Winner Takes All (A Full Length Erotic Romance Novel) (15 page)

“Then my father died.” She heard him swallow heavily behind her.
His hands tightened briefly around hers and he drew a deep, troubled breath.

His father had been tending to one of the horses, working late as
usual in the stables when a fire broke out. Despite the fire alarms, for a long
time that night, no one knew about the fire. It was late, it was dark, it was
after hours and everyone had gone home. By the time the firefighters came, it
was already too late. His father was dead, along with two of their best horses.

“Although we couldn’t prove it, everyone knew it was Anthony
Barnes who started the fire.”

Sasha gasped. “Oh my God!”

“He was in the hayloft, smoking. He fell asleep up there, woke to
the fire and left my father to burn.” Damien’s jaw clenched and his eyes darkened
with the unpleasant memories. “I was in Botswana when it all happened but came
back on the next flight. After my own investigation, I fired Barnes for his
negligence and let him go without a letter of reference. Somehow he wormed his
way into McGreevy’s place and has been a pain in my ass ever since.”

He tilted his head back and stared at the ceiling. “All these
years, he’s been turning McGreevy against me, trying to outbid me for horses.
Stealing my best jockeys and staff. Recently, one of our trainers was mugged
not too far from here. His leg was badly broken. I heard rumors that it was
Barnes who did it, but he always manages to slither out of trouble. It’s
amazing to me how angry he is that he lost a job and a few layers of skin when,
because of him, I was the one who lost everything.”

Damien sounded so devastated, the normally strong man she knew
trembling in anger and remembered sadness. Sasha changed her position on the
sofa, knelt into the plush cushions and pressed his head against her breasts.

“I’m tired of him and his bullshit,” Damien said, his words
vibrated against her skin. “He’s coming after me again, and I’m going to put a
stop to it. But this time I won’t be so nice.”

His words were ice. Hard and jagged. Ruthless.

“The new foal born last night is beautiful,” Sasha said to Linc
with a grin as she waited for him to finish making his photocopies. To her
there were few things sweeter than newborn horses. Plus the new baby was a nice
distraction from the imminent revelation about her and Damien’s relationship.

“The little ones are mighty nice,” Linc said with a nod. He lifted
the lid of printer and took out a piece of paper, grabbed the copies and slid
them into a folder he had under his arm.

After spending all morning in the sun with Linc and a few of the
horses doing exercises, she had gone in to check on the most recent addition to
Taylor Stables. The new filly, hopefully named Queen of the Roses, was a light
bay color and gorgeous. Normally, Sasha wouldn’t pay much attention to the
breeding portion of the Taylor Stables business but she loved the little horses
so much and thought their struggling legs and softness were the epitome of
innocence. They reminded her of what she had lost very early in her life and
could never get back.

The long, rectangular office around her and Linc buzzed with early
afternoon activity. Two women, both holding cups of coffee, talked near the
door about someone’s upcoming wedding. At her desk, Linda, the stable’s
administrative assistant talked quietly with the phone to her ear while her
printer rolled out sheets of paper. From down the hall, came the sound of
laughter, people meeting up and getting ready to leave for lunch.

Sasha tucked her hands in the pockets of her jeans and rocked back
on her heels, enjoying the relative quiet of the afternoon, the comforting
activity of the office all around her.

“Michelle and I are supposed to go look at the new filly later,”
she told Linc.

He gave her a teasing look. “Is that the sound of your maternal
instincts kicking in?”

Sasha rolled her eyes. “Hardly.”

“Hardly what, darling?”

Although she was expecting him, Sasha nearly jumped out of her
skin at the sound of Damien’s voice close to her ear.

“Hi,” she said breathlessly.

Linc looked at her with curiosity before greeting their boss.
“Afternoon, sir,” he said with a nod.

Damien nodded back. “Linc.”

Today he was dressed in well-worn jeans and a white t-shirt under
a black blazer. Casual. Sexy. Nothing like the angry and intense lover she had
left the day before to his strategies and machinations on how to best rid
himself of the Anthony Barnes problem. Sasha wanted to hug him. She crossed her
arms under her breasts instead.

“Keep doing what you’re doing,” Damien said to Linc before his
eyes moved to Sasha. “I just came to invite this beautiful woman to lunch with
me.” His hand found her elbow, an intimate gesture no one could misinterpret.

The color rose in Sasha’s face but she hoped both men would ignore
it. “Uh...sure. I’d love to.”

“An hour from now in the house kitchen?”

She nodded, found a smile. “Okay. See you then.”

“Good.” Then he leaned down and kissed her. Quickly. On the mouth.

The kiss was over as quickly as it began but he might as well have
bent her over the copy machine and started fucking her in the ass for all the
impact it had in the small office. Everything came to a screeching halt.
Conversations. Breathing. Even the damn copier seemed to pause for a moment.

“See you in a bit,” Damien said and walked off.

After Damien left, every pair of eyes swung to Sasha, including
Linc’s. She wanted to clear her throat of its sudden dryness but didn’t want to
bring even more attention to herself with the sound.

“So, what’s for lunch?” Linc asked. He took his manila folder of
copies and dropped it into the admin assistant’s in-box. His attitude was
nonchalance itself. As if he’d known about her and Damien’s relationship all
along. And supported it.

“Whatever Damien tells the chef to cook, I guess,” she said with a
shrug, struggling to match his casual manner.

“Sounds like you’re in for a gourmet experience, then. I don’t
remember the boss being much of a meat and potatoes man.”

Sasha wanted to kiss Linc for his laid-back attitude about the
revelation. The office was settling down around them, the women by the door
falling back into their conversation, the copy machine once again churning out
the hot Xeroxed papers. Sasha’s frantic heartbeat in her chest. She shoved her
sweaty hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

“He likes a variety of things,” she said with a grateful smile.
“There’s no telling what’s going to happen in that kitchen.”

“Well, enjoy. I’m sure it’ll be a good time.” He started out of
the office and she fell in step by his side. “I’m heading over to Michelle’s
office to see about this new nutrition plan I think will work better for the
underweight foal. I won’t be back until late this afternoon. Can you stick
around late today?”

“Absolutely.” Staying late today of all days was a small price to
pay for his unconditional support.

“Good. I’ll see you when I get back.” Then he was gone.

With Linc off the property, she didn’t want to face anyone else.
She had an hour until she met Damien for lunch so she used the time to groom
Iron Fist. Then lunch time came and she walked across the grounds of the
stables toward the lavish house where Damien lived. Although she knew that
logically it wasn’t true, she felt that everyone at Taylor Stables watched her
make the journey from the business side of the estate over to his private
house. She felt like they watched her, they judged her, and found her wanting.

After asking one of the maids where the kitchen was, she managed
to find it on the second try, led the last few turns by her nose. Something
delicious was cooking. Something cheesy and filled with starch. Sasha’s stomach
growled with hunger. Her breakfast that morning had only consisted of a packet
of flavored oatmeal and a banana. By the time she’d gotten to work, her stomach
already felt empty. She stepped into the kitchen and almost bumped into a woman
carrying a foil-covered pan toward the oven.

“Excuse me,” Sasha dipped out of the uniformed woman’s way and
stared around her in wonder.

The kitchen was massive. It was filled with light from a half a
dozen windows and had the feel of a rustic cabin. Wide wooden beams on the
ceiling that matched the color of the small dining set near the center of the
room. An entire wall of built-cabinets and shelving, a double oven, two sinks,
and enough counter space for an orgy.

Wow.

Sometimes she forgot how rich Damien was. Her entire apartment
could fit into this kitchen. Maybe even twice. Along with the woman who was
putting what looked like a roast in the oven, there was a slender man chopping
vegetables at one of the counters and a young girl who looked like she was
doing her homework on the padded window seat, occasionally looking up to stare
outside with longing on her face.

Damien was already sitting at a small table by one of the windows.
His blazer was off. The wind or an impatient hand had ruffled the usually immaculate
arrangement of his hair. The table was set for two - glasses, silverware,
dishes, napkins - but was otherwise empty. He stood up when he saw her.

He kissed her again, this time on the cheek, and gestured for her
to have a seat. After she claimed her seat, he sat across from her.

“You look great,” he said with a grin. His blue eyes sparkled in
his face.

She laughed, utterly charmed by him. “You just saw me an hour ago.
In this same outfit.”

“You looked great then and you look even better now. Every time I
see you, you look even more beautiful.” His words were low and rumbling.
Private but easily carrying to the rest of the kitchen.

Was this a performance? Was he pretending to be infatuated with
her so that people wouldn’t feel put out by him dating the help? Sasha frowned
at him. Then noticed the faint tremor in his hands, the way he fidgeted in his
seat. He was nervous. She reached out and touched his hand, threaded her
fingers through his.

“Thank you for inviting me to lunch,” she said.

The fluttering in his hands eased slightly. “It’s my pleasure.” He
glanced toward the man, freckled with teak skin, who was still cutting
vegetables near the stove.

As if by silent command, the man was there in moments with their
food. Beautiful squares of macaroni and cheese with slices of roasted chicken.
He efficiently plated their meals, brought a pitcher of iced tea, then left
them as quietly as he’d come. As she looked down at the golden macaroni and
cheese still steaming from the oven and crisped at the edges just like she
liked it, her stomach rumbled again.

Sasha flushed, glanced up at Damien through her lashes.

“Seems like lunch came just on time then,” her lover teased. The
flash of humor moved across his face then disappeared again. He took a sip of
his iced tea and carefully put the glass back on the table.

“I haven’t done this in a while.” He gestured to her then himself.
“I thought this was going to be easy. A walk in the park since we’ve been
seeing and enjoying each other for a while now. But—” He looked around,
chuckling ruefully. “—I have no idea what I’m doing. I want you so much but I
haven’t been serious about a woman since....” His eyes met hers. “Since my wife
left me.”

Sasha’s own eyes widened as stared at him.

Wife?
Then it was her turn to reach for the iced tea and take a hasty
sip.

The thought of another woman having him in such a meaningful way
before her, unsettled Sasha more than she liked. She knew that if she’d paid
more attention to the gossip at the stables, then she would have known this and
more about Damien. But, watching him face her with honesty and trust, she
realized she preferred the revelation happening this way. She folded her hands
in her lap.

“I didn’t know you were married,” she said.

“I was. But I’m not any more. She left me for someone with deeper
pockets willing to turn a blind eye to her affairs.” He shrugged but she could
see the remnants of pain in him. “Needless to say,” Damien continued. “This big
revelation about us means a lot to me, too.”

Sasha felt a spasm of sympathy for her lover but didn’t reach out
to touch him. He wouldn’t appreciate it and would also likely interpret it as
pity. She could not imagine why a woman would choose another man over him. Or
give him up once she had his love.

“Her stupidity is my good luck,” she murmured with a slight smile.

He looked at her, his lashes flickering in surprise. Then he
smiled. “Is it?”

She lifted her fork and speared a corner of the golden mound of
macaroni, cheese, and spices. “You bet it is.”

They sat eating their lunch with the noises of the kitchen around
them. A knife against a cutting board. Water boiling in a pot. Pans and pots
occasionally clanging together.

“So, your wife….” Sasha raised her head to look at Damien,
swallowing the small bite of roast chicken in her mouth. “Did you love her?”