Chapter one
Simone took a deep breath and blew it out. She wouldn't spend these two weeks in Austria berating herself for going down those stairs that day. Or tripping over Bandit on the stairs. There was no way of knowing that was the day she would lose her baby. She shut down those dark memories as Kim began shaking her shoulders.
"Simone, don't do that. The doctor said by reliving that day you kill the good feelings from the other days. Now nobody wants you to forget Butterfly, but you can't stay in that place. We took this trip so you could rejuvenate and recharge."
Simone pulled her camera from her duffle. "Four months isn't long enough to dull the pain, Kim. However, I know I have to come out of this funk. So for sanity sake and the love of my Butterfly's memory, I promise to enjoy myself and relax here in beautiful Austria. It cost too much to have a crappy time."
"I think this first tour will help you. The fresh air and pine trees and all that other nature stuff you like." Kim tapped Simone's bag. "I doubt you'll need this much stuff for two days in the mountains, girl."
"I need to be prepared for whatever the weather does up there. And I can't believe you're not going on this tour with me." Simone stuffed a couple brochures in her bag next to her trail mix.
Kim held both hands out like scales one higher than the other. "Hike the mountains or tour a beer plant-sorry the mountains lose." Kim nodded out across the hotel lobby. "Besides, get a look at the men in your group."
The lobby was full of guys. How could she not? "Yeah, they're at the most, what, twenty-five? Straight tenderonies, just what I don't need." Holding her camera up, she snapped pictures of the mountains beyond the big picture window. The Danube River sparkled under the lights bouncing off the other buildings surrounding its edge outside.
"That might be just what you need, some hot, young, strong toy to get you back on track."
"No thank you. I'll just look and stay mature, if you don't mind."
"Suit yourself, but when'll we get to Austria again? If Stella can get her groove back in Jamaica, how come Simone can't find some thunder down under?"
"Kim, those are male dancers from Australia, not Austria. I've had enough thunder in my life. I don't mind a little rain, but please no more thunder. I don't care if it's down under, to the left, or overhead... I don't want it." She capped her camera's lens, then checked her battery pack for her laptop. Vacation or not, she wanted to download any good pictures she took.
"Alright I won't push, but you need someone to get you back in the saddle. I think that hunk of Austrian certified beef will do just fine." She pointed toward a tall, dark-haired Adonis.
"I'm not even interested, Kim. Go, I'll see you in two days."
"Hopefully the next morning, if I meet Mr. Right." They hugged and went their separate ways. Looking at the people lining up for her tour van, Simone prayed whoever her partner was spoke English.
ChapterTwo A
The lens cap dangled from the camera as Simone, now up a snow-dusted tree, wedged her shoulders between two branches. How often would she get the opportunity to photograph a wild horse in a full winter coat drinking from a thawing stream in Austria at the break of winter? Never. Wiggling her hips, she stretched out over the thick branch to lie flat over the snow-covered bark, and prayed it held her.
Frame after frame she captured nature in the raw. Smoky puffs of cold air blew from the horse's nostrils as he drank from the melting stream. The seasons were fighting to transition with winter, leaving and spring struggling to arrive.
A groan echoed from below caught her attention. She jerked her head around and lost grip on the camera, letting it fall to the ground as she clung to the branch. Crawling totally out on the branch, she watched as a tall figure emerged from the wooded area. The morning's soft glow peeking through the trees appeared to part around his large form moving in closer to her. His gait smooth through the downed branches and rocks. She stilled herself, hoping he hadn't seen her. As he approached and came to a stop beneath the branch, she slowly exhaled the breath she hadn't realized she held. The man was from the tour group, her Austrian Adonis.
He stopped under the tree and peered up at her, studying her body laying the length of the branch.
"Are you comfortable up there, miss?"
"I dropped my camera." She extended her hand out. "Can you hand it to me please? It's over there."
His bright white jacket made crinkling noses as he crouched down, plucking the camera from the ground. He brushed the dead leaves and snow off before handing it to her. Accepting it, she hung it around her neck. "Thank you." Had he been watching her? How did he know she dropped her camera?
"You're welcome," he said, his voice a warm caress. Swallowing the delicious scent coming off this man, she followed his attention captured through the trees in the clearing.
"Beautiful animal."
"Excuse me?"
"The horse. He's beautiful."
"The horse..." Craning her neck around the trees before catching the chestnut colored horse off in the distance nosing the ground, she said, "Uhm...Yes, he is beautiful and hungry from the looks of it." She stuck out a gloved hand. "Simone Daniels and you are?"
"Seth-Seth Dragoslava." Taking her hand, he nodded toward the ground. "Fall into me, I'll help you."
"Thanks but I can manage. Thank you for the camera though. I appreciate it," she said, placing the lanyard around her neck. "I'll get a few more shots before the hiking van is ready to leave. Thank you again," she repeated and watched him slip back into the woods. She refused to notice, what a sexy voice he had. No man-candy this trip.
~~~ Scene end~~~ Full story available @ amzn, allromance, Kobo and B&N. $3.85 :)
