MILLIONAIRE'S SHOT: Second Chance Romance (12 page)

“Excuse me,” she said, leading Digger past him, hating this unwanted pull of sexual attraction. At least it was darker in the barn and she wouldn’t be at such a disadvantage. And maybe he wouldn’t pick up on her churning emotions. Wouldn’t realize his intent gaze still inspired hot flashes. She’d stay inside and clean stalls until he left. She was surprised to see him, that’s all.

And then she led Digger into his stall and was doubly surprised. Alex must have been here a while. He’d cleaned all the stalls, swept the aisle and even filled the water buckets. His sports jacket still hung over a stall door. It had probably been years since he’d mucked out a stall, and she knew she should be grateful. But now she had nothing left to do. And she just wished he’d load Grace up in his car and leave.

She heard him outside talking to Grace and a moment later he stood in front of Digger’s stall.

“Thank you,” he said softly. “Grace had a great time with you today.”

She slipped off Digger’s bridle and replaced it with a halter, pretending she was totally composed. “Great,” she said. “She had fun in the water too.” Once Grace quit fretting about dirtying her clothes. Cassie couldn’t remember ever worrying so much about a little mud. It must be because of the restrictive Sutherland dress code.

“She told me she’s ready to start riding again,” Alex said. “As long as nobody is around.”

“Part of it might be that she prefers riding in jeans,” Cassie said. “Instead of breeches. She worries about that.”

The stall door clicked and Alex stepped in beside her. “What do you mean?” he asked, clearly shocked but careful to keep his voice low. “She said that?”

He seemed to suck up the oxygen in the stall, making it difficult to breathe. “Yes, but she didn’t want to talk about it much,” Cassie said, surprised her voice sounded so normal. She turned, preparing to snap the lead rope on Digger’s halter.

“Wait.” Alex reached out, stilling her hand. “Are you sure? She’s never even hinted at that to me.”

His gentle touch made her skin tingle, all the way to her toes. And he was so close and smelled so familiar, a heady combination of spice and leather that dominated her senses and made something flutter deep in her belly. If she turned her head, her face would brush his chest. But she’d made that mistake before.

She shrugged, using the movement to press back against Digger’s solid shoulder. “Girls often worry about their appearance,” she said, “especially when they’re growing. Maybe she wasn’t comfortable talking about it.”

“But she was comfortable with you,” he said. “I saw you down there. In the brook. It was amazing, hearing her laugh. And I want that for her, the fun, the camaraderie… What we had.”

His tone changed and she made the mistake of looking up at him. For a brief moment his expression was unguarded, almost wistful. Then it shuttered. “Is this horse for sale?” he asked. “Grace really likes him.”

“Digger isn’t the right horse for her,” Cassie said, still absorbing that he’d walked down to the brook and seen her stripped to her underwear. Half naked and frolicking like a kid. Teaching Grace to play like a heathen. Yet he didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he sounded approving.

“Gramps has been working with Digger for the last eight months,” she said. “Hoping to sell him as a polo pony. He’s almost as good as Ginger. By the way, thanks for looking after our trailer. We’ll pay you for the tires, and the tow.”

“Don’t be foolish,” he said. “You know how I feel about you and your grandfather.”

His tone was rough but tender at the same time, and it left her unbalanced. She’d always known what he was thinking but not anymore. And it hurt that he hadn’t looked her up in all those years. She didn’t intend to ask any personal questions. But he was standing so close, the way he always lingered in the barn in case she needed help. She probably wouldn’t have another chance to talk to him again.

“How long have you been divorced?” she blurted.

“Six years or so.” He stepped aside, pushing the stall door back and making sure it was wide enough so Digger wouldn’t hit his hips. “We can talk more inside. Your grandfather invited Grace and I to stay for lunch.” His mouth lifted in a rueful smile. “And it’s been too long since Jake spoke to me, so you can bet I accepted.”

Cassie felt like she was in a time warp.

She sat stiffly in her chair while Alex and Gramps bantered about the newest training methods, arguing with a familiarity born from confidence and mutual respect. At one point, Alex left the verandah and strode into the kitchen, unerringly finding the jar of peanut butter that Gramps kept in the third cupboard on the right.

“Have some more, Cass,” Alex said, passing her half of a neatly cut sandwich and then sliding the other half on Grace’s plate. The ease with which he used her old nickname shouldn’t have made her flush, but it did.

“This is good,” Grace said, chewing enthusiastically and thankfully drawing everyone’s attention. “We almost never have peanut butter at my house.”

I bet not, Cassie thought. No Sutherland cook would have been permitted to serve peanut butter and jam sandwiches. That had been the staple here though. Gramps had been too busy to make complicated meals. Besides, next to lobster sandwiches, peanut butter and jam were still her favorite. On her birthday once, Alex had surprised her by adding sliced bananas and that had been good too. He’d always brought great lunches.

“Tomorrow I’ll bring the food,” Alex said, as if reading her mind.

She gave a nonchalant shrug. But then the full significance of his words hit and she reached for her water glass, surprised her hand was so steady. “So you plan on lunching here again?”

“I want to enroll Grace in daily lessons.”

He spoke as if her grandfather ran a formal stable.

“Gramps hasn’t given lessons in years,” she said. “And sorry but we don’t have a suitable lesson horse.”

“I can ride Digger!” Grace scrambled from her chair and wrapped her arms around her father’s neck. “Thanks, Dad.”

They acted as if money could buy everything. And usually the Sutherland money could. Cassie shook her head and looked at her grandfather, anticipating his blunt refusal.

But Gramps just leaned back in his chair and nodded. “Grace wants to have fun with a horse,” he said. “I can’t help her right now but you’re here, Cassie. Seems a shame if you couldn’t take the time to teach her a thing or two. Especially since teaching kids is what you enjoy the most.”

His reproachful tone made her stiffen. Obviously he and Alex had talked while she was down at the brook, and whatever differences they had were resolved. But her grandfather’s defection stung. He and Alex had always seemed to partner up, simply because they shared a masculine view. It had bothered her then, and it bothered her even more now.

Especially since this involved Rachel’s daughter. And lessons might be good for Grace but they wouldn’t be good for her.

She shot a hard look at Alex. Last night he hadn’t wanted to see her again. And if she were honest, that’s what hurt. He cared about his daughter’s happiness but Cassie was expendable. Always had been.

“Grace,” she said, “would you please go inside and fill the water pitcher?”

Grace gave an obliging nod and scooped up the pitcher. Cassie waited until the girl was inside and out of ear shot.

“I’ll teach Grace,” she said to Alex, “but you’ll have to sign a waiver. And I still don’t believe Digger is quiet enough. It will only undermine his training and make him harder to sell. So my lessons will be expensive.” She quoted an absurdly high price but Alex didn’t even blink.

“Also,” she pulled in a deep breath. She no longer had proof after Alex had erased her phone recording—and he seemed to trust that she wouldn’t be so sneaky that she’d try to record Grace again. However, this last condition was non-negotiable. “I don’t want Rachel around Digger,” she said, “or anywhere on our property, not after how she treated Ginger.”

Alex didn’t deny Rachel’s cruelty, or even try to defend her. “I’ll be the one to drive Grace,” he said. “I just want her to have fun. You’ve always been the best person for that. And I’ll find a more suitable horse after you evaluate her riding. You won’t have to worry about Digger for long.” Then he gave a reassuring smile, his expression surprisingly tender.

Cassie wrapped her hands around her water glass, fighting the urge to press it against her warm forehead. He had no business looking at her like that. It left her hot, edgy and confused. She’d hoped a chauffeur would drive Grace. But a part of her leaped at the thought that Alex would be around.

Of course, his presence would help Gramps. It was always beneficial to be in the Sutherlands’ good graces. And if she rekindled Grace’s love of riding, Alex might be so pleased he’d ask Santiago to give Ginger another try. Maybe he’d even tell the Club to remove Ginger from their black list.

She set down her glass with a decisive thump. “All right,” she said. “Have Grace here tomorrow at eight.” And because it felt good to have power for a change, she couldn’t resist adding, “And don’t be late. Or you’ll have to clean the stalls again.”

His chuckle was quick and amused, and so damn attractive she couldn’t help but smile back.

Ten minutes later he and Grace drove down the driveway, and she was finally free to hold the glass against her hot forehead and try to steady her breathing.

“It’ll be nice having a kid around again,” her grandfather said, watching the car disappear beyond the trees. “Alex spent a lot of time here. Makes sense his daughter would like it too.”

“I suppose,” Cassie said. “I’m surprised you’d want Grace here though. Her mother deliberately hurt Ginger. And she caused a lot of trouble for you.”

“But Alex already talked to the president. Jonathon Stiles called this morning and apologized for any misunderstanding. He assured me Ginger wouldn’t be on their banned list. Rachel realized she was wearing the wrong spurs for such a well-trained and willing horse.”

Cassie jerked forward, almost dropping her glass. “Rachel said that?”

“Apparently almost verbatim. So Ginger is allowed to compete at the Club again. With any rider.”

“So the college sale could still happen?”

“Yes.” Gramps gave a satisfied nod. “And now that Grace is coming here, Rachel will have to be on her best behavior.”

Cassie leaned back in her chair, relieved that Gramps knew what he was doing. She’d been worrying about the polo club, the lies Rachel might be spreading. But the fact that Rachel accepted the blame meant she listened to Alex. Not only had he looked after their trailer, he’d made Rachel call the Club before Cassie even agreed to teach their daughter.

Just because he hadn’t said much about Ginger’s condition, and had destroyed the phone evidence, hadn’t meant he condoned it. She’d forgotten how loyal he was—to his friends, family and animals.

“I don’t imagine Rachel liked that much,” Gramps went on, his tone gleeful. “Being forced to call the Club and publicly announce she’d ridden poorly.”

“No,” Cassie said slowly. “I’m sure she didn’t.”

“Nothing she can do though.” Gramps chuckled and folded his hands over his lap. “Ginger’s here now. All our horses are safe.”

Cassie gave a little nod. But she couldn’t forget Rachel’s cold eyes and how people like Santiago jumped to do her bidding. And she shifted in her chair, jerking forward and then back again, not quite as comfortable as her grandfather.

The sun beat down on Grace’s shiny new helmet, dust rising in spirals as she trotted Digger in the round pen.

“Sit up,” Cassie said. “Remember to look where you’re going. Digger will move in the direction of your eyes.”

Grace glanced to her left and Digger immediately changed direction, so fast she had to grab his mane to stay on.

“Wicked,” Grace said, awkwardly repositioning herself in the saddle. “It’s cool how he turns on his own. I just wish he didn’t do it so fast.”

And that was the problem. Digger was too well trained. Not only was Grace perilously close to falling off, it wasn’t good for Digger. Her grandfather had worked countless hours to fine-tune the horse to a rider’s commands, and Cassie didn’t want to dull Digger down. Especially since there was a possibility the college would still consider him for their polo team. Those riders would need a responsive horse.

At least Grace was smiling. She didn’t seem in the least bit afraid and Digger was a good-natured horse, the type who tried hard to please his rider. Even if he didn’t understand why she kept bouncing around in the saddle.

“May I try riding with a polo mallet tomorrow?” Grace asked.

“Not yet.” Cassie jumped down from her perch on the top rail. “It’s best to practice hitting the ball on the ground first. Without horses.”

“Okay,” Grace said. “Is that how you learned?”

“Yes, and I chased hundreds of balls on foot.” In fact, Alex had paid her a dollar for every ball she retrieved. She thought he had a horrible shot, always losing them in the tall grass. It wasn’t until later that she realized he’d been trying to slip her some extra cash without offending her grandfather. And both he and Gramps had been adamant about not letting her carry a mallet until they were sure she wouldn’t hit her horse’s legs. “After I finish the groundwork,” Grace said, stopping Digger beside Cassie. “I want to try a belly shot. They look cool.”

“No,” Cassie said. “Not on my grandfather’s horse.”

“But Mom does them all the time.”

Cassie’s mouth tightened. It wasn’t surprising Rachel took risky shots. Swinging into a horse’s legs required considerable finesse…and a rider needed to be very wealthy to replace all the horses that were lamed up.

“Is that really what you want to do with a horse?” Cassie asked, thinking of all the other riding disciplines Grace might like. “Play polo?”

“Yes.” Grace gave an emphatic nod. “Some day I want to be as good as Mom. But I never want to play in front of strangers. And I don’t want to ride at home. I prefer quiet places, like here.”