Read Online Wishes in the Wind by Andrea Kane - Free Book Online Page B

him, feeling the pounding of her heart, the fragility of her form, the awakening of her response.
    On and on the kiss went, tenderness melding with fire, the intensity escalating until it was nearly unbearable.
    Abruptly, Nicole pulled away. “No.”
    “Yes.” He reached for her, scowling as she backed off.
    “I can’t,” she gasped, wildly shaking her head as if searching for a rational reason for her actions. “W-we come from different worlds.” She continued to retreat; Dustin continued to advance. “I work for you,” she tried, feeling the door behind her, tugging at the handle only to recall he’d locked it. “I’m supposed to be a man,” she burst out.
    That had the desired effect.
    Halting, Dustin stared at her, the ironic significance of her words sinking in. “Damn.” He raked a hand through his hair, his gaze roving restlessly from her jockey’s attire back to her kiss-swollen lips, the contrast slapping him like a douse of cold water.
    Sharply, he inhaled. “We have a problem, Derby.”
    The affectionate term brought frustrated tears to her eyes. “Don’t retract your offer,” she entreated. “Let me ride for you—and not just because of my dreams to race. Because of Papa. Please, Dustin. I’ll stay away from you. We’ll never kiss again—I promise.”
    Whatever he’d been about to say vanished in the wake of her ludicrous vow. “What did you say?”
    “I said we’ll never kiss again. You have my word.”
    His chuckle erupted with a will all its own. “And you have my word we will kiss again. As for your unfounded apology, let me remind you that you didn’t initiate the kiss. I did.”
    She contemplated that truth. “Very well, then, I promise to unman you if you ever initiate another.”
    Dustin’s shoulders shook. “How comforting. I appreciate the warning, Derby. I’ll be sure to protect myself against oncoming injury the next time I take you in my arms.” Noting her drawn expression, he sobered, a wave of tenderness constricting his chest. “Alden Stoddard—what made you choose that name? The Alden, I assume, you derived from Aldridge.”
    A flicker of hope invaded Nicole’s eyes. “Yes, I did. I wanted a bit of Papa with me when I raced. As for Stoddard—” She smiled. “It means ‘keeper of horses.’”
    “Most fitting.” Dustin extracted his handkerchief, gently drying her eyes. “It appears my handkerchief is being put to use after all.”
    “It appears so.”
    Their gazes locked.
    “Well, Stoddard,” Dustin emphasized the name, glancing over to consult the clock, “I suggest you take your leave. You’ll need time to collect your belongings and your father, then return to Tyreham for a good night’s sleep. I’ll have the cottage stocked with food. Training begins tomorrow at six A.M.”
    Nicole’s smile was radiant. “Thank you, Dustin,” she whispered. Self-consciously, she cleared her throat, lowering her voice to a slightly deeper pitch. “Six A.M., my lord,” Alden Stoddard replied with a nod. “I’ll be at the stables—ready to train for our victory at Epsom.”
    “Coop? We’re here.”
    In the process of grooming his chestnut mare, Farley Cooper gave no sign that he’d heard the muffled proclamation. To the contrary, he kept his gaze fixed on the horse rather than raising it to the two men who’d, moments ago, entered his darkened stables.
    Approaching boots plodded through the muck, then fell silent, alerting Coop to his visitors’ proximity.
    “Did you hear me?” the heavyset man pressed. “We’re back from Tyreham. We had our chat with the marquis.”
    “I heard you, Parrish.” Coop smoothed his horse’s velvet coat. “But before I listen to another word, did you make sure no one saw you come in here?”
    “It’s nearly midnight, Coop. Who the hell would be at your stables except us and the horses?”
    “I said, did you make sure?” Coop snapped.
    “Yeah, we made sure,” the second visitor piped up. “The place is