Girl Crush: Redwoods, #1

Girl Crush

Part One of a Serial

by Kaydee Mavericks and Riley Rhea

Copyright

Copyright 2015, Kaydee Mavericks & Riley Rhea

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to author and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of characters to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. The Author holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.

Cover Designed by Melissa Gill @ MGBookCovers

Cover Photo by DepositPhoto.com

Dedication

We are dedicating this book to our friend, Jen Z. Thank you for everything that you have done and continue to do on a daily basis for the both of us out of the kindness of your heart. We wanted to give you something in return. What’s better than having two friend that write novels? Having them begin a series to give a loyal reader a book right up her reading alley. We hope you love what we have in store for you.

Today’s moving day and let me tell you I’m extremely excited about starting a new life in California, working my dream job with an amazing finance company. I graduated from high school when I was only sixteen, started college and I’ve now completed my master’s degree in business and finance at the young age of twenty-three. Yeah, I’m an over achiever and then there is the fact that my parents were really strict and since I spent most of my time at home there was nothing left to do but study hard and dream big. That way one day I could escape this place and live my dream.

When I was packing to leave my family home before college I stumbled across a box of old photos. Curiosity got the best of me since I’d never seen this box before. When I opened the lid the first picture I saw was my mother when she was younger. She was standing in a beautiful wooded area that I’d never seen before and for some reason, it stuck with me. There was something about the scenery that made me want to go there, almost like it was pulling me there.

Before I left for college I broke down and asked my mom about the picture. I had to practically beg her for answers. She told me it was called the Redwoods located in Northern California. I was confused as to why my mother was so secretive about the photos. I also wondered why she would ever leave such an amazing place. She refused tell me anymore than the location, and ever since I saw that photo I knew that’s where I wanted to be.

When I was close to graduation I began researching finance companies in or near the Redwoods and when I received the call that there was a position for a personal assistant at Vaughn Enterprises, in Redding, California, I accepted without hesitation. It was like a dream come true. I was going where I felt I belonged, even though I’d never been there before.

I start there next week and I’m excited to see what I can do and who I work for. I decided to drive to California so I would have my car with me and since I don’t have that many things that are coming with me, I figured it would be a nice little road trip. Besides my clothes and a few personal items, everything in my current apartment came with it and will stay there.

Am I nervous to be leaving everything and everyone behind? Hell yes, I am, but this is what I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember. I’m hoping once I get my foot in the door at Vaughn Enterprises, I can move up the ranks and become a financial advisor, not just someone’s personal assistant.

When I told my parent’s about the job I’d taken I thought my mom would have a nervous breakdown. She begged me to try to seek employment closer to home, but I was dead set on Vaughn Enterprises. Finally, after many tears my father stepped in, spoke up and told her it was bound to happen sooner or later. Of course mom cried harder and I could hear her mumbling to my dad, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. As I walked out of the room I heard his response. It’s her destiny. You knew sooner or later this day would come. We can’t protect her forever.

I didn’t bother to question what those words meant. I just assumed that he was trying to soothe her and make her understand that I was a grown woman and it was time I spread my wings. After I checked my old bedroom to make sure there was nothing I wanted to take with me I found my parents waiting by the front door. I hugged my parents and promised to call as soon as I got there and that I’d be home to visit. I received death grip hugs from both parents before I was able to being my journey. You’d think I was never going to see them again.

Before heading on the road I decide to stop off and grab enough snacks to last the entire trip and prepare myself for the twenty or so hour drive ahead of me from Kentucky to California. It would be ideal if I could do it in one shot, but since it’s over two thousand miles I know I will have to stop to sleep before continuing on.

I ended up stopping for the night somewhere in Colorado. I couldn’t even tell you the name of the town. I was so exhausted by the time I found a hotel I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I ended up sleeping in a little later than I meant to meaning it took me a little longer to get to Redding that I’d initially planned, but I’m finally here.

I pull into the apartment complex, from the moment I saw this place online it seemed to pull at me just like this town. I can already tell the photos didn’t do it justice. Each apartment section is painted with a different rich deep color to each of them, they are all three stories. I’m thankful I was able to get my apartment on the first floor.

I look around for apartment office so I pick up my keys and see if there is any paperwork for me to sign before I can see my new place. I spot it right in the center of my complex. As I walk toward the office I feel like for the first time in my life I’m exactly where I belong. This place already feels like home.

As soon as I enter the office I’m greeted by a very smiley older woman, Hello, dear, you must be Miss. Marks. She walks toward me and extends her hand, I’m Joyce Cranbrook, and I’m the manager here at Cranbrook Creek.

I shake her hand, It’s nice to finally meet you Mrs. Cranbrook, but please call me Kerrigan. Miss Marks makes feel older than I actually am.

Of course, dear, but that goes for you as well, Mrs. Cranbrook reminds me of my mother-in-law so call me Joyce. She motions for me to follow her into the office, Take a seat, Kerrigan. We will just go over everything we discussed on the phone and we can get you on your way.

I take a seat and she hands me the paperwork that I’ve signed already and goes over it once more. We’re all set, here are your keys and you’re in section E apartment one-o-one. She hands me the keys and we both get up and head to the door.

Thank you so much, Joyce. I shake her hand before walking out the door.

I hope you like it here Kerrigan, and if you ever need anything don’t hesitate to come and find me, I’m always around. She turns her arm in the motion of being around and heads back to her office.

I walk back over to where I parked my car and drive over to my building, finding the parking spot I was told would be numbered I pull my car in front of the place that I will be calling home. I normally wouldn’t have gone for such an expensive place, but with my new salary I thought I’d be able to afford it.

I grab a box of my things and head for the door. Setting the box down, I use my key to open the door. Bending down to pick up the box, chills run all over my body. I feel eyes on me, quickly spinning around to see who’s there only to find that it’s just my imagination playing tricks on me. After shaking off the feeling, I grab my box and head inside.

The first thing I realize when I look around is that I’m going to need to go furniture shopping right away. I brought an air mattress for me to sleep on until I could get myself a bed, but really didn’t think about all of the other things needed for the space. I go back out to the car to finish bringing in what I brought with me and the entire time, I felt eyes on me, but never able to see anyone. The weird thing is, I never once felt uncomfortable about it, just curious, which is strange since I’m in a new state and I know absolutely no one.

You’d think that I’d be nervous waking up in my new home so far away from what I’ve known my entire life, but that wasn’t a concern at all. I felt safe here so for the most part I slept like a rock. When I try to get up off the air mattress to begin my day I realize that I also feel like I slept on that rock, my back is killing me. No matter how much stretching I do there is no working out the knot of tension caused by the air mattress.

I grab my phone and look up Redding furniture shops and find a few different ones that are only a couple of miles away from me, so I decide to jump in the shower and head off to find myself a bed at least. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that they can deliver it today too there is no way I can go another night without a real mattress.

After spending all morning looking at different furniture shops, I finally found everything I need for my apartment. They told me it would be