night.
Desire rolled through him and he closed his eyes briefly, seeing in his mind’s eye the shimmer of her fair skin in the half light of the room, feeling its smooth softness beneath him. Feeling her.
His eyes flew open. The light at the cottage was still on. Damn. Ethan reached for the pull cord and yanked his drapes closed, but even knowing he’d blocked her from view, he couldn’t help thinking that it looked like it was going to be a long night for them both.
Six
I sobel woke the next morning still furious. As if it wasn’t enough that Ethan Masters had consumed her waking thoughts with his arrogance, his skillful lovemaking from the night before had infiltrated her sleep. As a result, she’d woken an aching, frustrated wreck, torn between the urge to track him down and slap him...or track him down and pounce on him. Not her best look, that was for sure, she decided as she surveyed herself in the bathroom mirror.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to face anyone yet this morning. She’d asked for the time to herself, to familiarize herself with the property and the layout. To ease into the feel of the place so she could reflect its special character in the photos she was to create for their new marketing plan. She turned away from the mirror and started the shower running. During her usual jobs, showers were a rare luxury—and the one in this cabin was uncommonly nice. If only she could enjoy it without her head full of distractions. A quick wash and rinse of her hair and she was done and back out again.
Five minutes later, Isobel was dressed and busily surveying the contents of the refrigerator in the very compact yet well-appointed kitchen. They really thought of everything here, which gave her an idea. She grabbed one of her cameras and took a few quick shots of the contents of the fridge. Then, grabbing a banana, she went outside.
The land here was beautiful, especially in the early-morning light. Row upon row of grapevines and framework stretched across the land and up the hillside almost as far as she could see. And there, up on the ridge of one hill, stood a massive ruin. Her curiosity piqued, she pulled the door of the cottage closed behind her and struck out in that direction.
She’d raised a light sweat by the time she crested the hill. Ahead of her rose the remains of what must have once been a magnificent residence. Isobel spun in a slow circle. Clearly, from here, the house had overlooked the land in all directions, almost like a castle set atop a mountain. There was even a tower standing about four stories tall.
She walked closer, eyeing the red brick walls that loomed above her, the gaping holes where windows were once the eyes upon the valley below. A strange sadness settled over her. So much destruction, so much loss. Here and there plants had taken a hold in the brickwork, finding purchase in the most unlikely of places. Nature had a way of doing that, she reminded herself. It reclaimed everything if left to do so.
She raised her camera, shooting off a series of shots, fascinated by the play of light through the yawning window frames and the juxtaposition of new life and growth with what had been the complete obliteration of a wealthy home. The sound of hoofbeats and the creak of leather dragged her attention back to the here and now.
A large, dark horse cantered with incredible grace across the hard-packed ground, the man on its back no less beautiful. Her body recognized him before she could make out his face. Ethan reined in the horse a few meters in front of her.
“I didn’t realize your charter included the ruin,” he said stiffly, looking down the long blade of his nose at her.
“My charter, as you so eloquently put it, is to compile a collection of photos of the property, and specifically to create dossiers of pictures for each business center associated with The Masters. This is part of the property, is it not?”
She squinted up at him. Had he done that on purpose? Ridden
Desire rolled through him and he closed his eyes briefly, seeing in his mind’s eye the shimmer of her fair skin in the half light of the room, feeling its smooth softness beneath him. Feeling her.
His eyes flew open. The light at the cottage was still on. Damn. Ethan reached for the pull cord and yanked his drapes closed, but even knowing he’d blocked her from view, he couldn’t help thinking that it looked like it was going to be a long night for them both.
Six
I sobel woke the next morning still furious. As if it wasn’t enough that Ethan Masters had consumed her waking thoughts with his arrogance, his skillful lovemaking from the night before had infiltrated her sleep. As a result, she’d woken an aching, frustrated wreck, torn between the urge to track him down and slap him...or track him down and pounce on him. Not her best look, that was for sure, she decided as she surveyed herself in the bathroom mirror.
Thankfully, she didn’t have to face anyone yet this morning. She’d asked for the time to herself, to familiarize herself with the property and the layout. To ease into the feel of the place so she could reflect its special character in the photos she was to create for their new marketing plan. She turned away from the mirror and started the shower running. During her usual jobs, showers were a rare luxury—and the one in this cabin was uncommonly nice. If only she could enjoy it without her head full of distractions. A quick wash and rinse of her hair and she was done and back out again.
Five minutes later, Isobel was dressed and busily surveying the contents of the refrigerator in the very compact yet well-appointed kitchen. They really thought of everything here, which gave her an idea. She grabbed one of her cameras and took a few quick shots of the contents of the fridge. Then, grabbing a banana, she went outside.
The land here was beautiful, especially in the early-morning light. Row upon row of grapevines and framework stretched across the land and up the hillside almost as far as she could see. And there, up on the ridge of one hill, stood a massive ruin. Her curiosity piqued, she pulled the door of the cottage closed behind her and struck out in that direction.
She’d raised a light sweat by the time she crested the hill. Ahead of her rose the remains of what must have once been a magnificent residence. Isobel spun in a slow circle. Clearly, from here, the house had overlooked the land in all directions, almost like a castle set atop a mountain. There was even a tower standing about four stories tall.
She walked closer, eyeing the red brick walls that loomed above her, the gaping holes where windows were once the eyes upon the valley below. A strange sadness settled over her. So much destruction, so much loss. Here and there plants had taken a hold in the brickwork, finding purchase in the most unlikely of places. Nature had a way of doing that, she reminded herself. It reclaimed everything if left to do so.
She raised her camera, shooting off a series of shots, fascinated by the play of light through the yawning window frames and the juxtaposition of new life and growth with what had been the complete obliteration of a wealthy home. The sound of hoofbeats and the creak of leather dragged her attention back to the here and now.
A large, dark horse cantered with incredible grace across the hard-packed ground, the man on its back no less beautiful. Her body recognized him before she could make out his face. Ethan reined in the horse a few meters in front of her.
“I didn’t realize your charter included the ruin,” he said stiffly, looking down the long blade of his nose at her.
“My charter, as you so eloquently put it, is to compile a collection of photos of the property, and specifically to create dossiers of pictures for each business center associated with The Masters. This is part of the property, is it not?”
She squinted up at him. Had he done that on purpose? Ridden
Similar Books
