The Damaged Heroes Collection [Box Set #1: The Damaged Heroes Collection] (BookStrand Publishing Mainstream)

by James, Sandy

  “She’s too damn lazy to train. Sleeps ‘til noon every day. Can’t stand to get sweaty.” Katie gave a small, sardonic laugh. “At least not from work.”

  It seemed easy for Ross to take over the story from that point. “She’s still jealous, so whatever you’ve got, she wants. And right now she thinks you’ve got me.”

  Katie nodded, feeling a bit humiliated over the whole situation. “She made a play for Seth when he first got here just ’cause she thought I liked him.”

  “Do you?”

  “Do I what?”

  “Like Seth.”

  She could feel the heat of the blush spreading over her cheeks and looked away hoping to hide the truth.

  “Katie, you need to be honest with me. You know how I feel about you, but if you want Seth—”

  “I don’t want Seth.” Katie gave a small wave of her hand, hoping to deflect any further questioning along the same line. God, I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut.

  She glanced up to see Rachel being escorted from the paddock. One of the police officers leaned her against his car and locked her wrists into handcuffs before she was tucked into the back of the squad car. A second car pulled up, and the blonde was led from the paddock, cuffed, and placed in the back seat.

  “C’mon,” he said, nudging her with his elbow. “I need to head for home. Walk me to my car.”

  Once they reached the Lexus, Ross turned and leaned back against the door. Katie joined him.

  “What’ll happen to Rachel now?” Ross asked.

  “She’ll probably get suspended from the track for a few weeks. Maybe get a fine. The race officials hate that kind of disturbance happening in the paddock. Makes us all look bad. I imagine one of her lowlife friends will bail her out of jail later tonight or tomorrow.”

  He turned to look at her with a serious and troubled expression. “Katie, I think we need to figure out what kind of relationship we’ve got here.”

  The hurt look on his boyish face tore at her heart, but Katie didn’t want to lead him on. She’d given him the chance he’d asked for, but her heart wanted Seth. “Ross, I wish...”

  He shook his head and put his hand up to halt her words. “That’s what I thought. It’s Remington, isn’t it?”

  Lying didn’t suit her, so Katie simply decided not to reply. She wasn’t about to put Seth’s inheritance in jeopardy because of her unrequited infatuation.

  “It’s all right. It doesn’t change anything if you’re attracted to him. The only problem is if he tries to use you to get his money. I’d appreciate it if you’d be honest with me,” Ross encouraged. “You can tell me, Katie.”

  Taking a hard swallow, she finally confided what she’d hidden from everyone else. Even herself. “I don’t want to love him, but I do.” She’d said it in a whisper, but her own words hit her with the intensity of a scream. I love Seth Remington. I do. I love him. She wasn’t sure whether she should shout for joy or weep like a baby at the revelation.

  “Wow. You’ve got it that bad, huh?” Ross rubbed the light growth of stubble on his chin as he breathed a weighty sigh.

  Katie nodded as a tear worked its way down her cheek. She felt foolish letting her guard down in front of Ross.

  He sighed. “Well, at least we’re making some good money together, right?”

  With a forced smile, Katie nodded again as she wiped away the tear with the back of her wrist. “Yeah. We are, aren’t we? At least I’m good at something.”

  “You’re good at a lot of things. I’m sorry Seth is too stupid to know your worth.” Ross draped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “I’m just glad we can be friends. And partners.”

  “Thanks, Ross.”

  He smiled, but the expression didn’t reach his eyes. “‘The heart wants what it cannot obtain.’”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Just remembering a fortune cookie. See you later, Katie.”

  She began to walk away as Ross reached in his jacket pocket and produced his keys.

  Chris came running across the parking lot with a look of panic on his face. “Katie! Sam needs you! Brian just went down, and it looks really bad!”

  Chapter 17

  The paddock had turned into organized pandemonium by the time Katie made it back to the building. Chris and Ross followed hot at her heels.

  An accident had caused a four-horse pileup, and the track workers frantically rounded up the loose animals. Katie saw the outrider dutifully protecting the fallen drivers, two of whom were already walking. The paramedics busily ministered to the two men who remained motionless on the track, but Katie couldn’t tell which drivers had been involved.

  She anxiously looked for Samantha but couldn’t find her. Trying to manage the problems she could control, Katie quickly scanned the posted races to see which of the Mitchell’s horses was in the next race—the final race on the evening’s card. Armed with the information and suffering from a bad case of déjà vu, she sprinted to the animal’s paddock stall as Chris and Ross followed close behind.

  “Won’t they cancel the last race?” Ross asked in obvious confusion.

  “No. It’ll be delayed, but they’ll race,” Chris replied.

  Katie went to work. “Best thing we can do is get Brian’s horse ready. We’d just get in the way out on the track. Chris, go see if Josh Piper can take this race for Brian. I don’t think he’s got a drive, and I saw him in the front of the paddock, so he wasn’t in the accident.” As an afterthought, she shouted at Chris’s retreating back. “And tell him he’ll need his race bike.”

  The horse remained harnessed and blanketed from his warm-up. Katie grabbed the tendon boots out of the canvas bag and squatted next to the horse to put them on.

  Seth found her crouching in the paddock stall, and he could see the panic on Katie’s face. She looked up at him wide-eyed from where she worked on Brian’s horse, and it wounded him to see her so afraid. He saw the question in her eyes, but he didn’t have an answer to offer that would soothe her fear. “Four went down. Three are moving. Just bumps and scrapes, but...” He hated being the bearer of bad news, especially something that could hurt Katie so much. He swallowed hard. “Brian is… bad.”

  Katie’s hands stopped moving and her fingers trembled just enough for Seth to notice. “How bad?” she whispered.

  He entered the stall and moved to her side to lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she went back to equipping the horse. “It looks like there’s a bad break. They’re bracing his left leg for transport. Word is they’re taking him to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.”

  Katie closed her eyes and took a few ragged gulps of air. Seth squeezed her shoulder to bolster her, amazed she stayed strong enough to stop herself from crying. “Where’s Sam?” she asked.

  “She’s with Brian. She’s going in the ambulance with him. She wanted to get the horses back to the farm, but I told her we’d take care of it.”

  He watched Katie take a deep breath and straighten her spine. Her chin rose as her jaw set. “And we will.” She slipped her hand under Seth’s and laced her fingers through his. “Thank you.”

  Feeling the tremble in her grasp, Seth recognized just how frightened she really was. She desperately tried to put up a brave front so she could help the Mitchells, and he respected her all the more for it. Brian, Samantha, and Katie were closer than most families, and he vowed to stay near her for the rest of the night. Once the work ended, the shock would wear off. The events would eventually settle on Katie’s heart, and she would need someone to lean on. He patted her shoulder again before he stepped out of the stall to get the bridle for her.

  “What can I do?” Ross asked.

  “Honestly, Ross, nothing right now,” Katie replied as she rose from her crouch. Then she began to think aloud. “Brian is going to be out of commission for while, and Sam can’t possibly run the stable all by herself. She’s a great second. I know she could handle the training, but she’s pregnant. She needs to t
ake care of herself and the baby.”

  The men simply stood by and listened to her train of thought.

  Katie suddenly stopped and stared intently at Ross. “Can Seth work anywhere? Does he have to work for me?”

  “I see where you’re going with this Katie, but he’s got to stay with you.” Ross shook his head in stern admonition. “You can’t pass him off to Sam.”

  Seth was stunned at how much relief washed over him at hearing the lawyer’s assurance he wasn’t going to be traded to another team. He wasn’t at all surprised when Katie immediately turned her attention to Chris.

  “Then you’ve got to go,” she said in that authoritative voice that Seth knew brooked no refusal.

  Chris looked confused. “Go where?”

  “You’re going to run Brian’s barn until he’s back on his feet.” Katie reached for the bridle Seth held out for her.

  Chris’s reaction was to shake his head in denial. “I’m not ready to run my own barn. Katie, I... I can’t.”

  “You have to, Chris. Seth can’t ’cause he has to stay...” Her eyes caught Seth’s. For that single second, they communicated without words—she hadn’t wanted him to go. “Well, Seth just can’t. Sam and Brian need you. You can do this, I know you can.” Katie pushed the bit into the horse’s mouth.

  Seth understood Chris’s attack of nerves, but he also knew Katie was right. He tried to offer his support. “Chris, you’ve got way more experience. And you wouldn’t have to listen to Boss fight with me anymore.”

  Chris smiled, but it was a hesitant, nervous grin. The night had already been a horror, and the idea of having the fate of the Mitchell’s prominent stable put entirely into Chris’s hands had to be enough to make the guy nauseous. He sure looked a bit green.

  Katie continued to insist, kept trying to build his confidence. “Chris, you can do this. I know you can. And Sam will be there to help.”

  Chris finally nodded. “Fine.” He looked absolutely terrified. “Fine.”

  “Seth?” Katie asked. “You ready to be my second?”

  “Absolutely.”

  * * * *

  As Seth sat next to Katie on one of the trunks, he tried to muster up enough energy to move. He checked his watch. Two a.m. He wasn’t sure he even had the strength to drive back to the track and had all but resigned himself to sleeping in Katie’s truck. He wasn’t about to ask her to drive him back. She looked exhausted.

  The cell phone cradled in the palm of her hand rang. She answered it, jumped to her feet, and began to nervously pace down the barn’s long aisle.

  “I don’t care if you don’t want me there,” Katie insisted. “No, it’s not too late to drive. I’ll drink a bunch of coffee. No, I won’t fall asleep at the wheel.” She paused, probably getting an earful from Sam, judging from Katie’s continued frown and the loud buzz coming from the phone. “Your mom is there?”

  From the side of the conversation he could hear, Seth gathered that Brian was in surgery.

  “Fine. I’ll wait, if that’s what you want,” Katie said. “I’ll be there first thing, though. I’ll grab a couple hours of sleep then I’m there, Sam.”

  By the time Katie flipped the phone shut and slid it back into her pocket, she had silent tears rolling down her cheeks. When she turned to face him, he could see the anguish in her eyes.

  Seth quickly crossed the distance separating them and took Katie into his arms. She braced her forearms against him, put her forehead on his chest, and began to weep. “It’s okay to cry.” She shook her head; he pulled her closer. “Let it out, Katie. Go on and let it out.”

  “What if he’s... crippled? What’s going to happen to his stable?” Her words came in choked sobs. “And... and Sam’s pregnant. She needs... she needs to take care of herself. She can’t do it all... all alone.” She wept for a few moments before her thoughts again tumbled from her. “I can’t let them... let them lose their farm. I... I can’t.” Katie’s fears were all given voice, and all Seth could offer her was the shelter of his embrace.

  He’d never felt so utterly powerless. If he had his money, then he could help. He’d make sure Brian had the best doctors. He’d hire the best trainer to help the Mitchells until Brian got back on his feet. That would make Katie happy and bring her some peace of mind. Didn’t it always come back to the damn Remington money? “Shh. It’ll be okay, Boss.” He squeezed her tighter and kissed the top of her head.

  Katie couldn’t seem to stop crying, and Seth finally decided the best thing he could do for her was to get her to rest. She was physically and emotionally spent. He gently scooped her into his arms and carried her to her room.

  “Seth, we can’t...”

  “Didn’t even cross my mind.”

  Inside her room, Seth stood next to her bed and put her back on her feet. He pulled back the quilt. “Sit down, Katie.” She obeyed with no argument.

  Seth knelt and removed her work boots and socks. He rubbed her calves for a moment before realizing exactly what he was doing. Stop it, Remington. He patted the mattress. “Get in bed. You need some sleep. I’ll drive myself back to the dorm.”

  Katie glanced up at him with red-rimmed eyes, and then she started to cry again. She muttered her thoughts through her sobs. “What if Brian’s leg is so... so bad he can’t drive again? What if he... he can’t train? What’s going to happen to his family, Seth?”

  Tears had always been Seth’s downfall where women were concerned, and seeing the strongest woman he’d ever known so despondent was more than he could bear. He sat down on the bed beside Katie and tugged her back into his arms. She buried her face against his chest and sobbed.

  Seth stroked her long hair and whispered reassurances in her ear until Katie finally started to regain some of her composure. She pulled back and wiped away her tears with the backs of her hands. “I’m sorry. God, I feel like such a big baby.”

  “Stop it. You have every right to be upset.”

  “I feel like someone ran me through a shredder.” Katie leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. She suddenly popped back up. “I’m so sorry! I know you’re worried about Brian too. Sam said he’s got a broken femur. He’s in surgery so they can put his leg back together.”

  “Ouch. How long ’til he’s out of surgery?”

  “I don’t know. Sam said she’d call. Do you think I ought to go to Indianapolis now? Her mom is there but—”

  Seth shook his head and interrupted. “Not tonight, Boss. You’re too beat to go anywhere without falling asleep at the wheel.”

  “But I should be there.” Katie stifled a yawn. “I guess you’re right. And she told me to wait ’til tomorrow. You want to take my truck back?” She glanced up at him and reached out to take his hand as if the gesture was nothing more than natural.

  Seth saw so much emotion in those emerald eyes. The need to reach out to her overpowered him. He put his hand under Katie’s chin and lifted her face so he could plant a gentle kiss on her lips. She tasted salty from her tears. He wasn’t at all ready for her response. Katie threaded her arms around his neck, quickly turning the gentle kiss into one that ignited all the desire he felt for her.

  Seth’s tongue parted her lips and swept into her warm mouth. Katie stroked her own tongue against his, mimicking his caresses. She pulled away for a moment to gaze into his eyes before she lowered her lips to his neck and began to kiss and nuzzle him. The sensation of her lips on his throat sent fire to his groin, and it was almost beyond his power not to take advantage of her vulnerability. He couldn’t remember ever wanting a woman as badly as he wanted Katie at that moment, but he knew it wouldn’t be right.

  With every fragile ounce of self-control Seth had left, he took hold of her wrists and pulled her arms from around his neck. “Not like this, Katie.”

  “Not... not like what?” She looked at him with so much wide-eyed trust, he couldn’t allow her to do something she might regret later.

  “You need some sleep. You’re exhausted and you’re hurtin
g, and it won’t be like this,” he replied with much more calm in his voice than he felt. If she so much as leaned another inch toward him again, there would be nothing Seth could do to stop himself.

  As if on cue, Katie yawned again. He hoped she wouldn’t feel rejected, but she was probably too emotionally depleted at that point to think too much. Seth patted the pillow, and Katie obediently lay down and curled up on her side to give Seth a good view of each and every gentle curve. His imagination saw the hills, valleys, and dimples hidden in denim. Rein it in, Remington. Tracing his fingers over her hip, he leaned over, placed a gentle kiss on her temple, and walked to her desk to turn off the lamp.

  As he grabbed her truck keys from the desktop, he heard Katie stir, and he saw her glance over her shoulder. Although it was too dark to see her eyes clearly, somehow he knew they were still full of fear. Seth wanted to go to her, but did she really need him as much as he hoped?

  “Don’t leave. Please, Seth. Please stay,” Katie whispered in the dark.

  He crossed the room in three long strides, sat down on the bed, and jerked off his boots and socks. Seth stretched out beside her to mold his body to her back as he draped his arm across her waist. Katie plainly needed comfort. He desperately needed to hold her to feel the peace only her warmth could provide. Gossip might damn them both, but Seth decided to wait until Katie fell asleep before he slipped out to go back to the dorm.

  Until he’d stopped long enough to think, Seth hadn’t realized the accident had taken a toll on him as well. The image of Brian’s still form lying on the track flashed in his mind, making Seth’s blood run cold. A bond had grown there he’d never expected to form. Friendship. His first true friendship. He said a rare, silent prayer that Brian would come out of this accident whole.

  Lying beside Katie, Seth could feel the heat of her body pressed so tightly against his, and desire flooded his senses. Despite the honorable notion of not taking advantage of her, it was torture to have her so close and not be able to touch her in the way he wanted to. Every inch of her burned into his flesh as if they touched bare skin to bare skin. Maybe just a kiss. But that path ran straight downhill, and he’d never stop the momentum once allowed to start. Seth’s yearning wrestled with his conscience, barely allowing consideration to win the match.