CHAPTER NINE
It was a relief to get out of the airport shuttles and step on the ground once again. I was growing tired of flying, especially since Asher and Lauren spoiled me with that first class ticket.
Florida was beautiful, but hot. Palm trees lined the long dirt road we traveled to get to the farm and were scattered throughout the property.
A man in an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, cut-off jean shorts, and bright yellow Crocs greeted us as we got off the shuttles. “Welcome to paradise.”
I snorted. It was nice, but paradise it was not.
Small campers lined the paths that led to large citrus groves, and well-manicured vegetable gardens took up a good portion of the remaining land. A large white house with a wrap-around porch sat in the center of the property, the place where I assumed the Hawaiian shirt dude lived.
The crew was hot and ready to start, and cameras blasted in our faces as Shep started his script about the farm we were just transplanted to and gave a briefing to the viewers on what to expect this week.
“There’s a beach just right up the road,” Aiden whispered in my ear. “I bet you look great in a bikini.” I felt his hand reach for the small of my back and pulled away. I didn’t want to offend him, but I was ready to start this new adventure without any rumors, and his arm around me wasn’t the way to make that happen.
“I’m sorry, I don’t want people talking,” I apologized with a small smile. “Can we hold this until later?”
He inched away, nodding his understanding.
We were set up in our campers. Mine was on the opposite side of the citrus groves from Aiden’s, something I assumed Shep had coordinated. That was fine; I wanted a fresh start this week anyhow. Nothing was going to get me down.
The filming took several hours, and as we fought through our first challenges on the farm, I felt confident that I was stronger than ever. I couldn’t wait for the competition.
“Okay, get some rest and be ready to start working again early in the morning,” Gretchen announced with her overly perky tone.
“Let’s go,” Elle said, pulling my arm and leading me away from the group. I wasn’t sure where she was taking me, but it was obvious I had no choice. “There’s a bar on the beach just up the road.” She tugged harder on my arm and almost sprinted through the field that led to the beach.
Palm trees, colorful umbrellas, and a tiki bar welcomed us. It was a small town, but several hotels lined the white sandy beach with tourists all plastered in sunscreen and wearing bright colored clothing.
“Two mojitos,” Elle ordered from the blonde bartender. She was older, her skin leathery, and her fake breasts obvious. Probably a retired stripper, I thought to myself with a chuckle.
It didn’t take Elle long to spot a single man sitting at the bar. He was tall with a dark complexion, maybe Italian. His thick black hair was slicked back from his face. She leaned over and said something to him I couldn’t hear. Her stool scooted over towards him, and he bought us a drink, mine I was certain just to be polite as he stole my friend.
Friend? As I watched her charm him, I realized Elle was a lot of things, but my friend… I wasn’t sure about that.
After a couple more drinks, I sat there like a third wheel, being ignored by Elle who’d dragged me there in the first place. I was ready to go.
“I’m going to take a ride with Ronnie in his Corvette,” Elle said cheerfully.
Oh terrific, that sounds like a great idea… leave with a stranger you only just met in a town you know nothing about. Good luck, Elle!
Before I had a chance to argue with her or use any of my sarcastic and witty comments, she was up and leaving, her arm wrapped around Ronnie. I watched as his hand slid to her ass and rolled my eyes at the bartender who looked as irritated as I was. Maybe she had hopes of bedding the man. Looking around, I realized she had been his best option before we walked up to the place where it seemed old men came to drink.
“Another one, sweetie?” she asked.
I shook my head. “No, thank you.”
“Looks like your friend isn’t coming back anytime soon then?” she asked. I shook my head again, smiled, and left her a ten on the bar.
As soon as I found the path again, I ran into Shep. It was getting dark, and I wasn’t real thrilled about finding my way back alone, so I was glad to see him standing there.
“I thought I would check for stragglers at the bar,” he said. “The owner of the farm told me that it was close by.”
I wondered if he really was looking for stragglers as he said, or if he was looking for me in particular. Or if he had been wanting a drink, or several, for himself.
“Can I walk you back?” he asked.
I smiled up at him. “Yes, please.”
“I wanted to let you know that your cooking skills have really impressed me this competition,” he said after we’d been walking for less than a minute. “I mean, for someone who just started, and who doesn’t even know what she wants yet… you’re damn good.”
“Thanks,” I said humbly and glanced up to see his deep blue eyes staring at me. He really was a handsome man; I could see how he could be a womanizer like Aiden had warned. He was smooth, charming; and oozed talent, so what woman wouldn’t drop her panties when he smiled?
He asked about my history, surprisingly not about Lauren and Asher and the scandal I had been privy to, but about my parents, where I grew up, if I had animals and where I had gone to school. It was nice talking with him, and I was a little disappointed when the path opened up to the field that led to the farm.
“So, did you come out here alone?” he asked. I shook my head and gave him a wry smile. “Elle?” he guessed.
“Yes, but she decided to take off with some man from the bar.”
Shep looked concerned as he glanced back towards the path. “Should I go look for her?”
“No, Elle can take care of herself,” I replied, convincing myself as much as him as I spoke.
Aiden was on a lounge chair outside his camper as we walked by. He jumped up and stood in our path, his hands jammed in his pockets. I could tell he was irritated as he eyed Shep and then me. “Where did you two sneak off to?” he asked.
I stiffened. “I was at the bar with Elle.”
Aiden didn’t look convinced as he looked over my shoulder to see no one else with us. “She decided to leave with some guy,” I explained. “Shep was rounding everyone up and was nice enough to walk me back,” I added with a warm smile to soothe his worries. I didn’t need Aiden questioning my relationship with anyone.
“What do you mean she left with some guy?” he asked, concern flashing across his face. “Was she drunk?”
“No, tipsy maybe, but not drunk.”
Aiden gave another glare towards Shep as if to tell him he could go. To soothe him, I leaned towards Aiden, kissed him softly on the cheek, and gripped his hand in mine. Shep’s face paled, and his jaw clenched as he struggled to form a smile.
“Well, I’ll see you both in the morning then,” he said quickly, then continued on the path towards his camper.
This was going to be a long five weeks if I had to walk this emotional tightrope.
Then Aiden took me in his arms and pulled me into his camper, and I didn’t worry about anything else for several hours.