UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 5

Mercy
The ranch was thousands and thousands of acres. As Joshua and I walked to the main house  for the briefing, I surveyed the grounds.

Cattle grazed on a distant range of grass on the far end. I think I heard a horse neigh somewhere in the stables and at the furthest right I could see green houses. I inhaled the scent of clean air and I exhaled a sign of relief.

He was staring at me. I could feel it. Turning to him he smiled. Not that evil smile he had shown in joes office but a smile that lit his green eyes. They held a spark.

"Nice change from the city,isn't it?" He said holding his smile into place.
I smiled back,
"Exactly what I was thinking."

I got lost in his eyes. In the spark and in his warmth. And his lips so full so aching to be kissed. I held my breath,he was caught up in the moment too.

"Let's hurry up,shall we?" He asked snapping me back to reality. I exhaled

"Damn it" I cursed through clenched teeth. He was a stranger and he was already affecting me.
He took his hand in mine and started walking up. For each step he took, I took two. I was walking....no jogging behind him. If he thought it was romantic it wasn't. He looked like a dad holding her daughter's hand in a fancy park. My dad took me to parks when I was younger and those must have been the best days of my life.

"I can take care of myself," I said yanking my hand free. I run off to the house. The memory of my dad still in my mind. He caught up with me moments later and he held my hand again. We entered the house together and the first room was a great big room. Everywhere people crushed together on couches. The size of Jim's workers amazed me.

"Hey,hey people let's begin,"  a woman with red hair and brown eyes called out.

The room went dead silent.
She introduced herself as Susan Billy and she was the stuff coordinator.  What she said got lost as my mind trailed off to Joshua. Still holding my hand and my head leaning closely to his chest. I could feel the heart beat and he was calm listening to details.

He had called me Pepper. I didn't bother to ask why but I guessed its because of my temper. Somehow I loved the sound of Pepper on his lips. The movements of his lips as he called out. At least he didn't last long calling me shortie. And I liked him for that. I snapped back to Susan.
There were few rules. Show up sober for work, be ready for a call and no cooking in the rooms.

Susan approached me to introduce me to the head wrangler and I didn't want to let go of Joshua's hand. But he had to meet the head Cook. The tough wrangler, Manuel, said I should report at 7:30 am.

I noticed that Joshua was still talking to the cook so I wondered off to look at the pictures and paintings. Then I noticed the crowd was moving out. I followed  and outside there were dozens of tables set with dishes and plates. My stomach growled  when the tangy aroma of food touched my nose.

"Hungry?" Joshua asked suddenly appearing on my side.
"Very- a woman could gain weight here"
"Don't be too sure Pepper. I have a feeling they'll work off the pounds tomorrow."

Does he ever give up?
He and I fell at the end of the line and I had a hard time choosing from the tray. Lots and lots of mouth watering food.

The tables were filing up very fast. Joshua and I had a hard time finding a spot. We sat on a space where a hot conversation was in progress.

"Anyway," a woman said after the introduction were over. The wedding has to be in the ranch. I had never seen so many people employed since I started working here."
My ears perked up and I turned on the micro recorder in my pocket.

"No,no way Janet," someone else contradicted."The ranch is too obvious. They'll have to fly away."

"Don't u see it? That's why its perfect. Nobody will think of it. If I was Jim or laura,this is where my wedding...oh! There he is." Janet said.

All heads turned up to follow the stare. He was tall,not taller than Joshua. It has to be noted that I always described everyone as tall since they were taller than me. His chest was broad and his hair was messy. His muscles showed since he was in a vest and I guessed he spent hours in the gym. He walked in short strides towards Susan and everyone returned to their meal. The wedding was not mentioned again to my disappointment.

A man sitting across our spot looked over,
"Heard you too are newly weds."
My mouth was full. I just nodded while Joshua gave a lazy uh-huh
"So where did you Twp get married?" He asked.
I had just swallowed my food,
"Madrid."
"Seville." Joshua answered contradicting me.
The man's laugh was joined by few others.

"They are already at it. Can't even agree on where they got married," Janet commented.
"Actually," Joshua explained. "Pepper wanted Madrid but I convinced her to go to Seville." He nudged my toes. "You weren't too disappointed were you Pepper?"

"No sweetheart," I replied the with a fake grin. "The important thing is that we got married."
"Why do u call her Pepper?" The man across wanted to know.
"She is hot and beautiful. Hot like Pepper," Joshua answered.
Obviously not. Its just for show. He didn't think of me as hot.

I saw Susan approaching with Jim and she was continuously pointing at my direction. My mouth went dry. My blood rushed thorough my veins. Jim was staring right at me. With lust in his eyes.
He approached us shook Joshua's hand but when I extended mine he pulled me out of the benches.
"Come out honey let me take a look at you."
I looked over at Joshua expecting me to give me a clue on how wives should behave at such times. He responded by placing a possessive arm on my shoulder.
"Aren't you the tiniest cutest little thing," he said scanning me from head to toe. I silently wished it was Joshua.
I murmured a nice to meet you and looking forward to working with the horses.
"Is she the new wrangler? I didn't expect an angel."

He lifted my chin. I was getting angry. I yanked free. Jim smiled as if enjoying the resistance.
"There are other people to meet," Susan told Jim. He nodded but not without telling me.
"I'll catch up with u later sweetheart."

Shaken and fuming I exhaled. I didn't know I was even holding my breath.
"He likes you," Janet said. "I have never seen anyone get that kind of attention."
Oh God!
Joshua was grinning. He wasn't helping either.
I sat down the last time someone looked at me that way I nearly killed him. But I needed the story.

A/n please vote and comment if you like my story   😉😉