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The lifted cover revealed a fabulous view of the countryside. Fields stretched out for miles and were dotted with clumps of trees and grazing animals. Fences marked off ancient territories and the whitewashed walls of smaller villas glistened in the waning sun. The fields ruled the view until they reached a thin strip of white that I guessed was sand. Beyond those countless grains lay a vast blue-green sea. Its waters shimmered and sparkled, creating a dazzling horizon that instilled within me a sea-longing I’d never felt before.
“Wow,” I breathed.
Ben chuckled. “Amazing, isn’t it?”
I bobbed my head. “How did you find this view?”
His eyes flitted upward. “I once climbed onto the roof to try to escape from a very angry and very stubborn chicken. The view my efforts garnered me was breathtaking, so I made an easier access by cutting this hole into the side of the barn.”
“I’m glad you did,” I told him as I returned to admiring the view. “This is beautiful.”
“So it is,” he whispered. I turned my face to him and found he was staring at me.
I blushed beneath his intense attention and shifted. My knee bone bit hard into the board and I winced. “Might I suggest an improvement with some cushions?”
Ben chuckled as he lowered and secured the cover. “I second that motion. My own knees aren’t as young as they used to be.”
I twisted around and found I could look down the entire aisle of the barn straight to the open doors. “Didn’t your dad get mad at you when he found out?”
“He was quite furious,” Ben admitted as we stood. “I was spanked within an inch of my life, but there was nothing to do but leave the cover as it was. Even he admitted it wasn’t a terrible job, just one that was most unwelcome.”
“Did you have dreams of becoming a carpenter?” I teased as we made our way back onto the loft.
“I’ve tried my hand at most everything I could find, within reason,” he admitted with a sly smile.
I snorted. “As our first meeting proved.”
He bowed his head as we reached the ladder. “Very true, my dear. Now let’s see to a tour of the house before our guests arrive.”
We didn’t have long to wait. Our guests arrived less than a half hour later, and we could hear them coming. Well, at least one of them.
Ben and I were still admiring the ancient driftwood furniture in one of the upstairs bedrooms when they came up the drive. The thunder vehicle Boastful roared up the driveway followed closely behind by Bashful. Grant drove Boastful while Bashful was operated by Chase. Mouse was tucked into the tiny rear seat of the quiet thunder and I could barely see his head peeking out from behind his friend.
They parked their vehicles in front of the house and hopped out. Lambert came out of the house and greeted them before leading them inside.
Ben turned to me with a smile. “We had better see to our guests’ needs. Being a thunder driver is an arduous business and requires quite a bit of food to sustain that level of concentration.”
I laughed as he led me out of the room. “So what you’re saying is they’re going to be as hungry as a lion after a week’s worth of fasting.”
“In a word, yes.”
We joined our guests in the entrance hall. Grant had cleaned up and removed his racing gear, and at seeing us a smile spread across his lips. “I should’ve known this belonged to you.”
We reached them, and Ben smiled and offered his hand to the trio. “It’s my pleasure to welcome you to my villa.”
Mouse shook his hand before he swept his eyes over the high ceiling. “I really like the decor you picked out.”
“You would,” Chase spoke up as he cast a wary eye at the nets before shaking Ben’s hand.
Ben chuckled as he finished his cordial greetings with Grant. “It’s been a family project for far longer than I’ve owned the property, but you must be famished. Allow me to return the favor of the sandwich with a meal of my own.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Ben ledour group to the west wing where the long dining hall was located. The table and chairs had all been carved from large pieces of driftwood and polished to a reflective shine. Cushions softened the blow from the hardened wood seats as we each took a chair. Five of the seats at the far end were set, each with a small plate and a large bowl.
I sat on Ben’s left while the Mouse slipped into the right-hand seat. Grant strode up to him and cleared his throat.
“You should get that looked at,” Mouse suggested as he took up the water glass placed at the position.
