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“Yes. He did all the talking over breakfast and was telling his girlfriend all about me, like we were old friends who go way back.”
I cringe inwardly. I may have been a little too open when sharing information about Chelsea with my cousin over the years.
“That doesn’t bother me,” she continues. “But you want me to play the part of your fake fiancée, but failed to mention that you told Josh the truth. Can you even trust him?”
“I can trust Josh,” I say with one hundred percent certainty.
“Really? Well, either way I’d like to know more about your cousin, seeing as he knows everything there is to know about me.”
I consider her words and don’t know what she wants me to say. “There really isn’t much to tell.”
Chelsea folds her arms, and I suspect she isn’t going to let this go. I let out a sigh. “My uncle married Josh’s mother when Josh was two. My aunt and uncle went on to have three boys of their own.”
Facts about my family are on a need-to-know basis, and the fact is that there are things that Chelsea doesn’t need to know. Like that at the age of three Josh’s surname was changed to Calloway, or that Josh changed it back to his mother’s maiden name at eighteen when his stepfather died and excluded him from his will. Josh has had to start from the bottom and work his way up, though thanks to me he has never gone without. Things will vastly improve for him when I acquire the housebuilding company.
“Is he close to his brothers?”
I consider Chelsea’s question before answering. “I wouldn’t say they aren’t close, just that they’re at different stages of their lives at the moment.”
As in, his brothers are living the high life, while Josh works a low-paid office job and relies heavily on handouts from me. I let him stay in my estates whenever he pleases.
“I guess that is enough information for now.” Chelsea is silent for a beat as she continues to pick daisies. “So, what’s the story with Jupiter?”
“The planet or the horse?” I ask, knowing I’m being obtuse but buying myself time to think.
Chelsea rolls her eyes. “The horse.”
“What about her?” Jupiter belonged to my mother. She is unbroken, unruly and unridable. The less Chelsea knows about her the better, because knowledge brings with it curiosity, and if I’m not mistaken, it was curiosity that killed the cat.
“Tim said I wasn’t allowed to ride her. When I asked why he said I should ask you, so I am.”
I sit tall, brushing strands of grass from my brown breeches. “You can’t ride her because she’s dangerous.”
Chelsea lets out a laugh, and I get the feeling she thinks she can prove me wrong. “I don’t believe that for one second. Any horse can be broken in, they just need time and perseverance.”
“And with any other animal I would agree with you. But not Jupiter.”
Her expression remains unchanged, like my words have floated over her head. “My mother was a professional jockey,” Chelsea begins, “and as a child I would ride all the time. Mum taught me everything there is to know about horses, from grooming to breaking them in, and I know that if…”
I raise my hand. “No.” And by ‘no’ I consider the subject closed.
“No? Just no? That’s all I’m going to get?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Chelsea stands, a small chain of daisies dangling from between her fingers. “Giving up on people or animals is the easy option. You surprise me, Lucian. I thought you had more about you.”
She has a look of determination and defiance in her eyes that terrifies me, because it’s a look I know too well. Chelsea turns her back on me and heads toward Gypsy. I jump up to my feet, capture her hand and spin her around to face me.
“Three days,” I grit out. I’m angry because I’m terrified, terrified that she will do something stupid like attempt to ride that damn horse.
Chelsea’s eyes are as wide as saucers as she takes me in. “Three days?” she repeats.
“I was in a coma for three days after the injuries I sustained from riding Jupiter. My head injuries were so bad that the doctors told my father to prepare for the worst. But the stubborn sod I was, I refused to die and against the odds I survived.”
Chelsea laces her fingers with mine. I lift our joined fingers to my mouth and kiss the back of her hand.
“But it’s not like I woke up and jumped straight back into my old life. I had to learn how to do everything again—walk, talk and even feed myself. And do you know who was there with me every step of the way?”
