Free Michaels, Skye - Kelly's Challenge [Le Club 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Skye Michaels Page A

beautiful flower centerpiece of mixed blooms formed the backdrop for sparkling crystal glasses, stacks of translucent china, and heavy, silver cutlery.
    Kelly looked at Justin in amazement. “You really weren’t kidding about having this under control, were you?”
    “Miracle-worker Max has it under control. I don’t have to worry about a thing!” He handed Kelly a pair of binoculars so that she could see the action at the far north end of the field three hundred yards away. Kelly had not realized that the polo field was three times the size of a football field. Justin was already dressed for the match in a polo shirt of the same bright blue with the team name printed diagonally across the front and his number and name across the back in white. He wore traditional white polo breeches tucked into high-topped, brown, mule-hide boots. A helmet with a protective face mask, knee pads, gloves, and mallet waited on a chair to be donned at the last minute.
    As Kelly was covertly admiring the physical presence of this stunning man, the other team members began to arrive. Greetings were exchanged with typical masculine back pounding and hand shaking. Kelly had to smile to herself. They were all as excited as kids at a Little League game! Kelly was greeted somewhat less roughly but no less enthusiastically and introduced to girlfriends, wives, and children.
    The area was bustling with activity as the grooms began tacking up in preparation for the match, and the team began to get ready to mount. Other guests began to arrive, including Paula’s camera crew from Ocala Country Life magazine. Manuel came up to the staging area behind the field astride one pony and leading the three others to be ridden in the first chukker. They were all brushed and gleaming, with manes and forelocks freshly roached, tails neatly bound up in blue bands, and their legs wrapped in the now familiar, bright-blue polo wraps. Their replacements for the third chukker would soon be brought over from the stables together with extra ponies which would be held in the safety zone outside the boards by the grooms in case of an injury or the need to quickly change ponies during a chukker.
    Justin took the opportunity to seat Kelly next to Max in one of the many canvas camp chairs which also matched the team colors with “Devereau Plantation South” embroidered across the back. Max was his butler and the person he considered to be the closest thing to a father he had. He considered Phillip Devereau a father in name only.
    “Max, everything looks just beautiful. You’ve done a fabulous job.”
    “Thank you, my dear. It’s nice to be appreciated,” Max said with a smug grin. “Justin rarely humors me with praise,” he continued.
    “Max, we have been over this…” he said with a note of affectionate exasperation in his voice. “You know I completely appreciate everything you do for me, not to mention the years of sacrifice…the twelve hours of labor…oh, wait, that wasn’t you!”
    “I know, Justin. You are far too busy to humor me,” Max said. Kelly grinned. She could see the mutual affection between the verbal barbs.
    “I’ll leave you two to chat and relax. We’re about ready to mount.” He reached down to brush Kelly’s cheek with a brief kiss and slapped Max’s shoulder. “Wish me luck, or better yet, skill!”
    Justin turned his attention to the upcoming match. It was almost 11:30 and time to field his team and warm up.

    * * * *

    As Kelly chatted easily with Max, she was ever aware of Justin’s whereabouts and activities, a fact that did not escape Max’s keen and delighted notice. Waiters circulated in the tent with trays of mimosas and Bloody Marys as guests continued to arrive. There were already over thirty people milling around, according to Kelly’s informal count, when she spotted Jason and Calleigh Steele, the Hamiltons, and Trent Redding and Paula Greenley. Kelly waved them over and introduced them to Max who proceeded to