The Forbidden Bride-To-Be. Kathryn Taylor

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      Red and white rosebushes ran the outside perimeter of the house. She stroked her fingers over the velvety petals and inhaled the floral scent. Such beauty hidden from the rest of the world, she thought.

      The deep purple sky silhouetted a stable and paddock in the distance. She sprinted down the driveway, past the six-car garage and along the worn path to the open door. The wooden building smelled of hay, manure and saddle soap, reminding her of the caravan days of childhood she had spent with her mother. An odd sensation, like a low-voltage shock, ran though her as she stepped inside.

      Brass lanterns lit the interior with muted light. The horses shifted nervously at the entrance of a stranger. A chestnut bay poked his nose out of the stall.

      “Hello there, fellow.” She stroked the hair at his forehead. He snorted and bit the apple out of her hand that rested on top of the gate. “Hey, you big thief. That was my dinner.”

      He nudged her shoulder.

      “Too late, you beggar. I ate the other one.”

      She raised to her toes and the animal nuzzled its head against her shoulder. “So, what do you do for fun around here? I know. Not much you can do when you’re closed in by four walls. I quite understand how you feel.”

      She scooted down the concrete center aisle to the next stall. “Hey, girl. Don’t be shy.” She extended her hand and waited for the Appaloosa to come to her. The horse’s eyes looked sad and lonely.

      “So, what’s your problem?” Sophie glanced toward the bay, then back. “Your boyfriend? Just a friend, you say. You have your eye on the Arabian stud?” She sighed. “Stay away from the wild ones. They’ll break your heart every time.”

      The animal’s ears perked up and she tapped her hoof several times.

      “Feeling restless? Why don’t I open all the gates and we’ll make a run for it?”

      “You’ll never clear the wall.”

      At the sound of Alex’s deep voice, Sophie’s breath caught in her throat. She wiped her hands along her jeans and turned to face him. He was leaning against the wall behind her, his arms folded casually over the wide expanse of his chest. A blatantly sexual grin lifted the corners of his mouth.

      “Master Alexander. Please except my humble apologies for missing dinner this evening.”

      He let out a hearty chuckle. “An apology’s not necessary, and call me Alex. I’ve been trying to stop William for the past twenty-five years, but he insists on the formal title.”

      “Okay. Alex.”

      A long silence followed. A few sentences with the man and she had run out of conversation. Her body, on the other hand, had just begun to state its case. Her pulse beat a little faster, her stomach fluttered, and a warm tingling sensation washed over her.

      Her conscience warned her to tell him the truth, but she remained silent. The money Damon would donate to the youth center was one reason, but not the only one. This intense and irrational attraction left her confused, an emotion that led to foolish mistakes. She needed the protection her sham engagement afforded her until she figured out how to control the carnal impulses Alex’s nearness inspired.

      A shove to her back sent her stumbling forward. She steadied herself by grabbing onto Alex’s shoulders. His hands came up to encircle her waist.

      “What the heck...” She glanced back to see the Appaloosa shaking her head.

      “Now, now, Delilah. She’s Damon’s woman. No matchmaking.”

      “Is that what she’s doing?” The animal had good aim—and even better instincts, Sophie decided.

      She held on to Alex longer than necessary. While her mind willed her to step back to regain her senses, her body begged her to stay put, surrounded by warmth, protected by strength.

      Reason prevailed and she wriggled out of his arms. “Sorry.”

      “So, you want to make a break from this place already?” He reached into his vest pocket for a sugar cube and offered it to Delilah.

      Sophie stood next to him and scratched the animal behind the ear. “I was just making conversation with them.”

      “Do you ride?”

      “Yes.”

      “English or Western?”

      “Bareback, mostly.”

      “Really?” He couldn’t keep the surprise from his voice.

      “Really.”

      “You’re welcome to ride while you’re here.”

      “I’d like to.” Sophie smiled at him and Alex was stunned by the way his body reacted to the genuine excitement he saw in her flushed face. “Maybe I’ll get Damon to take me.”

      The mention of his brother deflated some of the air from his ego. “He doesn’t ride. But don’t let that stop you.”

      “I wouldn’t.”

      Alex swallowed a chuckle. He would guess the lady did as she pleased. Not for the first time, he wondered why she had chosen to involve herself with Damon. “I wonder if my brother knows what he’s gotten himself into.”

      “He should. I’ve known him for four years. We have an understanding.”

      He arched his eyebrow. “What kind of understanding?”

      “Obviously not the kind you’re thinking of.” She rolled her eyes. “We have different interests that we pursue separately.”

      “That would explain why he’s at the country club playing racquetball while you’re here trying to incite a rebellion among my horses.”

      Her soft exhale of laughter caressed his cheek. “I couldn’t interest them. They must like living with walls.”

      “Which, I gather, you don’t?”

      “I don’t have to, do I?”

      “My brother seems to think you’re going to settle here after the wedding.” Her guilty expression was telling. He suspected that she and Damon hadn’t synchronized their stories.

      She shrugged and raked a handful of curls from her face. “Actually, we didn’t discuss it. We haven’t had time to figure out our future yet.”

      Nice recovery. She wouldn’t have to worry now if they contradicted each other. The woman was bright. He would have an easier time tripping up Damon. Something shady was going on and Alex meant to find out what before his conniving brother did any damage. Any more damage, he mentally corrected.

      “Come on. I’ll take you up to the house so you can get something to СКАЧАТЬ