“Come in,” is the response after I knock on the door to the office. When I enter, I can see they've set up laptops on each side of the desk, sharing the space with one another. Sure, they’re sharing space, but they couldn’t be any more different. Holden’s on a call, but he doesn’t miss the chance to flash me a bright smile, while Thomas is already frowning, looking up at me with some kind of expectation in his eyes. I've really tried to pull him out of his shell a little bit the past few days, but he’s hanging on to his defenses like his life depends on it.
“Um, I was wondering if I could go out to the stables and check on Prada and Coco. I think it’s time that Coco actually got some exercise. I know Jacinta has been scared that something is going to happen to him and hasn't taken him out into one of the day paddocks yet, but it’s time. And I also thought maybe I could do that then get some fresh air, maybe walk around the gardens.” God, I’d even take a swim even though the temperature’s dropping.
I just want to be out of this house so badly that I don’t care about how I’m rambling at Thomas right now. Let him see that I’m on the verge of losing my mind. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. Yep, I’m picturing that meme right now.
To my surprise, Thomas stands up, slamming his laptop closed. “Yeah, actually, that sounds like a good idea. I need to stretch my legs too, and maybe the fresh air will help me think clearer.”
We both wave to Holden then make our way outside. I’d already put on a pair of jeans and boots in the hope that he would say yes, so I only need to stop at the side door and grab a light jacket while Thomas grabs what he needs. Because we went out the side door, we bypass the deck and recreation area and head straight to the stables across the back expanse of lawn that gets used as the helipad. Shoving my hands deep into my pockets, I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, studying the change of his expression as he gets lost in thought. He has his hands shoved in his pockets too, and he’s sort of hunched in on himself.
“Want to talk about it?” I ask him, and he kind of jumps like he forgot I was there. That's not like him. He’s always on the ball, alert and watchful.
“I just can’t figure out this stalker thing. It’s almost like there are two separate people doing this. Up until Hawaii, there was no real attempt on your life—just malicious damage plus threatening the others, which can be chalked up to whoever being obsessed with you being pissed at them for Jacinta’s stunt. So, what changed? What made them escalate to trying to kill you? I really think there are two people involved in this. There’s just one big question: are they linked, or is it a coincidence?”
His words floor me. Two different people having a problem with me? Fuck my life. One potentially murderous stalker was more than enough for me. I had been avoiding thinking about it all week, typical me behavior, but I can’t ignore it anymore when he lays it all out like that.
“But what about the saddle, pushing me into the pool, and the photo of DS?” I add in.
He growls, “I’m pretty sure that's the same one who did all the damage to your room and Oliver's car. Just another way to frighten you.”
“But why? Why frighten me? What did they hope to achieve with it?”
“Maybe trying to get you to run home to Connecticut?” Thomas speculates.
“Okay, that sounds fair, but what about the two attempts in Hawaii? It was sheer luck that we weren’t seriously injured during the car accident, and had Kai not gotten to me as quickly as he did, the snorkeling accident would have been a whole other story. Why is one trying to scare me and one trying to kill me?”
“Yeah, but that’s where the theory of a second person comes in. Otherwise, we’re missing out on something big that would have pushed the initial attacks, which were more aimed at harming us, to changing them to being about harmingyou. Fuck! This is so frustrating.”
We’re at the stable doors by now, so I pull them open. A quiet nickering greets us, a huge smile fills my face at the sound.
“Come on, help me get these two into a day paddock. I’m sure not thinking about it for a while will help. Then we can walk up to the gate and see if the mail has been delivered. I’m still waiting on a couple of packages from Amazon, and our brains deserve a break from this stress.”
We quietly work together, getting the mare and her foal into halters and then clipping on the leads to take them out. Coco is skittish, but I know Jacinta has been working with him, so I throw my arm over his neck and give him a pat. As we walk, I keep talking to him calmly, the two of us following Thomas and his mother out into the fresh air. The colt’s ears prick up, his nose lifting like he’s scenting the air, and he starts to prance a little bit. Prada picks up her pace, almost towing Thomas along behind her in her impatience to get outside. Thankfully, they don’t have to wait too long before we’re unlatching the gate, pushing it open, and letting them enter.
After we join them inside, we let them both loose, knowing they’re ready to enjoy this taste of freedom that they’ve been missing. They both spin on their hocks and take off along the fence line. Coco’s gangly legs kick up as he bucks a couple of times in joy. Thomas and I climb back through the fence and rest against it, watching the two run together. It doesn't take long for Prada to start munching on the grass instead, but Coco is curious. He sniffs along the fence line toward us before turning and racing back to his mom.
There is something purely joyful about watching a foal explore new surroundings for the first time. Eventually, he gets bored and sidles up to his mom for a drink.
“Come on. Let’s go get the mail.” I tug on Thomas’ shirt and pull him toward the front of the house. “Did you know this is the longest I’ve gone without riding since I was given my first pony,” I tell him conversationally, trying to keep his mind away from his worries. Maybe trying to keep my mind away from them too. “I think I’m starting to get withdrawals. It’s weird because it hasn't been all that long since Holden’s accident, but it feels like a lifetime ago at the same time. So... distract me from the withdrawal, Thomas. Tell me something about you that I don't know.”
I can see him thinking about it, but I can’t read the emotion behind those thoughts.Did I push him too far?He seems to be determined to keep me at arm’s length, but I’m just as determined to get to the heart of what makes him tick.
“Like Kai and Declan, I have my pilot’s license for both planes and helicopters,” he starts, and it’s something, but I want to know more.
“What about hobbies? What does Thomas Summers like to do on his days off?”
“Going off grid, fishing and hunting. Dad has a cabin at Lake Superior, and we always take two weeks off every year and head up there. But I use it on my own as well. In the summer, I like to do some camping too. There’s a great camping spot we like to use at South Lake Tahoe. We’ll take the kayaks and do some hiking and fishing there too.” When he turns and meets my eyes, the shadow is gone, replaced with happy memories of the past with his family.
“That sounds fun. What else do you do as a family? Any other traditions I have to look forward to?”
“Aunt Merideth and Dad alternate between themselves each year for Christmas, so some years we head to London and have a cold Christmas at her place, and sometimes she comes here for the sun. Despite it being winter, she says it’s more sun than London gets in summer.”
“She owns the Sugar and Spice empire, doesn't she? Sex toys and strippers, porn and prostitutes. I believe those were the headlines I saw once.”
He laughs and smiles ruefully. “That she does, and if you think the press came up with that byline, you’d be mistaken. She has the final say in everything, and she’s just as ruthless if not more so than Dad. She spends quite a bit of time flying between here and the UK because Sugar and Spice has a gentlemen’s club and burlesque show in Vegas. She likes to be hands-on with everything, and with such a delicate operation, it requires immense trust in your board or you do it all yourself.”
“Well, I can’t wait to meet her,” I tell him as we get closer to the front gate.
“She should be here for the fundraiser in a couple of weeks, and I know she’s going to be thrilled to meet you too.”
