The One

By Jacquelyn Ayres

Kip Taylor is everyone’s dream. His one downfall is that he’s a player. He can have any woman he wants in town—state, even—and he knows it. 

There’s only one woman Kip wants. Trouble is, he hasn’t met her yet. Until then, he’s going to fill his dance card with the Johnson girls: Maggie, May, and Missy.

Shelby never thought she’d see Rison, Arkansas, again. She’s been estranged from her extended family for over a decade. Things happen and sometimes the only place you can find solitude is the very place that has raised so many questions in your life. 

She was looking to start her life over.
He was looking for his to truly begin.

Neither one of them understood the power of kismet until the day their eyes locked. From that moment—in their heart of hearts—they knew that the other was The One.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jacquelyn Ayres
• Release date: May 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781536508116

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The One

Copyright © 2014 by Jacquelyn Ayres

Editor: Jess Huckins

Cover by Cover to Cover Designs

Formatting by Self Publishing Editing Service

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the Author/Publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

About the Author

I knew someday I would get caught and everything would go to hell in a handbasket. I just didn't know she would be the one to do the catching. I didn't know she would come along and be the one.

One final glance in the mirror before I leave. I smirk at my appearance. I’m not gonna lie—I’m as hot as they come in these parts. Well ... a little hotter. Maybe I’m a bit cocky too, but that’s what the girls seem to like best about me! Girls. That’s all there is around here. Don’t get me wrong, the ones I bother with at all are above the legal age, but they’re still girls no matter what their driver’s licenses say. I’m getting tired of girls. I need me a good woman.

I fantasize about her, ya know? Yeah, I do. She’s awful pretty. Of course, I imagine a tiny little thing, but that’s not set in stone for me. Oh man, is she sassy! She’ll take none of the crap I dish out generously to the other girls around here. Nope, she’s gonna put me in my place when I need to be there, and I’m gonna like it. I’m gonna like it because I’ll know she’s strong. I need me a strong woman. And smart—she’s gonna be so smart. We’ll make each other laugh all the time. She’ll laugh because she gets my sarcasm. She won’t be giggling like a fool because she’s only smart enough to know I’ve said something funny, even though she doesn’t understand what it is. She won’t be afraid of hard work, either. Aw hell—shut up, Kip! You ain’t never gonna find a woman like that around here. And you ain’t never gonna leave your ranch.

I’m the third-generation Taylor on this dude ranch, and it’s all I know. Quite frankly, it’s all I want to know. We take a lot of pride in the fact that we received the title Best of the Best in all of Arkansas last year. I love our ranch and I love the work that goes into it. Normal duties aside, this is our fifth year running it as an all-inclusive retreat. My idea, thank you very much. We get vacationers here who want to see what it’s like to be a cowboy for a few days. They pay us and they work the ranch! I’m a genius. Obviously, we add in extras like trail riding, hiking, and whatnot. My favorite part? When a young ‘un is completely fascinated with me because I’m a real-life cowboy. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I tell you! I’m right up there with all the other heroes, like cops and firefighters.

All right, Kip. I glance down at my cologne collection. I’m with Missy tonight. I pick up the bottles to look underneath. This is only one of the many things I do to keep things straight for myself. Now, Missy is just one of the girls I’m seeing—well, if you want to call it that. She is also one of the three Johnson girls that live on the ranch adjacent to ours. And she’s one of the three Johnson girls that I’m seeing. Hell no, they don’t know! Are you crazy? Now, don’t go pointing your judgment finger at me! It ain’t all my fault, or even my idea! Those girls want to keep our relationship hush-hush so Big Daddy don’t find out! Who’s Big Daddy, you ask? Well, he’s the crazy son of a bitch they got for a father. Something just ain’t right in that man’s head! Thinks he’s the law around here just ‘cause he owns about everything in this damn town! He’s our version of Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life. In fact, that’s what most of us locals call him behind his back.

Stetson! I spray some on. Missy got me this for my birthday a few months back. Her name’s on the bottom so I know it’s from her. Apparently, this is the kind of cologne us cowboys wear. You know when somebody knows one thing about you—could be an eensy-weensy little bit of info, and they gotta go and blow it up so bad you damn near hate that they know it? Yeah, don’t look around at my room. Somebody done spit up cowboy shit all over it! You name it, one of the Johnson girls bought it for me! My prized possession? A glass cowboy cutting board. Now, what in the hell is a twenty-seven-year-old ranch hand supposed to do with that? Girls.

Speaking of ... if I don’t get up to the trail that leads to the old abandoned barn, I might not get that nice blow job she promised me. Hey, don’t judge me! I’m a man, damn it! And a good man, to boot! But I’ve got needs, just like y’all! So, stuff it!

"Missy! Damn, where is that girl at? I look around our usual meeting place. Missy! I yell quietly. Strange concept, that is. Oomph!" I stumble forward a bit as somebody jumps on my back. Luckily, I catch my balance.

You lookin’ for me, hot stuff? Missy giggles, wrapping her arms better around my neck. She situates her legs at my waist.

Dang it, girl! What’s the matter with you—jumpin’ on me in the middle of woods?! I could’ve hurt you! I seethe. Missy is not the brightest bulb in the package and generally never gives anything a real good think through before she does it.

Aw, Kippy, don’t be mad at me, baby. She slides down my back and I know I’m soon to face that stupid, pouty face she makes, the one she thinks works so well. Blow job. Blow job. Blow job. What? She’s the best around!

I’m not mad, Suga. I give her the mischievous smirk she always melts for. Suga. You know why I call her Suga? Because her name has two ss in it. Suga is for the ss. These are the things that keep me straight. Maggie is Gorgeous and May is Angel. See my system, there. You gotta have a system! This is why other poor bastards get caught and I don’t.

You’re late, Kippy. I should be the one mad. I shouldn’t give you any suga tonight.

Ugh ... pouty face and fuckin’ Kippy. Why the fuck would you call a grown-ass man Kippy, and in babyish voice, no less? Damn irritatin’! I clench my teeth as I stare down at her and ... her lips. Plump lips that know how to suck the ever-living life out of me.

No suga from my Suga? I turn on my sweet-talkin’ voice. Your man’s been workin’ so hard today. Don’t you appreciate how hard I work? I run the back of my hand down her cheek. My left hand grasps her right hip and I pull her closer. Her breath hitches, then continues again in short, rapid bursts as I lean in and tease her with the possibility of a kiss.

Kippy, she breathes. Her chest rising faster—anticipating.

What, Suga? What you want, girl? I nudge her nose.

You, she pants.

But I was late. You shouldn’t reward me. I squeeze her hip tighter.

I’m sorry, baby. I was just teasin’. She gives me shy smile. I appreciate how hard you work for us. She bats her eyes and I fight back the urge to laugh. Us? Good Lord, is this girl kidding me?

You gonna show me how much you appreciate it? What? I’m a guy—remember? Missy licks her lips and gives me a coy smile.

She leans forward on her toes as she runs her hands up my chest and around my neck. She pulls me down to meet her and darts her tongue out, running it along the split of my lips. I pull back a bit to tease her, which always manages to make her hotter than hell.

Damn it, Kip! She sighs with frustration. If you want these lips around that big, beautiful cock of yours, you better at least warm me up with one of your swoon-worthy kisses.

As you can all guess, Missy has herself one fine collection of them Harly-something romance novels. While others might roll their eyes, I find it rather cute when she talks to me like this. You know what else is cute? That little tattoo just below her bikini line, you know, right there? It says yours in cursive. That was my other birthday gift. I’m just glad she didn’t put my name on it, ‘cause you and I both know that ain’t gonna be mine forever, no matter what she’s got goin’ on in that silly little head of hers.

I thought you liked it when I tease you a little, Suga. I nudge her nose.

Well, we ain’t got time for all that tonight, baby. I told you I gotta get back early on account a my cousin bein’ here. She nudges me back.

Oh, that’s right. Sorry. I did forget, Missy. I bend down and peck her lips.

It’s all right, baby. Now, you lean up against this boulder and relax. I’ma take good care of you. She unfastens my belt (the one that says cowboy across the big buckle, of course) as I lean my bottom against the boulder in almost a seated position. This brings me down lower to her over-one-foot disadvantage on me. Tiny—cute little thing. Not the tiny and cute little thing I fantasize about, but still tiny and cute, nonetheless.

I believe I owe you a swoon-worthy kiss, Miss Johnson. I smirk and pick her chin up with my forefinger.

Why, I believe you do, Mr. Taylor. She leans in, smiling widely at me. Out of the three sisters, I’d say Missy is the most girlish. All feminine, this one. She has shoulder-length blonde hair parted in the middle. Cute little freckles dance all over her round face. She’s got the prettiest big blue eyes I ever did see. She’s just as dainty-lookin’ as they come. She’ll make a fine wife one day. Just not to me. Other than sexual attraction and location—we ain’t got a thing in common. I need a woman I can really talk to. Missy is not that woman. But, right now, she’s definitely a woman I can kiss the hell out of and have a great time with.

I slide my hand slowly around to the back of her neck and jerk her toward me aggressively. She lets out a gasp, followed by erratic breathing. I tease her a bit more with almost-kisses, then slam my mouth against hers. My tongue slides across the slit of her lips and she opens them willingly.