Free Giving Chase (A Racing Romance) (Aspen Valley Series #2) by Hannah Hooton Page B

favourite?’ Vanessa echoed in delight. ‘I’m so proud of you, Frankie! Come here and give me a hug!’
    Frankie ran to her mother, receiving a half-rugby tackle. Finally extricating themselves, they turned to Doug, still sat stonily in his chair.
    ‘Doug, for goodness’ sake, congratulate her!’
    Frankie laughed.
    ‘Don’t worry, Mum. He’s just in shock. I’m still in shock.’
    Doug collected his senses and got to his feet. He held out his arms formally and Frankie fell into them.
    ‘Well done, Frankie. I just hope—I hope…’
    So absorbed in the promises and opportunities the future now presented, Frankie didn’t register Doug’s fixed gaze on the mantelpiece photographs nor what he was trying, but failing, to say.
    And none of them registered Mrs Banks stood at the foot of the stairs, her ear upturned to catch all the drama.

Chapter 8
     
    The following morning, Frankie was welcomed by a mist-cloaked Aspen Valley Stables. Security lights still glowed in the half-light and staff looked ghostly as they trundled wheelbarrows across the yard to muck out their stables. Frankie headed straight for the shed of barrows. She paused, however, as she neared the offices. Beyond the thick white walls she could hear the muffled tone of raised voices.
    ‘She’s just an amateur though!’ Rhys’s voice boomed through Jack’s office window loud and very clear.
    Frankie wobbled to a stop. She pulled an uneasy face. That sounded ominous. She tip-toed on and let herself into the Reception. The sound of Jack’s and Rhys’s voices were much clearer in here although still muffled. It sounded as if Jack had Rhys in a headlock. She looked questioningly at Kim, Aspen Valley’s frighteningly efficient racing secretary. Kim raised her eyebrows and lifted her palms in a don’t-ask-me gesture.
    Frankie didn’t need to. Jack’s office door was wrenched open. Rhys strode out like a grumpy steam train. She could almost see the smoke huffing from his ears. A second later, his eyes lasered in on her. Frankie began to realise how a first-time matador must feel when faced with an angry bull. She reckoned her red Aspen Valley jacket wasn’t helping matters. She took a step backwards. Rhys steamrolled towards her, looking murderous. He stopped a couple of paces away and held up a finger. His black eyes gleamed with rage, his nostrils were flared and his lips were white as he sucked them against his teeth.
    Frankie hadn’t ever seen anyone so angry. The contrast to the heart-stopping smile he’d given her yesterday was bewildering. Her mouth opened in a mute attempt to say something. It came out as a croak. What was she supposed to say? Hi Rhys, good weekend? Looking a bit misty on the hills today. Please don’t kill me? Whatever she’d done wrong, she was meant to already be aware of it and she had a strong suspicion Pippa’s phone call yesterday might have something to do with it.
    The silence mounted as Rhys continued to hold that trembling finger to her face. His chest rose and fell. He didn’t appear able to talk either.
    The office telephone cut shrilly through the tense air. All three of them jumped. Rhys seemed to come out of whatever battle his emotions had been fighting before. A low growl shook from his throat. Without saying anything, he brushed past a frozen Frankie and slammed the door behind him as he stormed outside. Once she and the furniture had stopped trembling, Kim’s polite and professional voice broke the quiet.
    ‘Good morning, Aspen Valley Stables.’
    Frankie and Kim’s eyes met as the secretary held the phone against her ear without really listening to the caller.
    ‘I’m afraid Mr Carmichael is in a meeting right now. Is it something I can help with?’
    *
    Frankie looked at Jack’s half-open door and took a deep breath. She gumshoed across the grey carpet and looked into the office. Jack was standing behind his desk with his back to her, looking out of the window. His hands were shoved deep