Taming the Boss

Chapter 5

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Alexi said, she eyed the horse that Kris had saddled her the next morning. Nerves were eating at her insides as she watched the horse watch her. The big black eyes seemed soft and gentle. “I haven’t ridden a horse since I was in high school.” She looked at Kris who grinned at her. “And don’t say it’s like riding a bike,” Alexi warned. Kris held up her hands.

“Okay look, how about this then, you ride with me?”

“With you, on the same horse?” Alexi looked over at the twins, waiting patiently on them, already on their horses. “No, just promise me you’ll stay close, please.”

“Okay, I can do that,” Kris said with a soft smile. Alexi felt her stomach flutter at the soft look in Kris’s eyes, but she waved it away. Kris held out her hand and Alexi took it, Kris helped her onto the horse her hands gripping Alexi’s waist. Alexi held her breath until she was in the seat then looked down at Kris, still grinning up at her. The woman was stunning and driving her hormones crazy. She had to keep reminding herself that they were friends and just friends. Alexi shook her head, she was going to f**k up the first real offer of friendship by getting too attracted to Kris, she just knew it. “What’s wrong?” Kris asked. Her hand curled around Alexi’s ankle.

“Nothing, just praying that I don’t fall off.”

“You won’t,” Kris promised and walked to her own horse, she hopped on easily then gestured to the twins to lead. “We’ll follow, take the easy trail today, we’ve got a newbie.” The twins nodded and the four of them took off toward the river.

Kris steered her horse up close to Alexi’s horse and bumped knees with her. “You, okay?”

“This is beautiful,” Alexi said, she’d relaxed after about twenty minutes and had started taking in their surroundings. “And I am having so much fun, I forgot how much I enjoy horse-riding.”

“You look like a natural.” Kris smiled. “We’ll stop at the river for lunch, before making our way back. My sister is baking you a cake, so be warned, there’ll be singing.”

“She didn’t have to do that.”

“No, but she wanted to,” Kris said. “Look.” She pointed at an eagle that soared above them.

“Oh wow!” Alexi tilted her head back and watched the bird. “Thank you for this.” She said quietly, not looking at Kris.

“My pleasure,” Kris said. They continued their ride in silence. When they got to the river, Kris helped her down again and the twins set up their picnic.

“We’re going for a swim, are you two joining us?”

“Not this time kiddo’s, go ahead, but stay close, please.”

“Always,” Regi said a huge grin on her face as she watched Roxy fight with her shirt. “You could just unbutton the thing. Why do you always have to try and pull it over your head?”

“It’s my way, okay,” Roxy said, they were still discussing ways to undress as they walked toward the river.

“They are great kids.”

“Yeah, Joss did a great job, and with Mark’s help they’ve turned out okay,” Kris said. “Want something to drink?”

“Water if there is, or whatever.”

“Water it is.” She handed her a bottle then took one for herself. “I sort of expected you would be dressed in one of your suits, I didn’t expect you to own jeans or a T-shirt.”

“I have them in the back of my closet, for special occasions.”

“A joke? Oh, we better call the girls back, it’s going to rain.” Kris joked and laughed when Alexi slapped her thigh. “You look great in the suits, don’t get me wrong, but those jeans, wow.” And wow was right, Kris thought, the tight jeans hugged her hips, and ass in that way it did when a woman was built for them. Her white T-shirt hugged her curves.  

“Thank you.” A blush crept up her neck and Kris smiled. “A friend’s observation?”

“Of course.” Kris laughed. She handed Alexi a sandwich and took one for herself.

“It’s beautiful out here,” Alexi said, changing the subject. “I can’t believe it’s just a few hours out of the city.”

“Yeah, it’s a nice break from the rush every second weekend.”

“Why alternate when you could be here all the time?” Alexi asked.

“Joss uses her weekends to do shopping, for herself, the kids, Mark, clothes, groceries, and so on.” She shrugged. “We go watch a movie, do grownup stuff, the girls don’t come with her. So, it’s sort of like a break for her too.”

“I see.” Alexi nodded. She wished she had a sister, her brother was nice, but he had his own life and stayed as far from home as he could. Blake did not get along with their mother at all. So, she was left dealing with Magdalene most of the time.

“What did you just think about?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t do that. I get that you’re still learning, but when something bothers you, you tell your friend.” She poked herself in the chest. “Me.” She tilted her head, waited. “Alexi?” Kris wanted to wipe the frown from her face, but she also wanted Alexi to talk to her because she got the feeling Alexi kept everything to herself and dealt with s**t alone.

“I was just thinking about having a brother instead of a sister. Blake does his own thing, he stays away because he and my mother don’t get along at all.” She shrugged. “We talk, but we’re not close.”

“So, you have to deal with Magdalene and her demands on your own?” Kris asked.

“Yes, mostly. But since he’s married with a daughter, she doesn’t bug him, he’s the good child.” Alexi shrugged again. “At least when she talks to me about him.”

“It must have been hard growing up with a famous mother, and the whole celebrity’s child thing.”

“Not really. No, I’m lying. It was incredibly difficult. I’m such a private person, I always was. And to have everything you do be analyzed and criticized was not something I enjoyed. Blake did, he used it to get into clubs, get girls. He got in so much trouble, then he met Linda, she changed him. And when they had their baby, he pulled away completely, not wanting his child to go through what we did.” Alexi looked to where the twins played. “Mom tried to get him to do publicity with her, you know, to show off his perfect family, but he told her to go to hell.”

“And you never did, you do what she asks.” Kris didn’t ask this, she knew.

“Until now, she’s never going to forgive me for tonight.” Alexi shook her head. “I phoned her, told her I was away, and she should cancel. She told me that she didn’t care how I got there, I better just be there. So, I hung up.” Alexi smiled at Kris. “She’s phoned me seven times already this morning.”

“Did she get the memo? Your phone hasn’t gone off since we’ve been on the ride.”

“I left it at the house,” Alexi said.

“What?” Kris stared at her with wide eyes.

Alexi laughed. “I figured, since I never take a vacation, I could make this a weekend vacation.”

“I’m shocked. Truly, I mean, that’s great and all.” Kris was truly impressed. “What about clients?”

“I directed calls to Clementine, she’ll get hold of me if it is really important.” Alexi laughed again. “She told me to take longer, couldn’t believe that I actually went away for a weekend. So, I don’t think I’ll be getting anything from her about work.” Alexi grinned at Kris. “You’ve broken me.”

“I think I fixed you, babe,” Kris said and stood. “Come on, let’s walk.” She pulled Alexi to her feet and tugged her arm through Kris’s. They walked, arms linked toward the girls. Alexi pushed all thoughts of work and her mother to the back of her mind. She’d deal with that on Monday. Today, and the rest of the weekend, she’d enjoy just being Alexi, Kris’s friend.