Free Love All Out - Part 4 (A Stepbrother Romance) by Alice Ward Page A
Authors: Alice Ward
who turned to me with a knowing look.
“You’ve seen the final race list,” he said without a hint of question in his voice. “How bad is it?”
I sighed. “Denver’s Pride and Jupiter’s Starlight are both running, and they’ve both been resting since the Derby. The rest of the horses didn’t compete in either of the other races.”
Mason nodded, his eyes sympathetic. “This always happens when a horse wins the Derby and Preakness. For the other owners, Belmont isn’t about winning this year. It’s about Mondo losing. But for what it’s worth, I think he still has an excellent chance,” he finished with a grin. He gulped down his water and tossed the empty bottle back into the cooler.
“I’ll go get the Bobcat and move these panels to the far fence line,” Mason said as he walked towards the barn. “When I finish that, I’ll start taking the walker apart.”
“Thanks for working late today,” I called after him. “With all of the storms in the forecast, this may be our only chance to move things before the expansion starts.”
“No problem, Willow,” he replied over his shoulder. “And if you change your mind about going to New York, I’ll be happy to cover for you while you’re gone.”
“You have to go,” Matt said again, begging me with his eyes. “I know you don’t want to leave your dad. What if we fly in Saturday morning and come home Saturday night? It’ll be great, like a very expensive double date.”
“I’ll think about it,” I agreed just to get him to drop the subject. I took another drink and then poured the remainder of the cold water down the legs of my jeans, which were clinging to my skin, drenched in sweat. I breathed a sigh of relief as the cool fluid rushed over my boiling skin.
Matt looked me up and down and I realized that I probably looked ridiculous. “The weather is killing me this year,” I said. “And I think it’s only going to get worse.”
He nodded. “I went for a ride last night. The creek running off of the mountain is about to come over the bank. Dallas said if it gets much higher, we may have to sandbag it.”
“All the more reason to get this done today,” I said, gesturing to the walker. “I need to sit down and cool off for a few minutes, and then we can start breaking that down.”
“Mason and I can take care of it,” he offered. “You look like you’re going to melt if you stay out here much longer.” The idea made me so happy I would have hugged him if we weren’t so sticky and hot.
“You’re not going to hear me argue with that today,” I said with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Matt.”
Normally, I’d insist on staying and helping no matter how miserable I was. But the heat had exhausted me and all I wanted to do was take a cold shower and sit in my air conditioned kitchen with a giant glass of iced tea.
“You’re welcome. Get some rest,” Matt said. “I’ll see you on Monday… and think about Belmont,” he called after me as I made my way to the barn.
I walked through the barn, checking on all of the horses as I passed their stalls. I was just about to leave for the house when I spotted a dark blue pickup truck coming down the driveway.
God, who in the world could this be?
My nerves danced in my stomach as I remembered the last unexpected visitor who showed up at the house.
It can’t be Katelyn… surely she can’t afford a car and a truck. Definitely not a truck that nice…
The truck grew nearer and I realized that a man was behind the wheel. I still had no idea who he was. All I could make out were broad shoulders and a large black cowboy hat. I leaned against the doorframe as the truck slowed to a stop in front of me. The driver’s door opened and one of the sexiest men I’d ever seen stepped out. He had on khaki linen slacks, leather loafers, and an immaculate white button-up.
“Hi… can I help you?” I greeted him. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d met him.
“Yes
“You’ve seen the final race list,” he said without a hint of question in his voice. “How bad is it?”
I sighed. “Denver’s Pride and Jupiter’s Starlight are both running, and they’ve both been resting since the Derby. The rest of the horses didn’t compete in either of the other races.”
Mason nodded, his eyes sympathetic. “This always happens when a horse wins the Derby and Preakness. For the other owners, Belmont isn’t about winning this year. It’s about Mondo losing. But for what it’s worth, I think he still has an excellent chance,” he finished with a grin. He gulped down his water and tossed the empty bottle back into the cooler.
“I’ll go get the Bobcat and move these panels to the far fence line,” Mason said as he walked towards the barn. “When I finish that, I’ll start taking the walker apart.”
“Thanks for working late today,” I called after him. “With all of the storms in the forecast, this may be our only chance to move things before the expansion starts.”
“No problem, Willow,” he replied over his shoulder. “And if you change your mind about going to New York, I’ll be happy to cover for you while you’re gone.”
“You have to go,” Matt said again, begging me with his eyes. “I know you don’t want to leave your dad. What if we fly in Saturday morning and come home Saturday night? It’ll be great, like a very expensive double date.”
“I’ll think about it,” I agreed just to get him to drop the subject. I took another drink and then poured the remainder of the cold water down the legs of my jeans, which were clinging to my skin, drenched in sweat. I breathed a sigh of relief as the cool fluid rushed over my boiling skin.
Matt looked me up and down and I realized that I probably looked ridiculous. “The weather is killing me this year,” I said. “And I think it’s only going to get worse.”
He nodded. “I went for a ride last night. The creek running off of the mountain is about to come over the bank. Dallas said if it gets much higher, we may have to sandbag it.”
“All the more reason to get this done today,” I said, gesturing to the walker. “I need to sit down and cool off for a few minutes, and then we can start breaking that down.”
“Mason and I can take care of it,” he offered. “You look like you’re going to melt if you stay out here much longer.” The idea made me so happy I would have hugged him if we weren’t so sticky and hot.
“You’re not going to hear me argue with that today,” I said with a grateful smile. “Thanks, Matt.”
Normally, I’d insist on staying and helping no matter how miserable I was. But the heat had exhausted me and all I wanted to do was take a cold shower and sit in my air conditioned kitchen with a giant glass of iced tea.
“You’re welcome. Get some rest,” Matt said. “I’ll see you on Monday… and think about Belmont,” he called after me as I made my way to the barn.
I walked through the barn, checking on all of the horses as I passed their stalls. I was just about to leave for the house when I spotted a dark blue pickup truck coming down the driveway.
God, who in the world could this be?
My nerves danced in my stomach as I remembered the last unexpected visitor who showed up at the house.
It can’t be Katelyn… surely she can’t afford a car and a truck. Definitely not a truck that nice…
The truck grew nearer and I realized that a man was behind the wheel. I still had no idea who he was. All I could make out were broad shoulders and a large black cowboy hat. I leaned against the doorframe as the truck slowed to a stop in front of me. The driver’s door opened and one of the sexiest men I’d ever seen stepped out. He had on khaki linen slacks, leather loafers, and an immaculate white button-up.
“Hi… can I help you?” I greeted him. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d met him.
“Yes