Free Love All Out - Part 4 (A Stepbrother Romance) by Alice Ward Page B

ma’am, I hope so,” he replied with a thick, Southern accent. His green eyes sparkled with confidence and he carried himself like a man who was used to hearing the word “yes”.
    “I’m looking for Willow Rogers,” he continued. “Do you know where I could find her?”
    What could he possibly want with me…?
    “I’m Willow,” I said. I did my best to sound confident, but I was suddenly even more aware of my appearance. The man in front of me looked like he’d just walked off a yacht and I looked like I’d just climbed out of a pig pen.
    The man stared at me, an amused smile on his face.
    “How can I help you?” I asked. I crossed my arms over my chest and stared just to the side of his face. When I looked directly at him, the thoughts that raced through my head made me feel like I was cheating on James.
    “My name is Colby Spencer,” he said. The smile on his face changed from amused to cocky and he continued. “I’d like to talk to you about buying some horses.”
    That’s where I know him from! We haven’t met. I’ve seen him on TV.
    The Spencer’s were an old Kentucky family that had been revered in the racing industry since the nineteen sixties. In six decades, they’d produced eighteen Kentucky Derby winners, eleven of which went on to win Preakness Stakes. And they were interested in my horses.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Spencer. I’d shake your hand, but as you can see, I’m a bit of a mess right now. I’m sorry, but none of my horses are for sale,” I said firmly.
    “That’s what I’ve heard,” he replied undeterred. “That’s why I flew out here instead of calling you. Everything has a price, and I’ve been told that I’m much more persuasive in person,” he winked at me and I blushed against my will. I looked away and told him again that my horses weren’t for sale.
    “Well… could I at least have a look at them?” he asked. “I mean, I came all this way…” he raised an eyebrow and gave me an innocent smile.
    I met his eye again and stared a little too long before clearing my throat and replying. “Sure… I mean, letting you look at them won’t hurt anything. You can see what you’re going to be up against in a couple of years,” I added with a cocky smile of my own.
    “Is that so?” he asked as he followed me into the barn. “So the foals are already spoken for… may I ask who bought them?”
    “No one bought them. I’ll be racing them myself,” I said as I led him to Buttercup’s stall. “This is Thunder’s filly. And across the way is his colt,” I added, pointing at Blaze.
    “May I?” he asked, his hand on the stall latch.
    “Be my guest,” I replied, giving him a permissive wave.
    He walked into Buttercup’s stall and offered her his hand to sniff. She studied him for a few moments, licked his fingers, and he approached her.
    “That’s a good girl,” he said as he ran his hands over her leg muscles. The moment he reached her ankle, she lifted her hoof.
    “How much work have you done with her?” Colby asked as he rose to his feet.
    “They’ve both been handled every day since they were born,” I replied proudly.
    He nodded but didn’t reply. He left Buttercup’s stall and stepped into Blaze’s.
    “Are either of these foals out of Mondo’s dam?” he asked as he performed the same examination on the colt.
    “No,” I told him. “Calliope is retired. Glory is Blaze’s dam,” I said, pointing at the mare. “And Clementine, the bay two stalls down, is Buttercup’s mom.”
    “Do you mind if I take a closer look at them?” he asked.
    “Knock yourself out, but you’re just wasting your time. The foals aren’t for sale,” I said for the third time.
    “I’d still like to look over your stock,” he said as he left Blaze’s stall. “I’m very interested in purchasing one of your future productions. I’d like a horse sired by Thunder, specifically. I’d settle for a stud service, but I’m trying to add new blood to my