by J. P. Oliver
While he was looking at flasks and hunt whips, I motioned to the woman who’d waited on us. “Do you have Mr. Wilder’s measurements on file?”
“Yes, sir. We fitted him last month, but he canceled the order after Mac colicked and he had to get the vet out.”
“Put his order with mine. If there’s anything else you think he would like, add that in.”
The woman beamed. “Yes sir.”
“I need this in two weeks.”
Her expression fell. “Mr. Dailey…”
“Whatever it will cost, I’ll pay it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Reece added the hunt accouterments to my towering stack of purchases. In his other hand, he held a pair of tan leather gloves.
“Is that all you’re getting?” At his nod, I motioned to my stack. “Toss it on there. Call it payment for your expert advice.”
Reece grinned. “Thanks.”
Ripper trotted behind us as we left toting several bags and boxes between us. Damn it felt good to do something so out of the ordinary.
“Toss everything in the backseat. You don’t mind if Ripper rides up front with us, do you?”
The little dog’s dark gaze darted back and forth between the two of us.
“Not at all.”
At the moment, I was in a better mood than I could remember any time in recent history.
6
Reece
Nothing was going right. Whitt had to cancel our morning lesson at the last minute. Something about a meeting in Alexandria, but he hoped to be back for our afternoon session. In the meantime, I was working with Satin in the ring.
I had added more obstacles, and she had taken everything like a pro until I added a third jump to a series of two along the long side of the ring. No matter what I tweaked, the third obstacle was throwing her for a loop. Ricky had even come out to help adjust the space between jumps. It wasn’t working. What had started as her front or hind hooves ticking the top bar progressed to knockdowns, and now outright refusals.
When the next attempt triggered a refusal that nearly dumped me ass over teakettle, I hopped off her back and walked her around the ring to give us both a chance to relax.
“You quitting?” Ricky called.
“We’re done with the combination for today. Thanks, Ricky. I’m letting us both decompress, then I’ll take her over something I know she can do well.”
He saluted and jogged back to the barn. It was nearly time for Whitt’s afternoon session. Man, I was so not in the mood today. The clock was ticking louder and louder. On the one hand, I still had work to do with Satin if she was going to be ready for the open jumper stakes classes at Maysburg. With about thirty thousand dollars in prize money on the line, I needed both of us at the top of our game.
Then there was Whitt. I couldn’t ignore what he needed. The man was paying me a boatload of cash to turn him into a rider.
I heard his car navigate the drive. So, he had made it back after all. I rolled my neck to relieve some of the tension before remounting. After an easy jog around the ring, I urged Satin into a collected canter and turned her toward a spread made with brush and timber. She sailed over it, her equilibrium restored.
“Good girl,” I praised, patting her neck before bringing her back to a walk.
Whitt stood near the gate, still dressed in a navy pinstripe suit, reminding me of the day he’d hired me. For some reason, it pissed me off. He seemed so relaxed and was actually smiling.
“She’s amazing, Reece,” he said as we approached.
I managed a tight smile. “Thanks. If you’re planning on riding, you might want to change.” I walked past him, already feeling like a dick. My conscience was trying to insist this wasn’t his fault, except it kind of was. Accepting Maitland’s invitation to hunt had put us on a tightrope with little leeway. But I had agreed to it.
Whitt disappeared into the tack room. I found Ricky in one of the stalls fixing loose boards. “Mr. Dailey is here for his afternoon lesson. Would you mind taking care of Satin, so I can get started with him?”
“No problem, Reece. I’ll be right out.”
I put Satin in one set of cross ties before heading to the tack room. I walked in as Whitt was pulling on a polo shirt and got a quick glimpse of his leanly-muscled torso. I looked away, trying to ignore the way my heart pounded.
“I’ll get Mac. Grab your tack as you come out. We have a lot to get done since you missed this morning.”
I ignored the narrowed glance he directed at me and spun on my heel.
It set the tone for the entire lesson. Whitt was trying. He was making the adjustments I needed him to, but my patience was gone. We had begun doing work through cavaletti, a series of small obstacles, to help Whitt improve his balance.
“I need you to keep your hands and legs quiet. Let Mac do the work. You work on maintaining your balance—eyes up!” I snapped as his gaze dropped and Mac ticked the next rail.
We were an hour into it already. There was no way we could double the time for what he had missed. My temper was frayed and so was his.
“Go ahead and walk him to cool him out,” I ordered, my voice quieter. Without waiting I headed back to the barn. I was standing in the main doorway when Whitt came through the back a few minutes later, leading Mac behind him. After putting the gelding in cross ties, Whitt gave me a hard stare.
“What’s your problem, Reece? The meeting this morning wasn’t something I could avoid. I’m a businessman. I work just like you, but I hauled ass to get back here this afternoon for this lesson.”
“I’m in a pissy mood.”
He arched a brow. “I pay you enough you don’t get to be in a pissy mood.”
He spun on his heel and began automatically removing Mac’s tack.
“Never mind that today. I’ll do it.”
Whitt glared at me, set the saddle on a nearby rack, and brushed past me. A moment later he left the tack room with a suit bag slung over his shoulder. I let my head thump against the wall behind me.
Shortly after Whitt’s car left, I heard another arrival. I groaned until I saw Steffy round the corner.
“Girl, you are definitely a sight for sore eyes today.”
“Judging from the slam of the car door up the hill followed by the slam of the house door, you and your hunky boss are having a problem. Dare I hope it’s personal—which would be a sign you’ve decided to have a life—rather than business?”
I slumped onto an overturned bucket. “I’m a dick.”
Steffy found another bucket, flipped it over and sat next to me. “Talk to me.”
I laid out the problems with Satin, the deadlines I was working under, and what a complete ass I had been to Whitt this afternoon. “So, any wise words to make it better and save my job?”
“You should apologize. Then you should jump his bones.”
“What? Steff, I don’t even think the man is gay.”
She laughed. “Oh my God. Open your eyes. I saw the two of you in town the other day. He can’t take his eyes off you.”
I shook my head. “I think you’re wrong.”
“Apologize. Make the first move. Trust me.”
“What about my horse?”
She shrugged. “Try setting some smaller gymnastic fences. School her over those until she’s hitting the rhythm to give her some confidence. Come on, Reece, you know this shit. You’re letting your nerves clog your brain.”
She slung an arm around my shoulder. “Make it right with Whitt Dailey. You can do this. Don’t let the deadline spook you so you throw away this opportunity.”
Steffy leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. “Gotta go. Really came over to find out how you managed to get both of Sherry Rowland’s hunt horses.”
I raised my brows. “She said she wasn’t joining the hunt this year. The place looked a little neglected, honestly. Pastures needed mowing and fences needed repair. Besides, it’s Whitt’s money, and he paid top dollar for the two of them.”
&n
bsp; “I don’t think she’s had an easy time of it since her husband died. So that was nice of you not to haggle over the price.” Steffy waved and jogged back to her truck.
I sat for a few more minutes before realizing, I did have some serious ground to make up with Whitt. After letting Ricky know I was done for the day, I trudged to the house. I made it a habit to go in the back, taking my boots off in the mudroom. After washing my face and hands, I stalked the hall to Whitt’s study. Sure enough, the door was shut, as it always was when he was inside.
I knocked. Hearing his voice telling me to enter, I took a deep breath and pushed the door inward. He wasn’t at his desk. Instead, he was half sprawled on the couch, a glass of bourbon dangling from his fingers.
“Come to share more of your pissy mood with me?”
I halted several feet away. “I came to apologize.”
Whitt’s silvery gaze darted back to me. He waved to the chair next to the couch and the decanter and glasses on the table.
“Help yourself. It might help your mood. I think it’s helping mine.”
I poured a couple of fingers of the amber liquid and sat with my elbows braced on my knees and the glass dangling loosely between. A sip of the smooth bourbon gave me a chance to collect my thoughts.
“I was an ass to you this afternoon,” I began. “It wasn’t your fault, but I took my frustration out on you.”
Whitt sat forward, bringing our knees bare inches apart. “What’s the problem? Anything I can do to help?”
I ran my fingers through my hair. “I’m struggling with working my horse and working with you. Between you having to cancel this morning and Satin exploding over what I was asking of her, I lost it.”
Whitt took a sip of his drink. “The more time I spend around the barn, the more I realize I was hasty in accepting Maitland’s offer, but I’m in a bind, Reece. He may be one of the most important clients I’ve had. If I can close a deal with him, it will open more doors around here, so I don’t have to travel as much as I have in the past. If I back out of his invitation to hunt, he might begin to question how well I’ll stick to seeing our business deal through.”
I swallowed the rest of the bourbon. One was my limit. “If he’s any businessman at all, he will see what I do—a man who gives his all to whatever he attempts. You’ve certainly done that in working with me.”
Whitt smiled. This close, the thick curl of his eyelashes drew me even deeper into his clear, gray eyes. “Thanks. Let me return the compliment. I’ve watched the way you work with me, the horses, even Ripper.” The dog raised his head from where he was curled on the rug in front of the fireplace, then put it back. “You’re patient. You’re talented. And I think you underestimate yourself. You can do this.”
I looked him squarely in the eye. “Please trust me on one thing. If we get close to the date you’re supposed to go hunting, and I say you’re not ready, you need to listen to me.”
Whitt held out his hand. When I took it in mine, all sorts of crazy feelings tumbled through me.
“I promise,” he murmured, his voice deeper than normal.
“I should go,” I mumbled. “I have some things to do.”
Whitt walked with me to the door. As we reached it, he put his arm around my shoulders. “I’m glad you came to clear the air. It means a lot to me.”
His arm dropped away as I turned slightly. So many unspoken feelings filled the space between us. What if Steffy was right? I didn’t dare test the waters.
“Thanks for listening, Whitt.” With a smile that felt awkward, I snapped my fingers for Ripper and jogged up the stairs to my room.
7
Whitt
I leaned back against the sweet-smelling hay, my jeans open and my cock in Reece’s tanned hand.
“That’s it, baby,” I murmured. “Suck me.”
His mouth closed over the swollen tip…
I woke up with a jerk, the covers twisted around my hips and my hand fisting my aching hard-on.
Reece had starred in a series of erotic dreams all night long. This was no different, except I was awake to finish it. I arched my hips forward, picturing Reece’s brilliant blue eyes and sun-streaked hair as I found some relief for my starving body before I showered.
His apology yesterday evening had caught me by surprise. So this morning, I was determined to get things started right.
I arrived at the barn a few minutes early, carrying an extra coffee for Reece in a travel mug. Mrs. Knowles had mentioned that he liked cream and sugar in his morning brew. While it might make me gag, I fixed it with plenty of both.
Reece stood in the tack room doorway, a phone to his ear. I extended the mug. Surprise flashed across his face before he smiled dazzlingly and mouthed a thank you. As I walked along the aisle to Mac’s stall, I realized I was in a fantastic mood, and like Jack had suggested, I even felt somewhat relaxed.
Mac nickered as I approached. I grinned and dug in my pocket for one of the carrots I had there. As he delicately lifted the treat from my open palm, I realized how much my life had already changed. From having only Mrs. Knowles at the house, along with my assistant, Will, who worked from his house most of the time, I now had Reece, Ricky, the horses, and Ripper.
I snapped the lead on Mac and brought him into the aisle, so I could get him ready. I had put the brushes back in the grooming box when I turned to find Reece standing there with the saddle and bridle.
“Thanks for the coffee,” he said, his blue eyes twinkling. “I didn’t realize you knew I liked cream and sugar in it.”
“I had to grill Mrs. Knowles, but she finally divulged the information.”
Reece laughed. “Let me give you a hand. We’re going to try the cavaletti again this morning. Depending on how it goes, we might raise the height so Mac has to jump.”
“Jump?” I had an instant vision of the huge obstacles Reece’s mare had been soaring over, and my stomach dropped to my toes.
Reece paused in tightening the girth and glanced sideways at me. “Nerves? From the man of steel?”
“Man of steel?”
He shrugged. “You always seem so in control, as if nothing would make you lose your cool.”
If he only knew. Every time he put his hand on my leg to make an adjustment to my position, I came close to losing it.
He let the saddle flap fall and motioned me forward to a clear spot in the aisle. “Before you mount, I want to demonstrate how your position will change going over fences.”
“Okay.” I couldn’t help a feeling of anticipation.
“Pretend you’re on Mac’s back.” After I did that, he continued, “Now get in the two-point position you were using over the low cavaletti yesterday.”
As soon as I did that, he stepped behind me, his hands going to my waist. I shut my eyes at the heat of his touch. If learning to ride didn’t kill me, having this man touching me was going to.
“Now, keep your eyes up. Look out at the pasture fence. I’m going to show you how to close your hip. That’s what I want you to do over the cavaletti.”
As he tilted my hips forward, my breath caught. I stepped away from him nervously. “I think I’ve got it.”
Reece gave me an odd look before shaking his head. “Take Mac out. Warm up with some walking and trotting while I set the gymnastic grid the way I want it.”
I needed to keep my mind on what I was doing and stop obsessing over Reece. I was sure my hyper-awareness was only because of the dreams I’d had the previous night. As I prepared the horse for the work ahead, I began to wonder if it was possible to pursue a relationship with Reece. It wouldn’t be hard to keep quiet. He was already living in my house, and it wasn’t as though I had servants everywhere.
“Ready?” Reece called. I nodded. For the next hour, I had no time to fantasize about my hot horse trainer. He had morphed into nit-picky slave driver, which was probably a good thing. It allowed me to tamp down any dreams of a relationship.
I needed to keep my mind on business. Right
now, that business demanded discretion, not only because of Maitland’s conservative reputation, but I also didn’t need any publicity. My sudden appearance with a boyfriend would definitely mean questions from the press. I was way too rich and way too much of an unknown commodity for them to ignore a sudden social life.
At the end of the lesson, Reece jogged across the ring and took the reins as I hopped to the ground. “Great job,” he praised giving me a clap on the back.
“You think so?”
He grinned. “I wouldn’t tell you that if it weren’t true.”
Warmed by his compliment, I decided to stick around the barn for a while and watch him work the new horses. He was on Trixie when I heard a crunch of gravel behind me. Turning my head slightly, I saw Sherry step to the fence.
“Don’t you look handsome in the breeches and boots,” she said with a smile before her eyes focused on the ring. “Damn, she looks good with Reece on her back. She was always a bit hot and strong for my husband, but Reece has her moving well.”
I watched him take another jump as if it was the easiest thing in the world.
“He is very talented. I’ve watched him on Satin. She’s amazing, and the help he’s given me is way beyond my expectations. Thank you so much for recommending him.”
I realized I was gushing a bit too much and turned my attention back to the ring. I sounded like a teenager with his first crush.
“He does have amazing talent.”
When I turned to look at her, I caught a speculative gleam in her eyes that made me wince inside. Way to be subtle, Dailey.
“I did kind of throw him for a loop accepting Quinn Maitland’s invitation to hunt.” I kept my follow-up comment more casual, as if it was a great excuse for why I felt Reece had done so much. “I’m glad your horses were available. I’ll need one of us to be experienced.”
Her smile was a little tight. “Bondage is a steady guy. He’ll take care of you even if no one else is there.”