by Robyn Grady
She always did.
The stunned silence ended when Lanie called out from a separate buffet table adorned with silver-domed platters.
“You guys want a coffee?” she asked. Her attitude was, Nothing to see here, folks. Just my lady-killer brother with his latest conquest, who just happens to be my friend and a Darnel.
As promised in the text, Lanie had left an assortment of clothes on Ajax’s office doorstep; Veda had chosen a mustard-colored sundress and matching sandals. And yet as Lanie laid two brimming coffee cups in front of a pair of vacant chairs, she avoided Veda’s gaze. Didn’t so much as try to return the smile.
As if Veda hadn’t felt awkward enough.
From his vantage point at the head of the massive table, Hux Rawson nodded a greeting as Veda and Ajax took their seats to his left. Brother Griff raised his cup and muttered, “Morning,” while Jacob offered an easy smile, as did the beautiful woman beside him. A high chair sat between the pair, occupied by a little boy playing “squish” with a banana.
Veda expected Hux to rise above any perceived awkwardness and say something inclusive...welcoming. But he was looking off toward an adjoining doorway—perhaps the kitchen—as if someone had just called his name.
As relaxed and charming as ever, Ajax did the honors.
“Everyone, for those who don’t know, this is Veda.”
No surname supplied, which set off a tug-of-war in the pit of Veda’s gut. She would rather Darnel wasn’t mentioned, but like it or not, it was a big part of who she was.
Jacob was the first to speak up.
“I didn’t get over to say hi last night. I’m Jacob.” He ruffled the boy’s mop of dark hair, an identical shade to his own. “This is my son, Buddy. And next to him, the other love of my life.”
The woman’s eyes sparkled with obvious affection for them both before she met Veda’s gaze. “I’m Teagan. Great to meet you, Veda. Can I just say—I love your hair.”
Veda had brought a small comb in her evening purse. Not nearly enough to get through this morning’s whole new level of tangle. Then she had used Ajax’s brush to sort through as many knots as she could, which still hadn’t taken care of things.
Smiling, Veda ran two fingers around a thick wave. “There’s lots of it, and it’s all red.”
The oldest Rawson brother introduced himself. “I’m Griff.”
Veda returned his smile, which looked a little wooden.
“Nice to meet you, Griff,” she said.
“Did you have a nice time last night, Veda?” Hux asked as Susan entered the room. Upon seeing the additional guest, she hesitated before recovering to take a seat alongside Hux.
“It was a lovely evening,” Veda replied without a stumble, although her hands in her lap were clutched tight enough to strangle someone. “Just beautiful.”
“I got to bed around three.” Having set down her plate of hash browns and avocado toast, Lanie took her seat between Susan and Ajax at the same time she blew a kiss to her dad. “Positively the best night ever.”
Susan was looking past Lanie and Ajax to Veda. “We discussed a song, you and I.”
Veda nodded and smiled. Susan was such a sweet lady. “It’s still doing rounds in my head.”
Ajax finished swallowing a mouthful of coffee. “What song?”
Susan sang a couple of lines about creating a dream come true, and then winked at Hux while everyone else either chuckled or grinned. Veda felt her own smile warm her right through. Yes, this was awkward. She and Lanie would need to talk later. But the overall energy said togetherness...said family ties and lots of love.
When Ajax pushed back his chair and nodded toward the buffet table, Veda followed his lead and stood up. While she put some strawberries and a lemon muffin on her plate, Ajax gathered enough food to stock her refrigerator for a week. Meanwhile, at the table, the Rawsons were back to discussing the party. The focus was off her, thank God.
While taking their seats again, Hux kicked off a different conversation, speaking directly to Ajax.
“I’ve had an interesting chat with Yvette Maloney. She wants to buy a few acres that butt up against her property, and for an eye-popping price, I gotta say.”
“You mean the parcel with the original house,” Ajax said, squeezing a pool of ketchup onto his plate. “Not for sale.”
“That old place needed a bulldozer when Dad was a kid,” Griff said.
“Not anymore.” Ajax collected his silverware. “I’ve done some work on it over the years.”
Hux’s eyebrows shot up. “Where’d you find the time?”
“A day here and there.” Ajax cut into a fat sausage. “In my opinion, those acres are the best we have. Yvette Maloney knows that.”
The men back-and-forthed for a while. When the subject ran out of steam, Jacob took a fork and pinged it against his glass.
“Everyone, I have an announcement to make.”
Hux swallowed a mouthful of waffle. “We’re all ears, son.”
Jacob reached past the high chair to squeeze his partner’s shoulder. “I gave Teagan a ring this morning.” He caught her gaze and smiled like only a man in love could. “We’ve set a date.”
The room erupted as everyone got to their feet to give Teagan hugs while Buddy’s plump cheeks pinked up with excitement and he slapped banana all over his bib. Veda remembered Lanie mentioning their situation. Jacob had been given full custody by Buddy’s mother while Teagan—a billionaire’s daughter, no less—was relatively new to such a family dynamic.
Veda didn’t insert herself among the well-wishers. She simply smiled, letting the newly engaged couple know how happy she was for them both. The way they gazed at each other—with respect and pure adoration—it was clear they had a wonderful future ahead of them.
Suddenly the backs of Veda’s eyes began to prickle. It happened sometimes when she thought about marriage. Kids. Of course all that was way down on her to-do list. Right now her focus was on her work and helping her Best Life Now clients achieve their goals. But one day she would like a family of her own.
And, boy oh boy, would she do it right.
Jacob reached across and lifted Teagan’s left hand; a multi-carat emerald-cut diamond sparkled on her third finger. Standing behind the couple, Ajax glanced across the table and caught Veda’s gaze. His brows nudged together and his head slanted before he returned his attention to the happy couple and their child.
“We’ll need to celebrate,” Susan said, drifting back to her seat. “An engagement party.”
“My father wants to give us a party in Australia,” Teagan said, mopping up banana from around Buddy’s mouth. “You’re all welcome, of course.”
“A trip Down Under.” Griff scratched his head. “What’s that? A twenty-two-hour flight?”
“From this side of the country,” Teagan replied. “I live in Seattle. Or did live there.”
Jacob explained for Veda’s sake. “Teagan’s moved to Connecticut to be with Buddy and me.”
There was more talk about the wedding, which would take place on the Rawson property, the same kind of elaborate party pavilion-style event as last night’s birthday do. Veda thought about the distant future and the possibility of having a wedding at the Darnel estate. Her father was often so cynical and miserable, she couldn’t see him offering his home, let alone being truly happy for her no matter who she married. Drake didn’t believe in that kind of love.
Everyone returned to their seats and their various conversations. But Lanie still avoided Veda. Was her friend that taken aback at this turn of events between Ajax and Veda or was she simply annoyed?
Ajax was finishing the last of his hash browns when Griff caught his attention from the other side of the table.
“Ajax, you got a minute?”
Dabbing his mouth, Ajax looked Veda’s way. She nodded. Of course he
should go talk with his brother. It opened the door for her and Lanie to have a chat, which would include an explanation of how Ajax and she had first met. Simply put, she had fallen for Ajax Rawson’s charms not once now, but twice. He made her feel so good. Like when they were alone, and in the zone, she didn’t have to try.
Didn’t have to think.
And, yes, she knew he’d made a lot of women feel that way.
Someone’s phone was ringing. Hux pulled a device out of his top pocket and studied the caller ID with a quizzical look on his face.
Getting to his feet, Griff asked, “Who is it, Dad?”
“Matt Quibell. From the State Gaming Commission.”
Veda didn’t miss the look Griff slid Ajax’s way before he said, “Maybe you should call him back.”
But Hux was connecting the call. “Matt’s a friend. He might want to congratulate us on yesterday’s win.”
Griff lowered himself back into his seat and motioned for Ajax to do the same as Hux Rawson swiped his phone screen to pick up. Lanie and Teagan talked across the table while Buddy sucked a piece of toast and Jacob looked between Griff and Ajax. Veda got that receiving a call from anyone at the Commission, particularly on a Sunday morning, was a big deal. But Hux had said this guy was a friend.
However, by the time Hux finished the call, with only a few mumbled words from his end, his face was gray. He dropped the phone on the table and fell back in his chair like he’d caught a bullet in the chest. Susan reached to hold his hand.
“What happened?” she asked. “Huxley, what’s wrong?”
“Yesterday after the race, an objection was lodged regarding our runner in the twelfth,” he said.
Ajax gave a slanted grin. “It was a dry track. A clean race.”
“Matt wanted me to know the objection relates to allegations of horse doping.” Hux’s brows knitted as he eyeballed his son. “Those allegations, Ajax, are against you.”
* * *
Ajax was lost for words.
He felt everyone’s questions drilling into him and, holy shit, he had them, too. Overmedicating, doping...no question, it happened in the industry. But everyone knew that Ajax Rawson’s horses won fair and square or not at all.
Shaking his head again, he tried to resurrect his smile, shake everything off, because this was crazier than purple snowflakes in June. It was crazy to think he would throw away his sterling reputation, and for what? A Grade 1 purse? Yes, his was a nice cut. But Rawson horses had won plenty and would win plenty more.
“That’s a crock.” Ajax scanned the table of shocked faces and shrugged. “It’s a mistake.”
Jacob asked their father, “Who made the allegation?” like he was already taking notes in his head for a legal defense.
“An assistant trainer.” Hux was focused on Ajax. “He claims he saw your float driver, Paul Booshang, using a syringe.”
Ajax heard Veda’s sharp intake of air as he held up a hand. “Stop right there. Paul is a good guy. I trust him like everyone I allow near my horses. That assistant trainer is full of it.”
“You left right after the usual samples were taken from Someone’s Prince Charming,” Hux said.
“Sure.” Ajax shrugged. “I needed to get back for the party.”
“Later, Booshang was questioned by a steward. Apparently he wanted to come clean. He said you’d done this kind of thing before. That you must’ve gotten away with false negatives in the past. Or you’d paid someone off.”
Ajax’s heart was pounding in his chest and in his ears. Gravity wanted to suck him back down into his seat. But he lifted his chin and stood firm, even as steam rose from around his collar. Even as his hands fisted into mallets by his sides.
“I need to talk to Paul.” Now.
“Good luck finding him, because I’d bet my right leg he won’t be anywhere around here.” Hux threw his linen napkin on his plate. “Expect a call after the EDTP results are in.”
Ajax heard Teagan ask Jacob in a near whisper, “What’s EDTP?”
In a low voice, Jacob replied, “New York’s Equine Drug Testing Program. Postrace testing is performed by Morrisville State College under contract with the Gaming Commission.”
While Ajax digested the news, Hux looked somehow resigned. Or was that disappointed? Impossible. Ajax’s ethics were as sound as his father’s. Hux couldn’t possibly believe...not for one second...
Ajax remembered Veda sitting beside him. She was gripping the edge of the table, looking up at him like he’d grown a pair of horns. Like he was already guilty as charged. And if for any reason those results came back positive for banned substances, as owner and trainer, he would be held legally responsible. Whether he was involved or not, the buck stopped with him.
Sitting forward, Griff clasped his hands on the table. “I don’t think Booshang acted on his own.”
“He’s in this with someone else?” Jacob’s amber-gold gaze burned into his brother’s. “Why would you think that?”
Griff’s jaw flexed. “I overhead something at the party last night.”
Ajax’s head snapped back. My God. “You knew this was coming, didn’t you?”
That’s why Griff had wanted to talk last night. Why he’d been so eager to get him away from the table a minute ago. He wanted a huddle before this all hit.
When he was thirteen, Griff had decided to befriend a stallion named Devil’s Fire. Now he absently rubbed the scar above his left eye that had resulted from a secret bareback mount and subsequent fall.
“I caught a few words of a conversation between two guests you’d invited, Dad,” Griff said. “One had a horse in the same race. I heard him say that a steward was speaking with one of our drivers who had links to...certain people.”
Hux’s voice rose. “Speak up, son. Links to who?”
Griff averted his gaze when he ground out, “Drake Darnel.”
As blood drained from his head, Ajax shut his eyes. Booshang had worked for other stables in the past, including Darnel’s. Obviously he hadn’t held it against the guy. But now Ajax was boiling mad inside. Not only had Booshang abused his trust on so many levels, now Drake Darnel was involved? Was he that jealous of Rawson’s impeccable reputation and list of wins that he would try to frame them? Or was this some warped form of revenge for Hux supposedly stealing Drake’s girl all those years ago?
Like, seriously—get a life!
Ajax strode for the door. “I’m going to find Booshang, wherever the hell he is, and tell him he’s got two choices. Talk, and fast, or—”
“Being a hothead won’t solve anything,” Jacob said, shooting to his feet. “We need some kind of strategy going forward.”
Ajax took a breath. When Jacob had first arrived at the farm all those years ago, Ajax had been less than taken with the juvie kid from Brooklyn. Jacob had been defensive, on the edge. But Hux had seen something in the troubled teen. Jacob had had to work to gain their father’s trust but, hey, hadn’t they all?
Hux pushed back his chair. “Let’s get on it then. We’ll need vet records for a start. And a detective to dig around and see if there’s anything to a Darnel connection.” He squeezed Susan’s hand before he stood and nodded toward his den at the back of the house. “Giddyap, boys.”
When Ajax saw Jacob ruffling his son’s hair and kissing his fiancée, he remembered Veda again. He strode back over and took her hand. Hux’s dog, Chester, scrambled out of the way as Ajax swung open the door and ushered Veda outside onto the porch.
“And you thought this wasn’t going to be easy,” he joked as he shut the connecting door for privacy’s sake.
Releasing his hand, Veda continued to give him an unimpressed look.
“I need to go.”
Ajax couldn’t argue. He had business to take care of, no getting around that. And, irrespective of whether her nutjob father was actually involve
d in this mess, now Veda needed some time and space.
“I’ll walk you down to your car.”
“I can walk myself.” Her stony mask eased a little. “I wanted to talk to Lanie, but that can wait.”
What a mess. This morning couldn’t have ended worse. “I’m sorry this happened.”
“It’s almost poetic justice, don’t you think?”
“Meaning...?”
“You and I...not the best idea.”
His chest tightened, but he managed a stoic smile. “Let me sort this out.”
When he took her hands, she pulled away.
“Do what you need to do. I don’t want to be involved.”
He held her gaze. “Just so we’re clear, I don’t dope my horses.”
“You mean with steroids? Or just with too much of the legal stuff? Everyone knows it happens, and way more than the establishment cares to admit. No one even talks about the jockeys’ lives that are put at risk when a juiced-up horse breaks down.”
Ajax shot back, “In case you missed it, your father could be implicated.” Her comment stung, and he couldn’t help himself.
“Go ahead and join the dots for me.” She crossed her arms. “I know you want to.”
“Booshang worked at Darnel Stables in the past. Given how much your father hates Hux, maybe it’s a frame job.”
“Why would Booshang risk his job and a fine to help set you up?”
“Geez, I don’t know. Maybe money? Your father is loaded. And he still has it out for Hux. Poor jealous bastard.”
When her eyes flashed and nostrils flared, Ajax knew he’d gone too far.
“I need the entry code to get into the office building,” she said.
To get her belongings. He’d left his private suite unlocked, so fine.
But then Ajax paused. He couldn’t be sure if Booshang was indeed still on Drake’s payroll. Regardless, Veda wasn’t involved. And the vast majority of his records were electronic. But if he allowed her unsupervised access to his office, to his hard files, would she be tempted to snoop? Not that she would find anything untoward. And he had cameras installed outside so he could check the footage later if need be.