside the room.

  “It’s funny that you beat me here since I grew up just outside of the city,” she remarks, taking my hand.

  “I know. It’s because my parents wanted a head start. They’re planning to spend the weekend in the city before heading back, so they want to pawn me off as fast as humanly possible.”

  “You’re not supposed to tell strangers that, pumpkin,” my mom says, pressing her finger to her lips.

  “It’s okay. My parents didn’t bother to come down.” The smile on her face is an attempt to mask the pain of that statement, but it’s clear she’s not happy about the situation.

  I look at my parents, and I’m reminded of how lucky I am that they love me so much. “Well, who wants some pizza?” I call out.

  “I’m starving,” Kelly says. Good. I’m going to like her for sure.

  ****

  “Come on, who cares what they say. We’re in college and we’re adults so we can come and go as we please,” I whisper, dragging Kelly by her arm.

  “Girl, you’re going to get us in trouble with the resident chick.”

  “Please. It’s not a big deal. We’ll be back before they even know we’re gone.” It’s midnight and I want to head out to grab some munchies. It’s nearly two when we creep back into the dorm and no one sees us. At least until we reach our floor.

  “Lara, Kelly?”

  “Maria, what are you doing up?”

  “Someone pulled the fire alarm. You two were missing and that’s not acceptable.”

  “Well if it had been a real fire we wouldn’t have burned up.”

  “Damn, I didn’t realize there were curfews,” I lie. Curfew is midnight during the week and no curfew on the weekends, but I don’t want her to know that. We’ve only been here less than a week.

  “Fine. Don’t let it happen again.”

  “We won’t.” I smirk. Grabbing Kelly by the hand, I led her back to our dorm. As soon as the door is closed, I break out into a fit of laughter. “Damn she’s a drill sergeant.”

  “I told you she’d catch us.”

  “Relax, nothing happened and now we have ice cream.” That lightens her mood and she grins, snatching the bag from me.

  “Yes we do.”

  Chapter Two

  Landon

  Looking at the reports on my desk, I see everything is in order. My life for the past fifteen years has run like a well-oiled machine, and the pain of the past has been put far behind me. My phone rings, and I see it’s my father. Sending it to voicemail, I try not to let that instant irritation settle in my gut. A mistake. Why did I even think for a moment that I could let him into my life?

  Hearing several taps on my door frame, I look up from my computer to see my head of operations, Danny Graham, leaning against the door. “Whoa, looks like I came in at the wrong time?”

  “No. I’m good. What’s up?”

  “We have to do the last rundown for the gathering at your hotel, but do you want to grab lunch first? You look like you could use a break.”

  “Sounds good to me. Besides, I want to talk through the Middleton matter over in Fairfax, Virginia. They want a massive setup, and it’s going to be a big project.” I stand up from my seat and stuff my wallet into my pocket, checking my cell one more time before stuffing it into the inside pocket of my jacket. I take my satchel with my laptop.

  “They’re wealthy, and their business is booming. Of course they want the best, like Black.”

  “And they’ll get it, but it’s a complex project.”

  “Well, let’s get some steak and then you can tell me about the call from your father, which you’re pretending to ignore.”

  “I’m not pretending to ignore. I am ignoring him because he only wants more money to feed his habits and can ruin my reputation. I refuse to let him ruin my company.”

  “Fair point. Let’s go enjoy a meal.”

  Four hours later, I’m dressed for the event and I’ve forgotten all about everything but the party. There’s still a lot to go over before we can call it a night, so I enter the main staging area where half my security team are standing and waiting for their assignments.