Page 74 of Hot for the Hockey Player (The Single Moms of San Camanez: The Vino Vixens #2)

Hot for Mr. Moneybags

The Single Moms of San Camanez: The Vino Vixens

Danica and Tommaso

CHAPTER ONE

Danica

“This is fantastic. Thank you 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.”

With a grunt, he set the barrel down next to the other seven I brought over and stood up to his impressive, full height and tossing back his floppy brown hair while also dazzling me with a big smile. “Well, we haven’t helped you yet . 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 in 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 with a small nod. “We’re taking it day-by-day. Which is all we can do. 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 way most people do.”

“How’s Cesca doing?”

Rolling his lips inward, he continued to nod. “She’s doing better. Thanks. Do you know uh … Tommaso or “Tomas” Barone?”

Frowning, I shook my head. “Is he a child psychologist or something? I’ve read so many books on childhood anxiety and stuff 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?”

Cameron nodded. “Yeah. It’s actually the land right next to Bonn Remmen’s on the other side.

Since the McEvoys are obviously on one side.

Big, beautiful chunk of property. He’s got a bunch of horses, some cows, ponies, donkeys, chickens, ducks, an alpaca and even a pig—which he lets live in his house with him. ”

“Okay …” Where we Cameron going with this exactly?

He must have realized I had no idea 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, she has to be calm and can’t be anxious.

Tomas has got her up on one of the older therapy horses as well a few times. 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 Tomas suggested that?” I wracked 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 know everyon e , 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 let’s 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 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 was very successful 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 had a meth lab under the barn?”

That made Cameron snort. “No idea. His online bio doesn’t say why he left Italy.

Or how he 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.

“So much.” He shrugged. “You want Tomas’s number? He’s terrible at texting back, and never answers when you call, but you could try. Or you could just rock up to his place like I did.”

“I’ll think about it. I’m glad Cesca is doing better though.

” I headed for the driver’s side door of my SUV.

Cameron followed me a few steps, shielding his eyes from the glaring sun overhead.

“Just out of curiosity,” I started, prompting him to tilt his head to the side, “The reason you haven’t left her alone with him isn’t because you don’t …

trust him, is it? He doesn’t give you like … creeper vibes?”

Cameron’s eyes widened as he continued to shield them from the sun with his big hand.

Then he shook his head. “Absolutely not. He doesn’t give off those vibes at all.

Honestly, I haven’t left her yet because I’m not sure Tomas would be comfortable with it.

I know he has a kid, but he’s grown and still lives in Italy.

Leaving the poor guy with an anxious little girl would probably be his worst nightmare and traumatize him more than it would Cesca.

” He chuckled and kicked a large rock into the nearby brush.

“But no, the guy doesn’t give off creepy vibes.

I would feel comfortable leaving Cesca there if Tomas said it was okay. ”

Even more concern and worry dissipated from around my heart.

After the shit I went through my ex-husband, that thought was always at the forefront of my mind.

Maybe I was a tad too protective of Sam at times, and perhaps that had contributed to her anxiety—in fact, I’m sure it had—but I’d rather she be an anxious person and protected, than the alternative.

“Good to know,” I breathed. My phone vibrated in my pocket and Cameron’s did in his as well.

Weird.

Unless …

We each pulled out our phone and checked our messages. Mine was from my cousin Gabrielle, and the winery manager.

(Gabrielle) Island Elders have asked to see ALL five parties that they heard extended proposals from. They want us there tonight.

I glanced up at Cameron.

“I’m guessing you just got notified about the meeting tonight too?” he asked.

I nodded. “What do you think it means?”

“I’m hoping it means that they’ve finally decided who they’re going to give Bonn Remmen’s land to and stop putting us all through the freaking wringer. It’s been exhausting and frustrating and just plain annoying.”

I slid behind the steering wheel and exhaled. “Yeah, for us too.”

“They’re all retired hippies. They have nothing better to do than sit around and smoke peyote or dance naked around their monthly bonfire. Why has it taken this long for them to decide who gets the land?”

“Why’d you conjure that visual in my head?” I asked, pressing the start button for my vehicle. “I still haven’t been able to erase the image of a bunch of them nude sunbathing down at the beach below the vineyard. Abe Jefferies is a very pale, very wrinkly man.”