Page 2 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“It’s easier for me to be at Riverside and commute to work part time at Daddy’s firm,” he explained. His father had a well-respected firm in the city.

The thought of having Ford at school with me made me nauseous. He must be in his first year of law school. I planned on going back to Riverside to complete a master’s degree after I graduated this year. Getting the most knowledge in agricultural science would help me fix my family’s problems on the farm. Even though I didn’t want to take over the dairy farm. I preferred to be with the animals. Being a veterinarian was more up my alley but I wasn’t going to disappoint my father after all he’d sacrificed to raise me in a loveless marriage.

“Isn’t it lovely you two will be attending school together again?” Mom chirped, not hiding the conspiratorial look in her eyes very well. She wanted me back together with Ford. I think she took our breakup harder than I did.

“Yes,” Ford agreed. His eyes found mine and he gave me a bashful smile. Ford was always a handsome guy. He had that charming James Marsden look with dark-blue eyes and scruffy brown hair, a slick jawline and cut cheekbones. But his looks didn’t matter, because on the inside he was a lying, cheating egotistical prick. I wouldn’t be falling for his charms again. At least I hoped I wouldn’t.

Daddy cleared his throat. He was seated behind his solid mahogany desk that belonged to my great-grandfather. “Nowthat we’ve had introductions, can we please talk business? We need to save this farm.”

“You should have thought about that before you shot it to hell,” Mom bit back.

At this rate, we weren’t going to get anywhere. I could just imagine what kind of Thanksgiving this was going to turn out to be.

Ford piped up, explaining the process of paperwork an attorney at his dad’s firm would need to file.

“Well, I better be going. You shouldn’t worry too much and enjoy your Thanksgiving,” he said. “I look forward to seeing you around, Annie.” He was always a charmer.

I forced a smile but it was saccharine. “See you, Ford.”

Ford left the office. “I’ll walk you out,” Mom offered.

“Is he going to be a problem for you, Annie girl?” Daddy asked, watching me with concern.

Yes.

“No, Daddy, I can handle Ford.”

“Good.”

CHAPTER ONE

Three weeks later

Annie

We’re on our way to Fair Shot, a new axe throwing bar that opened this year. Cade was nice enough to pick up Briar and me since Briar’s SUV went into the shop for service.

“What are your plans for the holidays?” Cade asks. I’m sitting in the front seat and Briar is in the back.

“I’m heading home to my family’s farm. Nothing too exciting to write home about. There may be some parties in town. Seeing some old friends.”

“That’s sounds nice,” Cade says. “Do you guys sit around a tree and drink eggnog?”

That’s a weird question.

“We do,” I reply and when I look over at Cade, he seems oddly impressed.

Briar doesn’t answer Cade. I wonder if maybe she doesn’t have any plans this year, but I make a note to ask her later.

“How about you?” I ask.

“Going to the Mayan Riviera with my parents. They aren’t really into the whole family sitting around a tree thing,” he explains.

“That sounds like a dream,” I say. “I’ve never left mainland USA.”

“My parents like to travel. It gets kind of old. I’ve been to a lot of places,” he says, which sounds exciting, but the way he describes it is dry and boring.

Cade parks the car outside the axe throwing bar and we head inside. Our friend group is meeting here tonight, since Finn and Charlie are having a little lovefest back at the hockey house and they wanted privacy.

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