all roads lead to you

by Probst, Jennifer

  Aidan was right. Once she dipped a toe in that world, it was all about winning. What if she didn’t have what it took to get Phoenix to the next level?

  “I guess you’re right.”

  He studied her, probing her expression. Slowly, the air began to crackle and hum, and that damn surge of heat threw her off guard. She sensed the focus had shifted away from horses. “I am, but I also never forget one important thing,” he said.

  “What’s that?”

  He gave her a sexy smile. “The first step to winning is getting yourself in the game.”

  She sucked in a breath. The challenge hung heavy in the air while tension whipped around them. Oh, it was a tempting game, but she refused to participate. Because he’d spoken the truth.

  This game between them, she’d never win. She had a sense this man was out of her league—used to the art of flirtation, seduction, and walking away to the next challenge. Her? Not so much. She was too direct, and too focused on Phoenix to allow any distractions, as tempting as Aidan O’Connor might be, even for a night or two.

  She turned away and refused to look at him again, choosing to ignore his last words. “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.” The dismissal was clear. She waited to see what he’d do with it.

  The sounds of his footsteps retreating made her shoulders slump in relief.

  Aidan woke up the next morning and wondered if he should just stay in bed.

  Two days left. He could go to Mohonk Mountain House for a challenging hike. Grab a few beers in town afterward and chat with the locals. Anything but show up at the barn to shovel shit and stare at Harper Bishop with moony eyes all day.

  Humiliating.

  He’d never been so sexually attracted to a woman who specifically did nothing to encourage male attention. Maybe that was it. She was so comfortable in her own skin, it was hard not to imagine what she’d be like in bed. With him. For one endless, perfect night.

  She wasn’t interested in a one- or two-night stand, though. Usually, he’d respect her decision and move on without another thought. But something about Harper intrigued him—gave him an itch he’d never experienced before. Spending more time with her was an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up, even though she’d made her decision. His instinct told him he’d regret not using his last days here helping her on the farm, even if she did make him feel like a tangled-up schoolboy.

  He glanced at the clock. Five thirty a.m. No one would be up now, and he craved a long, brisk walk and the reverent silence of a sunrise. He took a quick shower, pulled on jeans and a hoodie, and quietly made his way outside.

  He walked the same path that had led him into the woods the other day. Shadows closed around him, and he used his phone’s light to pick his way through until he reached the barns. Aidan caught his breath at the vision before him: the shapes of massive rock slowly being revealed by the crawl of the sun pushing itself above the horizon.

  He settled himself on a large rock and let the natural beauty of earth soothe him. As much as he missed Ireland, he enjoyed the opportunity to carve out a new path on his terms. He’d been trapped in the same routine for too long, always balancing his goals with what his business partner wanted, what the owner demanded, and what the horse required to thrive. A delicate balancing act he’d juggled since he was fifteen. With his fortieth birthday approaching, maybe this was the right time to step away from horse training and find something else to fulfill him, not just temporarily but for good. God knew he couldn’t take any more frustration and heartbreak in this field.

  He was finally done.

  His realization brought a touch of grief but also relief. He was so damn tired of chasing a horse, chasing a win, chasing a life. Maybe coming to the inn had been a good thing. Maybe he had finally achieved some clarity and could head to California and be open to different opportunities.

  Sounds of activity rose from the barn. He wondered if Harper was up, starting her morning routine early to get ahead of the day. He wondered if she had trouble sleeping past 6:00 a.m. like he did, the call of a brand-new day too tempting to miss.

  A flash caught his eye, and he turned his head toward the open pasture, where most of the workouts and training occurred.

  Then caught his breath.

  Horse and woman flew over the ground with such heart-stopping swiftness, he wondered if one of them had sprouted wings. Their silhouettes blended together as one, and the sound of hooves pounding rose in the air, along with a misty fog that made the entire scene feel like a dream.

  Aidan stumbled to his feet. He squinted as more light funneled through and highlighted the rocketing forms. The horse took the turn with a combination of grace and strength, his legs stretching to cover more distance. The rider hung on, crouched in the saddle, leaning over the horse as if whispering encouragement in his ear. Unbelievably, the horse caught more speed, thundering forward. The horse’s mane and the woman’s hair flew behind them.

  In that moment, everything inside him stilled.

  Something is coming.

  The echo of the mantra filled him with conviction. Quickly, he calculated the distance of the field and hit the stopwatch on his phone with a trembling finger. The horse reached the far post, and Aidan clicked the button, watching the seconds mount until the pair did the entire lap even faster than the first one.

  Sweat dotted Aidan’s forehead. He was on the verge of shredded nerves and an excitement he hadn’t felt in five years, since that first time he’d laid eyes on Kincaid’s Crown and sensed the horse was meant to win under his hand.

  When he looked at the stopwatch and saw the evidence before him, Aidan shut his eyes.

  Dear God, it was impossible.

  But it wasn’t.

  This horse was going to be a champion.

  This horse was going to change his life.

  Harper eased back and began the cooldown lap. He imagined her throaty voice praising the horse on the run, practically felt her fingers stroking his neck in soothing approval.

  The past and future melded together in an odd, fated melody. Minutes before, he’d been sure he was meant to move on and leave horse racing behind. He’d been making his peace with it. He’d been ready.

  Now?

  Everything had changed.

  He fisted his hands and pressed them against his eyes. Did he really want to take on this horse right now? Was this a test and he was supposed to walk away? Or was this finally the opportunity and answer he’d been searching for?

  Doubts and questions assaulted him. He faced the attack head-on, trying to find the quiet inside and connect with his intuition. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he finally knew. Slowly, he dropped his hands and opened his eyes.

  The road had led him right here, to this farm, to this horse. He was meant to be here and train him. He was meant to make Phoenix a champion.

  Aidan dragged in a breath, knowing he had only one job to do.

  Convince Harper to let him stay.

  Chapter Six

  Harper slid off Phoenix, breathing hard with excitement. His workouts were getting stronger, but it was time she got serious. It was time to get him to a racetrack and test him out.

  He ran like a champion at the farm, but he had a boatload of issues to work on. He hated traveling and usually balked near the trailers, so it was almost impossible to load him in. He also disliked most other animals, preferring his own isolated company. The horse went full-on crazy when Hei Hei wandered into the barn, and had gotten into an old-fashioned alpha fight with Maximus when Harper had once tried to put them in the same barn together. Harper had read a companion animal helped calm many horses, especially with travel and strange racetracks, but so far, Phoenix wasn’t having any of it.

  She’d been studying horse training for weeks, trying to learn everything that could help. Yes, he did better with people now, but how would he react when he faced other horses on a track? Would he spook? Would all this work be for nothing?

  Harper shook her head
hard to dislodge the negative thoughts. No, Phoenix had the ability to run faster than any horse she’d ever seen and had the heart of a champion. She had to try. Not for herself.

  For Phoenix.

  Her gut whispered he was meant for this. Meant to run and be free. Meant for the glory of a win. Pure Thoroughbred fire ran through his veins, but it had been beaten out of him until he’d managed to either forget or repress his need to race. Her job was to get him there so he could make his own decision. Maybe his previous abuse had scarred him too deeply to race again, but she sensed he had survived for a reason. To thrive in the world he was meant for.

  Time would tell.

  If she could find enough of it.

  She led Phoenix back to the barns while Baloo and Bagheera greeted her with barking enthusiasm. The dark-brown shepherd-hound mix and charcoal Standard Poodle had been with her for a few years, saved from a bad hoarding situation. They’d bonded and refused to leave each other, so Harper had ended up taking them both and never regretted it. Usually, she left them back at her place while she trained, but they’d seemed a bit anxious this morning watching her get ready to leave, so she’d brought them to the farm. They adored romping with Wheezy and Bolt but avoided Hei Hei, who scared them to death.

  Phoenix gave the dogs a haughty glare, snorting with irritation as he stepped around them.

  Baloo whined at the dismissal, shooting Harper a pathetic look. She laughed and patted his head, then got knocked over by Bagheera, who was jealous of the attention. In no time, she heard the echoes of more barks from Wheezy and Bolt, and then she was surrounded by four canines lashing her with tongues, completely thrilled by her very presence in the early morning solitude.

  Phoenix pawed the ground and peeled back his lips with annoyance.

  “Don’t be so grouchy,” she scolded him, trying to pet all four dogs at once. “They just want to be friends.”

  “He’s a loner at heart.”

  Gasping, she spun around. The dogs caught sight of the new visitor and charged full speed.

  Aidan welcomed them with a grin and open arms. She watched him with the dogs and tried to ignore the squeeze of her heart. She’d always been a sucker for a man who loved animals.

  He gave each one his full attention, then straightened. The dogs immediately settled at his feet, recognizing an alpha and natural leader, panting happily as they stared up with adoration.

  Damn, that was hot.

  “You’re up early,” she said.

  “Sleeping past six a.m. is a waste.” He gestured to the dogs. “What are their names?”

  She pointed them each out. “Wheezy, Bolt, Baloo, and Bagheera.”

  A frown creased his brow. “Disney again, right? I know The Jungle Book. Baloo is the funny panther.”

  “Bear. Baloo is the bear. Bagheera is the guardian panther.”

  “Aren’t you going to run out of character names one day?” he asked curiously.

  She grinned. “Doubt it.”

  “Isn’t this the horse you wouldn’t let me ride when I visited the stables?”

  “Yes. And you didn’t visit. You were sneaking around.”

  “Phoenix, right?” He said the name with a touch of reverence. Goose bumps broke out on her skin from the sheer intensity of his gaze. “Another Disney character?”

  “No, not this one. Ethan named him. The phoenix rises from the ashes and—”

  “Becomes whole. Yes, I know.” A strange look flickered over his face. As if he knew something important she didn’t. “How old?”

  “Two and a half.”

  “He ever race before?”

  She hesitated for a moment, then answered, “I think so. He’d been abused when I rescued him. My gut says they forced him too fast, probably hoping to get him trained early, and when he didn’t perform, they beat him.”

  Aidan nodded, seeming to analyze her words. Why did he look like he wanted to pounce? His eyes glinted with a touch of greed as he flicked his glance back and forth between her and the horse. His hair was slightly damp from a shower, and he smelled like freshly laundered sheets. Soap. Spice. Mint.

  Man.

  He closed the distance between them, and her heart pounded in an uneven staccato. She tensed, gearing up for his nearness, but he moved past her and stood in front of Phoenix. Lifting his hands up, he let the horse catch his scent. Harper waited for Phoenix to rear back like he did with most strangers, but the horse stood oddly still, as if waiting to see what Aidan would do next.

  “You’re quite the beauty, capalleen,” he said in his lilting voice. “They tried to break you, didn’t they? Maybe with a whip. Maybe a hand. Maybe old-fashioned human cruelty. But you’re too stubborn to let them win.”

  That magical voice gave her shivers. “What’s that word mean?”

  “Horse. Just sounds prettier in Irish.” He kept his focus on Phoenix. “Does he have a sweet spot?” Aidan asked in the same tone.

  She stared at him with surprise. “Yes, under the chin.”

  He curled his hand under and reached out.

  Phoenix stepped back.

  Aidan waited. His entire aura breathed calm and patience, as if he could stand there all day long until the horse was ready. Harper watched in fascination. Aidan tried to touch him two more times before the horse finally gave in and let him scratch under his chin.

  Phoenix practically sighed in pleasure.

  Keeping his gaze locked on Phoenix, Aidan spoke to him, telling him how strong and beautiful he was, and that he needed to be brave and keep pushing.

  The sacredness of human and horse offering each other comfort and a level of trust broke through her, tearing down some of the carefully built walls she’d never even realized she’d erected. Emotion washed through her, tinged with pain, and she shook her head, trying desperately to process.

  It took her a while to realize he was saying her name. “Yes?”

  “What are your plans with Phoenix? Do you intend to race him?”

  She shifted her weight, unsure of how much to tell him. She liked the way he spoke and handled her horse, though, and was beginning to wonder if she could use some of his advice as a trainer. “I want to. He loves to run like no horse I’ve ever seen, but he has issues to work through. I’ve been studying training methods. I’d have to enter him in regular races to see how he does and see if he can even qualify for the bigger stakes.”

  “With his speed, he’d qualify,” Aidan murmured. “Does he spook easy? Have you tried breaking him from a gate? Has he raced on a dirt track or strictly turf? Have you run him alone or with a partner?”

  The questions peppered her like a machine gun. Uneasiness gathered within. “No. It’s still early, and I need to make sure he’s comfortable before I push.”

  “Agreed. I think racing a horse too soon competitively isn’t a good idea, but if you’re shooting for the Breeders’ Cup this fall, you need to push a bit. If you don’t, he’ll never be ready in time.” The authority and knowledge in his voice made her pause. “He needs a strict regimen of training, from his behavior to everything he’ll face on the course. He’s green, and his past already has him at a disadvantage. He may not even be able to manage an official race.”

  She threw her head back and glared. “If he can’t, I’ll accept it. But we’re going to try. Thanks for the pep talk—you should charge for them.”

  She went to yank the rein away, but he got in front of her, pushing his face close. A tiny muscle worked in his jaw. She spotted the creases bracketing his mouth and eyes, the sexy scruff hugging his mouth, the burning heat of his golden eyes as he stared at her, into her, holding her pinned. “I’m trying to get you to see you need a professional trainer for Phoenix. There’s only so much you can learn and do in your spare time. Let me help you.”

  She blinked. “No offense, but I don’t think two days of your training is going to make a big difference.”

  “You’re right, it won’t.” He cocked his head. “So I’ll stay. I’ll trai
n Phoenix. Get him ready for some stakes races and see if he gets enough points to qualify for the Derby next year.”

  His words hummed in her brain like an annoying pop song, repeating over and over. “You want to stay?” she repeated in disbelief.

  “Yes. I’ve raced horses in the States, so I’m familiar with the rules. We’ll need a jockey, but I know a guy who would be perfect. I’m not sure if you need to line up some investors at this point or if you have the money to cover salaries and the entry fees, but—”

  “Wait a minute.” She shook her head, trying to catch up. “This is ridiculous. I’m not going to allow you to take on my horse.”

  “Why not?”

  His demand slammed through her. Why not? Well, because. Because . . . “Because I don’t know you!”

  He shrugged. “I can give you referrals. My contacts. You can search the web for proof I know what I’m doing. Harper, listen to me.” He leaned in, and she was hypnotized by the sheer force of will practically seething from his figure. “This will sound crazy, but I get these gut instincts. These feelings that warn me of something big coming, and I’ve had this tickle nonstop since I got here. The moment I saw Phoenix run, I knew I was meant to train him. I’m asking for you to give me a try. Check out my references. Give me the next two days to get to know him. Talk to your brother and family. Because I can promise you one thing.” His voice dropped to a sexy growl. “If that horse has half the heart I believe he has, he’s going to win. And I can help you get him there.”

  Her breath stopped. She gazed at him and saw the sincerity and passion in every one of his gestures. She, too, believed in fate. Believed in the voices.

  Something was coming.

  The world tilted, and the roads diverged before her. Her first instinct was to reject his offer and go it alone. She was comfortable doing things herself. It was easier, allowing her to avoid trust issues, discomfort, and messy emotions. For years, she’d depended only on her family.

  But this was bigger than all of them. Harper didn’t know how to go about training a horse for the Triple Crown, especially one damaged by a past history of abuse. If Aidan was a professional, maybe this was an offer she needed to seriously consider.