Page 135 of Dragon Her Heels

I wondered how long it had taken him to work up the courage to come see me—and if any of his heart’s wounds had begun to heal. “You want the horses to remember her by.”

I hoped he understood I presented my words as a statement rather than a question.

“I do.”

In order for Mr. Noran to have gotten a ranch within thirty minutes of Fort Lauderdale, he must have purchased a golf course and converted it, as I couldn’t think of any other spaces large enough to support horses that close to the city. “How many acres?”

“I have a hundred and fifty acres.”

Yep, I suspected he’d bought a failing golf course and converted it to a pasture and ranch. “Well, if you want to keep her memory alive, and you have that many acres, you could breed thoroughbreds for racing. You’d have to hire a trainer and a jockey, but I can help you with that.”

“You can? How?”

I couldn’t help it; I laughed. “Yesterday, I won a race, and I was the owner, trainer, and jockey. My homestead is where my racers live, and I’d be happy to lure you into the wonderful world of horse racing. If you have the money, I know when and where you can buy the best horses, the type of trailer you’ll want to haul your beauties around if you aren’t keeping them at the race stables, and how to navigate through the equestrian world with your sanity and ethics intact.”

“You’re a jockey?” he blurted.

“I’ve always loved horses, and after I quit, I purchased land here, bought some horses out of a kill pen, and one of them is taking me to the Triple Crown. I actually raced a different horse yesterday; I was spiting the previous owner, proving he bred better horses than he could train.” I rubbed my hands together, ignoring the soreness in my right shoulder. “And while I’d love to regale you with all the stories of my horses and our exploits, I don’t think you came out all this way to talk to me about my racing career.”

“I hadn’t, that’s true. I’d come to give you a warning about your former employer. Mr. Mortani, in particular, is upset you refuse to come back, and he’s been saying some pretty awful things as of late.”

“The kind of things that might drive a sweet woman like Belinda to suicide were she to hear them?” I guessed. “Except they were pointed at me.”

The pain in the man’s sigh would haunt me for a while. “Yes, that’s correct.”

“Someone shot me yesterday during the race. I’m guessing that bastard is behind it at this stage, although I’ve pissed off a lot of people just from being a woman capable of winning races. With a few more races, assuming I place top three, I’ll qualify to ride in the Triple Crown, and that’s a big deal. That my horse is a filly? I’m upsetting the entire industry at this point.”

My beautiful babies, Peach Pie included, would only add to mayhem I brewed in the racing world. I expected Belinda’s Wish would be a colt, as colts had a natural edge over the fillies, but in any case, I’d live the woman’s dream for her until her soul had another chance at a happily ever after.

I’d do far more than dye away Darlene’s spots to coerce Lucifer into giving the pair another go at having a life full of love and light.

“That explains a lot. He said a lot of problems would be solved yesterday. But you’ve never been a problem.”

“It’s not what I did, it’s what I know, Mr. Noran.”

“Anthony, please.”

“I’ll be direct with you. You know Mr. Durant and his attempts to lure you away?”

“I’m aware. I’m more surprised you’re aware.”

“I’m behind it. While Lucifer is my official hire, I’m Mr. Durant’s right hand woman.” I raised my left hand and wiggled my new engagement band. “Left ring woman, too. And here’s where things become tricky. Mr. Durant is the Destroyer of Georgia, and your firm is in his gaze. Yesterday just meant he went into his silly little castle to plot their downfall. I highly recommend you hand in your resignation effective immediately and wait for the dust to settle. Since we’re being conspirators and all right now.”

At first, I thought the man’s snort was one of derision, but then Anthony burst into laughter. “He’s a dragon?”

“He’s a very angry dragon right now, rather easily provoked, and rather upset over yesterday. I’ve been given two weeks off because he needs to posture over the whole situation. In reality, if I can talk you into joining my team, I’m going to take you home with me, get you both into my office, and begin the end of their pathetic operations.”

“I’m supposed to give them two months,” he muttered, the humor fleeing his voice.

“It’s a courtesy not a requirement unless your employee handbook was different from mine.”

“It’s not. They templated everything.”

“Then it’s a suggestion and not a requirement. Anyway, I have an excellent attorney who can make certain you come out smelling like roses. You’ll be fine financially. I am, and I don’t see Yuless at all skimping on someone who can make his pennies breed into dollars.”

“I’m not paid much more than you were,” he confessed. “My stock package was a little better, but they stopped giving me much years ago. I’m all vested at this stage.”

What bloody fools. “You just wanted to make sure they burned before you left.”