by Allen, Jewel
She ached to be with Jay, truth be told.
Plus, he hadn’t fought hard enough for her.
“Ugh,” she said to her reflection, splashing cold water on her face and applying the lightest of makeup. Just some mascara, lip gloss, and a liberal dose of sunblock.
Maybe she wouldn’t even see Jay this morning. But when she pulled into the Royal Estates in her somehow-still-running truck, the first thing she saw was his Maserati.
She could have allowed them to carry on their relationship for a week and a half. He could have taken her around in that sweet, sweet sports car. They could have kissed some more…
Sensing that someone was watching her, she looked around and up.
Standing in his office, framed by his window, was Jay.
All the pent-up longing she’d felt the night before came rushing to the forefront.
Somehow, she managed to nod and break away. She had work to do.
***
Jay buried himself in work in his office. There was plenty enough to do. First, he met with Bruce, the stables manager.
Bruce was a crusty old guy with prominent crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes. He originally came from England where he met Jay’s father during a horse-purchasing trip. His dad returned from England with a couple of horses descending from fancy bloodlines and this bloke.
“Hullo,” Bruce said. “Nice to meet you, Prince,” Bruce said.
“Please, call me Jay.”
“You are a dead ringer for your pop now, you are.”
Jay smiled at his father’s memory. “I might not be as knowledgeable about running a horse stable as my father, unfortunately.” He gestured toward the papers. “A lot of these are going over my head. I hope we can spend some time when you can explain some of these figures.”
Bruce’s smile faded, and there was an edge to his gaze. “Do you see anything of concern, guv?”
“No, and I hope not to, but―”
“It’s just that it’s a busy time, and going over the figures would take days.”
“I don’t need an in-depth lecture or anything.”
“If that is all,” Bruce said, standing up, “I’d best go back to overseeing the stables.”
Jay seethed, but he was careful not to show his frustration to this employee. Control was a sign of a good CEO, his father always taught him. Control and order were what the world needed.
“You may go,” Jay said.
He expelled a sigh of relief after Bruce left. He didn’t like that man’s belligerence.
George came in with nary a hair out of place and so cheery that Jay wanted to chew him out. He resisted, and in the end, he sent him out on an errand that would keep him away for a while.
After a few hours of work, Jay pushed away from his desk. He hesitated before heading over to the window, to spy on his boarders, employees, and…
Talia.
There was no mistaking Eula’s graceful strides down the track and Talia’s delicate perch on her. He hadn’t cared about horses much until now. Before, they were commodities to be sold and traded. Now they had personalities but meant so much more.
Before he could stop himself, he was leaving his office for a lunch break and approaching the railing of the practice track for a closer look at Eula.
Jay’s breath caught, watching the beauty of the pair. At every corner, Talia bent to catch the momentum of the turn, not missing a beat. There were other jockeys breezing their horses, and now two sidled alongside Talia, flanking her on either side.
Jay squinted into the sun, wondering what the jockeys were about. The three came together as one and then came apart. Talia was coming off her seat.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Talia gritted her teeth and turned first to one and then the other jockey.
Anton and Jimmy rode for the Greens, two men who didn’t like having women around the paddock. She pulled away with Eula. If they were going to try to intimidate her, let them try by chasing after her.
And so they did. Talia could hear their approach, that chug-chug-chug digging noise of their mounts’ hooves and the ragged horses’ breath. Talia didn’t want to push Eula too much, but her tormentors gave her little choice. At least they stayed far enough behind that Talia deemed it safe to slow down and veer off to the side.
Her pursuers pulled off too.
Jimmy jerked his head toward Eula. “Heard you had to get a sugar daddy to keep your job,” he said.
“I’m a good jockey to anyone that hires for the right money,” Talia said.
Anton snorted. “You’re a slave-driver, that’s what. I heard your horse is lame, but you keep pushing her.”
Talia rode between them, wanting to trash talk, but decided to ignore them instead.
Anton swerved his horse’s head into her path. “Just stay out of my way, little girl.”
“If you know what’s best for you,” Jimmy said, “you’re better off just staying out of the big leagues.”
“I earned my way here.” Talia’s voice was quiet but firm.
“Oh?” Anton raised an eyebrow. “By sleeping around?”
“If I didn’t know that you were castrated like your horses, I’d be more insulted,” she said.
Talia trotted off before the two could come after her. She was seeing red herself, breathless with rage.
To her surprise, she saw Jay standing at the rail just a hundred yards away. Had he heard all that?
“Hi,” he said, casting a wary glance at the men. “What did they say?”
She wondered if she could trust him and decided against it. After all, he had struck a deal with the Greens. “Nothing. Just trash talking.”
“Some guys just can’t stand being shown up by a girl, huh?”
Her mouth twitched. “Can you?”
“Not exactly. I’d probably be irritated too. You’re a great rider.”
“Thanks.”
“I watched your riding tape the other night,” he confessed.
That took her aback. “Why?”
“I was curious.”
“And…?”
“I can’t wait to see you race Eula to the purse winnings.”
She smiled. “Me neither.”
Their glances locked. For one long moment, Talia couldn’t remember what they were talking about. She just knew there was this beautiful man looking up at her, grinning and turning her into a babbling idiot.
“Is your truck running now?” he asked.
“My truck?” she asked in confusion. “Yeah, why?”
“Too bad. I was hoping you needed a ride home.” And with that, he turned back to his mansion.
Feeling slightly dazed, Talia left the arena and brushed Eula down. By six, she was leaving the stables. She glanced casually at the Maserati, wondering idly what Jay was doing. As though he read her thoughts, he came out of the building and stopped at the front porch.
“Hi,” he said, leaning against the graceful post holding up the portico.
“Hello,” she said, allowing herself to stop.
“Headed home?”
She held up her tack. “It looks like it, doesn’t it?”
“Why do you always pack up at the end of the day?”
“Paranoia?” She chuckled. “I dunno. I like having my stuff with me.”
He didn’t say anything. She wished he would, and yet, she’d already given him notice that flirting wasn’t acceptable. He was just playing by the rules.
“Good night.” She crossed the lot to her truck.
“Talia,” he called out.
She turned, embarrassingly eager. “Yes?”
“I…I just wanted to tell you good night.” And with that, he retreated back to his mansion.
“Thanks, you too.” But he was already inside.
She veered off to her truck, faltering in her step at the sight of Detective Fields’s car in the parking lot. The cop got out of her cruiser, her mouth a grim line.
“Any news?” Talia asked.
&nbs
p; “Do you know Double Brigits?” the detective asked.
“Yes.” Talia felt her stomach dropping. “Why?”
“She’s dead from a drug overdose.”
“No.” Talia breathed out.
Detective Fields nodded. “Her jockey was running her, and she just keeled over. The vet’s report said she had a couple of steroids in her system. She was in the stable next door, Hadley Stables. I was told that you’d gone to interview for them before you joined the Greens.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did you notice anything strange about their operation then?”
“Not strange, but they were definitely forceful. They wanted me to commit to things that I normally don’t like doing with my horse.” She hesitated. “At some point, I got the impression that they wanted me to shock my horse at the starting gate.”
Detective Fields glanced away and then back to Talia’s eyes. “Can I trust you with confidential information?”
“Of course.”
“We’ve been doing surveillance on their stables. It’s just a matter of time before we can nab them for something. Reportedly, they will do anything to score a win. Not just drugging their horses, but…sabotaging their competitors.”
Talia remembered the cold eyes of Abe that day she went for a ride after meeting Jay.
“I would be careful if I were you,” Detective Fields said.
“Thanks for the warning.” She thought of a follow-up question but hesitated.
“Yes?” the detective said.
“I was just wondering if you guys have found out any more about the person that put the rusty nail into Diamond’s hoof.”
“Not any solid leads, but again, with this death, all roads seem to point to Hadley’s.”
“It’s too bad I didn’t accept work from them. I could be your informant.”
The female detective gave her a tired smile. “That wouldn’t be very pleasant, I imagine. You are better off working for that hot prince.”
Talia gaped.
“Good day,” Detective Fields said before driving off.
Talia whirled around at the sound of footsteps. Larry was walking toward her. The Greens’s lead trainer had a sports towel wrapped around his neck, and his thinning hair was soaked with sweat.
“What did they want?” he asked.
“They were asking questions about Diamond.”
Larry wiped his face with the towel. “Like what?”
Talia hesitated. “The detective asked me to not tell anyone.”
Larry whistled. “Sounds serious.”
“I just hope they catch whoever is behind all this. It’s pretty distracting.”
“I hear you.” He stepped closer to her and started rubbing her shoulders. “Yup, you feel pretty tight.”
At Larry’s touch, Talia stiffened. Warning bells sounded in her mind. His massage felt good, but his interest made her feel uncomfortable. “Larry, thanks, but―”
He raised his hands in surrender instantly. “Sorry. Just trying to help.”
She sighed. Was she being too sensitive? “It’s just―”
“No.” He stepped back. “I understand. I’m out of line. We’re both professionals and should act as such.”
Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment, but her chest loosened with relief. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” He gave her a sidelong glance. “Can I ask a personal question, though?”
Wary, she said, “What?”
“Are you and Jay dating?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I mean, we went out to dance once, with his secretary.”
“That stuck-up pain in the―”
“George is really quite nice.”
“Really?” He looked like he was trying not to laugh. “About Jay…I just wondered. He’s quite a catch. I see him looking at you a certain way.”
“I only work for him.” She emphasized every word.
“Good.”
Talia frowned, wondering why Larry would say that. But he was already walking away. “Get some sleep tonight,” he said. “We have an early start tomorrow.”
***
As Talia pulled into her driveway, she tried to find the beauty in the usual things at the property. In the grass swaying and the leaves shimmering in the sun. She wanted to find happiness in the ruts to the drive to the cabin. Instead, she looked around and found only solitude and loneliness.
She pictured herself with years stretching ahead, living alone, except for the horses, of course. She’d be fiercely independent, and no man would ever be able to dictate to her what she would do and where she would live.
Isn’t freedom what she wanted?
Stormy raised his head as she flung open the door of the truck and ran to him without bridle nor saddle. She was a little girl once again, and it was the day after her parents had died. She had felt simply alone in the world, with no one to turn to but her horse.
Stormy had been a specimen of good health then, sleek and majestic with intelligent eyes that sensed her mood. He knew whether to go fast or slow. She remembered clutching at his neck, as she did now, burying her face in his warmth and sweet smell she would never tire of. She gripped him tightly, just as she pressed her eyes closed, but a tear still escaped, followed by a torrent.
She hated to admit it, but those stupid jockeys had shaken her. Every day, she showed up at work and could tolerate anything. Besides, she was used to it―the sexist treatment, the lack of respect despite the fact that she’d won far more stake races than most of them combined. And still, she had to fight for her place in the pecking order. But it got old after a while. It wore her down, this bullying. That was their goal―to intimidate women out of the industry.
“I’m no sissy,” she breathed against Stormy’s hide. Then she looked, really looked, at Stormy. At his sagging skin, the veins protruding under his hairs, and the bones of his body sticking out. He’d lived a good long life, but she knew better than to believe he could outlast even the year. The past months had been unkind to him.
“Want to go for a ride?” she asked. And of course, he nickered his yes, so she tacked him up.
The wind pelted her face and hair and sent it across her eyes so she couldn’t see, but she didn’t need to. Even in his old age, Stormy was sure-footed. Under her, his body still responded with some vigor. Granted, not the same energy level as she remembered, but he still moved well.
Regardless of what happened at work, or between her and Jay, ending it on Stormy’s back made it a good day.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Talia reported for work the next day, looking around apprehensively at uniformed security crawling the grounds. Their increased presence both reassured and alarmed her.
Better to have too much security than too little.
As she walked to the stables, she was surprised to see Jay walking toward Eula’s pen. He looked tired and a bit disheveled, which didn’t lessen the hotness the female detective labeled him with the day before.
There goes His Royal Hotness.
She smiled to herself.
He slowed when he saw her. “Good morning.”
“You’ve heard about Brigits?”
He nodded. “Yes. I was just checking on all the horses. I hate what’s happening. It’s not looking good for the Kentucky Oaks.”
“It’s crazy to see all the security here,” she said.
“Yes, it is.” He gave her an apologetic glance. “You’ll hate what I’m about to suggest.”
“What?”
“Until the race, I wanted to offer for you to live here.”
She winced and looked away. “You’re right. I don’t appreciate what you are insinuating.”
“What am I insinuating?”
“That I’m a female who needs protection.”
“I’d have to be blind to not notice you are a female, and yes, I want to make sure you are protected.”
“I am perfectly capable,” she said through gritted teeth.
“W
hy do you have to be so stubborn?” he said.
“Why do you care anyway?” Talia countered. “I’m just your jockey.”
He strode over to where she was standing. “Talia, you know you’re more than that to me,” he said, just a breath away.
The moments ticked by, as though she were in a dream. She was only aware of his mouth coming down upon hers and the pleasurable sensation of his lips against her own. She circled her arms around his neck and let him hold her close.
Footsteps sounded nearby, and they broke apart. Jay’s mother appeared around the corner, her lips forming a tight line. Her glance flayed Talia. It was clear she didn’t approve of whatever this was between her and Jay―and would never approve.
“We were going to go shopping for the Oaks Ball, Jay,” Nina said. “Or did you forget?”
“No,” Jay said, his voice low. “I was about to go up to see you.”
Nina stood there, waiting for her son to comply.
Talia pictured Jay as a little boy in a white shirt and a khaki pair of shorts held up by suspenders. A mama’s boy, through and through. The kind she disdained.
“If you’ll excuse me,” she said, “I have work to do.”
***
Jay still felt annoyed at his mother’s interruption, but he faked a pleasant smile her way. “Shall we?” He motioned towards the mansion.
“Jay! What are you doing?” his mother exclaimed, not moving.
Jay raised an eyebrow. “Whatever do you mean, Mother?”
“Are you carrying on with your jockey?”
“She has a name, Mother. It’s Talia.” His mouth twitched. “And by ‘carrying on,’ if you mean do I want to date her, then the answer is yes. I find her attractive.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Do you have to embarrass me in front of my friends?”
Jay’s smile vanished. “Embarrass,” he echoed in a tight voice.
Mother plunged on, unmindful of what he’d hoped was a visible warning in his eyes. “Yes. One would have to be blind to not notice that you and that jockey―”
His frown deepened.
“―have a thing going.”
His words came out clipped. “And what is so wrong about that, Mother?”
