Unentangled

by Katherine King

  Beaming, I say, "Thank you! I really can't wait to get started. He told me to ask you for suggestions on finding a place to stay."

  Excitement fills her eyes as she replies, "I think I may have the perfect spot for you. It’s a cottage, so it’s small, but clean. Lucas used to stay there before he built his new home. I can take you there now if you want to have a look before you head back."

  Nodding excitedly, but not wanting to take her away from her work, I ask, "Are you sure you have time now?"

  Without hesitation, Martha nods. She follows me to my car and the short drive is filled with her chatter about the area, interrupted at times with directions to the cottage.

  As I turn down a dirt road, Martha says, "This is the road to Lucas's house as well. The cottage is just before his.”

  Nodding, full of excitement, I ask, "I have a small dog. Is it okay that she stays here?"

  "Oh! We love animals! Your dog is more than welcome!" she responds excitedly.

  I want to pinch myself. Things are working out so smoothly, like this is meant to be the next step in my life.

  The next step before I fulfill my life-long dream of living and opening my own restaurant in LA, - I silently reassure myself. I have been saving and working steadily towards that goal since the day I knew what I wanted to do at the tender age of sixteen.

  Owning and operating a restaurant is in my blood. Doing that in sunny LA where the sun shines most days, meeting international celebrities has always appealed to me. This job here at Reid Vineyards, gaining the knowledge and experience of building something from the ground up, is just what I need before the next step.

  "Turn here," Martha interrupts my musing.

  Pulling into a small driveway, I see a small structure that looks to be a cottage. The vines completely surround it and I know it's perfect before I even look inside.

  Turning to Martha excitedly, I joke, "If it’s clean on the inside, I’m already up for taking it. "

  She chuckles in pleasure before she gets out of the car. Grabbing my black Sketchers from the back seat, I slip off my high heels and replace them. Spreading my toes, enjoying the space in the comfortable shoes, I explore the surrounding grounds and cottage.

  My instinct was right. The cottage is perfect for me. With one bedroom, one bathroom with a soaker tub, fully furnished in modern furniture that I love upon first sight, along with an open concept kitchen and living room that has been updated with all the modern amenities and conveniences, it will be easy to keep clean.

  "What's the rent?" I ask, hopeful I can afford this little piece of heaven.

  "We just listed it for $1000 per month but since you are now staff, your rate is $600," she offers, beaming.

  My eyes widen at the rate. I’m used to the inflated rental rates of Toronto.

  "Are you sure?" I ask.

  Nodding her head, Martha replies reassuringly, "Lucas doesn't want to deal with renters. He stipulated that if an employee wanted to rent it, to let it go for $600."

  "Then I'll definitely take it!" I state again enthusiastically.

  Martha laughs and I ask her if I can take some pictures.

  Once done, we head back to my car to drop her back to the restaurant.

  "Would you like to have a tour of the restaurant and inn before you go?" she asks, as I pull into the parking lot.

  "I would love to!" I respond eagerly.

  As Martha shows me around the building for the restaurant, I relax and start to feel in my element. Running a restaurant is like breathing to me.

  It's deep in my blood.

  And I can already envision the layout of the kitchen, the tables set and ready for service.

  After the restaurant tour, she shows me each of the twelve rooms at the inn. Each room takes advantage of the view of the vineyard with a patio door off each, leading to small decks which overlook the vineyard. It's spectacular and my head immediately fills again with images for the décor.

  "Mr. Reid has a beautiful property. I read that his family is from New Zealand. They moved here before he was born?" I ask, wanting to know more about the enigmatic man behind the desk.

  Nodding, with a smile of fondness crossing her face, Martha replies, "Yes, his family originated from New Zealand. His grandparents had a winery there but Mr. and Mrs. Reid wanted to start their own so they decided to move here after vacationing here and falling in love with the area. It wasn’t easy for them. They struggled and almost lost the winery when Lucas was eighteen. He had been prepared to go to business school but decided last minute to stay here and take over. It was a good decision for everyone. Everything you now see, other than these first thirty rows of vines, Lucas planted and built. His determination and hard work is paying off. Last year he built his parents a home not too far from here along with his own. I think tearing down that drafty old home where he grew up gave him a new zest for life. That's when he decided to branch out into building a restaurant and inn. He has accomplished much in the past ten years."

  I can see the admiration and proudness for Lucas written clearly on her face.

  "He has accomplished a lot," I reply in agreement.

  "You will be a great addition, Emma. I can already tell," she replies quietly.

  I flush and say, "Thank you."

  With my mind running rampant with ideas of how to promote this place, dinners to be planned, ways to make people feel special when they stay with us, I climb in my car after saying goodbye to Martha.

  The ideas and the excitement continue throughout my ride home.

  Meeting with my current employer the next day to give my written, as well as verbal notice, they offer a pay raise to try to keep me but what they don't seem to understand is that they can't offer me what I need at this point in my life. After viewing Reid Vineyards, I’m looking forward to the sun, the open space and the call of a new challenge. To help build something from the ground up was exciting to me and something I needed to add to my resume.

  I made the decision to leave my home and my parents several years ago to pursue my dreams of opening a restaurant in LA. Helping Reid Vineyards to establish a new restaurant and inn would go a long way in adding on to my knowledge and experience, putting me one step closer to it.

  And as the time passes in my current position back in Toronto, I feel my excitement mount even higher.

  On the day that I’m leaving my apartment for the last time after having loaded my car with my few possessions, I lift my pug, Quinella, into my arms and squeeze her tight as I whisper, "We’re off to a new adventure." Placing a kiss on the top of her head, I shut the door to my rented apartment behind me for the last time, never once doubting my decision.

  Chapter 2

  Lucas

  Today is the day she arrives.

  My heart thunders in my chest as I jog past my old cottage where Emma will soon be living.

  Emma...

  Meeting her that first day, I had been thrown for a loop. For someone so young to be so accomplished, I had expected someone more bookish looking.

  Emma was anything but bookish looking.

  I had been stunned...flabbergasted when she had walked through my door with her head held high, her clear hazel eyes not hesitating in meeting my gaze as I tried to keep my eyes on hers and off her curvaceous body that was dressed professionally in a navy pencil skirt and a white blouse.

  Because I had immediately envisioned unbuttoning that professional white blouse to release those beautiful, luscious breasts that I was sure was underneath. When she had glanced at the floor momentarily, my eyes had taken advantage and I had done a double take of her body, my mind grappling with the stunning sensuality of this woman.

  But the second glance had only confirmed my original reaction.

  With full breasts, a tiny waist and long legs that were exposed to above her knees, Emma was a very sensual and lushly beautiful woman.

  And I had had immediate flashes of having those legs wrapped around my waist.

  Perhaps I
shouldn’t have hired her given my immediate and overly intense attraction to her but she had the best resume and recommendations out of everyone that I had considered. Plus, I needed someone with her knowledge and work ethic to take over getting the restaurant and inn up and running and to show me the ropes of the day to day operation. Emma was one of the best out there.

  Working with her, looking at her every day and keeping my hands off her was going to be a challenge.

  But I would just have to ensure to keep my distance.

  "Is that why you are jogging past the cottage to see if she has arrived?" I snidely mutter to myself underneath my breath as I glance down the short drive. Not seeing her car as I jog past the cottage, I feel disappointment turn to angst as I wonder if she had changed her mind.

  Shaking my head, knowing she is a professional through and through as I had done my homework on her prior to her interview, I knew if she had changed her mind, she would have contacted me.

  I had already gone for my usual morning jog before work but after waiting anxiously all day for her arrival, I couldn't resist pulling on my sneakers and going for another run around 7pm.

  It was the best excuse I could come up with to check on her.

  Reaching the end of the road that leads back to the cottage and my own home, I decide to make the best of it and take a right down the main road, hoping that she may take this route while I physically wore off some of this restless anxiousness. On my return jog home, there is still no sign of her. It's getting close to 8 o'clock with darkness just around the corner and I can't stop the doubts from running through my mind. Halting in front of the cottage driveway, I debate knocking on the door, wondering if she had arrived in a taxi.

  Sighing heavily, shaking my head at myself as I give in to temptation, I walk to the front door and give it a light tap. There's no response, so I knock again, this time harder. Still no response.

  Just go back home, you idiot, - I silently tell myself.

  I turn to do just that but halfway down the driveway, I stop and pull my phone of out my pocket. Not letting my head talk myself out of it, I look up Emma's number that I had immediately entered from her resume after her interview. I select it and wait impatiently for her to answer.

  She finally answers on the fourth ring.

  "Hello?" I hear her breathless voice.

  "Emma?" I ask, my heart beating erratically.

  "Yes?" she responds.

  "This is Lucas Reid," I say as I clear my throat. "I was out for an evening jog and happened to notice that you had not arrived yet." A white lie. I couldn't tell her I had been stalking the house, waiting for her arrival.

  "Oh! Mr. Reid!" she pauses before she hastily continues, "I had a little fender bender on the way. I had to give my statement of the accident to the police and noticed my car has a flat. I tried to fix it but my spare tire has turned out to be flat too."

  I come to an abrupt stop. I didn't realize I was pacing as she was talking.

  "Where are you?" I ask, immediately. My heart is racing, panic rising, as I think of her on the highway all alone.

  "I’m just past the St. Catherines turn off. But don't worry, Mr. Reid. I'll get a cab so I don't miss work in the morning," she assures me easily.

  I hear a male voice say something in the background and I tense wondering who he is.

  "I'll come get you," I hear myself offer without thinking.

  There’s a moment of silence before Emma replies, "I can grab a cab."

  I hear the male voice again and I grind my teeth.

  "I’m already on the way," I say and pick up my jog. There is no way I’m leaving her out there.

  Or leaving myself to stew and pace all evening, wondering if she had arrived.

  I hear hesitation in her voice as she asks, "Are you sure?"

  "I’ll be there in less than twenty minutes," I reassure her softly.

  When she speaks again, I hear relief in her voice as she says, "I really appreciate it. There is an officer that has offered to stay with me until you get here. He says he’ll have the lights flashing so you can find us easier."

  "Okay, hang tight. I’ll be there shortly," ending the phone call, I pick up my pace, and cover the short distance from the cottage to my house quickly. Grabbing the keys to my car from the key hook, I immediately turn and head back to my car.

  The short drive seems insufferably long, until finally I see flashing lights ahead on the opposite side. Taking the ramp, I cross over to the other side of the highway and pull in ahead of Emma's car.

  I see her get out of the police car - only her - and I feel myself relax. It was the cop I had heard in the background.

  If I thought Emma dressed as a business woman was sexy, her dressed in white yoga pants practically had me panting as they clung to her toned legs. With a tight, black long sleeved workout top that molded to her every curve, her full breasts were outlined perfectly.

  I want her, - I acknowledge.

  There was no denying it.

  And I knew I was going to make it happen – somehow. There was no way that I could stay away from her. I was no innocent when it came to women and I have had more than my fair share at my disposal, but Emma is somehow different.

  Just the mere sight of her drew me in, sucking me under and I also knew there was no way for this attraction to be tempered.

  Except to give in and explore this fascinating, sexually lush woman.

  Meeting her at her car, I notice she is holding something furry in her arms. A pug lifts its head from where it is resting to look at me, its tongue hanging partially out as I’m sized up. Seeming to find nothing wrong, it drops its head back to its resting place.

  "Who’s this we have here?" I ask, immediately reaching out to pet the pug's head.

  "This is Quinella but I call her Quinny as well," Emma replies as she lifts the pug to place a kiss on the top of her head.

  I envy the pug.

  Clearing his throat, the police officer who had at some time appeared next to Emma without me noticing, interjects awkwardly, "Emma, I'll grab your luggage from the trunk."

  My body stiffens as I hear him use her first name.

  "Oh! Thanks so much Dave," she says, turning to him with a wide and grateful smile on her face.

  As Dave opens her trunk and reaches inside to pull out her luggage, I continue to look at Emma's face. She’s watching him admiringly as he walks past us to my vehicle.

  My hands instinctively clench tight into fists, the keys in my right-hand biting into my flesh.

  Because I want to punch him in the face.

  Instead, I force my hands to unclench and press the trunk release; silently hoping it will spring open and hit him in the face. No such luck as the officer places her luggage inside before slamming the trunk closed.

  I’m irrationally and suddenly irritated.

  Turning to Emma, I grind out, "Ready?"

  Emma's eyes jump to my face, her face showing she is trying to understand my suddenly abrupt tone.

  "Yes, Mr. Reid. I’m ready. I’m sorry for the inconvenience." Her tone has turned to one of aloofness. Breaking eye contact with me, she turns to Dave, her tone now softening and appreciative, setting me further on edge, as she says, "Thanks for arranging the tow and staying with me, Dave."

  "Anytime, Emma," he replies quietly, his soft undertone making his intentions clear that he was interested in her.

  Taking Emma's arm abruptly, instead of wrapping my arm around her shoulder to pull her close to me like I want to do, I guide her to the front passenger side of my car. Opening the door, I watch as she slides in, my eyes on her long legs outlined by her clinging pants.

  I swallow thickly as I feel my groin twitch, then swell.

  Slamming her door shut, I smirk at the cop as I cross to the driver's side. He may be using her first name, but I’m the one taking her home.

  Sliding in next to her, my sour mood lifts as I glance over at Emma's stiff posture. I know I’m the reason for it and I imm
ediately try to put her at ease.

  "You'll be home in twenty minutes," I try, my tone completely losing the hard edge from only a few minutes ago, as I pull out onto the highway. I continue to try lightening the mood by switching on a playlist I listen to while running, but Emma doesn't say anything for the full twenty minutes, leaving me to feel awkward and regretting my abruptness with her.

  Pulling into the driveway of the cottage, I have barely stopped the car before Emma has her seatbelt off, and is opening her door, tossing over her shoulder in forced politeness, "Thanks for the ride, Mr. Reid. I'll see you in the morning."

  Slamming the door shut, she walks to the back of my car with one arm holding her pug, and using the trunk release with her free hand, she pops it open. With a strength I didn't know she had, she pulls her luggage out. The slamming of the trunk resounds through my head.

  I get out of the car to help her, but she ignores me, tugging her luggage to the front step.

  "I have it from here, Mr. Reid. I have already been enough of an inconvenience," she says quietly, but firmly, as she slips her key into the door. Turning, she doesn't look up at me as she angrily pulls her luggage inside, allowing the door to swing shut in my face.

  I stand there a moment, staring at the closed door, feeling like a chastised child.

  Not knowing what else to do, I turn and walk back to my car. Getting in, I glance one more time at the cottage. Despite her anger and distance with me, I feel relief at seeing the lights come on, knowing that she is the one inside.

  Tomorrow, I will apologize, show her I’m not normally such an ass.

  After a quick shower, I feel energized at thoughts of having Emma finally here and I decide to open a bottle of red wine. I unlock and slide the doors open to my deck that overlooks my family’s vineyard but also has a view of the lake. I find my mind slipping back to Emma as I stand in the doorway.

  I have never experienced such an intense, immediate attraction to anyone else.

  I knew I was never going to be able to stay away from her. Having a sexual liaison with an employee is never a good thing, and thankfully, I have always kept my distance there, but with Emma...I know it’s headed down that road.