“It’s only good business. You know the horse business. I don’t. But I do know that if someone owns a piece of the action, they’ll likely make the wisest possible decisions about their investments.”
“Do the people who build your canoes own part of the business?” Her brow furrowed.
“You don’t miss much—but in fact, they do. I’m a firm believer in that principle. So is it a deal?”
Daisy stared into the stall at RainbowBlaze for the longest time. Was she afraid of him, or of something else? A full two minutes passed before she responded.
“Okay,” she said, quietly. “What choice do I have? I still don’t understand any of this. I don’t know what you’re really after.”
“There is one stipulation I make with all my employees.”
“What’s that?”
“If they sell out, they have to sell to me. I don’t want strangers owning any part of my businesses.”
Nick glanced at his watch and shook his head. “I’ve got to get going. I’ll catch up with you later, kid. Since we have a deal, you just go ahead and do what you were doing with Blaze. I’ll have the papers ready for you to sign before the end of the week. Then we can work out a schedule for my equine education.”
Uneasy with his own bravado and sudden awkwardness, he stared at Daisy. “This was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had in a long time, kid. Keep up the good work.”
- o -
Daisy waved in response, slumped down on a bale of hay and watched the strange man—no, her new partner—disappear down the alleyway and into the parking lot.
Had she been dreaming? She touched the wad of money in her pocket. It was there. She didn’t have to count it. That would cover a good amount of tuition and books. She scratched her head with both hands. Did she believe in fairy godmothers or godfathers? Not hardly.
Holy Moses, she owned part of RainbowBlaze. She gawked at the sleek animal. Rainbow’s large brown eyes had a special gleam in them, as if she knew what had transpired. Daisy began to giggle. This had been an incredible day.
She sobered, remembering his fingers massaging her strained neck muscles and her breasts crushing into his chest after their horse won. The man might be a businessman, but he was powerfully built. And he walked like he knew where he was going but was in no particular hurry to get there. Had he been as aware of her body as she had been of his?
She recalled his gentle touch. Heat raced through her veins. Her nipples tightened. Daisy closed her eyes and shook her head. It couldn’t be. She couldn’t be attracted to Nicholas Underwood. He was too...
She didn’t know what it’d feel like being attracted to a man. A slow grin worked its way across her lips. If this tingling was part of the attraction, then it wasn’t all bad.
Chapter Two
“Why can’t I think straight?” Daisy sprang off her living room loveseat and headed for the tiny kitchen in her first floor Cicero apartment. It was an eat-in kitchen only because she ate on a card table. She pried open a can of pop and swallowed deeply.
How many times had she rerun the events of the day? They still seemed beyond her wildest dreams. She owned part of Rainbow. And she’d tucked two thousand dollars away in the bank.
She wandered back through the small dining room. The room served as an office with a desk, computer, low-tech sound system, and several bookcases. No space remained for dining, but then she seldom had visitors. She plopped back down on the off-white loveseat only to immediately jump up and move to the matching wing chair.
Then there was the man. Nicholas Underwood. Brash. Gentle. Demanding. Laid back. Old, yet maybe not too old. He was a paradox.
She chewed her lower lip. Could he be the one?
Not in a romantic mushy sort of way. But in a practical way. Somehow, sometime she wanted to learn about those things that could happen between a man and a woman. She’d batted away every male, young or old, who had noticed her since she was ten. She intimidated males. For the most part, that was good. Her grandmother would be proud.
The fact that their worlds were so different made a man like Nicholas Underwood safe. They couldn’t share any long term future. She could help him out—maybe he’d be able to help her out.
Her birthday wasn’t far off. She’d probably be the only twenty-one year old virgin in Cicero if not all of Chicago. She wanted to experience being a woman before her birthday.
She’d studied several educational sex videos again and again. They’d been helpful, but only to a point. She’d have to decide fairly soon what to do with Nicholas Underwood. For now, he made an intriguing horseracing partner. She hugged herself. Would he make an equally intriguing partner in bed?
Yes or no, at least he’d be experienced. She wasn’t about to give what her grandmother had called her most prized treasure to some bumbling kid or some horny macho man. She’d learned enough from those videos to know she was looking for a gentle, skilled lover. Maybe she’d finally found him.
What would Specs think of her small abode? It would probably look like a cell compared to his palatial surroundings. He never had said where he lived, but then neither had she.
The apartment buzzer rang. Daisy walked to the entry and peeked through the peephole. She groaned. Maxine and Reggie. Her brother-in-law had a nose for money; thank goodness she’d stopped at the bank and deposited her cash before coming home.
Daisy opened the door and Maxine led the way in. Reggie Lassiter followed her sister like a dog on a fresh scent.
“How are you, baby?” Maxine said, her voice only slightly slurred. It was still early in the evening. “We were nearby and thought we’d check in on my little sister.”
“Right.”
“Get me one of my beers.” Reggie looked like a dark-haired, overweight nose tackle for the Chicago Bears. In his dreams. Daisy chuckled to herself on her way to the kitchen for his beer. She kept her fridge stocked for just such occasions. It didn’t pay to get Reggie angry at her—or at her sister.
She retraced her steps and handed each of her guests a beer.
Maxine took three swallows from the bottle before asking, “So have you been keeping busy?”
“There’s plenty of work at the track, and there’s always homework.”
Her petite sister twisted the loops of her purse nervously. Perspiration shone under the dark ringlets on her forehead. This wasn’t just a social visit. Daisy knew the signs by now. They wanted something.
Maxine was her half sister; even then it was difficult to think of her as kin. She was older. She’d hit the streets right after their grandmother’s funeral, when Daisy was twelve. Social services had taken Daisy to a group home.
Maxine and Reggie had never wanted anything to do with her even after they married. Not until she’d gotten a steady job working for Sam Gallagher. Reggie Lassiter seldom inspired confidence. After meeting Reggie, Cassie Travers refused to let the man on her property.
Daisy scowled. Why couldn’t Maxine get her life together? Why couldn’t she dump Reggie and move on? She was hooked, that was why. On booze, on drugs, on Reggie Lassiter.
“You’re giving me that condescending look again,” Maxine complained. “Why do you always have to look like you think you’re better than me?”
Daisy blinked. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to do that. So what have you guys been up to?”
“Hanging.” Reggie snickered.
“My Reggie lost his job again. Thought maybe you could help us out,” Maxine purred. “Winchel’s won’t give me an advance. Said I already owe them. Don’t remember getting the advance before. They treat their waitresses like shit anyway. So will you help?”
“How much do you need?”
“How much you got?” Reggie ran his eyes up and down her body like he was undressing her.
Daisy flinched. She was sure Reggie ogled her to make Maxine jealous.
“Not enough, I’m sure. I can loan you twenty-five until you get paid,” Daisy said to Maxine.
“That�
�s chicken shit,” Reggie growled, lurching to his feet. “Look at this place. You make more money in a week than we see in a month. Thought you took family responsibilities seriously. You’re always talking about family. So do something about it.”
Daisy didn’t stir. “I’ve got twenty-five dollars. You’re welcome to borrow it or not. Maxine, will that help?”
“Yes darling, that will help a lot. Reggie,” she said, pulling him back down beside her, “we’ve got to be grateful that Daisy wants to help at all. Your family certainly doesn’t.”
“What family?” He spat the words out. “All right, it’s better than nothing, but not by much. How about some tips?” His voice turned sugary. “You’re an insider now, Daisy Matthews. You gotta see some hot horses.”
Daisy shook her head. How many times had they been around this one? She knew Reggie. If she gave him betting tips, he’d hold her responsible for how the horses ran and expect even more.
Reggie glared at Maxine for support.
“Daisy, he’s not asking for money. Just for some help, some advice. He can make his own bets. Can’t you honey?” She rested her head on Reggie’s shoulder.
Daisy tried not to gag.
“I’ll get the bets down. Just tell me who to bet on.”
“Like I’ve said before, horseracing isn’t that predictable.”
“He knows that,” Maxine replied, squeezing Reggie’s hand. “My man knows how things go down. Don’t you dear?”
“That I do.” He glared at Daisy. “This time I expect results, or someone may get hurt.”
“Ouch,” Maxine yelped, “don’t squeeze my hand that hard.”
“Sorry,” he said, looking directly at Daisy. “Sometimes a guy just doesn’t know his own strength.”
Daisy closed her eyes. The man didn’t have a subtle bone in his body. Either give Reggie some possible winners, or her sister would be hurt. Not that it would be a new experience for Maxine. Against her better judgment, she caved in.
“Okay, I’ll give you three to five runners a week that appear ready to win. You know that doesn’t mean they’ll win.”
Both Reggie and Maxine nodded. “You make your own bets, however you manage that, but not through me. I could get in trouble with my boss for that. I don’t have time to run to the betting windows on race day.”
“No problem. I can handle that.” Reggie stood. “I’ll drop by and get the picks Wednesdays.”
“No!” Daisy jumped to her feet, towering over her beefy brother-in-law. “I’ll leave messages on your answering machine. My work is so erratic I’m never certain when I’ll be home.”
“That’ll be just fine, Daisy.” Maxine rose and hugged Daisy loosely. She stood back and looked up at Daisy. “I never will understand how you got so tall and me so short. Mama was average height, but daddy was short.”
Daisy snorted. “At least you know who your daddy was.”
“Yours must have been a pro basketball player.” Reggie laughed. “I hear your mother was a professional, too.”
“Reggie!” Maxine pulled her husband toward the door. Daisy clenched her teeth and kept her hands to herself.
“Don’t mind him,” Maxine said. “Mama loved both of us. You know that. She did the best she could.”
The door shut quietly. Daisy laid her forehead against the door jamb and let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. She ran her fingers through her hair and walked back into the living room. Giving up on studying, she picked up the trash, turned off the lights and headed for her bedroom. A good novel might help remove the foul taste her sister and brother-in-law so often left in her mouth.
She changed into a sleeping shirt and pulled back the futon covers. Daisy smiled and drank in the warmth of her bedroom. She’d had a choice of a rental with two small bedrooms or one large. She’d opted for the latter.
It was her favorite room in the apartment. From her bed she could see her reflection in the mirrored closet doors at the end of the futon. In a corner near it stood a stuffed chair and a reading lamp. A small TV and VCR sat on a dresser in the opposite corner. Someday she’d break down and buy a proper bed, but she liked her simple futon floor mattress. It didn’t require much upkeep. Another reading lamp stood between the bed and a four shelf bookcase.
The bedroom was light and breezy. She’d wallpapered the room with a simple floral design of daisies—her favorite flower. They made her feel special, like someone loved her.
She crawled under the covers and hugged Bear to her chest. Maxine was right. She knew their mother had loved them. There were good memories from when she was quite young. Times when her mother would read a children’s story at bedtime.
And then everything had gone wrong. Her mother began working nights. Too many men came to visit. Most ignored the gangly string-bean of a girl, yet they still managed to scare her.
She’d only been seven when she found her mother lying naked on the kitchen floor. The woman who had read bedtime stories to her was no longer breathing.
Grandmother Matthews loved her. She knew that to be true. Daisy hugged Bear tighter. Her grandmother had been a solid rock and had taught her basic values. While Maxine had given their grandmother a difficult time, Daisy had listened and wanted to please. Grandmother Matthews was family.
Tears stung her eyes as she remembered her grandmother’s death—another death that turned her life upside down.
Raul and Cassie loved her. Raul Hernandez would love any stranded dog. He was the nicest man, and she was lucky it was his group home where she’d been sent. That was where she met Cassie Travers, her social worker, foster mother and mentor.
Yes, she’d grown up hard and had to defend herself from an early age, but she did know something about love. And then there were the horses. They knew how to love. And there was Bear, a gift from her mother so many years before. Things could have been much worse.
She drifted off to sleep. The image of a tall dark-haired man with glasses offered his hand. She reached for it, but sleep overcame her before she could feel his skin touching hers.
- o -
By Saturday night, Daisy was beginning to wonder if she’d imagined Nicholas Underwood. She sat at her desk, the words on the book she’d been studying starting to blur. Underwood intruded into her thoughts far too often.
The phone rang; she let the answering machine take it. “Hey kid, you still alive?”
Daisy laughed at the voice. Should she pick up the phone? She didn’t want to appear too eager, but then she didn’t want to seem irresponsible either.
She lifted the receiver. “I’m here.” Her voice felt more husky than normal. “How did you get my number?”
“Ah, you are there. Hoped you hadn’t gone to bed yet. Figured mornings wouldn’t be a good time to catch you at home. Hell, you’re my employee. I know all your numbers.”
“Do I get yours?”
“Didn’t know you could be coy, kid. Of course. I’ll give you a list. There may be occasions when one of us will have to cancel. I don’t have a lot of time to waste with missed appointments, and I don’t imagine you do, either.”
Daisy listened to his breathing; her own lungs strained.
“Are you phone shy? You were more talkative the other day.”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Am I interrupting something? It is Saturday night. You don’t have a passionate date going on there, do you?”
“No. Not hardly. I thought you’d call at the barn.”
“I’ll call you when I can wherever you are. I’ve got Blaze’s papers drawn up waiting for your signature. You’ll have to fill out owner forms for the track before she can race again. I sent mine in yesterday. They already have a security check done on you, so it shouldn’t take but a day or two. I’ve got to run over to the Twin Cities for business Monday so will leave tomorrow to say hi to the folks. Should be back Wednesday. I’d like to get with you sooner, but can’t. God, I feel like I’m rattling on like a teenager.”
Daisy chuckled. “You are.” She looped the phone cord around her elbow, carried the phone into the living room, plopped down on the loveseat and draped her long legs over its arm. “Do you still want me to teach you stuff about horses and handicapping?”
“Sure do, teach. I’m sure you have your hands full in the mornings. Maybe Thursday...”
She heard him rummaging, probably through his appointment book.
“How about two o’clock? I’ve got the rest of the day open. How’s that for you?”
Daisy didn’t have to check her book. “It looks good for me. Why don’t you come to Barn D? We can start from there.”
“Great. I’m going to have a messenger bring by Blaze’s papers for you to sign. The sooner we get the paperwork completed, the quicker she can race again.”
“You know where I live?”
“It doesn’t take a private investigator to determine that. Most of your personal information has to go on the ownership papers. As well as your Assistant Trainers License. Right?”
“Right. I didn’t think about that.”
“Besides, I make a point of knowing everything I can about my employees and partners.”
“I’m not your employee, Mr. Underwood.” She knew she must sound harsh, but she couldn’t help it. Sometimes the man really galled her. Like right now. “We may be partners by some strange circumstance, but I work for Sam Gallagher.”
“Whoa there, kid. The lady has a temper. I like that. Shows fire and will.” He paused. “I’ll have to think on that. You may be right. You may complicate my life yet.”
Daisy frowned. “Well, you sure as hell have complicated mine.”
“Yeah, but aren’t they nice complications? A week ago you didn’t even know I existed. You didn’t own a race horse. And you were probably planning to waste time you could spend educating me playing around with some college guy.”
Willow Smoke (Riders Up Book 3) Page 3