Page 37 of The Bourbon Bet
It only takes a couple of minutes to reach the gate between my place and state land. A stable hand waits at the gate. She locks it after we pass through. Since I’ve ridden the trails many times, I let Rosalia take the lead to have the freedom to explore.
We ride until our stomachs rumble with hunger, and the afternoon sun fights with the heavy clouds rolling in. And even then, I’d rather risk the storm than return. The simple afternoon is damn near perfect.
She points out a hawk circling above, and her smile is genuine, her laugh unguarded. Derby and the party loom a little over a month away. I wish time would slow. Even with all the lies between us, I’m in no hurry for this game to end.
We cross back onto my property under a darkening sky. As we approach the barn, Rosalia’s relaxed chatter begins to fade. Her posture straightens, becoming anxious and stiff. Her gaze, which had been meeting mine freely all afternoon, now darts between my house, the barn, and anywhere but at me. It’s as if crossing the boundary line has reminded her of something, or perhaps of who I am.
She fidgets with the reins, urging Cinnamon to canter and then walk, seemingly unaware of what she’s doing. The same nervous energy that had consumed her when she first arrived appears to have returned.
The quiet grows tense. “What’s wrong?”
She draws a deep breath. “Your place is beautiful. Really... impressive.” There’s a forced quality to her voice that wasn’t there minutes ago.
“Thanks, but you already said that. Twice.” I eye her. What’s behind this nervous repetition?
“I know, I just—” She stops, then starts again with that same wooden tone. “The way you’ve built your fortune is remarkable. The business, this estate... it shows how brilliant you are with money and investments.”
Thorne’s text flashes in my mind:Why deal with paying off loans when her new billionaire boyfriend can buy her a bookstore?
The pleasant warmth of the afternoon curdles in my gut. Here it comes. The real reason she’s here. My brother might be right, and everyone wants something in the end. And really, I should have seen it coming, she has a damn deal with my brother to manipulate and use me.
“Rosalia.” My voice comes out harder and I don’t care. “I can’t give you the building you’re leasing.”
Her head snaps toward me, the color draining from her face. For a split second, shock renders her features vulnerable. Then her eyes harden to flint.
“I wasn’t asking.” The transformation is immediate. Gone is the nervous woman of seconds ago, replaced by cold fury. Her eyes narrow to slits. “So you do know about your company not honoring the agreement to renew my lease. Good to know.”
She presses her heels into Cinnamon’s sides, urging the mare forward. Not just a trot but a gallop, putting distance between us with every second.
“Rosalia, wait! That’s not—” I urge Goliath into motion, but she's already disappearing down the path to the barn, the sound of hoofbeats fading under the first drops of rain.
ChapterSixteen
Rosalia
Sebastian calls my name again. He knows that his company screwed me over on my lease. What else does he know?
I’m tempted to ignore him and have Cinnamon sprint to the barn. But the move is juvenile and pointless. I’ll have to talk to him once we’re off the horses or while I wait for Tom to arrive with the car to take me home. At times like these, I wish I had my own vehicle. Sighing, I tug gently on the mare’s reins.
The clop of hooves slows as Goliath and Sebastian pull up level with Cinnamon and me. I narrow my eyes at him and hiss, “You knew about your company going back on its word with my lease, and you don’t even care.” I search his face for any hint of guilt or remorse, but his expression remains inscrutable.
“I...,” he begins, then looks away. “It’s complicated.”
My anger flares, hot and huge. Complicated. My fists clench around the reins, nails biting into my palms. “Try to explain,” I say in a hoarse whisper.
He runs a hand over his face, his shoulders slumping. “I didn’t know about the lease issue until a few days ago. And the truth is, I don’t have control over the properties the company leases out. That’s my brother’s domain. If I get involved, it’ll be messy. Very messy.”
My stomach drops at the mention of Thorne, a cold sweat prickling along my hairline. Sebastian had basically called me a gold digger, but he isn’t far off. It doesn't matter that I was attracted to him before I made my bargain with his brother—now I’m here because of what Thorne promised me.
We ride in strained silence. The rhythm of hoofbeats melds with rustling bluegrass beneath an ambitious March sky. Our horses move in practiced tandem, close enough to share the same dappled shadows, yet worlds apart.
I study his profile, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way he carries himself like someone bearing a burden too personal to name. During his visits to my store, he’s always alone. I googled him after our coffee date, and it revealed a man surrounded by empty space. In photographs from galas and charity events, he stands isolated in crowded rooms, his smile never reaching his eyes. Since his divorce, no companion graces his side. No friend’s shoulder brushing against his, no lover’s hand in his.
“Do you ever get lonely?” The question slips out.
He glances at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Out here. Away from the city.” I add, knowing that the true question is too probing.
