Camp Nerd: Walker Hills #1 Page 2

  “There must be a reason,” I say, looking at the horse who nickers at me, encouraging me over, like evil demon spawn, trying to trick me with his beauty so he can snap me right up as soon as I give in.

  He’s smart.

  I like that about him.

  I’ll win him over. Just you wait and see.

  “Had him since he was born, not a single bad thing has happened to him, he came out fightin’ and he’ll go down fightin’. Best horse I’ve had, though. Knows how to work and knows the land.”

  “He’s calling me over,” I murmur, so wanting to go and see him. “He doesn’t look like he’s going to take my hand off, he looks like he just wants a nice pat.”

  That could be how he rolls, though. Clever.

  “That’s his trick. Many a stable hand has come out bloody because of that very fuckin’ trick.”

  Right.

  Well, the stable hand should have been smarter about it. You have to outsmart evil with love and compassion, so much that they just don’t know what has hit them and finally give in just to make you stop. I’ve tried it on a few men before, I can’t say it was very successful, but you know...this is a horse we’re talking about.

  “We’ll be friends, Diablo. Just you wait,” I say to him.

  He stomps his hoof angrily, baring his teeth.

  I snort and turn, glancing at Rhett.

  “What?”

  “You’re confident my devil horse is goin’ to like you, I’m concerned you’ll get hurt. Trust me, you don’t want to go anywhere near him.”

  “We’ll see,” I murmur.

  Rhett studies me, a sly smile on his face. “I like your confidence.”

  “Trust me, when it comes to people, I have no confidence. Animals, on the other hand ...”

  I stare at the black stallion, staring at me with those big brown eyes.

  He’s not so bad. I’m sure of it. No animal is. Right?

  I’m right about that, aren’t I?

  “So, your group, you’re in a band or somethin’?”

  “Orchestra,” I tell him. “A bit different, a little more sophisticated, I suppose.”

  “Aren’t there a fuck load of people in an orchestra?”

  “In the larger ones, yes. We’re not quite there yet. But, we have about twenty members which is pretty impressive considering where we started.”

  “And you run this show?”

  I snort grunt, it’s the only thing I can use to describe the horrific noise that comes out of my throat. My word, why didn’t my mother teach me how to interact with hot strangers. Instead, I make funny noises that no doubt has them laughing all the way back to their gorgeous, feminine women.

  “Me, oh no. God, no. I’m very close to the conductor, who calls all the shots mostly, she’s the older lady you saw with us. I’m just very organized, I think I automatically fall into the organizing role.”

  He nods, a little confused, probably scared about the noise I just made. “Well, fuck me, I know nothin’ about it but I’m sure you’ll all have a great time here.”

  I laugh nervously. “I’m sure we will, too. Do we have some sort of activity list, or is it just a free for all?”

  “That’s what we’re tryin’ to work out. Hopin’ you can help lead us in the right direction. You want to tell me what you’d prefer as a group?”

  I think on it for a moment. “Schedules definitely work better with bigger groups of people. I think it’s something you should have in place unless someone directly asks you not to.”

  He grins. “You’re right, you are good at this organizing shit. You want a job here?”

  “Oh, oh no. I’d never make it a day. Diablo here would take my hand and I’d be useless to you, because guaranteed, he’d lure me over and I’d be stupid enough to go and, well, we all know how that ends...”

  He grins. Oh boy, he’s something else. “I think you’re wrong, I think you’d fit right in.”

  I scoff.

  He doesn’t know me yet.

  He’ll see how wrong he is about that when I trip and fall in horse shit.

  “You know,” he tells me as we exit the barn, “for someone who is meant to be shy, you’re sure as shit doin’ okay now.”

  “I said awkward, not shy,” I point out.

  Though, truthfully, I’m both.

  He grins. “Either way, you’re havin’ no problems tryin’ to persuade my horse into your good graces.”

  I roll my eyes. “Well, you’re easy to talk to. Unlike most men that look like you, you’re actually able to hold a decent conversation.”

  “Men that look like me?”

  “You know, hot.”

  “You think I’m hot.”

  My eyes widen and my mouth drops open. Did I just say that out loud? Oh no. Oh my.

  “No, I, ah ...”

  His eyes turn playful. “You think I’m hot, you said so.”

  “No, I meant ...”

  “Just admit you think I’m fuckin’ hot.”

  Fuck.

  My cheeks burn and I go to take a step away and stumble. Horrified, I go to catch my footing, but I can’t manage to get it and I land with a thud in a big old pile of horse shit. I knew it. I knew it would happen. It was inevitable. The second he thought I was some sort of sweet, quiet woman was the moment the universe decided to show him what a clumsy, pain in the ass I really am.

  Squealing, I roll out of the chunky crap and frantically try to swipe it off as I scramble to my feet. By this time, Rhett is laughing. Full blown belly laughter as he tries to reach for me, keeping me still so he can use his jacket to wipe the chunks of shit off me.

  “Stay still.” He chuckles. “I can’t help you when you’re wiggling like that.”

  “I can’t stay still,” I wail. “I’m covered in horse shit.”

  “It’s not so bad, it’s just grass. You’ll get worse while you’re here. Still, woman.”

  I force myself to stop squirming and sit still. The moment I do, he uses his jacket to clean me up as best he can. “I guess our tour has been cut short. C’mon, I’ll take you to your cabin so you can get changed.”

  Cheeks burning, I follow him in the direction of the cabins.

  I’m making a hell of a first impression.

  2

  “You fell in horse shit?” Kara cries with laughter, doubling over as I tell her the story.

  “Yes, I fell in horse shit. After I called him hot. I’m almost certain he’s currently up there laughing with all his buddies right about now.”

  “Oh, they’re laughing alright. We’re going to be in the paper with this juicy story.”

  I shoot her a glare, and her giggles get stronger.

  “You can quit laughing now,” I mutter.

  “Oh come on, it’s hilarious. I love how awkward you are. You never know, he might just like it, too.”

  Doubtful. Men like Rhett don’t look twice at women like me. They become friends with us, confide in us, feel safe around us but they sure as shit don’t want to fuck us.

  I can only imagine what being with a man like Rhett would feel like.

  I wouldn’t know what it feels like, period. I’m a virgin. Not really by choice, I’ve had opportunity, but the two men I’ve had the chance to get close to have been so awkward and fumbly, I decided against having my first time with them. The orchestra has kept me busy, and mostly, I just haven’t had the chance. I’m only twenty-one, which isn’t old, but it certainly isn’t great to be running around with my V-card still intact.

  Still, the idea of having given it over to one of them isn’t appealing. I’m confident that my decision to keep it, was the right one. I’ve seen enough movies and heard enough stories to know you don’t want your first time to be with a fumbly weirdo who rubs your left flap thinking it’s your clit and has the audacity to ask if you’ve cum yet.

  Anyway, that’s way off track.

  “He doesn’t like it,” I point out, finally responding to Kara. “He’s also too old.” />
  “He’s what, like maybe thirty? That’s not too old, honey. Older men, matured men, they’re like a god send in bed. You don’t want to be fucking a twenty-one-year-old boy. He’ll last three seconds and be done with it.”

  I frown at her. “You’re making it sound like I’m about to get down and dirty with an old man.”

  She laughs. “I don’t mean it like that, I just mean men like Rhett are mature. They’re sexy and masculine and guaranteed to be good in bed because they’ve had plenty of experience.”

  Oh, I can just imagine.

  Rhett would have women flocking to him, and I have no doubt he’s been with hundreds of them.

  “Well, it’s a good thing we’re not here to have sex with them,” I point out.

  “Well, you might not be ... but have you seen those men. Damn, they’re delicious.”

  Kara, unlike me, is not a virgin. She has been in plenty of short-term relationships. She tends not to be able to keep them for too long, and often finds herself heartbroken and searching for the next best thing, only to end up right back where she started. Kara isn’t the most stunning girl, but she’s easy going and fun, and that gets her exactly where she wants when it comes to men.

  “They are, but we’re not here for an orgy, we’re here to unwind after finals.”

  Kara grunts. “You’re saying if Rhett comes onto you, you’re going to say no? Because I promise you, honey, that man can make you unwind.”

  I roll my eyes. “That’s enough of that. I have to go over to the house and get our itinerary, apparently Rhett has finished it.”

  “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go. I’m dying to meet these cowboys.”

  I shake my head. “You’re terrible. Okay, let’s go.”

  We make our way up to the main house and the second we walk inside, we’re greeted with the group of incredible looking gods. I have to take a moment to admire them all, because my word, they’re something else. Something else entirely. If you could pick one movie that you’d want to see, it would be one that starred all of these men, on horses, running a ranch. They’re absolutely gorgeous.

  “Ladies,” Rhett says. “Good timin’, we were about to go out and do our afternoon of work. Come in, meet my men.”

  I step in, awkwardly. Kara looks like she’s about to pass out, she’s staring like a star-struck teenager. “I think I’ve died and gone to cowboy heaven,” she whispers.

  I laugh and fidget because I don’t even know how to make eye contact with these guys.

  “This is my main man and second in charge, Lorenzo. You can call him Enzo. If you can’t find me, you can ask him anything.”

  I stare at Enzo. Well, hello. He has the same olive skin, dark hair and beard as Rhett. Only his hair is longer, sitting around his shoulders, curling slightly at the ends. He’s covered in tattoos, all down his arms, and he’s tall, muscled and fucking gorgeous. He has a scar running through his eyebrow and one on his top lip. It only makes him look more dangerous. He has a beard also, but his is cropped shorter, more like a weeks’ worth of growth. It suits him. At first glance, he looks like the roughest of the group.

  “Ladies.” Enzo grins, winking at Kara. “Welcome.”

  “Oh, my,” Kara whispers to me. “He’s gorgeous.”

  “Then we have Elias, Dante, Lake, and Madden.”

  Oh boy.

  Elias looks like a real playboy with his messy, short, sandy-blond hair, long beard, sparkling blue eyes and tattooed skin. He boasts a lip ring that suits him in a way that should be illegal and neck tattoos that suit him so damned much. Dante is standing back, just watching us with a brooding expression. He has short, light-brown hair, a heck of a beard, and dark blue eyes. He’s kind of scary, actually. He’s the biggest of the group, which I didn’t think was possible. He has arms the size of my damned legs. He’s scarily attractive.

  Lake is absolutely one of the best looking in the group, and it’s a hard choice, believe me. He’s got this long, thick, messy, sun-kissed blond hair, beautiful bronzed skin, the greenest eyes I’ve ever seen that somehow manage to have yellow mixed in them, and is the only one with a clean shaven face. He looks playful and fun and is grinning like a Cheshire cat.

  Madden is the last of the group, he has short messy dark hair, beautiful emerald-green eyes, a beard that would make a woman swoon, and a grin that tells me he is trouble with a capital T. He’s big, burly, and covered in tattoos also.

  These guys are going to make a killing with this place, there’s no doubt about it. There is no possible way you can look like they do and not get business. Women will come far and wide to spend a month here. If I’m being honest, I’m pretty certain I’m going to enjoy my month here, too. That’s for damned sure.

  “Now you’ve met the guys, know that you can call on any of them if you need anything,” Rhett tells us, as they all head out the door to make their way to whatever work it is they’re about to do.

  Kara looks sad that they’re leaving and watches them go. “Tell me they’re going to be involved in our activities?”

  Rhett chuckles. “Yeah, they are.”

  “Oh, thank the sweet, sweet lord.”

  I laugh and reach out for the stack of papers Rhett hands me. “I’ve done the best I can, but if there are any changes, make them tonight and hand them to me. Breakfast is at seven, and then we get to it for the day, finishing up at four. You’re all welcome to do as much or as little as you please, it is your time after all. No pressure here.”

  “Thanks, I’ll have a look over them and let you know in the morning.”

  “Dinner will be at five tonight in the outdoor kitchen. See you all there.” He winks at me then turns and leaves.

  I watch him go, and then look to Kara.

  “Oh,” she says, “this is the best month of my life, I just know it.”

  I grin at her.

  I think she just might be right.

  “THIS IS DELICIOUS.”

  I look up at my mentor and friend, Emily. She has been the conductor for as long as we have been part of the orchestra. She started it, she’s the boss, and she has spent a good long time in the music business. We all trust her and know that she always has the best intentions when it comes to us. She makes sure we have everything we need and is always fair. She’s in her early forties, but she can party as hard as the best of us. She looks the same age as us with her sweeping long blond hair, flawless skin, murky blue eyes, and curvy body.

  She’s a great time. No doubt about it.

  “Men can cook as well as run a ranch, I’m marrying one of them,” Kara whispers with a grin.

  I laugh. “I think they kind of have to know how to cook to run a place like this.”

  “If you don’t marry one, I will,” Emily says, nodding as she sweeps her eyes over the group of men.

  I shake my head at the both of them, but it’s with a grin. They’re here for fun, and why the hell not enjoy the sight before us. These men are spectacular and if we get to spend a month staring at them and admiring their good looks, why the hell wouldn’t we?

  “What are our activities for tomorrow?” Emily asks. “I’m excited to get away from the stress and unwind.”

  I glance back at her. “Well, we’re helping them in the morning, seeing how they run the ranch and what they do each day. Then we’re going to the lake for watersports, which should be fun. In the afternoon, they’re having a cookout, and we’re going to unwind and just get to know everyone.”

  “That sounds ridiculously amazing,” Kara says, popping a piece of chicken into her mouth.

  “Enjoying the food, ladies?” Lake asks, walking past with a grin on his face.

  My word.

  He’s fucking beautiful.

  “It’s great,” I answer him. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure, sweetheart.”

  Oh boy.

  “That one is mine,” Emily says, watching him go. “Oh my.”

  I laugh. “He’s too young for you, the man lo
oks like he’s barely thirty.”

  “Exactly, imagine the stamina,” Emily says, fanning herself.

  Kara grins, nodding.

  I glance at the rest of the group. We’re all sort of sectioned off into our little groups. The three guys – Taj, Rick and Nathan, all stick together, talking amongst themselves. Then there are two other girls outside of Kara, Emily, and myself. Grace and Maria, who are both on the prissier side and tend to stick to themselves. We get along well with them, but they’re just very different to us. They’re both prettier, too, which I think contributes to their far more confident attitudes. Especially toward men.

  They haven’t taken their eyes of the group of guys since we got here. They’ve been laughing and flicking their hair. I can’t say I blame them, they’re both incredible musicians, and they deserve a break just as much as the rest of us. If that means they spend the next few weeks staring and drooling, then so be it. I’m sure that every single one of us with a vagina will be doing the same.

  “At least there are plenty of them to go around,” Kara says to Emily. “We can all have one.”

  “Oh god.” I laugh. “They’re not candy.”

  “Aren’t they?” Kara grins.

  “Stop it,” I scoff, but I’m grinning. “Besides, they could be taken. Men like that ... they don’t stay single.”

  “Yeah they do,” Emily says. “Most of the time they just sleep around because they’re manwhores.”

  I snort. “You’re exactly right.”

  “Even better.” Kara sighs. “That means we can dive right in. I’ll take Enzo.”

  “I’ll take whichever one wants me,” Emily says with a laugh.

  We finish with dinner and head back to our cabins to settle in for the night. Kara and Emily are both staying in the cabin with me, Grace and Maria have one on their own and the guys are all sharing one, too. The cabins are large, three bedrooms in some and two in the others. They’re only new and well presented with everything you need right there at your fingertips.

  It’s perfect.

  “I am excited to wake up tomorrow and get this month started,” Kara says as she brushes her teeth in the luxurious bathroom the cabins boasts.