“But he’s expensive.” Alec had the full picture now.
“He’s a bargain.”
“A million dollars?”
“You’re just like the rest of them.”
“Hold up there for a second.” He snagged her arm, tugged her to a stop before she could exit the barn and join the crowds outside.
She stopped, but turned on him, eyes blazing.
“Is this important?” he asked.
“Not at all,” she denied.
“Stephanie?”
She drew in an impatient sigh and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. “Why do you want to know?”
“Because I do. Because you’re not mad at me, you’re mad at them.” He jabbed his thumb back in Royce’s direction. “And because I hate it when you act like a spoiled kid.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“You’re not, you know. You’re an intelligent woman who knows what she wants and how to work for it. You want this horse, and I’m curious to know why.”
“Fine.” She drew a breath. “I’ve been interested in Blanchard’s Run for nearly a year. I’ve studied his blood- lines and the conformation of his offspring, along with their competition records. And I think the combination of Blanchard’s Run and my retired mare, Pinnacle, would produce fast, smart, high jumpers. If science and genetics has anything to say about it, the EBVs of their offspring would be off the charts.”
“EBVs?”
“Estimated Breeding Value.”
“Oh.”
“In technical terms, they would be worth a whole lot of money.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I can also breed him to three other mares I’ve bought this year, partly in anticipation of a future acquisition of Blanchard’s Run. Then, three, maybe five years from now, if his existing offspring prove out the way I expect them to, and if the Ryder foals show promise, we’ll be able to get top dollar for the animals.”
Alec was impressed. “So, why don’t your brothers want you to buy the horse?”
“Because they’ve never listened long enough to know my plan is based on concrete science. They assume I’m operating on emotion instead of intelligence.”
“They’re wrong,” said Alec.
“Yeah? Well, since I’m out of the will, I don’t have much of a leg to stand on anymore.”
“There is that.” Even as Alec was agreeing with her, he was coming to a decision.
It had nothing to do with guilt. And it had nothing to do with his feelings for Stephanie. And it wasn’t to help her feel better after yesterday’s revelations. It was a good business decision, plain and simple.
Stephanie blinked in disbelief at Blanchard’s Run’s ownership papers. They’d been delivered to the hotel suite five minutes ago, with her name on the envelope.
She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head against what had to be an illusion. But, no, she wasn’t crazy. That was her name, and Ryder Equestrian Center, and Blanchard’s Run’s pedigree.
The suite door opened.
Alec strode in and glanced at the papers. A grin spread across his face.
“I thought you made a convincing case.”
She stared up at him, her brain grappling with the situation. “You bought Blanchard’s Run?”
He tossed his key card on the table near the foyer. “Was it all true? The EBV thing?”
“Of course it was.”
“Good. ’Cause if it’s not, I just made a very big mistake.”
“It’s all true,” she assured him with a nod, emotion stinging the backs of her eyes. Nobody had ever trusted her like this before.
“I’ll expect him to make money,” Alec warned.
She nodded. “He will.”
“Are you hungry?”
Suddenly she was. “Starved.”
“You want to go out or stay in?”
“Could we eat out on the balcony?” she asked, warm feelings for Alec blossoming inside her. It was a gorgeous night, and she loved the view across the grounds to the arena. She felt like celebrating. And she felt like being alone with Alec.
“I’ll call room service,” he offered.
“I’m going to shower.” She hugged the ownership papers to her chest, smiling all the way to her bedroom.
Alec had made a business investment in her. He trusted her to make good decisions, to make money.
She set the papers carefully on the bedroom desk, smoothing them out. Then she stripped off her work-worn clothes and headed for the shower.
She scrubbed her hair and rinsed it with conditioner. Then she shaved her legs and used some of the rose scented shower gel and body lotion provided by the hotel. After blow-drying, she wrapped herself in a fluffy robe and wandered back into her bedroom.
The windows were open, letting in the fresh night air.
She felt light and happy, optimistic about the future for the first time in weeks. Blanchard’s Run would kick Ryder Equestrian Center to a whole new level.
She pulled open the dresser drawers. Her choices were limited, but she was in a mood to dress up.
She found a matching set of underwear, white lace panties and a low-cut bra. She pushed a pair of pearl earrings into her ears, fastened the matching necklace and bracelet, then crossed to the closet for the single dress she’d brought along on the trip.
A soft, clingy knit, it had narrow straps, a low square-cut neck and crisscrossed ties decorating a tapered V back. The skirt flared over her hips, cascading softly toward her knees. She quickly realized the bra wouldn’t work and tossed it back in the drawer.
In the bathroom, she put on a little makeup. She tied her hair up, then brushed it back down, then twisted it in a messy knot at the back of her head, letting wisps curl across her forehead and along her temples.
She heard a knock on the suite’s outer door. Alec’s footfalls told her he was answering, and she gave the waiter a few minutes to finish setting up. Then she slipped her feet into little black sandals and left the bedroom.
Alec wasn’t in sight, but the glow of candlelight flickered through the glass, balcony door.
She wandered outside to find hurricane lamps decorating the patterned, white, wrought-iron tables. Linen and silverware was set out, and plump, peach colored cushions softened the chairs. Salad had been served, while a low wreath of flowers surrounded the glass chimney candle at the center of the table.
“Madame?” came a low voice as a tuxedoed waiter appeared.
He pulled out her chair as Alec arrived in the doorway.
He’d also showered and shaved. He wore charcoal slacks and an open collared, white, dress shirt.
His gaze took in her outfit. “You look very nice.” The words were reserved, but there was a burn in his eyes that warmed her from head to toe.
She sat down, and Alec took the chair opposite.
The waiter poured them each a glass of ice water to go with their salads, then melted away, closing the glass door behind him as a chorus of crickets ebbed and flowed from the shrubs and grass far below.
“Do my brothers know you bought Blanchard’s Run?” She tried a bite of the fresh greens, avocado and raspberry vinaigrette salad.
Alec shook his head, tasting the salad himself. “You can surprise them.”
“They’ll be very surprised.”
Alec shrugged. “It’s your horse, your stable.”
