Free Winner Takes All - Book 1 (An Erotic Romance) by Sherilyn Gray Page B

feeling glorious and invincible. “Not today,
though.”
     
    He laughed with her, the corners of his eyes crinkling
even more in his mirth. “Just because it’s your lucky day.”
     
    “Pardon me.”
     
    Linc and Sasha both turned at the sound of Damien
Taylor’s voice. The trainer stuck out his hand.
     
    “Good too see you, Mr. Taylor. Congratulations on the
win.”
     
    Damien Taylor shook Linc’s hand, treating everyone in the
vicinity to another devastating smile. “Thank you. But don’t think I don’t know
who really won out here.” His blue eyes touched Sasha and she felt a blush
climb into her cheeks.
     
    Down girl!
     
    “Ms. Cormick.” His eyes seemed to burn even deeper into
hers. “If you’re free, I’d like to invite you to a little gathering this
afternoon. Are you able to go?”
     
    She didn’t even have to think about it. “Thank you. I’d
love to come.” She paused. “As long as I get to change into something a little
less horse-friendly.”
     
    His eyes twinkled. “Good.” He reached into his inside
jacket pocket, took out a card and scribbled something on the back of it.
“Here’s the address. Meet me there and take all the time you need to get
ready.”
     
    After another smile, a nod in Linc’s direction, he was
gone.
     
    “Wow,” she said under her breath. “That…wow!” Did she
just get invited to a party with Damien Taylor? One of the richest men in
Kentucky? One of the most beautiful men she had ever seen?
     
    “Get that deer in the headlights look off your face and
go get ready.” Linc patted her on the shoulder, hard. Just like he had Heavy
Impact a few minutes before.
     
    Sasha shook her head, sending her dark hair flying around
her face. Before she could say anything, Linc shoved her toward the exit.
     
    “See you later,” he called out.
     

Chapter Two
     
    At her apartment, Sasha dropped her keys on the hook by
the door, quickly stripping off her clothes as she went but carrying each item
of clothing she discarded with her. Her studio was small and she defiantly kept
it neat and clean; a habit ingrained in her from spending years in the foster
care system. Keep things neat and easy to find. That way, when it was time to
go on the next place, all she had to do was grab her few belongings and was out
the door.
     
    The walls of her little apartment were the same eggshell
white as when she moved in five years before. Still unadorned. The only truly
personal items was the small shelf of books near her full-sized bed and the
photo of Marshall Taylor, her first trainer who had been like a father to her.
One of the first people to treat her with decency, kindness, and respect.
     
    Naked, Sasha dropped her clothes in the bathroom’s
laundry hamper and turned on the shower. Forty five minutes later, she was
clean and dry. Unscented lotion smoothed into her tanned skin and the barest
amount of make-up on her face. Her hair she wore pinned up into a simple French
twist and diamond studs dotted the lobes of her small ears. She stood in front
of her closet in her bra and panties, a hand on her hip.
     
    “What the hell do you wear to a party with a bunch of
rich muckety mucks?” A dress, like a real girl? a sarcastic voice chimed
from the back of her head.
     
    She stared at the endless parade of slacks, jeans,
t-shirts, wondering if she even had a dress in there after her last round of
purging.
     
    Then, she remembered the dress and heels she’d bought for
a funeral nearly eight months before. She grabbed them from the back of her
closet and quickly put them on. As she dressed, she tried not to think about
the reality of where she was going and who had invited her there. If not for
the incredible win at the Derby, she would probably be more nervous about
rubbing elbows with the Richie Riches than she already was. But at least they
wouldn’t kick her out of the party for looking like a peasant. In the mirror,
she looked fine enough; the knee-length, black