by L. P. Dover
I wanted it to be over. My palms grew sweaty and all I could hear in my head was my rapidly beating pulse. I looked over at my mother and she could tell something was wrong, but I tried to pretend otherwise by keeping a smile on my face. It probably looked like a grimace.
“We’re up to six thousand,” David called out excitedly. “Do I hear more?”
Please let it be over. I just wanted to get off the stage and as far away from Zac as I could. What the hell was he doing in Snowy Creek anyway?
David held up the gavel. “Going once, going twice.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, but then I heard his voice. “Seven thousand!”
The blood drained from my face. I glared at Zac, and he met me with a smile. Smug bastard. I looked over at my dad, hoping he’d be able to do something. He slowly walked off stage down to his friend, George Tucker. He whispered something in his ear and George nodded. My parents couldn’t bid against Zac, but they could get others to. If not, I was completely and utterly screwed.
David held up the gavel. “Do I hear seventy-five hundred?”
I held my breath, but George raised his hand, and my father reassured me with a smile. Although I refused to look at Zac, I could feel his eyes on me.
“Do I hear eight thousand?” David called out. Clasping my hands behind my back, I dug my nails in my palms. It was all I could do to keep my hands from shaking. “Okay, we have seventy-five hundred dollars going once … twice …”
Before he could say, “Sold,” Zac opened his traitorous mouth. “Twenty thousand dollars.” The whole room gasped in response and all eyes went to him.
Twenty thousand dollars? Why the hell would he do that?
David burst out laughing. “Well, butter my biscuit, this has never happened before. That is an amazing contribution, Mr. Ward.”
George turned to my father and shook his head. That was it. My fate was sealed. My mother rushed over to my dad, her mouth moving ninety miles an hour, but all my father could do was shrug. There was nothing he could do.
David held up the gavel, and in just a matter of seconds, I would belong to Zac Ward for a whole week. “Twenty thousand dollars going once, going twice … sold to Zac Ward!”
If I’d have eaten lunch, it would’ve been all over the stage. That was how sick I felt. Plastering on a smile, I made my way off the stage right to my parents. My mother looked angrier than I was.
She grabbed my shoulders. “We’re going to get you out of this. I’ll pay the twenty grand myself and tell Zac to get lost.”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll get myself out of this.”
When I looked at my dad, he huffed. “I’m sorry, baby girl. We weren’t expecting twenty grand.”
“It’s okay,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. I could see Zac across the room, trying to make his way over to me. “I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of thinking he won. I just wish I knew what the hell he was up to.”
My mother grabbed my hand. “Come on, let’s go. You don’t have to talk to him. We’ll figure this all out.”
I’d waited twelve years to give Zac a piece of my mind. I couldn’t chicken out now. One way or another, I had to face him. “No,” I said, pulling my hand away. “I need to do this on my own.”
Turning on my heel, I ignored my mother’s plea and walked through the crowd with my eyes right on Zac and his on mine. The air in the room turned electric, but I wasn’t about to get burned again. The last thing I wanted was to cause a scene in the middle of the ballroom. Judging by the curious stares of everyone around, they were waiting for something to happen. Snowy Creek was a small town, and one where everyone knew everything. It was no secret that Zac and I were supposed to move away together and build a future. Some might have thought we were young and stupid, but back then, we had it all planned out. He was supposed to be my future and vice versa.
With each step I took, the people around me moved out of the way until there was a clear path to Zac. He smirked at me and it pissed me off even more. “What the hell are you doing?” I snapped, glaring at him.
He glanced around the room at everyone watching us and then back to me. “I wanted to bid on you and I won.”
I wanted to smack that leer off his face. “We need to talk. Outside.” Without another word, I charged out of the ballroom and through the lobby to the exit. I could barely breathe with everyone around. As soon as we got outside, I jerked around to face him. “Why are you here?”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “Heard you were going to be auctioned off. Couldn’t miss that.”
“Whatever,” I growled. “I’ll pay the twenty grand to the charity so we can be done with this. I don’t know what game you’re trying to play, but I don’t want any part of it.”
He placed a hand over his chest, pretending to be offended when it was clear he wasn’t. “Me, play games? Definitely not. If you want to back out of your obligation, that’s fine. I’ll just go inside and tell everyone you’re too chicken to work for me. You probably couldn’t even handle it anyway.”
My chest tightened so hard it made me want to scream. “You’re such an asshole,” I spat. I stepped closer and stared right up into his eyes. “You want me for a week? Fine. You got me. There’s nothing I can’t do.” The last thing I wanted to do was spend all next week with him, but I couldn’t back down.
Zac’s gaze narrowed. “We’ll see about that.” He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a card. “Here’s my new address. Be there Monday morning at eight.”
I grabbed the card out of his hand, and my eyes widened when I recognized the address. I hadn’t been to that side of town since I moved away. The Millers had some of the best land around, but they got too old to take care of it and eventually passed away. I never knew what became of their land.
“I don’t get it. Why would I go to the old Miller ranch?”
His eyes twinkled. “See you Monday.”
Without another word, he turned and went right back into the country club. Whatever nonsense he had planned for me, I was going to bring it back on him tenfold. It was war.
5
Zac
“You did what?” Drew asked, bursting out with laughter. “For twenty thousand dollars!”
I would’ve gone to fifty if I needed to; it was for a good cause. I also didn’t want anyone else getting Clara. The timing was perfect. “Yep. And it’s going to be worth it once everything’s done,” I replied happily.
Drew Preston was one of my good friends from New Orleans when I moved there to intern with my Broussard cousins at River Enterprises. Now he was married to my cousin, Haven. They were the prime reasons I was able to afford college. My parents gave me what they could, but they didn’t make a lot. Haven mentored me and helped me with my college courses, and Drew trained me how to MMA fight. I’d made a lot of money fighting on the weekends.
Clara was supposed to move with me after we graduated, but that didn’t happen. Everything was set. We had an apartment all picked out and we were going to go to college together. I often wondered how it would feel to see her again. Twelve years had passed and she was still as beautiful as ever. I couldn’t let that distract me though. There was a job to do and I needed to focus.
I walked out onto my back deck and down to the pool. “When I heard Clara was being auctioned off,” I revealed, “I knew I had to be there. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.”
Drew laughed again. “I’d say so. Who would’ve thought that after all these years you would both be in Wyoming at the same time.”
It was true. From what my parents told me, Clara hadn’t visited since she left for Paris twelve years ago. “She wasn’t exactly happy when I bid on her,” I added.
“I’d think not,” Drew said, chuckling.
In the background, I could hear Haven’s voice. “What are you laughing at?” she asked him.
“Z, I’m going to let you talk to Haven about this. She’s going to want to hear all about it.” Drew hande
d her the phone.
“What trouble have you gotten into this time, Zac?” she inquired, laughing.
I sat down on one of the lounge chairs. “None at all. Just thought I would let you know I saw Clara for the first time today.”
She gasped. “Seriously? Did you talk to her? What’d you say?”
“It went by really quick. She was pissed.”
Drew filled her in on the auction and that I’d spent twenty grand on her. Haven gasped again. “Wow. That’s insane. I hate to see what you have in store for her.”
The thought made me smile. “I’ll come up with something.” The sound of a tiny giggle came through the phone. “How’s Penelope doing?” I missed seeing that little girl’s smiling face. With my work schedule, I didn’t get to see her much, but every time I was near New Orleans, I made sure to visit.
“She’s good,” Haven replied. “Her birthday’s next week. I can’t believe she’ll be two years old.”
“Tell her Uncle Z said hello.”
“I will. She’s gotten so big. Maybe Drew and I can visit you in Wyoming soon. With Clara around, you might need the emotional support.”
I scoffed. “I’m so over that, Ven. But I would love to have you guys stay with me. You’ll like it out here.”
“Perfect. Can’t wait. Oh, and just for your own sake, don’t do anything stupid to Clara. It’s best not to open yourself up to that. It took you a while to get over her. I don’t want to see you fall down that same hole again.”
That was a long time ago. I’d changed since then. There was a time when Clara and I were on the same page. I thought we were headed in the same direction, but it was obvious I wasn’t good enough for her. I came from nothing and she had the whole world at her feet. Deep down, I thought there’d come a day when she would want more than I could give her. My worst fear had come true.
“You have nothing to worry about, Ven. Once I’m done with Clara, she’ll definitely not want anything to do with me.”
Even though what I had planned wouldn’t come close to the pain she caused me, I wanted her to see what all she’d been missing since she left. I had the money, the prestige, and the power to get everything I could ever desire. She was going to see that I would’ve been worth the risk.
6
Clara
“You don’t have to do this, Clara,” my mother griped as I sat down to eat a bowl of blueberry Cheerios. Sunday had come and gone and now it was Monday morning, the beginning to what was going to be a week of hell.
My mother tried getting me to back out of the deal, but I couldn’t. My pride wouldn’t let me. In a little less than an hour, I was going to be at Zac’s home doing God knows what. From the gleam in his eyes the other night, it wasn’t going to be anything good. What pissed me off more than anything was that he didn’t have the right to be that way with me. He was the one who ruined our relationship, not me. If anyone deserved payback it was him.
Sighing, I took a bite of my cereal. “I’m doing it, Mom. Zac might’ve broken my heart all those years ago, but I’ll be damned if I let him know that. I’m not going to give him the satisfaction.”
Success had obviously changed him … and not in a good way. I worked with tons of celebrities who’d turned into douchebags after they hit fame. That was what Zac reminded me of. He’d gotten a name for himself and let it get to his head. I never thought he would turn out that way.
My mom sat down at the table, her coffee cup in hand. There was a look of worry on her face, but I didn’t share those feelings. I wasn’t worried in the least. Reaching over, she placed a hand over mine. “I just don’t want your heart broken again, sweetheart. Zac’s not the same. I watched him strut around the party like he owned the place after you left. It took all I had not to give him a piece of my mind. I didn’t even know that prick was in town.”
I squeezed her hand, smiling. “Trust me, Mom. I’m ready for this. He doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself in to.” By the expression on her face, that comment didn’t give her reassurance. It didn’t matter though, I was ready to face him. “Where’s Dad?” I asked, changing the subject.
She nodded toward the kitchen door. “Getting ready to cut the grass. Once he starts chemo tomorrow, he won’t have the energy to do it. Beginning next week, someone else will be cutting it.”
And just then, I heard the lawn mower start up. My dad loved cutting grass and being outside in general. Our lawn looked like a golf course fairway, all green and perfect. He was the polar opposite of my mother, but everyone always said opposites attract. It was definitely the case with my parents. I liked that they were different; it made things interesting. That was how it was with me and Zac. We came from two different worlds, but it worked for us. Or, at least, I thought it did.
Looking down at her phone, my mother sighed. “I have to go to the club to finish up everything before tomorrow.” She peered over at me with that worried expression still plastered on her face. “Sure you’ll be okay?”
I finished my cereal and stood. “Yes. Can’t say the same for Zac though. I might kill him by the end of the week.” I placed my bowl in the sink and hugged her before hurrying to my bathroom to brush my teeth and get dressed. I had no clue what he had planned for me, but I threw my hair up into a messy ponytail and settled on a pair of denim shorts, a mint green T-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes.
Once outside, my dad was all the way across the yard so I waved at him and he blew me a kiss. Taking a deep breath, I hopped in the SUV and slipped on my sunglasses before starting on my way. There were so many emotions swirling through me. I was still angry over the past, but I was also strangely nervous which I hated. I chose to hold onto the anger. It was the only way.
The Millers’ ranch was about a fifteen-minute drive from my house. After I left the party on Saturday, curiosity got the best of me. Knowing Zac was still at the auction, I drove to the old Miller ranch just to see what it looked like after all these years. When I arrived, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The land was still as gorgeous as ever with some of the most amazing views of the Grand Tetons, but the old Miller farmhouse wasn’t there anymore. Instead, there was a brand-new home in its place; a huge house that must be worth a couple million. If it belonged to Zac, he did one hell of a job keeping the secret from my parents. Being in a small town, everyone knew everything … or so I thought. Guess some secrets could stay hidden.
Fifteen minutes went by in a blur, and I found myself pulling down the long, paved driveway that used to be gravel. My stomach twisted and turned the closer I got to what I assumed was Zac’s house. I didn’t know why else he’d want me there.
When I pulled up to the front, there were three cars in the garage. One was a black sports car, another one was a candy apple red vintage Mustang, and the third was a large, metallic blue truck. Zac had always wanted an old Mustang.
“Yep,” I groaned as I parked my car, “this is his house.” I shut off the car and got out. “This isn’t going to suck at all.” And just then, Zac appeared around the side of the house, sweaty and wearing only a pair of jeans and boots with his exceptionally ripped chest out on display. “You have got to be shitting me.”
“You’re actually on time,” he called out, grinning wide as he walked closer. “Didn’t think you’d come.”
I rolled my eyes but he couldn’t see because of my sunglasses. “Surprise,” I said, sounding none too enthusiastic. “I respect the auction and I’m here to do my time. Where do you want me? I’m here until five o’clock.”
His lips spread wider. “Follow me.”
I followed him around the side of the house to the back yard. He had an Olympic-sized swimming pool with a pool house that could fit a family of four easily. I thought maybe he was going to get me to clean out the pool, but he walked past it. The only thing left to walk to was the barn. Clenching my teeth, I had a million things I wanted to say, but I kept them to myself. The bastard was going to have me shoveling shit, I just knew it.
He wa
lked into the barn and the smell of dung wafted to my nose. There were three horses, each in their own individual stalls. One was white with black and brown spots all over its body with white hair. The horse in the middle stall was chocolate brown with the shiniest brown hair I’d ever seen, and the last horse was a lighter brown with a white diamond shape on its head. Seeing their beauty made me forget all about the smells. I grew up around horses, but it’d been twelve years since I rode one.
The light brown horse had me mesmerized. He reminded me of my old horse, Blue. My parents sold him to the Tuckers after I left Wyoming. I would’ve given anything to have been able to bring him to California, but it didn’t work out.
Zac walked over to the shovels, and I inwardly groaned. Yep, I was going to be shoveling shit. What an asshole. I held out my hand, and he chuckled. “Guess you already know what you’ll be doing.”
I jerked the shovel out of his hand. “Cleaning up your shit. Got it. Anything else?”
He burst out laughing. “Besides cleaning out their stalls, I want you to brush the horses, and feed them. Think you can handle it?”
Pursing my lips, I lifted my glasses so he could see my eyes. I stared daggers at him, but I kept my cool. He wanted a rise out of me; however, I refused to give him one. “I don’t have to deal with you staring at me the whole time I do this, do I?”
I wanted to smack the smirk off his face. He stepped back and smiled. “As fun as that sounds, I actually have some work I have to do.” Thank God. His gaze roamed down my body and stopped on my tennis shoes. “You know those are going to get dirty, right?”
I shrugged. “So?”
He looked at me as if I’d surprised him. “I figured you’d be whining about getting your clothes dirty now that you’re big time. I bet you have people doing everything for you out in Cali.”