Chapter 3 #3
I wrapped my hand around the keyring, turning ever so slowly toward the Jeep, resisting making any kind of giddy moves.
After loading my bags into the back, I took a deep breath, savoring the scent of the clean, fresh air before climbing into the driver’s seat.
The scent of leather was entirely different than the torn upholstery from my little car back in Indiana.
I took another deep breath before starting the engine. “Here’s to a new adventure.”
The map was detailed enough that I found the villa easily, although I continued to be drawn to the amazing surroundings.
When I pulled in front of the house, I could tell my mouth had fallen open.
I checked the red dot on the map not once but twice, then was forced to glance at the letter of employment to make sure I was at the correct address.
Shocked wasn’t the word for my reaction.
I was floored to the point I found it difficult to even get out of the Jeep.
What I expected was a small location, maybe even a duplex where I had a couple of rooms and a bath.
Instead, the incredible house was like something out of a fairytale.
The cottage was two story, every design element ornate and stunning.
The yard was pristine with trees and flowers as well as well manicured shrubs.
There was even a pretty little flag hanging just outside the front door. I had no idea what to think.
However, now I allowed myself to feel the giddiness from before.
I rushed toward the front door, fumbling with the selection of keys on the ring before finding the right one.
When I opened the door, I knew I was in some kind of a fairytale.
From the sweeping cathedral ceiling that started in the foyer to the stone fireplace that I could just catch a glimpse of to the incredible wooden floors, I was simply floored.
I held my breath as I walked further inside, marveling in the décor, including every gorgeous picture attached to the walls.
I was immediately drawn to the massive set of glass doors flanking the back of the house that led to the kind of view you only saw in magazines.
At that point, I was unable to hold back the girl inside.
She raced through the house, gasping from the sight of the modern kitchen to the expansive entertainment system.
I almost hung on the banister as I raced up the stairs, finding three bedrooms with their own bathrooms, but the master bedroom was the most glorious of all.
A huge canopy bed. A plush chair right by the window. And a whirlpool tub meant to soak in for hours on end with a glass of wine and a good book.
I turned in a full circle, unable to hold back my sounds of joyful happiness.
This was mine. All mine for a whole year.
I jumped onto the bed, shifting back and forth, marveling in just how luxurious the comforter was.
And there were pillows. Lots of pillows.
I could never afford this kind of place, but I would certainly indulge in taking advantage of every single inch.
Laughing, I finally made it back downstairs, walking into the kitchen and tentatively opening the refrigerator.
They hadn’t just stocked the insides. They’d packed it full of everything I could imagine wanting in the next several weeks from wine to cheese, produce to meats and vegetables.
When I closed the door, I leaned against it, taking short breaths.
For some reason that’s when an odd thought came to me.
Robert had pulled out all the stops in an effort to make certain I would be comfortable.
From what I’d seen on the drive here, I could easily tell there were several other living quarters likely for the staff.
However, none of them were grandiose by this scale or any other.
Then there was the car as well as the food.
And the quick hire, refusing to allow me any time to ask additional questions, all promised to me after I’d arrived.
While I was certainly no detective, that screamed of something that Robert hadn’t wanted me to discover.
Was there some burning secret hidden in the bowels of the winery?
Or was Montgomery just too difficult to work with?
Either way, I wasn’t going to allow this kind of opportunity to be taken from me because of scandal or the bad behavior of the owner.
Neither one of them had any idea what I was made of. Laughing softly, I smiled to myself. It was time to get settled.
Then the work would really begin.
Who knew, maybe after a year, this job would be mine on a permanent basis. My dream job, even if I had absolutely no clue what the full job description entailed.
* * *
Robert had suggested that I explore every inch of the estate.
That sounded like a good plan, but for now I was exhausted.
Tomorrow was a new day. I’d take a short drive then try to learn everything I could about the company from the internet.
I had no doubt I’d need to be sharp in order to meet with the owner.
Maybe I would be able to ask some intelligent questions after doing so.
I didn’t bother changing before grabbing a bottle of water and heading to the Jeep.
While the sun was still bright in the sky, a slight chill was in the air, the light breeze creating a series of goosebumps dancing along my arms.
I was surprised at just how enjoyable the drive was, the winding road giving way to several incredible areas to explore, vineyards that seemed to be exploding with grapes. Everything was so majestic the sights took my breath away.
As I rolled down another curvy road, another gorgeous building was set off a few hundred yards away, the house slightly more modern than anything else I’d seen, but just as spectacular. It was easy to tell that this was the home belonging to Montgomery Wolfe.
I slid my hand over the steering wheel, staring at the spectacular location before sighing.
If only I could live in something so grandiose.
Laughing softly to myself, I continued driving, almost instantly mesmerized by a rolling pasture with fields of green, a large barn nestled smack in the middle.
I drove closer, parking next to a beaten-up pickup truck.
As soon as I opened my door, I could hear horses whinnying close by.
A smile crossing my face, I eased out of the Jeep, every synapse on fire.
There were at least a dozen horses playing in the field, their manes flowing in the light breeze.
I pulled my phone into my hand, taking several pictures.
I wanted nothing more than to remember this moment for the rest of my life.
Daring to walk closer to the fence, I leaned over the thick wooden posts, the vision taking my breath away. From the mountains in the background to the incredible forests, I was blown away by just how much beauty there really was.
After a few seconds of dreaming a fantasy I couldn’t have, I noticed a man walking out of the barn.
With his shaggy blond hair and faded blue jeans, he was the epitome of a cowboy in action.
He led a horse into the corral, rubbing the animal’s muzzle the entire time.
Within seconds I was able to tell the horse had been in some kind of an accident, the baby’s gorgeous palomino coat marred by horrible scars.
A fire.
The injuries had to be from a fire.
The cowboy noticed me after a few seconds, offering a smile and a nod, walking toward me, his hand still wrapped around the horse’s rein. He grinned as he approached, giving me a hard onceover.
Hell, yes, he was sexy.
I was surprised the horse didn’t seem fazed in the least, even easing her head over the railing. Very gingerly I brushed my hand in between her eyes, laughing when she nuzzled against my shirt.
“She doesn’t do that very often. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember the last time she did,” the cowboy stated.
“She’s beautiful. What’s her name?”
“Star. She really is one too. A bright shining star.” He patted her flank before moving closer to the fence. “So, you’re the latest hire.”
Laughing, I glanced in his direction. “That sounds like you have new hires all the time.”
“Oh, they come every so often and mostly go.” After a few seconds, he chuckled, finally holding out my hand. “That sounds really bad. I’m certain you’re going to love it here. I’m Joshua, by the way.”
“Aspen Porter, but I have a feeling there’s a significant reason why you think I might not last on the job.” His handshake was firm, his eyes twinkling.
I couldn’t help but notice he glanced around me, as if searching to make certain we were alone. “I spoke out of turn. That’s not my place. Besides, if I remember, you just got here. I’m certainly not much of a welcoming party.”
“I arrived maybe an hour ago and if being greeted by a rugged cowboy is considered the winery’s kind of welcome, then you’ve done your job spectacularly.”
His smile was genuine. “Then welcome to Wolfe Wineries, Miss Porter.”
“Thank you, but I can tell there is some story that needs to be told. And please call me Aspen.”
“Aspen. That’s a beautiful name.” He shrugged, turning his attention toward Star. “I’m just a hired hand. What would I know?”
That told me he knew plenty, nothing he was ready to share with me. “What happened to her?”
“A fire a couple years ago. She’s a real survivor. Aren’t you, baby?” He pressed his face against the horse as he rubbed his fingers against her neck.
“Do you think I could come inside and give Star a proper greeting?”
He hesitated before answering, darting another look from one side to the other. His actions prompted me to do the same. What was he worried about?
“Sure. Why not. Miss Star doesn’t get many visitors, especially not ones as pretty as you.”
I laughed as I moved toward the gate, unlatching it and slowly walking inside. “Thank you for the compliment.”
“What are cowboys for?”
There was something enigmatic about Star.
I was drawn to her in a way that felt dangerous.
As I approached, she turned her head in my direction, her incredible brown eyes staring into mine.
It was as if we had a connection. I closed the distance, gently brushing the tips of my fingers across her nose.
She whinnied, pawing the ground with one of her hoofs.
“You’re so beautiful, pretty baby.” Closing my eyes, I pressed my head against hers, continuing to stroke gently.
She made the most incredible snorting sounds then went completely silent.
I had no idea how much time had passed but when Joshua cleared his throat, I refused to be pulled out of the sweet moment.
“She really doesn’t respond to anyone that way. You have something special inside of you to allow her to get this close. A real love of animals. She senses it.”
Exhaling, I couldn’t seem to break myself away even when I heard the sound of a vehicle approaching or the way the gravel crunched when the driver slammed on the brakes.
“Shit,” Joshua said under his breath. “You better let me take her.”
I refused to back away, lifting then shaking my head from the dust flying around us from the hard stop the asshole driver had managed to do. “Who the hell is that?”
“Oh, you’re going to find out.”
I continued petting Star as the person approached. The sound of his deep baritone voice as he cursed while opening the gate pissed me off. When the person moved closer, he didn’t waste any time accosting Joshua.
“What is wrong with you?” the man barked, his voice floating into the sky. My God. Why was he so angry?
“I’m sorry. I just…” Joshua never had an opportunity to finish his apology.
The bastard threw a hard punch, the brutal jab hitting the cowboy squarely in the face. Joshua tumbled backward, rubbing his jaw as he attempted to remain standing. While his eyes held venom for a few seconds, he refused to engage in the ridiculous fight.
Why not? I was ready to carve out the man’s eyes with my fingernails, except I couldn’t see them because of his sunglasses.
“What the fuck do you think you were doing?” the man barked. “No one touches her. No one! I should fire your ass right now, Joshua. You’re obviously useless. You know better. Star is off limits to anyone but me!”
As the cloud of dirt started to dissipate, my anger increased tenfold.
Without thinking, I moved closer, immediately shoving the asshole with both my hands, throwing a hard punch of my own in the man’s gut.
“And who the hell do you think you are? You have no right to talk to him that way. None. Then you hit him? I refuse to allow it. You’re just some kind of bully.
No, you’re a worthless, disgusting bastard…
You want to hit someone? Hit me. Trust me, buddy.
I will knock your lights out.” I had no idea where the fury came from other than deep inside of me.
Who was this asshole anyway? Another trainer?
Another boss who had to mistreat his workers?
“You refuse to allow it?” he repeated, laughing softly in the kind of husky tone that sent shivers dancing down the length of my body. He gazed down the length of me and even behind his dark shades, I had the distinct feeling the bastard was undressing me with his eyes.
I gave him a nasty glare, balling my fists.
“Don’t,” Joshua hissed from behind. “Leave it alone.”
“I can take him,” I countered, prepared to do just that. “And why should I leave it alone? He accosted you for no good reason.”
The mystery man shifted his attention in my direction, removing his sunglasses then crowding my space. Within seconds, there wasn’t a single bit of dust remaining. That’s when I knew without a shadow of a doubt my new position was toast.
Uh-oh.
The gorgeous man standing in front of me, his eyes burning the kind of rage I’d never seen before was none other than Montgomery Wolfe.