THANKS TO YOU

This book was given to JOANNA RĄCZKOWSKA on Instafreebie. www.instafreebie.com



THANKS TO YOU Emma Kingsley

Copyright © 2017 by Emma Kingsley

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the author.

Table of Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Sneak peek: Legal Love

Chapter 1

“Ashley, are you ready?” Mr. Sarver said as he walked into the stable. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” Ashley smiled at the grandfatherly man whom she so admired. “Good thing, girl. I hear he’s a tough one.” “He’ll either choose us or he won’t. I’d be sad to see these animals go, though. They’re marvelous,” she said, gently petting a stallion’s nose. “Indeed, they are fine animals.” As the lead horse trainer at Sunny Grove Stables, Ashley was responsible for the care and training of all the thoroughbred horses under their care. She loved each and every one of them, although none of them were hers. They all belonged to rich men and women who paid her boss to feed and board them while training them so that their owners could get the most of their investment. Ashley often pretended that part of the job didn’t exist. She merely focused on giving each animal all the love that she could. But, on this particular day, that aspect of their business couldn’t be ignored. A new client had had his horses delivered just that morning. She’d spent enough time with them to know that they were some of the finest animals to ever come through their facility, though they were quite willful. She knew that it would take a great deal of work to train them properly, but she was very much looking forward to the challenge. Of course, to get the job, she and her boss were going to have to meet with the owner of the horses to assure him that Sunny Grove was the right place for them. After her boss, Mr. Sarver, had given her a heads up

about the meeting days before, she’d looked up their owner. Robert King was a playboy billionaire; a man who bought and sold companies in the morning and then jetted off to Monaco to celebrate in the afternoon. He was rich, maybe richer than any of their other clients. He also struck her as the worst kind of them, one who saw the animals he purchased not as living things but as investments. Anyway, she doubted he would visit them often. She just needed to get through one meeting and then she could put it all behind her. “Is he here yet?” she asked, eager to get the meeting over with. “He just arrived,” the old man smirked before adding, “In a Lamborghini.” “Oh, good. Just the right car for driving around a stable yard,” she laughed, imagining the rich dandy she was sure was waiting for them. “Let’s get on with it,” he said, holding open the door for her as they began to make their way toward the offices where they took new client meetings. When they arrived, Ashley was shocked by the man she saw before her. He was certainly dressed far to finely for a stable, with designer shoes on and a suit far more suited for the board room. Still, he was breathtaking. He was tall, trim, with a long, handsome face. He had dark eyes that drew her in instantly and black hair almost the exact color of the stallion that he had just acquired. His gaze locked on her the moment she entered the room, clearly appraising her just as she was him. “Mr. King,” her boss said, reaching to shake his hand. “Mr. Sarver,” he replied, finally taking his eyes off of Ashley to address the old man. “I’m glad you could take the time to meet with us today. I must say, I was just admiring your horses. They are quite

rare animals. This is Ashley James. If you decide to board your horses here, she’s the lead trainer who will oversee their day to day care,” he said, gesturing toward Ashley. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. King. I can assure you that if you decide to leave them in our care, there will be no happier horses,” she said, forcing herself to speak although she was still a bit tongue-tied in front of him. “Frankly, I care little for their happiness. I care for the return on my investment. You, Ms. James, come highly recommended. Martin Whittington told me that you single-handedly got him double his investment on two particularly difficult animals, making their studding services so desirable that he is racking in money hand over fist. Is that true?” he demanded, looking as though he were in a negotiation already. “Mr. Whittington’s horses have been two of our greatest success stories. I’m glad to hear he’s happy with their progress. Jackson and Knight are two of the finest animals I’ve ever worked with,” she said, smiling fondly at the thought of the two stallions who had come to her as mischievous colts. “Then it’s settled. You’re hired and you’ll turn my animals into producers that far outperform Whittington’s. Do we have a deal?” He watched her intently as if he were trying to read something from her expression. “I would be happy to work with your horses. As Mr. Sarver said, they’re amazing animals. I can show you to the stalls now if you’d like.” “That’s not necessary. I have no need to see them. Just get me weekly reports on their progress,” he shook his head. “As you wish, sir,” she forced herself to remain calm. She resented owners like him. He didn’t deserve to hold the fate of those beautiful animals in his hand and it made

her ill that she had thought, even for a moment, that he looked gorgeous. “Tell me, how did one so young come to hold the position of lead trainer?” he asked, his eyes still locked on her. “I cannot imagine I’m much younger than you and you run a billion-dollar company,” she blurted out before she could stop herself. She worried that she’d said the wrong thing, been rude enough that he might change his mind. She wouldn’t have objected to never seeing him again, but his horses were marvelous and she was eager to see what she could accomplish with them. “I suppose so,” he said. “Still, I’m curious.” “It runs in the family,” she offered no further explanation. “You’re remarkably pretty. Do you only ever run about in jeans and t-shirts or do you allow yourself to be a woman from time to time?” He eyed her again as if she were one of his investment horses. “I assure you, I’m a woman all the time, even in my jeans and t-shirts,” she snapped. “If there is nothing else, I’m going to go see to the horses now,” she said, her eyes on fire with anger. How dared he speak to her in such a way? He was the one who stood out in their surroundings, not her. “Sure thing, Ashley,” Mr. Sarver seemed unsure what else to say. “I’ll be seeing you soon, Ms. James,” King smirked at her. “I think you’ll find that I’m quite hands on in the supervision of my investments,” he looked quite amused by her reaction to him. “And I’ll happily provide the weekly reports you requested and any other documentation you need for your accountants to evaluate the horses,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Whittington was right. You’re just the one for this

project,” he replied, ignoring her tone. “I’ll leave you with Mr. Sarver to get the paperwork in order. I have work to do.” She turned and rushed off, the sound of her boots clicking against the floor as she made her exit. She could hear the two men talking as she walked away, but she didn’t care at all what they were saying. The meeting was over and the horses were hers to work with. That was what mattered. It was unlikely she would ever see Robert King again. Maybe his assistant would come by from time to time. That was how her other clients kept tabs on their investments. Martin Whittington was, in truth, one of the few owners who ever came to the stables. It was not for the love of his horses, though. It was because he wanted to convince her to go out with him. Each time she told him “No,” he only grew more persistent. But that was a small price to pay to get to take care of his sweet horses.

Chapter 2

It was less than a week before Robert King returned to the stable. When he did, he found Ashley in the large paddock with the stallion he’d purchased, seemingly just speaking softly to the animal. “Do I pay so that my horses can enjoy the pleasure of your conversation?” he asked, startling her. Though his words were harsh, his expression was one of a man intrigued by what he saw. She didn’t like to have intrusions when she worked with the animals but this time it was different. King affected her in the strangest way. Despite her dislike of his attitude toward his horses, she felt her heart racing when he walked in. “Mr. King, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you were there. I tend to get a little lost in my work,” Ashley explained as she reached up and gently patted the horse. “Is this how you plan to optimize my investment?” “I need to gain his trust,” she said. “I’m actually glad you’re here. You haven’t given us the names you want to give these animals yet. It helps with the process if I can use the name as we get familiar with each other,” she said, smiling at the horse without even sparing a look for Robert King. “I have no plans to name them,” he said dismissively, though he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Watching her with the powerful animal was an intriguing sight to be sure. He had thought her pretty when he met her in the office, but that was nothing compared to how stunning she was in her own element. Her eyes shone with joy there near the horse. The breeze blew her hair slightly, framing her face. She smelled of lilacs and it took everything in him to keep from taking a step closer to

inhale her sweetness fully. “Living things need names,” she said, eyes still locked on the horse. She was too upset at the thought of such magnificent animals not having names to let the subject go, but she was afraid that, if she looked at him as she spoke, the effect he had on her would make arguing difficult. “Call it what you wish,” he said, trying to return his focus to the purpose of his visit. He needed to know the progress of his animals. But he knew that, if he were being honest, he would have to confess to himself that the main reason he had come to the stable in person was to see her again. They had met only once for a few minutes and yet he couldn’t get her out of his mind or think of any other woman who’d had such a powerful impact on him. “I think I’ll call you Loki, then,” she said, grinning at the stallion in front of her. The animal nuzzled his nose into her neck in approval and Ashley laughed, creating the sweetest sound Robert had ever heard. “An interesting choice.” He found it hard to think of anything practical with the sound of her laughter in his ears. “He has a bit of mischief to him,” she said with a smirk. “Perhaps he’s not the only one,” he chuckled, relaxing as he watched her. “King, so glad to see you decided to take my advice,” Martin Whittington said as he approached them. Both of them were caught off guard by his arrival. “Whittington, I didn’t take you for the type to spend your time on the farm,” King said, annoyed by the interruption. “Ah, but I’ve changed. I find the scenery here so lovely,” he said, making no attempt to hide the fact that it was Ashley he was looking at as he spoke. “It makes it hard

for one to stay away.” “Mr. Whittington, a pleasure as always to have you with us,” she said. “Is there something I can do for you?” “No, just here to see the horses. I’ll let you get back to your work, Ashley. I know how important it is to you,” he said with a wink as he walked on toward the stables, whistling. “I’ll see you, then, when I make my rounds to them next,” she said, forcing herself to smile. She didn’t want her new client to know just how annoying she found Whittington. He was a paying client after all. It was hard enough to keep Whittington himself from realizing it. “He’s very pleased with the work you’ve done with his animals,” King said. “I’m glad. It’s our duty here to keep our clients and their animals happy,” she delivered her standard answer. Usually, it was enough to please any client, but Robert King looked at her as if he knew there was more to what she was saying. “Is that really why you do this work?” he asked, not hiding his skepticism. To any other client, Ashley would have said something to confirm her earlier platitude, but now she couldn’t bring herself to do it. There was something in his eyes that made it impossible to lie to him. “I do it for the horses. I love these animals. I always have. Being around them makes me feel whole. This job allows me to live that every day.” “You really do understand the animals, don’t you?” She smiled at his words, her eyes sparkling, and the sight of her took his breath away. “I care for them all. I’m lucky enough to have a relationship with each animal I work with. They give me their trust and for that I can’t really find the words. It means everything to me. It’s why I get out of bed every

morning,” she mused, so glad to be able to speak about her passion. The love she felt for it was clear on her face and it made her even more irresistible in his eyes. “It’s refreshing to see someone who cares so deeply about what they do,” he admitted. “Don’t you love what you do? I heard about you. You make business deals all around the world every day,” she asked, shocking herself with the frankness of her question. “I love parts of it. It can be thrilling. Still, there’s none of the connection that you seem to love so much.” “I’m sorry to hear that. The bond I feel with these horses is magical. I hope that you find your own way to connect with what you love,” she said, looking at him with sympathy. Robert was wealthy beyond measure, with the power and means to do anything he wanted. He couldn’t remember the last time that someone had looked at him like that. He wanted to argue with her, to tell her that he didn’t need her sympathy. But it was impossible because she was right. “I suppose there are harder things in life.” “Maybe, but I couldn’t do it.” “Are you settled on Loki for his name?” “I think it fits him,” she said, smiling up at the massive beast as though he were a puppy. “Tell me, do you spend all your time here with the horses?” he asked, suddenly curious about who this woman truly was. “I suppose I do,” she admitted. “We’re a small outfit and horses of this caliber require a lot of attention. Besides, this is where I’m happiest.” “You’re a unique woman Ashley,” he said as he tried to say his goodbyes and leave the stables. After all, he had

a business to run. “Thank you! Perhaps I should try to be a little less unique. Then maybe I could get that friend of yours to leave me alone,” she laughed, surprised at how relaxed she felt with him to blurt this out. She knew that Whittington would return as soon as Robert left. “He’s a persistent one. If he bothers you, please, let me know. I could speak to him.” “Thank you, Mr. King, but I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.” “I don’t doubt that for a moment,” he said. “I must be going now. Please, do keep me updated on their progress.” “I assure you, you’ll be pleased with the results.” “I look forward to getting to know you better, Ashley,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes before turning and walking away, fighting the urge to look back at her before he drove away. Ashley was left alone with Loki, stroking his mane gently as she thought about the conversation she’d just had. She had assumed Robert King was nothing more than a rich playboy. But there was something more to him. She could feel it. She was so lost in those thoughts that she didn’t realize Whittington had returned. “I hope King wasn’t too hard on you. He’s a lunatic about getting the highest return from his investments. Don’t let him bully you.” “I don’t plan to let anyone bully me,” she said, not taking her attention from Loki. “I don’t suppose I could persuade you to have dinner with me. I could give you tips for dealing with King,” he suggested, his eyes telling her that his request had nothing to do with helping her please her new client. “As always, I appreciate the offer, but I have so much

work to do. I couldn’t possibly get away this afternoon,” she said, making no effort to feign sadness or disappointment. She might not be willing to tell him to leave her alone, but she had no plans to lead him on either. “One day I’m going to change your mind,” he said, his voice full of the kind of confidence born of a life of privilege. He’d never been told “No” and he seemed to be under the impression that her efforts to brush him off were only a temporary state of affairs. “I’m sorry, Mr. Whittington, but I have to get back to work,” she said, eager to be left alone again with the animal. “I’ll see you again soon. Let me know if King gives you trouble.” Relieved to see him leave, Ashley rolled her eyes at the thought of going out with Whittington. But, then, she caught herself wondering how she would react if King invited her to dinner.

Chapter 3

Robert was livid when he received his first progress report two weeks later. It was full of words like trust and relationship building. There were no measurable metrics or statistics. There was nothing that he could really track progress by. He was so angry that he didn’t pause to think. He just jumped in his car and drove there. When he arrived, though, he was distracted from the mission at hand by the sight of Ashley riding Loki. She and the stallion moved as one, riding at breakneck pace through the fields surrounding the stable, jumping hedges and streams as they went. Loki did everything she asked, never hesitating for a second. He stood there, leaning against his car and watched her. She moved like a Valkyrie, as if she were made to be on the creature. He was so taken with the sight of her that he nearly forgot his original purpose for coming. It crossed his mind that it was easy to see why Whittington had become infatuated with Ashley. For a man like Martin, who had only ever spent time around debutants and models, a woman like Ashley must have seemed like a foreign and exotic creature. She was vibrant and real, even more so when she was on the back of a horse. It was not until she rode the horse toward him, pulling the animal to a stop in front of him as she dismounted, that he remembered he’d come because he was annoyed with her. “Mr. King, I was not expecting you today,” she said as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Just the sight of her was enough to cool his anger. Being around her made it hard to concentrate on much beside the warmth of her smile and the way the sun shone upon her hair.

“I received your first report and we need to talk,” he said firmly. He was not, after all, one to be affected in this way by anyone, especially a business associate. “I’m happy to explain any of it. Do you mind if I get Loki in the corral first? He needs to cool down after all that exercise,” she said, patting the animal gently. “Whatever is best for my investment.” He stepped out of their way and followed her as she moved Loki toward the corral. “Is that really all he and the other horses are to you? An investment?” she asked, disgusted with him and herself. During their last conversation, she had allowed herself to think he was something more than owners like Whittington. Clearly, he wasn’t and she was disappointed that she gave him more credit than he deserved. “Yes, anything that I spend millions of dollars on is primarily an investment. They are not pets. That’s why I’m here. Your report was fluff. There was no real information in it. There was nothing I could measure or track progress against. It’s all about you building a bond with the animals. That’s not going to make me my money back,” he fumed, his voice rising as he talked. “Don’t raise your voice near the horse. He’s a sensitive animal. You’ll ruin the progress he’d made. He needs to know that he’s safe with me and with other humans,” she said sternly. “Don’t tell me how to behave. If you cannot give me real, measurable results, I’ll take these horses to another stable. Maybe I’ll just sell them and start over with new animals if they’re so sensitive.” “You really don’t know anything about horses do you?” she said, making no effort to hide her frustration with him. “I don’t have to know how to ride to profit from them.” “Have you even ridden a horse?”

“No,” he said, without further explanation. “Then don’t tell me how to train them. You know nothing about these animals. You need to understand them. They’re living things. You cannot fit them into a spreadsheet.” “They’re an investment and that’s exactly what I need to do. They are not pets. This is not an emotional transaction. This is a monetary one,” he growled. Still, he had to admire the passion with which she fought back. All of his employees agreed with him no matter what he said or asked of them. Ashley never even hesitated. She told him exactly what she thought, not caring a bit if it would anger him. It was refreshing. “They’re not robots. They need time and trust to do what you need them to do,” she said, her hand on her hip. “Now look what you’ve done! You have me raising my voice around him.” At her words, though, the horse did an odd thing. Instead of shying away from their conflict, he positioned his body between Robert and Ashley as if to protect her. “Well, the bonding seems to have worked.” “We have bonded,” she said, an indulgent smile on her face as she looked at Loki. “And how does that help me? I didn’t buy these animals for you to play with.” “I would’ve thought that you were smart enough to do some research before investing. It’s important to teach animals like these that they can trust their rider. They need to know that so that they will jump and run without fear,” she said, her anger fading to annoyance. “I did. I know the yield that this investment can provide me,” he said avoiding her earlier words. “That’s just it. They will. Of course, they will. They are the highest quality of animal and I’m an excellent trainer,”

she began. “Modest much?” he interrupted, although he was impressed by her confidence. Too often, women tried to hide their own skills to make him feel superior. It was stimulating that she didn’t care about this at all. She had a skill and she was proud of it. “You don’t pay me to be modest. You pay me to be the best and I am. I know what I’m doing. You just need to let me do it.” “Well, all right then.” “Really? Just like that?” “You’re correct in your assertion that I don’t have direct knowledge of what it takes to make these animals profitable for me. You do. I respect expertise.” “Fine,” she said, still clearly angry with him. “You’re correct that I should’ve done more research before entering this arena. I don’t think it was a bad decision but I should’ve known better than to make a decision based only on Whittington’s advice” he said, giving a humorless laugh. “Are you two actually friends?” “Absolutely not. Still, he can be amusing from time to time. When he was boasting at the club about the easy money he was making, I couldn’t resist. Besides, I assumed that, if he could do it, I certainly could.” “Easy? He told people it’s easy money? I guess it’s easy for him, coming here, dressing up like a cowboy and watching me do the actual work. His horses are magnificent, but they were very difficult. I’m so proud of the work that I did with them though it was certainly not easy. That man doesn’t understand hard work at all. The question is, do you?” she asked pointedly. “I won’t have anyone question my work ethic,” he snapped at her. “Nobody works harder than I do.”

“I’m not saying that you’re anything like Martin Whittington. I’m saying that not all hard work looks like yours. I spend night and day with these animals. I know what it means to work hard to make them their best. If you give me the time and space to do that, I can guarantee you that they will be the most sought after breeding stock in the state, maybe the country. But you have to let me do what is needed. If you try to force them before they’re ready, you’ll ruin those animals. Do you understand me?” she asked, glaring at him. “I think I’m beginning to.” He felt like he might fall into the depths of her eyes if she kept looking at him like that. She was so lovely and passionate. She cared for the animals with all of her heart. She was feisty, unwilling to back down when she knew what was best and what was right. He tried to remember another woman he had met who was all those things, but he couldn’t. Ashley was remarkable and he knew it. He just wasn’t sure what to do about it. “Good,” she said, eyeing him warily as if she could sense his thoughts. “If you wanted to learn to ride, I could teach you.” “On Loki, here?” “No, I think not. A beginning rider could get himself killed on a mount like this.” “On a pony then?” he teased. “Maybe we could find you a horse somewhere in between,” she chuckled, “But I have to admit that the sight of you on a pony would be very amusing.” “I may just take you up on that,” he said, a smile playing on his lips.

Chapter 4

After that day, Robert made it a habit to come and see her the day after she sent her weekly update to him. He told himself that it was because he needed to better understand the horse business so that he could maximize his investment. Ashley never questioned it. It was, after all, his prerogative as an owner whose horses were in their care. However, even the most casual of observers could see that the two were growing closer. No one was more surprised than Robert King. In the decade since he had risen to the top of the business world, he had focused on nothing but work and was determined not to let anything distract him. Since buying the horses, though, he found his mind drifting to Sunny Grove Stables all the time. But it was not Loki and the other horses who filled his thoughts. It was Ashley. So unpretentious, so real, she was different from anyone he’d ever met. He felt so relaxed around her that he nearly allowed her to teach him to ride. He found that he wanted to learn, just to better understand her. However, he couldn’t. Growing up with an overly ambitious, strict and cold father, who continually imposed new goals on him and viewed whatever he accomplished with disdain, he made himself a promise early in life that he would never allow anyone to see him in a weak position. Learning to do something he had no experience with would certainly do that, he reasoned. Still, it didn’t stop her from pushing it. “How can you own the finest horse I’ve ever seen and not ride?” she asked him one day. “I didn’t buy him to ride him. Besides, you told me yourself that he should not be ridden by anyone but the

most skilled rider,” he said, though he hated to see the look of disappointment on her face. “I could teach you. You’re a smart man. I assume you’d be able to learn quickly. There’s nothing like it, you know what I mean? To be free and to be one with an animal is intoxicating,” she said with a grin so wide he couldn’t help but smile back at her. “I don’t think we’ll do that today,” he said, content just to watch her as she brushed Loki down after her daily training session with him. “One day you’re going to change your mind.” “Maybe. You’ll just have to try again on my next visit.” She couldn’t imagine spending such time with any of the stable’s other clients. But, with Robert, it just felt right. It was not that he was only breathtakingly attractive. It was the way he carried himself around her. He was so confident, yet so open. He made her feel like she was the only person in the world when they talked. Each time he visited, they would talk for hours after she briefed him on the horses. He loved to listen to her speak about her love of the horses, her family, her faith in God. He often told her of the business deals he was pursuing, even going so far as to ask her advice from time to time. He found her perspective refreshing and often caught himself wondering what she would think in a particular situation. “Do you at least want to help me brush him? You have no relationship with this horse,” she chastised, not hiding her distaste for his attitude toward his horses. “Would that make you happy?” he asked, smiling at her from where he leaned against the fence. “For now,” she smiled back at him. “Then hand the brush over,” he said as he pushed himself away from the fence and closed the distance between them. As he reached to take the brush from her

hands, their fingers touched. The spark of electricity that she felt startled Ashley so much that she dropped the brush. He bent to pick it up. When he stood again and his eyes met hers, Ashley knew that he had felt it too. He didn’t say anything. He simply stepped toward the horse and began to move the brush over him. However, he had none of the gentleness that Ashley did. His movements were abrupt and mechanical. He was focused though, so focused that he didn’t notice how amused Ashley was until she began to laugh. “What’s so funny?” he asked, not at all sure what had caused her to lose her composure. “You, doing that,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “I’m doing what you did,” he said, a bit defensive. “No, you really are not,” she giggled. “I’ll show you.” She reached out and placed her hand over his on the brush, leaning close to him so that they could work together. Touching his skin sent a tingle down her arm that made her toes curl. She gulped. “Just do as I do,” she encouraged as she began to move her hand slowly and rhythmically. “Okay,” he said, unsure of how to process the emotions inside of him. Having her so close, her hand on top of his, was simply magical. He had avoided such situations for as long as he could remember. Feelings like the ones he was having in that moment were a distraction he couldn’t afford in his line of work. To maintain his success, he needed to be free of such distractions. He had dated, of course. He dated often, in fact. He just never dated anyone who mattered. He never allowed himself to be the one who cared the most. He simply chose women who fit well into his life. He dated them until he could feel them beginning to get attached to him, then he would end it without a second thought.

But Ashley was another thing entirely. They had never even seen each other outside of the stables. It was madness that she meant what she did to him, but he couldn’t deny it. She was like an escape for him. With her, he didn’t need to be the powerful billionaire. He could just be Robert. Standing there with her hand on his, doing something as simple as brushing a horse, was more of a connection than he ever remembered having to any of the women he had dated. He leaned in, inhaling her scent as they worked. Ashley felt it too, though she was no more willing to admit it than he was. The moment she placed her hand on his, she had wondered if it was a mistake. It was not a line that she would have crossed with anyone but Robert. Usually, when she was at the stable, all she focused on was the horses. The owners were just a necessary evil. Yet, it was so easy to forget that Robert was a billionaire; that he was one of the men who saw the horses as nothing but a profit margin. Now and then she thought she saw a glimmer of something more. It was why she pushed him about riding. Something inside of her told her that he could love the horses just like she did, if only he would allow himself. They both lost themselves in the moment, brushing Loki and enjoying the slightest, sweetest of touches. They both had a thousand other things to be doing. In any other moment, they would have rushed on. Instead, they lingered, savoring the closeness of the moment. How long they might have gone on, neither of them would know because Martin Whittington ruined it all. “Well, how much does one have to pay to get a private lesson in how to brush a horse from the lead trainer?” he asked as he sauntered up to them. “Mr. Whittington,” Ashley said, the only greeting she

could muster. All she wanted was to go back to the peaceful moment she and Robert had been sharing before he interrupted. “Martin,” Robert snapped, clearly as frustrated as she was. “King,” Whittington looked at Robert as if they were opponents about to enter the boxing ring. “You’re here quite a bit. Has your firm let you go?” “I could say the same about you,” the other man grinned. “Is he bothering you, Ashley? If so, don’t worry. He usually bounces his attention from one woman to another quite quickly. He’ll be out of your hair in no time.” “You should watch your words,” Robert frowned. “Learn to take a joke, King. Ashley has quite the sense of humor. Have you noticed? Her laughter is quite infectious. It’s one of the reasons I visit so often,” he said as if she weren’t standing right there. “Do you have a meeting with Mr. Sarver?” Ashley asked, doing her best to diffuse the situation. She just wanted Whittington to leave. “Yes. I’m thinking of adding a few more animals to my collection,” he said, making her skin crawl. He spoke of them as if they were ceramic figurines instead of living things. “He’s in the office,” she said as Whittington’s eyes wandered over her. He didn’t hide his appraisal of her form and it made her uncomfortable. She felt Robert tense beside her and she was sure he was going to intervene. She stuck her hand out, resting it on his arm as though to let him know that she had the situation under control. “What are you doing here, King?” Whittington asked, unable to take the hint to leave. “I’m here to look after my investment,” he said, doing his

best to keep his temper in check. “Do horse trainers also count as an investment?” he said, his eyes on Ashley as he spoke. “How dare you?” Robert growled. “It was only a joke,” Whittington said, though there was no humor in his eyes. “Robert, it’s okay,” she whispered, trying to keep him calm. “So, he’s Robert, is he? Does that mean you’ll start calling me Martin now?” Whittington asked, raising his eyebrows. “Not today, Mr. Whittington,” she said. “One day, soon. Perhaps to make it up to you for this bad joke, I can take you to dinner,” he said blatantly in front of Robert. “No, thank you,” she said. “Mr. Sarver’s leaving for the livestock auction soon. If you want to catch him before he leaves, you should head in now,” she offered, again trying to give him a graceful out. She just wanted him gone and she was running out of ideas. Dodging his advances was exhausting on any day. It was only made worse now because he had spoiled the sweetness of the moment she’d been sharing with Robert. No matter how confusing the attraction between them was, she wanted to savor every moment of it. “I suppose I should. I’ll be seeing you again soon, Ashley,” he said with a leering grin. “King,” he said as he nodded to Robert before taking his leave. “I’m really sorry. His words were totally inappropriate.” “Thank you, Robert. Tell me, is he always such a creep or does he reserve those parts of himself for my benefit?” Ashley asked as she rolled her eyes, glad that he was finally out of earshot. “I find he’s always a bit of a leach.” His earlier tension

was gone. It seemed that knowing she was not at all interested in Whittington was all that he needed to relax. The thought was not unappealing to her. She allowed herself to think for a moment that he might actually feel for her what she felt for him. “The two of you aren’t involved then? When he spoke of this place to me initially, he made it sound as if you two had some sort of relationship,” he asked, watching her closely. It was something he’d thought of often since first meeting her. After getting to know her, he had very much doubted it was the truth but hearing her deny it would finally put the thought out of his head completely. “Oh, my Goodness,” she gasped, laughing at the absurdity of it. “I mean, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he would say something like that. He’s not exactly subtle, the way he comes by here all the time and the kinds of things he says to me. It’s just so ludicrous.” The thought of being involved with Martin Whittington disgusted her. “There are those who would say he’s a handsome man,” Robert said, his eyes still trained on her as he gauged her response to his words. “Handsome, maybe, but certainly not attractive. At least, not to me,” she snorted, unable to hide her amusement. The possibility of Robert being jealous made her heart sing. “There’s nothing real about him, nothing solid.” “Most people would look past that given how rich he is.” “I’m sure that there are any number of women who would agree with that. I’m not one of them. I don’t care one whit for how big his bank account is. He’s a one-dimensional person. All he does is get in the way of my work when he drops by,” she said, shaking her head. Until meeting Robert, she’d thought that all the owners just got in the way. He was different, though. She knew it in her heart.

“He doesn’t seem to notice that. Have you asked him to leave you alone?” he asked. Seeing that she was so immune to the things that usually drew women to Whittington fascinated him. Perhaps that was why the other man pursued her so desperately. He’d never experienced a woman who didn’t throw herself in his arms before and he saw it as playing hard to get. “I’ve never encouraged him, but I haven’t been rude to him either. I love his horses. Jackson and Knight are special. If he takes them somewhere else, I’m afraid that they’ll end up at one of the corporate stables. Those animals are all heart. An environment like that would kill them,” she said, shivering at the thought. “You’re a remarkably caring woman.” “Thank you,” she said, blushing at his compliment. Something in the way he looked at her took her breath away.

Chapter 5

“Your fella just pulled up,” her boss called across the stable yard one sunny afternoon as he saw Whittington’s car. “Don’t joke about that. You know I would never date one of the owners. Besides, don’t you have some sort of rule against that?” she asked. If she were to date an owner, it would never be Martin Whittington. But there was one owner her mind drifted to at the thought. “For you, my dear, I would make an exception. You have the good sense not to fall in love with a fool. That rule existed to protect us from the likes of them,” he said with an amused smile. “That Robert King, though, he certainly seems to have a good head on his shoulders and I’ve noticed that he comes to check on his investments quite a lot.” The smirk on his face told her just how humorous he found it, but she couldn’t laugh with him. “Just like any other horse owner could do,” she said, a bit defensive. She didn’t like being teased about Robert because she was not entirely sure what it was she felt for the man. Still, she couldn’t deny that her heart skipped a beat each time she saw him coming toward her. “I’ll leave you to it, then,” Mr. Sarver said before his expression turned sad. “When you’re done, come see me in my office. I have a few things I need to go over with you.” Ashley could tell by his expression that something wasn’t right. She wanted to push him further, but Whittington was quickly approaching and it was her job to update him on the horses. “Ashley,” he said, tipping the brim of his cowboy hat toward her. “Mr. Whittington.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Martin. After all, we are friends now, aren’t we?” he asked, standing just a bit too close for comfort. “I think you’ll have to ask me at least one more time,” she replied, trying to hide her discomfort. “Then I suppose I’ll have to come check on my horses again soon.” “I can take you to see them right now, if you’d like,” she offered, knowing that he cared little for the animals. “No, that’s alright. I can manage myself. I’ll see you again before I leave, though,” he said, striding off in his cowboy boots, far too clean to convey the look of actual belonging that he was striving for. As soon as he was on his way, she turned to go to Mr. Sarver’s office. She couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever he wanted to discuss with her was not good news. Ashley walked in to find him pouring over his ledgers, worry etched on his face. “What did you want to talk to me about?” “Sit down, my dear,” he said. She knew that something must be truly wrong because she had not sat down in his office since the day he hired her. “Tell me. What’s wrong?” she asked, her mind racing. He was an old man. What if he was sick? What if the business was failing? Did he plan to let her go? “Nothing’s wrong, really. Grace is having a baby,” he said, though his voice lacked the joy one would expect from a man announcing that his only daughter was going to have his first grandchild. “That is good news, isn’t it?” “It is. It’s the happiest news that we’ve had in a long time. But her husband’s still in the service. He’s going to be deployed in a few months. She’ll be alone.” “I’m so sorry.”

“Janie thinks we should go there for her,” he began, then stopped as if he were trying to find the right words. “You should! I can hold down the fort here for a few months while you help her,” Ashley offered, relieved that was all it was. “No, my dear. You don’t understand. Janie thinks she and I should move to Florida permanently to be there for Grace and the baby. She thinks the child will need its grandparents around.” “What does that mean?” she asked, although the sinking feeling in her stomach told her that she already knew the answer. “We’re going to sell this place and go. I hate to do it. This place and these horses have been my life for more than 50 years. Still, it’s the right thing. I know that,” he said, looking torn up about it. “If it’s the right thing for your family, then I’m happy for you.” She tried to keep her emotions in check. He’d done too much for her over the years. She couldn’t make him feel guilty for this decision, no matter how much it hurt her. “I’ll do my best to find a new owner who’ll run the place like I did, putting the animals first. You’ll keep your job. It’ll be a part of the sales contract.” “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” “It’ll all work out, my girl. I promise,” he said as she stood and hugged her close. “I’ll be sending a letter to all of the horses’ owners letting them know what is afoot. Maybe one of them will buy the place and let you run it as we have.” “I can’t see any of them really understanding what it is that makes this place magical,” she said, tears threatening. “You never know. They may surprise us.” He looked as

though he doubted this possibility as much as she did. “I know,” she said. “I need to get back to work now. Thank you, Mr. Sarver. Thank you for everything,” she added as she gave him one more squeeze before rushing out the door to keep him from seeing her tears. She was in such a hurry that she burst out of the door and ran directly into Robert King with a thud. She began to fall backwards, but his strong arms shot out and grabbed her, pulling her close to keep her from tumbling to the stable floor. “Are you okay?” he asked, looking at her with genuine concern. She’d never stood so close to him before and his scent surrounded her. She was surprised by just how much she wanted to stay in his arms; to have him comfort her. “I’m fine. I have to go,” she said as she tried to pull away, turning her face to keep him from seeing the tears welling in her eyes. He kept his tight grip on her shoulders, not allowing her to move an inch. He’d never seen her upset before. Even when he arrived to find her working with a difficult horse, she looked joyful. But now, he could read the pure heartbreak on her face. He’d never asked her if she had a man in her life. Frankly, he had not wanted to know. He enjoyed their time together too much. Being with her was like an escape from the craziness of his life in the city. He didn’t want to think about what her life was like outside of their moments together if it meant facing that she had a boyfriend in her life. However, if that man was foolish enough to make her cry, that couldn’t be ignored. He couldn’t allow this woman, whom he had come to care for so deeply, to be hurt in any way, by anyone. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong,” he said, his eyes never leaving her face as he

waited for her answer. “I guess you’ll know soon enough,” she said, turning her head back to face him. “Mr. Sarver has to sell the stable.” Saying the words out loud made it feel all too real. “Is that all?” he blurted out without thinking, relieved that it was a business matter and not a personal one that had her so upset. “Is that all?” she snapped. “It’ll change everything. This place will cease to be.” “I doubt that very much. It’s a solid business model with a large number of established clients. Someone will buy it and I suspect he’ll make a handsome profit when he sells it,” he said, now in full business mode. “That’s just what I’m afraid of. Do you understand what makes this place so special?” she asked, shaking her head in frustration. “You do. The work you do here is remarkable. You’re a nationally respected horse trainer. I’m sure that whoever takes the place over will keep you on. They may even invest more in the place than Sarver did,” he said, still confused by her emotional reaction. “I don’t make this place special. The way Mr. Sarver runs it does. The horses come before the bottom line. No place else runs like that. What matters the most here is that the animals are happy and healthy. That’s why they thrive here,” she said, smiling sadly as she thought of all the difficult animals who had suffered at other, more corporate stables. Those animals had thrived upon coming to them and that was what made her job so rewarding. “There’s no sin in profit.” “No, but there is sin in treating beautiful, living things as if their only value were a dollar,” she said, wishing that she could find a way to make him see.

“I’m sure everything’s going to be alright.” He wasn’t sure how to comfort her, though he very much wanted to. “He’s going to send all of you owners a letter explaining the situation. He actually thinks one of you may buy the place. He thinks that’s the best option,” she explained with a derisive snort. “It would be. There would be minimal change in operation if things were taken over by someone who already believes in the systems you use.” “No, it wouldn’t be. The owners here don’t see these horses the way Mr. Sarver does. They see them as bottom lines and finish lines.” “They are profit sources but there have to be those who see that there is merit in your way of handling them.” “I really hope so,” she said, trying to convince herself it might be possible as she pulled away from him. “I have to go. I have a lot to think about.” “What is it that you need to think about?” he asked, suddenly worried. “If things change here, I will not be able to stay. I won’t work at a corporate stable. I won’t be party to that,” she said, her mind already made up. “You would really go if the wrong person bought this place?” he asked, unable to comprehend that she would make such a rash decision. It was even harder to imagine the stable without her. He’d come to rely on her presence there. It was a kind of retreat for him. “Yes, I would,” she said before turning and walking away from him. Thinking that she might walk away forever upset him. She didn’t belong to him, but he suddenly realized that he couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. All he could think about was preserving what he had found there with her, no matter what the cost.

Chapter 6

Ashley walked slowly down the stable, taking a moment to stop at each stall and dote on the horse inside. She loved them all so much and felt as though they were hers. It was her who spent hours a day with them. It was her who saw them through their illnesses and injuries. But that didn’t matter. In the end, they were not hers. She had no power to protect them anymore. The decisions about their future were in the hands of others and she feared that they were tied to money much more than the best interests of the animals. The only decision that she could control was whether she stayed at Sunny Grove after Mr. Sarver left or not. Under his management, it was a place where she thrived. In every other job, she’d been forced to choose between her love of the animals and the bottom line. Owner after owner had instructed her to push the animals beyond their limit so that they might have one record breaking season, the kind that made their offspring valuable for a lifetime. They didn’t care at all about the physical toll it would take on the animals. She couldn’t justify the lifetime of pain they would endure if she pushed them too hard at a young age. That was why she had left many jobs before. Working for Mr. Sarver had been her dream. Now, though, things were different. She had a national reputation. People respected her skills. There might not be many in the industry who cared for the horses in the way she did, but there were enough. All she needed was a handful of owners who felt like she did. She had saved up enough to open a small place of her own. She wouldn’t be able to work with the number of animals she did at Sunny Grove, or with the high caliber animals, but

that didn’t matter much. All she wanted was to wake up each morning and feel like she was doing her best for the animals in her care. She hated the thought of leaving Sunny Grove but she knew that it was not likely she could stay. The person who bought it would have to have quite a bit of money to invest and they would expect an immediate return on that investment. Money would come first and she couldn’t stand it. If she was to be completely honest with herself, the other reason she hated to think of leaving had nothing to do with the horses. If she left Sunny Grove, she would never see Robert King again. Somehow, in just a short time, he had come to mean something to her. She looked forward to their times together and, every now and then, she believed that she saw signs that he enjoyed her company as well. She was not naive enough to think that a man like Robert King was interested in her romantically, but being around him allowed her to keep dreaming. If she left Sunny Grove, that would be the end of everything. There was no other unifying factor in their lives. She didn’t belong in his world and he didn’t belong in hers. If not for the horses, she would never even have met him. She allowed herself to hope for a moment that he might bring his horses to her, wherever she ended up. He respected her connection with them. That much was true. But animals like his needed to be at a stable with a reputation. He couldn’t take a chance on her. She knew that. Still, the hope was there. As she reached the end of the aisle, she saw Mr. Sarver’s office door open. Out stepped Robert King and it occurred to her for a moment that perhaps she had been thinking about him so hard that she imagined him. It was not until she smelled his familiar cologne as he walked

toward her that she knew it was truly him. “Ashley,” he said with a grin. He was clearly quite pleased about something. “Robert, I owe you an apology. I am so sorry that I was rude to you the other day. I’d just had a lot on my mind,” she said, embarrassed that he’d seen her cry. “No, you don’t,” he shook his head. Her tears were the last thing he wanted to think about when he knew he was about to make her smile. “I have news for you,” he went on, totally confident in the joy he was about to bring her. “What’s that?” she asked, skeptical. He was one of the few people who had no trouble making her smile, but she was just too upset to think about what it was he might have to say. “I just had a meeting with Sarver,” he said, gesturing toward the old man’s office. The negotiation had been short. Mr. Sarver had clearly set the amount he wanted to get for the stable in his mind. When Robert offered him 25% above market value, he said nothing more than “Deal!” Then, he’d smiled at Robert as if they shared some sort of secret. That, Robert hadn’t understood. It didn’t matter, though. The stable was his and he was going to keep Ashley in his life. That was all he cared about. “Why?” After a long pause, he revealed “I’m going to buy Sunny Grove!” “No, you aren’t,” she said, not allowing herself to believe it. She knew he appreciated the work they did there. He had told her as much time and time again. He might be a bit more profit-driven than Mr. Sarver, but he knew what was important about Sunny Grove. A part of her wondered if she had anything to do with his decision to buy the stable. It made her heart flutter to think that he

might have done it because she’d been so upset at the thought of the place she loved so deeply falling into the wrong hands. It seemed silly and illogical, but she could not think of any other reason for him to do such a thing. After all, he did business in the billions. He had no need to add a small stable to his vast empire. It would barely be a blip on his financial map. For her, though, it meant the world and he knew it. “I assure you I am, contingent upon you remaining in your position as head trainer,” he said, taking a step closer and smiling down at her. “Why would you do that?” She tried to tell herself that what mattered was that the stables were safe not why he did it. But she couldn’t stop her traitorous heart from whispering that he’d done it for her. She needed to hear him say the words, no matter how silly and sentimental it made her. “This place has something special,” he said, his eyes fixed on her face. It was not the stables he spoke of, it was her. He couldn’t tell her that, though. What if she didn’t feel the same? He knew that she enjoyed his company more than Whittington’s and the moments they spent together gave him hope that she might see in him something more than a client. But how could he be sure? If she felt nothing for him, telling her that he was going to spend millions of dollars just to make her happy might put pressure on her and scare her away. “You’re being serious, aren’t you?” she asked once again, gazing up at him in amazement. “I’m always serious about my investments,” he answered, trying to keep his tone business-like. “Investment?” she hesitated. She’d assumed when he told her the news that he was doing it to preserve Sunny Grove as it was. The word investment changed that. If

that was his end game, if that was why he cared, then he might be more dangerous to her home than any of the others. At least with them she knew what they wanted. Him, though, he made her doubt herself. He made her think he was something more. “Yes, with my business insight and your horse sense we’ll be the most successful stable in the nation,” he said, only adding to her worry. “I’ll handle all of the business decisions. You’ll train the animals. We’ll get you a larger staff and add on to the stable. We could triple the number of horses trained here in 2 months’ time,” he boasted, clearly having thought out his plan for the stable well beyond just saving it. It was then that she felt her heart grow cold, knowing that he’d done none of it for her. It was all because he saw a way to make profit and she would just be a cog in that wheel to him. He spoke like all the other stable owners she’d worked for before, interested only in status and prestige. “But they won’t get the one on one attention they do now. No staff will have a real relationship with them,” she countered. “Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said about what makes this place special?” she asked him, her eyes pleading with him to understand her meaning. “Of course I have. That doesn’t mean we cannot improve upon it,” he said. Whittington’s sudden appearance couldn’t have been less timely. “I’ve heard the news. You’re fast, King. From not having heard of this place to becoming the owner in just a few months. Quite impressive!” he teased Robert. “Isn’t that what we always do, Whittington? As soon as we spot a good business opportunity, we jump at it. That’s why we are where we are, right?” Robert forced

himself to sound indifferent. “On top of the world. You’re right about that, my friend,” Whittington chuckled mischievously. Robert looked back at Ashley. Listening to the man she’d fallen in love with talk like that about Sunny Grove broke her heart. The image of Robert and Whittington on top of the world flashed before her eyes. How could she come to believe that there was something special about him? That he could change his priorities for her? She couldn’t fool herself any longer. “I’m leaving. I’ll leave the day the deed is signed. Consider this my notice,” she said turning abruptly and heading for the closest stall. Inside, she found Loki and grabbed his harness. She didn’t bother to put a saddle on him. There wasn’t time for that and she was a strong enough rider to go bareback. She simply threw herself onto the back of the magnificent animal and urged him toward the open stable door. “Ashley, wait,” King said as she moved the beast past him. “Come and get me then,” she yelled over her shoulder as she left him behind. “Oh, wait, you can’t ride,” she taunted as they cleared the stable door and the fresh air hit her face. This might be, she knew, the last time that she would get to ride Loki and she wanted to enjoy every moment of it. She gave herself over to the pleasure, moving as though she were one with the animal. “Ashley,” he called after her, his voice laced with frustration. She was having none of it. She pushed the horse on, letting him run wild as they moved across the landscape surrounding the stable. Her heart was so full of the joy of the ride and the sadness of knowing it would all soon be gone that she couldn’t fight the tears. She let her

emotions and the horse run free, doing all she could to savor what time she had left there.

Chapter 7

The next day, Robert arrived at the stable to make his payment. Though he’d told Ashley his deal was contingent upon her staying, he decided to go ahead with it any way. It would be profitable regardless, but, most importantly, he still hoped she would change her mind. “Sarver,” he said as he entered the office, check in hand. “Mr. King,” Sarver rose from his desk to meet him. “I have your payment in full.” “Thank you,” the old man said, having none of the joy one would expect from someone who had just been given a check for millions of dollars. “Thank you. It’s a solid investment for me,” Robert said, though his visions for the future of the place had dimmed without Ashley. “Ah,” Sarver looked at him with pity in his eyes. “What?” Robert demanded. He was not a man who endured anyone’s pity. “Is that what you said to her?” Sarver asked, his eyes now twinkling with the mischief of a young boy. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Then why don’t you tell me what you said to convince my best trainer to quit when ownership changes hands,” Sarver looked at him as if he were behaving like a child. “I did nothing. She blew up over nothing,” Robert confessed, throwing his hands in the air in impotence as he remembered every detail of their conversation. “I just wanted to talk to her about my business plan.” “Then, perhaps it wasn’t about what you said but what you didn’t say, my boy,” Sarver suggested, looking like a wise old sage. Robert couldn’t deny the desire to confess

all to the man in front of him. After all, he’d known Ashley for years. He was like a father to her. “What do you mean?” “Why did you really buy the stable?” “I don’t understand.” “I’ve been observing you two. I’ve seen the way you look at her. This is not only about money, right?” Sarver gave him a fatherly look. Taken aback by the old man’s frankness, Robert remained silent for a moment. “She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. I just want her to be happy,” he finally said. “I know you do. And that’s exactly my point,” Sarver looked pleased with his answer. “Just tell her.” “Tell her what?” Robert raised his eyebrows. “What you just told me.” “Just like that? But what if she doesn’t feel the same way about me?” While listening to the words coming out of his mouth, Robert couldn’t recognize himself. His naturally unassuming self-confidence faded under the weight of the recognition that he cared for Ashley much more than he’d even realized before she decided to leave. “She’s crazy for you, you fool,” Sarver said with a wink. “Are you sure?” “I’ve known the girl for years. I’ve never seen her look at a man like she looks at you.” “I have to go find her.” “Well, what in the world are you waiting for,” Sarver said with a laugh. “She’s out in the corral.”

*****

Robert rushed from the office and found Ashley in moments. She kept herself busy polishing the saddle she

had just taken off his horse. “Are you alright?” he asked, taking a step closer. “I always find a way to be alright.” “I owe you an apology. I was wrong. I was so wrong. I should have just told you the truth.” “The truth about what?” “About why I am buying this place.” “You were really clear about that.” She had no strength to fight with him again. “I did it for you.” He looked as if he had more to say but couldn’t find the words. “What do you mean?” she asked, her heart racing. “I did it because I was afraid that you would leave.” “Because I’m having success with your horses?” She pressed her lips together as she struggled to keep the tears at bay. “No,” he said slowly. “I didn’t do it for my horses. I did it for me.” He took her face in his hands before he continued: “I love you. I couldn’t watch you walk away. I’ve been waiting so long for you to walk into my life and then I was so close to ruining everything. I’m so sorry. We won’t change a thing here. You can run it however you want. Just don’t go. Don’t leave me, please,” he said, practically begging. “You love me?” she gasped, too shocked to say more. It was all that she wanted, but it seemed so unreal that she had to pinch herself to believe it. “With all of my heart. I need you in my life, much more than you can even imagine.” “I love you too, Robert King,” she whispered, staring into his eyes. He gathered her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back, finally allowing herself to believe that he was truly

hers. Robert broke the kiss for a moment. “When is my first riding lesson?” Her lips split into a beaming grin. “We’re starting in five minutes,” she said as she pulled his head closer and continued kissing him.

Coming on June 27, 2017: LEGAL LOVE

After graduating law school, Grace Douglas is forced to make one of the hardest decisions of her life. Instead of taking a job at a non-profit firm, defending humanitarian causes and the environment, as she had originally dreamed, she takes a job working for billionaire Richard De Marco. De Marco’s reputation as a ruthless businessman is well deserved and Grace is hesitant to work for him, but she is desperate to help her parents save their business and pay off the loans they took to help her pay for school. Despite their deep differences, De Marco and Grace are instantly drawn to each other. Their connection grows stronger and he attempts to mould her to fit into his world. Determined to hold tight to her values, Grace pushes him away. But De Marco is used to getting what he wants. Will Grace’s loyalty to her ideals break their bond forever or will it inspire De Marco and melt his ruthless heart?

Sneak peek: Legal Love

Chapter 1

Grace stared at herself in the mirror of her tiny apartment bathroom and inhaled deeply. Her shiny dark hair was tucked back in a neat professional bun, her sharp green eyes hidden behind thick black glasses. She looked every bit the professional and for that she was glad. It was a big day, after all, and she needed to look the part. She was dressed in her best and only suit; doing everything she could to make herself feel confident. She had just gotten herself calmed down when she heard her phone chime. She looked down to see a text from her mom that read, “You’ve got this. They’re lucky to have you. I love you, baby!” Grace couldn’t help but smile. No matter how old she got, knowing that her mom would always be in her corner helped. All through college and law school, her parents had never missed the opportunity to tell her how proud they were of her. They had worked endless long nights over the years to give her the best life they could. It was for them that she had made the decision she had and there was no going back now. After all, they had only ever taken a loan against their business to help her get her education. She gripped the sink tightly and said out loud, “You can do this Grace! It’s not just for you. You need this job to help them. Be brave.” During her subway ride to the office she reviewed the research files she had prepared about the company. It had been founded a little over a decade ago by Richard

De Marco. In that time, it had grown from the smallest of operations to the largest firm on Wall Street. Mr. De Marco was known for being ruthless. It was a reputation he’d earned through countless hostile takeovers of companies and thousands of ruined lives. He was not a man to be trifled with and he was not a man she could ever really respect. Still, his firm needed a lawyer and she needed a job. She’d graduated law school only a month before, but she couldn’t wait for the job of her dreams. Grace needed to repay her debts and a year of working at De Marco Inc. would allow her to do that and more. She’d prayed about it often in the weeks of decision making and she knew in her heart that it was the right thing to do. The building was intimidating, one of the tallest in the city’s skyline. But she didn’t allow that to discourage her as she walked up the subway stairs and caught a glimpse of it towering above her. She simply held her head high and entered the lobby, where she was greeted by a perky blonde. “Are you Grace Douglas?” she asked as she approached her. “I am,” Grace maintained her air of confidence. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. The whole team is really excited to have you on board. My name is Jill. I’m the office manager for the legal department,” the woman explained as she led her toward the elevators. “Have you worked here long?” Grace asked, trying to sound conversational. “Nobody works here long,” the blonde said, not at all reassuringly.

“That sounds ominous.” “You seem like a nice girl, so I’m just going to be honest with you. To stay here longer than a year, you would have to be a sociopath. The kind of work we do here, it wears on a person. We all reach our breaking point eventually, some project Mr. De Marco insists on that we just can’t do. For the guy before you, it was taking the state to court for the right to drill for oil in a nature preserve. The girl before him left when he asked her to help steal an author’s rights to her own work.” “That’s horrible,” Grace gasped, unable to hide her disgust. “Yes, it is,” Jill said with a sad smile. “Does Mr. De Marco care at all that his whole legal department keeps leaving?” Grace wondered how she was going to manage to stay there long enough to save the money she needed to help her family. “I would be shocked if he had even noticed. I’ve been here six months and he still doesn’t know my name. I’m sure of it.” “How have you stayed here this long?” Grace found it hard to imagine anyone enduring the kind of work environment that was being described to her. “My husband’s sick. He can’t work and his treatments are so expensive. I can’t leave here until I can find a job with benefits as good as the ones we have here. Richard De Marco may be ruthless, but we have amazing healthcare,” Jill said, sadness shining in her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” Grace replied, not sure how to comfort the other woman. As she often did, her hand went to the

cross around her neck, her own source of comfort. “I didn’t tell you any of this so that you would feel sorry for me.” “Then why did you tell me?” “I told you because I saw your resume. You did all your internships and volunteer work at law firms dedicated to environmental causes and human rights issues. You seem like a very moral person. I know you wouldn’t have taken a job like this if you didn’t need it. I know what that feels like. I wanted to warn you.” The woman rested her hand on Grace’s shoulder. “Thank you,” Grace said, an involuntary shudder rolling through her body. “You’ll do well. I promise. Anything you need, I’m here for you,” Jill reached out and squeezed her hand. “I really hope so. You’re right. I really need this job.” “If you play your cards right, you’ll have what you need and be done here before Mr. De Marco even notices you.” “I really hope so.” Grace squared her shoulders and followed Jill out of the elevators. “That is your desk, over there.” The woman gestured to the desk nearest to the window. “Take a few moments to get settled, then we’ll be briefing Mr. De Marco on the status of current projects. Don’t worry. You’ll just be observing. You’ll stand in the back with me and he won’t even notice you’re there. That way, you can get a feel for how things operate around here,” Jill explained. “All right,” Grace answered, walking to her desk and sitting down to admire the view. Quickly, she reached in

her bag and pulled out the framed photo of her parents. As she sat it on her desk, she knew that she would need it there, as inspiration, as she worked in this terrible place. Still, it was only one year. One year there would solve everything. She could put up with anything for a year. Soon enough, Jill came to grab her and she followed the rest of her new co-workers in the legal department toward the boss’s office. She had thought that the rest of the building was impressive, but it was nothing compared to Richard De Marco’s office. Three of the walls were glass and it took out upon the city beneath. They were so high up that the people on the street looked like ants. In the center was a massive desk of dark mahogany, intricately carved. At the desk sat the most attractive man that Grace had ever seen. Mr. De Marco didn’t look up as they entered. It was as though he couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge their presence. His rudeness allowed her to study him, though, without fear of detection, as the rest of her coworkers stood nervously around her, not looking directly at their employer. His broad shoulders filled out his designer suit impeccably. His jet-black hair was perfectly in place as he continued to scribble notes furiously onto the legal pad beside his computer. Suddenly, his head snapped up. It was as though he were a predator who had just sensed prey nearing him. His head swung around and his gaze locked with hers. His eyes were the deepest shade of grey she had ever seen. There was something mesmerizing about them. All she wanted to do was break their connection and look away, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. As a wolfish

grin began to play upon his lips, she knew that she was in trouble. Her plans to stand in the back and blend into the wall during this first meeting were ruined now. Mr. De Marco had most definitely noticed her. “Jennifer,” he said, speaking to Jill. “Did I know we were getting a new girl?” he asked, his eyes returning to Grace. “Yes, Sir. You signed off on her resume last week,” she answered, not even mentioning that he had called her by the wrong name. “Right, the bleeding heart,” he said, his eyes studying Grace as he spoke. “What’s your name, again?” “It’s Grace Douglas,” she answered, trying to hide her annoyance at his appraisal of her work with worthy causes as “bleeding heart” interests. “Well, Grace Douglas, will you be staying in my legal department longer than a week?” he asked with a smirk as though he were trying to push her buttons. “I plan to,” she answered, not leaving her spot at the back of the group in the hope that he would forget about her and return to the business at hand. “Don’t hide behind the others. Come to the front. I have a right to get to know my new employee,” he ordered, his tone far more demanding than she would have liked. Had they been in any other situation, she would have refused out of spite. Still, he was her boss and he was right, he had a right to know more about her. “Of course, Mr. De Marco,” she said as she made her way to the front of his desk. “So why does someone who is out to save the world want

to work for me?” he asked, rising from his desk and coming to stand in front of her. Though he towered over her, she refused to be intimidated. “I needed a job. You had a job open,” she said, her chin held high as she spoke. “At least you’re honest. The last new one told me that he was here to learn from my ‘brilliant example.’ Those were the exact words he tried to impress me with. Do you have any plans to impress me too?” he asked, looking amused. “I plan to impress you with my work, not with compliments,” she answered, doing her best to maintain a calm façade. “I think I’m going to like you, Grace Douglas,” he said with a nod. “Jessica, make sure this one lasts more than a week, will you?” he asked as he winked at Grace. She wasn’t sure whether to giggle or slap him, but instead she returned to her spot at the back of the group. “Yes, Sir,” Jill said as she stared in awe at Mr. De Marco. “In fact, I need one of you to accompany me to my meeting with Farrell tomorrow, to be a legal witness to our meeting so that I have someone to corroborate anything he may say to me. Grace, it’ll be you. Tomorrow at 1:00. You’ll meet me here in the office at 12:45. Don’t be late,” he warned, his eyes never leaving her. “Sir, perhaps you should take one of the more experienced members of the team,” said Bill Jenkins, a man she recognized from her interview process. “Are you questioning me Biff?” Mr. De Marco snapped, glaring at the other man.

“Never, Sir,” he replied automatically. “Good answer. Grace, here, tomorrow, 12:45. Not a minute late,” he repeated. “You’re all dismissed.” With that, he returned to his desk and his eyes never rose again from his computer screen as they left the room. Grace sat down in her chair with a thud. She wasn’t entirely sure what to make of her first meeting with Richard De Marco. She wasn’t reassured when she saw Jill rushing toward her desk with a look of concern on her face. “How are you feeling?” Jill asked, eyeing her like a mother hen. “I’m fine,” Grace answered, hoping that her apprehension wasn’t clear on her face. “I’ve never seen him even notice a new employee before. I’m sorry I didn’t prepare you for that. I had no idea.” “It’s really alright,” Grace said, forcing a smile. Then, though, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why don’t any of you correct him when he calls you by the wrong name?” “Because there’s no point in correcting him,” the woman said with a shrug. “He got closer today than he usually does. For a while he called me Maude.” “He called Bill Biff! It just felt like he was doing it on purpose, just to be disrespectful.” “To be honest, he might. He likes to push people, to get a rise out of them. I think it’s his favorite kind of entertainment,” she said, shaking her head in exasperation. It was clear to Grace that Jill was quickly approaching her limits of working there.

“That’s awful.” “If you think that’s awful, just wait until your lunch tomorrow.” “What do you mean?” Grace had been planning to ask Jill later about who this Farrell person was, but since she had brought up the lunch, she pushed forward. “Mr. Farrell is a computer programmer. He designed some kind of app that could be the next Facebook or Twitter. Mr. De Marco is trying to take his company from him. He nearly has enough stock to do it. You’re going to be his witness, in case Mr. Farrell threatens him or something. If he does, then Mr. De Marco can sue him and he won’t even need to worry about acquiring any more stock in the company. He’ll just get us to maneuver Mr. Farrell into a position where he has no choice but to sign it over to him.” “I don’t even know what to say,” Grace whispered as she thought about how painful it must have been for Mr. Farrell to face losing his life’s work. “Don’t say anything. Just sit there and hope that he doesn’t push Mr. Farrell over the line,” Jill said as she turned and scurried back to her own desk, leaving Grace’s mind swimming with questions.

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