by Dani Wade
“That’s very flattering,” Kane said.
“News isn’t what gets hits anymore,” Bernie said. “In this digital era, we’ve gotta reel ’em in, and stories like yours are just the ticket. Working man turned billionaire overnight. Who wouldn’t want to see themselves in that story?”
Presley noticed the other occupants of their table blatantly watching and listening to the overeager photographer. She felt herself blushing.
“Let’s get a few more of you with your lovely date. What’s your name, sweetheart?”
Kane glanced her way, his smile stiff this time. “Presley?”
“Yes?”
It took a moment before she noticed his gaze pointedly slip from hers to her hand curved around his upper arm. Her fingernails were digging into the fabric of his shirt. She immediately released him and drew in a subtle breath. It was as if the muscles in her hand had stiffened into a permanent position, but after a few seconds of concentration, she was able to relax them.
“Presley?” Bernie’s voice boomed loud enough now to catch the attention of people at other tables in their general vicinity. “That’s an unusual name. I’ve only known one woman with that name, and I seriously wanted to give that woman the name of a beauty consultant. Sad, really.”
As he grinned at her expectantly, Presley wanted to crawl under the table and disappear.
Kane stood, holding his hand out to her. As much as she didn’t want her picture splattered all over the internet, maybe if they got this over with quickly, the photographer would go bother someone else. To her surprise, Kane unobtrusively positioned her at his side, using a heavy palm against her back. Then he reached around and flipped her hair forward over her shoulder before briefly catching her chin with his fingers.
“Just smile pretty,” he murmured.
A few flashes later and Presley wanted to collapse back into her seat, feeling like a baby for making a big deal out of nothing. But the churning of her stomach and burning of her cheeks took a while to subside.
Kane shook the man’s hand again, and Bernie turned to go. Free! But she had a sinking feeling she’d celebrated too soon as he pivoted back toward them after a few steps.
“Miss, I didn’t get your full name for the caption,” he said, smiling in a way that should have set her at ease, but didn’t.
“Presley Macarthur,” Kane supplied.
Bernie paused, his pen hovering over his little notebook, staring at her with his mouth agape. “No. You can’t be Presley Macarthur.”
Presley braced herself for what she could see coming. Not an apology for what he’d said earlier. Only more insults. “Why not?”
“You don’t look anything like her—um, yourself.” He glanced up and down, studying her as if trying to find something. “I mean, I’ve seen her—you—at lots of races. You look beautiful. Before you were...”
“Careful.” Kane’s voice had gone guttural.
Bernie glanced at him with wide eyes. “Right. Must be going. Lots of people to get on camera.”
Kane shifted as if to return to the table, but Presley couldn’t move. He stepped close for a moment. “Just ignore him,” he said, solely for her ears.
Luckily the noise level in the room was higher now that the tables were full of hungry partygoers. It gave Presley a sense of protection, of privacy.
Still she found herself staring blankly over Kane’s shoulder. “Do you think everyone is talking about me like that?”
She didn’t want to sound like a whiny child seeking attention, but she was very afraid that was how she came off. Except it hadn’t occurred to her that the changes she’d made would put her at the mercy of people like Bernie, people she felt compelled to be polite to, even though they didn’t play by the same rules.
Once more Kane nudged her chin with his fingers until she looked up to meet his gaze. “If they can’t see how beautiful you are, how beautiful, smart and talented you’ve always been...you don’t need ’em.”
And she didn’t. But she was afraid she might need Kane for a long, long time to come.
* * *
After the whirlwind of derby weekend, Kane desperately wanted to relax. He didn’t mind people. But there was too much of a good thing. His body needed rest; his eyes needed tranquil green; his ears needed nature.
He knew Presley felt the same. Just remembering her face when the photographer had questioned her made Kane ache. By the end of the weekend, she’d been more than anxious to get home.
So much for spending the night.
Such a strong woman shouldn’t be made to feel low by a reporter’s thoughtless words. While Kane was glad he’d helped her show her true beauty to the world, he understood better now why she’d never taken that step on her own.
He’d watched the Louisville Scene website to make sure no derogatory remarks were posted. Though the pictures did appear and correctly identified them both, nothing else was said.
Good thing, for Bernie’s sake.
But now Kane had an inexplicable need to spend time with Presley out of the spotlight. It was dangerous—just as dangerous as sleeping beside her each night. But he couldn’t seem to stop himself.
He didn’t even want to try...
Kane watched her approach the barn across the drive, his mouth watering at the faithful lie of her jeans over shapely hips. And those boots...
“What’s in the bag?” he asked, desperate to distract himself.
Her grin was a little shy, a little sly. “My contribution to the picnic.”
Kane peeked inside, and the heavenly aroma of fried chicken greeted him.
“It’s not fast food,” she offered, “but I hope you still like it.”
Their eyes met, forming an almost tangible connection between them that set off warning bells in the logical part of Kane’s brain. He shouldn’t be this close. Shouldn’t be this invested. It could lead to him taking over, stepping in where she didn’t want—or need—him to go. Only he couldn’t look away.
Her murmur was a little breathless. “Sounded like it was your favorite picnic food.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The obvious enjoyment in his tone made her smile even bigger.
“Then I suggest we get going before the food gets cold,” she said.
He led her inside, where EvaMarie and Mason were already saddling their own horses. He and his brother had added more than a few horses since taking over this stable. For tonight’s ride, Kane had chosen a mare with spirit that he knew Presley would appreciate. Nothing docile for her, but not enough of a challenge to make their ride hard work.
The goal was to relax, after all.
The four of them headed out the west side of the stables and along a well-worn path. The world around them was fresh with young leaves filling in the once empty spaces from winter. Kane soaked in the fresh air, still comfortably cool, and the sight of Presley swaying in her saddle in front of him.
As they arrived at a small clearing with a stream running through it, Presley exclaimed, “How pretty! I didn’t realize y’all had water on the property.”
“It starts at a spring up that hill,” Mason explained. “Nice, huh?”
“If we had a spot this nice on our property, I’d never want to leave,” Presley said.
“Oh, we don’t, either,” Mason said, winking over at EvaMarie.
Though he’d been teasing his fiancée, Mason was right. They didn’t want to leave. And the day was just right for a picnic. The chicken went perfectly with the rest of the food EvaMarie had packed. They dipped their bare toes in the ice-cold water before indulging in dessert. Then they lay on blankets to stare up at the fluffy white clouds in the blue spring sky. It was peaceful. Kane hadn’t felt this happy in a while—at least, outside Presley’s arms.
Kane wasn’t ready to end it and face r
eality, but work still had to be done. He and Presley were going to an event this weekend and a house party in a couple of weeks, so he needed to get ahead.
“This is where we used to have to run,” Mason said as they rounded a curve near the end of their return trip, “since we were always cutting it close to your curfew. Remember, EvaMarie?”
“Lord, do I?” his fiancée confirmed. Her laughter subsided quickly. “Funny now, but I sure was scared Daddy would tan my hide if he found me gone, much less with you.”
Things had turned out so well for his brother that Kane often forgot for long stretches that EvaMarie and Mason had dated when they were teenagers, leading to a very bitter breakup. Seeing them happy now, after many years apart, could almost make a man believe in destiny.
Almost.
“It usually became a race to see who could reach the edge of the woods first, without bursting from the tree line for everyone to see and hear,” Mason explained to Presley.
“I won most often,” EvaMarie bragged.
But Mason wasn’t having it. “You did not.”
“Yes, I did. I know these woods and this trail better than anyone,” She glanced in Mason’s direction with a brow raised in challenge. “Even you.”
“Oh, really?”
Kane could see the slight tightening of Mason’s hands on his reins. It was on now.
“Let’s see about that,” Mason yelled, then urged his horse to a full gallop.
EvaMarie gasped while Presley laughed. Both women pushed their horses to follow. Kane joined the chase, too.
Exhilaration flooded Kane’s body. There was nothing like riding a horse at a full run. He and the animal moved as one, which wasn’t surprising, since they’d done this many times in the past. He noticed Presley moving in tune with her horse, too. She was a natural horsewoman.
Kane had almost caught up with the others when he noticed they were approaching a part of the path that narrowed before opening onto the field near the stables. The three horses before him continued full throttle. His heart skipped a beat, fear taking over. The bottleneck wouldn’t allow all three to pass. None of them seemed to be slowing down. Did Presley remember the narrow part from the ride out here?
Maybe not. She seemed to be urging her horse to go faster. Kane did the same, desperate to stop her even though he knew he couldn’t reach her in time. EvaMarie suddenly reined in her horse, trying to make room for Presley, but there simply wasn’t enough time.
Without a hitch, Presley guided the mare into a jump approach and sailed over the overgrown ravine that blocked her path. Kane missed seeing the landing somehow.
After a moment he realized he’d squeezed his eyes shut.
He flicked open his eyelids. Instead of the broken body he expected to find, he saw that Presley and her horse had continued on the path unharmed. Kane swore under his breath and swept past EvaMarie and Mason, both of whom had slowed significantly. By the time Kane emerged from the trees, Presley was reining in her mare near the stables.
Adrenaline, fear and anger pulsed through Kane, pushing him forward. He gave his horse its full head and sped across the sloping ground. Only as his horse rushed in close did he pull back hard on the reins and yell, “Presley! What the hell were you thinking?”
Startled, Presley and her mare shied away. But not quickly enough. Kane’s horse bumped against the mare. Though Kane grabbed at Presley, he wasn’t able to stop her from falling to the ground.
Fourteen
Presley glared up at the horse and man towering over her, wondering if her legs were long enough to kick him. But she couldn’t risk hitting the horse instead.
“Why would you do that?” she demanded. The throb of pain in her backside annoyed her, but she was also grateful she’d landed where there was some padding. At least nothing had broken. “You know better.”
He should. Kane had been around horses even longer than she had. Rushing one while yelling was a good way to get someone hurt. As it was, her mare had hightailed it for the stables she knew were safe and quiet.
“Me?” Compared to her, Kane’s voice was even. Deadly calm and cold. “You’re the one who should know better. Taking a blind jump in unfamiliar territory.”
Presley struggled to her feet despite protesting muscles. Tomorrow she’d be stiff and sore, but today she’d rather fight on her feet. After dusting off her legs and attempting to quell the urge to throw a tantrum like a toddler, she said, “It wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I remembered it from the trek out.”
On the periphery of her vision, Presley saw Jim, the Harringtons’ stable manager, sprint from the stables in her mare’s direction. He held something in his hand and his mouth moved, though she couldn’t hear the words this far away. After a moment’s hesitation, the mare allowed herself to be lured close enough for him to take control of her reins.
Several other stable hands exited the building. Great. An audience.
“Presley,” EvaMarie gasped as she and Mason pulled their horses to a stop nearby, “are you okay?”
“She’s fine,” Kane snapped. “Despite making a stupid choice.”
Presley felt her anger flare, and she put her fists on her hips. “I’m not stupid.”
“I didn’t say you were,” Kane corrected. His jaw looked too tight to let the words out. “But that was a stupid, headstrong jump that didn’t give a thought to safety—yours or the horse’s.”
Mason groaned.
Presley ignored him and waved toward her now captured mare. “Look who’s talking. You yelling like that got me tossed on my rear. Is that safe, crazy man?”
“Kane,” Mason said as he urged his gelding forward a few steps. “She’s not Emily.”
Brother glared at brother as understanding trickled through Presley, but that didn’t make any of this okay. Fear like that had no place around these powerful animals. They rode all the time, but like cars, these animals could be dangerous under certain circumstances. Like now.
Kane needed to remember that. “He’s right,” Presley chimed in. “I’m not your ex-fiancée. I don’t need you to take care of me, fix me or protect me. I’ve been handling those jobs myself my whole life.”
Kane finally swung a leg over his horse’s rump and dismounted. Then he faced Presley with his arms crossed tightly over his chest, biceps clearly defined through his T-shirt. She pretended not to notice...or be intimidated.
Now was not the time.
“I realize that, Presley,” he said, his voice softening a little. “But that was a dangerous choice.”
“No, it was fun. Until you ruined it.” Presley wasn’t sure why or where her next words came from, but she couldn’t hold them back. “Kane, I took a risk. I’m fully aware of that. But it was a risk backed by knowledge.”
Kane swept his hat from his head, giving her a better view of his impassive expression. His hands worked over the brim, crumpling it.
“I have a lifetime of knowledge, Kane,” she continued. “That doesn’t mean an accident won’t happen, but I play it safe in every area of my life. This is the only one where I’ve learned to trust myself, my instincts. I won’t start questioning them now.”
Kane had taught her that, almost as much as her father. “I thought you trusted me, too...” she murmured.
As soon as the words reached him, Kane slapped the hat hard against his thigh. His jaw worked, clenching and unclenching in waves of tension that she could feel radiating off him. She wanted to relent, wanted to give in to his need to keep her safe. But somehow she knew if she did that, it would never end. Kane needed to remember the capable woman she was, not see his ex-fiancée every time he looked her way.
Then Kane shook his head with a jerk. “I don’t know if I can live with that,” he declared. Then he turned and walked away, leaving Presley with a throb in her heart that riva
led the one in her backside.
* * *
Presley wasn’t sure if Kane would actually pick her up for the house party this weekend in Baltimore or not. She hadn’t actually spoken with him since that day at the Harrington stables. Frankly, she’d expected to open the mailbox and find a bill and nullified contract from him any day now.
Then she’d received his terse call thirty minutes before he arrived. “I’ll pick you up at noon” was the only warning she’d gotten.
Good thing she’d decided to pack—just in case.
There was a strained silence between them as he opened the car door for her and stowed her luggage in the trunk. He’d taken the luxury sedan instead of the usual SUV for the ride to the private airfield. It wasn’t until they were settled and on the road that he said, “I wasn’t sure you would go.”
All you had to do was call and ask...
“I don’t back down from my obligations.”
“Is that what this is?”
It was certainly the only thing that had her in the car at the moment. Her emotions mixed and mingled even more forcefully than they had over the last week. Kane had finally broken through her wall of reserve—now she wanted nothing more than to rebuild it, to keep out one more person who would tell her how to live...but she couldn’t.
So maybe she wasn’t just here out of obligation.
After a long, tense moment, she finally murmured in the direction of the window she kept staring out, “I’m not sure.”
Kane didn’t speak. He only nodded his head.
That infuriated her. She was digging into her psyche, but he offered nothing of his own. And that wasn’t acceptable. As the hot anger swept over her, she knew she needed answers. “What about you, Kane?”
He didn’t look her way, but she saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel, knuckles turning white. “What do you want to know, Presley?”
Wasn’t that a loaded question? There were so many things she’d wanted to ask for ages, but she stuck with the one question that was most pertinent to the moment.
“If this is only a business arrangement to you, why did you care if I fell?”