by Allen, Jewel
Jay looked up at the tap on his door. It had been hours since his run, and he’d been poring over the ledger, as usual. Bruce poked his head in, his eyes shifting all over the place, like the thief that he was.
“Sit down,” Jay ordered. “George, would you stay, please?”
George took his seat by a small table.
Bruce looked from Jay to George and lowered his gaze to the hat he was fidgeting with. “Yes, guv?”
Jay didn’t speak for a while and just let Bruce squirm a bit. “I’ve looked at the numbers again, Bruce. You’ve been stealing from us.”
Bruce’s eyes widened and then turned flinty. “You’re outta your mind.”
“Am I? You might be able to lie and hoodwink my father, but numbers don’t lie.”
Bruce’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “What proof do you have?”
Jay nodded toward George. George walked over to a file cabinet and pulled out a folder which he handed to Jay.
“Here are purchases that have never been accounted for, paid out to companies that don’t exist.”
Bruce’s jaw tightened. He turned red. “So? What do I have to do with them?”
“Your signature is on the checks. Or rather, you forged the signature of my father. After he died. How stupid do you think I am?”
Bruce didn’t say anything. His hat could have been shredded, he was twisting it so hard. “Your father was fine with my work when he was around.”
“I’m not my father. And before you disgrace his memory, I am warning you now: my father would have fired you had he known about this.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” Bruce challenged.
Jay nodded to George, who opened the door to reveal cops standing in the hall.
Bruce sprang to his feet and looked around for an escape. The next moment he looked like he would jump the desk and attack Jay.
Jay instinctively touched the handle of the drawer where he kept a gun.
Luckily, Bruce gave himself over to the police without a fight.
Jay was just settling back into the rest of his work when George reappeared at his door. Jay was in a good mood. No longer did Bruce and the ledgers cloud the day. So with a smile, he greeted his secretary.
Until he told Jay who was waiting to see him.
Jay stood as Talia walked in. She was in her usual horse-riding outfit but looked more haggard than usual. Was she working too hard? But it was not his business.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Hello.” She stayed by the door.
“I’m forgetting my manners,” he said. “Come in. Have a seat.”
She came into the room further, but she didn’t sit. “I just needed to tell you something. A concern I have.”
He braced himself for the worst. But after her news the other day, anything else would pale against that.
“Yes?” he prompted.
“Someone’s been graining Eula, trying to sabotage her before the race. Larry noticed that her hooves were soft.”
He stared at her. “That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not.” She bit her lip. “So I was just wondering if you can ask security to pay special attention to the paddocks over the next few days. When I’m here, it’s not as big of a deal. But at night…”
“Of course. I can do that.”
She smiled. “Thanks. After this weekend, I’ll have her with me, so she wouldn’t need to be your concern then.”
“Makes sense,” he said.
Her eyes filled with tears. Was that regret he saw? Or something else?
“Are you okay?” she asked softly.
What kind of a question was that? Did she really want to know? Did she want to know if he lay in bed at night thinking of her? Aching for her? That when he lifted his head from the books, his eyes and heart wandered to the girl in the arena? With the horse who stole her from him.
“I’m fine, thank you,” he lied.
She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate all you’ve done for me and for Eula. You’re a wonderful person, and I hope you’ll find happiness.”
Then she pulled back out of his office.
He realized he was holding his breath.
Man, that hurt so bad.
He wanted to call after her, but he stayed rooted to the spot. When he finally moved to the door, the hallway was empty.
His hand curled over the doorknob as he closed his eyes to the pain. And then he moved slowly, like an old man, to make the call to security.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Talia’s muscles hurt from the day’s work. Aside from working with Eula, she also rode several other horses. She didn’t want to work Eula too hard. It was race week, and she needed to give Eula some recovery time too.
Boy, did she need recovery herself.
By the time she drove up to her rental property, she was so pooped she could have slept with her head leaning against her steering wheel. She dragged herself out, greeted and fed Rascal, and went inside to eat her supper. Except she really had little appetite as she picked at the macaroni leftovers she had from the other day. She gave up on dinner and chucked the contents of the container in the trash. Then she showered and got ready for bed.
Bundling up in a blanket against the cool night breeze, she stared up at the inky night sky from her front porch. She wondered what the race would bring. Was she ready? Was Eula ready? She pushed the doubts from her mind and turned in. Tomorrow was going to be another long day. But this time she would beg off from Larry’s requests that she help with the other horses. She needed to focus on Eula.
Eula. What a relief to have some extra eyes on her. In a few days, after the race, they were going to barrel on out of Lexington and on to the next jockey job.
Hooray.
She pictured Jay in her mind. How his face had looked ashen at her entrance into his office. He looked terrible, like he hadn’t been sleeping well. He had a lot on his mind, obviously. And not just Talia. She heard from the grapevine that Bruce had been arrested for embezzlement.
With these thoughts crowding her head, it took her a while to fall into an exhausted sleep.
It may have been minutes. It may have been hours. But she woke to Rascal whining by her ear and the smell of smoke.
“What is it, boy?” she asked. Lifting her head, she threw off her sheet. The scene outside glowed with firelight.
She ran to the window and saw the field next to hers burning fast. Soon, her house would be engulfed too.
Grabbing her phone and her stash of important documents, she commanded Rascal to come with her. They went out into the night and stood at the road, clear of the fire’s path, helplessly watching the advance of the flames.
Within minutes of her call to 911, the fire department showed up. So did Jay.
“I saw the flames from the stables,” he said, rushing to her. “I was so worried―"
She embraced him. After a shocked silence, his arms tightened around her too.
And then he was kissing the top of her head, and his hands were caressing her back.
She disengaged herself from his arms. “Sorry. I broke my own rules.”
The expression in his eyes reminded her of a hound dog’s. Kind of sad and sweet. “I don’t mind. You can break them any time.”
She chuckled and then turned serious. “I don’t want to play fast and loose with your affections just because it suits me.”
His gaze caressed her face. “I’m just glad you’re fine.”
“What were you doing up at three a.m.?” she asked.
He winced. “I haven’t been able to sleep lately.”
Another car pulled up. It was Larry. “I happened to be up and saw the fire.” His eyes took in the burnt meadow, the smoke and the waterlogged mess from the firefighters’ rescue. Thankfully, they had saved the house.
“You should stay at Royal Estates,” Jay told Talia.
“That’s kind of you to offer.�
�
“I still have that extra bedroom you could use until you have to…leave.”
The silence between them hung heavy. Although she didn’t like to be coddled, she saw the wisdom in Jay’s words. Someone was out to get her, and staying alone at her rental was not safe.
“Okay,” she said. “Just until the Oaks.”
His shoulders seemed to relax. “Would you like to come now?”
“Yes. That would be nice.”
She turned to Larry. “Thanks so much for checking on me.”
Larry looked over at Jay. “No problem. Well, good night.”
She gathered her things from the house and Rascal and followed Jay down to her truck. This time, she made Rascal ride with her.
“Your mother won’t like me moving in,” she told him through her open window.
“No, she won’t.”
“This breaks my agreement with her.”
“Eula has nothing to do with her. I didn’t charge her. The horse was gifted to you outright. You have no conditions put on you related to the horse.”
Talia swallowed at the generosity of this beautiful man. “Someday, I hope I can repay your kindness.”
He didn’t say anything, just pushed off the truck and watched her drive off before getting in his car.
CHAPTER FORTY
Jay was putting peach jam on his toast as Mother entered the dining room, her gaze alighting on Talia. Her smile evaporated as she sought Jay’s eyes for an explanation.
“Someone started the field near Talia’s house on fire,” Jay said.
“Oh,” Nina said. “How unfortunate.”
Talia ate a couple of bites and excused herself, leaving Nina and Jay alone at the table.
“I’m surprised she’s around, even after what she did to you,” Nina said.
“She needs a safe place to stay, Mother,” Jay said.
“She’s good at currying sympathy. That’s what that girl is good at.”
“Don’t worry. I’m no longer pursuing her. There’s only so much heartbreak a guy can take before he should cut his losses.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
Katy came in and sat down at the table.
“You look lovely, Katy,” Nina said. “Doesn’t she, Jay?”
Jay looked up absent-mindedly. “Certainly.”
“Thanks,” Katy said.
Nina looked at her watch. “Oh dear, I need to go. Be a dear and keep Jay company, will you, Katy?”
“Of course,” she said.
***
Talia was so exhausted she could have slept standing up, between getting up from the fire and sleeping in a different bed. She had another day to get Eula ready before the big race. There was so much to do: some exercise at the stables’ breezeway, a test run at the track, washing Eula, and getting the tack ready. Jay had assigned some grooms to help her. She made a mental note to thank him.
He really was a sweetheart. If only…
She turned her thoughts firmly from what-ifs.
At the breezeway, she noticed Tweedledee and Tweedledum whispering among themselves. Probably plotting against her. Jimmy and Anton came up to her.
“Hey, we heard your sugar daddy done give you your own horse,” Jimmy said.
Talia ignored him.
“If you just wanted a horse, I have one. A slow poke.” He brayed as Anton joined him in laughter.
Talia retorted, “You sound more like an…ah―you aren’t worth my spit.” She began to walk away.
“Hey, we aren’t done talking to you,” Jimmy said.
Sweetly, she turned to him. “Well, I am.”
By early afternoon, she was done clocking in her hours for the race the next day. As was her custom the day before race day, she worked only until about four p.m. so she could relax over a proper meal. As she emerged from her bedroom at the mansion, showered and changed for dinner, Jay was coming from the other way.
***
Jay looked up in surprise at Talia as she walked his direction. Her hair was down and gleaming wet. She reminded him of a chestnut horse with a bright, shiny mane.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hello.”
“You’re done early. It’s not even five.”
“There’s not much more I can do for Eula at this point. Either she’s ready or not.”
She would have passed, but he stopped her and touched her arm. “Good luck tomorrow.”
Touching her was a mistake. It stirred feelings in him that he thought he’d already easily gotten over. A pang of longing filled him.
“Thanks,” she said. But she didn’t move away. She just stared at him with those gray eyes, her mouth opened slightly as though in wonderment.
As he leaned in, he caught a whiff of shampoo instead of her usual hay smell. His eyes studied the curve of her lips.
Wait, he reminded himself. She chose a blasted horse over him.
He stepped back, breaking the spell, and walked on.
He had work to do in his office. When he entered, he was surprised to see the Greens waiting at his desk.
“We wanted to see if you could float us some money,” Betty said, embarrassment plainly written on her face.
“I’m sorry,” Jay said politely, “but I’m not in the business of loaning money.”
“Okay,” Betty said, but Bob persevered.
“Come on, Prince,” he said. “Just a couple hundred dollars to help a poor man out.”
“Gambling?” Jay guessed.
Bob’s shifty eyes and Betty’s tears confirmed it.
“What did you do with the eighty grand I gave you for Eula?” Jay said, exasperated.
Betty sobbed. “It’s all gone.”
Bob swiveled away from his wife and turned to the window.
“I’m sorry,” Jay said, disgusted. “I can’t help you.”
“I told you, Bob,” Betty said, dabbing away at her tears.
“Oh, shut up.” He stood, agitated.
To Jay’s surprise, Bob actually waited for his wife. Her hand trembled, causing her to spill her purse to the floor.
“P-pardon me,” she stammered.
“Clumsy woman,” Bob said.
Jay wanted to swing a fist into his complaining mouth, but instead, he just leaned back and watched them leave.
Then he realized Betty had left something on the floor. He walked over and picked it up.
His hand closed around the item.
A little packet of matches.
He frowned and then turned cold. Why would a non-smoker like Betty carry matches around?
He could rush to judgment, or he could talk to someone.
Talia.
He hesitated. It was the night before her big race. Surely, she didn’t need the complication of hearing about his suspicions.
Pacing, he picked up his phone a couple of times to call the cops but pressed end before he could complete the number.
He would only knock once on Talia’s door. If she didn’t answer right away, he wouldn’t bother her.
She answered at his first knock, her eyes wide with surprise. “Hi,” she said, opening the door further.
“Can I talk to you?” he said.
“Sure. Do you want me to come to your office?”
Through her open door, he could see her bed and a jockey uniform draped over a chair. “Sure.”
It was better that way. Best to be somewhere more public.
“What’s up?” She sat on a chair as he sat behind his desk.
“I have my suspicions about who’s been starting the fires.”
“Really?” she said, sitting up. “Who?”
“Betty.”
Talia blinked and then smiled. “You’re kidding, right?”
He shook his head. “Perfectly serious.” From his pocket, he fished the matches out. “These fell out of her purse today. Does she smoke?”
She stared at the matchsticks. “No.”
“Bob?”
“No.”
Jay leaned back. “Then why would she carry matches?”
“Dang,” she said, sounding incredulous. “She’s the last person I would have suspected.”
“She has the perfect cover,” Jay pointed out. “Nobody would ever suspect sweet little Betty who has Parkinson’s to be the arsonist.”
Talia shook her head. “You know, it would make sense. She knew about my routine with Eula at their barns. Maybe she tried to set me up. Tried to make it look like I was the arsonist.”
He could sense her excitement.
“You know what this means,” she said. “We could rest easy once she’s arrested.”
“You don’t think Bob’s behind it too?”
“Who knows?” Talia shrugged.
“Does he have a gambling problem?” Jay winced at the memory of the eighty grand, all gone.
“Yes.” Her brow furrowed. “Wait.”
“What?”
“Something doesn’t add up. Betty couldn’t have been out at my rental. That’s uneven terrain. Too much work for someone with her disability.”
“What if someone’s working with her?” Jay suggested.
“But who?”
“I’ve probably given you enough to worry about,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
“I wish I could tell you more.”
“I’ve made sure to double up on security.”
“The outfit you hired seems to be doing a good job,” she said.
“Parker Protection Services. The best of the best.” He leaned back in his seat. “How about let’s get the race done and over with, and then we can worry about this?”
The word “we” hung between them. They could be a team once again. He could only hope.
“Okay,” she said with a little smile.
As she got up to leave, he called her name. “Talia. Be careful out there.”
“I will,” she assured him.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Talia welcomed a bit of down time the next morning to walk off her nervous energy.
She wasn’t the only one. Excitement bubbled at Kentucky Oaks in Louisville. The jockeys, horses, and the stable hands convened together in a sort of controlled chaos. Many came in the trademark pink clothing and hats to this event that had, in recent years, commemorated the fight against cancer. Nina Assante and her guests all wore outfits in varying shades of pink.