When I wake up, it's to a pounding on my door.

Quickly jumping out of bed, I race towards the front of the tiny cottage settled at the edge of Athos's property. Deep in the woods and away from prying eyes.

Snatching the wooden door open, I come face to face with a drool worthy male I've never seen before.

"I'm sorry to wake you, Shawna, but his highness Athos demanded I introduce myself before moving in. I hope you are okay with company?" The aqua eyed, midnight black haired man grins down at me.

"Who are you?" I gulp in nervousness. "Why are you moving in here?"

Is he trying to rob me? If so, I don't have much. I had to get rid of all my belongings except for my personal items.

"Oh, please excuse my rudeness. I'm Legolas, the new gardener. I've been hired on as a helper to you. Of course not directly by his highness, but I do work for him. His secretary said I'd be sharing this cottage with you. I hope that's okay? She said there's an extra bed and bath for me." Legolas scratches at his neck in nervousness.

"I'm not losing my job, am I?" The words tumble out of my mouth in fear. If I lose this job, I'm screwed.

With shaking hands and a heaving chest, I rush towards the phone attached to the wall for emergencies. Anything Legolas says flies right over my head. The ringing through the speaker shoots a pulse of fright through my heart.

"Hello," a deep husky voice demands a response. I'm unable to give one with my throat shoved down in my belly.

The phone is gently taken from my white shaking hand. "This is Legolas, the new gardener. Miss Shawna is worried about losing her job and is calling to speak to Mr ...... 's secretary in regards to her position."

I flinch away with how loud Athos is yelling through the speaker. Legolas squints his eyes and tilts his head as if he is in immense pain. What is going on? A simple question shouldn't invoke this type of response.

"Is everything alright?" I place my hand on Legolas's arm, causing him to startle and drop the phone. It bangs against the floor, cracking and disconnecting the line.

Well shit. Now I'm going to have to pay for that.

"I'm sorry," he says, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I was occupied with what his highness was saying, and I forgot you were here with me. Don't worry about the damage, I'll take care of it. It is my fault after all."

"Do you think he will send someone to check on us?" Not that a billionaire should give a shit about two lowly gardeners. We are the dog poop that will never grace the bottom of his twenty-thousand dollar shoes.

Do shoes even go that high in price?

"Shawna?" Legolas stands in front of me with a smirk.

"Yes?" I wasn't listening, I bet. I do this all the time!

"No, his highness shouldn't send anyone out to see what the matter is. He has better things to do than check in on his servants." Clapping his hands, he leaves me by the broken phone and heads towards the front door.

The word servant stabs me in my side. It's not welcoming one bit even though I know it's what I am.

Cold air flies in through the open door, casting goosebumps along my flesh.

I'm not sure what to do. Do I help him with his bags? Make breakfast for him? I don't believe his bed is made up. Does he expect me to be his maid as well, or will Legolas take care of his own chores?

Checking the square clock on the wall, I'm shocked to see it's eight in the morning.

"Shit! I slept in!" Dashing off into my bedroom, I quickly change into sweatpants and a long-sleeve shirt. Sadly they do not keep me warm for long. The only cold winter gear I own is hanging out by the fireplace. With fingers crossed, I pray they are dry. Snow had seeped through the tiny holes at the bottom and soaked the inner layers.

If they aren't dry, I risk hypothermia going outside today.

There is no time for me to waste. Mrs. Shlea informed me yesterday there would a visitor today. Which means the front yard has to be immaculate by the time this guest arrives.

"I'll be ready to go in five minutes if you want to wait for me. If not, I'll catch up. I'm going to leave my stuff on the couch until tonight," Legolas drawls from behind me.

"I'm already an hour late as is. Someone important is showing up today. If the new snow isn't gone, I'm going to be fired." Jumping into my ratty second hand store snow pants, I zip them up. Thankfully they have suspenders as they are two sizes two big. The jacket on the other hand is too small in the torso department. With it all the way zipped up, I'm lucky to be breathing.

"You alright there, Shawna? Those don't look as if they fit you very well." Legolas comes to help me zip up my jacket.

It's a pain as I have to suck in the tiny bit of fat on my flat stomach. Next, the breasts are smashed to pancakes. It's awkward to do such with a male standing in front of me.

"They make do." I'm ashamed to say more.

"Here, let me help you." He bends down to jiggle the now stuck zipper at the exact moment the front door is slammed open with such a force it splinters.

Terror unlike anything I've ever felt surges within my limbs. A scream vibrates my throat before stabbing my ears.

Legolas is quick on his feet, slamming me down on the ground. His body covers mine completely, shielding me from flying sharp pieces of wood. "Shh, I've got you," he whispers into my hair.

A ferocious growl trembles my very soul from above my head. With eyes squeezed shut, I dare not glance at what is there.

"What the fuck is going on here?!" Athos's livid voice zaps my eyes right open.

"Al-your highness. I'm protecting my coworker." There is no stutter or nervousness in Legolas's voice. He is sure and ready to fight. For what? I'm not sure, but his body is definitely in the right position to pounce on Athos.

"I don't believe having your mouth on her pussy means protecting her!" Athos snarls, his hands clenching and unclenching in an untold rage.

Why is he angry at something that has nothing to do with him? It's not as if he doesn't fuck a new woman every night!

Fury ignites within me. "Legolas," I whisper into his chest.

He unspokenly knows what I wish. Standing up, he offers me his hand. I take it.

Ignoring the dominating male in the room, I glance down at my now ruined jacket. "Shit!" I cry. Frustration mixed with despair courses down my cheeks in warm tears.

"Shawna?"

"I guess I'm going to freeze to death today," I try to make it a joke, but it comes out broken and pathetic. "Excuse me. It's time for work." With the jacket open and the top of the pants not fitting snugly, I know I'll surely get frostbite today.

What's the loss of a leg, right?

"Hey, you're not going outside like that, sweetheart. I may only be a gardener like you, but I won't allow you to freeze and die on me. A sweet female like you deserves the best in life." Legolas goes to his suitcases and pulls out a thick winter jacket.

"I can't take yours, Legolas. What will you wear?" No one has ever given me such an expensive gift.

Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money. We made due but were never able to spend a hundred bucks on a name brand winter coat.

"I've got another one I can use. Your life is more important, Shawna." There's a stifling silence in the room.

He presses his lips to my forehead as if we've known each other for years, not minutes. Saving my life twice, I guess moves us from strangers to best friends.

Athos grunts in the back of his throat. What is his issue?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, I can't wait for you to read this book. I love me some Athos.

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