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ChapterThree
THEO
It’s been a week since my piccola’s accident. Four days since I’ve seen her. I’m glad her parents are here to support her but fuck—I want to be the one to do it.
Although Elena allowed me those couple of hours with Thalia, I haven’t managed to get any time with her since. Christian has not left the apartment for longer than an hour, leaving me no time to see her. I’m frustrated to say the least, going out of my Goddamn mind.
We’ve been in contact through message and phone calls, but it isn’t enough. I want to be around her, breath in her scent, hold her. This should be our time now that I’ve finally gotten rid of Melody, but we’re still being kept apart by forces outside of our control.
I’m worried about Thalia and her determination to speed up her rehabilitation. She is so resolute in not losing her place on the teams, I’m concerned she’ll end up doing more damage if she’s not careful. She has assured me that the extent of the damage to her knee isn’t as severe as it could have been. She is determined to be ready to compete by the time we relocate to England and Europe for the next six months. I admire her tenacity, but that doesn’t mean I want her to push things.
I’m anxious for her parents to go back to the New York, so I can move Thalia in with me to recuperate. I haven’t mentioned it to her yet, but I want her close. I know I will have a battle on my hands with Greg—he won’t allow it and not just because he doesn’t like me but because of the security issue. He won’t move into my house, and I don’t want him to. I can protect Thalia.
We also have the issue of telling her father about us. Elena seems supportive of our relationship but there is no doubt in my mind it will be a totally different story when it comes to Christian.
Melody hasn’t been back to Rhodes farms since I told her to leave. I am grateful for that, although there is the small issue of Mel’s father owning a quarter of the farm. I never told Thalia that piece of information as she was already worried about what I would do with the horses Mr. Whitworth owned and I didn’t want to cause her further worry.
ButIwas worried.
Not only am I going to lose most of my horses, but there is also a strong possibility that I will lose my home. I don’t have the funds to buy him out of all my horses and his share of the seven-million-dollar farm.
My investor has come through and is going to invest a half a million dollars, which will secure my top horse. My father is also going to invest some money so I can keep at least one of my animals. But the farm was a different issue. I couldn’t ask my parents to buy Mr. Whitworth out nor could I go to my investor. It will make me look unstable in my career, start the rumor mill, and I can’t have that. I will need to sell and downsize eventually, but I don’t have to worry about that right now as we will be leaving for Europe in six weeks and during that time, I’ll hash out things with Mr. Whitworth as much as I can. Knowing the private person, he is, he won’t like any of Melody’s discretions brought to light and will hopefully want things dealt with as easily and straightforward as possible.
I don’t want to lose everything I have worked so hard for, but I’ll give it all up if it means keeping my piccola. She is worth more than any horse, my farm and all the bullshit I have to go through. It will all be worth it to make her mine.
And anyway, it will be a good thing to start over somewhere new, fresh.
For the both of us.
* * *
Later that day, I brief my staff on our travel plans and what will be happening with Thalia’s horses. I tell them that I’ll be riding and keeping them fit until she is ready to come back and that we’ll be leaving for Europe in six weeks. Everyone is on board, and it’s decided who will be staying at Rhodes Farms and who will be travelling the showjumping circuit for the next six months.
As I’m riding Thalia’s horse, Roman, my cell buzzes in my pocket. I fish it out of my gilet, smiling when I see the name on the screen.
“Hey, piccola.”
“,” she breathes in greeting.
I chuckle at the nickname she’s given me. “How are you feeling, baby?”
“Bored. I miss riding,” she whines, and I know without seeing her she has a pout on her full lips.
“You’ll be back in the saddle before you know it. I promise...” I trail off then smirk even though she can’t see me. “Although, I do know of a form of riding you are allowed to do,” I say huskily. I hear her breath hitch over the line and my dick hardens in my jodhpurs at the thought of her riding me. It’s been too long.
“My parents are flying back to New York tomorrow,” she replies, her voice filled with lust. The insinuation is clear, and I can’t fucking wait. Although we will need to be careful of her knee.
“I can’t wait to see you,” I grunt as I reach down and rearrange my cock. I can tell you now, it’s not comfortable being hard in the saddle.
“Likewise. Except my sister is flying in the day after tomorrow. That won’t matter though.”
“Mmm, maybe you should come and stay at my place?” I voice what I have been wanting to ask her.
She giggles, the sound music to my ears. “You know I can’t do that. Greg will have a coronary. He’s still freaking out over my fall. I don’t know why, it’s not like he could have prevented it.”
No, he couldn’t have stopped it from happening, but I’m with Greg. I’m still freaked out over what happened, still have nightmares. The one thing the shadow and I agree on is Thalia’s safety. “He cares about you baby; I respect him for it.” It’s the only praise I will give the man; other than that, he’s a thorn in my side.
“Have you heard anything from Mel?” she asks, changing the subject.
