Her Billionaire Prince Read online

  She bit her lip as her eyes took in dress. It was so romantic. So lovely. Along the edges of the seams, matching embroidery shimmered. Lace and ribbon embellished the neckline. Stiff crinoline shored up the skirt.

  Talia couldn’t remember the last time she dressed up in a skirt. Even for church, she usually wore slacks. She was right in thinking she didn’t belong in Jay’s world. A picnic overlooking wild horses was one thing. A ball was another. She wouldn’t know how to even prepare for an evening like the Oaks Ball. She was always the jockey, never the participant at these race side-events. Besides, she had no fancy shoes to wear with it.

  She picked up the tissue to put the dress back in, and out fell a pair of heels the same color as the dress. It was a beautiful pair, with fabric that changed color slightly as she held it up this way and that. Her feet were still in her boots, and she wondered what it would feel like to wear them.

  Sitting down on her beat-up sofa, she kicked off her boots and peeled off her socks stiff from sweat. Her feet were pale, just like the rest of her legs.

  The shoes fit just a tad too tight. Not enough to pinch her circulation. They made her legs look slender, and the color looked so fine against her pale skin.

  In the shoes with just her pants and dirty shirt, she looked like she could be a yuppie heading off to work. Her glance fell on the dress.

  What would it hurt to try it on? At least she’d be able to tell whoever was buying it what it looked like. Maybe she could even model it for a selfie.

  Nah.

  She undressed and then unzipped the dress. The fabric made her nervous. She expected it to snag or rip with the zipper, but it did no such thing. The dress was actually very well-made. She put it over her head and let it cascade around her.

  She felt like Cinderella getting ready for the ball.

  Except she still stank like horses. She’d have to fix that. If she were to go to the ball. Which she wasn’t. In a moment’s panic, she wondered if she should’ve showered before trying the dress on.

  She glanced at her reflection, stunned at what she saw. Even with her hair pulled back like some schoolmarm and wisps of hair falling carefully around her face, the dress molded to her body like the contours of a fine violin. The cinched waist made hers look shapely, and it filled out in all the other right places. The neckline was slightly off-shoulder, which revealed her farmer’s tan, just like she had where her shirt sleeves ended, but the dress still looked lovely.

  It made her ache for things she couldn’t have. A glamorous life, the ball, and, most of all, Jay.

  What would it hurt for her to go to the ball? Just once, she could wear the dress…

  Oh, no, Talia, don’t. You’re not going to go wobbling into a ball, dressed in heels you aren’t used to. You don’t even know how to put on makeup―well, more than mascara and some blush. If you can even find it.

  Why couldn’t she go to the ball? Oh, but it was so tempting. She could go incognito. There were probably masks she could wear so she didn’t have to reveal her face. Was it that kind of a ball? Probably not. Or she could hide behind a pillar and…

  Oh, geez. Get real, Talia.

  She took off the dress, angry and frustrated. She stuffed it back in the box and set it behind the couch. She was done fantasizing about being Cinderella. It was near midnight, and the spell would fittingly be broken.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Jay’s first thoughts the next morning turned to Talia. He wondered if she’d changed her mind about the dress. He half expected it to have been delivered back to his doorstep with a nasty note attached, but when he went out for his morning run, there was no box nor note on the door. Of course, Talia’s truck wasn’t in the lot yet, so she might not have done it yet that morning. The fact that she didn’t turn right around to dump it back on him was a sign of progress.

  He sighed. How he wished he was going to the ball with her instead of his Mother’s hand-picks. His mother probably had all the dances divided equally between them, and Jay would be expected to be the amiable dance partner.

  He ran for three miles then returned to the mansion.

  Talia was coming out of her truck, walking without her tack. She’d not needed it since Stormy died. He wondered how she was doing nowadays with her horse gone.

  “Good morning,” he said, offering a tentative smile.

  She nodded, making her way to the paddock in her usual riding getup.

  He couldn’t help but stare. Most girls wore dresses in the summer, and that was cute, but Talia’s tight-fitting pants and shirt made her look like an English rider, out to blast the competition out of the water.

  Jay would want her to go to the ball in that getup. Maybe a little cleaner than at the end of the day.

  ***

  Still disappointed over Talia’s coolness, Jay’s mood wasn’t helped by Mother’s scowl at the breakfast table.

  She leaned forward. “I saw you,” she said. “Still mooning over that girl.”

  “No surprise there, Mother. My feelings for her haven’t changed.”

  Mother pursed her lips.

  Katy joined them at the table, sporting the eye patch.

  “Where’s your mum?” Mother asked.

  “She wanted to sleep in. I think she’s feeling a little under the weather. I hope she doesn’t feel sick at the ball.”

  “That would be a shame,” Mother said.

  Geneva came down, her skin dewy from sleep and her hair tousled like she was in some shampoo commercial. Jay admired her just as he’d admire a beautiful inanimate object. In real estate terms, she had good curb appeal.

  “Everybody sleep well?” Jay asked cheerfully.

  “I got my eight hours,” Geneva announced. “So yes.”

  “I did,” Katy said, “but not my mother. She’s got a head cold, I think.”

  “We have a first aid kit. Just ask my butler where it is, and he can give you whatever you need.”

  “Thanks,” Katy said, finishing her yogurt and trundling off to run the errand.

  Geneva and her mother excused themselves, leaving Nina and Jay eating in an awkward silence.

  “That Katy is sweet,” Nina said.

  Jay paused in buttering his muffin but didn’t look at her. “Yes, she is.”

  “You should get to know her, one on one. Without Geneva. Maybe you can take her to lunch today.”

  “Perhaps,” he said.

  “Jay,” his mother said, exasperated. “You’re not being very cooperative.”

  He stood up. “Mother, I have some things I need to do. If you’ll please excuse me.”

  “Will you promise to at least consider seriously what I said?”

  Jay bristled. “Mom, there are so many other girls in the world besides Katy. Or even Geneva.”

  “Yes, but you aren’t exactly dating any of them seriously.”

  “Well, the one girl whom I would like very much to date, you’ve already declared as off-limits to me.”

  Mother’s chin quivered.

  Jay expelled a sigh. “Mother, I’m not falling for those alligator tears.”

  She gasped. “Really, whatever happened to my sweet son?”

  “Sorry,” he muttered.

  Mother turned her head and sniffled. “Why don’t you go? Your work is piling up.”

  Talia felt lethargic. Maybe it was from dehydration. Yesterday had been a particularly hot day, and today promised more sweltering temperatures. She walked to the mansion to get some aspirin from the first aid station.

  Yes, that was the only reason. It wasn’t to ogle the man in the suit who opened the door to her just now.

  “Talia,” Jay murmured, his eyes lighting up.

  Talia’s stomach dropped a little. He looked so handsome with his hair in gentle waves and his beard trimmed. His skin was tanned and his lips kissable.

  She cleared her throat. “I just needed something from the medicine cabinet.”

  “Of course.” He opened the door wider. “Help yourse
lf.”

  She nodded, suddenly conscious of how her boots were scuffed with dust, and she was sure there was a smudge across her face from mucking Eula’s stall.

  “You gonna be okay?” he asked her.

  She paused midstep and looked over her shoulder. “Yeah, I’m a tough girl.”

  “I know.” He reached over and dusted off her face with his finger.

  The air became charged with electricity. It was as though someone pressed against her chest, and she couldn’t breathe. She was only aware of her breath coming in shallow spurts and the way he eyed her mouth intently.

  “Coming to the ball tonight?” he murmured.

  She wanted so desperately to say yes. She yearned to say yes. But she didn’t know how to match reality with how she was right now. She was only a bumbling horse girl.

  She stepped back, her skin bereft at the absence of his touch. “No, thanks. But I…I saw the dress, and it was lovely.”

  He looked pleased, a smile tugging at his lips. “You tried it on?”

  She hesitated and then fessed up. “Yes.”

  Why did that admission make her heart race? Maybe because he was looking at her with those dark brown eyes as though he were envisioning her standing in front of a mirror, playing dress-up.

  “And?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “And it fit perfectly,” she whispered.

  “Then come,” he said, his voice deepening with urgency. “Just come for one dance. That’s all you have to stay for.”

  “All that clean-up for one dance?” she said, scrunching her nose.

  He chuckled. “Exactly. You may as well stay for five more. All of them promised to me.”

  “I…I’ll think about it.”

  “Yes,” he said, smiling. “You do that.”

  He didn’t touch her any more, even though she wondered if he would. The mere thought, the admission that she wanted him to, filled her with self-loathing. She was such a girl, easily turned by a handsome face. And a muscular body, and hair so soft-looking she wanted to run her fingers through it.

  She snuck a backward glance, and he was doing the same. She quickly turned around, her cheeks blushing.

  With a determined air, she went on to complete her original errand of getting aspirin.

  To her surprise, Katy was just leaving.

  “Hello,” Katy said, all friendly-like.

  Talia liked her so much more than Geneva. Like a martyr, if Talia had to give Jay up to someone, it would be Katy. She wasn’t as pretty as Geneva, but she had a good sense of right and wrong. She really was super sweet, even though some of her ideas were cuckoo.

  Talia noticed Katy was getting aspirin too. “Don’t cap it, please,” she said. “I need some too.”

  Katy passed the medicine over to Talia, who fished one out.

  “See you tonight,” Katy said.

  “What’s tonight?” Talia said before remembering. “Oh, the ball.”

  “Right.” Katy smiled.

  “I’m not going.”

  “But I thought Jay bought you a dress. The mothers were talking about it.”

  “Well, he did,” Talia said. “And it fits, but…no, it’s just not going to work out.”

  “Why not?” Katy asked with wide-eyed innocence.

  “I don’t know how to get my hair ready, and I have some makeup, but honestly, I’m just hopeless.”

  “Is that all you’re worried about?”

  “The ball is kind of a big deal,” Talia said dryly.

  “I can help you.”

  “You…what?”

  Katy blinked. “I can help you with your hair and makeup.”

  “Oh,” Talia said, backtracking. “It’s okay. I really don’t have time.” She faked an exaggerated yawned. “I have to be up early in the morning. It’s only nine, I know, but I’ve been up for hours already.”

  “Well, yeah, I understand,” Katy said. “But surely you can make time for a ball. It sounds like a lot of fun. Plus, it’s for a good cause.”

  Talia wondered about Katy. Underneath that sweet exterior, did she think up schemes to convince other people to support her latest charity?

  “Fine,” Talia breathed out. “Okay.”

  “You will?” Katy said, clapping her hands. “I can be your fairy godmother.”

  Talia smiled. “Thanks.”

  “Seriously, I know what I’m talking about. I attended finishing school in Europe, and they taught us stuff like this.”

  “One thing,” Talia said. “Please don’t mention it to Jay. I guess I want it to be…a surprise.”

  “Oh, that will be so fun.” Katy’s eyes gleamed. “I love surprises.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  As usual, Talia worked with Eula and cleaned her paddock. She went through the day with anticipation, which she tried to stamp down, especially when Larry gave her weird looks.

  “You okay?” he asked, peering at her face. “You seem peaked.”

  “From all the sun, most likely,” she said. She turned away, smiling and humming to herself.

  “Are you going to the ball tonight?” Larry asked.

  “I wasn’t going to,” she said. “But I’ve been thinking about it.”

  “All those hoity-toity people. I bet you’d be bored out of your gourd.”

  She thought of Jay attending the ball. Would he ask her to dance just like they did in that restaurant? If that was how she was spending her time at the ball, she wouldn’t have a problem with being bored.

  “I know, right?” she said.

  “I’ve been thinking about Eula,” Larry said, piquing her interest. “Her hooves have been soft lately. Are you sure you want to keep running her?”

  She frowned. “The week of the race, and you ask me that now?”

  “I’m just looking out for Eula. I thought you cared about her well-being.”

  “I do.” She expelled a frustrated sigh. “I’m just puzzled. It seems that she’s been doing good for a while.”

  “Well, if you change your mind, I’m sure there will be other horses you can jump on and jockey. I know some stables who are looking.”

  “Thanks, but Eula’s my baby.”

  After Larry left, Talia popped in to see her filly pal. She was eating remnants of her breakfast and nickered at Talia’s approach, hay half hanging out of her mouth. Talia smiled and reached out to pet her.

  Odd, there were some bumps under her muzzle. She opened her paddock gate and went in, wondering what was going on. She interrupted Eula’s meal and had her raise her chin so she could check it out. They weren’t bumps. They were grain bits.

  Alarm rose within her. Of all the things to introduce to her diet, grain wasn’t beneficial. Why, she could founder…

  The truth hit her for a long moment, sending her mind reeling with shock. She hadn’t been giving grain to Eula, but someone else was, hoping she would founder?

  She hoped it was just an honest mistake, but the proof was there. Plus, in the corner of Eula’s stall was a bucket she had never seen before. She smelled it and swallowed nervously.

  Apple peppermint grain.

  She thought back to Diamond and how Jay saw a bucket near her stall. Someone was out to derail Eula’s success at the races. And this explained Larry’s comment about Eula’s softer hooves. Too much grain made a horse more susceptible to laminitis. But what could she do about it?

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Talia was so preoccupied with Eula’s new predicament that she almost forgot to show up at Katy’s mansion bedroom at their appointed time. Talia stood at the doorstep, hesitating to make her presence known. What if Jay answered the doorbell?

  Luckily, his butler did. Simon led Talia to Katy’s room with a little spring in his step and a conspiratorial smile.

  Katy’s door was open. She was sprawled on a four-poster bed with a bunch of magazines spread out on the duvet.

  “Oh, hi!” she said brightly. “I forgot you were coming.”

  Talia’s sto
mach plummeted. “Well, that’s okay, then. I can just get ready myself.”

  “No, no. Let’s do this. Like I said, I love helping with makeup and hair. Do you have all your stuff?”

  Talia hefted her duffel bag, the box that had the dress and shoes, and a makeup bag with her sparse supplies.

  Katy’s eyes gleamed. “Perfect.”

  “Maybe I could shower first?” Talia suggested.

  ***

  Jay glanced at the clock. It was almost five. It would be time to get ready for the ball soon. He straightened up and stretched, feeling satisfaction at a day well spent making money. He’d had to play hooky so much the previous days, but he was finally caught up. He referred all the calls to George unless it was for an emergency.

  He closed his laptop and cleaned up the piles on his desk. His eyes landed on the ledgers, an ever-present worry to him since finding discrepancies. He would have to bring this up to Bruce soon, but for tonight, he would play and relax.

  If only Talia could be at the ball.

  He’d tried to give her space that day, just watching her from afar. She breezed Eula as usual and then disappeared into the paddocks.

  She’d been spending a lot of time with Larry lately. He was an older man, and they had such an age gap that she probably wasn’t in danger of falling for him, but who knew? Maybe she was one of those girls who liked older men. He shook his head at the unsettling thought.

  In the hallway, he heard giggles coming from the other wing where his female guests were housed. Katy’s door was open, and he tried not to peek in. This time, his thoughts drifted to Katy. She could be a good companion to him someday. Maybe she and he could work together on eradicating poverty.

  Or maybe not.

  In his bedroom, his butler had laid out his outfit for the evening. A black tux with coattails, shiny black shoes, and a matching cummerbund. Within the hour, he’d showered and dressed.

  As he walked out of his bedroom, the giggles kept coming from Katy’s room. Maybe she and Geneva were watching something on TV. Shouldn’t they be getting ready?

  Jay went downstairs and waited in the living room where he had a full view of the staircase. He heard the first signs of life from the women, his mother coming down the stairs to join him. For all his mother’s faults, she always knew how to pull off a chic, effortless style. She wore a silver gown with a matching hat, her lips blazing red.