Cockpit: A Second Chance Romance (46 page)

Whatever gave me some freedom to do something important with my life.

I would send for my dogs as soon as I could. I wished I had someone I trusted who I could ask to care for them...

I sat up straight in my seat. Thomas, the stable master. He would take them in. He had always been kinder to me than my entire family put together. I drafted an email to him and hit send. Just as we soared into the Chunnel.

Thank goodness for wi-fi.

I started searching. It didn't take long to find a whole slew of for profit organic farms. Even a few that specialized in honey bee preservation. It was a key component of farming, encouraging bees to form hives near your fields. I didn't see any jobs on offer though. And I wasn't a scientist. I was technically a student, or a socialite. My resume wasn't exactly impressive.

Well, not yet.

It wasn't until I used the word 'Sanctuary' that I found something intriguing. It was a Sanctuary for rescued horses and farm animals. I'd heard of such places in America. This one was in Spain of all places. Southern Spain.

And they needed help.

Volunteers actually. But it was a start. And I had my student ID still. That would get me a cheap Eurorail pass. I could get to Spain without spending too much money. Which was good, considering I didn't have much.

I chewed my lip and started to craft an email...

Three hours later I was standing in the center of Paris with a series of train tickets that would get me to Granada. I walked outside the station to inhale the scent of Paris. I took one whiff and smiled. Then I turned around and went to board my train.

I was really doing it.

My life was finally beginning.

Chapter Eighteen

Nicholas

I kissed my mother's cheek and headed out. I had given up my house in the hills and moved back in with her. If I was going to make a go of it, I had to save every penny.

I'd left messages for all my clients and said goodbye. Except for one.

I was having lunch with her today.

Kelley Sloan.

The woman who started it all.

I drove from Malibu to Beverly Hills, making good time for once. When I was younger I'd loved driving. I had bought my first car with all cash. I felt like I had made something of myself that day.

Now I hated it. When you were driving, all you had time to do was think. And remember.

That was the last thing I wanted to do.

Music was even worse. Every song seemed to remind me of her.
 

Rosalie.

I turned my phone on once a day, late at night. Just to see if she had called or texted. On the chance that maybe, in some small way, she needed me. If she was having my child. If she was alone or lost or afraid.

I spent a lot of time imagining all the things that could wrong.

But I didn't text her. Or call. And I turned the phone off again immediately. The temptation was too strong. I knew I would give in eventually if I wasn't careful.

And that was the last thing she needed. I'd lost the privilege to be with her. But nothing could stop me from loving her.

So each night, in the most unselfish thing I'd ever done, I turned the phone off again and stuck it underneath my mattress. It was weird. But it felt like she was nearby when I did that.

Sort of a digital teddy bear.

I shook my head. I was pathetic. But a broken heart will do that to a man.

And mine was well and truly broken.
 

Every night I lay in bed remembering every minute I'd spent with her. Certain moments though... the ones in bed. Those were on repeat. Over and over I relived every time I'd taken her.
 

And that blow job... dear lord. I still got hard thinking about it.

Like, right now... in traffic.

I forced myself to think of something else. Walking on the beach with Rosie. We'd made plans for the future. We were going to travel. See the world. Do good.

Maybe open a little restaurant somewhere.

Vegetarian of course.

I smiled. I was going to do that at least. And I already knew what I'd name it.

I pulled up to the valet and handed them my keys and a twenty. In LA you tipped everyone. Before and after, if you wanted good service. It was impossible to NOT tip, even if you tried to park on the street, you ended up tipping fifty people before you got home again.

I didn't mind though. Everyone was just doing their best. And if I opened a restaurant here, all of that would be part of the equation.

Kelley was waiting for me at the bar. It had been years since I saw her as a client. She looked good. Happy even.

But we'd always kept in touch.

She was the first person to congratulate me on getting out of the biz. She'd texted me when she'd heard. Apparently, the rich, lonely women of Los Angeles were not happy about it.

"You look amazing."

She laughed.

"I look tired. That's what motherhood will do to you. But yes, I'm happy."

She looked me over once.

"You on the other hand look terrible. Gorgeous as hell, but terrible."

She waved over the bartender and ordered us both herbal tea. I shook my head. How the times had changed.

"What's her name?"

"Who?"

She gave me a look that said 'don't play dumb with me.'

"The one who got you out of the business. You know, I never thought you'd do this forever Nick."

I shrugged.

"I didn't expect to do it at all."

She smiled at me.

"But you were so good at it! You are a legend in this town. Some of your clients are never going to get over this."

"Yeah. So I've heard."

"So. What happened? You fell in love?"

I nodded.

"She didn't like what you did?"

"She didn't know."

"Oooooo... Nick that is not good. I assume you told her?"

I nodded, my mind immediately dragging up the painful moments in my hotel room.

"And she freaked out?"

"No. She was cool about it. She
is
cool. She's just not with me anymore."

"Tsk tsk. You should try and get the girl back Nick. Cool is not that easy to come by."

I laughed.

"Don't I know it."

"What's the plan?"

"I want to do something she would be proud of. Open that restaurant I always dreamed of. Or at least, cook in one."

"I remember your breakfast in bed Nick. You can
cook
. I would gladly invest in a restaurant."

I smiled at her.
 

"That means a lot coming from you. I mean it."

She took out her phone and started tapping on it.

"I have a few foodie friends who would be into that. But if you want to start easier, why not a food truck?"

"A food truck? Like street meat?"

She gave me a look and I laughed, for real this time.

"No pun intended."

"Los Angeles is hungry for gourmet food trucks, believe me. Just swing by the studios one afternoon. Or Los Felis. Or Venice. Or Silver Lake. Hipster mama's have to eat too."

I nodded. It was a good place to start. And with Kelley's help...

"What's the angle?"

"Latin fusion. For my mom. And vegetarian. For Rosie."

"Rosie, huh? That's the one who got away? Is that what we are calling the business?"

"Yeah."

She smiled at me.

"Oh, I am so in."

Rosalie

"Hi. I'm Rosalie. I'd love to help with your organization. Do you have a suggestion of a place to stay?"

I paced back and forth in the street outside the Sanctuary, talking to myself. I read once that talking to yourself was a sign of intelligence. But right now, I felt like a right idiot.

A right idiot who hadn't showered or slept in a real bed in three days.

I was about to have my interview. I had used baby wipes to clean myself up a bit. Brushed my hair. I was wearing jeans, since that was all I had packed. And riding boots.

Because that was what I'd been wearing when I ran.

I took a deep breath and tried again.
 

"I'm Rosie. I love animals and since I have no idea what the hell I'm doing with my life, I thought I'd pop over. Also, I'm homeless."

"Nice to meet you, Rosie."

I spun around and came face to face with a young man wearing round spectacles. He had a faint German accent, an ornate mustache and kind eyes. My mouth must have been hanging open because he gently took my hand and shook it.

"You're hired."

"I- I am?"

"Well, we don't really pay much. But we will feed you. And if you get kicked in the head or bitten we will pay for the doctor."

"Kicked in the head?"

He smirked at me.

"It happens. Have you been around horses much? Or goats?"

"Yes, I had a horse growing up. I can ride, though I've never mucked a stable."

"We do more mucking than riding. Though we do need to exercise the horses. That will come in handy."

"I'm willing to learn to do whatever is needed."

"Good. We grow our own food. And we have several rescued cows, goats and chickens that provide milk and eggs. Of course, you need to keep the roosters away."

"The roosters?"

He nodded.

"They are disposed of by farmers who just want the hens for the eggs. We rescue more roosters than anything. That's why we need so much land. They will fight if they get too close. The roosters man, they are vicious. You won't sleep too late around here. Believe me, I've tried."

He pushed open the gate and I scooped up my bag and followed him inside. A dirt road led up a hill covered with trees. We were a few miles from the small town where the bus had left me. I was bone tired.

And I'd never felt more alive in my life.

Except when I was with Nick.

Nothing could really compare to the freedom I'd felt when I was with him. The sheer exhilaration. The excitement. The passion.

Oh yes, especially the passion.

But I wasn't allowed to think about him. Only for a little while. Only once it was late and the lights were out. Then I let myself remember.

"I'm Al."

"Rosie."

"Yeah, I caught that."

I smiled. He smiled back. Maybe this would be a good place after all.

"How many volunteers do you have?"

"Just a handful. Most of us are lifers. What about you?"

I was looking around, checking out my new home as we walked into a clearing. At least, I hoped this would be my new home.

"I have worked with a few charities, but more in the organization phase. I'm eager to get my hands dirty."

He grinned at me.

"That's exactly what we need. More hands, the dirtier the better. Come on, let me introduce you to everyone."

He climbed the steps to a porch of a ramshackle old house next to a barn.
 

I nodded and centered myself. I was ready.

"Sure. Let's go."

Chapter Nineteen

Nicholas

"Yooo hoo!"

I was helping my mother in the kitchen when we heard the voice coming from the front patio. I recognized Kelley's voice. I glanced at mom, wiping my hands on a dish towel.

"That's my business partner."

My mother raised her eyebrows, saying nothing. She was thrilled that I was out of the escort business. But she had doubts about everything else.

And she was not amused about the whole Rosie situation.

In her words 'I should never have left a woman who might have been carrying my child."

She had a point there. And my mother's opinion carried a lot of weight with me. Especially considering what our own father had done. Brought her to this country and then left her as soon as it got too hard.

Of course, I would never do that to Rosie. I not-so-secretly hoped that she was pregnant. That she would call.

That she would need me.

"Hey Kell."

Kelley stood outside the apartment, holding up a stack of magazines. She had a crazy, ear to ear grin on her face.

"I know our meeting was for tomorrow. But I
had
to come over when I saw these."

I stepped back, inviting her inside. I made the introductions and Kelley, as usual, made herself at home.

"You didn't tell me she was famous."

"What are you talking about?"

"You look hot in print, Nick. Not that I would have recognized you if I hadn't caught her name."

"Who?"

"Rosie, of course."

I stared at her.

"What did you say?"

"The barefoot Duchess? Well, she's not a Duchess, not yet anyway. But she's in line for the title."

She tossed the magazines on the kitchen island. I froze, my eyes glued to the pages. It was us. Rosie and I. On vacation. In London. In each other's arms.

"Rosie... Oh no."

My heart started beating like a drum. She'd done it. Rebecca had actually done it. She'd leaked the photos to the press. And apparently, she'd made sure they knew that I'd been hired.

The articles made it sound like she needed to pay a man to sleep with her. Which was ridiculous. Even in the casual shots her beauty was unmistakable. But still, it looked bad.

I closed my eyes, wishing I could see her. Hold her. Tell her it was going to be alright.

"Apparently she's in hiding."

"Who, Rosie?"

She nodded, popping a mint into her mouth.

"Yeah no one has seen her in weeks. Have you heard from her Nick?"

I shook my head.

"I'm sure her family has her on lockdown."

"They are the ones who reported her as missing."

Now I was starting to really worry. Rosie wouldn't do something stupid would she? I shook my head. No. I was not going down that road. Besides, she wasn't the type who gave up easily. Or cared what people thought.

"She probably joined the Peace Corps or something"

Kelley rolled her eyes.

"She sounds like a paragon."

I frowned, staring at the gaudy magazine covers.

"She is."

Kelly put her elbows on the table and grinned at me. My mother meanwhile was reading the magazine. But I knew she was listening. She never missed a trick.

"I know how you can make some money. And get the girl."