Page 7 of Ashes of the Past
He’s nowhere to be seen, and when I dial my dad, he doesn’t answer. I make my way to the bunkhouse, knocking before I enter.
“Hello? Mr. Renfrew?”
There isn’t an answer. I make my way back to my house to look for the man’s phone number so I can call and find out where he is.
A few years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Olivia and I came home to help out and be with her. When she passed away, I made the decision to stay and help my dad with the ranch. At the time, our ranch manager lived off the property with his family, so we converted that extra bunkhouse into a small house for Olivia and me.
I walk into the house, determined to drink a small glass of wine and set my things down before I look for this man’s number. I hear the shower going.
“Olivia!” I call out, knowing she didn’t have time to feed the dog if she’s already in the shower.
I go directly into the shower.
“Liv, you didn’t have time to feed Barney. Why on earth are you already in the shower? You haven’t even had dinner. Did you fall in the mud? Are you okay?”
The curtain moves, and the man who’d plowed me down at City Hall pokes his head out. Those whiskey-colored eyes pierce through me.
“I’m sorry, darlin’, but I’m not Olivia.”
I gasp and grab onto the sink to keep from falling over as everything from the past comes flooding into my brain. Recognition hits me hard.
No, this isn’t possible. Now I remember. My dad could not have hired the horse whisperer who took off in the middle of the night ten years ago. He would never take that risk again.
“What? Who? Why?” I stammer as panic grips my chest. “Why are you in my shower?”
“Your shower?” he drawls with a low chuckle. “John said this was the manager’s place. He told me to make myself at home.”
“No. No, it’s not. I mean, it was, but it’s not anymore. This is my home with my daughter.”
“Are you sure about that? John brought me right in here himself.”
I shake my head. “Of course, I’m sure about it! It’smyhome that I share with my daughter. You can look around at the pictures on my wall. What kind of question is that?”
First, my dad was confused about his arrival date, and now, he has brought him into my house. This isn’t good.
Not only that, but this…this man, this asshole, is the new ranch manager?
“You’reJack Renfrew, the new manager?”
“Yes, ma’am, at your service. Well, I will be once I’m done with my shower unless you’d like to join me.”
He opens the curtain a little further, and I get the full view of his rock-hard aaaaaaaaabbsss.
Shit! Don’t look down. Eyes up!
I gasp and scurry out of the bathroom.
This is not going to work. This has to be a mistake.
Chapter Two
Jack
Steam rises around me, curling up toward the ceiling in lazy spirals. The hot water pelts against my shoulders, and I lean into the spray, letting it wash away the frustration from earlier. My fists clench against the tiled wall, the memory of my ex-wife’s smug face flashing in my mind.
“Make sure you give the courthouse your new address and banking information. You better not try to skip out on your alimony payments.” Savannah had said into the phone.
“I’ll hire another lawyer if you do,” my former best friend laughed in the background.
