Page 46 of Christmas at the Ranch
“You’re talking in riddles,” Dutch said, frowning.
I fiddled with my glass. I didn’t want to bring it up yet, but I felt a little guilty. Dinner at the FourSeasons must cost a fortune. How would Dutch feel when I revealed I wasn’t going to sleep with him after he’d paid for a three-course meal?
“You plan to seduce me. We’ll move from here to the dining room. You’ll order lobster for both of us because it’s the most expensive thing on the menu. The waiter will insist we share a bottle of burgundy to go with our seafood, and you’ll agree. I’ll get quite drunk and then you’ll…” I stopped midsentence.
The look of outrage on Dutch’s face reminded me of the dude ranch manager when a guest insisted one of the horses tried to throw him.
“Go on,” he prompted. “Let me guess. I’ll take you upstairs to the suite I reserved. There will be a bottle of champagne and a box tied with a pink ribbon. You’ll take off the tissue paper and discover a silk negligee from the hotel gift shop. You’ll laugh and say you can’t possibly accept it, and I’ll reply that you’re the most desirable woman I ever met. Then we’ll fall into bed and make love for hours. In the morning, I’ll soap your back in the shower and we’ll laugh that we’re both so sore, we won’t be able to ride horses for a week.” He took a sip of his cocktail and eyed me darkly. “But we’ll be so besotted, we’ll manage one more session before we go back to the ranch.”
I gulped and closed my eyes. I couldn’t help picturing Dutch kissing my breasts, his hands caressing my thighs. My eyes flew open and I blushed, as if he could tell what I was thinking.
“Something like that.” I nodded.
“Firstly, if you think I’d spend that kind of money on a date, you’re mistaken.” He ticked items off on his fingers. “Secondly, I never buy lingerie for women. It’s presumptuous and distasteful. Thirdly, I don’t intend on deflowering a virgin.” He looked at me carefully. “At least, not without a great deal of discussion first.”
“What makes you think I’m a virgin!” I said angrily. I WAS angry. First, he treated this like it was a joke. Now he was furious at me for guessing the truth about his intentions.
“Everything,” he responded. “The way you pull back when I kiss you good night, how you blush when other ranch hands talk about sex. Even the way you’re sitting.” He waved at me. “You’re so rigid. Like a schoolteacher deciding whether my punishment should be expulsion or merely suspension.”
“I can’t help it if I sit up straight, I took dance lessons for years,” I stormed back. “Just because I don’t want to hear other people talking about sex doesn’t mean I’m a prude. The only reasons I pull back when you kiss me is because…” My voice caught. My eyes dropped to the tablecloth.
I felt something brush my wrist. It was Dutch’s hand.
“It’s because what?” His voice was soft and buttery as fresh bread.
I glanced up at him.
“Because, if I let it go on longer, I’d never want you to stop.”
“I don’t want to stop,” he said quietly. He removed his hand. “But that doesn’t mean I’d do anything about it.”
Then I told him everything. That I was eighteen. I wasn’t a virgin; I went steady with a boy the last two months of high school. But I refused to be another girl Dutch had a fling with. I’d rather remember our summer as a wonderful interlude, full of interesting places and conversation.
When I finished, he didn’t say anything. He merely signaled the waiter. I was afraid he was going to pay for our drinks and say we wouldn’t be staying for dinner. Instead he handed me the menu.
“We’re going to order from the bar menu,” he said to the waiter. “The lady will order for both of us. She knows the local specialties better than I do.”
I ordered elk chili and black bean burgers. I have to admit the food was delicious. If I ever have a lot of money, I’m going to celebrate my birthday at the Four Seasons.
“If you don’t plan on seducing me, why did you ask Alice if I could have tomorrow morning off?” I asked when we were sipping espressos. It was still early and I wasn’t worried about coffee keeping me awake.
“You’ll see,” he answered.
He stood up and asked the hostess for my coat. He’s so tall. I can wear my highest heels and I only come up to his shoulders.
“Where are we going?” I wondered. We were walking through the lobby to the entrance.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
“Yes.” I nodded.
He took my hand and led me to the parking lot. “Then be quiet, and I’ll show you.”
We drove out of Jackson Hole toward Curtis Canyon Campground. It’s next to Snake River and you can hear the rushing water when you’re lying in your tent.
Dutch parked and jumped out of the car. He started unloading the trunk: two small tents, sleeping bags, and a camp stove.
“We’re going camping?” I asked incredulously.
