Racing Toward Love (Horses Heal Hearts Book 2)

by Kimberly Beckett

  Since Jessica had come into Michael’s life, Ian had found her to be a warm and generous woman who had accepted him and trusted him even when she knew he had been charged with manslaughter. However, when he and Megan had first arrived at Michael’s, and Ian quickly moved to introduce Megan to Jessica, he detected a noticeable coldness in Jessica’s attitude toward Megan. Although there wasn’t anything Jessica particularly did to make Megan feel unwelcome, Ian knew there was something wrong. He resolved to speak with Jessica privately as soon as he could to find out what the problem was.

  His opportunity came as Liz was dismounting, and the training session was completed for the day. Liz took Michael aside to ask him a question, and Ian, seeing his chance, excused himself briefly from Megan and approached Jessica.

  “Jess, love,” Ian said tentatively.

  Jessica smiled. “Yes, Ian?”

  “I noticed you were a bit cool to Megan when I introduced you. Is there something wrong?”

  Jessica frowned. “No, Ian, there’s nothing wrong exactly. It’s just that I have a hard time warming up to a woman who would leave you alone with four brutal men and not do a thing to help. Quite frankly, I consider her behavior in the pub to be cowardly. You didn’t have to come to her aid, and you paid a heavy price for your trouble. You could have been killed, yet she disappeared and left you alone to fend for yourself.”

  Ian smiled at the ferocity of Jessica’s defense of him. “Truth be told, Jess, Megan didn’t leave me completely. Once she was safe, she did call the police.”

  Jessica grimaced. “You mean the same police who believed a shady bartender over you and arrested you without a second thought?”

  Neither Ian nor Jessica had noticed that their voices had become raised, and Megan had overheard the last part of their conversation.

  “I didn’t know the police were corrupt, Jessica,” Megan’s voice interrupted from over Ian’s shoulder. Megan blinked back tears and tried to keep her composure in the face of Jessica’s accusations. “I know what I did was cowardly, but those men frightened me. They meant to hurt me and could easily overpower me. I panicked and ran.” She looked at Ian, and his heart constricted at the guilt in her expression. “I’m so sorry, Ian.”

  Ian looked at Jessica, whose composure had softened considerably after hearing Megan’s heartfelt apology. “Jess, I’m free and completely exonerated, thanks to Megan. I’ve forgiven her for leaving the pub, and I believe she had no idea the police were going to believe the criminals over me. Can you find it in your heart to forgive her as well?”

  Jessica smiled through a sheen of tears and reached out a hand to Megan. Megan clasped it in hers, and Jessica squeezed Megan’s hand. “I’m sorry I was so cool to you, Megan. I didn’t fully understand what happened that day. If it’s OK with you, can we start over again?”

  Megan returned Jessica’s smile. “Of course. I’d love that.” She shook Jessica’s hand. “Hi. I’m Megan Brady.”

  Jessica grinned. “Jessica Warren, soon to be Jessica Stafford. Hi. It’s nice to meet you, Megan.”

  Ian looked between the two beautiful and accomplished women before him and breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized how important it was to him that Jessica and Michael accepted Megan. Although, truth be told, he believed Megan to be too good for relationship with a broken soldier like himself. He was, however, hoping Megan would trust him enough to tell him why those men in the pub were harassing her. The whole scene intrigued him. It was possible she could still be in trouble.

  Ian decided it was time to take Megan and spend some time with her alone. “Megan, would you like to take a tour of the stables?” Ian asked solicitously.

  “Of course, I’d love that.”

  As the couple looked at the horses Michael had in training, and Ian introduced Megan to some of Michael’s barn staff, Ian felt an easy closeness he had never felt with another woman. Megan’s intelligence and openness impressed him as well. As the day progressed, Ian also noticed that Megan was not averse to Ian’s attempts at engaging her in conversation, and to his delight, they shared like views on many subjects. This was indeed a woman he could see as a life partner. Too bad he wasn’t in a place where that was a possibility.

  Ian also revealed to Megan that Jessica was pregnant, and that she and Michael planned to be married as soon as possible. When Megan asked if the pregnancy was planned, Ian chuckled.

  “Actually, they’re fairly certain it happened the one time she and Michael made love without protection, so I guess you could call it a happy accident. I’ve resolved to be more careful if I am ever in that position.” Megan blushed and nodded her agreement.

  By the end of the day, Ian felt comfortable enough with Megan to ask her if she would be willing to accompany him to Brighton for lunch and some sight-seeing the next day. She agreed.

  That evening, after the five of them had supper, Ian drove Megan back to his uncle’s lodging in Brighton, near the race track. Megan was unusually quiet on the ride back. She appeared to be gazing out the passenger window into the dark. Was she thinking about him, or was she thinking back to the fight at the pub?

  He still had nagging questions about that whole situation at the pub. Was she there specifically to meet those men? If so, why? They were certainly not the type of people he would expect someone like Megan to be dealing with—in any way. She hadn’t been forthcoming with the information, but he guessed if the matter hadn’t been resolved, she might still be in danger. He assumed it had something to do with the upcoming Epsom Derby, but there was no way to know for sure—not unless she was willing to talk to him. So far, although he had given her the opportunity, she had not.

  When they arrived at Thomas’s home, Ian opened Megan’s car door for her and escorted her to his uncle’s door. He was surprised to find himself as nervous as a callow youth out on his first date, but he gathered his courage. “I’m glad you could spend the afternoon with me at Michael’s yard, Megan.”

  Megan also seemed a bit nervous and looked everywhere but at Ian when she responded. “I am too, Ian. Thank you for asking me. I had a wonderful time. It was really nice to see Michael again and to meet Jessica and Liz. Tempest is a phenomenal horse. I know he’ll clean up in competition.”

  “That’s our hope.”

  “Would you like to come in?” Megan asked.

  The thought of undergoing a grilling at the hands of his uncle and Megan’s father, who would probably assume he had a romantic interest in Megan, didn’t appeal. “No, thank you. I think I’ll call it a night.”

  A flash of what Ian thought was disappointment crossed Megan’s face, but she seemed to accept his decision.

  “Good night, then.”

  Ian cupped Megan’s jaw in his hand and lowered his mouth to hers for a brief kiss.

  When their lips touched, Ian felt a jolt of awareness. Megan seemed to have a similar reaction when he felt her sigh as his lips took hers in a feather-light caress. The kiss lasted only a second, but Ian knew he would remember it forever.

  As they drew slowly apart, Megan looked up at Ian shyly. “Good night, Ian,” she whispered softly.

  Ian smiled and left her to go back to his car.

  Megan glowed with pleasure and smiled secretly to herself as she entered Thomas’s house, anticipating a fatherly interrogation. She was surprised to find upon entering that only Stephen was waiting up for her. What surprised her even more was that he was angry and eager to confront her. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Her eyes widened in shock at the tone of Stephen’s voice. “What are you talking about?”

  “You hardly know Ian Stafford, and here you are throwing yourself at him like you’re desperate for his attention. Has it ever crossed your mind that he might be a part of the O’Reilly organization and was playing a part to get you to soften to him or e
ven to fall in love with him?”

  Megan felt as if she had been slapped in the face. What?! “How dare you say that to me? Ian Stafford saved my life in that pub, and I owe him everything. He could have been killed saving me, and you think he might be in league with that bastard O’Reilly?”

  Megan pointed an accusatory finger at her brother. “If that’s truly what you think, you are sadly mistaken, and I feel sorry for you that you judge people so harshly. I’m also hurt you think I’m so naive that I could be that easily fooled. Ian is a good man, and I intend to continue to see him whether you approve or not.”

  Megan stalked from the room and climbed the stairs to her bedroom. A few minutes later she heard Stephen ascend the stairs and stomp into his room as well. I wonder what that was all about? Could it be that Stephen is jealous? I realize I’ve been watching over him since Mom died, but I didn’t realize he had come to depend upon me so much that he would resent anyone who expressed a personal interest in me. Maybe I should back away from Ian for Stephen’s sake.

  Megan knew that because of his premature birth, Stephen’s mental status was close to that of a high-functioning autistic, but she had never before experienced his quick temper or impulsive behavior directed against her. This was new behavior. Maybe she shouldn’t be encouraging Ian right now, especially with O’Reilly in the picture. The last thing she needed was for Stephen to begin to act out or for Ian to become involved in her family’s situation with the mob. Megan’s heart, however, didn’t like that answer at all.

  ~ ~ ~

  The following morning, Ian called his uncle to make sure Megan was still amenable to having lunch with him.

  “Megan, love, do you have a minute?” Thomas Stafford approached Megan with his cell phone in hand. Megan looked up from the last of her morning chores, mucking out Biscuit’s stall, to find out what Thomas needed.

  “Certainly, Thomas.” Megan smiled. “For you, anything.”

  Thomas grinned mischievously in response. “In that case, my nephew Ian is on the line and wishes to speak with you, if you can spare the time.” He winked at her as he handed her the phone.

  Megan blushed. Apparently, her attraction to Ian had not gone unnoticed by either her father or members of the Stafford family. Michael Stafford had no doubt informed Thomas of their interactions at the police station and possibly of their pleasant day yesterday. How mortifying. She straightened, propped the muck rake she had been using against the nearest wall, and took the phone from Thomas.

  “Hello?” Megan made a shooing motion with her hand, willing Thomas away, and Thomas threw up his hands in mock frustration but smiled at her over his shoulder as he left.

  Her heart had already quickened in response to the knowledge that Ian wanted to talk to her, and to her dismay, her voice was a bit breathless in response.

  “Megan, hello. It’s Ian. I wanted to make sure you still want to go with me into Brighton today for lunch.”

  “Hello, Ian. Actually, I don’t think I can go with you today.”

  Ian couldn’t hide his disappointment. “Is there something wrong?”

  “No, not really, it’s just that my brother Stephen seems to be angry I’m spending time with someone other than him. He has some mental health issues, and I’ve been his primary caregiver since my mother died. He is used to having my undivided attention. I think he’s jealous of you.”

  Ian laughed. “Tell him he has nothing to be jealous about. I’m not looking for a relationship. All I want to do is spend some time with a woman I’d like to get to know better. That’s all. Won’t you reconsider?”

  “I don’t know, Ian.”

  “I’ve read that the spectators at the Derby dress up and make it a party. The women are expected to wear fancy hats and put on the Ritz. Since you’ll be there as an owner, a lot of people will see you. Do you have an outfit for the Derby?

  Megan realized Ian was right. As an owner of the race favorite, she would be heavily scrutinized by both the public and the press. They would be expecting her to dress in the highest of fashion for the race. With everything that had been going on of late, she hadn’t even thought about an outfit, much less purchased one, and the race was less than a week away.

  She sighed in resignation. “I do have to buy an outfit, and I expect there will be shops in Brighton that will have exactly what I’m looking for.”

  “In that case, you have to go with me. I’ll be happy to be your fashion consultant for the day.”

  Megan had to smile at Ian’s cheeky offer. “All right. I’ll go. Stephen will just have to get used to the idea of me having a social life. He’s twenty-three years old now, and quite capable of managing himself. Just to make sure, I’ll tell Dad where I’m going, and he’ll make sure to keep an eye on him just in case.”

  “That sounds like a plan. I actually have a really good restaurant in mind where we can stop for lunch as well.”

  “That sounds wonderful. I haven’t visited a restaurant since that day at the Rusty Nail . . .” Megan hesitated. Maybe she shouldn’t have mentioned that. Ian hadn’t pressed her to explain why she had been at the pub to begin with, and for that she was grateful, however, she knew he was an intelligent man who had Special Forces military training. He had to be curious about the situation and what had led up to it. She wasn’t sure she was ready to explain everything to him just yet. It would unnecessarily complicate matters between them.

  She realized there had been silence from Ian after her statement, so she rushed to fill in the gap. “Yes, I think it will be good for both of us to enjoy this beautiful day and get away from our normal routines for a while. I’m very much looking forward to it.”

  “Great,” Ian replied. “How about I pick you up at ten o’clock?”

  Megan looked at her watch. It was already nine o’clock, so she didn’t have much time to get ready. “Ten would be fine. I’ll see you then.” She hung up the phone and looked for Thomas to give him his phone back. Thankfully, he wasn’t too far away, and Megan motioned for him to come over. When he came near, she handed him his phone.

  “Thanks, Thomas.” Megan smiled. “It looks like you’ll be seeing Ian again very soon. He’s coming to take me to Brighton for the day.”

  “That sounds lovely, Megan,” Thomas said. “You need some time away, and Ian is someone I would trust to keep you safe without question. Will you tell him about your family’s predicament with the O’Reillys?”

  Megan sighed. “I don’t know, Thomas. Ian and I are just getting to know one another, but I have a feeling that if he thought I was in danger, he would drop everything to make sure I was safe. I’m not sure I feel comfortable with him doing that for me right now. This is my family’s problem to solve, and his involvement would complicate matters. The last thing I want is the O’Reillys focusing their evil intentions on Ian as well. Not to mention that if Ian did try to protect me and something happened to him, I would never forgive myself.”

  “All right, Megan. Although, I might mention that he did kill one of their men. O’Reilly doesn’t strike me as the type to let something like that go. Ian may already be in their crosshairs. However, I’ll not say anything to him and let you handle this. If you need anything from me, please let me know.”

  “I will, Thomas. Thank you.” Megan moved closer to Thomas and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  “Ah, love, if only I were a few years younger.” Thomas sighed, winking at Megan once again.

  Megan laughed and waved Thomas away. She smiled at Thomas’s back as he walked out toward the practice track. If Ian Stafford was as good a man as his Uncle Thomas, he was a very good man, indeed. It was all the more reason why Stephen’s attitude toward him last night was so puzzling. She resolved to talk more with Stephen about his outburst the next time they were alone.

  Chapter 12

  Ian approached
the home his Uncle Thomas occupied during the Brighton racing season. The small, four-bedroom, two-story red brick house covered with ivy was owned by the breeding and racing operation Thomas worked for, and Ian knew Uncle Tommy stayed here because it was convenient to the track and comfortable for his bachelor life-style.

  As long as he could remember, his Uncle Thomas, his father’s younger brother, had been single and happy to remain so. He vaguely recalled his father mentioning something about a woman Thomas had fallen madly in love with when they were young, but the details of the story were lost to Ian. This was most likely the result of Ian being a youth at the time and not yet interested in the opposite sex.

  Ian stepped up to the front door and paused before knocking. He was surprised to find his pulse quickening and his body tense with apprehension. What was this? Was he actually nervous about seeing Megan again? This was indeed a unique feeling for Ian. Ever since he could remember, even before he joined the SAS, Ian prided himself on always being in control of his life and emotions. He had never felt this out of control and off balance, especially with a woman. He wasn’t quite sure how to manage this unique situation. Get a hold of yourself, man. She’s just a woman, granted a very attractive one, but just the same, you can handle this. He took a deep breath, called up his best professional military bearing, and knocked on the door.

  It wasn’t long before his Uncle Tommy answered. “Ian, good to see you.” He stepped back and allowed Ian entry. “I’ll tell Megan you’re here.” Thomas turned and indicated a young man, probably in his early 20’s, blond, and slight of stature, hovering just a few feet behind Thomas. He was looking at Ian with hostility. The man was just a little over five feet tall, and although small in stature, he had visibly muscular arms and shoulders. “Ian, this is Megan’s brother, Stephen Brady. Stephen, this is my nephew, Ian Stafford.