Page 1 of Only for the Season

Chapter 1

Jeremy – a billionaire who’s beginning to regret his decision to visit Smuggler’s Hideaway for the holidays

Jeremy

“Turn left in fifty feet on Treasure Trap Trail.”

“Left? Where? Treasure Trap Trail?” I search the area, but there’s no road to the left. There’s only a dirt trail. Am I supposed to drive on it?

“Turn left here.”

“I’m turning already.”

I’m also talking to my GPS as if it’s human. I blame my isolation for the past weeks, trying to get this new app developed for my company,Apparoo.It’s been tough not having anyone to talk to. But I also haven’t vented my frustration on anyone, so HR should be happy with me.

My rental car bumps down the dirt road. Why in the world does Eli live on a dirt road? As the co-founder ofApparoo,he has enough money to pave all the roads on this island.

Why the hell does he want to live on Smuggler’s Hideaway anyway? An island is nice for a vacation. Not as somewhere to live.

Baa!

“Shit!” I yell and slam on the brakes before I hit the sheep in the middle of the road. Where the hell did it come from?

My heart batters in my chest as the car screeches to a halt inches from the animal. I’m not an animal lover, but I don’t want to kill some innocent beast.

I wait, but it doesn’t move. I honk my horn. The sheep still doesn’t move.

Great. Just what I need.

I roll down my window and shout at it. “Move on. Get out of here.”

Awesome. Now I’m shouting at some random sheep on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. Can this day get any worse?

The sheep starts to move. Good. I can get out of here. But instead of wandering away, it turns around to fully face me.Baa!

Damnit. I fold out of the car.

“Go! Move!”

Baa!

“Don’t you baa me. This is a road for cars. Not a road for animals.”

Baa!

Screw this. I’m not getting into a fight with a sheep. I climb back in the car. There’s no way Eli lives on this road. I’ll turn around and drive back into town to get directions.

I turn the steering wheel fully to the left to drive across the road. I barely make it a foot before I reach the edge. Shit. Turning around on this narrow road is going to be impossible. I’ll have to reverse the entire way.

Stupid sheep. Stupid island. Stupid app I can’t figure out how to program.

I slowly reverse down the road. The sheep continues to bleat as I drive.

“I’m going already!” I shout at it.

I’m almost at the main road when I notice a man walking through the field. Is he the sheep herder? Do sheep herders still exist? Whatever.

“Hey!” I shout to get the man’s attention.