Lucky In Love (Harlequin Special Edition)

by Sinclair, Tracy

“It sounds so complicated,” she protested.

  “I guess you have to be a gambler to understand it,” Michelle said ingenuously.

  “A person who enjoys going to the track isn’t necessarily a gambler.” Jonathan corrected her mildly. “It’s the same as watching any other sporting event, like a football game, for instance. People bet on those, too.”

  Michelle didn’t argue. She was content to have planted the seed in her mother’s mind. Sooner or later, Evelyn had to see Lucky for what he really was.

  “It sounds like a great deal of fun.” Evelyn’s face was animated. “What time shall we leave?”

  “Well, let’s see. It will take about half an hour to get there,” Lucky said. “Let’s plan on leaving here at eleven-thirty. We can have lunch in the clubhouse and look over the racing form to see who’s running today.”

  Evelyn looked at him in surprise. “You know the horses by name?”

  “A few, but I’m more familiar with the jockeys. They’re the ones who can tip the odds in your favor.” Lucky proceeded to explain the intricacies of horse racing.

  “You certainly are knowledgeable about the sport,” Evelyn remarked, but she said it admiringly.

  Michelle wasn’t discouraged, though. Lucky didn’t know it yet, but he was wasting his time. Then she noticed Jonathan watching her, and she wasn’t as sure. The amused look on his face seemed to indicate he knew something she didn’t.

  Under different circumstances, Michelle would have enjoyed the ride. The air was perfumed with the scent of orange blossoms from the groves that lined both sides of the winding highway. The road also ran along fields of pineapple before curving toward the ocean.

  “Isn’t this scenery just awesome?” Evelyn asked from the back seat. Jonathan was driving that day. “I love the way the coconut palms grow right up in the sand, with the blue water beyond. It’s like a painting.”

  “That’s the view I look out on at home when I pull open the drapes in the morning,” Lucky said.

  “Aren’t you fortunate? All I see are bare trees and overcast skies,” Evelyn said.

  “Only in the winter, Mother,” Michelle protested. “Long Island is beautiful in the spring and summer months.”

  “It’s a shame to have to suffer through an entire season of dreariness, though. Have you ever thought of moving down South?” Lucky asked casually.

  “Not really,” Evelyn replied. “All of my friends live in the New York area.”

  “You can make new friends,” he said, taking her hand.

  After a quick glance at the couple in the back seat, Michelle asked abruptly, “Aren’t we almost there?”

  “About another five minutes,” Jonathan assured her.

  Michelle’s personal problems were temporarily shelved when they reached their destination. The high spirits of the crowd were catching. People milled around the oval track, clutching racing forms and watching jockeys in colorful silks leading their sleek, prancing mounts. Food vendors hawked their wares in the grandstand and there were long lines in front of the betting windows.

  “I’ve never seen so much activity!” Evelyn exclaimed. “Doesn’t anybody ever sit down?”

  “Rarely.” Lucky chuckled, guiding their little group to an elevator.

  The atmosphere in the clubhouse was less hectic. Groups of people were clustered around the bar chatting, or seated at tables having lunch. A wide glass window across one end of the room gave a view of the racetrack and the activity below, but the noise was muted.

  When the two couples were seated at a table by the window, Lucky ordered champagne. After it arrived he raised his glass. “This is a special occasion, so I want to propose a toast.” As Michelle caught her breath he continued, “To Evie’s first horse race.”

  “You really have to stop expecting the worst,” Jonathan told Michelle in a low, amused voice.

  “You haven’t won yet,” she muttered.

  “No, but hope springs eternal,” he murmured, draping an arm casually across the back of her chair.

  While they were sipping their champagne, Lucky produced two racing forms. They had columns of statistics on all the horses running that day, their past performance, the length of the race, if they were moving up or down in class.

  “That’s much too complicated,” Evelyn complained. “What would happen if I just picked out a name that appealed to me?”

  “You’d probably stand as much chance of winning as the experts.” Jonathan laughed.

  “Oh, look, here’s one I simply have to bet on,” she exclaimed. “Sun and Fun.”

  “That definitely sounds like a winner,” Lucky said fondly.

  “What’s your choice?” Jonathan asked Michelle. “I don’t think they have a horse named Gloom and Doom,” he teased.

  “I’m looking for one called Victory,” she answered coolly.

  “There’s a horse called Sir Prize. Will that do?” Lucky asked. “His odds are long, but he just might go all the way.”

  “The uncertainty is what makes it interesting.” Jonathan gave Michelle a mischievous look.

  “Hadn’t we better order?” Evelyn asked. “If we don’t hurry up and have lunch we’ll miss the first race.”

  “We can see it from up here. There are betting windows, or an attendant will come over to the table to take our bets,” Lucky explained.

  They made their selections for the first race while they were having lunch. As they were drinking coffee, the horses were herded into the gate. Some of the horses reared or danced around, reluctant to enter the narrow stalls.

  “Oh, no!” Michelle exclaimed. “Look at number six, he doesn’t want to race. I should have bet on the one in purple and white. I like those colors better anyway.”

  “Your horse is just spirited,” Jonathan soothed. “That’s a good sign.”

  “He’s twenty to one,” Lucky said in an undertone.

  “Long shots sometimes pay off.” Jonathan smiled.

  The gate opened and the horses thundered out. Michelle watched anxiously as her choice, Fashion’s Pride, was caught in the middle of the pack. At the first turn he pulled away, but he was still trailing three other horses. She leaped to her feet when Fashion’s Pride closed the gap and overtook all but the leader.

  Coming down the stretch the two horses were neck and neck. Michelle was jumping up and down, shouting, “Come on, Fashion’s Pride!” as the horses crossed the wire. “Did I win?” she asked when some words flashed on the announcement board. “They were so close I couldn’t tell.”

  “It’s a photo finish,” Jonathan said. “We’ll know in a minute.”

  After Fashion’s Pride was declared the winner, and Michelle discovered he’d pay forty dollars for her two-dollar bet, she was so excited she threw her arms around Jonathan’s neck.

  “I won! I won!” she exclaimed.

  He held her close, kissing her temple so lightly she wasn’t aware of it. “Congratulations,” he said huskily. “I’m happy for you.”

  “I’ll have to follow your system,” Lucky joked. “You were the only one in the group with a winning ticket.”

  “It’s beginner’s luck,” Evelyn said. “I’m not sure if she’s ever been to the races, either. Have you, Michelle?”

  She was abruptly aware of being in Jonathan’s arms. Michelle’s cheeks were flushed as she drew away and mumbled, “Sorry. I guess I got carried away.”

  “Don’t apologize. It was an exciting race. The close ones always are,” he said.

  She looked at him narrowly, but there didn’t seem to be any hidden meaning in his remark. “Yes, well, I’ll try to restrain myself after this.”

  “Why? You’re charming when you allow yourself to act naturally. It’s normal to be exuberant.” He grinned suddenly. “I hope you have a lot of winners today.”

  Michelle wasn’t as lucky after that, but it didn’t dampen her enthusiasm. She and her mother pored over the racing form, sometimes relying on its recommendation, but usually picking a horse becau
se they liked the name.

  They would have been better off it they’d taken Lucky’s advice. He won more often than not, large sums because he was betting a hundred dollars each time.

  “Isn’t that an awful lot of money?” Evelyn asked.

  “Only if you lose,” he said.

  “I’d be very nervous if I had that much money riding on a horse race,” she said.

  “Then you shouldn’t risk it,” he answered. “Betting is only fun if you don’t wager more than you can comfortably afford to lose.”

  Michelle was glad her mother was starting to question Lucky’s life-style, but she had to admit to herself that it was enjoyable. She wouldn’t complain if he’d worked for the money he was flinging around, instead of bilking someone else out of it.

  After a few races, Jonathan asked if she’d like to go down to the paddock and inspect the horses. Her mother and Lucky declined to join them, so they went alone.

  “It must be fun to own a racehorse,” Michelle remarked as they strolled toward the paddock. “You have all the excitement of seeing it run, and you can win thousands of dollars, too.”

  “Racing stables are rarely profitable,” Jonathan told her. “They’re enormously expensive to run.”

  “How much can oats cost?” she joked.

  “More than you’d imagine. There are also veterinary bills, stable help, entrance fees and on and on. You have to be rich and preferably retired. That’s why I sold my horses. I didn’t have time to travel around the country to watch them run.”

  “You owned racehorses?” she asked in disbelief.

  “Lucky and I owned a stable briefly.”

  “You must have made a good score that year,” she observed sardonically.

  Jonathan sighed. “We have to talk, Michelle.”

  “Not now. It won’t change either of our minds and we’ll only wind up angry again. Can’t we suspend hostilities for just this one afternoon?” When he hesitated she said coaxingly, “I’m having a really good time.”

  “All right, it’s a deal—but only if we extend our truce to this evening as well.”

  “I don’t know if we can go twenty-four hours without arguing.”

  “We’ve never tried before. How about it? We’ll go out to dinner, just the two of us, and perhaps finally get to know each other.”

  She looked up at him doubtfully. “Maybe we’d better not push our luck.”

  “What’s the matter, Michelle? Are you.afraid you might grow to like me?” he asked softly.

  It was a distinct possibility. Jonathan’s charisma was awesome. If he continued to be as charming as he’d been all day, she couldn’t guarantee her own immunity. But she didn’t want him to know that

  Feigning indifference, she said, “I think it’s going to be a short evening, but I’m willing to go along with you.”

  “That’s all I ask.” He put his arm around her and led her toward the paddock, hiding his jubilation. “Come on, let’s go pick ourselves a winner.”

  By the end of the day, Evelyn declared she was exhausted. “All I want to do tonight is have dinner and go to bed early.”

  “How about a movie?” Lucky suggested. “That’s not too strenuous.”

  “I might consider it if we go to an early one.”

  “How does that sound to you kids?” Lucky asked.

  “Don’t worry about us. Michelle and I are going out to dinner,” Jonathan answered.

  “That’s nice,” Evelyn said approvingly. “Wear the lavender suit you bought yesterday,” she told Michelle. “With the ivory silk blouse.”

  “We’re not going anyplace special,” Michelle protested.

  “You’ll make it special,” Jonathan said with a melting smile.

  Jonathan was waiting in the bar at seven-thirty that evening. When Michelle saw the admiring expression on his face, she was glad she’d worn the lavender suit and taken pains with her hair and makeup.

  It was what she would do for any date, she’d told herself as she used eyeliner, shaded her high cheekbones with blush and lengthened her thick lashes with mascara. She’d also used a curling iron to make her hair as picture perfect as a shampoo ad.

  If Michelle realized she was inviting a response from Jonathan, she dismissed the fact as irrelevant. He would try to romance her, anyway.

  Jonathan couldn’t stop staring at her. “You look ravishing !”

  “You sound surprised,” she teased. “Were you expecting me to appear in jeans?”

  “You’d look beautiful no matter what you had on, but I’m glad you listened to your mother. That outfit is smashing.”

  “This old thing?” She laughed.

  The evening was starting out well. Michelle only hoped it would continue that way. She didn’t mind a few compliments—if he just kept it at that.

  They drove to the nearby town of Olaca where Jonathan had made a dinner reservation at a restaurant called the Sea Vista.

  “I hope the food is good,” he said. “The manager at the hotel recommended it, but you never know.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine,” she answered.

  The Sea Vista was more than just nice. It was a surprisingly elegant restaurant for a small town. The tables were covered with crisp linen tablecloths centered by a spray of tiny orchids in a bud vase, and wineglasses were lined up at each place setting.

  Michelle and Jonathan were seated at a choice table near the picture window. Since he’d never been there before, he couldn’t be a favored customer. The maître d’ simply assumed from Jonathan’s expensive clothes and impeccable grooming that he was used to preferential treatment.

  Michelle had to admit that Jonathan acted the part. It wasn’t only the clothes, although he looked especially handsome that night in a lightweight beige sport jacket and darker beige slacks, both perfectly tailored to his lithe frame. His shirt looked custom made, also. It had a tiny, unobtrusive monogram on the cuff. The white linen contrasting with his tanned face was very effective. He was a dazzlingly attractive man, much more virile than Stuart. And look how that turned out, Michelle reminded herself.

  “What does the A stand for,” she asked, pointing to the monogram on his cuff, JAR.

  He groaned. “Do you really have to know?”

  “Now, I do. You’ve piqued my curiosity.”

  “I should have lied and said Adam or Al.”

  “Come on and tell me,” she coaxed. “How bad can it be?”

  “Pretty bad. It’s Artemis. I was named after my paternal grandfather, who probably got into innumerable fights over his name when he was a boy. Fortunately he was a big strapping kid, I’m told. He could hold his own.”

  “I’ll bet you can, too.” Michelle glanced at Jonathan’s broad shoulders.

  “If I have to, but I’m a lover, not a fighter.” He grinned.

  “I already figured that out,” she answered dryly.

  “That isn’t fair,” he protested. “I haven’t made a pass at you all night.”

  “The evening’s young.”

  His eyes were more golden than green as he gazed at her with a little smile. “If you’re expecting one, I’d be happy to oblige.”

  “But it doesn’t matter to you one way or the other? That’s not very flattering,” she joked.

  “Dear little Michelle,” he said in a throaty voice. “I’d be ecstatic at the opportunity to make love to you. I want to hold you in my arms again and feel you respond with all the passion I know you’re capable of.”

  She realized he was referring to their erotic encounter on the beach. Her entire body heated at the recollection of the searing desire that had flared so instantly between them.

  Trying to defuse the moment, she managed a little laugh. “You said we should get to know each other better, but I didn’t realize you meant that well.”

  “Whether you choose to admit it or not, there is a very real attraction between us. It would be nice if we could cut through all the stylized games men and women play, but I don’t expect
it to happen.”

  “That’s a relief,” she said lightly.

  “Is it really?” he asked softly. “I think our lovemaking would be like nothing either of us has ever experienced. Don’t you wonder if I’m right?”

  Michelle didn’t have to wonder. She’d felt the seductiveness of his hard body, the sensuous allure of his smooth, supple skin. Jonathan would raise her passion to a fever pitch before satisfying her with superb male expertise.

  She moistened her dry lips. “This is why I didn’t want to go out with you. You’re a very experienced man. You know exactly what buttons to push to make me respond to you.”

  He reached across the table and covered her hand with his. “I’m not trying to seduce you, Michelle. When we make love it will be because you want me as much as I want you. That’s the only way it would be good for both of us.” He leaned back in his chair, smiled and signaled the waiter to bring more wine. “Don’t look so serious, honey. I always take no for an answer.”

  The rest of the evening was pure pleasure. Michelle almost forgot this wasn’t an ordinary date. Although when he suggested going somewhere to dance after dinner, she knew it wasn’t a good idea. Her judgment was always affected when Jonathan held her in his arms—for whatever reason.

  “It’s been a full day,” she said. “I think I’d like to go back to the hotel.” .

  He didn’t try to persuade her, but when they arrived back at Shorehaven he suggested having a nightcap in the bar before turning in.

  Michelle declined that offer, too. “I’ve had enough to drink tonight. I don’t want to disgrace myself again the way I did at the dinner dance the other night.”

  “I thought you were charming. It was the first time I caught a glimpse of what you’re really like when you’re not on your guard.”

  “That’s a good reason for not drinking. I need to be alert when I’m around you.”

  “Because you might do what you want to do, instead of what you think you should?” he asked softly.

  “No, because you’re a very clever man. You almost made me forget tonight what you’re after.”

  “I thought that was obvious.” His even teeth gleamed whitely in his tanned face as he grinned mischievously.