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The house appeared, hazy at first and then sharpening as they drew closer.
Everleigh Bradford’s beloved home—a rambling farmhouse with a wraparound porch—was the exact opposite of his palatial estate in Granada. What would it be like inside? Bright colors? Lots of plants and cozy nooks?
Everleigh intrigued him. And the possibility of taking her to bed was becoming more enticing by the minute. Maybe her attitude toward him would thaw once she heard from Richard why he was selling. He knew she found him attractive. The way her body had curved into his on the dance floor, the sparkle of attraction in her eyes, had told him plenty about how she felt about him—at least physically. Once the conversation with her father was out of the way they would spend the night together, have incredible sex, and then he’d be off to Spain first thing in the morning.
He just needed to get her out of his system and regain control.
Everleigh guided the horse around the house to the back. They galloped past a stone patio, a covered pool, and numerous maple trees fighting to stand upright against the wind. A large red barn came into view, with yellow light spilling out through the doors onto the lawn. Everleigh tugged on the reins and the horse slowed as it entered the barn.
They’d barely stopped before Everleigh had dismounted and hurried back to close the doors. Adrian climbed down, but before he could say anything she disappeared into one of the stalls.
One of many, he noticed as he glanced around. The barn looked almost brand-new, with rows of empty stalls, a clean concrete floor and lights fashioned to look like antique lanterns hanging from the rafters. The faint scent of hay wrapped around him as the rain drummed a furious beat on the roof.
Everleigh walked back into the main aisle with a thick blanket and a towel draped over her arm. She ignored him and began toweling off the horse’s neck, cooing soft words of endearment.
“What’s her name?”
Her shoulders tensed as his voice broke the silence between them. “Paris.”
“An interesting choice.” He leaned against one of the stall doors.
“She’s an interesting girl.” Everleigh removed the saddle and tossed the blanket over Paris’s back. “My mother spent her senior year of college in Paris. We were supposed to go there together the summer after I graduated high school, but she passed away that spring. I like having something that reminds me of her.”
“Why not just go yourself?”
She shrugged. “I will. Someday.”
He glanced around at the empty barn. “Where are the rest of the horses?”
“Paris is the only one we’ve ever had.”
She crouched down to wipe off Paris’s legs, and the back of her sweater rode up to reveal a pale expanse of skin. The sight heated his blood.
“Then why so large a barn?”
She finished drying Paris off and led her into a nearby stall. With her back to him, he could indulge in a thorough perusal of her legs, displayed to sensual perfection in her wet blue jeans.
Once she’d locked the door, she turned and faced him, sadness pulling her lips down into a frown. “We planned on rescuing more—abused horses, old ones in danger of being put down... When we expanded the winery, we built a special events barn on the other side of the vineyards. We were going to use the calmer horses for horseback rides and the ones who couldn’t be ridden would get to live out their lives here and add a little atmosphere to the place.”
Adrian crossed his arms over his chest. “A good idea. And still possible with Cabrera.”
Her eyes narrowed as her hands came up to rest on her hips.
“Also possible if I were to take over the vineyard.”
“Possible, yes. But not probable,” Adrian shot back. “I have experience in multiple aspects of business—not just marketing—and a team of professionals and a fortune at my fingertips that could take Fox to new heights.”
Everleigh squared her shoulders and took a step forward, closing the gap between them to less than a foot. The sweater clung to her, hugging the curves of her breasts. With her hair hanging in damp curls around her face and fire snapping in her eyes, she reminded him of a feisty kitten caught in a storm.
“Oh, I’m sure... Cabrera sells glitz and glamor and sex. Oh, and occasionally wine.”
Adrian arched a brow. The kitten had even sharper claws than he’d realized.
“Sex and wine go hand in hand. Have you not enjoyed that combination before?” Even as he uttered the words, he felt his stomach harden. He didn’t care for the idea of her in another man’s bed.
Two spots of red appeared in Everleigh’s cheeks. “What I’veenjoyedis watching the hard work my friends and family have put into this vineyard come to fruition in a glass of wine bursting with flavor.” Another step forward. “What I’veenjoyedis getting out into the vineyards and pruning the vines we’ve cared for.”
Another step brought her so close he could see flecks of gold in the violet of her eyes and feel the heat radiating off her body.
