by Ward, Alice
Surprisingly, Elle was fun, not snooty at all like I’d thought. She was a private chef, working in some pretty high-scale restaurants in New York, Las Vegas, and even Los Angeles. I was impressed by her resume and realized she’d be a tough competitor.
“So, what’s going on with you and Shep?” she asked. “He seems to flock to you.”
My cheeks turned hot as I watched her eyes widen and her grin grow. “I don’t know really,” I said. “It’s kinda weird.”
“Well, if it gets you ahead in the competition, I say go for it,” she said, opening her first bottle of wine.
I shook my head. “No, no way. That’s not how I want to win this thing.”
“Oh, so you think you’re gonna win, do ya?” Elle teased.
I grinned. “I have a good chance.”
“So, you’re not interested in Shep?” she pushed, her eyes piercing into mine.
I hesitated, not sure if Elle was someone I could trust yet, but as I took a swig of my first bottle of stolen wine, I felt like I needed to let go. It would be a long nine weeks, and I needed a friend here. Lauren and Kennedy were always my sounding board, my strength, and often times, my courage. So what would it hurt to let someone else into my world?
“Okay, so I may have a crush on someone, but it isn’t Shep,” I admitted.
“Aiden?” She burst with excitement as she spoke. I blushed, lost eye contact with her as she squealed.
I knew she had been flirting with him at dinner, and he had with her as well, so my announcement was not only a girl confiding in another girl, it was claiming my territory in a way.
“I knew it!” she exclaimed, sucking down the contents of her first bottle. She reached over and gripped another one, twisting off the cap as she stared at me with a wide grin.
“You did?” I asked.
“Yeah, well, I noticed you were a little frazzled at dinner. I figured it was because I was flirting.” She lifted a shoulder. “I’m not interested. He’s just hot and looked like fun, but now that I know you want him, its hands off for me.”
I was relieved that she wasn’t interested, but a little surprised that she was looking to “hook up” just for something to do. That wasn’t the type of girl I normally spent time with. Kennedy and Lauren were both one man women, certainly not the types to have a fling just because. And, well, I certainly wasn’t, given the fact I spent most of my life with the same man.
“So, you wanna hook up with him or what?” she asked, chugging her wine.
“I don’t think that’s what I want,” I said, feeling the tug of desire warring against common sense.
“You don’t think?” she asked, an eyebrow raised high on her forehead.
“No, I mean…” I blew out a long breath. “I don’t know what I want.”
She listened to my story about Royce and how we met at twelve and had been together until recently. The breakup was hard, and realizing I had to start over with absolutely no experience even harder. The expression on her face was priceless. She looked as though she was in utter shock at the thought of not experiencing other men. It was obvious she had plenty of experience.
“You need to have a fling,” she said. “Aiden seems like a good guy and certainly fun, so go for it.”
I chugged my wine, not sipping like earlier. The thought of just going for it sent chills down my spine and heat between my legs. I did need some experience, and he was hot. The way he looked at me let me know he was ready to explore some options in our dynamic, and with Elle’s words of encouragement, maybe I was ready to explore him too.
CHAPTER SIX
e
The week was not only educational, but hard work. I looked down at my once manicured fingernails and felt a strange satisfaction at the sight of the unpolished, short nails that housed a row of dirt under each tip.
Mrs. Thompson took my hand and brought it up to her face. She smiled. “Next time, scrape them over a bar of soap to protect from the dirt,” she said in the motherly tone she so often used.
I was going to miss that woman. I had yet to ask her any details about the comment she made about Shep and me on the first day I was here, and couldn’t hold the question in any longer. I leaned down and brought my lips close to her ear as I wrapped my arms around her for a hug. “What did you mean when you said Shep was taking such an interest in me?” I whispered.
She patted my back like she was burping a baby. “I saw how he looked at you, dear. I may be old, but I’m no dummy.”
“Did he say something about me specifically?” I asked, pulling back so I could see her face.
“He didn’t have to. I know my son.” Her eyes were wide and focused on mine. I felt a flush in my cheeks and a flutter in my heart. She squeezed my hand tightly. “I believe you’ll do very well in this competition, probably even win it,” she said sweetly. “Don’t let anyone get in your way,” she added with what felt like a warning.
Was she talking about Shep?
I wasn’t sure why she thought so highly of me, or why she thought I could possibly win this competition, but I appreciated her kind words.
The last test we were given was to make a dish using fresh corn and any other ingredients found on the farm. My dish was unique, delicious, and well-prepared, but it didn’t come up in the top or bottom three this time. It was just considered mediocre, I guess, but I was grateful that I wasn’t eliminated and could continue on with the nine other contestants to the next location.
Shep stood on a makeshift stage in the center of the common grounds. We all gathered around him to hear the next destination. “We’ll be traveling to a cooperative of homesteads in the Tennessee mountains,” Shep announced loudly to the crowd. “This will offer you a glimpse into a very old style of living, where people not only share their land but the work that it entails.”
The filming director yelled cut, and the cameramen all seemed to scatter as they worked to load their equipment into shuttles that were waiting nearby. “You have ninety minutes to pack and be on board the airport shuttles,” Gretchen yelled out to the already anxious contestants. Many were already chatting about the new location while some were still going on and on about the last competition. It was good to know I wasn’t the only one feeling the intense stress.
Elle pulled me aside, and I felt her hot breath in my ear as she whispered, “So, when are you gonna make your move?”
“I don’t have any moves,” I admitted and laughed as I thought of my schoolyard plays. What had I done to get Royce’s attention, anyway? Hang upside down on the monkey bars at recess? I couldn’t remember, and it didn’t matter. This was a new world. A world where men made the moves and women just accepted or declined them, right?
“You need to make a move, girl,” she pushed, seeming to be reading my mind.
“I’m not that forward,” I replied quietly. Elle rolled her eyes and let out a soft sigh. “It’s not the 1950’s, Claire. Women can be the aggressors and ask for what they want.”
It wasn’t like my head had been stuck in the sand for the last decade, it merely felt like it. Besides, there was something about Shep that I now found more endearing than I had previously. Maybe it was his mother pushing me towards him, hinting that he was interested in me. Or maybe it was that Shep was just really a nice guy, a safe guy, not a bad boy like Aiden.
“He’s coming over here,” Elle hissed, and I pulled away from the tight grip she had on my arm. Aiden walked closer, his eyes locked onto mine as a wide smile spread across his face. “I’ve already packed, would you like some help?”
My feet were shuffling beneath me like a schoolgirl, and I heard Elle let out a soft sound that might have been, “Go.” I shot her a look, and she gave me a thumbs up in what I took as encouragement.
“Sure,” I agreed.
Aiden placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me away from Elle and towards my camper. He didn’t boast about having the best dish in the last competition, and for that I was thankful. I mean, seriously, w
ho had time to make fresh corn chips? But, I had to admit they looked perfect and delicious, and his salsa was stunning with all the fresh herbs, vegetables, and fresh mango.
“You’re holding your own in this competition,” Aiden said. “I’m impressed. Just don’t let Shep distract you.”
“Yeah, I have to step up my game if I want to be in the top three with you,” I said, then couldn’t stop myself from adding, “Shep isn’t a distraction. He actually seems like a really nice guy.”
Aiden rolled his eyes as he opened the door to my camper. I was embarrassed by the number of clothes strewn across the bed. I quickly snatched a pair of my lace panties from the floor but not quickly enough to hide them from Aiden. “Nice, I took you for a thong girl though,” he said with a smirk.
I shoved the panties into the suitcase that was open on my bed and started packing the clothes around it back inside. Aiden reached into my mini fridge and barked out a laugh when he noticed it stocked with small bottles of wine and beer that had been served throughout the week. “Wow, you dirty little thief,” he teased.
“Hey, they said to take what we wanted,” I argued with a smile.
Aiden reached in and pulled out a beer, opening it with one swift motion. He lifted the bottle to his lips, took a small swig, then stared at me with a serious expression. “So, you think Shep is a nice guy, huh?”
I kept my focus on packing. “Yes, he seems really down to earth.”
“He has quite a reputation in the industry, but nice guy is one I’ve never heard.” Aiden sucked down another large gulp of his beer. “From what I hear, he’s a womanizer.”
“Really?” I asked and continued packing my bags. I knew Aiden was jealous of Shep’s attention towards me, so I decided not to read too much into what he said, but it still hit a nerve. The last thing I needed was to end up in a situation where I could get hurt, especially after what happened with Royce.
“Well, that’s just what I’ve heard. He finds a young girl and seduces her with his stardom and then dumps her when he gets bored,” Aiden admitted. “But, the drinking is more of a problem from what I hear.”
I hadn’t seen Shep take one drink since we started the show. He stood close to me on many occasions, and the smell of alcohol was never present on his breath. “I’ve never seen him drink.” I shot a glare towards the bottle in Aiden’s hand.
“I’m just helping you remove the evidence of your dirty little deed,” Aiden said with a smug smile. “Seriously though, that’s what travels down the grapevine.”
I started thinking about how quickly he took to me, and how his mother warned me to not become distracted. Maybe Aiden was right, and I was wrong about Shep. It was disappointing to realize that my people skills were so bad that I had no way to pick out a player, because quite honestly, I had Aiden pegged as the ultimate one.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m not interested in him anyway.” I knew my tone and body language was a little mysterious, which left too much room for Aiden to conclude that I was flirting. But I was, and it was hard not to. He leaned back in the wooden chair by the little make-shift table in the camper. His tight t-shirt had a rock band on the front, one I’d never heard of, and that lizard tattoo that had interested me was peeking out of his sleeve. He was sexy, damn sexy.
“Maybe you could come visit me after this competition is over,” Aiden said. “My newest restaurant just opened, and I would love for you to see it.” His eyes glued to mine and his lips curled into a sweet but still sexy smile.
“Sure, I would love that,” I said. “After I win, I may be quite busy for a while, but once things settle down, you’ll be my first stop.”
Aiden let out a soft chuckle, then his eyes relaxed as they followed the neckline of my tank top. “There’s nothing sexier than a confident woman,” he said softly.
I’d never viewed myself as a confident woman, or a sexy woman for that matter. With so much of my life spent with my childhood sweetheart, I always felt insecure around my other friends. Like Lauren, who took off and made something of her life outside of our small town. It felt good to hear those words exit Aiden’s beautiful lips though, and confidence was something I was working on, so I didn’t offer a rebuttal. I simply smiled.
The suitcase was smashed full, and I fought to get the zipper closed. “Sit on it,” Aiden suggested. Hoping I didn’t break the bed, I climbed on top, but still couldn’t get the zipper to slide.
“Here, let me help.”
My lungs stopped working as he stood and walked toward me, then leaned down to reach the zipper. His face was right there, level with my very center, and his hot breath burned into the soft flesh of my thighs. He looked up at me as he found the zipper and began to tug. Every cell in my body clenched at his closeness. My pussy ached, shaking me to the core. I hoped he couldn’t tell I was becoming excited, but as my nipples pushed hard into my thin tank-top and his eyes dropped to greet them, it was obvious it was no secret.
His hand gently grazed my skin as he slid the zipper to the right. I lifted my leg to let him continue with his task and held my breath as my entire body tightened in anticipation. His deep blue eyes were so seductive and so powerful that I began to melt in his presence. I knew if he leaned in for a taste of what I held between my legs, I would moan. I would want more. I wouldn’t even try to stop him.
“There ya go, darlin’. All zipped up.” He stood, leaving me on the suitcase, wet, horny, and confused.
Why didn’t he make a move? Was Elle right? Were women supposed to be the aggressors now?
“I hear the buses starting their engines,” he said and added with a grin, “I know how you despise being late.”
In this moment, I didn’t care if I was late. Not if it meant Aiden would take me right here on top of my suitcase. It was obvious that he wasn’t going to make a move, even though I caught a glimpse of his rock hard cock pushing from his jeans.
Was this a tease, another part of his game?
I hopped down and grabbed my suitcase, yanking it to the floor. I looked around the camper one last time just to make sure I hadn’t left anything and decided to play along with Aiden and pretend I wasn’t disappointed, even though I was.
“Let me get that for you,” he said with a smile.
I let him take the large suitcase while I wrapped the straps to my smaller one, my purse, and my carry-on over my shoulder. “What about your stuff?” I asked as we walked towards the shuttle.
“I’m already loaded, darlin’.”
One of the drivers took my luggage and placed it in the belly of the bus. Aiden escorted me onto the shuttle and towards the back seat, where he offered me the window view which I happily accepted.
The drive to the airport was filled with stories about Aiden’s restaurants, mainly the newest one that he boasted so proudly of during our forty-minute trip. He never asked about my life, my goals, or my past with Asher and Lauren. I was somewhat relieved not to have to talk, but with not even a single question about my life, the conversation felt very one-sided.
I was somewhat relieved when we arrived at the airport, and I found my seat was next to Elle, not Aiden. I had enough of him today. He had teased me, bored me, ignored me, and left me confused and full of sexual tension.
The tickets were certainly not first class as I boarded the small plane. The aisles were so narrow that my carry-on smacked the seats as I passed them. Elle took the window seat without offering to swap. I knew she had seen the world already, and I hadn’t but didn’t have the balls to ask her to trade.
She immediately started asking about Aiden, and what we’d done in the camper for those ninety minutes.
“Talked mainly,” I replied and added with a slight snap in my voice, “About him.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sounds like Aiden.”
I turned to look at her and catch some reaction to what she just said, but she was already staring out the window of the plane as we began to roll from the gate. She’d told me she didn’t
know Aiden, so how did she know that he liked to talk about himself so much?
I shook my head, trying to clear it. Everyone was on my radar at this point.
Shep, the man I thought sweet and down to earth now looked like a player and might be a drunk. Elle, the one I decided to confide in seemed selfish and was possibly hiding information about Aiden.
And Aiden? Well, he was full of himself, that was true, but I still found him exciting and extremely attractive.
Where was Kennedy when I needed her? As a lawyer, she was spot-on when it came to judging people’s characters. She could tell me what was real and what wasn’t, who to trust, and who not to.
I leaned back and decided just to sleep on the way to Tennessee. I wasn’t sure what to expect once we landed. A homestead community was like a foreign country to me, but I was ready to experience it all.
Eye on the prize, Claire! Eye on the prize!
CHAPTER SEVEN
e
The shuttles pulled down a long dirt path lined with weeping willow trees. It was beautiful, but a little creepy as it seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere. Elle pressed her face against the window to watch the road open up and let out a gasp as we finally reached the homestead community.
Rustic style homes sat on the property, several barns, large outbuildings, and a large pond sat in the center of it all.
“Wow,” Elle breathed.
I was looking over her shoulder, trying to get a better glimpse of the place we would call home for the next week when the bus stopped quickly, knocking me forward then backwards in my seat.
“Sorry about that, we have a goat crossing,” the driver said, a mix of surprise and humor in his voice.
Finally, the goats made their way across the road, and the shuttles pulled up closer to the homestead. We parked in front of a large two-story house made of brick. It had a small concrete porch and a beautiful wooden swing hanging from metal chains.
“This is your new home,” Gretchen announced as she opened the doors to start unloading the contestants.
