face... Grant could watch Tessa Barrington for hours, and was well on his way to doing just that.
Tessa turned the corner and headed toward him. With all the laps she’d made, there was no way she could’ve missed him standing here. They’d already spent the past two days together, and he had no time scheduled with her today. But that didn’t stop him from wanting to see her, to learn more. And this sexual pull was dragging him into this damn world he’d worked so hard to put behind him.
“She’s amazing, isn’t she?”
Grant turned at the sound of a voice and found himself looking into another set of bright blue eyes. “Yes, she is. You must be Cassie.” He glanced to the baby asleep on her shoulder. “And who is this?”
Cassie’s smile widened. “This is Emily.”
Grant took in the pale blond curls peeking beneath a bright green hat, and wondered if the little girl had those Barrington blue eyes.
“How old is she?”
“Just turned one last month.”
Cassie turned to watch Tessa round another curve, and Grant studied the woman’s profile. She was beautiful just like her sister, with her blue eyes and bright red hair. But there was something more fragile, almost sad about Cassie. He’d learned enough about this family to know Cassie’s ex used to work in the stables but had left shortly after the baby was born. Anger bubbled within Grant at the thought of a deadbeat dad ignoring his kid.
But as he watched her, Grant realized there was another layer of emotions in Cassie’s eyes as she focused on her sister. Concern.
“You worry about her,” he said, not bothering to ask.
“I do.” Cassie shifted the sleeping toddler to her other shoulder. “She pushes too hard at times. Strange coming from me, since I’m her trainer. We already practiced today, but she and Don Pedro are made for each other. They’re happiest in the ring. Of course, that passion is what makes winners, but her biggest competitor is herself.”
Grant could see that. In the few days he’d been here he’d seen Tessa out of the stables only during their “allotted” times.
“Does she do anything for fun?” he asked.
“You’re looking at it. She lives for this.”
On one hand Grant admired Tessa’s drive and determination. He had more drive for career than anything himself. But on the other hand he found it sad that this was her whole life.
And from a purely personal level, the thought of her spending more time on her horse than off flat out terrified him.
Her career stirred up so many haunting emotions. Not that they weren’t always there, but having the lifestyle thrust in his face all day only made the memories that much more hellish.
Yet the attraction was something he hadn’t planned on...and couldn’t ignore.
“She doesn’t date?” he found himself asking before he could keep his mouth shut.
Cassie spared him a glance. “She just got out of a relationship, which is another reason she’s pushing herself even more.”
Bad breakup? While Cassie didn’t say it, the message was implied. And there was a story there. Grant never turned away an intriguing story....
“So when will the rest of your crew arrive?” Cassie asked.
“A few weeks.” He caught her smile and laughed. “You seem excited about this.”
She shrugged her free shoulder. “What’s not to be excited about? My father is an amazing man, a prestigious horse owner and winner. A movie about his life will be awesome.”
“You forget you and Tessa are a huge part of his success, and in continuing the Barrington tradition.” Grant glanced at the track as Tessa came flying by again. “I don’t think your sister feels the same.”
Cassie nodded. “Tessa and I don’t always agree on things. Besides, she has her reasons for not being so thrilled about this film.”
“And you aren’t going to share those reasons, are you?”
Cassie laughed. “Nope.”
Emily started to stir on her shoulder, and Cassie patted her back. “I better head back inside and get dinner started. It was nice to officially meet you, Grant.”
“I’m sure you’ll be seeing more of me.”
She walked away, and Grant turned back to watch Tessa, but she was out of sight. He took his boot down from the rung of the fence and headed into the stable.
He found her in the last stall, pulling the saddle off Don Pedro’s back and hanging it up. At some point he’d quiz her on the reason behind the horse’s name, though he had a pretty good idea.
He knew enough Shakespeare to know Don Pedro was a prince in Much Ado About Nothing, and her recreational stallion’s name, Oliver, stemmed from the villain, who later repented, in As You Like It.
Apparently Miss Barrington had a romantic streak. So why was she fighting this obvious attraction?
Straw shuffled beneath his boots as he made his way closer. Oliver shifted in his stall and Grant froze for a half second before he forced himself to keep walking.
He would not revisit that time in his life. Fear was only a state of mind, and he’d be damned if he’d let it overtake him.
“I just met your sister,” he said as he moved in closer.
Tessa didn’t stop her duties, didn’t even spare him a glance as she picked up a brush and started her routine circular brushing.
“Emily is adorable, but she slept through our meeting.” Grant tucked his hands into his pockets. “Cassie seems pretty excited about the film.”
Maybe that comment warranted a grunt, but he wasn’t sure the noise was directed at him or the fact that Tessa was reaching up to brush the horse’s back.
“It’s a beautiful day—”
“What are you doing here?” she asked, tossing the brush into the tack box with so much effort it bounced right back out.
Grant paused. “Working.”
“No, here in the stable. Right now. What do you want?”
Her eyes were practically shooting daggers. Okay, something had pissed her off and he had a sinking feeling that “something” was him. How did women get so fired up, when a man was still left clueless?
“I was watching you train,” he told her honestly. “I’m just amazed at your talent.”
Tessa moved around Don Pedro, coming to stand in front of Grant. Propping her hands on her hips pulled her shirt tighter across her chest, and he had to really concentrate to keep his eyes level with hers and not on those tiny strained buttons.
“Don’t you have
