Dark Horse

by Melissa Pearl

  And that hurt.

  “To you, Sal!” Lena called, firing the soccer ball across the field.

  Sally surged toward it but fumbled the move and ended up kicking the ball out of bounds.

  “It’s all good. It’s all good.” Lena clapped her hands as the team reset and got ready for the throw in. Sally tried to focus on the ball and get into it. The sky was blue, the sun was high. Spring was in the air, promising warmth and good times ahead. It was usually her favorite season as she shook off the winter blues. But not this year. This year she felt permanently stuck beneath a rain cloud.

  She pumped her arms and ran down the field to get into a better position, or maybe farther away from the ball. Working up a sweat was good for her, which was why she’d been running so much with Rusty and playing soccer any chance she got. But she couldn’t get into the game and was grateful it was nearly over. Social soccer was usually the highlight of her week, and she felt weird not wanting to play. She loved her team, time with friends, drinks afterward, but she’d be foregoing that.

  All she wanted to do was go home and have a hot bath, then hide in her room with a romantic novel that would make her heart cry.

  She hadn’t found the courage to move back to the little bungalow she’d lived in with Nate, so she was still staying with her parents in the room where she had whiled away her teenage years.

  Lena dribbled the ball up the field, two players supporting her on either side. Sally halfheartedly ran in that direction but didn’t commit. They scored without her, and five minutes later the game ended.

  They’d won, but Sally could barely muster a smile.

  Lena wouldn’t let her get away with it and wrapped her in a tight hug. “If you think for one second that you’re not celebrating this win with us, you’re crazy.”

  “I’m just tired.” Sally pulled away and tried again for a smile. It didn’t really work. “I’m going to head home and—”

  “No.” Lena shook her head. “I’ve already called Chantel and Bridget. They’re meeting us at Nightfall in an hour. You’re coming home with me, and we’re going to get you spruced up.”

  Sally was already shaking her head. “I really don’t feel like doing that.”

  “I know, but you need to get out there and have some fun. You need alcohol, you need music, and you need some time with your chicas. We will make you smile again.” Lena cupped her cheek. Her dark eyes warned that she wouldn’t take no for an answer, and Sally reluctantly bobbed her head.

  “Yes! Es tiempo de festejar!”

  Sally wrinkled her nose. “What does that mean?”

  “It’s time to party, novio.”

  With a soft snort of compliance, Sally let Lena drag her off the field. They walked their sweaty butts back to Lena’s place and got dolled up. She borrowed Lena’s red, backless dress that tied around the neck, the long silk ribbons tickling her bare spine. She wasn’t a ‘dress up and hit the town’ kind of girl—at least she hadn’t been in the last three years—but as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, she did have to admit that she felt pretty hot.

  Her blonde curls rested against her naked shoulders, and the bright red lipstick Lena chose gave her a flirty charm that empowered her.

  It was the first time she’d felt strong since walking away from Nate.

  “Nate.” She breathed out his name, her insides shuddering with uncertainty.

  “If you even think about him tonight, I’m going to kick your ass. You are single, you are beautiful, and he is not to be a part of this. You understand me?” Lena’s ruby red nail pointed at her.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “That’s senorita, thank you very much.” Lena winked and laughed, shaking her tight ass and letting out a shrill kind of war cry.

  It made Sally grin, and she grabbed Lena’s hand and followed her friend into the night.

  They took an Uber so they didn’t have to be restricted when it came to drinking. Lena had grand plans of getting Sally thoroughly wasted.

  “I don’t want to be hungover tomorrow. I’m working,” Sally whined when Bridget laid a tray of tequila shots on the table.

  “Sh-sh-sh.” Chantel waved her hand as if she was shooing off a bee. “You can handle a few shots. Come on. We’ll dance in between and eat some fries. It’ll be fine.”

  Sally looked to the sky, giving up immediately. Her girls were taking charge, and she was pretty sure she’d have no say in the matter.

  “Alright, alright.” Lena clapped her hands and raised her shot glass. “To new beginnings.”

  Sally winced.

  “To bravery.” Bridget gave her a heart-warming smile.

  Sally’s eyes began to glisten.

  “To hot guys on the dance floor.” Chantel’s tongue peeked out the side of her mouth as she wiggled her eyebrows.

  Sally cracked up laughing and lifting her shot glass. “Cheers, you guys.”

  They all downed the burning alcohol together, then burst into laughter.

  As the tequila filled their bodies, their limbs liquified and inhibitions were thrown to the wind. Sally was dragged onto the dance floor where she let loose, the music pumping through her in waves. She jumped, she swayed, she shimmied and eventually dragged her sweaty butt up to the bar for a glass of water.

  Her head was still pretty level; she just had a warm buzz going on. It made her giggle as she leaned against the bar.

  “You look like you’re enjoying yourself.”

  The smooth British accent made her turn and gasp. “Oscar!” She threw her arms around him and giggled. “I didn’t think this was your kind of place.”

  The man chuckled and held her steady. “It’s usually not, but it’s been a long day and I needed a drink.” His smile was gentle and warm as he drew back and looked at her. “Wow. Sally Richmond, you look amazing.” A warm tingle buzzed through her, and she couldn’t help a blushing smile. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  “Oh, um…I’m kind of here with my friends.” Sally pointed at the dance floor.

  Oscar followed her finger and grinned.

  Sally glanced over her shoulder and saw Chantel jumping up and down, her blonde-streaked hair swaying to the beat. Lena and Bridget were waving and no doubt trying to figure out who the hottie at the bar was. They knew Oscar by name but had never officially met him.

  “We’ve been besties since high school,” Sally explained.

  Oscar’s face crested with an expression Sally couldn’t decipher, and then his lips turned up in a handsome smile that took her breath away. Geez, she must’ve been more drunk than she thought. Sally blinked and reminded herself that Oscar had always been good-looking. He was smooth, stylish. He reminded her of her father, and there was a certain comfort in that.

  “Why don’t you let me buy a round for all four of you, then,” he said.

  “Oh, I couldn’t ask that.”

  “You didn’t ask. I offered.” His eyes sparkled as he leaned close. His aftershave tickled her senses. “And it’d be my pleasure.”

  She couldn’t do anything but stupidly bob her head.

  And Oscar joined the party.

  The girls adored him, and Sally could understand why. He was sweet, attentive, generous and charming. He danced. He bought them drinks. He laughed at Chantel’s lame jokes—they grew worse with every new shot of alcohol—and he entertained them with stories of merry old England, not afraid to make fun of himself or his English quirks. He even listened when Lena went into a spiel that quickly turned into a mix of unintelligible English and Spanish.

  It was after that when he wrapped things up. “Can I give you ladies a lift home?”

  “Oh, we can just call an Uber.” Sally started hunting for her phone.

  He stopped her with a gentle touch to the back of her hand. “No, I insist. I want to make sure you all get there safely.”

  “Perfecto.” Lena gave Sally a pointed look, silent screaming, This guy! Fall in love with this guy!

  Oscar? Was she kidding?


  He was a family friend!

  Sally looked away from her forceful Latina sister and caught Oscar’s smile. It was aimed right at her and filled with something that made her insides warm and mushy. She blushed and glanced down at the table, becoming even more aware of just how drunk she was.

  Oscar’s smiles didn’t usually make her blush. In saying that, he’d never smiled at her like that before. He was obviously liking the red dress.

  “Shall we?” He rose and they followed suit, Chantel slipping when she jumped down from the stool.

  Oscar caught her easily and ended up supporting her out of the bar. He chatted softly with her while Bridget and Lena flanked Sally.

  “I may be slightly drunk…” Lena started.

  “Or totally drunk.” Sally frowned at her.

  “But he is hot, he’s sweet, he’s rich, and he’s obviously into you. You have to go for it.”

  “Would you stop?” Sally gave her a firm nudge. “He’s Oscar, he’s not—”

  “Lena’s so right,” Bridge interrupted. “He’s a sweetheart.”

  They all stopped to watch Oscar gently guide Chantel into the back seat of his Mercedes.

  “Enough, you two. You’re both drunk. I’m not going for it. Are you crazy? I only just broke up with Nate.”

  “Rebound sex is not a bad thing.” Lena’s right eyebrow arched as she pointed a finger at Sally.

  Sally pushed the finger out of her face. “I’m not talking to you anymore tonight. You just zip those lips, baby girl.”

  Lena sloppily mimed zipping her lips before falling against Oscar’s car. Sally winced and mouthed an apology, which Oscar simply smiled at.

  “Here we go.” He led her around the car and made sure all three girls were secured in the back before opening the passenger door for Sally. “My lady.”

  Sally giggled and slipped into the plush car.

  The ride home was quiet. Chantel fell asleep, so Sally took over directions to her place. Bridget woke her and then offered to stay the night. Chantel replied with a dreamy giggle, and Oscar ended up carrying her inside for Bridget.

  Sally then led Oscar to Lena’s place. When she tried to get out, her best friend wouldn’t let her, insisting Oscar take Sally home.

  “I’ll bring your stuff to work tomorrow.”

  “No, Lena, let me out of the car. Let me—” Her whispers were ignored as Lena slammed the door in her face and wobbled to the front door.

  Before Sally could say she’d go help her, Oscar took off.

  She was stuck.

  “You have wonderful friends.” Oscar leaned forward and turned on the radio.

  Soft jazz wafted into the car. It was a trumpet solo that oozed the cool charm Oscar seemed to perpetually embody.

  “Yes.” Sally smiled, resting her head back against the headrest. “Thank you for looking after us.”

  “It’s really not a problem. I had a fantastic evening…thanks to you.”

  She swallowed, unsure what to say.

  “I was simply going in for a drink after a long day’s work, and to end up spending the night with four beautiful, intelligent women was an added bonus.”

  Sally’s lips twitched and she quickly changed the subject before she started blushing. “How is work going?”

  “It’s exciting. Working with your father is such an honor. He knows everything about the construction industry and is teaching me so much.”

  “How about Xavier?”

  Oscar hesitated, then bobbed his head. “He’s good. Intelligent. I like his sense of humor.”

  “He’s driving you crazy, isn’t he?”

  Oscar grinned but didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. Xavier could drive anyone crazy, but someone he didn’t like? They were done for.

  For some weird reason, he’d never really warmed to Oscar the way everyone else had. Sally figured he probably felt threatened by the guy. Being the youngest of four, Xavier had always had to compete for attention anyway. Oscar was just another thing to get in the way.

  “He’ll warm to me eventually. I’m trying to make sure your father gives him some responsibility too. I don’t want him feeling like some unimportant assistant. I really want to make him part of the project.”

  Sally was touched by Oscar’s perceptiveness. “Thank you. He’ll really appreciate that, even if he doesn’t say it.”

  “I’m trying to be subtle about it, so it looks as though it’s coming from your father.”

  Her heart expanded and she couldn’t hold back her smile. That was so sweet.

  She blinked and gazed out the window, suddenly aware that Oscar was taking her to her parents’ place without her having to tell him.

  “How do you know…?”

  “Where you’re currently living?” Oscar gave her a sheepish grin. “Your father told me about Nate. I’m really sorry.”

  With a deflating sigh, she shook her head. “It’s fine.”

  “No, it’s not. It must be awful.”

  “It was my choice.” She shrugged. “I brought it on myself.”

  “I don’t think your family sees it that way. And don’t get me wrong, I like Nate. He’s a really good guy, but…if he treated you badly—”

  “He didn’t treat me badly, he just…was never there.”

  “Okay, well, if Nate had been there, been what you needed, then you wouldn’t have broken up with him. So in a way, you didn’t bring it on yourself. He did.”

  Sally pressed her lips together, her nose starting to tingle with the onset of tears.

  He shot a glance in her direction. “Sometimes you have to let go of the things most dear in order to make way for something even better.”

  “I thought he was the best,” Sally whispered, mostly to herself.

  But Oscar heard her because he said, “When you’re that close to something, it’s hard to get perspective. I think what you’ve done is extremely brave. And your strength and courage will be rewarded. You just wait and see. There’s good things in your future, Sally Richmond. I believe that entirely.”

  She glanced at Oscar, warmed by his words and sweet smile.

  He slowed to pass through the gates, and she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Studying his chiseled profile, she couldn’t help admiring the sharp point of his nose and the shape of his jawline. He had a different kind of strength than Nate that she’d never noticed before.

  It was soft and elegant. But it was still strength.

  Braking next to Xavier’s car, Oscar jumped out and rushed around to open Sally’s door before she could.

  He held out his hand and helped her as if she were stepping out of a carriage. She’d never felt more like a princess. “Thank you.”

  “You’re most welcome.”

  Once again blushing, Sally looked to the ground and softly whispered a good night before heading for the door. She stepped into the entryway and firmly shut the door behind her. Her insides felt like a maze that she was lost inside of. She didn’t know whether to smile, laugh, cry, or puke.

  Splaying her hand over her torso, she shuffled to the stairwell just as her father walked out of his office. He pulled the glasses off the tip of his nose. “Are you drunk?”

  “Just a little.” She raised a limp hand. “The girls took me out.”

  “How’d you get home?” He peered out the window. “Please tell me you didn’t drive.”

  “No, Daddy. Oscar drove me. We met at the bar and he helped us out.”

  Her father raised his eyebrows, his lips pulling into a grin. “I like that man.”

  “Yeah, he’s sweet.” Sally’s right shoulder hitched.

  “He’s a good fit for this family. Giving him the chance to live here and work alongside me was the best decision I’ve made this year.” Her father’s complete lack of subtlety was not lost on her. She gave him a dry glare that made him chuckle. He pecked her on the cheek before silently walking her up the stairs.

  As soon as her door was shut, she flopped onto
the mattress and pulled her pillow against her. Rusty was snoring lightly in his doggy bed. He’d no doubt stir soon and come join her. It would be a great way to end what had turned out to be a good night. She loved her girls, and Oscar had been sweet.

  But a part of her still missed Nate. The feel of his body next to hers, the subtle scent of his shampoo, the way his arm instinctively wrapped around her waist and pulled her against him, even when he was sleeping.

  She missed the look in his eyes when he studied her from across the room, that little half smile that warmed her insides.

  Would it always be like that?

  Or would those sweet, aching memories eventually fade?

  A small part of her hoped not.

  11

  Tuesday, May 8th

  9:00am

  The smell of the forensics lab always made Nate’s nose wrinkle. It was a sterile, unnatural odor that messed with his senses. Everything about the area was clean lines and aseptic edges. Whites and grays. Nothing warm and enticing. Just the study of death.

  He hated going down there, and Cam would often go in for the oral reports, but Nate was invested in the Fraser Road farmhouse case and he wanted to be involved in every aspect of it.

  It kept him constantly busy and meant he could avoid his father’s place…and any unbidden thoughts of Sally.

  He’d contacted her the day after they broke up with a very brief text.

  I’m out. The house is yours.

  She’d replied: Thank you. I hope you’re doing okay.

  He hadn’t been able to respond.

  Doing okay?

  He felt like his heart had been torn out of his chest and used for soccer practice. When he lay awake at night, he could picture it being booted around the field with Sally and her friends as they laughed at what a useless boyfriend he’d been.

  It made his insides raw. Their three-year relationship had been reduced to a two-sentence text message that he couldn’t bring himself to reply to.

  She’d asked for space anyway, so at least he was giving her that. Sometimes, in his weak moments, he wondered if she missed him. A small spark of hope would start to burn—maybe she’d come back. Maybe some time would help her realize how perfect they were for each other.