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“I know, ‘to see the horse.’ That’s what has been bothering me,” she admitted. Was it her imagination, or did his fingers tense over her shoulder?

“Why?”

“This doesn’t make much sense, at least not to me.”

He removed his hand and Becca felt suddenly cold. “What doesn’t make sense?”

“The fact that you came here. No one, not even Brig Chambers, flies more than two thousand miles to ‘look at a horse,’” she accused. Her words were out before she had a chance to think about them.

Brig leaned back against the leather cushions of the Mercedes and touched her cheek lightly. He hesitated and frowned. “Someone might if he thought the horse was a threat to one of his own.”

“ls that why you’re here?”

His hand reached out in the darkness and his fingertips caressed her cheek. Becca took in a deep breath and he dropped his hand, as if suddenly realizing the intimacy of the gesture.

“It’s one reason,” he conceded. His voice seemed deeper. “I have a pretty decent stable of two-year-olds. I’m sure you already know that.”

“Who doesn’t? Every racing magazine in the country has run at least one article on Winsome.” What kind of game was Brig Chambers playing with her, Becca wondered. He wasn’t being completely honest, Becca could feel it. She hadn’t earned her reputation at twenty-six without some degree of insight into the human psyche, and she knew intuitively that there was more to Brig Chambers than met the eye. He hadn’t flown across the United States to “scope out the competition.” The owner of a Thoroughbred the likes of Winsome didn’t waste valuable time.

“Are we going to look at your Lady?” Brig asked.

“If you level with me.”

She could see the gleam of his white teeth in the darkness as he smiled. “You’re not easily fooled, are you?”

“I hope not,” she shot back. “Is that what you’re trying to accomplish?”

“No. But there is another reason why I’m here,” he allowed. “If I like the looks of Sentimental Lady, I’m prepared to offer a good price for her.”

The bottom dropped out of Becca’s heart, and angry heat rushed through her veins. “She’s not for sale.” As quick as a cat, Becca opened the car door, stepped outside, and slammed the door. She picked up her skirt and began to march to the house.

Brig had anticipated her move and was beside her in three swift strides. “Is there a reason why you’re so angry?” he asked as he grabbed her arm and turned her to face him. In the dim light from a shadowy moon, he saw the glint of determination in her wide eyes.

“I loathe deception.” She tried to pull her arm away from the manacle of his grip, but failed. “Let go of me!”

“I didn’t deceive you.” His fingers dug into the soft flesh of her arm.

“Bull! Dean set this up, didn’t he? He’s wanted to sell Sentimental Lady from the moment she was born.”

“No!”

“Liar!”

Brig’s eyes narrowed as he looked down upon her fury. Even enraged, she was gorgeous. “Your brother mentioned that you might be interested in selling—nothing more.”

“Well, he was wrong! She’s not for sale!”

“That’s too bad,” he said softly.

“I don’t think so.” Her anger began to ebb. There was something about him that soothed her rage. She knew he was going to kiss her and she knew she should stop him, but she couldn’t. When his head bent and the fingers of his free hand wrapped around her neck to cradle her head, she began to melt inside. And when his lips brushed hers in a tender kiss that promised a night of unbound passion, she had to force herself to pull away from him.

“Was this part of Dean’s plan, too?”

His jaw tensed and the corners of his mouth turned down. “Your brother had nothing to do with this.”

Her silent green eyes accused him of the lie. He dropped her arm with a sound of disgust. “You don’t know the truth when it stares you in the face, do you? I came out here to see your horse, and perhaps offer to purchase her. Period. Yes, it was your brother’s suggestion, but I did know a little about Sentimental Lady, and if I hadn’t already been interested, I wouldn’t have come, and that’s the end of it.”

He took a step away from her before continuing. “I put up with that ridiculous party and talked to a crowd of people I hope to God I’ll never have to face again. And then I arranged for transportation out here, wherever the hell we are. Now you turn paranoid on me. You asked for the truth, Rebecca, and I’ve given it to you. If anyone’s scheming to take your horse away from you, it isn’t me!”