Tackling Tobias: A Big Sky Universe Novel (Lady Boss Presents: Big Sky Universe) Read online

  Tackling Tobias

  C.M. Steele

  Contents

  Tackling Tobias

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  The Big Sky Universe

  About the Author

  Also by C.M. Steele

  Tackling Tobias

  A Big Sky Universe Novel

  by C.M. Steele

  TACKLING TOBIAS

  A BIG SKY UNIVERSE NOVEL

  C.M. STEELE

  Copyright © 2020 by C.M. STEELE

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect are appreciated. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Cover Design: Kari March Designs

  Published by: Lady Boss Press, Inc.

  This book is dedicated to my husband and

  best friend, Mark.

  May our love be strong enough to get us through our biggest trial yet.

  I love you.

  Prologue

  Tobias

  Stepping through my front door after a long day dealing with one problem after another, all I want is a tall glass of iced tea and a hot meal before hitting the shower. My bones ache from baling hay and wrangling a dozen little lambs that broke free. They “baa’ed” their happy little hearts out as they played in the fields.

  I take off my hat and run my hands through my hair. Damn, I need a haircut. Rolling my head, I crack my neck and then stretch my shoulders back. My stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s well past dinnertime. Irritation hits me immediately when I don’t smell food cooking. Snarling to myself, I hang up my hat on the rack by the door before making my way toward the kitchen to see if she made a salad again. I already warned the woman that I worked too damn hard to eat a salad for dinner.

  I fucking hate salads. I’m six five, two-fifty, and in great physical condition, and I need real damn calories to keep my body fueled. As a former athlete, I’d max six thousand calories just to keep muscle. Now retired, I still need four thousand because I stay busy on my family ranch.

  I push open the swinging kitchen door and stare. “Son of a bitch.” There’s not a damn thing on the stove—no pots simmering or dishes on the counter.

  Nothing.

  Where the hell is that woman? My cook and housekeeper, Nina, started working a few weeks back after my last cook, Thelma, retired. Well, she quit, but I like to say retired. It makes me look less like an ass that way. Not that I care what people think, but no one wants to work for a bossy bastard.

  I have gone through more cooks since my mother passed than in my entire life. I don’t know if it’s my surly attitude or my need for shit to be done on time that sends them packing, but they’ve always gone. This one has to beat it as well. I’ve had enough of her flighty behavior. I reach into the fridge to pour myself a cold drink, and the fucking pitcher of iced tea is empty.

  What sick, twisted soul puts it back in the fridge ass-empty?

  I snatch up a bottle of water to quench my thirst. It’s the end of the summer, so the heat and hard work make me endlessly thirsty. I take out the pointlessly chilled pitcher and set it on the counter. I’ll deal with that problem later.

  Did she take a nap or something? She’s a few years older than me, but she doesn’t have a work ethic at all. If I knew how to cook, I’d have no use for her, but I burn everything but coffee, and even that’s total shit.

  I don’t know this woman well, but she came from an agency that specializes in that kind of thing. She’s not a great cook and her cleaning has gone from good to nonexistent. I’m too damn tired most days to care, but she finally pushed me to the end of my patience. She’s going to need to find another job right away.

  Dang, I don’t hear any noise. I walk through the entire first floor, and she’s nowhere to be found. Her bedroom on the first floor is empty and a mess. Screw it. I need a damn shower anyway. I stomp up the stairs toward my bedroom and hear the first sounds of movement—the telltale sound of the floorboard in my bedroom that I need to fix creaks. “What the hell?” I whisper to myself, grateful that I keep a gun on me. Is someone in the family safe? That’s the only damn reason I can imagine someone being in there. There’s another in my office, but it’s a hidden one.

  “He’s coming. Shit. Hide,” I hear in a hushed tone. Hurried movements and the sound of clothes rustling tell me all I need to know. The safe has nothing to do with what’s going on in there. Rage boils in me because I can tell she’s not inside making my bed, which isn’t something I had her do anyway. Seething, I slam my door open to find my ranch hand buttoning his pants while Nina’s covering herself with my favorite blanket.

  “Get the fuck out of my house.” My voice shakes the damn rafters. This is a level of pissed off I haven’t been in a long time. There are six bedrooms in this house including the housekeeper’s one on the first floor, and they choose mine to disrespect me in.

  “I’m sorry, Tobias.” His eyes beg me not to fire his ass, but he can go over and find a new position elsewhere because I don’t tolerate fucking lying assholes and he told me a whopper of one to get out of work early.

  “No, I’m the sorry one. Your kid getting sick must have been a quick illness. Get off my property before I call the police or decide to bury you in my field.” We’re super busy, and this fucker’s having sex in my bed. I could kill him.

  My attention turns to the bitch on my bed. Shit, I’m going to have to throw away those sheets. Maybe even the mattress. “That goes for you, too. You get out of my bed. You’re fired. I want you out now.”

  “I don’t have anywhere to go,” she pleads, slowly loosening the sheet and rising to her knees in a seductive pose to reveal her tits to me like I’ve got any interest. I don’t. I made my momma one damn promise before she died that I’d never let any woman into my bed that wasn’t going to be my wife, the mother of my child. This broad crossed the line.

  “I don’t give a damn about that. Get your nasty ass off my bed.” Every second that passes, my anger intensifies. I’d never hit a woman, but she’s sorely testing my patience. My former ranch hand scowls, seeing her easily offering her body to me after taking his dick. He has the nerve to actually look pissed. He’s married.

  I never understood that urge for infidelity. Maybe it’s that my parents had a rock-solid marriage that makes me think how disgusting this shit show is. My phone rings just at the same time. I really don’t need this mess. My head’s pounding, so I step out of the room and take the call from Big John Morrison, my foreman.

  “Hey, Tobias. We have a problem.” I never like the sound of that, although I’m hard-pressed to find anyone wanting additional problems after a full day of grueling work.

  “What now?” I grumble, run
ning my hand through my hair and staring at my bedroom door, waiting for these assholes to leave. Suddenly the bastard’s barking at her about being a whore. I laugh at the sheer audacity of it.

  “The labor’s breach. The vet’s pulling up now.” Shit. I had a feeling my cow was taking too long to deliver. Damn, I hope she doesn’t die. I’d hate to lose another cow. Surprisingly, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s a loss that we have to eat.

  “Son of a bitch. Okay. I’ll be down there soon. I’ve got a matter to deal with,” I grit out, rubbing my jaw.

  “Oh no. Firing another damn housekeeper?” I might have a bad fucking habit that he’s well aware of. My temper’s short, and I don’t suffer fools. I’d just been complaining that Nina was on her last chance with me.

  “And Ruiz,” I spit out.

  “What?” he exclaims. I’m sure he’ll have a thousand questions. I don’t keep him in suspense for long.

  “The bastard was fucking her in my bed.” Just as the words come out of my mouth, she comes running out and down the stairs while Ruiz goes after her. I frankly don’t care about it, but I can’t in good conscience allow him to hurt her.

  “In your bed?” He knows about my mother’s request because he’d been there the day she died. He’s been with the family for two decades. He’s like a big brother to me. He’s only five years older than me. We’re close, so much so that I was his best man when he married Louisa.

  “Yes. Out of all the places in the house. I bet they thought they’d get a fucking kick out of it.” I’m not a virgin, but my mom wanted this to be a family home—one where I made her grandbabies. I’d have to have sex for that, and it’s been so long that I can’t even remember it. Since I retired from the NFL, I’ve been too busy to look for a date. Maybe that’s why I’m in a shit mood.

  When I step out onto the porch, Ruiz and Nina are gone. “They left.”

  “Good. You don’t need that right now.” Damn right.

  “Yeah. Fuck it.” Not my problem anymore. “I’m on my way.” I end the call and tuck my phone in my back pocket. Stopping back inside for another drink, I take the water bottle and then lock up the house because I don’t want her ass sneaking back in. I’ll have one of the crew pack up her suitcase and leave it for her on the porch. As soon as the house is secured, I hurry down to the barn.

  Taking over the ranch when my father died four years ago forced my life to change. Not that I had much of a life, but I had a career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears as a tight end, making millions a year and playing a sport I used to love.

  It’s not that I don’t love my family heritage, but it’s just me still standing in this large home with no family near. My only sister lives in Chicago with her husband and kids after having followed me out there to go to school. Attending college didn’t last long because she met Landon, and they were expecting their first kid before we knew it.

  “You look like shit,” John says as soon as I enter the stall.

  “Thanks. I’m tired and hungry on top of being pissed the fuck off.” Seeing her on my bed made me livid. Ruiz was lucky that I didn’t find him on my bed or I would have shot him on the spot.

  “Well, if it makes you feel better, they were able to get the little calf to come out. Mother and baby unharmed.”

  I let out a sigh, letting my shoulders drop with relief. That’s great, considering the stress the cow had been under all afternoon. “Good. That’s really damn good.” After everything today, I could use something positive.

  I head outside the barn to check out the sun setting over the mountains. Despite my anger and fatigue, the sight has a way of lightening my mood.

  “Mr. Reynolds, everything should be back to normal in a couple of days. You know the drill. If she has any issues, please don’t hesitate to call,” Angela, our vet says, shaking my hand. She’s a petite blonde, but she handles these animals like she’s my size.

  “Great. Thank you for coming out here at the last minute.”

  “It’s what I live for. Now, excuse me. I have a date tonight.” She smiles and hops into her truck. John and I look back and forth at each other. It’s not like her to date. She’s all work and no play. “I’ll email you my bill tomorrow.”

  I nod and wave goodbye. She’s amazing with these animals.

  “I’m without another hand and a cook,” I grumble as John stands next to me, watching the sunset.

  “At least winter’s on its way,” he remarks.

  Nodding, I can agree with that. Winter means fewer hours of work to do.

  “Yeah. It’s getting darker earlier.” I sigh, running my hand through my hair. I really do need to get it cut. I’ll head in tomorrow morning to get that done.

  “So who’s willing to go in there and pack up her shit for me? I need to strip my bed,” I say as we make our way toward the house and his truck, which is parked by the path that leads to my driveway.

  “That’s some shit. I wonder if they just thought it would be dangerous fun or to be assholes,” he says, pulling out his cell phone. He’s probably going to call his wife to let her know he’s on his way home.

  “Either way, I’m fucking pissed off. Now I’ve got a lot of shit to do. Seems like I’ll be sleeping on the sofa.”

  “Do you want me to call in one of those companies that have a group of maids to clean quickly?”

  “Yeah. I guess I’ll be eating with you guys for the time being since finding a cook is a lot harder.” After spending years on the road in locker rooms, at diners, I’d had enough of the whole communal life. I like my solitude. “Well, I’m off to make a sandwich. Send someone over when you can to get her shit cleared.”

  “Will do. My wife’s got food cooking always for you. I’ll have her share if you want to come over. It’s spaghetti night.”

  “I’d love to have Louisa’s cooking, but I’m afraid that if I’m not here when she gets back, shit’s going to hit the fan. Damn, I’m going to need a new lock as well.”

  “No problem. We’re only five minutes away if you change your mind. I’ll see what I can do about the maids in the morning.”

  “Thanks, John. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “Probably die a miserable old man. Scratch that—you’re already halfway to the old and way past miserable. I think you need to find you a good girl to marry and settle down with.”

  “Maybe one day, but I ain’t got time for it. Unless she lands in my lap, that isn’t going to happen.”

  The second I’m through my doors, I walk into the blanket cupboard under the stairs and grab sheets and a blanket to put on the sofa. I could sleep in one of the other bedrooms, but most of the beds aren’t made. I only keep my room and the housekeeper’s rooms prepared. Two bedrooms are empty and the other two are used for my sister and her kids when they visit. I don’t have the energy to make the beds, so the sofa will have to do just fine.

  An hour later, there’s a pounding on my door. I open the curtains to see a police officer at my door with that crazy bitch behind him.

  “What the hell?” I grumble, then open the door. “Can I help you, Officer?” I’ve seen him before, but I don’t know the guy personally. He moved into town while I was playing professional football.

  “Mr. Reynolds, does this lady live here?”

  “Nope, she’s an ex-employee who was fired today.”

  “I have nowhere else to go,” she complains with a baby tone to her voice that grates my nerves. Hell, even the officer’s shoulder cringes upward.

  “Well, you should have thought of that before you were screwing one of my men on my bed.” I look to the officer and add, “She can get her shit out of her room, but I want her out of my sight and my home.”

  “Is this a domestic issue?”

  “What part of ‘she was an employee who got the boot’ didn’t you get? I wouldn’t touch her with your dick.”

  “Understood. Miss, I’ll escort you to get your things, but I’m afraid you can’t stay here.”

>   “Where am I supposed to stay?”

  “Not my problem. Maybe your car, or you can ask your lover’s wife if she’ll let you stay,” I bark out, thinking about poor Mrs. Ruiz being married to that cheating fuck.

  “You are such an asshole. No wonder you can’t find a wife, you dickless hick.”

  “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sandwich to make. The room is right over there. Don’t let her take anything but her clothes and the few little trinkets lying around. All the furnishings are mine.”

  “Ma’am. You need to calm down, or I’ll have to hold you in my car and gather your things myself.”

  “Fine.” She flips me off and then storms into the housekeeper’s room. I make my sandwich, hating it, but I have to wait for them to leave my house. I eat while standing outside the kitchen and down the hall from the room they’re in.

  It takes thirty minutes for her to gather everything, like she brought a lot, and I have to fill out a report of the incident for future reference. I get a copy, which I’m fine with. They asked if I wanted to file a restraining order on her, and I passed because I don’t want to ruin her chances elsewhere. I just don’t want her working here.

  About ten minutes later, Dillon and Jessie pop over to take the sheets off the mattress for me. They dump the bedding because there’s evidence of their nasty stains on it, but they keep the mattress, which isn’t stained. Finally, I can hit the pillow and get some sleep.

  Chapter 1

  Tobias