A Taste of Country

  A Taste Of Country

  Vicki Green

  A Taste of Country

  Sometimes beauty is skin deep,

  Other times it is in the things we see inside,

  Then there are times it is both.

  Colby Carter comes from a traditional country life, one that dates back for generations. He put that behind him by attending an out of state college. He came back and his parents gifted to him their large farm and estate. Overwhelmed by the responsibility and knowing he can’t possibly keep up with the farm and the enormous house alone, he places an online ad to hire help. He has no time for women. He got his fill in college, acting the playboy that is now in his past. However, that doesn’t stop the women in town from trying to get his attention, but he knows they are only after two things: his hot and sexy body, and his wealth.

  Shiloh Willson responds to an online ad to work for a man, cleaning and caring for his house. She finds it’s a perfect escape from the mess her life has become and a faraway place she hopes no one will find her. She can’t believe her eyes when she arrives at the large house, but what really surprises her is the hot and sexy man that hired her. Has she taken on too much? Will this be the perfect place to hide or will she have to run again?

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Kobo Edition

  Vicki Green Copyright 2015©

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form with authorization of the Author Vicki Green©

  Editor: Kathy Krick @K2 Editing:

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  *Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18+.

  To my family.

  And to my Mom and Dad that I miss so much.

  Chapter One

  Colby

  It’s a beautiful mornin’. I take my coffee outside on the front porch, sit down in the rockin’ chair, and breathe in the fresh air. Not gonna lie, it’s freezin’ even with long johns underneath my jeans, a flannel shirt and a hoodie on. I guess being January, I should be thankful there’s no snow on the ground yet. I never thought I would own a farm, work my own land, and have cattle and a couple of horses. Me. The person who everyone said would never let myself be tied down to one place. Ever. But I guess it’s true, people do change.

  Sometimes I don’t think I know myself, not sure I want to. I used to only think about myself. I left home to go to high school, then college because I wanted to get away from what I thought was a boring life. I guess I wanted to be in a big city and find out what it was like. Even after my wild ways with the girls and doin’ things on my own – the fact was, I missed home, missed my parents and the farm. Weird, right? Growin’ up, sometimes I learned the hard way like the time Big Boy, one of our cows, kicked the shit outta me breakin’ my arm in three places. My left arm hasn’t been the same since it healed. Horses. They’re a whole other thing. I love them. I love ridin’ out on the land, havin’ the wind hit me, and the feelin’ of bein’ free. Freedom. Somethin’ a lot of people take for granted. I know I have. By the time I graduated from college, I couldn’t wait to get home. Home. Somethin’ I thought I wanted to get away from. Then I was surprised when my parents gave me the farm. They told me they wanted to travel. Here I thought I was the only one that wanted some freedom. They bought an RV, packed it up, kissed me goodbye and left. Since then, my life has never been the same, but I love it.

  I’m startin’ to feel better being here, especially after reacquaintin’ myself with Memphis, my neighbor, who I hadn’t seen in several years. Neighbor. That’s kinda funny since he’s still a few miles up the road. But that’s country life and I’m findin’ it suits me. I love the privacy yet I’m close enough to a few people in case of an emergency. Like the night Memphis’ barn caught on fire. Well, was set on fire. I had thrown on my clothes and jumped in my truck, gettin’ over there in time to help get him outta the barn. Of course if it weren’t for his horse, Clancy, he may not have made it out. That’s what I love about animals. They love unconditionally, help ya out when needed. Some are a little smarter than others. Good thing he’s one of the smart ones. Memphis could have died. Guess now we’re getting to be pretty good friends again after not seein’ each other for so long while I sowed my wild oats.

  And his girl, Sadie? She’s a real looker, but she’s become my friend too so she’s off limits. I wouldn’t and couldn’t do that to Memphis anyway. She’s come by a couple of times, helped clean up the place. Memphis has come by too, along with his hired help Mac and Dallis, to help me fix up the barn. Guess after everythin’ that’s happened, they’re like family now too. He said he’d try to come by at least once or twice a week to help me and so will Mac and Dallis. However, I kinda feel bad. He thinks he owes me for savin’ his life, but I just did what anyone else would do. Didn’t I?

  Knowin’ I couldn’t do everythin’ by myself, I took the good advice from Memphis and placed some ads to get some help around the farm. Oh, I tried to do everythin’ and wore myself out. Sometimes I just don’t think. I had a woman named Shiloh Willson answer my online ad. When I saw her out by our lake, she took my breath away. Literally. Shiloh. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. She seems kinda shy, or maybe she’s hidin’ somethin’. I dunno, not really my business. Somethin’ just don’t feel right to me. She marveled at the house, sayin’ it reminded her of Gone with the Wind. I guess I can see that with the two staircases windin’ on either side of the foyer. She likes the classics, a woman after my own heart. Then after havin’ a choice of six bedrooms, she chose the attic room. Mom and Dad added that room while I was away. It does have a nice view of the land, especially the lake and mountains. Guess I can’t blame her. A person could get lost sittin’ on the pillowed seat at the bay window for hours on end.

  Now, I’m cookin’ us some supper, hopin’ she likes steak, baked potatoes, salad and homemade rolls. Yes, I love to cook. Always used to watch Mom and then when I was on my own had to learn to fend for myself. You pick it up pretty quick when you’re hungry. By the time I sit down at the dinin’ room table, I expected her to have come downstairs. I don’t want to bother her. Should I go up and tell her? Shit! I don’t know what to do. This is definitely unknown territory for me. I’ve not had any problems gettin’ a woman just to have fun, get my needs met, but to have one here for business, that’s a whole other story. Why does she have to be so beautiful? Not helpin’ at all.

  “This is such a big place.” My eyes raise when she walks into the room. She’s wearin’ a long t-shirt and yoga pants that I’ve seen on a lot of the girls back in college. Her long hair is pulled up in a ponytail, makin’ her look younger. Shit! I forgot to ask her how old she is. She stands behind the chair where her food sits on the table, her small hands restin’ on the back. “Seems so formal in here. Would you mind if we ate in the kitchen?” Her blue eyes glisten. I’d forgotten just how light blue they were, almost white.

  “Sure. I normally eat in there but thought you might want to eat here.” I stand, pickin’ up my plate and glass, then walk into the kitchen, settin’
them down on the granite table. I had to go back to get the rest of the food, and by the time I return, she’s sittin’ down across from where I’d placed my plate. I pick up my napkin, placin’ it on my lap, then look up at her. She’s watchin’ me, waitin’ for me to start. “Eat up. Don’t want it to get cold.” She smiles and picks up her fork and knife, cuttin’ into her steak. “I almost came up there to get you.”

  I stab some salad and take a huge bite as I watch her chew her food, daintily. I’m a little mesmerized by her throat as she swallows. “Oh, I’m sorry. I fell asleep at the bay window. I got to reading and I guess I was more tired from the trip than I thought.” She smiles as she takes another bite and I can’t tear my eyes off her mouth. Damn, I’ve got it bad. What is it about her that has me so intrigued? Already. Okay, besides the fact that she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

  I clear my throat, tryin’ to break this spell she seems to have on me. “I would have come up but I didn’t want to bother you.”

  Her eyes widen briefly then soften. “I wouldn’t have minded as long as you knock first.”

  I pick up my glass of water. “I would have knocked. I respect your privacy.” I take a big drink and set it down then pick up my fork again and pick up a piece of steak. I watch her take a roll from the basket, open it with her knife and spread butter on it. “I don’t ask a lot of questions.” I smile. “Well, I try not to. None of my business but I’m a good listener if you ever need one.” She smiles around the roll as her lips close around it. My tongue moves across my lower lip as she pulls it from her mouth, leavin’ a bit of butter on the corner of her lip. “Can I ask you how old you are though? More curious on what made a pretty woman wanna come out to the country and help out. If you don’t want to answer, I’ll understand.”

  She sets down her roll on her plate, wipin’ her mouth with her napkin then smiles. “I’m twenty four, just turned. I’ve always wanted to see the country, the mountains.” She looks down then back into my eyes. “I wanted to go somewhere quiet, serene. Somewhere I could have some alone time. This looks like the perfect place. And as far as cleaning and helping out, that’s easy work, something that can take my mind away from things. I guess I’m kind of a neat freak so that helps.” She laughs, and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. She scrunches up her cute nose, her lips turning into a grin. “I’m not a hermit or anything. I swear!”

  I laugh along with her. I love her mannerisms. The way she wrinkles her face makes her cuteness go up a notch, and her laugh is like musical notes. She’s your hired help, Colby. Get a freakin’ grip. “Nah, you don’t seem the type.” I laugh again. Should I ask her? No, it’s not been long enough, we’ve only just met. “After I clean up the kitchen we could go for a walk. I could show you around before it gets too dark. If you’d like.”

  “I’d like that but I’m cleaning up. You cooked.” Her smile is breathtaking. She takes my breath away. Ah, hell.

  I laugh again then take another bite. “We’ll clean up together. That way it won’t take as long.” She nods and starts eating again. I need to keep remindin’ myself how fast I fell for Sadie, how I thought she was the one for me only to find she was fallin’ for Memphis. I got hurt but seein’ them together told me it was right. They were right. I can’t fall so fast for anyone else. Not sure I can take it. After being such a womanizer, findin’ out I wanted one woman to complete my life was kind of a shock to me. Then after goin’ through that with Sadie it left me almost scared to take a chance like that again.

  Shiloh

  I can’t stop watching him. He’s so rugged, so muscular in all the right places, so manly. His southern accent hums in my ears. His clean shaven face makes me want to rub my hands over it. I can tell how built he is by the way his muscles flex beneath his tight flannel shirt and he’s so much taller than me. I can imagine standing up on my toes to kiss those luscious lips. Oh, my God! Stop it, Shiloh. You’re here to hide, not fall for some country man. What in the hell is wrong with you? Didn’t your one and only relationship with a man teach you anything? I stop myself from touching my side, a reflex I have every time I think about what I went through, with him.

  We clean up the kitchen together. I washed as he handed me the dishes, then he cleaned off the table. Maybe he’s a neat freak like me. “You might want to get a coat. Gets pretty chilly this time of night.”

  I look down then back up into his eyes. “I, uh. I don’t have a coat. I guess I wasn’t thinking much about the weather when I left.”

  He smiles, and I swear the surge of a foreign feeling went through me. “Stay put.” I watch him leave the room and look around, making sure we have everything clean. He’s back quickly, carrying a big thick jacket. “Here. You can borrow one of mine.” He holds it open, and I slip my arms into the sleeves. They hang down over my hands, but it’s so warm, fleece lined and very thick. He laughs, his light blue eyes sparkling, his straight white teeth gleaming. Seriously, this man is hot, so much more than I could ever imagine. “Come on. Let me show you around.” I follow him to the door off the kitchen. He opens one side of the French doors and I walk through.

  It’s brisk outside as we walk down the deck steps and to the barn. It’s bigger than my old house, stall after stall, filled with hay and troughs. “Have you been around horses, cows, and chickens?” He asks, his gorgeous smile almost blinding me.

  “No. But I love animals, at least dogs. I used to have one. He was my best friend.” We stop walking and he folds his arms, really interested in what I’m saying. “He was a German shepherd. Beautiful. All black, brown eyes. The kind that melt you when you look at them. He had the sweetest disposition. I loved him so much.” I feel wetness in my eyes but refuse to cry any more. At least not in front of him.

  “Sounds like an amazing dog. What happened to him?”

  His question takes me off guard. I look down and around. What do I tell him? Coming here I hadn’t thought of what to say if anyone asked questions of my past. I can be so stupid sometimes. I should have had a plan, things I would say. I guess I’d hoped no one would ask anything. I look back up at him and smile sadly. “He had an accident. I’d rather not talk about it. Maybe someday I’ll get another puppy. Even though another one couldn’t really replace him.”

  His hand touches my arm. A warm feeling travels all the way up. “I’m sorry, Shiloh. We get pretty attached to our furry friends. They become family. I’m sure you miss him.” I nod, unable to speak. I’m filled with emotions, feelings that I didn’t want and shouldn’t have for this man.

  I move away, walking outside, suddenly feeling like the walls were beginning to close in. “I’d love to learn to ride sometime,” I say pointing at a horse in the fenced in pasture. He smiles as we walk closer. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do but never had the chance.” I turn around, walking backwards. “Would you teach me?”

  I move aside as he opens the gate, holding his hand out for me to walk through. He closes it behind him then we walk through the grass. The fresh air infiltrates my nose as I take a deep breath, wrapping my arms around my waist when a rush of a cool breeze hits me. The same horse that was there when I arrived is standing close to the lake, munching on some grass. I walk up, laying my hand on her side. Her head turns as I rub back and forth.

  “Sure, I’ll teach you. Not sure Sable here would be the best one to learn on. She’s been actin’ kinda funny lately.” I turn, still patting the horse as he walks past me. I watch him pet her nose, smiling and looking at her caringly. “Don’t know what’s going on with you, girl. Do I need to call Doc Winn out here? Huh?” He rubs up and down her nose. It’s sweet, but I think he is genuinely worried about her.

  “I can wait to learn when she’s feeling better. I want to ride her. There’s something about her. I dunno. Silly, huh?” I laugh, something I haven’t done in a long time. He seems to make me want to do that, brings it out in me. Something else I like about him.

  “Nah, not silly. I’m sure she’d love for
you to ride her. Wouldn’t ya, gal?” He continues to pet her sweetly when a big gust of air whips around us. Darkness moves in or maybe it’s the clouds above us. We both look up at the same time, studying the sky. “Guess we’d better get inside. Might rain. I need to get them in the barn.”

  “I’ll help,” bursts from my mouth quickly.

  His smile is back, making my heart stop for a beat. “That’d be nice.”

  We walk back, with him rounding up the few horses. It takes us a bit to get them into the barn then he tells me to head back to the house as it begins to sprinkle outside. I nod and watch him walk to another pasture as I head back. Once inside, I shiver with the change from cold to warm. I scour the cabinets, finding a tea kettle and fill it with water then turn on the burner. Next, I find some tea bags, raspberry flavored, and get a cup from another cabinet. He’s not back yet when the water has heated. I make my tea, turning off the burner and setting the kettle on another one. He’s still not back so I walk up to my room, setting my cup on a small table by the bay window. After getting on my pajamas, thankful I brought ones that have long sleeves and pants, I open one of my suitcases and remove the one thing I told myself I wouldn’t right away. My laptop. Since curiosity killed the cat, I take it over, sit down on the pillow seat, open it, and turn on the power. I’m glad I brought my mobile adapter because I didn’t know if the place where I’d end up would have internet. I’m almost afraid to check my emails, but I do. I don’t think I can read them yet but scroll through them. Most of them can wait, however, there’s one that I have to open.