Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 425(@200wpm)___ 340(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Blocking out everything else, I got him balanced and prepared for the gate to open. It was all about that first jump. Bloodline read my cues sometimes before I even gave them to him. He was brilliant and sensitive, which made what needed to happen next easier.
“Ready?” Sebastian called out from where he had moved to stand on the other side of the gate, far enough away to watch.
I gave a nod and watched the crack in the gate. My complete focus was on that spot, and I waited for it to begin to move open. The swing of the gate was fast, and unless you’d ever sat behind it, you wouldn’t understand the importance of cuing your horse for that moment.
The moment the crack began to widen, we were off. It was poetic, the way his body moved beneath me. I didn’t let him go full blast. There was no need for that today. Just getting the both of us warmed up to the track. I grinned as I felt him holding back. His stride was perfection, and I knew when it was time, he was going to break clean and put us where we needed to be to win.
Dismounting, I immediately turned to Bloodline and told him what a good boy he was. He loved the praise, but then again, he was a male. The two guys in the gate crew took his lead as I kissed his nose.
“His breaks were clean, and the rhythm in his stride looked good. How did it feel?” Miller asked, walking toward me.
I reached up to unlatch my riding cap and take it off before responding, “He feels comfortable on the track. The jump at the gate would have been more impressive, but I held him back today.”
Miller nodded. “All right, that is enough for today. I’ll have a practice jockey ride him tomorrow.”
Which meant I had a full day in Manhattan. I hadn’t expected that. I could explore.
“I only want Capri on him before the race.”
Thatcher’s voice startled me, and I spun around to see him walking this way with a cigarette between his lips and a black cowboy hat on his head. I tried not to take in the rest of him, but it was hard. The man could wear a pair of jeans like no one else.
“Miller is the trainer,” Sebastian said, stepping up beside me.
Thatcher’s gaze cut to his younger brother. “And I’m the owner.”
“We are the owners,” Sebastian replied, sounding annoyed.
“Then, act like one,” Thatcher told him. “Capri is Bloodline’s jockey. She rides him.”
Miller said nothing, but nodded. I could see he feared Thatcher, unlike Sebastian.
“Tomorrow, hold back on the last break by two more seconds,” Thatcher instructed, then took his cigarette from his mouth and let out smoke through his nose.
I nodded, not wanting to talk to him.
“You ready to go?” he asked me, then took another pull from the cigarette.
“I was going to show her around, take her to lunch,” Sebastian said, surprising me.
Thatcher’s threatening stare as he locked his eyes on his brother made me tense up. It was that look that made me nervous around him. The reminder that he was dangerous was one I needed.
“Were you now?” he asked, his momentary frightening expression turning into a bored one.
“Yeah,” Sebastian replied.
Thatcher shifted his gaze to me. “What do you want, Capri? Stay here with him or leave with me?”
Had he asked me this yesterday, I’d have wanted to go with him. However, after last night, I felt it was better for my mental health to stay with Sebastian. He didn’t make me all fluttery. He was the safe choice.
“I’d like to look around. I saw very little when I was here before.”
Thatcher didn’t seem to care. He turned to Miller, who was still standing there, acting as if he wasn’t listening to this entire conversation. “Media wants an interview with Bloodline’s trainer this afternoon. Should be here by three. Meet them in the clubhouse.”
Miller nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Thatcher put his cigarette between his teeth and turned to walk away. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a sudden urge to run after him and tell him I’d rather go with him. That would make me look pathetic, so I stayed put.
“Ready to go check the place out?” Sebastian asked.
“Yeah,” I replied, glancing back one more time at Thatcher’s retreating form.
• Fifteen •
For now, she needed to be punished.
Thatcher
Although I knew the moment she opened the door to the suite, I didn’t turn to look back at her. I remained on the balcony with my whiskey and smoke.
She’d chosen Sebastian over me today, and at first, I wanted to strangle my little brother until he was in a lifeless heap at my feet. However, after allowing myself to calm down and consider her reasons, I’d settled on the conclusion that she had done it solely because of last night.