reverie. He turned his head, and heat curled deep inside as he swept his gaze over her. She really was beautiful in a down-to-earth way. He didn’t miss the widening of her eyes, the quick intake of breath that swelled her breasts or the delicate shiver that skittered over her skin as he watched her.
“But we are sleeping in the same bed,” he countered.
“Whoa. What?”
“We have to convince my father we’re married. That means you sleep in my bed—with me—while he’s here. You’ll be headed out on the circuit after the rodeo, right?”
She nodded, apprehension warring with something else in her expression. Was that interest? Maybe a touch of curious lust? He liked that idea.
“We won’t necessarily be together under one roof. Except when you come back here and there’s a long stretch between your appearances.”
“Why can’t I go home to Oklahoma?”
“Because you’ll be my wife, and since this is my main residence, you’ll come here. I’ll arrange for permanent stable and training facilities for you.” He walked back across the room and stopped in front of her so she had to crane her neck to look at him.
“We work together in public to make sure no one gets the wrong perception.” He resisted the urge to cup her cheek. “We’ll paint a picture of a happy couple in love. I’ll have Tucker set up accounts for you at the hotel’s boutiques. Buy whatever you need. I promise not to drag you to a fancy party unless absolutely necessary, and I’ll prep you before that happens. We’ll hold hands in public. Smile at each other. Do that sort of thing. Here in the apartment, when we’re alone, we act as normal. My bed is huge. You can put pillows down the middle or whatever you need to feel comfortable. I promise not to put the moves on you.”
He held out his hand. “Do we have a deal?”
* * *
Savvie’s palm itched, and the muscles in her right arm contracted in preparation for the shake that would seal her fate—at least for the next year. A look crossed Chase’s face as his gaze swept over her, much as it had when he stood across the room. This time, the impact was immediate. She couldn’t ignore the thrill zinging through her. She couldn’t help it. Despite being a royal jerk, he was sexy. And handsome. And charming. And she was a red-blooded Oklahoma cowgirl who knew prime breeding stock when she saw it. The guy had good genes—and jeans, or at least slacks. She shook her head to clear the sexual tension building in her middle. Getting involved with him was Trouble with a capital T.
But could she afford to walk away? He was offering her the chance to fulfill her dream. Making this deal with the devil would ensure she could keep Indy, and he’d get the treatment he needed. She wouldn’t have to tuck tail and sneak home. All she had to do was live in a fishbowl for the next twelve months. She shouldn’t trust this guy any farther than she could throw him but some twisted part of her urged her to accept him at face value. He was a scandal waiting to happen, but his boyish charm held a touch of uncertainty with a side helping of wistful desperation.
“Deal.” She raised her hand and he clasped it. Had she been a romantic, she would have expected a bolt of energy or awareness or some mystical connection to surge between them at the touch of their hands. But she felt nothing beyond smooth skin, gentle pressure and a sense of relief.
“Excellent. We have a lot to do between now and Friday.” He whipped out his phone and pressed a number. “Tucker, I need you in the apartment.” He hung up and hit a second number. He listened for a moment, then left a message. “Chance, draw up the paperwork we discussed. Courier the originals out here. I’ll have Tucker witness and notarize. Thanks, bro.”
He paused to wink at her. “I’ll have Security give you a code for the elevator. Tuck will take you downstairs to shop. In the meantime, call Kade. Tell him exactly what you need.” He turned away, already keying in the next number on his cell.
“Uh... Chase?”
He refocused his attention her. “Yeah, kitten?”
Huh. She’d gone from wildcat to kitten. She wasn’t quite sure how to process that. Instead, she pushed forward. “I...um... I don’t mean to be greedy or anything, but could I talk to Kade about borrowing two horses? If I have a roping horse to go with a barrel horse, I can double up on my events and points. I won’t keep them or anything, after...well...next year. I just want Indy. I’ll ride the other horses, but they’ll still belong to you. Okay?”
His gaze narrowed and then cleared as she babbled. “Babe, whatever you need. Don’t worry about expenses. I have money. Feel free to spend it. And those horses are yours. No matter what.” With that, he moved away from her and into the recessed space that served as his office, his phone pressed to his ear.
She dug her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Kade. She didn’t expect the first words out of his mouth.
“Are you out of your freaking mind?”
“Uh, hi, Kade. I’m fine, thanks. How are you?”
“Pissed, little girl. You need to get as far away from Las Vegas as you can get.”
“Nope. Can’t do that.”
“What have you done?”
“We shook on it, Kade.” She huffed out a breath heavy enough to stir the thick strand of hair straggling over her forehead. “Look, this is a good deal for me. If I don’t take it, I slink home so my mother and that jackass warming her bed can rub it in my face. I can’t do that. I won’t do it. Chase is offering me a deal I can’t walk away from.”
“You don’t know him.”
“Yeah, I do. I read the tabloids. I know he’s a womanizing jerk face with entitlement issues.”
An uncomfortable silence stretched between them before Kade’s voice whispered in her ear. “Itek soba, he’ll break your heart.”
Sister of the horse. Kade hadn’t called her that in a long time. Using the childhood Chickasaw nickname he’d given her brought home just how worried he was. “No, he won’t. I’d have to love him first, and that is so not gonna happen, anakfi.” She used the Choctaw word for brother. “There’s paperwork so we’re both covered. I have to do this, Kade. You know that. Are you going to help me?”
“Of course I am, Savvie. But I damn well don’t have to like it.”
“So... I need two horses.”
“I figured you might. I have two Crown B bred horses I think will work. Tansy Reed’s been working Cimarron. He’s rough and still needs seasoning but he’s fast, and I think the two of you will work well. He has a soft mouth.”
“Okay.” Wow. Tansy Reed was the premier barrel racer and trainer. She’d retired from the rodeo circuit to raise her family and train horses. “What about a roping horse?”
“Have the perfect guy for you. I’ve been working Big Red myself. He’s quick, responsive and I swear he knows where the calf is gonna be before I do. I’ve also done both heading and heeling with him in case you want to add team roping.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Don’t have a partner for that.” She pursed her lips, considering. “Yet. I’ll look
