2. Sydney
Chapter two
Sydney
I revved the engine again, but the tires just kept spinning.
Fuck.
I rested my head against the steering wheel, trying to figure out how I got here. Well–I knew exactly how, but I wasn’t happy about it.
I’d gone to college for a business degree, without knowing that, in the current job market, unless you were a nepo baby, your chances of a job at a major company were almost nonexistent, which had me scrambling for one. The first job offer I got was for the Organic Certifiers of Stonebridge, and I jumped at the opportunity. Most of the time I pushed papers around, so I was determined to get out of there soon.
Today, however, I’d been asked to sub for one of the auditors. We were all certified to do it, but only certain people were considered field people.
Apparently, on this occasion, that was me.
I looked at my partner in the passenger seat, sleeping soundly. Matilda had been at the job longer than I’d been alive. She had been moved to desk duty a long time ago, but because this was the beginning of spring, there was no one else available.
She looked like a librarian, with short, gray curls and large, framed glasses perched on her nose, and she was sleeping like the dead, which I worried she was until I heard her snore every once in a while.
“Matilda,” I said, trying to wake her to figure out what the fuck we were going to do. She didn’t budge.
“Matilda,” I called again, shaking her slightly. Still nothing.
“Matilda!” I all but yelled.
That time she jumped, looking around. “Are we there?” she asked. Her voice was warm, like a grandmother's. I wondered briefly if she was one.
“Kind of.” There was no GPS out here in the middle of nowhere. We’d been warned cell service was choppy, and they weren’t kidding. Not a single bar. According to the map, we should be pretty close, but I had no actual way to tell. I’d never read a map in my life, much less to drive, and the sun should be setting soon.
“The car’s stuck,” I said.
“Stuck?” she repeated.
I revved the engine again, and the tires spun through the mud.
“Hm,” she offered.
That’s it? Hm? Hm wasn’t going to get us out of here. I glanced around but saw nothing but fields for miles.
I heard the clanking of an exhaust when I saw a truck come toward us from the other side of the road.
“Oh, perfect,” I mumbled, unbuckling quickly and stepping out of the car. I had immediate regret when my heel plunked through the mud and my entire foot went with it.
“Stupid middle-of-nowhere town,” I grumbled. I’d always lived in Stonebridge. Growing up poor, I promised myself I would go to college, get a good job, and get myself a nice penthouse and maybe one of those fluffy dogs rich people had.
I kept telling myself this job was a stepping stone. I didn’t know how, but this opportunity made me confident I would get there.
The banged-up blue truck rolled to a stop next to us. When the window came down, I gasped unintentionally. The man had hazel eyes and skin that looked tanned from long days in the sun. He also had blond hair that was a bit long peeking out under a worn leather cowboy hat and darker, curved horns curling above it. His ears were also different, with them being a bit harrier and almost pointed. The bit of scruff on his face added to the rugged vibes.
I knew this farm was owned by a family of satyrs, and though there weren’t many monsters in the city, it wasn’t anything new to me. I was more surprised by how… attractive he was.
“Need help, ma’am?” he asked. His voice was deep and thick with an accent I wasn’t used to hearing.
Ma’am?
“Uh, yes,” I stuttered out. What is wrong with me? “Our car is stuck.”
He looked down at the tires. “I’m not surprised. It’s muddy season, and two-wheel drive won’t cut it.”
I crossed my arms. “Well, I apologize for not buying a new car for the trip.”
Something like amusement flashed in his gaze, which I didn’t expect. Normally when I spoke to people like that they shied away, but it seemed as if he almost pushed closer. “I’ll help you out.”
He shut his truck off and got out, approaching me easily.
My eyes widened when he came around and I realized he towered over me. I knew I was a short woman, just barely hitting five feet, but he was a foot and then some taller than me. His body was also massive. Muscles built from what I assumed was a lifetime of hard work covered him everywhere. He was wearing a red flannel and jeans, but I could see his hooves sticking out from the bottom.
I was again surprised by my reaction. This guy wasn’t my type at all. I normally went for slimmer men with dark hair and a stoic attitude, which he didn’t seem to have. Still, there was something so… captivating about him.
He ran his fingers through his hair before bending over to check my tires.
“Wow, you’re really stuck. I think I’m going to need to call one of the tow guys. How many times did you spin yourself down?”
“You think I counted?” I spit back.
His smile stayed in place, even with my harsh tone. “Once you’re in the mud, you’re better off staying still and getting help.”
“I don’t deal with a lot of mud, so I wouldn’t know.”
He snorted. “I can tell.”
My eyes narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothin’,” he said. “I’ve just never seen you around here before. Why are you here?”
I straightened my blazer. “I’m Sydney,” I said, holding my hand out for a shake. “We’re here for an organic certification audit at Hoffman Farm.”
“Well, you’re in luck, I happen to be the owner. I thought you weren’t supposed to be here until tomorrow.” He gripped my hand back, and they were so different from mine—rough and calloused, but warm. I was also shocked that he was the owner. I had been expecting someone older, with white hair and maybe a pitchfork.
“We weren’t. We decided to get settled at the inn tonight, but I think I took a wrong turn. The GPS stopped working miles back.”
“That’s Hallow’s Cove for ya,” he said. “The perfect destination because it’s so remote. Anyway, how about I take you to the inn, and we can call the tow?”
I looked around. I knew getting into a car with a strange man probably wasn’t the best decision, but I wasn’t fully alone, and he was who I was here to see. If he killed me and buried me in his field, he wouldn’t get his certification.
“That’s fine,” I said. “I just need to tell my partner and grab our things.”
I opened Matilda’s door, and she jumped as I woke her once again. “Mr. Hoffman is going to take us to the inn so the car can get towed.”
“Oh, that’s nice,” she replied as she wiggled her way out.
“Hello, ma’am,” Brooks greeted. “I’m sorry about your car.”
“Oh, my.” She sounded as taken aback as I felt. “No problem, young man. If we get a ride with you, it’s all worth it.”
My mouth fell open. Was Matilda always like this?
Brooks helped her through the mud and into the truck while I grabbed our bags. Once he was done, he also helped me sling all of them in the back, save for my camera bag. I made sure to hold onto that.
When I first got this job, I went out and bought myself a used camera. It wasn’t fancy, but it took pretty good photos. I’d been able to splurge on a few new lenses in the meantime, which had really improved my output. I loved it and knew this would be my first opportunity to take photos out of the city.
With that bag in hand, I followed him around the truck. When I opened the door, Matilda was already sound asleep in the passenger seat. Seriously? I looked at her and back at Brooks.
“Do you think I can slide in on your side?” I asked.
“Sure thing.” I shut the door lightly, trying not to wake her up. I followed Brooks to the other side, and as he opened the door for me, I looked up at the seat, truly, for the first time. It was as high as my shoulders.
“Here,” he said, holding his hand out to me when he realized I needed help. I took it as I stepped up onto the metal step and climbed up to the seat of the truck. When I got there, I crawled across the cab and turned to sit when I reached the middle.
When I looked back, Brooks was standing there, frozen. His eyes were slightly wide, and his cheeks were flushed.
“You coming?” I asked, confused.
He cleared his throat and looked down, slightly shaking his head. “Yes, let’s go.”
He drove us down the muddy road easily. I looked over the fields as we passed. There were a few green patches where it looked like things were beginning to grow. I couldn’t even guess what they were, but it was very pretty and very different from what I was used to. Everything in the city was sleek and gray, but everything out here was vibrant and teeming with life.
However, it was hard to focus on the outside. I tried my best to stick close to Matilda, but it was a small cab, and Brooks was a large satyr. Plus, I wasn’t all that small either. I had curves everywhere, and my thighs definitely expanded when I sat. So my left thigh was all but glued to his, and every time the truck hit a bump in the road, I swayed against his large, muscled body. I was trying to think about something else, anything else, but apparently I had a one-track mind.
Soon, wide-open fields became stout brick buildings with lots of different signs. I saw a sign for Cool Beans Café, Ted’s Diner, and a place that just said… Bookstore, which seemed odd, but I didn’t have much time to think about it.
Looking to the left, I did a double take when I saw a phone booth. I don’t think I’d ever seen one except ?in the movies, but it made sense with the lack of signal.
We soon pulled up to a large white Victorian home with pillars running across the front and a shingled brown roof. Did everything in this town look like it came straight out of a cheesy movie?
Brooks hopped out, his hooves clacking on the paved drive, and I slid out in his direction. As I did, my foot caught on the step of his truck, and I felt myself begin to fall.
I braced myself for it, but was quickly caught by a warm, hot body that held me to his chest. My eyes widened as I realized Brooks had caught me. His blue eyes shone in the early evening sun, making them almost twinkle.
He cleared his throat, setting me on the ground safely. “Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, unwilling to trust my voice.
“We should probably get your co-worker.”
Right. Matilda, my job, all the things I was here for.
I followed him around the truck, almost needing to run to catch up, and gave Matilda a shake, letting her know we were here. Brooks helped her out of the truck, to which she noted how nice of a young man he was—again—and led us inside. I tried to tell him we could take it from here, but he insisted it was no bother.
He grabbed our stuff from the back, carrying it inside easily. The inn was cozy-looking, with worn wood floors and cream walls featuring older, black-and-white photos in mismatched frames.
“Welcome!” a cheery voice from behind the counter said. It was a woman with brown hair and freckles, but she also had a pair of bunny ears flopping down around her face. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Yes.” I went to pull out my phone but remembered there was no internet. “Should be under Sydney Jacobs and Matilda Smith.”
To my surprise, she then flipped open a handwritten guest book and ran her finger down until she found our names. “Yes, I see you here.”
She wrote a few things by hand and turned to grab something. When she pressed the cold metal in my hand, I was shocked by the regular keys I was given—no keycard, all manual. It again added to the obvious charm of this place.
“You’ll be in room three,” she told Matilda, “and you’re in four across the hall. Breakfast is served from six to nine. Definitely drop into Ted’s if you’re looking for lunch or dinner, and Cool Beans will have lavender macaroons to celebrate the Blossom Festival happening soon.”
Blossom Festival? What kind of event was that? I thought I shouldn’t ask, since we’d probably be out of here before that, anyway.
“Thank you,” I said, handing Matilda her key.
When I turned around, Brooks was still standing there, bags in hand. “I can help bring these to your room,” he offered.
“I think we’re—”
“That would be lovely. You’re so kind,” Matilda cut in before I could finish.
I huffed, but gestured toward the hall. It was fairly thin, and while Matilda and I could walk side by side, there was no way someone could walk next to Brooks. His shoulders almost touched the walls on either side. My gaze slid from his toned shoulders to his enormous arms that looked seconds from bursting from the sleeves to his tight back.
My eyes traveled lower to his backside in those jeans. Really, did they need to be so tight? They looked glued to his ass, showing off how round and firm it was. I briefly thought about how it would feel if I touched it, but shoved that away. That was a highly inappropriate train of thought, one I didn’t need to be riding on right now.
I’m glad I looked up just as he stopped, or I would’ve run right into him. I didn’t need any additional accidental touching today.
Brooks took Matilda’s key and helped her open her door. I turned to mine and slid the key in. I tried to open it–I twisted it both ways–but nothing happened.
I rattled the handle and by now was considering attempting to force it open when I noticed the light had disappeared and a shadow loomed over the door.
“Do you need some help?” Brooks asked, now standing much closer to me.
“I’m fine,” I responded. I jiggled the handle again to no avail. “Maybe not,” I mumbled as I stepped away and he took my place.
Brooks turned it once, and the door easily swung open. My jaw was on the floor. “How did you do that?” I asked.
“Trade secret,” he said with a wink.
I could feel my face getting hot but ignored it as I followed him into the room. It was simple, with a single queen bed with a floral bedspread and floral-covered walls with a clashing print. There was no TV, but it had a dresser and a small desk. The bathroom was to the side, and after the day I’d had, I couldn’t wait to shower and unwind.
Brooks set my bags down next to the bed and turned back to me.
“What time did you plan on coming to the farm tomorrow?”
I crossed my arms. “Early. Why?”
He raised a brow at me. “I’ll get the tow truck to get your car, so I’m assuming you’ll need a ride. Even when it’s ready, I think trying to take it through there again would be a mistake.”
“Oh,” I said, shifting on my feet. I had totally forgotten about it. “Thank you. Is eight too early?” I asked.
“Eight is perfect. I’m up with the sun.”
“Me too,” I said, though I wasn’t sure why. He probably didn’t care. “Always been an early riser.”
He grinned. We both stood there for way too long. I wasn’t sure what we were doing, but it felt like I was stuck in a spell until he broke it. “Anyway, I should go, but I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
I nodded, and he left, clicking the door shut behind him.
As soon as he was gone, I locked the door, toed off my muddy heels, and rummaged through my things to grab something comfortable.
I turned on the water to the right setting before standing in front of the mirror and sliding out my contacts, essentially blinding me.
As soon as I stepped under the warm running water, I felt better. I kept my hair up and out of the way, hoping I wouldn’t need to wash it while I was here. At home I had a hot tool that easily let me achieve this blowout, but I didn’t know how to do it without. And I needed it to stay nice. Not only was this my opportunity to get ahead, and I wanted to look good and impress, but I also felt my best when I looked my best.
When I was young, we couldn’t afford nice clothes or makeup, and while I was still conservative, I always did my best to look nice. Plus, being poor in high school–at peak insecurity time, made it easier for me to make cheap look expensive, and had honed the skill into adulthood, though I couldn’t always help but pick up a nice perfume or dress every once in a while.
Once I was thoroughly exfoliated and washed, I hopped out, did my full skincare routine, moisturized, and put my glasses on. I didn’t wear them much. They were chunky, black plastic frames. I couldn’t wear cute, dainty ones because my lenses were so thick, and my face looked so different to me with them on.
I planned to go over the paperwork once more before bed, but I looked out the window, and the entire sky was bathed in oranges and purples. I knew I needed to get a photo.
I took my camera out, secured the lens, and went out to the back. Normally, I would have bothered getting redressed so as not to be caught in my sweats, but there were so few people milling around I was sure I wouldn’t be seen.
From there, I could see the water a bit, so I put my camera to my face and snapped a few in that direction. I was sure to catch the last few sparkles of the sun against the surface of the pond.
I kept my eye in the viewfinder as I swept around, looking for another interesting shot. There was also a building directly across that looked old and official that I had to capture. I realized there were people talking in front of it, and when I zoomed slightly, I realized it was Brooks and a man with small ears poking from dark hair and a tail that was ringed like a raccoon. He was shorter than Brooks, but I couldn’t imagine many were taller.
I knew I should move my camera away, that I should look somewhere else, anywhere else, but my lens stayed focused on the farmer I’d met this morning.
He was smiling at whoever he was talking to. It was as if he radiated sunshine.
In a moment only to be described as sheer insanity, I clicked my shutter, capturing his smile, just for me.
For a moment, I was sure he looked in my direction, and I shifted my camera away quickly. I tried to stay calm. From this distance, there was no chance, but that didn’t help with my nerves.
So I decided to go inside and get ready for tomorrow.