Breaking Free

Chapter 2

2

“There,” Leo said, closing the stall door.

Back at the road, he had tied Argus to a tree, then drove me to the ranch, where I’d gotten the truck and the trailer. He left his SUV at the ranch and drove with me to pick up Argus. It was hard, but we’d made the horse stand up and take a few steps by himself and into the trailer. Afterward, we’d driven the trailer back to the ranch and put Argus into a new stall in the stable.

“Thank you,” I said, giving him a cup of coffee and a towel I’d brought from inside the house. I sipped from my mug and pulled my towel tight over my shoulders.

“Obrigado,” he said, putting the towel around himself. Thank God, because I couldn’t take staring at that wet shirt over his muscles any longer. “If I were you, I would reinforce the door of the stall he’s in.” He looked around, closing a fist on the edge of the towel and tugging it tighter, and I noticed the thin black band on his right ring finger. Interesting. “Maybe even the walls.”

I glanced at drunken Argus over the stall door. Even like this, he didn’t look peaceful. “For a horse in his condition, he sure is strong.”

Leo leaned against the wall. “And beautiful. At least, he appears to be, without all the scars and cuts.”

If it depended on me, the bastard who’d done this would rot in the filthiest prison in this country. Ugh, I couldn’t think about what he’d done. It hurt too much to know Argus probably wasn’t the only animal being mistreated out there.

Taking a big swallow of my coffee, I focused on something else. I dared spying over my mug at this stranger, who was being way too nice to Argus and me. His wet hair clung to his face, adorning his perfect features, and the dampness on his skin glistened.

Poor me and my weak will. I shouldn’t start any small talk. I should keep my mouth shut and send him away. I should get ready for the damn party I was already late to, but I couldn’t help it.

“So, where are you from?”

Leo smiled. “Brazil. My family and I just moved to the O’Connor ranch. I was on my way there when I almost ran into Argus.”

I winced, trying to keep away the threatening images. Just thinking of what could have happened made me nauseous.

Worse than that was looking at the horse and seeing his wounds. Most were scabbed over, but some would take months or even years to fully heal. The more visible ones were the stitches on his left hind leg, his left shoulder, his chest, and the left side of his neck. And he still had bandages on his right front cannon.

“My turn,” Leo said. “Do you live here? Alone?”

And just like that my defensive wall sprouted right back up. “Why do you ask?”

“Just curious. I didn’t see anyone else. I can’t imagine living all alone at such a big place.” He put his empty mug over the short wall of an empty stall. “And your parents? Do they help?”

“No. My father has a horse breeding farm and he doesn’t approve of this ranch.”

“May I ask why you have it, then?”

“The ranch was my grandma’s. She left it to me, but everyone keeps telling me I should sell it.”

“Why?”

“My father wants me to take over the family business once I graduate from college.” It was the truth, but not all of it. I avoided telling him about what Eric thought. Bad me.

“College, huh? What major?”

I squinted. “Are we playing twenty questions or something?”

He averted his eyes. “No, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just ... you seem so independent and, well, you’re caring for this horse, so that’s something. I’m intrigued, I guess.”

I watched him as he turned to peek at Argus. I was intrigued too. Way more than I should have been.

I sighed. “Economics. Next fall I start my sophomore year.”

“You don’t sound happy about it.”

“It was my father’s choice, not mine. He wants me to enroll in an MBA after. It’s not bad, and yes, I want to take over the family business, but I’ll say no if that means selling this ranch.” My honesty surprised me. Not that it was a secret. My father—and Eric—knew my opinion on the matter, but I’d never told a stranger.

He looked at me, and once more, the green-blue of his eyes amazed me. “This place means a lot to you.”

“It does,” I whispered, without taking my eyes from his.

He brushed a strand of wet hair from my face, his fingers grazing my cheek, lingering on my skin. His gaze fell on my mouth, and I licked my lips without meaning to. He rested his hand on my cheek, and a shiver rolled down my body.

Why did I feel like this—and I wouldn’t name it because it would only make everything worse—about this stranger? Yes, he was handsome, but so was Eric. Maybe it was just my body reacting to something equally attractive but in a different way. Besides, Eric probably looked at other girls too—just appreciating the view—and remained faithful and loving to me. I could look at the guys around me and appreciate their good looks, couldn’t I?

Still, I didn’t like it.

I stepped backward, releasing myself from his touch.

“Thank you for helping me with Argus. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t shown up. So thank you.” I took his empty mug from the wall. “But, if you don’t mind, I’ve got someplace to be.”

His brows knitted together. “Sim, sure. I understand.” He removed the towel from around his shoulder, and I fought the urge to look at his white shirt. More specifically, at the chest and shoulders under the shirt. “Thank you. For the coffee and the towel.”

I didn’t wait for him to go. I shouldn’t wait for him to go. Because I could change my mind and start a new conversation before he reached his SUV, or I could just gape at his behind and make a fool of myself.

I nodded and dashed out of the stable and into the house without looking back.

I stopped my car in front of the gates and pressed the button to slip my window down. I leaned over the door and punched in the numbers. A second later, the gates slid sideways, allowing me to pass.

I drove down the long, winding road, admiring the familiar view. On the right were lush green lawns, trees on the horizon, and hidden behind it, a lake. I sighed and turned my head to the left. More green lawn, followed by a huge stable topping a hill, where my parents’ prized horses stayed. Behind it, there were other stables, simpler though, and extensive fields.

Right at the end of the path, a white four-story house presented itself.

To many, it would be a dream house. To me, it meant control and seriousness. Not that growing up here had been bad. Far from it. It was just that, when I visited my grandma, which had been often, I experienced how caring and warm and open a person could be, and I missed that.

I stopped the car by the front steps, and a valet opened the door for me.

“Eric called to let us know he would be arriving late,” my father said as I climbed up the front stairs. He looked impeccable in his brown suit. I had his green eyes and his straight, dark brown hair, though his was cut short with every strand in the right place.

“How nice of him,” I said with a smile. Used to the fakeness of the society they lived in, my parents didn’t notice the sarcasm dripping from my words.

“You’re late,” my mother said. Her tone wasn’t disapproving or accusing. Though it was almost uncaring.

I could try to explain what happened, but I doubted she would care. So I ignored her comment and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful, Mom.”

She looked down at herself, pretending to be demure. “Thanks, dear.” Her indigo cocktail dress accentuated her blue eyes, and her blond hair was pulled back into a fancy bun. I had inherited her short height, five-four, and delicate form, nothing more. “You look dashing too.”

“Thanks.”

My father put his hand on my back and led me in. “How’s school?”

“Four days ago was my last final. The semester is over.”

We heard the engine of a car approaching the house. My father patted my shoulder. “If you’ll excuse us, we’ll greet our guests.”

“Sure.”

They turned back to the front door, and I glanced around the foyer. Imposing and too white. At the top of the rounded stairs, my sister watched me.

“Hi, Hilary,” I said, offering a smile.

She didn’t smile back. “Hi.”

She flipped her blond hair and walked down the stairs like a Miss America contestant. Though she was already a little taller than me at sixteen, she was exactly like our mother. Fair, perfect skin, rosy lips, green eyes—the only thing she didn’t get from our mother—and a complete snob. She didn’t pretend to be demure as our mother did.

“Is school over yet?” I asked, attempting to initiate some kind of conversation with her.

She looked at her pink nails as if bored. “Two more weeks.”

We walked together to the living room. A waiter offered us drinks, and I grabbed a glass of sparkling water. “Any big plans for the summer?”

Hilary took a glass of some pink cocktail. Hopefully, it wasn’t alcoholic. “Not really.”

This wasn’t going well. She had to give me more, or I wouldn’t be able to keep this conversation going by myself.

My parents and their guests entered the living room moments later and, as good hosts, they kept everyone entertained and talking.

My parents loved hosting fancy dinners where they could show people how rich and elegant they were, how beautiful their daughters were, how impeccable their house was, and how exquisite their horses were.

I hated all of it.

What I wouldn’t give to go back to my ranch, light the fireplace—even in the summer—and curl up on my sofa with a book and a glass of whiskey on the rocks. With Eric massaging my feet, of course. Not that he would ever do that. He hated that ranch. Unfortunately, he was more like my parents, loving fancy and rich things.

At some point, tired of listening to the women talking about the new dresses they’d bought or the latest resort they’d gone too, I went into the kitchen. The waiters widened their eyes at me, until the cook hugged me.

“Hello, Miss Taylor,” Rosa said. “Long time no see.”

“True.” I pulled back and smiled at my mother’s cook. She had been with the family since I was a kid and she knew I loved hiding in the kitchen—and tasting whatever she was cooking—during these dinners.

She held my hand between hers. “How have you been?”

Ah, the golden question. “I’m good.” I reached to the counter behind her and served myself some whiskey. The waiters seemed confused, which in turn was almost entertaining. “So, what goodies do you have here?”

Rosa smiled and showed me a tray with what looked like homemade Swiss bonbons. Dessert before dinner, one of the many reasons I loved the kitchen.

“Hannah.” My father’s voice came from the door, and I almost choked on my bonbon. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

With my glass in hand, and trying to swallow the rest of the bonbon, I followed my father to his office. He closed the door behind me and showed me to the seat before his thick mahogany desk.

“What is it?” I asked, a little worried.

He clasped his hands on the desk. “We haven’t talked business lately, and well, it has been eight months since you inherited the ranch. We should talk about your plans for it.”

“Should I have any plans? I mean, I thought about running it like grandma did. Offering riding lessons, accepting a horse for boarding every now and then.”

“Once you graduate, you will sell it, won’t you?”

“What? Of course not.” My grandma, his mom, had left the ranch to me because she knew I’d take care of it. If she wanted to have it sold, she’d have left it to him. But she didn’t. I wouldn’t betray her like that.

He frowned. “Excuse me? You have to forget about this idea and sell it. Or incorporate it into our lands and business.”

“Dad, I don’t like talking about this. You’re still young and will be the head of the company for a long time.”

“I’m fifty-eight, and I’d like to retire before I’m too old to truly enjoy what my money can buy.”

He’d been telling me that since I was five years old. That one day I would run the entire farm and he would be able to retire. When I was a kid, I felt proud because that meant he trusted me. Now, I was torn. I loved horses and wanted to keep his farm. But it wouldn’t be at the expense of grandma’s ranch.

“I would prefer keeping both businesses. Her ranch and your breeding farm.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to keep up with both. And, if we analyze this situation, you will see that the breeding business is the best choice.”

“I don’t need to do this alone. I have Jimmy. And Hilary could help me with your farm.”

My father laughed out loud. “Hilary? Have you seen her around horses? No, I don’t think so. She doesn’t like them. She doesn’t even look in the stables’ direction.”

Yeah, I remembered, but I thought she would grow out of that phase. “Dad, I need more time to think.”

“There’s nothing to think about. You have to sell the ranch. And the sooner you do it, the better.”

“But I don’t—”

A knock on the door shut me up.

Eric peeked inside. “Am I interrupting something?”

A huge smile appeared on my father’s face. “Eric! Come in. Hannah and I were just talking business.”

My boyfriend strode into the room, sporting a big grin. His hands were inside the pockets of his gray suit, which emphasized his dark blue eyes. With short black hair and his fair skin, he looked amazing.

“Well, whatever you say, sir. I’m on your side.”

My father laughed. “That’s why I like you.”

Eric winked at me, enjoying the good points he had scored with my father over the years. I would never understand what he’d done to earn my father’s blind approval. It was like that with almost everyone. Eric would smile their way and win them over.

With that same pretty smile, he offered me his hand. “Hello, baby.”

I took it and he pulled me up. Even though I had on four-inch heels, he was still a couple of inches taller than me. “Hi.”

He kissed my cheek and whispered, “You look beautiful.”

My father walked around the desk and patted Eric’s back. “Good to see you, my boy. You might like to know Hannah and I were discussing selling the ranch.”

Eric’s brows shot up. “Really?”

Since the day the lawyer told me that everything my grandma had owned belonged to me, Eric had been trying to convince me to get rid of it. It wouldn’t be good for me to hold on to the past so much, he’d said.

“No,” I said. “Father, like always, suggested it and I negated it.”

“You really should think about it,” Eric said. “Your father and I have been telling you that since day one. Don’t you think you should listen to us?”

“Good point,” my father said. “We have experience with business ownership, Hannah, and we agree that you should sell that ranch.”

I knew I had no arguing point here anymore. So, to change the subject, I lied. “I’ll think about it.”

“Good.” My father walked to the door and held it open for us. “How about we go back to the party? We shouldn’t leave our guests unattended.”

Eric and I followed my father out of his office, but before we could walk into the living room, Eric held me back.

“You really look beautiful,” he said before kissing me.

My hands slid around his shoulders as I opened my mouth to him. His kiss was hungry, demanding, and forceful. His fingers dug into my hips, and he pulled me to him. Knowing we had been together for a little over two years and I still had this effect on him took my breath away. He’d first shown interest in me when I’d been a teenager, and being five years older than me, he’d been a man already running his family business. I couldn’t believe he truly wanted anything with me.

His lips trailed down my jaw, and his hot breath on my skin sent a shiver rolling down my spine.

“We better stop now,” he whispered.

Smiling, I pulled back. “What? Can’t lose control, Mr. Bennett?”

He rested his forehead on mine. “Not here, no, I can’t.”

I laughed and slipped my hand in his. “So, tell me, how was the meeting?”

“Not too good. The French team we were negotiating with doesn’t want to lend us a player anymore.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” he said, turning to the archway leading into the living room. His arm snaked around my waist, and he positioned me beside him, my left shoulder in front of the right side of his body. “Let’s go.”

He loved that. Showing us off. The beautiful heiress to the equestrian empire and the best polo player in the world. What a couple, everyone said. You two belong on the cover of magazines, I’d heard before.

Sometimes I thought he had chosen to date me just because of my father’s business, because of our money. But he was filthy rich too, so that wasn’t right. Maybe he wanted to keep his family status. Though when he looked at me, his eyes gleaming with desire and possessiveness, as if I were only his and he was damn happy about it. I knew that status and money didn’t really matter to him.

The room went quiet when we walked in.

“Good evening,” Eric said with a diplomatic smile, and the people exploded into grins and salutes and compliments.

Five seconds later, we were engulfed by the guests, talking about polo matches and horses. Every now and then, someone would tell us how good we looked, what a fortunate couple we were, and what a great player Eric was. It was annoying, really.

One of my father’s associates approached us. “Hi, I’m Scott O’Neill.”

Eric shook his hand. “Hello, Mr. O’Neill. I’m Eric Bennett. I assume you’re doing business with Mr. Taylor.”

“That’s right,” the man said. He looked younger than most of the men my father did business with, around thirty-five, and his black suit complemented his gray eyes. “And you’re the famous polo player.”

Eric smiled. “That, and I also run my family’s farm.”

“Oh, really? A breeding farm as well?”

“Not exactly. My business is a regular horse and cattle farm.”

“I see.” Mr. O’Neill’s eyes found me and he smiled. “And you must be Hannah Taylor, famous for your beauty. The rumors don’t lie.”

My cheeks heated, and Eric’s grip on my waist tightened. “That’s a new one,” I said, smiling politely, though all I wanted to do was to walk away from him.

Scott nodded to Eric. “You’re a lucky man.”

“I know,” Eric said, the amusement in his tone gone.

Relief colored Eric’s face when the butler came in, announcing dinner was ready.

The food was delicious, and dinner would have been bearable if it wasn’t for Mr. O’Neill’s constant stare and Eric’s tight grip on my thigh under the table. Each time the man smiled at me, Eric’s fingers dug into my skin and I pressed my lips together, willing the scream to stay in my throat.

“What do you do, Miss Taylor?” Mr. O’Neill asked from across the table.

“I’m attending college in Santa Barbara and I run a riding ranch.”

His brows arched up. “Really? That’s interesting.”

One of my mom’s friends asked, “But the town is almost ninety minutes away. You live on campus?”

“No, I—”

“Ah,” she interrupted me. “That’s good. I have only heard bad things about college residency.”

“Where do you live, then?” Mr. O’Neill asked.

Right then, Eric’s grip became agonizing and I jerked free. He was probably imagining the man’s throat instead. That didn’t excuse him for hurting me.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Eric spoke first. “The club might hire a French player to add to my team,” he announced.

I frowned. He had just told me it wasn’t going well, and now he was announcing it to the entire table as if it were a done deal. But he succeeded in what he planned as everyone shot him questions about it, including Mr. O’Neill.