Jeremy's Girl

By Kelly Dawson

Now that Anna's home, he intends for her to stay. As his.

 

Anna Fletcher grew up at Bracken Ridge, the equestrian centre owned by her parents, and she knew one day it would become hers. Now she's returned home from university and is ready to begin doing what she loves most — managing the care and training of the horses.

 

Jeremy McCrae has been a part of Bracken Ridge forever, too. And while she was away, he'd been promoted to stable manager. He's as sinfully sexy as she remembers, but she's shocked to realise he's now her boss. Anna hates him being in charge and challenges him at every turn, forcing Jeremy to resort to old fashioned methods to enforce his authority.

 

When circumstances test their friendship and an accident forces them apart, can Jeremy figure out how to show Anna that she's his girl, or is their friendship going to be lost forever?

 

A sweet, spicy friends to lovers contemporary romance set in New Zealand.

 

Publisher's Note: This book was originally published as Bracken Ridge but has been revised and re-edited.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Dawson
• Release date: May 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223133568

Kelly Dawson

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR KELLY DAWSON loves anything to do with horses, rodeos and cowboys, and loves to get lost in a good book - preferably one containing spanking! Her favourite heroes are sexy, dominant, firm-handed country boys who spoil their women far more than they spank them, and were pretty much born on horseback, being able to ride just about before they could walk. She lives literally at the bottom of the world in the South Island of New Zealand, with her very own romance novel hero (her husband of 18 years), four kids, a dog and a cat. Kelly Dawson has 12 books out, mostly erotic rural romance set in New Zealand. Check out her website to learn more - and connect with Kelly on social media - links on her website. Thank you for reading!

Book preview

Jeremy’s Girl

By

Kelly Dawson

©2015 by Kelly Dawson

All rights reserved.

No part of the book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Dawson, Kelly

Jeremy’s Girl

Cover Design by Oliviaprodesign

This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book are fantasies only, intended for adults. Nothing in this book should be interpreted as the author advocating any non-consensual spanking activity or the spanking of minors.

Table of Contents:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

About the Author

To my sister Kristal

For her never-ending support and belief in my dream.

You're the best!

Chapter 1

S hit! Get off me, you heffalump! Anna grumbled as the big, bay gelding she was brushing shifted his feet and planted his heavy hoof directly on top of her booted foot. Get off! she ordered again, shoving the horse with her shoulder until he stepped sideways, freeing her trapped foot. Damn boy, you weigh a ton, she muttered, lifting her foot off the ground gingerly, wriggling her toes inside her boots to check that they all still worked. Now that I’m back for good I’m going to have to get me some steel capped boots.

Crack! She jumped a mile in the air as a riding crop connected with her butt. Clutching the seat of her jeans with both hands she spun around to face the culprit, and found herself staring into the eyes of none other than Jeremy McCrae.

Language! he admonished, a stupid grin on his face. In his right hand was the offending riding crop, and balanced on his left arm was a saddle, blanket and bridle.

Jeremy! Anna shrieked, flinging her arms around his neck, laughing as Jeremy hugged her back awkwardly around the gear he was carrying. I can’t believe you’re still here! It’s so good to see you!

She took a step back. Jeremy was just as ruggedly handsome as she remembered. Maybe even more so, if that were possible. He stood just over six feet tall, with broad, powerful shoulders, smouldering dark eyes, and black hair curling at the nape of his neck where it poked out under his hat. He’d always been good-looking, and he’d only improved with age. In the four years she’d been away at university in Wellington, all the way down at the bottom of the North Island of New Zealand, he’d gotten taller, filled out more, somehow gotten even more muscular, and grown a goatee on his chiselled jaw. She didn’t remember him ever being quite so sexy.

Of course I’m still here, he told her, looking at her as if she was daft. Where else would I go? I grew up here just as much as you did.

Anna nodded. True.

Jeremy had worked for her father for years. He was a couple of years older than her, and had been working here with the horses both before and after school, and on weekends and school holidays since he was twelve. It had been so long, she could barely remember a time when Jeremy hadn’t worked at Bracken Ridge. He’d been here for so long he was part of the fixtures. They had pretty much grown up together, as every spare moment Anna had, she was working with the horses too – mucking out stables, cleaning gear, and riding. Most teenage girls had a group of girlfriends they hung out with, chatted on the phone to, went shopping with. Anna had Jeremy. It wasn’t that she was unpopular, or a loner, it was more that she preferred the company of the horses to people, and Jeremy was the same. She had plenty of friends at school, but outside of school she’d much rather be with the horses. She’d been gutted to lose touch with him when he moved away, but Jeremy had an aversion to social media, and Wellington was a long way away.

I’m the stable manager now. Got promoted last year. I’ve moved into the flat at the far end of the stables.

Stable manager? Anna asked in surprise, her face dropping. She fought to keep the jealousy and bitterness out of her voice, but it felt like she’d been punched in the guts. Jeremy being promoted to manager was like a betrayal, almost. It’s not Jeremy’s fault, she told herself, but she didn’t entirely believe that. It was his fault – of course it was! He could have moved on at any time, but no. He’d stayed right here, in her childhood home, taking the place that should have been hers. She could still hear her father’s lecture from the night before echoing in her ears, telling her in no uncertain terms that she was not walking into a management position at Bracken Ridge, even if she had spent her entire life, bar the last four years, here. You need to work your way up to the top and not expect it to be handed to you on a silver platter, her father had told her. And she understood that, she really did – but working for Jeremy? He was barely any more experienced than her!

Anna had assured her father that she didn’t mind working for the stable manager – but it would be easier to swallow if the boss was old and unknown to her, instead of her childhood friend, Jeremy.

Yep. Jeremy winked. I’ll catch you later, aye?

As Jeremy continued on down the stables to do whatever it was he was going to do, Anna stared after him longingly, watching his gorgeous butt for a moment, before turning back to the horse she was grooming. It’s not fair, she thought bitterly.

Why hadn’t her father told her that her supervisor would be Jeremy? Had he feared she would turn down the job? Anna snorted. No chance of that. She’d come home to Bracken Ridge because she was out of options; she’d been broke, unemployed and homeless. She’d had no idea how hard it would be to get work as a new Psychology graduate, and no way did she want to resort to something menial like stacking supermarket shelves. She’d pick mucking out stables and grooming horses over that any day. Ideally, she wanted to work with children, but right now, she’d settle for working with anyone.

But working with somebody and for somebody were two completely different things. She could work with Jeremy fine; she’d done so for years. But could she work for him? Only time would tell.

ANNA WAS AT THE STABLES bright and early the next morning, introducing herself to the three other hands. Two girls and a boy, they were all high-school students in their late teens, and they all worked part-time, much the same as she and Jeremy had done when they were still at school.

Jeremy glanced pointedly at them as he walked past holding two lead ropes, and when he returned several minutes later, leading two horses, Anna and the other staff members were still standing there talking.

Chop chop! Jeremy called. There’s work to be done!

Keep your knickers on, Grumpy-bum! Anna smirked at Jeremy, wanting to remind him that she belonged here, this place would be hers one day, and she wasn’t about to start taking orders from him. Making sure he saw, she winked at the other staff members. Jeremy frowned and she poked her tongue out at his retreating back. The young stable hands cracked up with laughter.

They all quickly dispersed when they saw Jeremy returning to the stables sans horses, and as he approached he beckoned to Anna.

My office please, he ordered.

Anna sighed, but followed Jeremy down the corridor. He shut the door behind them.

Have a seat, he invited, indicating the chair on the side of the desk closest to the door. He went around behind the desk to the black leather swivelly chair, and stared across at her.

Anna pulled a face at him then smiled. Am I in trouble, mister? she teased him playfully, looking up at him from under her long lashes, as she leaned back in her chair casually and crossed her ankles. It was weird, being in this office under these circumstances.

You could say that, Jeremy growled. I take it your father told you that you will be working for me? I am the boss. He emphasised the word ‘I’ just slightly, and Anna noticed it. So you will refrain from undermining me in front of the other staff members, and you can get rid of that attitude. You are no different from any of the other staff members who work here, and you will follow my orders. Got that?

Well I kind of am, she argued. I mean, I grew up here. This will be my place one day! Come on Jeremy, you know that! She hated the whiny tone in her voice, but she couldn’t help it. Jeremy being stable manager hurt.

Jeremy raised an eyebrow and glared at her sternly. As far as the other staff members are concerned, no you’re not. You follow my orders, just like them, until your father says otherwise.

Anna nodded, swallowed, then took a deep breath. I’ll try. But it’s not exactly easy for me to suddenly accept you as my boss. You’ve been my friend forever.

I know mate, but you don’t have a choice. Jeremy sounded surprisingly compassionate. He reached over his desk and patted her on the shoulder. It’s your father’s orders, not mine.

Anna sighed. I’ll try. Okay? It’s the best I can do.

Jeremy nodded, just once.

Anna looked at him and grinned. You’re quite sexy when you do the stern thing. Did you know that?

A rakish wink was his only answer.

Okay, boss. She stifled a smile and stood up. I take it we’re done here? She left Jeremy’s office as he nodded, leaving the door wide open behind her intentionally, as a sign of her rebellion.

TAKE IT EASY AYE? STAY in the yards! Jeremy called to Anna as she mounted the first horse she’d been on in years. I don’t want you coming off! There’s too much paperwork if you hurt yourself.

I won’t come off, Anna insisted. "But how rude! I should fall off now, just to spite you. Make you