She’d tried to sleep last night, but had tossed and turned, with unfulfilled lust waging a war with common sense and shame. Finally she’d pulled on sweatpants and ventured into the vineyards around midnight, where she’d sat down on the grass and cried as she said goodbye.
The vineyards would still be there when she got back. But Fox as she knew it would be gone forever.
When her cries had softened into shuddering breaths, and acceptance had settled into her bones, she’d lain back and looked up. The stars she’d looked at so many times over the years had twinkled down at her against the smooth blackness of a country night sky. Hopelessness had drifted away as resolution had settled once more into her bones.
She might not be able to own Fox, but she could still lead. She just needed to show Adrian Cabrera what she was capable of.
Now, she sat up and smoothed her hair. In an attempt to portray herself as a consummate professional, she’d taken pains with her appearance this morning. Her alarm had blared at four a.m., rousing her from the depths of a dream in which Adrian was slowly removing every stitch of clothing from her body. The warmth of his skin had felt so achingly real that she’d hopped straight into an ice-cold shower as soon as she’d rolled out of bed.
Apparently being rejected by one of the most handsome men she’d ever met hadn’t been enough to discourage her suddenly awakened libido.
Ninety minutes later she’d dried and straightened her hair, applied just enough make-up to show she’d put in the effort, and donned a white long-sleeved blouse and tucked it into silky violet trousers. She’d stepped out onto the porch at six on the dot, laptop case in one hand, purse slung over her shoulder and a single suitcase at her feet.
Adrian, damn him, had already been parked out front in his car, dressed in a black suit and sporting a bored expression. He’d glanced down at his wristwatch and then, without a single word, had strode forward, grabbed her suitcase, tossed it in the trunk and opened the passenger door for her.
She’d followed his lead and kept silent for the twenty-five-minute drive to a private airfield on the other side of Fox Creek.
The sight of the Cabrera private plane, in all its sleek elegance, with its espresso-colored hardwood floors and white leather furniture, had been an excellent reminder of just how different they really were. And just how far she’d have to go to impress this man to get what she wanted.
She’d managed to keep herself busy the first couple of hours on the plane, researching Cabrera’s brand and taking notes on all she needed to accomplish in the next five weeks. But somewhere over the Atlantic the research, the early wake-up and the overall stress of the past two days had propelled her to the little lounge at the back of the plane, where she’d curled up on one of the couches and fallen asleep.
She stood, smoothed the wrinkles from her pants, and walked out from behind the partition that separated the couches from the executive space of the plane. Four plush chairs arranged around a table dominated one side. The other side played host to two overstuffed plush chairs, one of which was occupied by Adrian.
Golden light filtered through one of the windows and lit up Adrian’s face as he spoke on the phone. Her breath caught. His teeth flashed white against his golden skin as a smile spread across his lips, genuine and so handsome it made her chest tighten.
His eyes landed on her and the warmth disappeared so fast she nearly took a step back.
“Adiós.”He hung up and stared at her with a blank gaze.
Everleigh sat down across from him. Despite the several feet between them, distance did nothing to tamp down her racing pulse or quell the fluttering in her belly. The cold mask he wore now couldn’t hide his masculine beauty, the striking planes of his face and the strength in his jaw. She knew now what his skin felt like to the touch...rough and hot.
Stop.She didn’t want to hope that something might come of their acquaintance, whether it be a night of passion or something more. She couldn’t handle another disappointment. Not now, when her entire world was spinning so quickly she could barely catch her breath.
“Where are we?”
Adrian glanced out the window. “Two hours from Spain.”
“I didn’t realize I’d slept that long.”
He returned his gaze to his laptop. “It was an early morning. I trust you slept well?”
“I did. Thank you.”
Silence descended, filled only by the distant roar of the plane’s engines. She glanced around, taking in the splendor and mentally trying to tally up how much something like this must cost.
“What’s the first thing you’ll do if you get Fox?” she asked.
Adrian looked up, one brow arched. “You mean when.”
She gritted her teeth. “Yes,when.”
“Is this a trick question?”
“No. I’m curious.”
And she was. The thought of Fox passing into someone else’s hands hurt like a punch to the stomach, but she needed to face reality.
He closed his laptop and regarded her with a hooded gaze. “Increase salaries. Replace equipment. Expand distribution. Ensure efforts like your event venue and horse sanctuary continue.”