Playing with Power - Book 1 by Adele Huxley - HTML preview

Book 2

Traffic was light as the limo traveled over the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a rare clear

day so the girls took photos of the city, poking their heads through the sunroof like a couple of

kids headed to prom. They settled into their seats and after a little giggly deliberation, decided to

pour a couple vodka tonics from the wet bar. Ali was in the mood to celebrate but Lauren simply

needed to settle her nerves. This whole thing was so unlike any experience she’d ever had. The

day before, she hadn’t even been aware of Landon’s existence yet here she was going up to stay

at his vacation house for the weekend. It’s business, she chastised herself. I’m getting all worked

up over something that will probably turn out to be nothing at all.

With the city behind them, Lauren was surprised how quickly the suburbs trickled away

to rural land. The colors shifted to muted browns and oranges, almost the colors of the desert.

The California landscape was everything she’d expected but at the same time surprising. The

iconic palm trees were a familiar sight but she hadn’t expected the steep, undulating hills created

by eons of tectonic activity. With sun-bleached grasses and groves of trees sprouting from the

small valleys, it was almost as if you could see the Earth moving and shifting.

After a few twists and turns, they found themselves cruising through wine country. Huge

vineyards dotted the landscape, the tan grasses giving way to lush greens. The perfectly ordered

and straight rows of vines hugged the terrain, rolling and curling with the ground. The hills

opened up and offered long breathtaking views of the valleys below. They passed several

handsome estates offering wine tasting and vineyard tours, their parking lots filled to the brim.

“You do realize we’re doing that before we go, right?” Ali said pointing out the window.

“Nothing is more upper class than getting drunk in the middle of the day on an expensive bottle

of wine.”

The limo slipped through the small town of Sonoma. Tourists strolled the sidewalks,

ducking into art galleries and antique stores hunting for that one treasure they could take back

home. It was a quaint town that was obviously dependent on tourism yet remained authentic

enough to feel like a hidden gem. The trip became much more interesting as the town

disappeared behind them. A few miles down the road, the limo turned on to a smaller road and

pulled to the shoulder, parking in front of a black convertible. Ali and Lauren looked at each

other in confusion.

“What’s going on?” Lauren asked. The driver of the convertible was removing their

luggage when their door opened.

It was as if they stepped into an oven. The cooling effects of the bay far behind them, the

heat truly felt like California in the summer. Her body quickly growing damp with sweat,

Lauren repeated her question to the driver.

“The road becomes too narrow and windy for the limo to safely navigate. Mr. DeWitt has

arranged for this car to take you the rest of the way.”

Lauren turned to Ali and saw she was still holding her drink. Ali raised the glass,

knocked it back in one gulp, and handed it to the driver.

“I knew I packed my booty shorts for a reason! Let’s go!”

Lauren called her thanks over her shoulder as Ali pulled her towards the convertible, now

packed with their things. This driver looked more like a gardener or housekeeper, with his

tanned skin and dirt stained white shirt. He held the seat forward as they climbed into the back.

Ali folded her long legs in somehow and the girls buckled up.

“All set back there?” he asked with a white smile.

“Yes. How far is it?” Lauren asked.

“Only a few miles, we’ll be there soon.”

The convertible peeled away from the shoulder, spitting rocks and dust in it’s wake. The

girls let out surprised yelps and latched on to each other, laughing. The breeze felt great and

instantly dried the sweat on her brow. Within a mile she understood why the limo couldn’t go

any further. While paved, the road resembled a mountain hike full of steep switch backs. Left

and right, left and right they made the dizzying climb through a thickening forest. The road was

dotted with gated drive ways and they could only catch glimpses of the sprawling mansions

hidden deep within.