Disclaimer: I own nothing, though some are mine so don't touch
To all Alex fans, she finally makes an appearance. Extra long chapter because I am so far ahead in my writing I can afford to.
Alex strolled into her living room feeling slightly refreshed from her shower and certain she could stay up a few hours before going to bed. Jet lag was a bitch. Moving to the computer she had turned on before taking a shower she decided to check to see if she had had any correspondence from Olivia in the last couple of days.
Dragging up her email she was happy to see that she did indeed have an email sent to her a couple of hours ago. She opened it and started to read, a brow creeping up in surprise. She read it again just to be sure she read it properly.
Her phone started buzzing beside her, she put it on vibrate when Jonathon hadn't got the hint she wasn't interested. It was him again. She wondered if she could get her server to block the calls. She waited for it to stop ringing before picking it up and dialling a number
"Carmichael" the phone was finally answered
"Who is Tyler Gates and why is Olivia dating him tonight" Alex asked without preamble.
"Hello to you to Alex" Abbie chuckled while taking in the information Alex had provided. Way to go Liv.
"Yeah yeah hi, now tell me what you know?" she instructed
"What does the email say?" Abbie asked and sighing Alex read it to her "Well that's pretty much all I know. The town mechanic is looking at her car Monday, she's staying at the ranch with Tyler but earlier she was adamant she wasn't going to give in to her attraction to Tyler"
"Why?" Alex asked confused. Olivia had been alone far too long, she should know, they had spent many late nights drinking and lamenting over the lack of decent guys in New York. All the good ones were married. She didn't like that she had to go to Montana to find a guy but hey it was only the first day, wasn't like wedding bells were on the horizon. She got up from the computer to get herself a drink while she waited for Abbie's explanation.
"Alex that email if fairly ambiguous but I'll let you in on some clues. Tyler is a 6 foot 1, lean, local Sheriff, with short dark hair, piercing blue eyes and a cowgirl"
Alex spit out her water she had just sipped in surprise. Cowgirl?
"Excuse me I thought you just said Cowgirl"
"I did" Abbie confirmed
"Oh hell no, she does not make this decision without talking to me first" Alex growled and Abbie rolled her eyes
"I think she just did. Alex you're the one that left, you put that breach in your friendship again, you hurt her. Be glad she is still talking to you" Abbie told her straight up and Alex slumped against the kitchen sink. She deserved that she supposed.
"I want to make that right somehow" she informed Abbie "I need to tell her why"
"Yes, but she's in Montana"
"An airline ticket is a small price to pay" Alex told her "I need to speak to her, I never did explain myself well before"
"Don't interfere Cabot, you should have heard her earlier. I haven't heard her that excited in years, no matter what her words were, she sounded excited. "
"I won't, I just want to spend some time with her, get our friendship back on track" she groaned as her cell phone vibrated again "Oh for God's sake can't the man take a hint" she grumbled and Abbie's eyebrow rose in surprise
"Problems?"
"Jonathon Wentworth IV. Pompous pain in the ass and determined to become Mr Cabot no matter what I say. Imagine Alexandra, the merging of our two great families into an empire. We'd own half of Manhattan." She snorted
"Oh God" Abbie laughed "I know him and you impersonated him really well. Hope you told him to take a hike. He still living at home with mummy and daddy?"
"Last I knew" Alex laughed "Fool thinks I am just holding out on him. I'd rather turn lesbian"
"Thanks" Abbie drawled and Alex felt like banging her head on the kitchen table.
"I didn't mean that. You know I love you"
"Yeah I know" Abbie grinned "I think Ser might have something to say about that though"
"She can have you, of course if you hurt her..."
"I know I know Texas wouldn't be big enough to hide in" Abbie chuckled "Now go do what you need to do and leave me alone. I need to call Ser for a bit of phone sex"
"Abbie Carmichael how you still manage to shock me I don't know" Alex sighed as she felt her cheeks flush "Talk to you later, tell Serena I said hi"
"Sure thing. Later Cabot" Abbie chuckled
"Bye" Alex hung up the phone and walked back to her computer to Google the airlines. She had a trip to Montana to organise.
Within 5 minutes she had business class tickets to Montana early Sunday morning. She always purchased two to ensure no one sat beside her. Last thing she needed on a flight was to sit next to someone who tried to hit on her, smelt like a brewery or a sty, or fell asleep on her shoulder.
Standing she walked over to her bookshelf, scanning the titles, pulling out an old favourite as she headed to bed to read for an hour or so before going to sleep.
She received two further phone calls that evening from Jonathon and the last time got mad enough to send a text in reply.
Further unwanted advances will lead to Legal action and a restraining order being requested. Please lose my number.
She made a point to put a reminder in her diary to contact a friend who handled issues such as these in the morning and when an hour went by without the phone ringing she sighed, switched off the bedside light and fell into a deep sleep.
Olivia preceded Tyler into the Bar and grill, highly aware that there were several people that stopped and turned to look. She wondered why it bothered her, she came from New York for god's sake. Maybe it was the fact she was accompanying their Sherriff into the establishment that had something to do with it.
Tyler didn't pause or divert from her goal to get to the restaurant for dinner. She waved as several people called out but with a firm hand on the small of Olivia's back she gently guided her through to the restaurant.
They were met at the entrance by a waitress who was wearing skin tight black jeans and a singlet about two sizes too small to keep her double D's from offering a tantalising peek show. She appeared barely legal to be working here and Tyler wondered where Buck had found her.
They were seated in a booth upon their request and Tyler had no hesitation in sliding in next to Olivia who was suddenly ultra aware of the woman beside her. She hoped they could control themselves though, she wasn't a fan of PDA. Holding hands or a cuddle was one thing, kissing was for in private.
Tyler reached past her and pulled out two menus which were propped up by the serviette holders and offered one to Olivia.
Olivia looked at the menu, first at the drinks and was relieved they sold a number of good beers so selecting one would be no problems.
The main menu was pretty much how she figured it would be. All beef, oh wait there was some lamb shanks, some spare ribs, pasta, chicken and different salads. She wondered if she ordered the Chicken Caesar salad whether the roof would fall down.
In the end she went for a 250g eye fillet, chips and salad. Tyler ordered a T bone. They requested garlic bread as entree and asked for a couple of pints of beer.
Once the waitress had departed Tyler gave Olivia a cheeky grin and doing a fake yawn to make a jock proud, stretched her arms up and out before letting her left arm fall around Olivia's shoulders. Olivia couldn't help but laugh.
"Smooth move Sheriff. You must have the ladies falling at your feet" she teased and Tyler gave a cocky grin
"I was never short on willing ladies when I worked in Great Falls" she gloated which earned her a poke in the gut even when Olivia relaxed into her, comfortable being with her "Since I returned to Calling 6 years ago things have been a little slow. I go into Helena when I need to" she admitted and Olivia gave a nod of understanding. She understood through Tyler's jest that she may have been a little wild in her younger days but these days lived a quieter life.
"Ok so in your early twenties you were a ladies' man so to speak but now you've settled" Olivia nodded "Our priorities change"
"Yeah well I figured once I hit 30 I had better come home and help out on the ranch, settle down. Hurtling towards 40 now and you're right priorities do change"
"Don't speak to me about hurtling towards 40, been there done that and moving well on"
"Aw shucks ma'am, you don't look a day over 21" Tyler drawled and Olivia shot her a glare but couldn't hold it at Tyler's earnest look.
"You are so full of shit" she laughed, shaking her head. Tyler grinned
"Age isn't important" she was adamant "You can still be 36 and not realise what's in front of you. Or you can be smart enough to see something special when it's presented to you and decide obstacles be dammed and take a punt"
"Is that what you're doing?" Olivia asked seriously, looking up into those startling blue eyes. She always thought Alex's eyes were extraordinary but they had nothing on Tyler's.
"I hope it's what we're both doing" Tyler admitted, her voice low and husky. Olivia felt her throat tighten with emotion, she was scared out of her mind, disbelieving but hopeful. Yes it had only been an afternoon but she hoped they could expand on whatever they started. As she had told Tyler earlier, just because her car got fixed didn't mean she had to leave.
The moment was broken by the waitress bringing their beers and all serious discussion were put aside for now. Tyler told her about the history of the Ranch, how her Great Great Great (or something like that) Grandfather had settled right on the spot where they were living now. How over the years successors expanded, buying other neighbouring ranchers out.
As they talked their garlic bread was brought out and Olivia nibbled on a piece as she listened. To be able to trace your family like that. Of course she had her brother, who lived out of state, her mother was deceased and at the time of her death still estranged from her parents. Why? Because her mother had decided to not abort her. Liv refused to dwell on that though and continued to listen to how a dynasty in ranching was born.
Finally their meal was brought out and Olivia's mouth watered at the heady aroma. They ordered fresh beers and tucked into their meals. She couldn't believe the size of Tyler's T bone, she had an extra large plate. She wondered if Tyler ate like this all the time and why she wasn't fat.
Her steak was big enough for her, and what part of the plate wasn't filled by steak was filled by chips, coleslaw and a small garden salad. As they ate in quiet harmony Olivia had to admit it was the best steak she'd had in a long time. She was surprised at the quality and freshness of the salad and the chips were perfect and crunchy.
Once she was done she sat back and pat her stomach letting out a huge groan
"Oh God you're going to have to carry me out of here" she sighed and Tyler paused with her fork half way to her mouth and offered a grin
"That can be arranged" she drawled which earned her another smack before she chuckled and resumed eating. Olivia sat back and took in her surroundings. The building was entirely wood, wood exterior, wooden panelled interior, wood floors, wooden furniture, wooden bar. Heck the lighting were even wooden wagon wheel chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. All except the exterior and the bar floor were polished to a shine.
Unlike Pubs in New York this bar didn't feel the need to have some giant screen TV showing some sport event. Instead it had two snooker tables, a couple of dart boards and wine barrels placed around as tables. A few had stools for some to take the load off their feet.
75% of the patrons were men and Olivia figured they were ranch hands from nearby ranches, out for a Friday night. As for the restaurant, well you had table and chairs with padded booths lining the walls. Various families were out having dinner, plus a few couples. Their waitress and a couple of others were kept busy between the dining room and keeping the patrons at the bar happy. An older Gentleman, stocky with greying hair and goatee also prowled the bar.
"Oh shit" she heard Tyler swear beside her and looked up to see a man possibly 6 foot 4, medium build, chestnut hair and moustache, late thirties wearing the usual jeans, large belt, hat and check shirt heading their way. She took in his shoes and growled upon seeing alligator skin.
"Well hello Tyler" the man drawled "Didn't know you'd be out and about tonight. My lucky day"
Oh please, she'd heard better lines from a 15 year old, Olivia tried not to roll her eyes. Tyler sat back and in a manoeuvre similar to the one earlier, this time without the fake yawn or stretch, she brought her arm around Olivia's shoulder. Olivia leant closer, offering her support, she had an inkling as to who this cowboy was.
"Olivia this is Chase Ballantyne. Chase this is Olivia" Tyler introduced them and Olivia took heed that although the man smiled his eyes were anything but friendly. Boy he must want Tyler bad.
"Ma'am" Chase nodded
"Chase" she nodded back
"I was speaking with Bob earlier, you're the New York Detective who tried to cook her car" he attempted to bait her but she refused to be baited
"That's me" she nodded
"Shame you got stuck here, guess a big city gal like you probably finds our little slice of heaven boring" he sneered and Tyler shot him a glare and was ready to give him a piece of her mind when she felt Olivia's hand slide across her thigh and squeeze. Her eyes bugged instead
"On the contrary, I find the town and some people in it" she deliberately shot Tyler a hot look "quite fascinating" Tyler gulped audibly as her heart rate went into overdrive. She had to get rid of Chase now
"Chase did you want something?" she croaked as Olivia's fingers started to swirl around her thigh while she calmly sipped on a beer
"I was wondering if you're free for dinner tomorrow night?" he asked and Tyler had to prevent herself from rolling her eyes. After years of being patient she finally had enough, he was intruding on her time with Olivia.
"Listen Chase, I've been patient with you for six years" she raised her voice enough so people nearby would be able to hear "I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. I am not dating you, I am gay and even if I wasn't I still wouldn't be interested" she heard several people snigger nearby and watched as his face went red "You need to leave now Chase, you're intruding on my date"
Olivia watched as a piercing angry gaze swung from Tyler to Olivia before Chase turned on his alligator skinned boots and stormed back into the bar.
"Good riddance" Olivia sighed and turned to Tyler who was gazing at her with stormy eyes, passionate stormy eyes. Oops. She realise she had been stroking her thigh and stopped, this was a family restaurant "Um I need the ladies"
"Good idea" Tyler growled still caught in the moment and Olivia offered her a shy apologetic smile
"As much as I would love to I hate PDA and if we go into the toilets together..." she didn't need to explain any further and Tyler groaned. Sliding out of the seat she let Olivia out but caught her as she went to pass
"I will get you later for that" she promised "I need to cool down, I'll be in the bar when you come out with another drink"
"I look forward to it" Olivia offered a sassy smile before strolling off, swaying her hips saucily as she went.
Tyler spun and hot footed it to the bar, she needed another drink badly.