by K. K. Allen
I enter my office, and Thomas is waiting for me on the couch with a disapproving stare.
Speak of the devil.
“For someone who says they need this entire villa for themselves, you sure don’t act like it. You’re rarely here during your off-hours.”
I laugh and toss my handbag onto the couch. “And it didn’t occur to you that I stay away to avoid the thieves who are trying to run me off my land, my home, and my family business?”
“Oh, calm down, Ms. Bell. No one is trying to run you away. This is all yours as much as it is mine. I find that our disagreement comes primarily from you understanding what shared ownership means.”
“I understand just fine, but it doesn’t mean that I agree with it.” I take a few steps forward, refusing to sit down. “Please don’t get me wrong. You’ve worked hard for this vineyard for many years, and you deserve your rightful spot. But what good does fifty-fifty ownership get us if we can’t even agree on which varietals to use for our next vintage?”
He nods. “So then how do we settle this, Ms. Bell?”
“For starters, I want majority ownership of what should already be mine.”
“And what stops you from running this place into the ground when you’re the sole decision maker?”
“The same thing that stopped my papa from doing it. Love. Love for this vineyard and for the land it was built on. I won’t let anything happen to it, which is why I think it’s best that I take control back.” I’m trying to be as civil as possible while letting Thomas know he’s not going to push me around the way he did my papa.
“I’m not giving up a single percent of my rightful shares.”
His tone is so smooth and airy that I can see how he became such a force in the business world. People listen to him. They’re lulled by the hypnotic effects and believe everything he says, especially if they’re the type who can be easily convinced.
“Thomas, it’s the only way we can get out of this damn deadlock we always seem to find ourselves in.”
He chuckles. “You could just as easily sell to me. Though considering you’ve been using your influence to convince my son that your way is the way it should be, you probably won’t consider that option.”
“No,” I snap. “I will never consider that option.”
He shakes his head, frustration making its way to the surface. “Well, then maybe you should marry my son.” His words roll off his tongue so easily, like he’s planned this very encounter. “Your father and I always imagined for you two to end up together. The Bell-Bradshaw partnership was a dream of ours from the moment you were born. It’s too bad that Cross boy got in the way, but you’re all older now. You know what’s good for you. Trip would make a fine partner, and you’d share ownership of the vineyard with him.”
Rage blows threw me at the asinine suggestion. “You don’t even like me. Why would you even encourage that notion?”
Amusement beams back at me. “I’d have more trust in you running the vineyard with my son than on your own, but I’d be much keener on you selling to me. I’ll even let you keep this office.”
I fume so hard that I can almost feel the steam blowing out of my ears.
Thomas leans forward. “When all is said and done, you have three choices, Ms. Bell. Sell to me, marry Trip, or fight me until one of us is dead.”
“Marrying Trip isn’t an option, considering I’m in love with Ridge.”
Thomas’s eyes go dark. “Ah, yes. An old love resurrected. I should have seen that coming. You could never stay away from that boy, could you? I figured it was only a matter of time until you started sneaking around with him again—now that your papa is dead and all.”
The disdain in his voice grinds against my nerves. “You’re impossible. I’m an adult now. I’ll do as I please.”
“Haven’t you always, Ms. Bell?”
My eyelids narrow. “That’s right. I have. So I don’t need your comments on my personal business, dickhead. I can make decisions for myself just fine.”
Thomas’s laughter booms through the air. “You certainly have a strange recollection of your youth.”
I’ve had enough. “This conversation isn’t going anywhere. Get out. I have work to do, and I don’t need you in here, distracting me with your empty taunts. And knock next time. If I’m not here, don’t come in.”
Thomas chuckles and stands to face me. “I think I’ll stay and peruse these”—he tosses a pile of papers on the coffee table between us—“documents.”
I look down at the financial papers I had left on my desk before leaving to visit Ridge at lunch. Though I don’t normally leave my work station untidy, I was excited to deliver wine to Ridge for his opening day.
“May I ask what it is you’re searching for, Ms. Bell? Maybe I can help.”
“Again, that’s none of your business.”
His lips go flat as his eyes flash with anger. “That response reeks of evasiveness.”
“Good.”
A chill sweeps the air. “Let me get one thing straight, Ms. Bell. You don’t want to fuck with me. I’ve been playing nice out of respect for your old man, but my rope is thinning. If it’s not clear to you yet, then let me help. I make the decisions around here. It’s why Bell Family Vineyard is what it is today.”
My face twists with disgust, and a laugh tumbles from my mouth. “Who the hell do you think you are? I know you manipulated my papa. And I know it’s only a matter of time before you try to manipulate me. So let me make this clear.” I raise my eyebrows. “You’re not going to win.”
Thomas looks amused as he starts to walk toward the door. “We’ll see about that.”
Every word that comes out of his mouth triggers me. I suddenly feel desperate to call him out on all of his bullshit. It’s like a tornado whips through me when my next words fly from my mouth. “I know you talked to Ridge after prom. I know what you told him to make him leave. I’ve figured out enough to realize that you wanted me gone, which is why you were always in my papa’s ear about sending me away to college. All so that you could manipulate him into selling off his shares. So while my papa was investing in this business, you were creating more reasons for him to go broke while you sat back and purchased what he could no longer afford. It’s the only reason he would ever have sold off what should have been mine. Papa would never have given up this vineyard in a million years, unless his legacy was at stake. I just don’t know how you did it. What could you have possibly said to him to make him feel like there was no other way? And how the hell could you have afforded it all?”
Thomas gives a hearty laugh that shakes my core. “Oh, Camila. When are you going to open your eyes? You’re not going to find your answers in those papers. What you will find are all the client signatures, all the long-term contracts, and all the guaranteed profit they could make by signing their contract agreements. None of that came for free. There’s a price to pay for the type of assurance our clients need, and you, my dear, were a risk.”
I scrunch my face, trying to make sense of what this monster is telling me. “So, you’re saying they would only sign the contracts if my papa sold to you? That doesn’t make any sense. I’m no more of a risk than you or Trip and Raven are.”
Thomas shrugs. “But they knew me well. They invited me into their homes, and I got to know their families while they got to know mine. All they knew about you was that you were a hellion of a little girl.”
I shake with rage. “You son of a bitch. You talked me down to your clients, and they all fell for your bullshit.”
He chuckles. “Wasn’t too hard, considering you were always getting yourself into trouble. Getting drunk at family events when you were just fifteen,” he spits out. “Running hikers over down the mountain when you went biking. Always traipsing off into those goddamn woods like you were invincible.”
He opens the door. “Whatever you’re looking for, sweetheart, you won’t find it in those documents. You might as well give up now and consider your options.”
I swallow, trying to maintain my cool while my insides roar with anger. “Sounds like we’re at a stalemate.”
Thomas’s lips tip up in an evil smile. “Nah, I think I have another pawn to play.” He winks. “See you tomorrow, Ms. Bell.”
Chapter 57
Ridge
On rodeo day, nervous doesn’t even begin to describe how I’m feeling when I pull up Camila’s driveway to her villa. The long, winding entrance is as magical as Camila once described, with its large arched gated entrance, a thick tree covering on either side, and a long paved road that eventually opens to an ornate fountain at the center of the circular drive.
Once parked, I blow out a quick breath and suck in a deeper one, trying to steady my racing heart. Not only will this be our first major public outing, but I’ll be meeting her mama officially for the first time. While I’ve seen Camila’s family in passing many times growing up, we’ve never spoken.
Reaching over the bench seat, I grab two brown-paper-wrapped sets of flowers, then I step out of my truck and head up the steps to reach her front door. To my surprise, her mama answers with a wide, beautiful smile. She’s obviously where Camila gets her gorgeous looks and soul-deep spark in her eyes.
“Hello, Ridge. It’s nice to see you again.”
Even her tone sounds so much like Camila’s that it’s uncanny.
“Hello, ma’am,” I say with a nod. “These are for you.” I hand her the bundle of sunflowers, and her green eyes light up in surprise.
“Thank you so much. They’re beautiful. And please call me Selena.” She steps back, pushing open the door. “Come in. Camila should be down shortly.”
The second I step into the villa, the stark contrast between her home and mine hits me hard. She grew up in a mansion, while I picked up Harold’s empty beer bottles from all over the run-down farmhouse. I’m glad I didn’t have the full picture of Camila’s lifestyle when I was a teen, because I would never have had the courage to pursue her after seeing her in Ouray. My self-esteem back then was low enough without the intimidation that one look at this place brings.
But I’m older now, and I realize how deceiving looks can truly be. It’s not about what you have. It’s about what you do with what you have. As soon as the Bradshaws are out of Camila’s way, she’ll do amazing things and make her father proud. To her, the land is about more than money and power and making a name for the vineyard in the community. She wants to preserve nearly fifty years of wine production, using nature as her guide, and focus on organic growth, natural resources, and everything that Thomas Bradshaw forced Patrick Bell to do away with over the years to increase production at a rate the vineyard could barely keep up with. Camila knows the value of producing less to uphold the quality, and I believe she’ll have everything she dreams of and soon.
Selena brings me into the kitchen and waves at a set of stools under the island. “Have a seat, and we can chat for a bit while we wait.” She pulls out a vase from a cabinet and fills it with water before placing the sunflowers into it and setting it on the island with a smile. “Beautiful. Did you pick these from your farm?”
“I did. I’m expanding our sunflower plot and reducing our corn production. It’s been a project we just started this past year.”
Selena’s eyes widen just as Camila’s did when I explained the new plans for the farm.
“Oh, that’s quite the change. Won’t you miss out on business?”
I shrug. “Yes and no. Corn was never my favorite crop.” I chuckle, thinking of Camila’s nonstop comments about how much I hated the farm. “My plan is to create a place where the community can come and pick their desired flowers and produce. We’ll have corn mazes, wildflowers, and sunflowers. And I’ll rotate the corn with alfalfa seasonally. I’ll keep the selection manageable while I spend most of my time at the vacation property.”
Her smile is infectious, and my heart skips a beat at the thought of Camila’s mama approving of anything I do.
“I love that idea, Ridge. And with your new ranch right there, your guests will love it.”
“That’s the idea. I’m building a small barn and a round riding pen right now. It will be great for kids, and I can offer trail rides for the older riders.”
Selena’s smile turns soft as she scrolls over my features, like she recognizes me from somewhere else. It’s a silly thought. We’ve seen each other around town before, but it just feels like she knows me.
“You remind me of a friend I had once. She was beautiful and strong, and her dreams were as big and exciting as her beautiful brown eyes. They’d light up at the thought of all the good that could be done in this world, if people would only change their perspectives. If greed and wealth weren’t solutions but the enemy instead.”
Her words trigger something deep in my chest. My heart squeezes, and the familiarity in the message blasts through me. “That sounds a lot like something my mother used to say to me.”
Camila appears by my side and slips her arm around my waist. I hadn’t even heard her come in. I can’t seem to take my eyes off Selena after what she just said.
“Wow, this feels intense,” Camila says. “What did I just walk into?”
I wrap an arm around her shoulders. “Your mom was just telling me about an old friend of hers.”
Camila perked up. “Are you telling him about your secret friend who used to work on the Cross Farm?”
Frowning, I look at Camila.
She seems startled. “What? I told you about her over dinner one night. She’s the one who told Mama about the poachers.”
I remember the conversation well, but I don’t remember Camila mentioning that her mom had a secret friend. Turning back to Selena, I nod. “I’d like to hear more about your friend, if that’s okay.”
Selena smiles. “Of course. She was a brave one. That’s for sure. Always on the lookout for new adventures. Like I already told Camila, we often met at the bridge and would chat for hours. She was a sweet, sweet soul, and her connection with nature was so strong.” Selena laughs. “I could have sworn she could feel the rain coming before it arrived.”
In my peripheral vision, Camila’s head whips toward me, but my eyes stay on her mom. My heart thundering so loudly that it’s drowning out all thoughts. “What did you say your friend’s name was again?”
Selena gives me a knowing smile. “Molly. She never did give me her surname, but I do know she was pregnant with a little boy, whom she already loved very much. She was to name him Ridge, and I believe she did.”
The backs of my eyes prick with unshed tears, and my throat closes up. Selena was friends with my mother before my mother moved us to the rez.
I was already nervous coming here, but now my emotions are overflowing. It’s my first time meeting Camila’s mom, and I’m on the verge of tears.
“Mama, you were friends with Ridge’s mom? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was for Ridge to hear first, mija. Part of me has always harbored guilt over the way your mother left. I’ve always felt to blame. Once I confronted Patrick about the poachers, all eyes were on me. My next meeting with Molly at the bridge was when everything went wrong. Thomas held a bow and arrow to her head and ordered her back to the Cross Farm. Next thing I knew, she was gone.”
“But Papa said someone from the rez paid him a visit with a list of girls and boys that had gone missing from there,” Camila says.
Selena nods. “Oh, they did. Right after they received a call from Thomas Bradshaw. Your papa felt like he was doing the right thing.” Selena leans over the counter and wraps her hand around mine. “I’m so sorry, Ridge. For everything. And I’m sorry to you both. For not fighting harder for you two to keep the love you so clearly share.”
I turn to Camila just as she’s swiping away a tear, and I cup her face. “Don’t cry, Wild One.”
Her eyes meet mine, and no dam can stop the emotion being unleashed from the deepest parts of her. In the strangest way, it feels as if everything we’ve e
ver been through together is coming full circle, but I still have so many questions.
“It’s not your fault, Selena.” My voice is gravelly when I turn back to her. “Camila and I understand the sacrifices we make for family all too well. The things we do to protect each other, even though everyone still suffers. All we’ve wanted is an end to the war that ruined so many lives, and we have that now.” I hug Camila from the side and kiss her cheek. “And we’ll move forward together with a bridge that connects us instead of separates us.”
Camila eyes are red and still filled with tears. I feel the first warm drop slide down my cheek.
“I love you,” she mouths.
“I love you,” I mouth back. Leaning my forehead against hers, I pull in a deep breath, then I let it out with my laugh. “Wow, and here I was, nervous your mom wouldn’t like the sunflowers I brought her.”
“You brought my mama flowers? You’re the sweetest, Ridge Cross.”
Selena and Camila laugh. “And he brought you flowers too. Look.”
Camila smiles as I hand her the paper-wrapped bouquet of wildflowers. “Of course he did.” Then she wipes her tear-stained cheeks and sniffles. “We really don’t have to go to the rodeo after all that.”
“Nonsense,” Selena says. “Go and have fun. Please. I have a date with some girlfriends at the country club, anyway.”
She shoos us to the door, where she gives Camila a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she wraps her arms around me. Just from the hug, I can see where Camila gets her warm strength.
Selena pulls herself closer to my ear and whispers, “You should know that your mother loved your father very much. You were born from that love, and it shows.” She pulls back, her eyes red and misty. “Okay, I’m done. Have fun tonight.”
Camila pulls me out the door and looks up at me with a smile. “See? Nothing at all to be nervous about.”
Chapter 58
Camila
