“How many mint juleps have you had?” Irritated, Jake shook his head. “If I were you, I’d lay off for a while.”
Luke shrugged. “Still in denial, huh?”
Before he could tell his brother to mind his own damned business, they started loading the horses into the starting gate and everyone jumped to their feet. As soon as the last horse was guided into place, the front of the chutes flew open at the same time the announcer shouted, “They’re off.”
The roar of the crowd made it impossible to be heard, and when the horses raced past the grandstand, Heather grabbed his hand and squeezed it until his fingers went numb. He barely noticed. He was too busy watching her. Her cheeks had colored a pretty pink and he didn’t think he’d ever seen her look more breathtaking. With sudden insight, he realized that he’d underestimated how much it would mean to her if the horse she’d raised won. She’d chosen his bloodlines, overseen his development and this race was her validation—the culmination of her work.
The horses entered the backstretch and Jake noticed that the sheikh’s horse was way out in front, just as Heather said he would be. Picking up the binoculars he’d brought with him, Jake searched for Dancer and found him in the middle of the pack. As they rounded the turn and headed for the home stretch, their jockey must have turned Dancer loose because he suddenly shot to the outside and made his way to the front. And as Heather predicted, the sheikh’s horse started slipping back into the pack and Dancer took over the lead. By the time he sprinted across the finish line he was five or six lengths ahead of his nearest challenger and there was no doubt he’d won the race.
“We won!”
With enough adrenaline flowing through his veins to lift a freight train, Jake caught Heather up in his arms and kissed her like a soldier returning from war. He knew his level of elation had nothing to do with the their horse winning and everything to do with the relief that she hadn’t been disappointed with the results of the race.
When he set her on her feet, she grabbed his hand. “We need to get down to the track. After Miguel weighs in with the saddle, they’ll want you in the winner’s circle.”
Jake shook his head. “They want us in the winner’s circle, honey. I may be the owner on paper, but Dancer has always been your horse and always will be.”
Tears filled her eyes and she raised up on tiptoes to lightly kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Jake. That means a lot to me.”
After posing for endless pictures and helping Jake get through the required interviews with the media, Heather called Clara to check on Mandy. Then, leaving orders with Tony to give Dancer an extra scoop of oats to celebrate, she joined Jake and his family for an elaborate dinner at the hotel where the Southern Oaks Ball had been held.
Once their waiter had popped the cork on a bottle of outrageously expensive champagne, Jake stood up and raised his glass. “To Heather, her excellent instincts and expertise. Today was the culmination of your hard work and the realization of a dream. May Dancer be the first on many winners under your expert management.”
As everyone added their congratulations, Jake sat back down beside her. “Thank you,” she whispered, blinking back tears. His recognition of her accomplishment meant more to her than he’d probably ever know.
“You deserve all of the credit and accolades for the outcome of today’s race, honey.” His hand found hers beneath the table and he gave it a gentle squeeze. “And I couldn’t be happier for you.”
When the waiter served the main course, conversation turned to catching up on what was going on in the various lives of Jake’s siblings, and Heather found it heartwarming that in spite of their unconventional relationship, they’d all become good friends.
“What’s up next for you, Jake?” Hunter asked. “Any more big races on the horizon?”
“I’m leaving that up to Heather,” he answered. “I called a Realtor yesterday to put my condo on the market and have her find a house along the beach in Malibu for me.”
As the group left the private dining room and entered the Grand Ballroom for the victory party, Heather didn’t have time to dwell on what Jake might have planned as she noticed several celebrities milling around the bar. All of them had notorious reputations for partying and she couldn’t help but wonder if some of them were Jake’s friends.
When a singer started singing the song they’d danced to at the ball, Jake turned to her, smiling. “I think they’re playing our song, Heather.” Leading her out onto the dance floor, he wrapped his arms around her. “Are you happy, honey?”
She stared up at the man she loved with all of her heart. “And you?”
“Let’s see. Our horse won the Classic. The family all made it for the big race. I have a sweet baby daughter with a new tooth who loves to throw baby food at me. And you’re in my arms,” he brushed his lips over hers. “What more could a man ask for?”
She wanted to believe that all of that would be enough for him. Unfortunately, she knew it wasn’t. If he’d already started looking for a house along the beach in Malibu, where she was certain several of his acquaintances had property, he wasn’t considering leaving the wilder side of life behind.
The song ended and the orchestra immediately began to play the other tune they’d danced to. Looking up into his cobalt eyes, she blinked back tears. “You arranged for those songs to be played back to back, didn’t you?”
His smile made her feel warm all over in spite of the disappointment filling her. “They will always remind me of you and a very special night we spent together.” He tenderly kissed her forehead. “You’re so beautiful and I want you so much right now.”
She loved the way his body felt against hers. “I want you, too. But—”
“I know. You don’t have to say it.” He shook his head. “Do you think I can charter a jet to take my family all back to their homes tonight?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“I do.”
When the music stopped and he led her off the dance floor, her earlier speculation was answered about the celebrities in attendance being his friends when a tall, dark-haired man she recognized as one of Hollywood’s baddest bad boys walked toward them. “Jake Garnier, I heard you owned the horse that won today. I hoped you’d stop by this evening.” The man grinned from ear to ear, showing off a mouthful of capped teeth. “Now I know this little bash is going to rock.”