Blades of Bluegrass

by D. Jackson Leigh

  Britt laughed, her face and posture instantly relaxing. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.”

  Teddy slipped her car keys into the pocket of Britt’s blazer and took possession of Britt’s hand again. This time, she led their way to the parking lot. Louisville, where Churchill Downs is located, was an hour and twenty minutes away. There was no time to waste. “You drive. I’m too excited. Come on, come on!”

  * * *

  “Come on, baby, come on.”

  The announcer’s deep voice called the lineup as the horses rounded the far turn and headed down the homestretch. “Coming out of the far turn, it’s Goulding on the inside, with Dancing Destroyer keeping pace a nose behind. Closing at third is Jilted Bride with Turtle Trax fourth, followed by Sense a Million, Misty Blue…”

  “Come on, Misty Blue. Misty Blue. Misty Blue. Misty Blue.” Teddy chanted the name of the horse she’d placed a twenty-dollar bet on—at Britt’s recommendation—despite the filly’s eight-to-one odds.

  “…with Auction Fever and Boomtown trailing the pack.” The announcer’s voice rose an octave. “Misty Blue, running sixth, is making a move, coming up fast on the outside.”

  “Come on, come on. Misty Blue. Misty Blue. Misty Blue.” Teddy chanted louder, as if her cheers could propel the horse and jockey faster.

  “Dancing Destroyer has the lead and is pulling away. Jilted Bride is second, and Goulding has dropped to third. Misty Blue is still surging on the outside. Misty Blue is third. Misty Blue is second and challenging Dancing Destroyer.”

  “Misty Blue. Misty Blue. Misty Blue.” Teddy was screaming now, joined by Britt’s low, tight “Come on, come on, come on.”

  Teddy jumped up to stand on the metal stadium bench and waved the wide-brimmed straw hat, its band a rainbow of color, that Britt had provided as promised. She had made Britt stop by her apartment so she could change into something less casual, including knee-length fashion boots that she used now to stomp noisily on the metal bench.

  “It’s Misty Blue by a head at the finish line,” the announcer shouted. “Dancing Destroyer is second, Jilted Bride third, and Goulding in fourth place.”

  “I won!” Teddy grabbed Britt’s face with both hands and kissed her without thinking. Well, it was probably the Kentucky straight bourbon she’d tasted multiple times and in multiple cocktails during their afternoon distillery tour thinking for her. But she was so excited, and Britt was so attractive. So present. Here. With her. Now.

  They grinned at each other when Teddy broke off the kiss and stepped back. Teddy held up her betting ticket.

  “Twenty dollars at eight to one is…oh, I can’t think.”

  “A hundred and eighty dollars. You should have bet a hundred.” Britt put her arm around Teddy’s shoulders to turn her toward the window to cash out her winnings.

  “Says the woman who sold a horse for one-point-five-million dollars this afternoon.” Teddy missed Britt’s warmth when she dropped her arm from Teddy’s shoulders, so she hooked her arm in Britt’s and pressed close as they walked to the cash window. To steady herself. Because she’d had too much bourbon. And because Britt was driving and had only sipped a little.

  They cashed in her ticket, and Teddy protested when Britt steered her toward the parking lot.

  “I want to bet some more.”

  “There’s only one more race tonight, and we have reservations for dinner.”

  “Okay.” Teddy was always interested in food. “But I want a mint julep before we leave here. I can’t tell people I went to Churchill Downs and didn’t drink a mint julep.”

  “You won’t like it.”

  “You don’t know that. I might.”

  Britt shook her head. “I’m afraid the track restaurants, thus the bars here, are closed. Most aren’t open this late in the racing season anyway. But if you’re determined to try one, I’m sure we can get one at The Brown.”

  “What’s The Brown?”

  “It’s where we’re going for dinner.”

  “Okay.” Teddy was happy with that prospect. The mention of dinner again was really making her hungry.

  * * *

  “Wow.”

  Britt was pleased that Teddy seemed amazed by the ornate interior of The Brown Hotel. The historic building was still impressive to her, even though she’d been here many times to dine in the restaurant with her parents or grandparents over the years. It was a step back in time, with floor-to-ceiling opulent Baroque design and furnishings.

  Teddy’s face was a beautiful study in rapturous wonder as she took in the lavish furnishings. Her eyes were a wide and smoky green. Her blond hair shimmered like the hundreds of crystal teardrops on the chandeliers lighting the lobby. Teddy had changed into a burgundy silk shirt that draped her shoulders like a caress and tucked into cream-colored trousers that hugged her hips and legs. The thin belt at her slim waist matched the knee-high boots with fashionable but solid two-inch heels. Britt always thought spike-style high heels looked silly on boots and the women who wore them. She had to stop staring. Britt followed Teddy’s gaze to the carved panels that made up the ceiling.

  “If you grew up a military brat, surely you’ve seen more ornate architecture than this hotel.”

  “My dad was in a combat-engineer unit. He deployed a lot, but not to places where we could live with him. My grandfather was navy, and mom grew up with her father being out to sea for months out of every year, so I guess Dad being gone a lot didn’t seem unusual to her.” Teddy shrugged. “Grandpa was a jet mechanic on aircraft carriers, so he was mostly stationed out of Virginia, while Dad was frequently stationed out of North Carolina. We lived with Grandma, or she lived with us while Grandpa or Dad was deployed. So, no, I didn’t get to see the world.”

  “The restaurant is over there,” Britt said, pointing. “We’re just in time for our reservation.”

  Teddy didn’t seem to mind, and Britt couldn’t seem to stop the brief touches, like placing her hand on the small of Teddy’s back to guide her into the restaurant. They had so many reasons to stay out of each other’s personal space, but damn, if she wasn’t irresistibly drawn to Teddy like a flower turns to face the sun. Maybe this was just part of her healing. They were adults. They both knew the consequences if they were indiscreet. It wasn’t that Britt outranked Teddy, but their patient-therapist relationship made any intimacy a professional taboo. Teddy’s career could be sunk, and Britt would be held accountable for adversely influencing an officer below her rank.

  Britt looked up from spreading her napkin in her lap to find Teddy watching her. When their eyes caught and held, so much more than words passed between them. Yes. They were on the same page. Desire crackled between them like static electricity.

  “Hello?”

  Britt blinked, suddenly realizing the young man standing next to their table had been speaking to them. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

  His smile showed dimples and straight, white teeth that were surely the work of a skilled orthodontist. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. You seemed to be having a moment, and I just barged right in. Would you like me to come back in a few minutes?”

  Teddy’s face flushed red, but she reached out to grasp his forearm. “No. Please. Could I have a mint julep?”

  “You sure can.” He laid two menus on the table and handed Britt a slim bourbon and wine menu. “Something for you?”

  Britt laid it down without opening it. “Please make her mint julep with Jefferson’s Reserve rather than Jim Beam. And I’ll have a Kentucky Mule.”

  “Would you also like that with Jefferson’s Reserve?” He filled their water glasses as they placed their drink order.

  “No. Evan Williams is fine in the Mule.”

  He smiled. “I’ll be right back with your cocktails, ladies.”

  Teddy smiled. “So, I gather that bourbon is a big deal in Kentucky.”

  Britt nodded. “It is. They say true sons,” she dipped her head in a small bow, “and daughters of Kentucky taste a bit of Be
am before ever latching onto their dear mother’s teat.”

  Teddy smirked at Britt and opened her menu. “Yeah, right.” She perused it for a moment but looked up again. “Do women even have teats?”

  Britt chuckled. “Technically, they do. If you go by the strict definition of the word. But I wouldn’t advise using that word in a moment of intimacy. I think it’s safe to say most people associate it with animals. Not people.” Britt opened her own menu, then closed it.

  “You’re not hungry?” Teddy asked.

  “I’m going to leave it up to the chef. They don’t appear too busy tonight, and some chefs will go off menu and cook something special when given the chance.”

  “I like it.” Teddy closed her menu, too, and studied Britt. “Me, too.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then.” Britt raised her hand to let their waiter know they were ready, but he was already on his way to their table, clearly having been observing them.

  “What may I serve you, ladies?”

  “We’re going to let the chef decide,” Britt said.

  He clapped his hands together with a gay flair. “Excellent choice! Chef Rick will be so pleased with the opportunity.”

  Britt held up her finger to pause his enthusiasm. “Only three…okay, four courses…and we have to meet someone out front by ten o’clock sharp.”

  “That should not be a problem.” His hands performed another small flutter of applause. “You are going to make his night.”

  Teddy’s mouth dropped open. “What’s at ten o’clock? Don’t we need to drive back to Lexington?”

  Britt took a long sip of her drink to stall. She hoped she hadn’t overstepped. “Well.” She cleared her throat. “The hotel is famous, food-network famous, for its signature breakfast dish, The Hot Brown. It’d be like going to the Derby and not trying a mint julep if you didn’t stay long enough to have a Hot Brown. So, I booked a couple of rooms for us to stay here tonight. The auction doesn’t start until noon. I mean, I’ll need to be at Keeneland by ten or so to check on our horses, but we’ll have plenty of time for breakfast before we drive back.”

  Oh my God. She was rambling. She’d been nervous before, but she’d never rambled like an idiot. Well, she was now. She should just shut up. Heat crawled up her neck and burned her ears. But the runaway horse that was her mouth had mercifully stopped, and Teddy smiled. Or maybe it was the mint julep smiling.

  Teddy didn’t speak for a heartbeat. More like ten heartbeats, because Britt’s was galloping. Then she tilted her head, and one eyebrow moved elegantly upward. “You booked rooms?”

  Britt nodded. Her ears went from hot to scorching, if that was possible. She was sure she’d have blisters later. “But if you prefer to return tonight, I can cancel the reservation. If we have time before you’re reassigned, I’d like to show you Mammoth Cave. We could detour back through Louisville to indulge in a Hot Brown before going on to the caves.” There. That sounded reasonable. Her temperature was returning to normal, and her brain was rebooting.

  Their waiter appeared, slipping appetizers and a second round of drinks onto the table without interrupting their conversation.

  “I’d love to see Mammoth Cave. I’ve read about it but didn’t really want to go by myself.” She sipped her drink. “When I first met you, I would have never guessed you could be so adventurous, so much fun.” Was it the alcohol that lowered Teddy’s voice to a melodic, flirty tone? God bless Kentucky bourbon.

  Britt bent forward, offering her last bite of crab appetizer on her fork because Teddy had inhaled her own. “I can be a lot of fun,” she said, watching Teddy take the offered treat into her mouth and slowly slide it from the fork.

  “And persuasive,” Teddy added for her.

  Persuasive? Is that what you call it, Dad, when you back people into a corner with your money and influence to serve your own needs? I call it abuse of power.

  Britt’s own word echoed in her head. “I’ve overstepped.” She sat back in her chair, the flirtation lost.

  Their waiter appeared, and they both stayed silent as he placed small bowls of bourbon peach sorbet before them. He seemed to read the shift in mood. “To cleanse the palate,” he said, then melted away.

  “In no way did I intend to pressure you,” Britt said. “I know you got dragged into my father’s agenda and ordered to rearrange your life for my rehabilitation. I know your prosthesis project is important to you. But you were not obligated to come with me today, and I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear. Today has absolutely no bearing on whether I participate in your project, which my father is also using to further his agenda. You owe me nothing. I expect nothing.” Britt placed her napkin on the table. “In fact, we can leave right now and return to Lexington.”

  Teddy picked up her spoon. “Are you finished?”

  “Finished?” Britt was confused. With her meal? Obviously not.

  “With your speech?” Teddy spooned her first bite of sorbet into her mouth and closed her eyes as she savored it. “Nectar of the goddess. This is so good.” She opened her eyes, and her slow, dimple-evoking smile captured Britt’s gaze. “And, although indignant is a very sexy look on you, let me make this clear for you—my orders are to rehab you in preparation for a bionic prosthesis. I’ve done that. When we see Colonel Winstead tomorrow, that will be my report. So, me being here today…” she pointed to the table, “…has nothing to do with your rehab. I enjoy your company. I’m having fun. And I’m going to finish this fantastic meal you’ve promised me. I’m looking forward to the surprise you’ve arranged afterward and plan to sleep like a baby in a fancy hotel tonight.” She aimed her spoon at Britt’s sorbet. “Also, if you don’t eat that before it melts, I’m going to.”

  Britt snatched up her spoon and used it to bat Teddy’s away. “No way. This is my favorite dish next to The Hot Brown.” She spooned a large scoop into her mouth, enjoying the smooth warmth of the bourbon and icy sweet of the peach. “And, just so you know, sassy is a very sexy look on you.”

  * * *

  “Really? Is that for us?” Teddy couldn’t believe her eyes.

  Their meal had been the best she’d ever eaten. The chef had personally emerged from the kitchen to light the flames of their dessert and thank them for allowing him to share with them the lamb dish he intended to become his signature entrée.

  Now, they’d stepped out of the hotel to find an elegant white open carriage drawn by two matched grays.

  A tall woman, wearing formal groom’s livery and a short top hat, smiled. “Good evening, ladies. I’m Katelyn, your driver.” She pointed to the two horses. “Your escorts tonight are Baron and Sterling.” The horses bobbed their heads in turn at the sound of their names. Katelyn held out a hand to Teddy. “May I assist you?”

  Teddy felt like a princess, accepting Katelyn’s hand to steady herself as she stepped up into the carriage. She settled onto the soft leather seat and noted that, while Katelyn stood by in readiness, she gave Britt the opportunity to lever herself into the carriage without assistance. She thought the action unusually astute until Katelyn walked away from them for a last check of the horses and rigging. The average person wouldn’t have noticed, but Teddy recognized the faint hitch in Katelyn’s gait. She had a prosthetic leg.

  Teddy smiled to herself. The world was such a small place. Britt settled beside her, and Teddy pulled Britt’s hand into her lap and entwined their fingers. So much loss in so many lives. So much strength that carried them all forward. So much living still ahead. She didn’t want to think of that now. She couldn’t think of that roller coaster of elation and sadness now. Teddy lifted Britt’s arm to drape it across her shoulders and snuggled against Britt’s side.

  Katelyn climbed into the driver’s seat but twisted to face them. “Would you like the tour or to just ride?”

  Teddy looked up at Britt. “The tour?”

  Britt nodded. “Katelyn’s the best tour guide in Louisville. Very entertaining.”<
br />
  “So, you take a lot of women on these rides?” Teddy asked.

  “I do.” Katelyn’s response was quickly delivered with a hint of mischief.

  “Good to know, Katelyn, but I think you knew the question was for Britt.” Teddy looked from Katelyn to Britt. “I suspect collusion here.”

  Britt chuckled. “Katelyn’s an old friend. We were roommates at West Point.”

  “If you prefer, I can just tell you stories about Britt as a college plebe.”

  “Don’t forget that I haven’t paid you yet.” Britt’s scowl and warning held a playful tone.

  Teddy laughed. “That’s very tempting, but I wouldn’t want Baron and Sterling to be short of oats, so how about you give us the historic tour and save the other stories for another day over a few beers?”

  Katelyn bowed her head in a courtly gesture. “I am at your command. A historic tour, it is.” She turned to face forward. When she picked up the reins, the horses instantly raised their heads and stepped out at the soft click of her tongue.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The flick of Britt’s tongue against the small fresh scar on the corner of her upper lip was driving Teddy to near madness. She recognized it simply as one of Britt’s signs that she was nervous. But, damn, Teddy could imagine a lot of other things that her tongue could be doing.

  The elevator door opened, but neither moved. When the doors started to close again, Britt stepped in to stop them. “This is our floor.” Her voice low, she avoided Teddy’s gaze as she held her arm out in a “you first” gesture.

  Teddy slipped past her and turned to the right as Britt indicated. Her head buzzed—from the nightcap they’d paused in the bar to have, from the romantic dinner and carriage ride, and from the fact that Britt was walking so close right now Teddy could almost feel Britt’s breath on her neck. She stopped at the door numbered five-zero-six and looked down at her key before turning around to face Britt. “This is my room.”