by L. P. Dover
William helps me into my light pink, lacy sheath gown and zips up the back. I have a pink headpiece to match that sits to the side of my head with bright pink feathers. It’s the first hat William has ever designed, and I love it.
I take one last look in the mirror just as a knock sounds on my door. “Come in,” I call out.
The door opens slightly, and my father sticks his head in. His eyes widen when he sees me, and he quickly steps in. “Oh, pumpkin, you look beautiful.”
Holding out my arms, I walk over and hug him. “Thanks, Daddy. You look amazing yourself.” My father has always been an icon in the derby circuit, well-respected and a charming businessman. With his salt and pepper hair and bright green eyes, the man has always been able to get his way with just one look. Everyone says I’m the same way, that I have the same charm.
He kisses my cheek. “You ready? Everyone’s waiting on you.”
“As I’ll ever be,” I reply as my heart beats so fast I can hear it in my ears. He lets me go and shakes William’s hand. There was a time when he hoped there was more to mine and William’s relationship, but I burst his bubble when I told him I wasn’t William’s type.
My father walks to the door and smiles at me before exiting. William takes my arm and links it with his. “Let’s go, my darling.” As soon as we’re out the door, I can hear all the commotion downstairs. William leans in close. “Now don’t let me spoil the night for you. Your dad told me about all the men who look forward to dancing with you at these events. He doesn’t want them thinking you’re taken.”
I roll my eyes. “I see it as you saving me. Whatever you do, don’t leave my side. You’re my wingman tonight.”
Brows furrowed, he jerks his attention my way. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Actually, there is, but there’s no time to explain. As soon as we reach the staircase, all eyes are on us. The foyer is filled with reporters and cameras. Lights flash all around us and I hold onto William’s arm, pulling him close. “I’ll tell you later,” I say through my teeth as I smile.
William’s grin widens. “Oh good Lord. Can’t wait to hear this.”
Arm in arm, we take the stairs together. Once at the bottom, we’re bombarded with comments and questions. William and I pose together for the pictures and he holds me close. Hopefully, having it look like we’re together will take the media’s focus away from me finding the perfect bachelor. Over the years, I’ve dreaded seeing all the pictures with me and various other men with the headlines reading … Which One Will She Choose? It’s like I’m on The Bachelorette trying to find my soulmate in one weeklong carnival of chaos.
One of the reporters, a woman named Charlotte, holds a microphone up to me. She works for one of the local news stations and has interviewed me every year for the past five years. She’s always been nice and reminds me so much of my mother with her blonde hair and kind smile. It makes me miss my mother all over again. Cancer took her away from me last year.
“First of all,” she begins, “you look gorgeous, Brielle. I know everyone always looks forward to seeing your elegant styles every year.”
I glance quickly over at William and smile before focusing back on her. “Thank you, Charlotte. This year I’ve done things a little differently.”
Charlotte beams. “How so? Please tell me.” Her gaze roams down my dress with fascination. “I can already tell your style is different this year. New designer?”
“It is,” I answer happily. Then I look up at William. “This is William Ashton, the designer of everything you’ll see me wearing this season. He’s a dear friend of mine.”
As soon as the other reporters hear what I say, more cameras flash all around us. Charlotte gasps and holds the microphone toward William, asking him a slew of questions just like a gazillion of the other reporters. It’s nice to have the focus on someone other than me for a change.
Once we’ve answered everyone’s questions, we make our way through the house. There are so many people it takes us a while to get through them all. I introduce William to everyone we pass, several of who want William to design their dresses for next year.
“I’m starting to think I’ll never get back to New York,” William says, laughing.
I squeeze his arm. “Is that so bad? You’ll be here with me.”
He winks and gazes around the room. “And all these handsome gentlemen.” Speaking of handsome gentlemen, I search the room for the one person I wondered if I’d see. Colby Hensley. I shouldn’t care about seeing him, but I can’t help it. The last time I saw him was the day he quit working for Armstrong Acres. Right before that, things had started to heat up between us. We stole a few kisses here and there, but it had to be a secret, especially from my father. He wouldn’t approve of me being with a horse trainer. I thought Colby and I meant something to each other, but after he up and quit, I couldn’t help but feel betrayed. Now he works for our biggest competitor. My father said he left because he was tired of working with us. Talk about a slap in the face.
William and I walk back into the main foyer and he grabs us a couple glasses of champagne. He clanks his glass against mine and smiles. “To new beginnings.”
I nod. “To new beginnings.”
Lifting the glass to my lips, I take a sip and that’s when my eyes meet a set of electric blue ones. I’ve looked into those eyes countless nights. Almost immediately, I look away and catch my breath. William takes my hand and pulls me close. “You okay? What’s wrong?”
It feels like there’s a sharp ping in my chest. I glance back over to the corner Colby was in, but he’s nowhere to be seen. “I saw someone I know,” I murmur.
William chuckles. “Don’t you know everyone here?”
When I meet his eyes, his smile fades and recognition flashes on his face. “Oh, my God. Was it him? The guy you told me about?”
I nod. “Yep. I honestly didn’t know if he’d come tonight. Especially with the party being here.” Shaking my head, I look away. “Why do I even care? It’s been so long since I’ve talked to him.” I’ve tried to forget about Colby, but it’s been hard. He left without a word, as if I wasn’t worthy of an explanation. I feel stupid for even letting things go so far between us.
William glances around the room. “Where is he? I want to see this guy.”
I wave him off. “He’s not worth it. I don’t even want to think about him right now.” Who am I kidding? With all the events coming up, we can’t hide from each other. There’s absolutely no way it’ll be possible. I drink the rest of my champagne in one gulp and sigh. “I need more. Be right back.”
William tries to reach for my glass. “I’ll get it for you.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. I’ll be right back.”
He stands back and flourishes a hand toward the waiter who’s holding a tray of filled champagne glasses across the room. “I’ll be here.” By the smirk on his face, he knows what’s on my mind. How pathetic can I be?
I walk over to where I last saw Colby, smiling and saying my hellos to everyone I pass. Colby is nowhere to be seen. He hates these social events. All he cares about is training horses, not mingling with all the pompous asses. At least, that’s what he used to call everyone.
“Brielle,” a voice calls out. I turn to see Meghan Kelly, waving her hand in the air to catch my attention. Her long, dark hair is pulled up high in a ball of curls with a large red ribbon hat off to the side that matches her sleeveless red gown.
“Hey, Meghan,” I say, hoping I don’t sound rushed. Meghan is the daughter of Baker Kelly, the owner of the Lucky Seven Ranch, our biggest competitor and who Colby works for now. Meghan is the kind of girl who always gets what she wants. It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s had her way with Colby. Not to mention, she’s beautiful too. I dread the thought of her and Colby sneaking off together like we used to do.
Meghan turns her eyes to William. “Who’s your date?”
I can’t help but smile. She’s not going to get any
where with him. “William Ashton. You might’ve heard his name before. He’s a big time designer in New York.”
Her mouth drops. “Oh my God. Yes, I’ve heard of him. He’s so dreamy.”
“You should go introduce yourself. He’d love to meet you.”
Meghan bites her lip. “You don’t mind?”
“Nope,” I say, shaking my head. “Go for it.”
She takes off like a lioness hunting its prey. William’s going to hate me for leaving him alone, but the last thing I want is for Meghan to know I’m looking for Colby. After searching the house to no avail, I’m convinced he’s left. He was never one to stay at any of the social events for long. I start my way back through the house to William when I see him. Stopping at the window, I watch Colby outside as he stands alone by the water fountain in our garden.
I sneak off through the kitchen and to the back door that leads directly out to the gardens. There are twinkling lights everywhere in the trees, giving the atmosphere a Christmas-like feel. My heart beats out of control as I turn the corner toward the fountain. I don’t know why I want to talk to him now. So much time has passed between us. Basically, I just want him to know I’m not pining away for him, that he didn’t hurt me when he left. Which isn’t true at all.
Slowly, I make my way toward him. He’s not dressed in a tux like all the other men. Instead, he’s in a simple pair of khaki pants and a navy-blue blazer. I know he can afford the finer things, but that’s not who he is. It’s one of the qualities I used to like about him, or at least I thought I liked about him.
“I’m surprised you’re here,” I say, stopping a few feet behind him.
He glances at me over his shoulder, his electric blue eyes meeting mine. A hint of a smile spreads across his lips. “It’s good to see you too, Bri.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snap. It brings back too many memories.
Smile fading, he turns to face me. As always, he still manages to make me feel things I shouldn’t. His eyes bore into mine. “I wondered if you’d ever talk to me again.”
I scoff. “You mean, after you left and never looked back.”
His jaw tightens. “That’s not what happened. You should know that. I wanted things to work out between us.”
I hold up a hand to cut him off. “I don’t want to hear it, Colby. If that’s really what you wanted, you wouldn’t have left.”
Turning on my heel, I try to storm away but Colby’s arms wrap around my waist. I halfheartedly try to pull away, but I’ve missed his touch. “Why are you so damn stubborn?” he growls, turning me around in his arms.
Breathing hard, I glare up at him. “Because I hate you.”
He holds me tight. “Yeah, I see that. It was obvious you hated me after I left. Before you get back on your high and mighty horse, hear me out now that I got your attention.” His eyes search mine and I can feel my resolve slipping away. “After I left, I kept my distance, not because I stopped caring about you, but because I respected your wishes to keep what was between us private. I was waiting for you to make a move.” His gaze hardens. “When you didn’t, I had my answer.”
I push against his chest and he lets me go. “I don’t want to hear it, Colby. My father said you were tired of working with us. I took that as a sign you were done with me.” Eyes burning, I hurry toward the back door, but Colby calls out for me.
“Bri, wait!”
I don’t stop because I already feel stupid enough as it is. Maybe I should’ve stayed to listen to him, maybe not. All I know is that I’m no fool. I can’t let my guard down again. I never should have gone out there to talk to him in the first place.
Three
Colby
Women are frustrating. I can tame and train one of the biggest animals in the world and not lose my cool, but a woman—within seconds I’m scratching my head. No, this isn’t accurate. It’s not all women—it’s Brielle. Just Brielle Armstrong and her stubborn spoiled ways. Damn woman puts me through the ringer with her presence, and she has since I first noticed girls.
Brielle has always been the girl who is off-limits to a guy like me. I’m a horse trainer, and while some of them look flashy on television after a victory, unless you own the horse, we don’t make a ton of money. I make enough to survive. I’m debt free, but my retirement is a bit small. If I’m injured and unable to work—I’ll need a new career. Horse training, at least for me, isn’t exactly a college educated program. But, Brielle. She’s educated. She was the sexy private schoolgirl who used to come into the stables after school in her tartan skirt, knee high socks, white dress shirt, and pigtails. Okay, the pigtails were a total fantasy. Still, the outfit was killer, and there I was, horny and hot after this chick, and mucking shit out of stables. Never in my life did I think a guy like me would turn her head.
One night, it happened. Bri had moved into the pool house, which was really a nice sized house on her family’s property, and she had blown a fuse. Her parents were out of town and the other ranch hands had all gone home for the night, but there I was sitting on the porch of my parent’s house, reading a book. As much as I didn’t want to help her, I had no choice. If didn’t do as she asked, my father could’ve been fired. That is how much power she holds when it comes to trivial things like a blown fuse.
It was the first time she had ever really spoken to me. Sure, she’d say hi every now and again, but I had no idea if she even knew my name. That night, she climbed the stairs to the porch and held onto the railing. She leaned against the post and said my name like it had fallen from her lips a thousand times. I knew in that moment she would destroy me. I just didn’t know I would be the one walking away.
And now, she’s walking away from me. I’m not even sure why she came to speak to me if she wasn’t going to listen to what I have to say. That’s not true. I know why. It’s because Brielle Armstrong has to have the last word, right or wrong. One thing is for sure, she knows how to make an entrance, and make her exits even more dramatic.
I turn around and rest my arms on the rock wall. It’s massive and makes the Armstrong mansion look like a fortress. I suppose in some respects it is, not that I’ve seen much of the house. Mr. Armstrong is the type of man who reminds his hired help where they stand according to his personal food chain, which is fine. I’ve known my role from birth. I also know Butch would have a heart attack if he knew someone like me has rolled around in Brielle’s million thread count sheets on more than one occasion.
From where I stand, I can see the courtyard. White lights illuminate the people mingling and the soft music playing is just loud enough to keep conversations private. A firm hand grips my shoulder. I turn slightly to see my dad standing next to me. There’s a rift between us, one that will likely never be bridged because I look like a traitor to him. That’s because I am. I’ve disgraced years of Hensley’s when I left Armstrong Acres for another ranch.
“Hey,” I say, refraining from calling him dad. It pains me, but I’ll do what I can to save face in front of the Armstrong’s and the others.
“I hear you’ve done well with that colt of yours.”
It’s a compliment and I’m going to take it. “Thanks.”
Dad sips on his drink and stares off into the darkness. Everyone always said we look so much alike. I should probably comment on his horse, but honestly, I haven’t been paying attention because I want to put all of my focus on Maximus.
“Your mom would like to see you. She’s in the stables.” He takes one last look at me and I can tell he wants to say more. Of course, he doesn’t. The man is more stubborn than me. I watch my father’s backside as he disappears into the house. He blends in instantly with the others. The men all look the same with their clean-shaven faces, nicely coifed hair, and black tuxedos. It’s amazing any of the wives can tell which one is her husband. I finish my drink and set it on one of the trays stationed in the corner and make my way out toward the stables. It’s been at least six months or more since I’ve seen my mom. We text a lot, and she c
alls when my dad is training, but most of the time I’m doing the same thing and can’t talk. I know my decision to work for another ranch has been hard on her, and while she says she understands, I’m not sure she does.
The Armstrong stables are massive and impeccably clean. I step into the airconditioned monstrosity and pause. Most of my growing up happened within these walls. It’s where I learned to love horses, to bond with them. It’s where I met Brielle for the first time, and where I fell in love with her from afar. It’s also where we kissed for the first time.
I remember it as if it was yesterday. Out of nowhere, a storm had rolled in. The wind was fierce, and the rain stung as it hit my back. By the time I managed to get the horses back into their stalls, I was waterlogged from head to toe. It was then that I noticed Pear wasn’t in her stall. I couldn’t remember Bri coming in and taking her, and that left me no choice but to go out and look for her. Of course, with thunder and lightning, there wasn’t a steed in the stable that was going to go out with me. As soon as I stepped out of the stable, Bri and her prize-winning horse came barreling toward me. I held the door against the wind until they were safely inside.
Without any words, I helped Brielle take care of her horse. It was my job, not hers, but she stayed by my side until Pear was dry, fed, and happy to be back in her stall. I left Brielle and went to make myself a bed for the night. I didn’t want the horses to get spooked. I hadn’t expected her to follow me, but she had and told me she was scared of the storm and planned to wait it out with me. That night, we talked. She told me what it was like to be here, and how much she hated it at times. Her friends were fake and pretentious, and the boys at school only wanted one thing. She asked what public school was like and whether she would fit in there. Her question made me laugh and when she looked at me, I thought she was going to strangle me. She didn’t. She kissed me. At first, it was a peck, but she wanted more. We made out that night, and every night we could after that. And when her dad was around, she openly flirted but for the most part our relationship was kept on the down low.
