![Wicked: Tempt Me Not [Wicked Series Book 1]](/res/aob/book1.jpg)
Chapter 1
"Please tell me you're joking.” Holly Baker stood wide-eyed, staring out into the vast wilderness surrounding her. She clutched her cell phone tightly in one hand, listening to her best friend's voice.
"I wish I was."
"Roxy, we've had this trip planned for a year! How can you just bail on me? Especially now. I'm already here!"
She looked down at the multiple bags by her feet, then closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. Her friend's last minute business trip two days ago had caused the first seeds of doubt to worm their way in. It threatened to ruin the entire trip but Roxy promised she'd be there. Now, as she stood alone staring at the mountains, her fears were realized.
Turning her head, Holly looked at the resort driver. He stood by the van, a bored expression written across his face. He'd yet to say a word as she shrieked into her cell phone and him ignoring her was almost as bad as Roxy's news.
She turned her back to him, sighing heavily and lowering her voice. “What am I suppose to do now?” she asked.
"Enjoy your vacation,” Roxy said. “I would be there if I could, you know that."
"I know."
"Look, the cabin is paid for. You have two weeks to do nothing but relax, forget about your job, and just chill out. Enjoy yourself."
"How can I do that alone?” Holly asked. “I'll have no one to talk to but the damn birds."
Roxy laughed. “I'm really sorry, hon. You know I'd be there if I could but I can't pass this case up. It would be career suicide."
Holly ran a hand through her hair, pushing stray tendrils dangling in her face behind her ear. Roxy's rich clients always came first. When they needed their lawyer, she ran, no matter what disruption it caused in her life. Today was no different.
Shaking her head, Holly leaned back against the van, and once again looked out over the mountains. “You could have at least stranded me somewhere exotic, with sandy beaches and plenty of eye candy. All I get is trees and bear poop."
"Having a hoard of hot guys wasn't on your list of requirements,” Roxy snorted a laugh. “And if I remember correctly, you said, and I quote, ‘Somewhere quiet, with pretty scenery'."
"Yes well, you didn't have to take me literally. This is the middle of fucking no where!"
"No. It's Tennessee. It's on the map. Look it up."
Holly rolled her eyes at her friend's laughter and sighed.
"Look,” Roxy said. “I'll make it up to you. Your birthday is only four months away. I'll thrown you a party the likes you've never seen. I promise."
"You better."
"I will,” Roxy laughed. “As soon as you get back from your all expenses paid vacation."
Holly grinned. “Fine. I'll be sure to drink all your liquor and call you endlessly when I get bored."
"You do that."
Holly disconnected the phone and turned to look at the driver. “I guess I'm staying."
"Great,” he said, pushing off the van. “I'll carry your bags inside."
Holly watched him walk to the cabin, unlock the door, and disappear inside. She stood there, staring out at the surrounding mountains.
Alone for two weeks on the side of a mountain. Could life get any worse?
The driver walked back outside minutes later, smiling as he approached her. “The cabinets are stocked just as requested and everything you need has been provided."
"Thank you,” she said, reaching into her bag for a tip. He stood patiently and accepted it with a smile.
"Have a lovely vacation, Ms. Baker."
Holly watched him start the van and pull away, heading back down the mountain. When he was finally out of sight, she turned a full circle, and tried to see the beauty around her without a jaded eye.
Mountains seemed to reach into the clouds, the shadows the sun cast on them made them appear to be colored in shades of pink and purple. Emerald green trees swayed softly in the breeze, the scent of wintergreen and fresh mountain air filled her lungs and replaced the stale, stagnant smells of the city from her body.
The cabin Roxy had rented
"Please tell me you're joking.” Holly Baker stood wide-eyed, staring out into the vast wilderness surrounding her. She clutched her cell phone tightly in one hand, listening to her best friend's voice.
"I wish I was."
"Roxy, we've had this trip planned for a year! How can you just bail on me? Especially now. I'm already here!"
She looked down at the multiple bags by her feet, then closed her eyes and tried to remain calm. Her friend's last minute business trip two days ago had caused the first seeds of doubt to worm their way in. It threatened to ruin the entire trip but Roxy promised she'd be there. Now, as she stood alone staring at the mountains, her fears were realized.
Turning her head, Holly looked at the resort driver. He stood by the van, a bored expression written across his face. He'd yet to say a word as she shrieked into her cell phone and him ignoring her was almost as bad as Roxy's news.
She turned her back to him, sighing heavily and lowering her voice. “What am I suppose to do now?” she asked.
"Enjoy your vacation,” Roxy said. “I would be there if I could, you know that."
"I know."
"Look, the cabin is paid for. You have two weeks to do nothing but relax, forget about your job, and just chill out. Enjoy yourself."
"How can I do that alone?” Holly asked. “I'll have no one to talk to but the damn birds."
Roxy laughed. “I'm really sorry, hon. You know I'd be there if I could but I can't pass this case up. It would be career suicide."
Holly ran a hand through her hair, pushing stray tendrils dangling in her face behind her ear. Roxy's rich clients always came first. When they needed their lawyer, she ran, no matter what disruption it caused in her life. Today was no different.
Shaking her head, Holly leaned back against the van, and once again looked out over the mountains. “You could have at least stranded me somewhere exotic, with sandy beaches and plenty of eye candy. All I get is trees and bear poop."
"Having a hoard of hot guys wasn't on your list of requirements,” Roxy snorted a laugh. “And if I remember correctly, you said, and I quote, ‘Somewhere quiet, with pretty scenery'."
"Yes well, you didn't have to take me literally. This is the middle of fucking no where!"
"No. It's Tennessee. It's on the map. Look it up."
Holly rolled her eyes at her friend's laughter and sighed.
"Look,” Roxy said. “I'll make it up to you. Your birthday is only four months away. I'll thrown you a party the likes you've never seen. I promise."
"You better."
"I will,” Roxy laughed. “As soon as you get back from your all expenses paid vacation."
Holly grinned. “Fine. I'll be sure to drink all your liquor and call you endlessly when I get bored."
"You do that."
Holly disconnected the phone and turned to look at the driver. “I guess I'm staying."
"Great,” he said, pushing off the van. “I'll carry your bags inside."
Holly watched him walk to the cabin, unlock the door, and disappear inside. She stood there, staring out at the surrounding mountains.
Alone for two weeks on the side of a mountain. Could life get any worse?
The driver walked back outside minutes later, smiling as he approached her. “The cabinets are stocked just as requested and everything you need has been provided."
"Thank you,” she said, reaching into her bag for a tip. He stood patiently and accepted it with a smile.
"Have a lovely vacation, Ms. Baker."
Holly watched him start the van and pull away, heading back down the mountain. When he was finally out of sight, she turned a full circle, and tried to see the beauty around her without a jaded eye.
Mountains seemed to reach into the clouds, the shadows the sun cast on them made them appear to be colored in shades of pink and purple. Emerald green trees swayed softly in the breeze, the scent of wintergreen and fresh mountain air filled her lungs and replaced the stale, stagnant smells of the city from her body.
The cabin Roxy had rented
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