Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128313 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 513(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
I got what she meant. “We wouldn’t change it for the world, though, right?”
Sage shook her head. “You know I wouldn’t.” She stepped forward and turned to face me with her hand on her hip. “But I have to say, it’s nice to be reminded how fucking hot I look in this getup.”
Sage Miller, everybody, my humble best friend.
The doors opened, and I linked Sage’s arm, pulling her from the elevator. “Come on, hot stuff. We have food trucks and a bar to get to.”
There had been low-level chatting from near the elevator when we exited, but sudden quietness made me glance up. Atticus, Leon, and Jasper were all staring at us. “Um . . . hi,” I said, feeling a blush burst on my cheeks.
Atticus was looking at Sage with blatant hunger in his eyes. Sage ignored him like he wasn’t being obvious in lusting for her.
Leon was smirking at Atticus, covering his amusement with his hand. And then I looked to Jasper. If any of our competitors were to see the way he was staring at me now, pure lust in his midnight gaze, people would instantly know there was something between us.
“You boys like?” Sage asked, twirling around.
“The car’s here,” Atticus said, abruptly turning around. Sage’s expression shuttered a little, and she followed him out, a little less pep in her step. Leon nodded at me and went next. Jasper stepped beside me, not too close, and said, “When I fuck you tonight, you’ll be wearing nothing but those boots and hat, got it?”
Heat built between my legs. “Yes, sir,” I said, and Jasper gestured for me to get in the car first. I made a show of that too, making sure Jasper got a good view of my ass. If his strained breathing was an indication, I’d say I’d been successful.
“What’s he doing here, I wonder?” Atticus said when we were all in the car. I looked out the window to see Jake McGowen walking into reception, looking around him as if he didn’t want to be seen.
I immediately turned to Jasper, whose eyes were locked on his rival. They narrowed when he shook hands with a man I didn’t know. Clearly Jasper did, as he said, “Danny McGuire?”
“Who’s he?” I asked.
Leon was staring at them in interest too. “Irish horse dealer, but of the dodgy kind. Even served time. He has his hands in everything—gambling rings, match fixing, you name it.”
“What did he serve time for?” Sage asked.
“Attacking rival stud farms,” Jasper said, and he quickly took out his cell and texted someone. His private investigator, I supposed.
“The security are at the stables with the horses. I checked in with them not long ago,” Leon said, his suspicious eyes following McGowen’s and McGuire’s retreating backs.
“Since when are they in bed together?” Atticus asked to no one in particular.
“He was close friends with Jake’s father.” Jasper breathed deeply. “I’d have thought Jake would have cut all ties after McGowen senior was sent to prison.”
“Asshole,” Sage said. “What was his father thinking? Why would anyone want to hurt a horse? Especially if it’s your business.”
“Money,” Atticus, Jasper, and Leon all said at the same time.
I sighed, feeling a little antsy. We were the only riders staying at this hotel, aside from some of Team France. And to my horror, Camille Dubois was on the third floor. I didn’t dislike people often, but just knowing she’d been with Jasper killed me.
“The fucker is pissed off,” Atticus said from the back of the car. I smiled at all the men in our little gang wearing plaid shirts and jeans. Their polished brogue shoes weren’t exactly on theme, but it warmed my heart that they’d tried.
Jasper looked hot, of course. He always did. None more so than when he had nothing on at all.
“Why’s he pissed?” Sage asked.
“Because we’re fucking crushing it!” Atticus said, his usual cheeky persona back in place. “Arsehole thought he only had me to go against this year, then two American cowgirls rocked onto the scene and started kicking his arse and stealing all the prize money.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, and I caught Sage smothering her (reluctant) laugh too.
“Look,” Leon suddenly said. We looked to the entrance of the hotel, and Jake and Danny McGuire were there again. Danny was smoking a cigarette, but that’s not what got Leon’s attention. Alexis Hobbs and Camille Dubois walked up to join the men. Jasper had gone rigid. He lifted his phone and took a picture of them together.
We watched them for several minutes, until they walked into the hotel together and entered one of the restaurants.
“Nothing good will come from those four sharing company,” Atticus said.
“Are you worried?” I asked Jasper.
He tipped his head to the side in thought. “More like concerned. They might be just meeting up for a meal, but I want this documented just in case.”