Free Willow Smoke by Adriana Kraft Page A

“Congratulations. I’m glad
we could see that.”
    Next, his mother squeezed her hand. “Congratulations. You’ve really got Nick hooked. All he can talk about is you and the horses.”
    And then his sister. “Congratulations, Daisy. I’m really looking forward to spending time with you tomorrow. This is so exciting. It’s hard to believe that you’ve accomplished so much with my brother.”
    Daisy frowned. RainbowBlaze bobbed her head up and down and began to prance, displaying her eagerness to leave the crowd.
    “I’ll catch up with you at the barn after I see my folks off.” Nick looked like he couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried. “This has got to be one of life’s top experiences, kid. We definitely have to celebrate tonight.”
    Feeling slightly queasy, Daisy smiled. “You bet.”
    She led RainbowBlaze toward the test barn. Did Specs have any inkling of the kind of celebration she had planned for them?
     
    Daisy gulped three deep breaths to clear her head. Seduction must be like swimming in the cold water of Lake Michigan. You had to dive in quickly, or you’d lose your nerve. She rapped on the door between their suites and turned the knob without waiting for a response.
    “Hey kid,” Nick said, his eyes widening. He sat propped up on the king size bed with a folder on his lap. He wore pajama bottoms and nothing else. “I thought you went to bed an hour ago. I’ve been going over some dull reports.”
    His eyes scrolled up and down her body. She couldn’t read the heavy emotion in them. She had on a thin nightgown and a robe which she hadn’t bothered to close. As he’d said on an earlier occasion, if she wanted to hide her wares she should remember to tie the sash. She wasn’t into hiding, not tonight.
    “Damn,” Nick said, “I’ve never seen horse slippers; they’re sexy as hell.”
    Daisy looked in horror at her slippers; blood rushed to her head. How juvenile they must appear! Cassie had bought them for her sixteenth birthday and she’d loved them. Although
they’d worn out on more than one occasion, she’d sewed them up. They often provided solace. Would they be her undoing tonight?
    Nick put the folders on the nightstand. “So what’s up? Still running on adrenalin? Can’t sleep? It was a terrific day.”
    She saw his shoulder muscles tighten. Daisy tried to smile. She been bold, but now what? Those videos only showed people in bed,
not how they got there. Be practical, girl, be straightforward had always been her grandmother’s advice. She didn’t know if her grandmother would approve of what she was doing, but that was probably the best advice she was going to get.
    “I need your help,” she blurted out. “I need you to make me a woman.” She remained standing just inside the doorway; her escape route was handy if she failed.
    It was his turn. She
couldn’t makehim want her. Would he
reject her?
     
    - o -
     
    Nick shook his head trying to clear the fog that was scrambling his brain. Had he heard right? He stared at Willow. He’d heard right. Her nipples were pouting big time through the flimsy material she no doubt thought was a nightgown. She stood tall, elegant and forlorn. Her long legs were spread slightly, making her appear more determined than ever, possibly even defiant. Her hair had been recently combed and he smelled perfume. Daisy never wore perfume. Until now.
    And then there were those damn horse slippers. They were, in fact, sexy
as hell. He couldn’t explain that one; it was probably best not to try. He had enough trouble explaining his response to the young woman standing in those slippers.
    Nick crossed his legs; he couldn’t stand if he wanted to. She had him in a vulnerable position. He hoped she couldn’t see his physical response to her need. Emotionally he was a wreck. This was Willow. He’d enjoyed sexual banter with her; he’d even fantasized about her. But she was too young. And if he had decided otherwise, he would have gone to her;