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She saw Jonas waiting at the end of the track, but she let the horse finish its run before slowing it into a walk. She pulled up next to her boss and slipped off the sulky, handing the reins to one of the stable hands. “This one for sure, Jonas. He’s got a smooth gait and didn’t fight the sulky or reins. He’s the one I’d be willing to race.”
Jonas looked at the grey gelding and nodded. “Then I want you to have him. I don’t want my son to ruin a horse that’s already ready for the sulky.”
“Jonas, I couldn’t.”
“Nonsense. You’ve never asked for anything in all the years you’ve worked for me. And this is the first time I’ve heard you admit that you’d actually race one. Take him and add him to Blackwood’s stable. I’ll sign the papers over to you and keep him at my place until you move.” He smiled at Claire before handing her a pristine envelope adorned with an elegant script that spelled out Claire’s name in delicate swirls. “This was dropped off for you at the front desk, and they asked me to give it to you since I was coming down here to see how things were going.
Claire took the envelope and felt her heart speed up. It was thick and more than just an invitation to lunch. With trembling hands, she carefully broke the seal and pulled out the contents. It was the employment contract with an invitation to lunch at the Blackwood estate. The proverbial golden ticket beckoned her to a world beyond her wildest dreams. She quickly looked through it and her jaw dropped as she read, in black and white, the contract that outlined everything she asked for the night before and then some. “Oh…this is…”
“Very generous,” Jonas laughed. “Alexander called me this morning to ask me if I thought you’d been insulted with the salary. I assured him you wouldn’t be.” He laid his hand on her shoulder. “You’re going to flourish at the Blackwood Estate. I know you are.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Now, take the rest of the day off and go get ready to have lunch with your new boss. Trust me. He is not as aloof as he seems. Once you get to know him, you will find him to be an excellent conversationalist.”
Claire nodded. She kissed Jonas on the cheek before rushing through the stables, grabbing her stuff, and running home long enough to get changed. Alexander Blackwood was the most prestigious client she had ever worked with or for, and she was ready to accept his offer without hesitation. With a flutter of excitement in her chest, she made her way to the sprawling estate, her heart pounding with anticipation. She didn’t know what to expect when she turned off Route 17 onto the long driveway that led to the Blackwood Estate.
It looked like something out of a dream. Virginia Pine lined the long drive on both sides, stretching high into the air and making it seem like she was driving through a tunnel. It opened to rolling fields of bright green, and she was greeted with a herd of horses running the fence line. She slowed to watch them, their coats shining and their manes blowing in the breeze behind them. The drive ended in a circle in front of a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home. She parked her car and got out, watching as one of Blackwood’s hands worked a trotter on the track across from the house. The barn was huge, twice the size of Jonas’, and she could see another cottage and other barns further along the property road.
Claire was struck by the sheer beauty of Blackwood’s estate. Lush gardens stretched out behind the house, bursting with vibrant blooms and winding pathways. She could see other horses grazing lazily in the paddocks, their sleek coats gleaming in the sunlight. It was a scene straight out of a fairy tale. It was a world of opulence and luxury that seemed far away from Claire’s humble beginnings. She smoothed down the rumpled skirt of the dress she had put on and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the encounter she was about to have with Alexander Blackwood. The next few moments would set the tone for their working relationship, and she wanted it to be good. She slipped her purse over her shoulder and, with the contract in hand, walked towards the front door of the house.
Her heart skipped a beat as the door opened. Alexander Blackwood stood there, wiping his hands on a dish towel. He smiled at her as she approached, and she felt her cheeks flush. Even just standing there in the doorway, he commanded people’s attention. She could feel the power and authority radiating off of him like a force of nature that could not be ignored. In the sunlight, she could see that his hair was actually a reddish brown. He waited there, tall and imposing with chiseled features and eyes as green as the rolling hills that surrounded them that seemed to bore straight into her soul. He exuded an aura of confidence and self-assurance that Claire couldn’t ignore, and, quite frankly, she found it intoxicating.
“I see you got my invitation,” he stated as she neared. He liked the wraparound dress she was wearing, the flowers that covered it, colorful and fun. Her hair was pulled back at the sides and flowed over her shoulders in a way that made Alexander want to run his fingers through it. He tossed the dishcloth over his shoulder and offered her his hand as she stepped onto the porch. He felt a surge of warmth spread through his body, a connection forming between them that he couldn’t explain.
“It was a very enticing invitation,” she replied, slipping her hand in his. She let him lead her into the depths of his home, and she couldn’t help but feel exhilaration coursing through her veins. She gazed around the spacious, open-concept living room, admiring the brick floor-to-ceiling fireplace that was the centerpiece of the room, dividing the living room from the equally spacious dining room. “Your home is…beautiful,” she managed to say.
Alexander kissed her knuckles before letting go of her hand and continuing to the kitchen. “Thank you. This is my weekend retreat. I have a penthouse apartment in DC where I spend most of my time when I’m working.” He motioned towards the bar that circled the kitchen. “I hope a casual, home-cooked lunch is acceptable.”
Claire set her purse and the contract on the counter before slipping onto one of the chairs along the bar. “Sounds great to me.” She looked around, noticing the lack of staff in the house. That was when she realized Alexander was the one cooking. “Well, I bet that’s something about the enigmatic Alexander Blackwood people don’t know,” she teased lightly, testing the waters.
“What? That I like to cook?” he asked as he drained the pasta before adding two servings to a deep skillet of sauce. “Cooking is…a hobby. It’s something I enjoy when I have time to do it properly.” He let the pasta warm in the sauce, returning to the bar with a chilled bottle of wine and two glasses. He opened the bottle and poured her a small taste. “I’m going to be honest with you. I enjoyed our conversation so much last night that I can see myself spending more time here with you.”
Claire’s cheeks flushed at his words. She took a sip of the wine and nodded. She didn’t know the first thing about wine tasting and she set her glass down. “This is…good,” she stated.
He leaned one elbow on the bar. “You don’t know the first thing about wine tasting, do you?” he asked with a grin.
“Not a darn thing.” She started to laugh, and he joined her, pouring more wine into her glass.
“I think we are going to get along great,” he stated, corking the bottle and tapping his glass against hers. “To new beginnings.”
Chapter 3
By the time they had finished lunch, Alexander Blackwood knew more about Claire Reynolds than he ever thought possible in one sitting. He’d been following her career and had been trying to figure out how to steal her away from Jonas for close to six months. She was a gifted horse trainer. Not only that, but she also had a special connection with horses that he thought he’d never find in someone else. He, too, had a special connection with horses, but not like Claire. They responded to her positively. She had a gentle hand and a gentle nature about her, and he’d witnessed firsthand how she was able to calm a feisty stallion down with a simple touch of her hand.
She had no idea that the stallion was his. His reputation called for discretion when he was out in public, and while the equine community in Northern Virginia wasn’t filled with crazy horse fanatics, he was still cautious. He was on his way to the stable at the track that day when his former trainer caught up with him to tell him the stallion was being unruly. They had taken every precaution to keep him away from the mares, yet something was agitating the normally gentle giant. Alexander watched this thin slip of a woman walk over to the horse and do nothing more than lay a hand on his neck and nose. He had been fascinated by her ever since.
With a light hand at the small of her back, Alexander escorted her to the stables. The smell of fresh hay and the soft nickering of the horses inside beckoned to them both. They stopped just inside the huge barn door that was thrown wide open. He leaned in towards her. “Welcome to your new home,” he said quietly.
The main stables were rustic yet state-of-the-art. Everything was designed for the care and training of the horses with modern necessities that weren’t obtrusive. The entire layout was meant to make the horses and the people who worked with them comfortable and relaxed. Claire’s eyes widened as she looked around. This was the stable that housed his racers. Eight well-equipped stalls, four on each side, lined the center aisle. She slowly walked to the other end, gazing into the large tack room, inspecting the utility and laundry rooms, and peeking into what looked like an office at the far end. The feed room was laid out neatly, as was a stall dedicated to medical issues. The last stall, across from the office, was the washroom. Standing in their stalls were four of Alexander’s trotters. They peered at her with their big, soulful eyes, and Claire knew then and there that he was right. She was home.
Alexander leaned in the doorway of the office and pointed to one of the empty stalls. “That stall is for the horse Jonas gave you. If you plan to race him under the Blackwood colors, then he needs to be close.”
Claire turned to look at him. “How did you know…” She paused. “You talked to Jonas while I was on my way over here.”
Alexander shrugged his shoulders, looking down with a conspiratorial smile. “I might have.” He folded his arms across his chest as he returned his gaze to her. “Of course, if you want to establish your own colors, I will sponsor you.” He pushed away from the doorframe. “This is your office.” He reached into the room and flipped on the light, inviting Claire to join him.
“You realize I haven’t signed the contract yet, right?” she commented as she walked to the office. It was a decent size with a computer on one corner of the desk and decorated with prints depicting horses on the track. She glanced over the filing cabinet and opened the drawers, gazing at the meticulous files.
Alexander leaned one hip on the corner of the desk. “Oh, you’ve looked at my records. Now you have to sign that contract.”
Clairs shot him a look over her shoulder before closing the drawer and facing him. There was an undeniable magnetism about Alexander, a charisma that drew her in like a moth to a flame. His piercing green eyes, framed by a tousled mane of reddish brown hair, seemed to see straight through her, igniting a spark of recognition deep within her soul. Claire felt a sense of connection with Alexander that she couldn’t quite explain. A shared passion for horses bound them together, a mutual respect for the majestic creatures that roamed the estate. “I have every intention of signing the contract, Mr. Blackwood.”
