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“When you’re ready, I’m here for that, too.”
My phone buzzes with a text.
TEXTLSTART_Got a minute?_TEXTLEND
“Oh, shit! It’s EFF! Got to go! It could be Teena!”
“Lollybaby, I love you more. Call me right back. Soon as you can!”
TEXTLSTART_Want to call? If it’s faster?_TEXTLEND
My heart is in overdrive. Don’t let this be true. Don’t let anything have happened to her. I’ll do anything. Please, please, please. Don’t let Teena be hurt or… I pick up on the first ring. “Is she okay? Is Velveteen all right?” The tears are hot and wild, streaming down my face and dripping off my chin.
“She’s fine. More than fine. She’s golden. You’re right, there never was a more docile, sweet, loving filly. Not a mean bone in her body. And I’m thrilled you trusted her to my care.”
“I can hear a but coming?”
“Right. So. I never thought we’d be in this position, but I’ve had an offer.”
“An offer?” My mind is all a riot. What the hell? “For Velveteen?”
“And you have right of first refusal.”
I lurch forward, unable to stand. “You’re selling her?”
“Of course not. Don’t be insane.”
I can’t make the words make any sense. I’m in overload. I need help. My mother’s basically accusing me of being a slattern while my horse—my life, my world, all I have left to look forward to—is being taken from me. It’s like a direct repeat of history, but this time I have to stand my ground and work out how not to let this all go to shit. “I’ll match their price. Tell me what they’re offering.”
“Whatever I ask. Sky’s the limit. He wants her, Lolly. Mariano wants to buy her for you.”
SAY WHAT NOW?
Lolly Benoit. The Great House. The Cotswolds, England.
Istride across the lawn, my feet squishing in my boots, my panties climbing up my ass, the adrenaline preventing anything from hurting. I haven’t had time to change since Miss P decided that water was her enemy and dunked me in the creek, but I’ll be fucked if I’m going to let any of this stand.
“Where is he?” The new steward looks frazzled, but who wouldn’t withMotheron the premises. But she can wait. It’s Mariano I-want-to-buy-your-horse Arias I need to talk to.
“Mr. Arias is in his room, Miss Benoit. Would you like me to call up and see—”
I take the front stairs. Don’t care who sees me. Don’t care that the steward knew exactlywhich‘he’ I meant without me specifying. It’s not like it’s a secret anyway. We were athingand now we’re not. What of it? We’re all adults here. I bang on his door but don’t wait for him to answer. It’s unlocked. I barge in. “What the hell, dude?”
He’s in his boxers, a towel over his shoulders, looking as dreamy as he did the first time I saw him almost naked, but there’s no time for letting my eyes wander. This is serious damned business, and he has to answer for what he’s trying to do.
“Do you honestly think you could buy your way back into my affections?”
“Lolly…” He steps towards me. With my back already against the door there’s nowhere for me to go, so I lurch to my left and swing around back of him.
“Don’t you try to Lolly me.”
“It was to be a gift. A surprise. You love her. You’re unhappy. I want only that you be Lolly of the Laughter again.”
“Screw you and screw wanting me to laugh all the time. Sometimes bad things happen and I’m not happy and that’s not how it goes. So, stay away from my horse. And stay away from me.Comprende?”
“This is ludicrous.” He grabs me and pulls me close. His hands on me are warm and strong and the scent of him is so intoxicating I would yield—if I weren’t so furious. “You will hear me, Lolly. I love you. I’m going to make this right. I don’t know how, but you’ll see.”
I try to wrench myself free, but he has me in a tight grip. “Screw that! You don’t get it. You lied. There’s no coming back from this.”
