RICHMOND SAT INSIDE HIS OFFICE located on the second floor of Spaulding Equestrian Center, gazing out the window. Burly forest trees rooted behind the fifty-four acre facility. Equipped with specialty boarding for horses, the equestrian also offered elite club membership, horses for sale, event bookings, horse performance training, and riding lessons. In the fall, kids loved coming to his annual Fall Festival to ride the ponies, play carnival games, eat corn dogs and candy apples, and just have a grand old time.
Pushing thoughts of this year’s festival out of his brain, Richmond’s mind shifted to Salina. Already, the knots were forming in his shoulders. Putting his hands behind his head, he declined in his navy leather chair.
He couldn’t afford to let Salina’s betrayal destroy him, make him into a man he wouldn’t recognize. Maybe he was looking at Salina’s secret all wrong. Perhaps she had a good reason to get the prepaid cell. Damn, no matter how many different ways he looked at the situation, his dead wife’s behavior didn’t add up. Didn’t make sense. Regardless of why she’d gotten the prepaid cell, his embarrassment had turned to raw fury.
Suddenly, Kayla, CJ, Isabelle, and Jason rounded the side of the building and headed toward the horse trails. Pushing CJ in a stroller, Kayla’s gaze traveled over the wide lands as Isabelle walked by her side to the left.
Remembering how fresh Kayla had smelled earlier this morning, Richmond’s shaft threatened to harden. She’d smelled like fresh coconut while standing inside his living room, like she’d sprayed herself with an expensive body splash.
Admiring Kayla’s beauty from afar, Richmond stood and closed the blinds on the window. The last thing he needed was for her to spot him looking at her. She might get the wrong idea.
Desiring to continue glimpsing at the pretty lady, he stuck two fingers between the slits in the blinds and scissored them open. With the rhythm of his heartbeat pounding harder, he zoned his eyes on Kayla’s luscious body. Nice figure. Very. Nice. Figure.
Strolling across the lawn, a pair of blue jeans stretched deliciously over Kayla’s curvaceous buttocks. Her small waist flared into agile hips. Bosoms, somewhere around a C-cup, perched perfectly on her chest. Admiring her undeniable breathtaking beauty, Richmond’s tool throbbed.
That woman does something to me. Something I can’t even put into words. Makes me feel things I don’t want to.
Right when Jason pushed open the white fence leading to the horse trails, Kayla turned and glanced up at the back of the building. Long brunette hair grazed her shoulders. Her face spread into a warm smile, caressing his insides like a warm blanket wrapped around cold flesh. What the hell is going on with me? His balls tingled inside his pants.
Thoroughly understanding it’d be a cold day in hell before he got seriously involved with a beautiful woman again, he plopped down in his chair, then swiveled it to face forward. He didn’t need a woman to fulfill him. The only girl he needed was his daughter Isabelle. His precious Pumpkin.
Making a hard effort to squeeze sensual thoughts of Kayla from his mind, he cupped the mouse to his laptop and clicked on the screen. He dragged the cursor to his outlook calendar to peruse the upcoming events scheduled to take place at the Equestrian. There was a birthday party to take place at the Equestrian this Saturday. The carnival was scheduled eight weeks from now. Millionaire Jefferson Spelling wanted to meet in two weeks about selling his black stallion, Velvet. So many things to do, with so little time.
Richmond hefted the phone to call his estate and office manager, Chelsey, but before he could dial her, she just happened to enter his office. He dropped the phone on the receiver.
“I was just about to call you.”
Chelsey entered his office wearing black jeans and a white collared shirt. “What do you need, Boss?”
“I just wanted to remind you about Saturday’s birthday party. Are you still able to work this weekend?”
Chelsey nodded. “Yes. I am. What about Kayla?”
“What about her?”
“Will she be working Saturday, too?”
“No. It’s her day off.”
Relief radiated in Chelsey’s green eyes. “Good.”
“Chelsey, do you have a problem or concern with Kayla that I need to be made privy to?”
Although her head was shaking no, her eyes were saying yes. “No.”
Richmond’s brows lifted. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“Considering I’ve been thinking about asking Kayla to move in so she can provide around-the-clock care for Isabelle, I’m glad you don’t have a problem with her.”
Chelsey’s eyes rounded with anxiety. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
Chelsey swallowed. “Because Isabelle needs to get to know Kayla first. And also, I know how women can be sometimes. Offer them to move in, and the next thing you know, they’ll be thinking you want to marry them.”
Richmond chuckled. “I know how women can be sometimes, too; however, my intuition tells me that Kayla Crawford is not one of those women.”
Light laughter released from her thin lips. “For your sake, I hope not. She’s—”
Zeke, Richmond’s best friend, entered his office with a big smile plastered on his white face. “Well, well, well, if it ain’t Chelsey Valentine.”
One look at Zeke, and Chelsey’s face split into a grin. “Hi, Zeke. Long time, no see.”
Zeke’s eyes clung to Chelsey’s face. “Now ain’t that the truth. It’s been too long since I’ve dropped by the Equestrian.” His eyes left Chelsey and swung over to Richmond.
Richmond rounded the corner of his desk, met Zeke in the center of his office, then threw his arms about his best friend’s shoulders. “It’s good to see you, man,” Richmond said, clapping Zeke’s back. “What brings you by today?”
The two men released each other. Zeke stated, “Oh, just in the neighborhood and thought I’d come by and see how you were doing.”
“That’ll be all, Chelsey,” Richmond declared, realizing how smitten Chelsey was with Zeke.
After Chelsey walked out of the room, Richmond and Zeke did a lot of catching up on each other’s lives. In his heart of hearts, he knew he could confide in Zeke, and if needed, he could also confide in his good friend Braylon. Those two men were like brothers to him.
Richmond closed the door, then plopped down on the seat next to Zeke.
“So how have you really been?” Zeke asked, resting his arm on the curb of the couch.
“Actually, pretty good under the circumstances.”
“What circumstances?”
Richmond blew out a deep breath. “Spoke with Don the other day.”
Zeke snapped his fingers, as if trying to jog his memory. “Don is the private investigator investigating Salina’s death, right?”
“Yeah.” Richmond pinched the bridge of his nose. “He devastated me with some interesting news. Don informed me Salina had purchased a prepaid cell phone, and I never knew.” He cursed inside his head. “I thought the two of us shared everything.”
Zeke shrugged. “Maybe she got it to contact an old college friend. It could be she wanted to talk with someone she knew you’d disapprove of.”
As he spoke about Salina’s secret, he retained his affability, but there was a distinct hardening in his heart. “No. That’s not it. I liked all her friends, and all her family.”
Zeke’s eyes surveyed Richmond’s face. “Well, do you suspect why she’d do such a thing?”
“No,” Richmond lied. It’d be a cold day in hell before he indulged his suspicions about Salina having an affair to anyone. Other than Don, he didn’t dare let the word ‘affair’ utter from his mouth. Whether it was an emotional affair or at some point had been a sexual affair, the mere fact that Salina may have been carrying on behind his back was embarrassing.
Zeke crossed his legs at the knees. “I know it’s hard, man, but try and stay positive. How’s Isabelle doing?”
r /> “She’s fine. She’s here now, taking riding lessons.”
Zeke’s face lit up. “Oh yeah? I’d love to see her.”
“She’ll be happy to see you.” Richmond stood. “Come, I’ll take you to her.”
Walking side by side, Richmond and Zeke crossed the green grass leading toward the horse trails. Riding a horse with shiny brown fur, Isabelle steered the animal around the circular dirt trail as Jason sat behind her, helping. Kayla leaned on the white fence, watching his little one as she took her riding lesson.
“Who’s the woman?” Zeke questioned.
“That’s Isabelle’s nanny.”
Stalking across the grass, Zeke’s head jerked. “Nanny! She doesn’t look like a nanny to me. From here, she looks fine as hell. There’s no way in hell I could have a nanny in my house that looked like her and keep my hands to myself. Is she single?”
Richmond chortled. “I think so, but I’m not sure.”
Leave it to lover boy Zeke. He never missed an opportunity to make a move on a beautiful, fine woman. Deep down inside, Richmond hoped Zeke didn’t make a move on Kayla because they wouldn’t make a good fit.
How’d you know? his conscious spoke inside his head.
“Who’s the kid with her?”
“Her son.”
Zeke groaned. “Look at the ass on her. That body can make some man very happy.”
“Cool it, Zeke. Don’t go flirting with my employee.”
Zeke paused in his tracks. His eyes narrowed speculatively. “Since when did you start caring about me flirting with one of your employees? Hell, I flirt with Chelsey all the time, and you’ve never said a word about that.” Smiling, Zeke wagged a finger at Richmond. “Hot damn, you want Kayla for yourself.” Laughing, he slapped Richmond hard on the back.
Shaking his head, Richmond couldn’t help but join in on Zeke’s bouts of hearty chuckles. “No. It’s nothing like that. I’m not interested in Kayla.” Richmond began walking.
“You’re lying to yourself, Richmond. Frankly, I think it’s about time you start dating again, man. It’s a whole big world out here, and spending it alone can be kind of lonely.”
“Oh yeah? Well, when are you going to settle down?”
Zeke laughed. “Never.”
Coming to a stop beside Kayla, the two men laughed. When Richmond introduced Zeke to Kayla, Zeke’s eyes flickered while absorbing her pretty face. Shaking her hand, Zeke nodded.
“Nice meeting you, Kayla.”
Kayla’s lips curved into a dazzling white smile, disturbing Richmond’s inner being. “It’s nice meeting you, too, Zeke.” The very air around her seemed electrified.
Richmond stooped down in front of CJ and smiled. “Hey, little man. How’s your arm feeling?”
CJ glanced up at Kayla, then back at Richmond. “Good. I’m not jumping off the toilet no more.”
Richmond laughed. “That’s very smart of you. Once your arm gets better, maybe you and Isabelle can jump on her trampoline. How’s that?”
CJ shrugged. “What’s a tramsozine?”
“It’s a toy made for jumping.” Richmond ruffled the hair on CJ’s head, then stood. “How’d Isabelle’s ballet lesson go?”
Kayla tossed her hair behind her shoulder. “It went well. After she finished with dance, I took her home for lunch, and her nap. Then we came here.”
Good, she’s sticking to Isabelle’s schedule. He had the distinct feeling if he hadn’t hired Kayla, it would’ve been a big mistake.
“Whoa boy. Whooaaa.” A voice came from the direction of the woods, and Richmond knew exactly who it belonged to—his father, Russell. Supposedly retired, Russell dropped by the Equestrian on a regular basis. Too much, if you asked Richmond.
Richmond turned just in time to see Russell and his horse surface from the woods out into the open. Riding his favorite prized black stallion, Russell steered the horse over to where he, Zeke, CJ, and Kayla stood. Sporting a long sleeve white shirt, jeans, a cowboy hat, and brown cowboy boots, his father smiled, then clambered down from the horse.
“Well, howdy, folks.”
Zeke slapped hands with his father. “Long time, no see.”
Russell smiled. “Yes. It’s been a while, Zeke. How are the women treating you?”
Zeke slid his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. “Great, like always.”
Russell’s eyes diverted from Zeke’s face to Kayla’s. “And who’s this pretty young lady?”
Kayla smiled. “I’m Kayla, Isabelle’s nanny.”
Russell held out his hand for a handshake, and when Kayla took it, he brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it.
Fucking bastard. He loves himself some young girls. Well, he won’t get his hands on this one.
Kayla’s eyes narrowed as she kept them focused on his father’s face. “You look so familiar,” she said, her round eyes roaming over Russell’s face.
An indefinable emotion shone in Russell’s eyes as he looked at Kayla. “Oh yeah?”
“Yes.” Pursing her lips together, Russell’s brows scrunched. Kayla’s eyes widened with a lighter brown. “I know. I think you were friends with my grandfather.”
“What’s your grandfather’s name?” Russell questioned.
“Leroy. Leroy Van Buren. He’s deceased now.”
Russell smiled. “Sorry. I’ve never heard of a man named Leroy Van Buren.”
Kayla’s gleeful expression turned taut and derisive. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name,” Kayla confirmed.
“Russell. But you can call me Russ, or Big Daddy if you like.”
Richmond’s chest strained tight. “Watch it, Russell.”
Russell shrugged, then removed his cowboy hat from his head. Looking at Richmond, his brows hitched. “What? All my friends call me Big Daddy, so why can’t she?”
Zeke laughed.
After Jason dismounted the horse, he clenched Isabelle’s hips and lowered her to the ground. Smiling, Isabelle ran towards them. Sounding winded, Isabelle swiped an errant bang from her face.
“Daddy! I had fun with CJ today, and with Ms. Kayla, too. Can they spend the night?”
Richmond looked down at Isabelle and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Oh, Pumpkin. Ms. Kayla is an adult, and I’m sure she doesn’t want to spend the night with you. She has her own house to go home to.”
Isabelle’s bottom lip curled under. Folding her arms across her chest, she glanced up at Kayla. “Please, Ms. Kayla? Can you and CJ spend the night with me? Pretty please?”
Tilting her head, Kayla smiled. “I don’t mind, but it’s up to your father, sweetheart.”
Zeke interjected. “Why, I think that’ll be a great idea if Kayla and CJ spent the night.”
Knowing that Zeke was trying to play matchmaker, Richmond groaned internally. But Zeke could forget it. After the stunt Salina had pulled behind his back, he’d have to be a damn fool to get involved with and trust a beautiful woman. For Isabelle’s sake, Kayla could spend the night, but that’s as far as it’d go.
“You really don’t mind?” Richmond asked Kayla.
Kayla’s hair brushed her face as she shook her head. “No, I don’t mind at all. It’ll be fun for both of them.”
Richmond exclaimed out loud, “Then I guess it’s settled. Kayla and CJ are spending the night.”
“Yay!” CJ and Isabelle yelled synchronously.
What in the hell have I gotten myself into? Richmond thought, gazing into Kayla’s gentle pupils.