Page 19 of Collateral Claim

“Not a golf cart,” Slada says. “What the hell is this woman driving?”

A chestnut horse bursts into the clearing. Scarlett is hunched over its neck, gripping the mane and riding that beast bareback.

Chapter 10

Hot damn

Endo

Marquis whistles. “Hoo boy, we grossly underestimated this woman.”

“We’ll need to tighten up security at the estate,” Slada says.

“Or loosen it and monitor her more tightly,” I counter. “Slow down.”

“Slow down?” Marquis glances at me for confirmation.

I nod. “I don’t want her to spot us and lose concentration.” I don’t want her to get hurt. Riding bareback at this speed is dangerous. Maybe that’s why she’s got me so wound up and hard that I have to spread my legs and make room for the growing erection in my pants.

Scarlett’s focused on the journey ahead of her, concentrating as she nears a small settlement with more barns than houses. A plane takes off behind it. Considering her pace, I expect her to gallop past it, but the horse slows down like he knows where he’s going and takes a right onto the unpaved road. They disappear behind a house.

Marquis stops at the intersection with the paved road and turns to me.

“Wait here.” I step out of the car and follow Scarlett to the red barn, where I linger outside because I hear her speaking with a man within. The fact that it’s a man stings my chest like a bee. I recognize the feeling as jealousy. I shouldn’t be jealous that the woman I’m using as collateral is speaking with another man, but since I am, I don’t deny it.

I don’t suffer from false self-narratives or lack awareness of my feelings. I admit I’m attracted to Scarlett. Now that she’s shown me there’s a wild spirit inside her, I’m attracted to her even more. It doesn’t mean I like it.

“How did he do?” the man asks.

He? Who are they talking about?

“Still got it in him,” she says.

“You think they sold him too soon?”

“I’m not an expert, but it seems to me Velocity would’ve won at least one more race.”

A race? They might be talking about the horse. Wait a minute. That would mean Scarlett rode an actual racehorse? You’ve got to be kidding me.

“Where are you headed?” the man asks. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

Not at all, my man.

“Airport. My fiancé chartered a plane. We’re going to check out some homes near the coast.”

Huh. I’ve no idea what she’s playing at. Is she lying to him?

“Can I offer you a ride?”

“I’ll walk,” she says. “It’s a beautiful day, and I have plenty of time.”

“As you wish, Ms. Pembroke.”

Their footsteps approach the exit, and I move to the side. The pair stride past me. The man is a head shorter than herand much older, with a receding hairline. He wears brown suspenders over a checkered shirt. Once they get near his house, I follow them.

After a handshake, Scarlett strides down the side of the road, toward the main street.

I catch up to her. “Hey there.”