Free & Wild Read online

  FREE & WILD

  Lindsey Hart

  Dedicated to the Passion House Publishing team.

  You guys are awesome.

  Contents

  Free Download: HIJACKED BY HER GREEK BOSS

  Copyright

  About the Author

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  EPILOGUE

  BURNING TOUCH

  AGAINST HIS WILL

  HER CAPTOR

  ROMANTIC TAKEOVER: Seduced

  HIJACKED BY HER GREEK BOSS

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  FREE & WILD

  Asha Roseland is as wild and untamed as the land that’s been in her family for generations…

  Forced to grow up at a young age after losing her parents and raising her sister, Asha treasures her independence. She has everything she’s ever wanted, her farm animal rescue, the love of good friends and volunteers, and a sister who runs the family’s small business in the city. She wasn’t looking to change anything…

  When Asha’s younger sister suggests revamping the Roseland Sanctuary’s website, Asha can’t help but agree. Even if it means a big shot from the city coming out to the farm to get a feel for the rescue before retooling their image.

  Gabriel Donald didn’t fully understand what he was walking into. Sometimes a job is more than a job…

  One of the best at what he does, marketing and design, Gabriel agrees to taken on Roseland Sanctuary even if that means spending a week in the mud, hay and blazing hot sun. He never imagined that his new job might be so interesting, in the form of one beautiful, free spirited, lost soul.

  Colton Arrington can’t leave even if he wants to. He could sell his farm at any time and walk away a very rich man, but he can’t leave the woman he’s always loved…

  The only problem with loving a woman who doesn’t love you back is that it hurts. Asha might be willing to give Colt her body, but she can’t give the one thing he wants most- her heart. He knows he should move on, but he just can’t leave her behind. Especially not with the arrival of a stranger from the city, a man who is interested in more than just Roseland.

  Can Colt and Asha finally find happiness together or will the wounds of the past break everything they hold dear?

  All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, or transmitted by email without permission in writing from the publisher. While all attempts and efforts have been made to verify the information held within this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions, or opposing interpretations of the content herein. The book is for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of the author alone and should not be taken as expert instruction or commands.

  Copyright © Passion House Publishing Ltd 2018

  All rights reserved.

  You can contact the team at [email protected].

  About the Author

  Lindsey Hart is a married mom of a two-year old and lives in Ohio with her husband and two furry balls Persian cats who takes themselves as the owner of the house.

  She specializes in sweet to extra hot and dirty romance and strongly believes in happily ever after. If you are looking for a page turner, you are in for a wild and naughty ride with feisty heroine and alpha male heroes.

  Sign up on the Passion House Publishing newsletter to obtain more information on her hot new releases and also get a free eBook by fellow author Rose Chapman.

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  CHAPTER 1

  Asha

  Asha Roseland stood like a lost island in the middle of the sea that was her sister’s messy office. She stared at her sister Katelyn, trying to absorb all that she was saying. Asha found her younger sister’s logic sound, her advice well thought out.

  “I think that the farm would benefit from a better website. And the store as well. I know someone who I think would be a good fit for the job.” Katelyn produced a business card from the pocket of dark wash designer jeans that were so tight it was a miracle even a card could fit between the almost non-existent denim pocket and the warm skin beneath.

  Asha turned the card over, studying it. The creamy paper was thick, like it had been recycled. The script at the top was embossed in gold. Gabriel Donald. She took a step towards Katelyn’s massive desk. The old oak piece had been salvaged from some antique store. Though Katelyn was young, she had an old soul.

  Katelyn stared on, her light blue eyes ever expressive. It was impossible to pinpoint exactly what went on in her sister’s brain. Katelyn, with long blonde hair, a heart shaped face and a petite, lithe form, looked a little like a fairy. She had that otherworldly look that drew people to her, especially men. Like Asha, Katelyn preferred friendship over attachment. Neither sister would admit outright to ever even having a proper boyfriend.

  “I guess we could give it a try.” Asha hated to admit it but she knew Katelyn was right.

  Their family farm, turned into a sanctuary for all animals, pets and farm animals alike, was picking up steam now that they were a functioning non-profit. What had started out as Asha’s tender heart gathering strays, had turned into a larger scale rescue.

  It had been Katelyn’s idea to support the farm with a store in the city. Asha was impressed with her younger sister’s ingenuity. She never would have thought that it could or would work. It still amazed her how many generous people wanted to get involved and sent donations. Most of those people heard about Roseland Sanctuary through the store and through Katelyn’s tireless efforts.

  “It’s a good idea, Natasha.” Katelyn folded her arms over her chest and grinned wickedly. “I haven’t been wrong so far, have I? Starting the store has been an amazing idea. Not only does it give everyone an opportunity to sell all their crafts and homemade items, which by the way is totally a lost art that some people do still appreciate, it really gives people a chance to find out about Roseland and everything we do. When I hand out cards or give out a pamphlet, people want to check out the website or social media page. For them to do that, it should be good.”

  “I guess you don’t have a business degree for nothing,” Asha admitted dryly. She utterly hated when anyone used her given name and Katelyn knew it.

  Her sister leaned in, eyes sparkling, dancing with life. “I think if we had a better website that made it easier for people to donate and maybe had some more information about all the animals as well as a stronger social media presence, people would get involved. You
’d have more volunteers and more donations. You could even start up a merchandise line. Calendars, t-shirts…”

  Asha sighed. “That all seems like so much work. I can’t even imagine putting it all together. I’m so busy as it is.”

  “Which is why you need someone to help you.” Katelyn indicated the card Asha was still holding. “Gabriel is really good. I know him from school. We were in some marketing classes together. He does fabulous work. Actually, that’s an understatement. He’s amazing. A genius. I think he could do all the work. Get everything started.”

  “I bet he has a price tag to match.”

  Katelyn pursed her lips. “Leave that to me. He may be able to give you a discount considering you’re a non-profit. Maybe he can even do the work for next to nothing if he can put his logo at the bottom of the website or something. Or if I agree to hand out his cards in the store. Let me work on that.”

  Asha couldn’t help but smile. She imagined her sister sweet talking this Gabriel, a man who, because he was male, probably wasn’t immune to Katelyn’s considerable charms.

  “Alright, alright. If you think it’s a good idea, I’ll agree to it. But only if the price is right. You know that I can’t really afford to pay anyone much.”

  Katelyn softened. She perched on the edge of the desk. “Yah. I know. This is all about the farm. You always did love it. I couldn’t wait to get away and move to the city, but for you it was always about the land. You’ve had this weird connection with it since you were born. Like you were created out of that dust and earth, not actually birthed like I was.”

  “No one would doubt that you’re my sister. We look exactly alike. If I’m made out of mud and grass then so are you.”

  Katelyn laughed so hard her dainty shoulders shook. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and Asha felt the telltale pin pricks and closed up throat that indicated she was a little close to weeping herself. She always got that way when she talked about the farm- or thought about their parents.

  “I can call Gabriel in the morning,” Katelyn said, breaking the brief moment of silent communion they shared.

  “Alright. Let me know.”

  “I will.” Katelyn hesitated as Asha stood. “You know, I don’t know if I ever thanked you for what you did for me. You know… not going to university because you wanted to stay and make sure I was looked after.”

  That burning sensation at the back of Asha’s throat was back. She swallowed, with considerable effort. “I know, honey. The truth was, I never wanted to leave. We both know that.”

  “You always were like a mother to me, Asha. I feel like, now that I have my degree and I’m older, I really can recognize what you did for me. You gave me every opportunity in the world to become the person I wanted to be. I’m only a success because of you.”

  “And we still have the farm and can care for all those animals because of you. You’re brilliant, Katelyn. I might have raised you but we’re a team now. The Roseland girls, saving the world.”

  Katelyn giggled, a sound that was as musical and soft as it ever had been. She reached out and pulled Asha into a tight hug. Asha clung to those tiny, almost frail shoulders. It was true. She had been like a mother to Katelyn after their parents were killed in a car accident. Asha was nearly eighteen, Katelyn just thirteen.

  Life had been an unstated bargain between Asha and her sister. She always knew that she had to care for Katelyn. The day their parents left for the city to get groceries and never came back home, the day they got the devastating news, Asha went from being a normal teenager, on the cusp of her own life, to a pseudo mother to her little sister who was as lost as herself without parents to guide her.

  She’d inherited the farm when she turned eighteen a month later. Because of the love and help of their community, they were able to get by. Colton Arrington, her closest neighbor, cared for her land. He’d always helped her father farm it and when her parents died, he took over, no questions asked, no money required. It was more than that though. For Colt, it was always more than that.

  If Katelyn was the reason Asha hadn’t gone off to college, she was the reason Colt never left the area.

  Asha truly wanted to right by the land that raised her. She’d started a rescue. It was something she’d always dreamed of doing. She remembered long nights spent with her father in conversation about the future of the farm. Five years later, she and Katelyn and the staff that never left the farm after their parents died as well as many industrious volunteers, helped make that dream a reality. A dream where every life was cherished and every being was someone, not something.

  “Saving the world,” Asha mumbled, realizing she’d drifted off. She shook herself back to the present. “I better get back. It’s a long drive.”

  “I know. An hour and a half can turn into so much longer when it’s dark.”

  Asha nodded. “I have a couple boxes in the truck if you want to give me a hand.”

  “Sure.”

  Katelyn followed Asha into the back hall of the store. Roseland General wasn’t huge but it wasn’t small either. Katelyn had found the perfect building, an old bank turned into retail space with businesses above and to either side. She’d turned the space into a quaint, all natural, handmade paradise that the people of Oakland loved to support.

  “Wow! You brought me a whole treasure trove.”

  “Well, the garden is finally starting to produce. Literally. I’ll have lots of produce for you over the next couple weeks. I know people go crazy for that.” Asha passed a box of jams into Katelyn’s waiting arms.

  “I can take another.”

  “Alright.” Asha added another box of jam and a box of baking after that.

  “I don’t know where you guys find time for this.” Katelyn spoke around the heap of boxes that were stacked nearly to her face.

  “I know. Our volunteers really are amazing.” Asha did have a couple women, even families, who lived on the farm full time. In exchange for a small salary and living quarters, they volunteered their time at the farm. That meant everything from looking after the animals to gardening to quilting and making jam. When the goods sold in the store, the maker received a share of the proceeds with a part of the share going to the store to pay rent and bills. “I swear Ginny cans all day.”

  Katelyn was a genius at finding other suppliers of fair trade merchandise and other interesting items to stock the store so that it actually turned a neat profit. There was a huge section with information about the farm and animals and Asha was surprised at how many people donated based on the information.

  Asha filled her own arms with boxes and followed her sister back into the store. Katelyn set everything in the back room, a smaller area used for sorting and tagging, pricing and extra merchandise.

  “You better go.” Katelyn took her phone out of her pocket and checked the time. “It’s already six. You’re going to be driving in the dark.”

  “Not nearly. I’ll make it long before then. Bertie will get me there.”

  “Bertie is on her last legs.”

  Asha admitted that her sister was probably right. The old pick up truck used to be rusty, but trusty. Now it was just more rusty. She hoped it wouldn’t give up on her. She needed her three trucks for the farm and couldn’t really afford to replace it just yet.

  Katelyn stood just outside the back door as Asha got in her truck. She rolled down the window and smiled at the sister who had been once more like a daughter and now was as good as her best friend.

  “Come out to the farm more often,” Asha teased. She knew her sister missed Roseland Sanctuary but that she was much more at home in the city.

  “I will.”

  “Hey… when you call that website guy-”

  “Gabriel,” Katelyn filled in helpfully.

  “Yes, when you call Gabriel, tell him that if he wants the job he has to spend a month out at Roseland with me. Learning what we really do. I don't want someone misrepresenting us on our own website and social media and from experien
ce I know that people don’t really get it until they visit. And I want to make sure that I trust him first.”

  “Asha..." Katelyn tried to protest but Asha cut her off.

  “A month at the farm with me to supervise him or no deal. Of course I'll pay him and provide him with room and board at no charge.”

  “How about a couple weeks? We can’t expect the work for a discount and to take up all his time as well.”

  “Alright,” Asha finally ceded. She pulled out of her parking spot behind the store and waved. She checked the rear-view mirror and smiled when she saw that Katelyn’s receding figure was still waving.

  It wasn’t until Asha left the city limits that she finally relaxed. She wasn’t sure why she was always so tense when she was there. She just couldn’t breathe in the city.

  She couldn’t quite shake the disquiet in her soul, even as she left the city behind and headed down the familiar highway to her farm.

  Gabriel. Who was he anyway? Why did she care? She just didn’t like the thought of someone from the city coming and telling her how backwards her lifestyle was or why it was crazy to rescue cows.

  She half hoped that the guy wouldn’t accept Katelyn’s offer. If he did, she would have to clean out one of the old staff cabins. She’d promised room and board and she currently had neither of those things.

  Worst of all, Asha didn’t like the disquiet, the wondering, the way her mind conjured up images of a man she knew nothing about.

  It wasn’t until she was almost home, traversing the familiar grid roads, the dust of the gravel seeping into her truck, that Colton’s face flashed through her mind. She decided not to head straight to the farm and detoured down the road that led to the quaint yellow farmhouse that belonged to the one man she trusted with her life, but not her heart.