Weekends Required (Danvers #1)(6)
Claire went straight to the couch and laid down intending to take a short rest before packing for the trip. She shuddered one more time at being cornered by ‘William but Billy,’ and hoped she never got that desperate. It had been well over three years now since she’d actually had sex, three long years and to say that she was so horny she literally followed the hunky mailman around like a stalker was an understatement, but please lord, never let me get that desperate. Maybe it is time for one of those vibrating rabbits like Suzy had been suggesting.
When Claire opened her eyes again, the dawn was just starting to break. She jumped up from the couch with her heart pounding; she’d slept through the night, and it was now 7:00 am. She ran into her bedroom and grabbed a suitcase out of the closet dropping it onto the bed. She began pulling slacks and shirts out and within an hour she was fully packed and ready to leave for Columbia. Claire said a quick prayer to herself that she actually had some clothes that would match as she locked her door and packed the suitcase in her car.
Within an hour she was on I-20 heading towards Columbia. She vowed to stop at the next rest area to look over her directions from Jason. Claire finally allowed herself to take a deep breath and relax. She would probably be a bit later than Jason intended but hopefully there would be no news of the contracts yet and she would have a moment to get settled in. She turned on her radio and heard Jon Bon Jovi proudly belting out "Livin' on a Prayer".
When she saw the sign for a rest area, she pulled in and went over her directions. After quick restroom visit, Claire was back on the road, and traffic was picking up as she drew closer to the City of Columbia. She spotted her exit up ahead and turned on the adjoining road. Thanks to Jason’s very precise directions Claire was soon turning into the driveway of Jason’s friend, Harold.
Jason had told her that Harold’s family ran a large ranch that bred and sold very expensive race horses to people from all over the world. The buildings and stables close to the house seemed to be a hub of activity. Claire felt like she was looking back at an episode of her mother’s old favorite night soap opera, Dallas. You almost expected to see Bobby or J.R. Ewing walking out the door. Maybe she could be Pam for the weekend, and Jason could be Bobby. She chuckled to herself at that thought as she pulled her car into an available parking space. Claire spared a glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror and opened the door to exit the car.
She lifted out her small suitcase from the boot of the car just as an enormous dog bounded up to her. Reflexes kicking in, Claire quickly jumped back as the dog skidded to a stop in front of her and proceeded to lick her hand.
“Wolf you crazy dog, stop!” Claire looked up as a pretty girl with a rather harassed air approached the car. “I’m sorry about the impromptu bath, but Wolf has never met a stranger he didn’t lick. I’m Elizabeth, Harold’s fiancée, and you have already met Harold’s mutt, Wolf?”
Claire gave Wolf a quick pat and scratch behind the ears. She offered her other hand to Elizabeth, “Hi; I’m Claire, Jason’s assistant.”
“Good to meet you Claire, Harold asked me to keep an eye out for you since he and Jason have gone riding and have not returned yet.”
“This is a beautiful place; I’d no idea that this was such a large ranch,” said Claire.
“Harold’s family has been in the business for generations. His parents retired to Florida a few years ago and now Harold is running the business; or actually, it seems to be running us most days, but we love it. Come on inside Claire, I made up a guest room upstairs for you near Jason’s room. How long have you worked with Jason?”
Claire followed Elizabeth into a surprisingly homey entryway and replied, “For almost three years.” Suddenly, something under Claire’s foot made a loud squeaking sound. Automatically jumping back with an apology forming on her lips, Claire looked down to see a plastic bone that she’d overlooked on her way across the foyer. She looked over at Elizabeth and they both burst out laughing.
“As you can see Claire, we’ve a pretty informal home, and Wolf is generally the boss of it.” Claire was pleasantly surprised at how friendly Elizabeth was and how comfortable she felt with her. “Jason, Harold and I all went to college together,” continued Elizabeth “and I just think the world of Jason. The other groomsmen are staying at a hotel closer to downtown and they’re all going out tonight for what I highly suspect is a bachelor party for Harold,” laughed Elizabeth. “Harold is on the shy side, and the guys love to embarrass him. I think Jason and Harold were always close because with Harold being the quiet one and Jason being the serious one, they seemed to blend well together. That’s the reason Jason is staying here with us and the others are staying at a hotel; Harold was afraid they’d do something to embarrass him in front of the neighbors.”
Claire followed Elizabeth up the stairs to the end of the hall. Elizabeth opened a door saying, “This is your room,” and, pointing to a door, she indicated an adjoining bathroom. “The door on the left side opens into a connecting bedroom, and Jason will be there. Jason has an office set up in the sitting area of his room, and I thought it would be easier for you to work together if you are close.”
“Thanks so much Elizabeth, I really appreciate everything.”
“Oh call me Liz, everyone else does. I’ll leave you to settle in; if you need anything I’ll be at the other end of the hall in the office on the right working so feel free to drop in. I expect the guys to be back around lunchtime, and we can all have a bite on the patio outside.”