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)
Hallie slowed Huxley from a trot to a walk, and my fists clenched when Camille pointed to Hallie from the stands and said something to Alexis that made them both laugh. Hallie was none the wiser to their cruelty and walked Huxley from the arena and back to the stables. Mila joined her, but I fixed my eyes back on the nightmare trio to keep an eye on them.
I was suddenly happy that I was here. Hallie, as feisty as she was, was a newbie on this tour, and it was my job to keep these people from treating her like shit.
I had to protect her, as her boss, but also because I couldn’t stand her name being sullied because of me.
I needed to get out of here. It was a heady mix, being pissed at Alexis, Camille, and McGowen but so turned on by the sight of Hallie that I felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions. Leaving the box, I walked out of the executive stands to calm myself down.
Flashbacks of my youth circled my mind, Camille Dubois beneath me. Next, Alexis’s knowing glint in her eye when she caught me watching Hallie at Golden Oaks, and finally, McGowen seeking her out just now.
Then, Jasper . . . Jasper! I heard Hallie moan in my mind. I exited the stand and went to the large trailer that held my Knighton Equestrian samples for the teams and sponsors to browse and to order our apparel as their official riding attire next season.
I began to sort through bridles, reins, saddle pads, and bits, just to try to not focus on the fact that at the dinner tonight, the fuckers on this tour would be circling my pretty new riders like sharks smelling fresh blood. I lifted a saddle off the saddle rack and placed it on the mannequin horse. Leaning against it, I said to myself, “You can’t go. You don’t want to go.” But then I pictured what Hallie might be wearing, and that prick McGowen making his play, Alexis and Camille making their move, and it made me spitting mad.
But I would stay away.
I didn’t want to cause a commotion. And I didn’t want to be seen.
My decision was made.
As I knotted my bow tie, I met my reflection in the mirror and spat, “Pathetic.”
Dinner had been going on for ninety minutes, and a single glimpse of Hallie in a floor-length gold dress, her raven hair falling down her back in soft waves, had me abandoning my desk and throwing on the tux I’d brought with me just in case. Atticus had “felt” the need to keep me up to date on my team.
Wanker.
I looked at the picture that now filled my phone screen. In it, Hallie was smiling at Sage, drinking champagne, and looking like she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
When I looked at her, I was fucking breathless. She was stunning. But it was the men in the background subtly checking her out that had my arse moving. Yeah, I was a jealous fucker tonight. And color me surprised because I’d never felt like this before. Toward anyone. But one picture of Hallie Oakley had me dressed in ten minutes flat and taking the elevator down to my private car, ready to smash all my self-imposed rules to smithereens.
I wasn’t even thinking of all the gossip my appearance would cause, the questions that would be pressed upon me. All I could see was raven hair, a golden dress, and a woman that was no fucking one else’s but mine.
In this moment, I was actually questioning my sanity. But the need to be there and make sure no one fucked with her had taken the reins, and I was simply going along for the ride.
Traffic was light, and twenty minutes later, I was walking into the foyer of the arena’s party room. There was only one person out here—Gordon Greenwood, the coach of Team GB, who did a double take when he saw me approaching.
“Jasper?” he said and beelined for me. I shook his hand but readied myself to bypass his questions. “It’s so good to see you, son,” he said, but all I could see was the double doors that hid the dining room from sight.
Atticus had told me the meal had ended, and the mingling and dancing portion of the night had begun. He’d also sent me a line of laughing emojis when I’d told him I was on the way.
“What are you doing here?” Gordon asked.
“I flew out with the team. I wanted to make sure everything was set up and okay.”
He sighed. “No sign of you coming back to us then?” I could hear the edge of hope in his voice. I wanted to say yes, but I’d hardened myself to these questions tonight. I’d prepared myself to not feel pain every time I had to declare I was still retired. One thing I was good at was building high walls around myself to keep people out.