“Go ahead, what were you going to say?”
“This might sound juvenile, that I want you to be my girl. I want us to be exclusive.”
Kate was glad she was sitting on the edge of the pool rather than in the pool or she’d have surely drowned from the shock of what he had just told her.
Hunter’s brow furrowed with worry. “Well?”
She stared at him, dumbfounded and unable to formulate any kind of response.
“Kate? You’re making me nervous.”
“I will absolutely be your girl, your girlfriend, your lover, your whatever until one of us decides it’s time to go our separate ways.” She already knew which one of them that would be, because Kate rarely broke off the relationship. Guys usually got tired of her, but she’d ride this race all the way to the finish line, whatever that finish might be.
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his face. He kicked back in the water and took her with him, kissing her soundly underwater and then pulling her to the surface. “Let’s go to the bedroom and seal the deal.”
“I’m good with that.” She’d be good with anything he suggested right now, because he had just asked her for the impossible and the unexpected and the best thing she could ever have hoped for.
Now if she could just find a way not to screw this up.
* * * *
Time rolled by, and before Kate knew it, the eve of the San Felipe Stakes had arrived, one of two races both horses would be running in before the Derby.
Hunter’s investors arrived in droves. Kate and Lilli played hostess that evening as a list of Seattle’s who’s who of sports stars came in and out of the house with their significant others.
As the night wore on and the party dispersed, Hunter and Kate drove to her beach bungalow for privacy. As they pulled up to the house, Kate noticed lights on that she’d sworn she’d turned off. In the driveway sat a classic Rolls-Royce, just the kind of car her brother loved to drive to advertise his wealth.
“Who’s here?” Hunter asked as he parked his big truck next to the car.
“I’m not sure, but they have a key, so that narrows down the pool considerably to family. This house belongs to my father. We all have keys.”
Hunter frowned. “Should I go in or head back home?”
Before she could answer, the front door opened and her sister, Megan, walked onto the porch, all simple elegance in a black pencil skirt and silk blouse. She perched her hands on her hips and surveyed the area as if she were queen.
Her lips puckered in distaste as she eyed Hunter’s truck.
Kate blew out a long breath.
“That bad?” Hunter asked.
“Most likely worse. Prepare yourself.”
He nodded, his gaze sliding back to the porch, where her brother now stood behind her sister. He wore slacks with knife pleats and a country club polo shirt. Surprise registered on his face as he took in the truck and the man driving it.
Without another word, Hunter emerged from the truck and walked around to open her door, but Kate was already out and striding up the front steps with a fake smile on her face. She gave her sister a peck on the cheek and accepted the same from her brother.
They never visited her, so alarm froze her heart. “Is Mom okay?”
“She’s fine. She wishes she could make it to the race, so she asked us to come instead.”
She ignored Hunter’s curious look regarding her reference to her mother.
Shame filled Kate. She hadn’t called her mother in a week. They’d texted back and forth, but texting wasn’t the same as hearing a loved one’s voice. Part of her had been afraid, not wanting to hear if her mother sounded weaker.
Kate had been too wrapped up in Hunter and feeling all the while like a traitor to her mother. If she explained the full situation to Hunter, he’d probably pull Sid from the Derby. Only she didn’t want to win that way. She wanted to win because her horse was the best horse on that day.
Patrick’s and Megan’s gazes turned to the man in question.
Kate stood up straighter and reached for Hunter’s hand. He took it and stood beside her. Her siblings were eyeing Hunter with blatant curiosity.
Kate stepped into the fire. “This is my boyfriend, Hunter.” She caught his quick glance of surprise but kept her gaze squarely on the sibs.
“Hunter, pleased to meet you.” Her sister stepped forward, her voice full of warmth she reserved for special people, never Kate. “I’m Megan, Kate’s older sister.”
Kate resisted the urge to cringe as Hunter assessed her sister with the savviness of a competitor assessing his possible competition while not certain if they’re a friend or foe. Kate wasn’t certain, either.
Patrick stepped forward. “Hunter, I’m Patrick, Kate’s brother, and the oldest.” Patrick loved to get in a dig to Megan, who behaved as if she were the boss of the family.
Megan took Hunter’s arm and led him inside, leaving Kate no choice but to follow after Patrick.
“Kate never told us she had a boyfriend. How long have you been seeing each other?” Thank God she wasn’t in attorney cross-examination mode.
Kate shouldn’t have been surprised that Hunter hit it off with her sister and brother. They both had their father’s talent for easy conversation and oozed charm, while Kate had been gifted with her mother’s bluntness and preference to reside in the company of horses.
The three of them chatted at length as if she weren’t there. They discussed football, social issues, the economy—all sorts of subjects she’d never discussed with Hunter. After they left, Kate felt woefully inferior to all three of them. She’d been worried about Hunter being a misfit in her family, same as she was. Only Hunter fit right in, while Kate was still the misfit.
“I like your brother and sister,” Hunter said with a grin as he waved and shut the door behind them.
“Everyone does.” Kate sank down on the plush leather couch, as deflated as a flat tire.
Hunter raised a brow. “Do I detect a little sibling rivalry?”
“A lot, but only on my part.”
“They seem like great people.”
“They are. I’m the failure of the family.”
He looked at her as if seeing her for the first time. “I don’t see you that way.”
“You’d be the first. Everyone else does.” Kate hated the bitterness in her voice. “I’m the underachieving accident of the family.”
“Accident? Why would you say that?” She noticed he didn’t take exception to the “underachieving” part.
“I was born nine years after my sister. My parents barely spoke by that point in time, let alone slept together.”
“You’re not an accident or an underachiever. Don’t ever let anyone say that to you.” Hunter rubbed his chin; his brown eyes were troubled. She wanted to hug him for caring enough to be protective of her.
“My father has spent my entire life ignoring my existence except to throw money my way.” She made the mistake of meeting Hunter’s eyes. His gaze was filled with concern and compassion. “I’m pretty sure he’s not my father.” She blurted out the words, unable to help herself. Hunter slid next to her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her, tucking her against his warmth.
“Have you asked your mother?”
“Never.”
“Your siblings?”
“No. It’s never brought up. It’s the elephant in the room. We don’t talk about it, but I’ve known ever since I was about ten and heard my parents fighting. My mother moved out that night to Oak Brook and never came back.” Much to Kate’s horror, a tear slipped down her cheek. She’d gotten beyond this bullshit, but there it was. The hurt and betrayal loomed as large as the elephant in the room.
“Ah, baby, I’m so sorry. What a horrible thing to put on a kid. Did they know you heard them?”
She shook her head, burying her face in his shoulder. His long hair tickled her nose. She breathed in the comforting scent of the shampoo he used. Being with him felt
right. For the first time in her life, she felt valued for herself rather than her money.
Hunter kissed the top of her head, stroked her hair, and held her until she finally drew back and gazed up at him. “Thank you for being here.”
“Thank you.” He winked at her.
“You’re a good man, Hunter McCoy. I’m not sure I deserve you.”
His eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t even say that about yourself. Stop the negative self-talk. You are a beautiful woman with a big heart.”
“When you stop playing football, you can travel the country as an inspirational speaker.”
“I doubt it.” He snorted. She laughed.
Hunter sobered quickly, and she knew something else was coming. “What’s going on with your mom? Has she been sick?”
Kate swallowed hard and jumped into the deep end.
* * * *
Hunter held Kate’s hand and waited for an answer, finding it extremely important that she trust him enough to open up to him.
Sadness flashed briefly in Kate’s eyes, a sadness she’d never let Hunter see before. He needed to know more. His desire to understand her and who she really was came as a surprise to him. She wasn’t nearly as shallow as he’d assumed. He’d taken her at face value and made assumptions based on old stereotypes. He hated people who did that, yet he’d done it to her.
“She’s holding her own.” Kate glanced away and wiped at her eyes.
“Against what?” he prodded her, since she wasn’t forthcoming.
She looked up at him, her eyes luminous with unshed tears. “Lung cancer, and she was never a smoker. She’s a warrior, and she’s been fighting the hard fight.”
Hunter squeezed Kate’s hand. Her wobbly smile burrowed deeper into his heart. “I’d like to meet her sometime. Where does she live?”
“At Oak Brook. She’s lived there for years.”
“That’s her home?”
“Yes, it’s belonged to my mother’s side of the family for over a century.”
“I made the wrong assumption it was your father’s family.” This changed everything.
She shook her head. “My father and siblings think the racehorses are a waste of time and money, but that farm was my mother’s life, just like it’s mine.”
“Why didn’t your grandfather leave the farm to your mother?”
“Because she was really sick when he died. Afterward, she went into remission for a few years. He didn’t think the farm would stay in her hands for long, and he didn’t want my father to get his hands on it. He’s been dying to develop that property for years. I can’t let that happen as long as my mother’s alive.”
“Then why didn’t he leave it to you outright instead of taxing you with a requirement you have no real control over?”
“I can only guess. My grandfather was a good ol’ boy. I can only think he wasn’t convinced a woman could run the place, so he wanted proof.”
Hunter nodded, even though such a viewpoint made no sense to him whatsoever. “Is your mom still in remission?”
Kate shook her head, choked up for the second time that evening.
“Ah, baby, I’m so sorry. I’ll pull Sid from the Derby, if that’ll help.”
She glared up at him. “You’ll do nothing of the sort. I want to win because my horse deserves it. If you pull Sid, I’ll never feel right about it.”
“But it’d up your chances and save the farm. This is bigger than winning a horse race.”
She shook her head adamantly. “And winning this horse race is bigger than you can imagine. You will not pull Sid. I’d rather lose the farm.”
“Does your mom feel the same way?” A conflict raged deep within Hunter. Jet would win without Sid in the race. He felt it as deeply as he’d ever felt anything, but he understood her reasoning. He also, more than most people, understood pride. There’s no pride in winning when your competitor refuses to compete.
“My mom—she just wants to save the farm, but she’s resigned to the outcome, whatever it may be. We’ve come close these past few years. Two years ago, Khat Scratch Fever was favored going into the Derby. He broke badly out of the gate and stepped on himself. He finished dead last. Nothing is guaranteed in this sport, Hunter. We need to let our horses run their race and accept the consequences of the outcome—good or bad.”
He nodded sagely. “If that’s what you want.” He still wasn’t reconciled with what he wanted, but he’d have to mull that one over for a while.
“Besides, you can’t disappoint your investors or Lilli or your entire tribe.”
“I guess I can’t,” he conceded her point. She knew nothing of what a win like this would mean to any of them, especially his tribe, but he held his tongue. He’d donate his portion of the proceeds to the tribe’s program for youth at risk, and he suspected his investors would be donating their proceeds to charity also. With a two-million-dollar purse on the line, that money would go a long way.
“I want to win but not like that. Jet can beat Sid fair and square.”
“I doubt that.” Hunter scowled.
Kate grinned at him, rising to the challenge. “Yes, he can.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“I guess we will.”
“In the meantime, we could put our competitive streaks to something more useful.” His eyes grew dark and his gaze roamed down her body and back up.
“What did you have in mind?” She batted her eyes at him, making him chuckle.
“I bet I can make you orgasm first,” Hunter said.
“You’re on.” She leaped to her feet and sprinted for the bedroom.
Hunter was hot on her heels.
Chapter 19—Fast Track
The day of the San Felipe Stakes, Hunter stood near Sid’s stall as Lilli carried on a whispered conversation with his horse. Sid lowered his neck and pushed his head into her chest as if he understood her. Knowing his sister, Sid probably did. Finally, Lilli gave Sid a kiss on the nose and a carrot. She turned to find Hunter.
“I’m here.” He walked forward to place a hand on her elbow.
“He’s in a mood. He’s like a rebellious teenager. He loves to run, but he’s not sure he wants to run today.”
“Oh, fuck.” Hunter rolled his eyes. “He told you that?”
“Not exactly. It’s just feelings, impressions I get. He’s tense and nervous. Carl said he’s off his feed.” Carl was Sid’s devoted groom.
Hunter nodded and cast a glance in Sid’s direction. Sid had his head over the stall and was stretching out his neck in an attempt to grab the hat off Carl’s head, as Carl sat on a bale of hay and cleaned bridles. That was something. At least Sid was feeling impish.
With his weathered face and wiry body, Carl was one of those ageless guys who could be forty or eighty. Judging by how long Carl had been in horse racing, Hunter opted for the latter.
“Should we scratch him?” he asked his sister.
Lilli shook her head. “No, let’s run him. He’s not sick, just pouty.”
“Yeah, he’s got tons of opinions.”
Carl glanced over at them. “There isn’t a horse who can beat Sid when he’s on, not even Ms. Vanderhof’s horse. Too bad Sid doesn’t cooperate most of the time.” Carl snatched his hat from Sid. He moved farther away from the animal.
“Don’t we know that.” Hunter patted the elegant horse on his neck. Sid jerked his head into the air. He was in a mood.
Carl turned his wrinkled face toward Sid, his tone scolding. “I got a lotta money ridin’ on this race, big boy. The missus will be pretty pissed if I don’t get her something for her anniversary ’cause I wasted it on a horse race.”
Sid snorted and shook his head, as if to say then you’re a fool, old man.
“You didn’t really bet on him, did you?” Lilli’s face registered concern.
Carl laughed and lowered his voice. “Nah, just trying to convince him I did.”
“He can hear better than we can,” Lilli pointed out with a snicker.<
br />
Hunter grinned. “She’s got you there, old man.” He used the term old man with respect. In his family, elders were respected and held in high esteem, though he’d be the first to admit his family operated outside of normal parameters. He pitied the poor souls whose families existed only within society’s restrictions no matter how nice such families might be, much like Kate’s.
Carl threw back his head and laughed. Sid took the opportunity to snatch the hat from Carl’s head. He shook it in his teeth, celebrating his victory.
“Sid, I wish you’d put as much effort into your races.” Chuckling, Hunter described Sid’s game to his sister. She laughed, too.
“Here comes trouble,” Carl said, getting to his feet and snatching his hat once again from Sid. Hunter glanced down the barn aisle. Mitch strode toward them, all business as usual.
“It’s time to break up comedy hour and get Sid ready for the race,” he said.
Hunter took his sister’s arm. “Shall we go to our box?”
“Absolutely.” She smiled at him and signaled to Charlie, who was lying near her feet. He quickly moved to her side. Together the three of them left for the grandstand.
* * * *
At the risk of sounding like Hunter and Lilli, Kate knew Jet was ready to run. She didn’t understand how she knew it, but one look in Jet’s expressive brown eyes was all it took.
He was ready.
Sid beware. Jet was on today.
She smiled to herself as she left the backstretch area to go to the grandstand. Those two really were rubbing off on her. She swung her gaze down the row of stalls to the end one where Hunter and Lilli stood with Mitch and their horse’s groom. She couldn’t recall the old man’s name, any more than she could recall most of the barn workers. She’d never paid much attention to them before, while Hunter and Lilli treated them like old friends, a fact that made her ashamed.
She waited as Lilli, Charlie, and Hunter walked toward her.
“Kate.” Hunter grinned when he saw her and gave her a once-over. The approving glint in his eyes said it all. She was casually dressed in a simple tank, skirt, and pair of boots. Nothing special, but Hunter didn’t appear to agree with her assessment.
Game Changer: Seattle Steelheads Football (Game On in Seattle Book 7) Page 17