Lady Hannah had been pushing Harrison to propose to Brittany for years. Shed made no secret of the fact she thought they were a good match. And shed clearly taken this invitation as a signal that he was ready to commit.
Brittany had to admit, she was completely open to a signal from Harrison. He was a fine man. Hed make a good husband and a terrific father.
The list of men acceptable to Brittanys own father was relatively short. Not that Brittany couldnt have defied her father and married whomever she wanted. But, honestly, shed never met a man remotely worth the trouble of being shunned and disinherited.
But if Harrisons invitation truly was a signal, then his behavior since shed arrived was bizarre. And Alexs lame excuses and prattling conversation were more than frustrating.
Would you care for a stroll in the gardens? asked Alex in a slightly strained voice.
She gazed at him, biting her tongue against questions about his role at Cadair.
He seemed out of place in the elegant dining alcove, as if the room could barely contain his raw energy. His hands were fisted on his knees. He had a rakish chin with an interesting little scar on the left side. He was tall and muscular with worldly brown eyes and a shock of dark hair that whisked across his forehead.
Why do I get the feeling thats not a question you ask a lot of women? she dared.
His dark eyes narrowed in confusion.
Are you truly a stroll-in-the-gardens kind of man?
I dont know what youre-
You have somewhere you want to be, true?
He didnt answer, but there was something about his smoldering expression that allowed her to drop social convention.
And it has something to do with the woman by the pool?
Still nothing. But his eyes darkened further.
Brittany waded determinedly into the silence. Please dont let me keep you. No sense in both of them being frustrated.
Im at your service, maam. The polite words were somewhat compromised by his tight jaw.
Brittany decided to throw all caution to the wind. Who is she?
A walk? he offered again. The garden?
But now that shed started down this road, she didnt want to back off. Then, who are you?
Im the senior vice president of Cadair International.
That surprised her. She didnt know what shed expected. A bodyguard, maybe? Funny we havent met before.
I dont attend many social functions.
Ah. She sat forward, liking that his facade had cracked. Was that a slight?
No, maam. Of course not.
Are you suggesting social functions are the only places youd find me? It was probably true. But there were days Brittany wished it werent.
He stared at her in silence. There was something dangerous in his eyes, and she found it intrigued her. Men never looked at her that way. Most of them were too afraid of her father.
Can we please, he finally said on an exasperated sigh, for the love of God, go for a walk in the garden?
If you tell me who she is.
Shes Julia Nash. A reporter for Equine Earth Magazine.
Brittany rocked back. That wasnt what shed expected. Not that shed expected anything in particular. She must have written some story.
Alex rose. I dont know what you mean.
I mean, said Brittany, coming to her feet, the woman wasnt drowning.
You really need to talk to Harrison about this.
Why? Dont you make up all his lies for him?
Alexs jaw went tight all over again. Does Harrison know youre like this?
Brittany couldnt help but grin. She wasnt normally like this. But there was something about Alex that brought out the devil in her. You mean nosy?
I mean rude and sarcastic.
She gave him her sweetest, most innocent, wide-eyed, finishing-school smile. But, Alex. Im never rude and sarcastic. Ask anyone. She turned for the door with a flourish.
Julia clutched the door handle of the SUV as Harrison rounded a bend on the dirt road leading to Route Eleven. They were meeting Melanie and Robbie in Dubai this afternoon, an hours drive away.
Melanie said theyd checked the hospitals, Julia told Harrison, recapping her telephone conversation. And they called the police. But the police didnt know anything about me.
Thats because my bribe was large enough to erase all records of your arrest.
Julias attention shot from the dusty road to Harrisons profile. Your bribe?
He nodded, wrestling the steering wheel as they rounded another bend.
You bribed the police to release me?
He gave her a brief sideways glance. Youd rather Id left you there?
What kind of man are you?
Oh, right. You break into my property. You lie through your little teeth. You try to steal from me. And my ethics are in question?
I wouldnt even know how to bribe a police officer. She didnt mean for the assertion to sound superior, but somehow it did.
He hit the brakes as a herd of camels appeared, ambling alongside the road. I find cash usually works best.
It was unnerving to discover he did this with some regularity. So I was never really in your custody?
Yes, you were.
But not legally.
I dont know if you want to hang your hat on the term legally under these circumstances.
Who are you?
The Right Honorable Lord Harrison William Arthur Beaumont-Rochester, Baron Welsmeire.
Did you bribe somebody to get the title, too?
For Gods sake. It was a minor charge. I helped a couple of officers with their pension funds to expedite its dismissal. A thank-you wouldnt be out of order.
The road turned from dirt to pavement, and a few adobelike houses and some scattered greenery popped up along the desert.
Thank you, said Julia, reminding herself how grateful shed been to him that night.
He grunted a response, pressing down on the accelerator as the road smoothed out and traffic began to increase.
Do you always drive this fast?
In case you hadnt noticed, I have company back at Cadair.
Who was she? asked Julia.
My grandmother.
She sure didnt look like your grandmother. In fact, the woman looked like a movie star-perfect nose, perfect teeth, perfect hair.
Brittanys not my grandmother. Shes a family friend from London.
A close friend? asked Julia with obvious meaning.
Harrison sighed. Yes. A close friend.
Oh. So much for pursuing anything resembling Stockholm syndrome. Not that Julia had planned to pursue it. But that almost kiss had been, well, almost amazing.
She supposed Brittany was the reason hed backed off.
Poor Brittany.
Harrison wasnt much of a prize if hed seriously considered kissing another woman only moments after his girlfriend had arrived from London.
So thats what you meant by not yet.
Harrison glanced her way, raising his brows.
When I asked you if you were engaged, you said not yet.
And Im not.
But Brittanys on the short list.
Brittany is the short list.
Yet Julia bit down on her bottom lip. None of her business.
I didnt kiss you, said Harrison, catching her meaning as he geared down, slowing his speed and easing into a traffic circle.
But you thought about-
Brittany and I have an understanding.
That you kiss other women?
Not that kind of an understanding.
Julia thought about it. Oh, my, she said, getting the point. Youre royalty. Is she royalty, too? I didnt think they did arranged marriages anymore.
Its not an arranged marriage.
Right. Its an understanding. Arent you worried your children might have webbed toes?
I cant believe you said that.
Julia couldnt actually believe she had, either. Maybe it was a backlash from having been under his control for two days. And now that it was over, she was free to speak her mind.
Still, it was rude and uncalled-for. It was none of her business who Harrison did or did not marry. Another couple of hours, and shed be out of his life forever. And Brittany was probably a perfectly wonderful woman. Theyd certainly make gorgeous children together.
Did you find out how to ship Millions to Spares blood sample? she asked.
Harrison nodded, apparently as eager as she was to get out of their previous conversation. My vets in contact with Carter Phillips. Theyre going to run the test in Switzerland to save time.
Julia nodded, sobering. I cant decide whether to hope its nothing, or hope its something.
Its not nothing, said Harrison.
The road widened to four lanes, and Harrison moved to pass the panel truck in front of him.
Julia waited.
Apollos Ice is Millions to Spares sire, he said.
Julia digested that news. Picture of Perfection, the horse Carter found in California, was also sired by Apollos Ice.
Im sure Carter will warn them, said Harrison.
Its his fiancées horse, said Julia. And maybe the poisoning had nothing to do with the mystery of Leopolds sire.
Possibly, Harrison allowed.
I cant figure out what would be gained by killing Millions to Spare.
It could be as simple as revenge.
Against you? she asked.
First place Id be looking is my enemies or rival stables.
It seemed far-fetched that a rival stable would go so far as to kill an innocent animal. But millions of dollars were at stake. And the rich were involved. Who knew where the trail would lead?
Then, an idea came to Julia.
She paused, taking in Harrisons profile, screwing up her courage.
Would you mind if I wrote the story?
He glanced at her.
About Millions to Spare? I could help with the investigation, then write a story exposing the killer.
You want to turn his death into a salacious headline?
I want to turn it into a serious news story. Somebody killed a valuable Thoroughbred, and there has to be a reason why.
And you want the byline.
Yes, Julia admitted. I want the byline.
There you go again, said Harrison as he pulled past another truck.
What?
Making your actions match your words.
Is that a yes?
Well see.
She opened her mouth to argue, but then decided to leave well enough alone. Shed planted the seed of the idea, and he hadnt said no. Shed have to be happy with that for the moment.
Melanie pulled Julia firmly into her arms in their hotel suite at Jumeirah Beach, holding tight and rocking back and forth. I am so happy to see you.
It was a big mix-up, said Julia, deciding to downplay her time at Harrisons.
Melanie drew back. Were just glad youre safe.
Im safe. Hows Something to Talk About?
Hes fine, said Robbie, giving Julia a quick hug himself. It was the first one she could remember from him. When he released her, she was surprised by the joy and relief on his face.