Chapter Nineteen #4
I’d been thinking about our next stop on the tour. “How are you feeling about going back to Saint-Tropez?” I asked carefully.
Jasper tensed, but then said, “Not great. I think all I’ll ever see when we go there is Genny being crushed.” He shook his head. “But it’s always going to be on the tour, and we must attend, so my plan is to replace it with good memories. Of you riding and killing it on Henry.”
I laughed. “Not that you’re biased, of course.”
“Never,” he said back, smiling.
“Seriously, thank you,” I said again, curling into Jasper’s broad chest. I closed my eyes, feeling sleep pulling me down. “You’ve made more than one of my dreams come true.”
Sleep began to lull me into unconsciousness, but not quick enough to miss Jasper say, “You are my dream come true, Angel.” Then he kissed my head, and my heart filled with light.
So this was how it felt? I mused. To find your soulmate.
It was serene.
Peaceful.
Utter bliss.
Saint-Tropez, France
One week later
“What the ever-loving fuck!” Sage’s shrill voice cut through our private section of the arena’s stalls. I smiled, seeing Ben lead Henry toward us. He had been kept at Jean Pierre’s stud here in Saint-Tropez until today. Jasper followed behind them.
Sage snapped her head to me again. “This is your new horse?” Sage slapped my arm. “You bitch! You told me you weren’t sure who you were getting yet!”
Atticus brushed past us and went straight to Henry.
He gave the stallion a huge fuss. “Hello, mate. I bet you’re happy to be here again.
” It was strange, because Jasper was right; here at the stalls, Henry did seem to have a new aura about him.
He was a showman through and through, and he was eager for the stage.
Jasper came to stand beside me. “You ready?” he said.
“Absolutely,” I replied. And I was. In the week between tour stops, I had been training on Henry every day. It didn’t take me long to find our rhythm. Huxley was safely back at Golden Oaks getting treatment, and in the meantime, I had the best horse in the world to ride.
No big deal.
Leon appeared and clapped his hands. “Okay, team. Time for the practice ring.”
Sage gave me a big kiss on my cheek. “You lucky fucking bitch!” she said, then slapped my ass. “You must be a really good fuck if he’s given you his pride and joy to ride.” Sage’s eyebrows danced and I flipped her off. The echo of her cackle followed her as she mounted Fefe.
“You got this,” Atticus said to me, hand on my shoulder. He nodded to Henry. “There’s no safer horse.”
“Thanks, Atticus.” Since our talk on the rooftop in Spain we’d grown closer.
“Doesn’t mean I’m still not going to beat you, though!”
I rolled my eyes. “Would expect nothing less.”
Mila helped Ben get Henry sorted, and I put on my hat.
I went to put on my show jacket when Jasper stopped me and said, “Follow me.” Confused, I did as he said and followed him to a tack room.
Jasper shut the door behind us and moved to a portable clothes rack where a garment bag hung. He handed it to me. “For you.”
“What is it?”
Jasper folded his arms over his chest. “You’re riding a new horse,” he said. “I thought that occasion deserved a new jacket too.”
I unzipped the suit bag, and gasped. “Jasper . . .” I said, and took out the perfectly tailored and pristine Knighton Equestrian show jacket in Hallie Blue.
I had to blink away appreciative tears. “I adore it,” I said, and crossed the tack room to throw my arms around his waist and whisper, “Thank you.” I pulled back and shook my head. “Jasper, you have to stop spoiling me.”
Jasper smirked. “Hallie, I’m a billionaire.
If I want to spoil you, I bloody well will.
” I always forgot that about him. Not that he was rich, because his property and horses showed that.
But he wasn’t arrogant or selfish with his money or love.
He was genuinely a lovely man. A bit cold and moody to those not close to him, but never to me anymore.
“Put it on, then,” Jasper said. He took the jacket from me and held it out. I turned and slipped my arms into it, then spun around for Jasper to button up the front.
“It fits perfectly,” I said, then moved to the mirror. I ran my hands down the premium wool fabric. The black velvet collar was a perfectly traditional touch and made the bright color pop more.
“Your eyes,” Jasper said, moving behind me.
For once, I understood what he meant. The oceanic blue of the jacket made my blue eyes blaze. Turning, I looked up at Jasper and said, “I love you.”
Jasper kissed my lips. “I love you too.”
When we broke apart, I asked, “Are you going to watch from Jean Pierre’s box again?”
“No,” he said, surprising me. “I’m walking out with you and Leon and watching from the viewers’ plinth.”
“But . . .” I went to argue.
“I’m not missing my two loves taking center stage.” I melted again and went in for another kiss, then . . .
“I’m not afraid to come in there and interrupt whatever is happening!” Leon said from the tack-room door. “Hallie is needed at the practice ring, now!”
Jasper sighed and dropped his forehead to press against mine. “I’m going to fire him.”
I burst out laughing. “Yeah, like that would ever happen.” I headed for the door, only for Jasper to pull me back and take the promised kiss anyway.
“Ride safe,” he said when we broke apart.
“You got it,” I said and left the tack room. Ben and Mila had Henry ready. Sage and Atticus had already gone. I threw on my hat and mounted Henry.
Jasper walked out of the tack room and headed for the practice ring. I took a deep breath. “You’ll do great,” Ben said.
“You look incredible on him,” Mila said also.
“Thanks, guys,” I said, and clicked my tongue for Henry to move.
Once we had left the safety and privacy of our private section of the stalls, I heard the gasps and whispers coming from the staff around us.
“It’s Lord Henry.” I saw their disbelief and excitement.
I braced myself for the comments that would no doubt be thrown my way.
I wouldn’t let anything bad penetrate today.
Henry’s head was high and it made me smile, but nerves ran like rapids through me, the more notice we attracted.
I had banked on attention, but this was on another level.
Then again, I didn’t know what I’d expected.
Henry had been my dream horse growing up; it stood to reason he was most other riders’ too.
People believed Jasper had retired him, and here I was, bringing him back. It was bound to raise eyebrows.
Jasper was waiting at the warm-up ring with Leon. He watched me approach, and Leon opened the gate. Sage and Atticus were cantering around, Sage coming to a stop beside me when I entered.
The other riders in the ring were staring. “Oh, this is fun,” Sage said, watching all the awestruck expressions.
“Walk beside me for a while,” I said to Sage. “I don’t want to be gawked at on my own.”
We began walking around the ring, only for Camille Dubois to trot up to us.
“Not fucking him, hey?” she said, turning her nose up at me.
“You tried to be so convincing too,” she said.
“Well played, I suppose.” She shrugged. “You fuck so well that you gained the best horse in the process.” She laughed. “I’m impressed.”
Camille went to trot off when Sage said, “How many Grand Prix have you won this season so far, Camille?”
Camille scowled at my best friend, and I held back a laugh.
“Thought so,” Sage sang. Camille cantered off angrily, leaving me numb from her barb.
She pulled up next to Jake McGowen, who was glaring our way.
They talked in low whispers, but I could imagine what they were saying.
And oh, goody, Alexis was watching me from behind the barrier.
Let them fucking look.
“Cunts,” Sage said. Then turned to me. “Remember, you have earned your place here, Hallie. The best thing you can do is go out there and kick ass. That’ll shut the haters up.” Sage glared at Camille, who was still shooting me death stares. “Jealousy makes even the most attractive people ugly.”
We approached where Jasper and Leon were standing ringside. Jasper caught my attention. “What did she say to you?” His voice was cold, like the Jasper I first met.
“That I’ve fucked my way to the top, the same old, same old.” Jasper’s jaw clenched. But his eyes were narrowed on McGowen et al.
He took out his phone, and I heard him say to someone, “Tail McGowen and Dubois. I don’t like the way they’re watching Hallie.” He was so overprotective, and I loved that side of him.
“Head down and carry on,” Leon said, making me refocus. “Warm him up, ignore the noise, and pop him over the practice fences.” I nodded and took Henry out to the rail.
I was riding last today in the timed individual, which no doubt would piss off people even more. But I did as Leon said and shut out the noise. As I kept Henry warm, I visualized the course. I pictured us getting a clear round.
I pictured us winning. There was something in the air today, I could feel it.
Camille and Jake probably thought they were getting to me by saying those things. But the joke was on them—their shitty comments were only fuel to my fire.
A half hour later, I winced, watching the big screen as Sage came out of the ring with four faults. She’d knocked down a pole on the second-to-last fence. “Next time,” I said when she returned, and Sage just nodded her head.
Atticus made good time as always, and then Camille got a clear too. Jake McGowen was jumping before me. Jasper stood beside me in the tunnel and watched his rival with venom in his expression. I completed my prejump ritual—chin strap, girth, and water—before smoothing the front of my new jacket.