by Danni Roan
He was the son of a billionaire; he should be enjoying life while setting up a legacy that would continue for generations. Shaking his head, he rode the elevator to his beautiful penthouse, tossing his gloves on the side table next to the brass lamps and expensive bric-à-brac as he stepped inside.
Pausing he turned to stare at the portrait that took up almost the entire wall of the small entryway. It’s soft key lighting making the dusty gray coat and high arched neck of his grand champion horse almost seem alive.
Back then he had ridden for the joy of it as well as the thrill. Would it ever be possible to recapture that feeling or was it gone for good?
Ashley led Nutmeg out into the arena, thanking the groom for getting the horse ready for her next ride. She was excited about her classes, but at the same time nervous. Mr. Holliday was right about one thing, she wasn’t used to working with young men and women from such wealth and privilege.
Money had never been a big issue for Ashley. Her father’s family had accrued wealth over time with their big spread in Texas along with a small inheritance from their ancestral home in England, but she had never done this for the money. She loved horses; every ride was a thrill, a joy, a chance to see what she and her partner could do together.
Walking into the ring, she watched as other riders led their horses forward in anticipation of the lesson.
Taking a deep breath Ashley smiled at the girls and boy, some in their late teens as they gathered around.
“Are you Miss Bowlings?” one pre-teen girl with almost invisible braces on her teeth asked.
“Yes,” Ashley replied.
“I’ve been looking forward to meeting you ever since the charity event,” the girl said. “You rode so well. Are you trained in English and Western Riding?”
Ashley smiled. “I’ve shown both ways, but I prefer Western,” she admitted.
“I really want to ride Western,” the girl said, “but Dad thinks English is more sophisticated,” she finished with a sigh.
Ashley grinned at the girl and nodded. “I guess some people do think that,” she said, thinking of one handsome and infuriating Holliday, “but whatever way you ride, you can become more in tune with your horse and no matter what saddle you use it won’t matter because you can be true partners in the ride.”
Pulling the bridle over Nutmeg’s head, Ashley addressed the whole group, adjusting the small headset she had been given, so her words were clear.
“I’m very glad to see you all here today,” she smiled, gazing out over the expensive riding outfits, knee-high boots, and exceptional stock. “Today I’d like to start our session with a discussion and demonstration of trust. If you truly want to get the best out of your horse, you need to know them. You need to be willing to work with and recognize their shortcomings as well as your own.”
Gesturing for the riders to mount up and move back, Ashley hung her bridle over the saddle horn and swung up on Nutmeg, lifting her hands to shoulder height and clicking to the mare that moved out in a smooth seamless trot.
Several soft gasps met Ashley’s ears, and she knew that she had gotten her audience’s attention. It was common for young riders to use the same stance while sitting on a training horse while a trainer held a lounge line to guide the horse, but this was different. Using nothing but her knees to guide Nutmeg, she worked through a portion of her routine ending with a hard gallop and a sliding stop.
“That was amazing,” one of the girls gushed. “I’d never be able to do that with Blaze,” she said indicating the lean blaze faced thoroughbred she rode. “He’s far too hot-headed.”
“Then you need him to trust you,” Ashley said, climbing down and putting the bridle back on Nutmeg. “We’ll start with some simple exercises, not to improve form, or stride, but to build trust.”
Collin flicked on the monitor in his private office as he slipped into the dark red leather chair at his teak desk. Around him, the dark paneled walls reflected a soft glow from the subdued lighting aimed at priceless pieces of hunt scene art.
His elevator ride had let his temper cool off, but it still rankled to have two women chiding him on the same day. Perhaps he should give Ashley another chance he thought, remembering the sweet kisses he had stolen on their day out.
He would take a peek at what Miss Bowlings was doing with the lessons that she was being paid well to offer. It seemed ridiculous to have her do the classes when less than half of the riders at the retreat rode western, but it was too late to turn back, and so far, he hadn’t heard any complaints.
As the monitor came to life, Collin was surprised to see so many riders, both Western and English, following the pretty blonde on the ugly roan horse from one end of the arena to the other.
“Their form is terrible,” he barked at the screen. “They’ve all let the horses’ heads down and none of them are collected as if for a show,” he mouthed horrified. After today’s performance, no one else could be willing to pay for lessons with Ashley Bowlings.
Flicking off the monitor, Collin rested his head in his hands as he sat alone in his plush apartment; A lonely prince in an empire without love. Deep down he knew he had fallen in love with Ashley Bowlings, but he couldn’t accept that there was room in his world for a girl like her.
Chapter 18
Ashley nodded encouragingly as the riders lined up, squaring their mounts and turning expectantly to her.
“We’ll side pass together,” she said remembering when she had learned to do this movement in junior rodeos. “If you have your horse at ease, they should all move as one,” she added. “Ready?”
Along the line of fine horses, heads nodded and she grinned. “Go,” she said softly and together all of the horses moved in one fluid motion across the arena. The atmosphere was relaxed, the riders smiling and each step looked like a chorus line in perfect harmony.
“I think that’s it for today,” Ashley said. “I hope you had fun and learned a few tricks along the way,” she added.
“Miss Bowlings,” one of the girls stopped, easing the reins on her gray horse with a smile. “I just wanted to say thank you. You made today fun, and I feel like I learned so much.”
Ashley’s heart swelled and she patted the girl’s leg. “I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she said. “I love all things horse,” she continued. “I hope you’ll keep that spirit of adventure with you always.”
The girl smiled pulling her jet black braid over her shoulder and nodded trotting off toward the stable.
Ashley turned leading Nutmeg toward her stall as her stomach rumbled. She was pleased with how the day had gone, and the joy and delight she had seen on her student’s faces. Now if one Mr. Collin Prancer Holliday could loosen up enough to remember that joy, perhaps she could ease the ache in her heart.
She had been so attracted to Collin. She could see the fun inside him, the enthusiasm for life that bubbled deep below the surface. He was like a stubborn horse, resisting any pressure to go the right way, simply because it didn’t feel right.
Handing Nutmeg off to a waiting groom, Ashley giggled, making the man look at her with an odd frown, but Ashley Bowlings ignored him. A light bulb had just gone on in her head, and she knew exactly what to do.
Pulling her phone from her pocket Ashley dialed a number asking for an appointment with Collin and stating it was urgent, even as she raced for her room to change into something new. Perhaps she wasn’t used to the fancy lifestyle, and high living that the Hollidays were, but one thing Ashley did know and that was how to win a stubborn horse’s will.
Ashley stared at the array of gourmet candies in the fancy sweet shop at the youth eventing hotel. The luxury chocolates, ice-cream, and other delicacies were like a rainbow of sugary wonder that boggled the brain.
“Are these candied apples?” she asked gazing into the glass display that boasted at least fifteen different delights skewered on fancy silver horse themed sticks. The sweet highly decorated orbs seemed to glisten, in shades of dark chocolate, creamy caram
el, and rainbow hues of hard red, green, and even white shells.
“Yes miss,” the server replied, “would you like me to list the veriaties?”
“No,” Ashley said waving her hands as she shook her head. It would take ages to get through that list. “I’ll take one of the red ones,” she said. “I think you have a cinnamon flavored one.”
“Just one?” the young woman behind the counter asked.
“Just one,” Ashley confirmed watching as the girl carefully removed the shiny red apple from the display, wrapping it in crisp cellophane. She had never seen anything like the candy apple before her. It had the bright red shiny coating, so familiar from county fairs, but it also had spun sugar patterns and a gold D ring bit on its outer shell.
Paying for her special treat, Ashley turned heading toward the elevator that led to the penthouse office, a bright grin on her face, as her plaid skirt swished over her dark boots.
Pushing the button on the elevator, she ran through what she wanted to say in her head. She wouldn’t fight with Collin, no matter what he said, or how angry he made her. She was a rational woman and would outsmart him at every turn, just like she had learned with her first overly smart pony.
As the doors of the elevator dinged closed, Ashley grinned. Yes, this was the right way to win Collin’s trust. Before she left the Holliday Islands Resort, she would have him eating out of the palm of her hand.
Chapter 19
“Miss Bowlings,” a soft female voice greeted Ashley as she stepped off the elevator. “If you’ll follow me, Mr. Holliday will be meeting with you right away,” the plump matronly looking woman said, pushing her granny glasses up her nose. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay with us,” she added as her heels clicked down the polished marble floor.
Ashley looked around her enjoying the ambiance of the office space that was filled with classically done paintings of thoroughbreds, hunters, and hunt scenes. The reds, golds, and greens that appointed the space were welcoming yet understated. Walking past one particular painting she smiled at the famous image of a pie-bald horse leaping a hedgerow.
“Right this way,” the secretary said knocking on a heavily carved wooden door, as she eyed the candy apple in Ashley’s hand.
“Miss Bowlings,” Collin said standing and gesturing toward a leather seat in front of his desk, as he settled in his high-backed chair once more. “Is everything alright?”
Collin’s eyes raked over Ashley’s form, drinking in every feature of the infuriating woman. She looked unbelievably delicious in a red and green plaid dress with a wide skirt that brushed the top of her dark, highly polished, cowboy boots. A matching wide leather belt around her tiny waist hinted at the holiday western Christmas theme, and he couldn’t help but approve, his heart skipping a beat as the young woman smiled.
“I brought you something,” Ashley was saying, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling with cheer as she placed a bright, highly decorated candy apple on his desk, the pure silver horse and rider skewer glowing softly in the muted light.
“Thank you,” Collin said. His mind turning over the dozen or so reasons she was sitting before him. “What can I do for you?” he asked.
Ashley shifted, crossing her legs and the sight made Collin’s pulse jump. She was by far the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
“Has something gone wrong with your classes? I noticed that your students were in very bad form earlier. Did a parent complain?”
Ashley felt the blood race to her face as her anger spiked. She had come here to talk to the man, and offer an olive branch, but already he was criticizing her training.
“No!” she barked, her blue eyes flashing. “No one has complained about my training,” she continued. “I don’t know what your problem is,” she continued in a rush rising and leaning over his desk to look him in the eye. “I’ve done nothing wrong, and frankly, my students loved today’s session. I came here to suggest that since we’re doing a repeat of the horse swap next month that we might want to practice this time, but I can see that you are too set in your ways to learn new tricks,” she fumed.
Collin stood to his feet, leaning forward to match the hot-headed blonde’s gaze. “I saw your work on the monitor,” he practically shouted pointing toward the display of the empty arena on his computer screen. “I’ve never seen such sloppy work in my life. Our guests are the elite,” he continued placing both palms on his desk as he stood nose to nose with the little snip. “They want their children to learn to ride properly and show without flaw. Many of them rent suites here for months as they train, ride, learn, and compete before starting out on the circuit. They’re all banking on my reputation as a Champion.”
“Not everything is about you,” Ashley spat, her anger burning like a bright star. “Sometimes it’s about the riders and their needs, but you’re so uptight you wouldn’t recognize that if it bit you in the backside,” she finished still fuming.
Collin wanted to kiss her. He wanted to press his lips against hers and claim her as his own, but he knew it wouldn’t do any good. She was the most stubborn woman he had ever met and wouldn’t listen to reason.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Collin said.
Ashley pushed herself away from the desk, wanting nothing more than for Collin to kiss her the way he had on their all too brief sleigh ride. “Why you pigheaded, mule of a man,” she spluttered her Texas drawl stretching each word painfully. “I, I,” she couldn’t find any more words.
Grasping the candy apple by the elegant silver skewer she drew back her hand and hurled it at him, amazed when he ducked causing the projectile to smash against the heavy wooden panels of the back wall, its shimmering coating shattering like fine crystal, as she stormed from the room.
Ashley was so angry as she stormed from the office that she was seeing red. She had gone to his office to smooth things over only to lose her temper once again.
Even in her angry haze, she had wanted Collin to pull her into his arms and kiss her until the world disappeared. Why did he have to be so stubborn? Why was it possible for him to make her so angry when she was usually calm and even-tempered? The shocking truth hit her like a kick to the gut, and she staggered into the elevator slumping against the dark paneled walls as she gazed at her reflection in the polished floor. She was in love with Collin Holliday, the worst possible match she could imagine.
Even as she thought it, the warm tingle that had filled her after their first kiss seemed to race through her, drowning out every ounce of anger that had raged a moment ago.
It wasn’t possible. Ashley Bowlings was too sensible to fall for a billionaire playboy, who seemed to push all of her buttons in the worst possible way.
As bright tears filled her eyes, she leaned her head back against the wall in despair, but it was too late, she had already lost her heart.
Chapter 20
Collin sagged into his chair, his head spinning at what had just happened. He should have kissed her. He should have pulled her into his arms and never let her go instead she would probably never speak to him again.
With a groan, he twisted in his chair leaning over to pick up the elegant candy apple she had thrown at him. Looking at the tightly wrapped cellophane, he gazed at the simple apple, now devoid of the shiny coating and fancy decorations the apple still looked inviting. No matter how you dressed it up, it was still an apple.
Collin sat up straighter in his seat still staring at the apple. Underneath all of his fancy education, college degree, and posh lifestyle, he was still just a horse lover like Ashley. Perhaps it was time for him to eat a little crow.
Was being right worth losing the only girl he had ever felt this way about? Sure, he had girlfriends in the past, but this was so different. From the moment he had laid eyes on Ashley Bowlings, riding with complete abandon, bareback on her red horse, he had known something was different.
True the woman could get under his skin in the worst way, but she also made his heart race, his pulse qui
cken, and his soul sing.
Collin knew that Ashley had a class this afternoon, and with a shake of his head, he decided to join it. Perhaps he could put his best foot forward and see if he could make amends. If he didn’t, he knew he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Pushing the button on his desk he paged his loyal secretary. “Mrs. Brigs, could you clear my schedule for after lunch?” he asked. “I have something important to do.”
“Miss Bowlings?” a soft voice pulled Ashley back to the moment as she rested her arms on the door of Goldie’s stall. She loved that the Equestrian themed island had the best to offer, but she still felt sad as she prepared for her afternoon class.
“Yes,” Ashley replied turning and plastering a smile across her face.
“I’m Adelaide,” the woman said, brushing a lock of raven hair from her eyes with an elegantly manicured hand. “I’m Arielle’s mother.”
“Is something wrong?” Ashley asked, fear bubbling in her stomach at the thought that Collin was right, and that the parents were about to complain about her training.
“No,” the woman offered, waving her fingers at Ashley, before tucking her arms around her middle. “I just wanted to tell you how excited Arielle was when she came back to our rooms this morning. I haven’t seen that kind of excitement in her eyes since her father left,” the woman said ducking her head. “I don’t know what you did, but please, keep doing it. It was a joy to see my little girl so happy again.”
Ashley smiled wanting to pull the beautiful woman in for a hug, but not daring to rumple the designer shirt dress the sophisticated lady wore. “Thank you,” Ashley said offering a kind smile. “It’s a pleasure to work with your daughter and all the riders. They are so knowledgeable, but I learned long ago that if you forget your first love, the joy of riding is lost.”
