Lazy.
Dumb.
Weirdo.
After a diagnosis of dyslexia in her teens, Veda had worked hard on herself. Not only was she determined to walk back all the damage that came from hellish anxiety, lack of confidence, few friends and less hope, she had vowed to be stronger for it. And looking on the brighter side, finding ways to reclaim her self-esteem had laid the foundations for her career as a life coach, the most rewarding job on the planet. While she still battled nerves and always would, Veda could speak in front of an auditorium full of people now. She hadn’t suffered one of her attacks where she strangled on her words in years.
Until now.
Ringing ears…closing throat…freezing brain.
“This has been weeks in the making,” Hux said, looking around at the tented pavilion and its high-end fairy-tale trimmings. “Lanie and Susan’s efforts, of course, not mine. Have you met Susan yet? She came down early to make sure everything was set.”
As Hux waited for a reply, Veda’s throat remained squeezed shut. Cheeks flushed, she forced a smile and shook her head.
“Susan’s a godsend,” Hux went on. “Been with us for such a long time. She’s phenomenal with the house and meals and, well, everything family.”
Focused, trying to relax, Veda managed to squeak out, “I see.”
Hux’s smile dipped before he tried again. “When she arrived here, Susan knew nothing about horses or this kind of life. She loves the place now, of course, but she doesn’t get much involved with that side of things.”
Veda’s mind was stuck. Words refused to come. And deep in her gut, tendrils of panic were spreading.
Lazy.
Dumb.
Weirdo.
Hux’s eyes narrowed the barest amount before he tried a different approach. “I suppose you like horses, Veda? You’ve been around them most of your life.”
“I… Horses are…beautiful.”
He nodded like he hadn’t worked her out yet and maybe didn’t want to. “How’s your dad doing?”
“Good. Busy.” Breathe, Veda. Just breathe. “I’m staying there…this weekend.”
“Right. The Darnel Stables aren’t so far from here.”
When she nodded again and took a sip from her champagne flute, Hux searched her eyes and then threw a look around. “Well, I’ll let you get back to the party. Nice meeting you, Veda. Enjoy the night.”
As he walked away, Veda let her smile and shoulders sag. Knowing next to no one here hadn’t fazed her. She could even deal with seeing Ajax again, however that turned out. But being left alone to talk with the man who years ago had let loose a storm of demons that had ultimately torn her family apart…
Veda didn’t like to dwell on how much she’d cried when her parents had split, let alone the bombshell that had landed after that. But now, snapshots of events leading up to her mother’s death broke through. And with the music getting louder and the crowd starting to press in—
She needed some space, some air, and she needed it now.
Setting her glass on a nearby table, Veda escaped through one of the pavilion’s back exits, and she didn’t stop going until she was cloaked in shadows and certain she was alone. Out here, the night air was so fresh and freeing. The beat of the music and drag of dark memories seemed just far enough away.
She was herding together more positive thoughts when, out of the shadows, a figure appeared. Dressed in a tuxedo now, Ajax was cutting the distance between them with a commanding gait. And the closer he got, the clearer the message grew in his gorgeous blue eyes.
You can run, sweetheart, it said, but don’t ever think you can hide.
“If you want to leave, you’re going the wrong way,” Ajax said, tipping his head toward the house. “Cars are parked over there.”
Taken aback, Veda blinked a few times before responding. “I wasn’t leaving. I needed some air.”
He forced a grin. “Like you needed air the night we met on that balcony a month ago.”
Her knockout dress shimmered in the moonlight as she straightened. “Has it been that long?”
“Yup. That long.”
After changing, Ajax had returned to the party pavilion in time to catch a flash of lipstick red as Veda dashed out the back. Of course, he had followed. He wanted to make sure she was all right. And, yes, he had also seen an opportunity to broach another sensitive matter. Namely, what the hell had happened after Saratoga? Why hadn’t she accepted his calls?
Clearly, Veda wanted to avoid the subject.
“So, what are you doing out here in the dark?” she asked.
Ajax slid both hands into his pants pockets. “Psyching up for party mode?”
“Well, at least you’re dressed for it now.”
His smile was slow. “You saw me earlier?”
Her gorgeous green eyes widened before she visibly gathered herself again and offered a cool reply. “You got changed in record time.”
“I’d already showered at the office.” Grinning, he propped a shoulder against a nearby oak and crossed one ankle over the other. “I don’t mind the smell of hay and horse, but I’m not sure the guests would appreciate it much.”
When her gaze dipped to his mouth, he remembered back to that night and words she had murmured while nuzzling him from his chest all the way down.
You smell so good. And taste even better.
As if she was remembering, too, Veda threw a glance toward the lights and music. “I should get back.”
“I’ll walk with you.” He pushed off the oak before adding, “If that’s okay.”
After a second’s hesitation, she made a face like it was no big deal. “Sure,” she said. “Why not.”
As they headed back down a lit path, he set a leisurely pace. After the flowers and phone messages—after the multiple times she had come apart in his arms that wild night—had she even considered dropping him a line?
He studied her profile—straight nose, lush lips, laser-beam focus. And then there was that jaw-dropping dress. He couldn’t help but imagine sliding the fabric from her shoulders, tracing the contours of her breasts with his lips…with his tongue…
Focus, damn it.
“Did you get my messages?” he asked after clearing his throat. “I left a couple.”
“I did. The flowers, too. They were lovely.”
Uh-huh.
“I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed our time together.”
Gaze still ahead, she nodded. “Thank you.”
He nodded, too, scratched his ear. “We left Saratoga on pretty good terms, wouldn’t you say?”
Her heels clicked a little faster on the path. “We should get back to the party.”
“I thought we could talk.”
“Maybe later.”
He pulled up. Maybe now.
“Is this still about your dad, Veda? Because I thought we’d worked