by Lita Lawson
“There won’t be any extra charges like that. I already have the overhead covered for my horses. Billy Joe is the stable-hand I use and I don’t foresee any additional expenses arising. You’ll still have the same type of feed cost you do now, and I won’t charge you stall rental.”
She didn’t have much choice. Everything Austin said made sense. She’d have to get used to not always seeing Foolish Gamble whenever she wanted. She’d only get to see him during the day when she came over to work with him.
“I’ll bring him over first thing in the morning,” she agreed.
Austin must have sensed her misgivings; he lifted his hand and rubbed her cheek. “You can come and see him anytime you want, you know.”
“Thanks,” Cassi replied. “But somehow I don’t think your security people would relish a beat-up old truck pulling onto your grounds late at night just so I can see my horse.”
Austin grinned. “I’ll be sure to give the guards orders to let you in anytime at all.”
Cassi smiled at him uncertainly. She knew she would not go over at night to visit her horse because she would run the risk of running into Austin. That was a risk she needed to stay away from. It wasn’t wise to mix business with pleasure. And as Cassi was finding out, he was definitely capable of delivering pleasure.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Cassi rose early to ride with Foolish Gamble, alone, before she had to take him over to Keller Farms. This would be the second hardest part of the deal with Austin, the hardest part being keeping her mind on business while she worked with him. Side by side. Together.
After a quick shower, Cassi threw on her work clothes and quietly left the house. Her brother Mikey was still asleep and she didn’t want to wake him.
Sliding open the barn door, she inhaled the scent of leather saddles and hay. Her boots made little noise on the hard dirt floor of the barn as she walked towards Foolish Gamble’s stall. Foolish Gamble had his ears pricked, already looking for her, hanging his head out the stall.
“Hey, big guy,” Cassi murmured, stroking the large animal’s nose. “I brought you your favorite treat,” she cooed. Opening her palm, Foolish Gamble quickly took the carrot pieces she offered him. She enjoyed the moistness his eager lips left in her palm. She smiled at him. “There’s more where that came from. How about you and me go for a ride?”
Unlatching the door to his stall, Cassi led him out of the barn. As she saddled him, tears stung her eyes. It would be hard not having him around all the time. He had been her only sanity after her father had left them, the one good thing he had left her. She could lean on him when there were no others available. She confided in him and, in turn, the horse had become her best friend. It would be hard to say good-bye. She knew she was being sentimental. After all, Foolish Gamble would be down the road at Keller Farms. It wasn’t like he was leaving her forever, but it felt that way.
After leading him outside, she put her foot in the stirrup and mounted Foolish Gamble. Wiping a lone tear that had fallen down her cheek with the back of her hand, she urged him forward. A lump had captured her throat. She no longer spoke to Foolish Gamble, just remained silent.
Instead of racing him to the old oak tree, Cassi simply let him walk at the pace he chose. Every now and then, he’d stop to nibble on a fresh sprig of grass, and she indulged him. Eventually they made their way to their favorite spot. The chill of the morning air remained around them, heavy morning dew coating the ground. After dismounting, Cassi paced about restlessly trying not to think too muchespecially about Austin.
Finally giving up the struggle, she leaned against the tree and allowed her thoughts to drift to Austin Keller of the sexy tiger-eyes. She would indulge herself to think of him for a while. Working closely with him for several weeks was too much to contemplate. Willfully she resolved not to let his charming ways affect her, lead her to territories best left unexplored.
The morning sun warmed her clothes and she breathed in the fresh springtime air. Everything would be all right, she promised herself. She’d only be separated from Foolish Gamble for a short period. He would win the races, she’d be able to keep her farm, and she’d be able to resist Austin and keep her heart intact.
Sighing, she moved away from the tree and stroked Foolish Gamble’s shoulder. “Come on, boy, we’ve got to get you used to your new surroundings. You know, you’re going to be the talk of the town soon.” Cassi imagined tongues were still wagging over her photo on the Internet with Austin. Most people didn’t have a clue who she was, but they all knew Austin Keller.
Remounting Foolish Gamble, she raced him back to the barn, knowing this would be the last time she’d be able to do this for a while. She savored the wind whipping through her hair and the feel of Foolish Gamble’s strength beneath her legs. His strength and power destined him to be a champion.
When she returned, Mikey was fixing a stall door at the barn in need of repair.
“Hi, Mikey,” Cassi called as she dismounted. She slipped the reins over Foolish Gamble’s head and walked over to where her brother worked, smiling at the sound of her loyal horse following behind her. “What are you doing up so early? I thought you didn’t have classes today.”
“I don’t,” he replied, pounding the wood of the stall frame with a hammer. “The phone woke me up.”
“Who was calling so early?”
“A reporter from the newspaper.”
“A what?” Cassi couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. “What in the world did they want? They must have dialed the wrong number.”
Cassi could see the mischievous grin on her brother’s face as he continued working. “What did they want?”
“They wanted to know if you were the girl in the Internet post dancing with Austin Keller.”
Cassi couldn’t believe they’d figured out it was her. “What did you tell them?”
“I told him your name, how old you are, and that Austin Keller is your new boyfriend.”
“You what!” Cassi’s voice rose. “Why in the world would you tell them something outrageous like that?”
Mike peered out from the stall to her. “It’s true, isn’t it?”
“Not really,” Cassi replied. “We’re only business partners.”
“He kissed you, didn’t he?”
She didn’t want to dwell on the fact that Austin had done plenty more than kiss her. “Yeah.”
“Well, then he’s your boyfriend.”
“It’s not that simple, Mikey.” Cassi crossed her arms across her chest in frustration.
“I think it is. I certainly don’t kiss girls unless I want them to be my girlfriend.”
His logic was homespun innocence. But Cassi wasn’t Austin’s girlfriend. She might be a momentary distraction to the playboy. But his girlfriend? She thought not.
“Things aren’t always black and white.”
“Well, they are if you go with your gut feelings.” Stopping his pounding, Mikey looked up at her. “You know, you ought to have fun, Cassi. Quit always thinking about this dumb farm.”
“It’s not a dumb farm, Mikey, it’s our home. It’s all we have.” It would be all theirs if Foolish Gamble won his races. She didn’t want to think about the alternative to that scenario.
“All I’m saying,” Mikey spread his hands out in a pleading fashion, “you should give the guy a chance. He might not be all that bad.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“Well, he kissed you, didn’t he?”
“That doesn’t mean anything. He’s a millionaire. He dated the governor’s daughter and is on the Internet about every month with a new woman on his arm. Apparently he kisses lots of women.”
“Yeah, but maybe that’s because he hasn’t found the right one. You never know, it could be you, Cassi.”
She laughed out loud. Laughed until her side hurt and tears came to her eyes. “Oh Mikey, you’re too much.”
Mikey threw his hammer down. “You know what, Cassi? Maybe you need to cut the guy
some slack. Maybe you’re making it hard on him.”
Cassi doubted that. If anything, she’d made things too easy for him. She melted into his advances anytime he kissed or touched her. A new realization came to her. Austin made things hard on her, not the other way around. “All right, Mikey. Don’t get worked up about it.”
“It’s just—you need to have fun. You’re always so busy trying to take care of everything. Why don’t you let someone take care of you for a change?”
His words were true. But she didn’t have anyone to lean on. She had to take care of things herself. What she wouldn’t give for someone to help her, to take care of her. But she wasn’t sure she could do that. Trust someone. She hadn’t done that since she was a child, before her dad had left them. For her, it wasn’t that easy. She’d been in charge and alone for so long she didn’t think she could let herself open up to someone, be vulnerable.
Her brother’s concern was touching, but she didn’t want him worrying about her. “Okay, Mikey, I’ll try to cut Austin some slack.” She tousled his hair, grinning when he pushed her hand aside and scowled at her.
The time had come for Cassi to take Foolish Gamble to Austin’s place. Mikey helped her hitch the horse trailer to her old pickup and together they loaded their last hope for saving the farm.
The sound of the metal trailer gate shutting caused Cassi to shudder. It was all she could do to keep from breaking out in tears and bawling like a baby.
“It’s not going to be the same here without him around.”
“No, it’s not,” Cassi agreed with her brother. “But hopefully he’s going to come home with lots of ribbons and trophies.”
“That would be cool.” Mikey nodded in agreement. “I’ll take care of anything that comes up around here while you’re getting him settled.”
“Thanks, Mikey.” Cassi turned and stepped up into the cab of the truck. Slowly letting the clutch out, she began the ride to the Keller farm. A ride she had been dreading.
It didn’t take long for her to reach the bright white fences marking the farm’s boundaries. Pulling into the guarded entrance, the security guard stopped her for questioning. Then the gate slid open, and Cassi drove along the winding drive, until she reached the barn where she knew Foolish Gamble would be housed. The same barn where she and Austin had kissed. The same barn where he’d driven her wild in the office.
Pulling the truck around to the open barn door, she saw Austin waiting there. Apparently, the guard had alerted him to her presence.
He stood still, looking better than any man had a right to. The well-worn jeans clung to his strong muscles and the black denim shirt highlighted his hair, a bit unkempt from the breeze. A pair of dark sunglasses hid his eyes from her, but Cassi knew what lay behind them—a tempting tawny gaze that could reduce women to putty in his hands with one heated look.
Before she had a chance to unbuckle her seat belt, Austin had already gone around to the rear of the truck. Cassi jumped down from her seat, shut the door and hurried to the back of the trailer. She saw Austin backing up Foolish Gamble, easing him out without a problem as he talked low and gently to the huge animal.
Anger flared hot inside her and she realized she was jealous that Foolish Gamble allowed Austin to handle him. At that moment, Cassi resented Austin. His money, his upbringing. She had no control over her debt-ridden farm or the attraction between her and Austin, and now her horse also seemed to be putty in the man’s hands. She resented that he made her swoon. Did everything come so easily for him? She vowed to resist his charms from that moment forward.
She watched Austin lead her horse safely out of the trailer. As she neared Austin, he simply nodded in her direction.
“Morning,” he said.
Cassi nodded in return and followed them into the barn. All the other horses had already been turned out into the fields. This would help Foolish Gamble remain calm and get used to his new surroundings. He flared his nostrils, taking in all the new scents. Austin opened the stall and led the horse into his new home, then latched the gate behind him. Cassi noticed Foolish Gamble’s name etched on the plaque on the stall door.
“You put his name here.” Cassi rubbed her finger over the engraved letters and turned to look at Austin. “That’s so sweet.”
“The stable hands and vets need to know who he is.” He shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”
But it was to Cassi. She took it as a sign that reinforced her feelings that Austin truly loved his animals. And that made her feel better about leaving her horse here.
“What do you plan for the rest of the day?” Cassi glanced away from Austin, not wanting to look into his eyes now that he had removed his sunglasses in the darkened barn.
“Let him get settled in. Tomorrow I plan on taking him out to his corral; get him used to the area. Billy Joe will meet him as well as Garrison, the jockey. But I don’t expect the jockey to start working with him until Monday.”
Austin shifted closer to where she stood. Cassi steeled herself, determined to keep her cool around him.
“I expect you’ll be here when he begins working with Garrison,” Austin said. It was more a statement, not a question.
“Of course I plan on being here.”
“I imagine it’s hard for you, letting him come stay here.”
The tenderness in his voice surprised and pleased Cassi. “Of course it is.” She watched as Austin held out part of an apple to Foolish Gamble. The horse took it readily from him.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Cassi. He’s in good hands.”
And Cassi wished she could throw herself into Austin’s arms, not worrying about where things would lead—if she could trust him. If he would remain interested in her after he got what she assumed he wanted from her.
“I know,” she said simply. “I’d better take the trailer back. There’s work waiting for me at home.” Cassi stroked Foolish Gamble’s nose, and leaned her head against his mighty face. She wanted to keep her own face buried there, didn’t want Austin to see the silly tears while she said good-bye to her horse. Finally, she squared her shoulders and let go of Foolish Gamble.
“I’ll see you Friday. I look forward to meeting the jockey you hired.” Turning to leave the barn, Austin held her elbow.
“Cassi, wait a minute.”
He moved behind her, closer to where she could feel his breath in her hair. Both his hands held her, the contact sending a flutter up her arms and down her spine. It was a sweet agony when she knew she needed to keep her distance. Keep her heart safe from him.
“I thought you’d stick around longer.”
Could that be disappointment in his voice? “I would, except I have plenty to do. Besides, Foolish Gamble needs to adjust to his new surroundings.”
“It would be easier for him if you stayed.”
How Cassi longed to linger, but feared she might not be able to resist Austin’s sensuous presence, his nearness.
“I’ll be back this evening, after my work at the farm is done.”
“Good. I look forward to seeing you.”
His hands released her, and she kept walking straight to her truck without looking back. Deep down, she looked forward to seeing him, too. But she couldn’t let him know that—and refused to believe it herself. As she put the truck in gear, she noticed Austin was still standing in the barn, watching her leave. Quickly, she turned her head to the side and focused on backing the truck out of the barn area. She didn’t look back.
Cassi managed to miss Austin that evening when she returned to visit Foolish Gamble. She didn’t need his lithe body standing next to her, reminding her of his heated kisses. She wanted to keep things on a business level, not an emotional minefield.
Concentrating on Foolish Gamble, she could tell he was adjusting without any problems to his new stable mates. Cassi liked to think the horse knew he would be a great racehorse, like some of the other famous horses boarded here.
Tomorrow she would meet the jockey.
As she headed out of the barn, she ran into Billy Joe Sloan.
“How you doin’, Cassi?” he drawled.
“I’m fine. How about yourself.”
“Can’t complain.” They walked on together. “Going to see Foolish Gamble work with Garrison?”
“Yeah, sure am. Have you met him before?” Cassi asked.
“Yeah, once or twice.”
“What do you think of him?”
“He’s not my favorite jockey, but I imagine Austin’s gettin’ him for a good price.” Billy Joe kicked the ground with the tip of his boot.
Cassi remained positive. She had confidence that Austin would only use a jockey who would be best suited for Foolish Gamble.
They reached the fence where Austin was already working with Foolish Gamble, putting him through his paces. A short man leaned against the fence, watching Austin and the horse.
Cassi saw Austin look her way, and he slowed the workout with Foolish Gamble until he had the horse at a walk. He looked good atop a horse.
Leaning against the outside of the fence, Billy Joe beside her, Cassi watched as Austin’s lithe body slid off the horse and walked toward them.
“Morning, Cassi,” Austin greeted softly.
“Hello.”
“Garrison,” Austin called to the short man. “Come here and meet Cassi, my partner.”
The man walked over to her and they shook hands.
“Hi, I’m Garrison.”
Cassi looked into his eyes. They were beady and seemed to dart around as if he didn’t want to look directly at her. She didn’t like that, but maybe he was shy around strangers.
“I’m Cassi. Nice to meet you.”
Austin interjected, “I was waiting for you to get here before I let Garrison take him for a spin down at the track.”
Cassi followed Austin’s nod toward the track where they had earlier raced together the other day—and explored each other afterward. She resisted her body’s urge to blush at the memories. Instead, she kept her face emotionless. “Let’s go then.”
