Racetrack Romance BOX SET (Books 1-3) (22 page)

She headed reluctantly toward the gap, toward the familiar rumble of his voice, the voice that had whispered such intimacies yesterday. Her hands felt damp around the reins and she was sure her cheeks were flushed, but she squared her shoulders. She’d just galloped three horses, only natural she’d look flushed.

“He felt even, Barb,” she said to the bay's trainer. “No sign of weakness in that left front.”

“Good. We'll put him back into light training. Can you take him out tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Julie unbuckled her saddle and pulled it off, turning to Kurt as the trainer led the bay away.

“Good morning,” she said.

“How you feeling?” He stepped closer, his voice lowering. “You okay?”

“Fine.” She waved at Harrison who was walking by and spoke quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I just picked up another horse. That bay I was on…he’s coming off an injury though, so it’ll be a while before he’s ready.”

She knew her nervousness was making her babble, but it was okay. Kurt was no longer looking at her, his attention caught by a flashy chestnut colt. “I can gallop your horses now, if you want,” she said, shifting her feet and balancing her saddle in the crook of her left arm.

“I prefer to gallop Lazer on a freshly harrowed track,” he said. “But this will have to do since you weren’t available earlier.”

“But I was here.” His unfair criticism stung, and her voice rose. “I dropped by your barn an hour ago. Martin said you hadn’t arrived yet.”

“Well, I’m here now. And my horses are ready if you are.” He strode toward G barn, not even waiting for her to follow.

Her breath drained with a whoosh, sucking all her air. What the hell? She gripped her saddle and followed, struggling to pretend this was just another routine morning, and she really didn’t have the urge to pick up a rock and drive it into his stiff back.

Despite her exhaustion she’d lain awake much of the night, analyzing his every word. His every gesture. And though it was clear sex meant little to him, she’d assumed he’d be civil. Had assumed they would still have a professional relationship—a bit strained maybe—but at least civil.

She hadn't prepared herself for hostility. Had imagined many scenarios but not that one.

“Hi again, Martin,” she said, walking into the barn with forced vitality, hoping no one would see that her insides had shriveled. Kurt was already in the stall adjusting Lazer’s bridle and didn't look up.

“I forgot to tell Kurt you were here earlier,” Martin mumbled as he helped position the saddle on Lazer's back. “You look really, um, nice today.”

“Thanks.” She tried to smile at Martin, but her face was so tight she feared it resembled a grimace. A ball of hysteria circled her chest as she remembered the extra effort she’d taken to dress. Twenty extra minutes that could have been used for something more important. She could have filled three water troughs, cleaned two stalls. Now she’d have to do it tonight or worse, worry that her father would rush and try to do it all.

Kurt led Lazer into the aisle, remaining silent as he legged Julie into the saddle.

What an asshole
. “What do you want done today,” she asked, struggling for an even tone as he led the prancing horse outside.

“Twice easy. Breeze three furlongs,” he said.

She nodded, her face hot as she stared over his wide shoulders. Only twelve hours ago, she’d hugged and kissed and stroked those shoulders. Dumb, dumb, dumb. Obviously, yesterday meant nothing. He'd wanted a willing woman, and she’d certainly been willing. Regret consumed her—a sharp searing pain that chewed a gaping hole in the middle of her chest.

Feeling small, wounded and worthless, she pasted on a smile but was numbingly oblivious to everyone she passed.

“Hey, Julie! Drop by my barn later,” a man called. “Got a young horse I want you to gallop.”

She stared in the direction of the voice. A laughing, shiny-haired guy, D barn. She had a vague memory that he owned several gyms, but his name was lost in her miserable haze.

“And tell Sandra I’ve got cold beer waiting,” he added with a grin.

She nodded, barely registering his words. Kurt’s indifference ripped at her. The walk to the gap had never felt so long or oppressive.

But finally they were there. Kurt silently released the eager colt and stepped back, and she guided Lazer onto the track, desperate to go anywhere as long as it was away from him. Lazer sidestepped and bucked, taking advantage of her inattention, and she knew it was critical to regain her composure.

Obviously, Kurt regretted yesterday too. It had been rash to ride with him, but it really galled her that she’d been so keen to have sex. So keen she’d been the first to whip off her clothes.

Lazer’s ear flicked at her miserable groan.

“It’s okay, fellow.” She gave his neck a reassuring pat. “It’s not your fault you have a prick for a trainer.” He tossed his head as though in agreement, and his sheer exuberance made her feel better.

She blew out a long breath, knowing she couldn’t blame it all on Kurt. “Touch me,” she’d said. And he certainly had. It was foolish to combine business with pleasure, and she’d been a fool. With minimal effort he’d persuaded her to board his mare, take him on a trail ride and top it off with a bout of sex.

She’d done it all gleefully, a gullible apprentice eager to please. He’d probably chuckled all the way home, he and his unnaturally clever horse. But he didn’t have to be so mean afterwards.

A tear welled, and she yanked her goggles down. At least she’d had some good sex. No doubt about it, he’d been adept. His fingers, his mouth. Who could have resisted that?

No one, she decided. And he had put her on a very nice horse.

A sour thought nagged her. Had he used Lazer as a lure for sex? Maybe he had no intention of letting her ride in a real race.

No. He wasn't sneaky, she decided. A jerk, yes, but an honest jerk. She just had to accept she was insignificant to him. However, she wasn’t insignificant as a rider. He liked the way she rode, and that’s what mattered. Personal feelings couldn’t enter into it. Combining business with pleasure was fun, convenient too, until it blew up in your face.

She exhaled a deep breath and pushed away her resentment. It wasn't her nature to wallow in self-pity. In guilt, but not pity. She was on a nice horse, doing what she loved. Really, nothing could be better.

From his position at the rail, Kurt watched the slender figure guiding his horse. Lazer had seemed ragged at the start, but now he floated around the track—until a horse passed him and it was clear the colt's stride roughened.

Julie settled him quickly though. She was a helluva rider, and he would've put her up on Lazer, even at Woodbine. However, the colt’s inability to stay focused was troubling. The horse had lots of potential but was too distracted by animals around him. And horses didn’t run races alone.

He met Julie at the gap and snapped a line on Lazer. “That looked pretty good. How did he feel?”

“Very nice,” she said, her voice cool. “He switched leads when asked, relaxed well, then put out good effort down the lane. There were a couple strides when he lost his focus, when that other horse was alongside him. Other than that, he was a real pro.”

Kurt nodded. Her report was also pro. She seemed to have shoved aside yesterday's intimacies. Christ, he’d been so eager to see her this morning, and all she’d talked about was a new horse she’d picked up.

And that was perfect, of course. Just what he wanted. Easier for both of them if she accepted he was a first-class prick. But the notion left him deflated.

“So concentration is the problem,” he said. “Guess that's the trainer’s job to fix, not yours.” He scanned her face for a shade of yesterday's friendship, but she just sat there, haughty and aloof, patting his horse, and he had the perverse need to grab her attention. “If you’re happy with my horse,” he said, “quit slapping him.”

“I’m not slapping him.” She looked at him then, mouth tight with indignation. “As you can see, I’m patting his neck.”

“It’s a slap when it can be heard back at the barn.”

And that got her attention. She stared at him now, eyes wary. “So sorry,
sir
.” She reached down and stroked Lazer with exaggerated gentleness.

He turned, hiding his amusement as he led them back to the barn. Her irritation was preferable to indifference, and it was some consolation he could so easily annoy her. “Are you able to gallop Ace now?” he asked.

“Of course. You know I never refuse you anything.”

Ouch. He wanted to hide his smile so let that comment go, but damn, he enjoyed her company. She filled his senses, made him feel alive. “We'll switch horses at the barn,” was all he said. They passed Sandra heading the other way. She waved, still whistling the catchy tune he’d heard earlier, but didn’t slow.

They reached the barn, and he stopped Lazer in the aisle. Julie dismounted while Martin held Ace, and they switched her saddle with smooth efficiency.

“What do you want done with Ace?” she asked as Kurt boosted her up. His hand lingered on her boot, and he yanked it off.

“Once at a jog,” he said gruffly. “Easy gallop twice around. Work on hitting his leads. Then take him for a walk by the grandstand. We’ll school in the paddock tomorrow.”

“Hi Jules, Kurt.”

The cocky drawl was unmistakable. Gary Bixton. Kurt nodded but noticed Julie reacted with considerably more enthusiasm. Her dimples even showed, something he hadn’t seen all morning.

“Hi, Gary,” she said. “Gosh. Another early morning?”

“Look out, hotshot. I’m rustling up mounts. My business is hurting since an apprentice beat me on Saturday.” He rolled his eyes in disgust. “A girl apprentice.”

She laughed. “I imagine trainers are dropping you like a rock.”

Kurt’s mouth tightened. They obviously had a close relationship, just not the type he’d imagined. Poor information, poor inference. Or maybe he’d used it as an excuse to grab what he wanted. Spoiled, she’d called him.

Bixton was all business as he turned toward Kurt. “Have you decided on a jock for your three-year-old? I can give him a whirl. See how we get along.”

Kurt folded his arms. Gary Bixton was an excellent rider, experienced, savvy and the top money earner on the circuit. He glanced at Julie and saw the raw anguish on her face. She thought he’d swap riders, even after he’d committed the horse. Didn’t trust him a bit—smart girl—but the knowledge stung.

“Thanks,” he said. “But Julie has agreed to ride him.”

“See what I mean?” Bixton shook his head. “She’s hogging all the best runners.” But he winked at Julie in tacit congratulations. “Not a bad decision, I guess,” he added reluctantly. “Guess I’ll move on to the stakes barn. Nothing good left here.”

Kurt watched as the jockey sauntered away. The guy had an odd way of popping up— never staying long, but not missing much either. Curious.

Julie perched on his horse, waiting. He turned Ace and led them toward the track. She didn't speak, but her silence didn’t feel quite so heavy. He removed his lead line at the gap, and for a stark moment their eyes met.

“Be careful,” he said.

Julie wiped her warm forehead and raised her goggles as she walked Ace in front of the grandstand. The gelding eyed the sprawling clubhouse, the rows of steps and bright garbage cans, but showed no inclination to spook. He’d galloped well too, staying balanced in the turns and switching leads when asked. Still, she was exhausted.

Already she’d galloped five horses, and riding was demanding work. There was also a slight ache between her legs, but she didn’t want to think about that.

Hooves pounded. Sandra galloped up, brandishing her phone and a curious grin. “We haven’t talked since yesterday,” she said. “You and Kurt took a long time to move the mare. His trailer was gone all day.”

Julie carefully composed her face. “We went on a trail ride.”

Sandra finished her text and shoved the phone in her pocket. “You guys looked tight at the bar too. And now I hear you're Lazer's jockey. Come on. Give me the dirt.”

Julie stroked Ace’s neck, stalling for time. Sandra was like a badger at digging up gossip. And though she could be trusted to keep her mouth shut, Julie didn’t think she could talk about Kurt, not yet, not without revealing her hurt. As a friend of her mom’s, Sandra was already too protective. Luckily, the quickest way to steer her away from a subject was to bore her.

“Oh, we helped Dad a bit.” Julie kept her voice monotone. “Looked at some acreages then rode into Mist Mountain. Weather was okay. Horses were good. Dusty got caught in some deadfall. They built a new cattle guard, and the parking lot is widened. Nothing too interesting.” She topped it off with a long shrug.

“Really? Then what’s that red mark on your neck?” Sandra asked.

Julie whipped her hand up with a guilty start while Sandra howled in delight.

“Gotcha! I used that trick on my little sister. Worked every time.” Sandra clutched her stomach, still giggling. “So Kurt kissed you, and the sky didn’t fall in. See, it’s okay to have men in your life. Get out there and enjoy. Be happy.”

Julie tried to smile but the muscles around her mouth were exhausted, and Sandra's comments only whipped up the pain. She wiped some imaginary dirt off Ace's rippling shoulder and swept away a stubborn fly.

Sandra prattled on. “If you want advice about when to have sex with someone that looks like Kurt, I'd say now. But since that’s not your style, how about the tenth date or fifth horse, whatever comes first.”

Julie’s breath leaked out in a regretful choke.

Sandra turned silent. “Oh, dear,” she said, finally. Gently.

“It just happened so fast.” Julie blew out a miserable sigh. “The first time was a mistake but the second time it was me—”

“Second time!”

“It was just that I got wet in the river, and then we surprised a grizzly. Things blew out of control.”

Sandra doubled up, hooting. “Hell—when you decide something, you sure don’t mess around. Don't bother telling me all the details. Unless you want to, of course,” she added hopefully.

A horse jogged by, and the rider called a greeting. Julie grabbed the diversion and turned Ace along the rail but Sandra followed, eyes bright with interest.