CHAPTER ONE
Danica
“Thisisfantastic.Thankyou so much, Danica,” Cameron Arendelle said as he unloaded the last of the wine barrels from the back of my utility trailer into his distillery warehouse.
I closed the tailgate of the trailer and tucked a strand of my blonde hair behind my ear, smiling a little as I glanced down at the ground.“No problem.Happy to help, especially since you help us.”
Grunting, he set the barrel down next to the other seven I brought over and stood up to his impressive full height, tossing back his floppy brown hair while also dazzling me with a big smile.“Well, we haven’t helped youyet.But once the whiskey ages a little longer, then we will.”
Since the winery I owned and operated with my cousins on the island had been around a lot longer than the distillery Cameron ran with three of his friends, we had the wine barrels to give them to “finish” their whiskey in.But their distillery wasn’t that old, so the barrels they bought and started using in the beginning didn’t have enough whiskey flavor in them for us to do a “wine finish.”That was the plan for the future though.Just swap barrels with each other to help create better, more sought-after products.
Tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he wrinkled his nose a little and stepped closer to me, and also into the spring sunshine, which only fell across the peppering of freckles on his cheeks and nose.“How’s Sam doing?”he asked, concern in his amber eyes.
He didn’t have to elaborate because I knew exactly what he was talking about.My ten-year-old daughter, Sam, was putting me through the wringer with her anxiety and self-esteem issues.The poor thing had started self-harming, and I’d never felt more lost in my life on how to help her.
Cameron knew a bit about what I was going through though, since his nine-year-old daughter Francesca was also incredibly anxious, and while he had never mentioned self-harm, I knew Cameron was really struggling.We actually started talking about it when we met in the office of the medical clinic when both girls had appointments with the new pediatric nurse practitioner on the island.
“She’s doing … okay,” I said, giving a small nod.“We’re taking it day by day.Which is all wecando.The self-harm stuff hasn’t happened in a while—thankfully—but the low self-esteem is still a challenge.”
He frowned and offered an understanding nod.“It’s so hard when they don’t see themselves the way we do.The waymostpeople do.”
“How’s Cesca doing?”
Rolling his lips inward, he continued to nod.“She’s doing better.Thanks.Do you know, uh … Tommaso, or ‘Tom’ Barone?”
Frowning, I shook my head.“Is he a child psychologist or something?I’ve read so many books on childhood anxiety and stuff that all the authors are blending together.”
His laugh was soft, and his smile small.“No.He lives here on the island.Keeps to himself, but he actually runs an animal rescue center.”
My jaw nearly hit the gravel.“Here?On San Camanez?”How had I not known about this?Sam was obsessed with animals.Had wanted to be a vet since she was two, and had been a staunch vegetarian since she was four.
Cameron nodded.“Yeah.It’s actually the land right next to Bonn Remmen’s, on theotherside.Since the McEvoys are obviously on one side.Big, beautiful chunk of property.He’s got a bunch of horses, ponies, donkeys, chickens, goats, ducks, and even a pig—which he lets live in his house with him.”
“Okay …” Where was Cameron going with this exactly?
He must have realized I had no idea of the destination of his train of thought, and he chuckled.“Cesca’s been going there to work with the horses.It’s been really great for her.Since horses need calm, shehasto be calm and can’t be anxious.Tommaso has gotten her up on one of the older therapy horses a few times as well.Which she just loves.”
“Is he a trained professional?”I asked.
“Not as far as I know.He’s a quiet guy.Doesn’t talk much.But he’s great with Cesca and the animals.I stay with her the whole time; however, she’s starting to make noise about me leaving her there.”
“Has Tommaso suggested that?”I racked my brain to see if I’d ever encountered Tommaso Barone or what he might look like.I’d been on the island for several years now, and while I certainly didn’t knoweveryone,I knew most.Well, maybe not as many as my cousins, Naomi and Raina, since they were quite a bit more outgoing than me.But I still knew people.Why didn’t I know we had an animal rescue center on the island?
Cameron shook his head.“No, which is why I haven’t allowed it.I’m just grateful to him that he lets Cesca come at all.”
“What do you mean?Does he not run a program, or isn’t it a business?”The more Cameron talked about this mystery man and his animal haven, the more confused I got.
“Nope.I honestly ran into him on a fluke last summer at the kids’ school’s end-of-year funfair, and we got to chatting.He mentioned he had horses, and then I must have tucked that into the back of my brain.When things with Cesca started getting worse, I came across equine therapy and remembered he mentioned having horses.So I popped by his place and asked him if I could bring Cesca by.”
“So, it’s not a tourist attraction type thing?Or a certified therapy center?How the hell does he pay for …” I tossed my hands into the air, “life?The food for the animals and their medical bills?Is he like independently wealthy or something?”
His grin turned a little cheeky.“He was a former Italian pro footballer.Guy has millions.Oodles of money.Though, you’d never know it to look at him with his dirty jeans and ripped white T-shirts that he wears all the time.But, yeah.I Googled him after I first visited his property and had the same questions you did.He wasverysuccessful in his prime and must have just invested well.”
“And he decided to come to freaking San Camanez and open up an animal rescue center?”Something wasn’t adding up.“Is he laundering money?Trafficking animals?Running drugs?Do you think he has a meth lab under the barn?”
That made Cameron snort.“No idea.His online bio doesn’t saywhyhe left Italy.Orhowhe got land over here.And I haven’t asked.He’s not exactly the kind of guy who is super chatty or forthcoming with information.However, I highly doubt he’s running a meth lab under the barn.While I can’t guarantee it, I’d bet my stake in my company on it.”His playful smile did actually ease some of the worry brewing inside of me.
“But the horses, and animals, and stuff are helping Cesca?”As long as the guy wasn’t running a meth lab under the barn, and Cameron’s daughter was benefiting, maybe I needed to pay a visit to Mr.Moneybags and see if my kid could come pet a horse or a donkey once in a while.
