Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“I was going to help you down,” Storm said, snapping my attention back to him.
I pointed at the buildings in front of us. “This is where you keep horses?” I asked.
He nodded, not taking his eyes off me.
I shook my head and let out a laugh. “I’ve dated millionaires whose houses weren’t this impressive.”
Storm’s eyes darkened as if that comment angered him. “It houses thoroughbreds that make millions. The most sought-after bloodlines in the racing world live in there.”
“Wow,” I breathed, taking it in again.
There was elaborate white fencing, marking off different arenas and tracks as far as my eyes could see. A track over to the far right had one of those horses he had spoken of running at an incredible speed with a small rider leaned forward on its back.
“Is this where you live?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.
He shook his head. “No. This is the Shephards’ property.”
But they all worked here. I already knew that much. The horses belonged to the family or Mafia or whatever they were.
“I’m ready to see if the inside is as impressive as the outside,” I told him.
“Songbird,” Thatcher called as he stepped out of the door closest to us.
Storm moved then, stepping slightly in front of me. What was that about?
“You coming to ride?” he asked as if Storm hadn’t just been weird and basically gotten between us.
“Yes, but I wasn’t prepared for the grandiosity of what you people call stables.”
He smirked. “You didn’t expect the best?”
Storm turned toward me and placed a hand on my back. “Let’s go.”
The door opened again, and an attractive blonde with a short, tight black leather dress came hurrying out with a pair of red stilettos dangling from her finger. It was clear she’d just gotten out of bed and chosen not to check the mirror or run a brush through her hair. Her eyes scanned over me, then lit up at the sight of Storm before moving on to Thatcher, who was lighting up a cigarette.
“You left me,” the woman cooed as she sauntered toward Thatcher slowly.
“Time for you to leave,” he replied before inhaling the smoke deep.
The woman let out a soft laugh as if he were teasing her. “Already? What about a shower?” she asked him, placing a hand on his arm.
“That face of yours might have weakened me momentarily, but I’m no longer drunk, and you’re no longer welcome,” he said with a bored tone while his eyes stayed locked on the horse and rider currently rounding the track at a high speed.
I winced as I saw her snatch her hand back. Her shoulders straightened, and she turned her attention to Storm. A slow, sexy smile spread over her lips, and the sympathy I’d felt for her vanished as she ran her tongue over her lips.
“It’s been a while, Storm,” she said.
“Not long enough,” he replied. “Let’s go,” he said, turning his attention to me.
Storm’s hand was firm against my back, and I tried not to think about how much I liked it. Heading toward the door that the other two had come out of, I looked up at Storm. His jaw was clenched, and I wondered if he’d dated her once. Was he jealous she had been with Thatcher? She was beautiful enough to interest him. Even all mussed from bed. It wasn’t like I could ask him about it though. It wasn’t exactly my business, and he didn’t need to think I cared about his sex life. Even if … part of me seemed to care. A lot.
Turning my attention back to the stables we’d just entered, I was once again struck by complete opulence. I would live in one of these stalls and be happy about it. Holy crap, this was luxurious. One of the horses moved forward, sticking its head out of the stall, and I froze.
“What is it?” Storm asked, his hand flexing on my back.
“What do you feed these horses? That thing is massive.”
Storm chuckled and leaned closer to me. “That’s a thoroughbred, baby.”
Okay, so clearly, I had never ridden a thoroughbred, and I was now questioning my agreeing to ride today. Because I was not getting on that thing. And … had he just called me baby? Was it on accident? Or just a saying he tossed out at women and he’d not meant to when speaking to me?
“Come with me,” Storm urged, pressing his hand against my back.
We walked in the direction of the monster he’d called a horse. I stopped several feet away and refused to go any closer. Storm seemed amused, but I was trying to decide if that thing could get out and maul me.
“This is Sword. He’s one of our champions,” Storm informed me.
“I bet. All the other horses run scared of him. How could he lose?” I asked.