Title: A Date for the Derby
Series: Dating #5
Series: Dating #5
Authors: Heidi McLaughlin & LP Dover
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: July 21, 2020
Blurb
For Brielle Armstrong the pomp and
circumstance of the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby are truly the most
thrilling time of the year. Press junkets, designer gowns, everyone schmoozing
her in hopes of getting in her daddy’s good graces. What’s not to love?
But this year, her
heart is racing with anticipation to see Colby Hensley. As a former trainer of
her family’s champion horses, his rugged sex appeal has always filled Brielle’s
mind with naughty thoughts of a little barebacked fun.
Even though Colby
walked away from their farm, her father Butch, would never approve of him. But
what daddy doesn’t know can’t hurt him. If their secret comes out, it could
cost Brielle everything. Still, what fun is life if you don’t ride it at a
gallop?
Grab your riding
crop, and place your bets. It’s Derby Day!
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“What
happened with Colby, Brielle?”
Groaning, I
close my eyes. “Everything. The man drives me insane.”
“But yet,
you still love him.” The breath catches in my lungs and I can feel the burn
behind my eyes. When I open them, William can see right through me. He cups my
face in his hands. “You need to just tell him how you feel and get it over
with. Keeping all this anger inside of you isn’t healthy.”
I scoff.
“No, but it feels good to hate him. Makes him leaving not hurt as bad.”
He shakes
his head. “That’s a lie and you know it. Where is he right now?”
There’s only
one place I know he’ll be. “Probably at the stables.”
“Then go,”
he says, nodding toward the door. “I’ll handle your father if he asks where
you’re at.” He brushes off his shoulders. “He loves me.” Which is true, my
father does like him and has told me plenty of times that he wants us together.
William has a charisma about him that everyone seems to be attracted to.
William pulls me over to the door. “Go. I got this.”
My heart
beats uncontrollably and I know it’s now or never. “Thanks, Will. I
love you for this.”
He winks.
“I know. When you get back, I want to hear everything.”
There’s no
way I can go to the stables in my dress, so I rush up the stairs while William
sneaks back through the secret door. I quickly change into a pair of jeans, my
boots, and a dark T-shirt. The last thing I want is someone recognizing
me. There’s already a hat in my car I can use. Now all
I have to do is get down to my car unnoticed. I sneak down the
staircase and through the secret door. Once I’m out the back door of
the kitchen, I sprint across the yard to my car.
Luckily, I
get away without anyone seeing me. Over the years, I had to learn to be
stealth, especially with keeping mine and Colby’s relationship a secret.
It doesn’t take long to get to the stables, and when I pull into the
parking lot, Colby’s truck is there. I knew it. I grab my baseball cap and slip
it on.
It’s dark,
but I can see the lights in the stables up ahead. My chest hurts from my heart
pounding so achingly hard. Do I really want to confront him again? Yes and no.
My goal was to make him think I didn’t give a shit that he
left. I’m failing miserably. The more I keep things bottled up, the
worse I feel. I can’t stand feeling like this anymore.
I storm
into the stables and that’s when I see him with
Maximus. He’s already changed out of his suit and into a pair of
jeans and a snug T-shirt that hugs his perfectly sculpted biceps. I remember
what it was like to be held in those arms. My gut clenches and I hide in one of
the empty stalls. Colby rubs a hand down the midnight-colored stallion’s back
with such tenderness. If only he knew how to treat women that
way. I’m not a damsel in distress kind of woman, but dammit to hell,
if he didn’t break my heart.
Groaning
silently, I crouch down inside the stall. It was a mistake to come here. Now I
only hope he didn’t see me. I peek through one of the cracks in the
wood. Colby takes off his shirt and crams it into his back pocket.
“I
know you’re there, Bri,” he calls out, running his hands down Maximus’
mane.
“Dammit,” I
hiss, clenching my fists tight.
“Don’t you
think it’s time we talked? You can’t hide from me forever.” His footsteps grow
closer, and I freeze, hoping he’ll walk past. I slide down into the
corner and hold my breath as he walks by. “I want to say I’m sorry. There’s so
much I have to say.”
“Just drive
the wedge in even harder, asshole,” I mumble to myself.
“I need you
to come out and talk to me. I can make you if I have to, which might be
kind of fun for me. You don’t want me to enjoy this, do you?” What I really
want to do is smack him on the head. “Brielle?” His voice grows farther away
until I hear his footsteps leave the stables. If I run out the other side, I
might be able to get back to my car without him seeing me. Taking a deep
breath, I slowly get to my feet and glance over the stall; the coast is
clear.
The wooden
door of the stall creaks and I freeze. Shit. I hold my breath
and listen, but there are no footsteps approaching. As quietly as I can, I
tiptoe my way to the back entrance of the stables and turn the corner, only to
run right into him. He reaches for my hand, but I jerk away from him.
“You didn’t
think you fooled me back there, did you?” He stares right into my eyes, but I
refuse to give in.
“Screw
you,” I hiss, turning on my heel. I march off but he follows close behind. “I
have nothing to say to you.”
“Well, too
bad. I have a shit-ton to say to you. Now stop being a brat and give me one
minute.”
Sucking in
a breath, I freeze. Did he really just call me a brat? Gritting my teeth,
I face him head on. I half expect him to smirk, but there’s nothing but
seriousness in his stormy electric blue gaze.
“All right,
this ends now,” I snap, pushing on his chest. He steps back, his jaw clenched
tight. “Call me a brat if you want, but I’m pissed and embarrassed. How the
hell am I supposed to feel after I gave you my heart and you left? No
explanations … nothing. All my father said was that you were done working with
us.” Tears fill my eyes, and I hate myself for letting him see my pain. “You
didn’t even have the decency to tell me you didn’t want to be with me anymore.”
Huffing, I turn and march out of the stables. “Now I just feel like an idiot.
So, by all means, make me sit down and hear all the reasons why you don’t want
to be with me. Go ahead and call me childish, a brat, or whatever you
like. I don’t care anymore,” I say, waving my arms in the air. “At least I
wasn’t afraid to let you in.”
My heart
thunders in my chest. It felt good to scream out my feelings, but now they are
no longer mine. Never have I ever let anyone see the vulnerable side of
me.
Out of
nowhere, a lasso is thrown around my body. I scream when the rope
bites into my skin, burning as Colby tightens it. I struggled to break free,
but it’s so tight, even my hands start to tingle. I try to stand my ground, but
the harder he pulls, the tighter it gets.
“Dammit,
Colby. Let me go! I can’t feel my hands.” I have no choice but to willingly
move my feet. If I don’t, he’ll drag me across the ground through the
dirt. My dignity is more important.
“You
shouldn’t have walked away,” he growls, his voice by my ear. He jerks me around
and pushes me into one of the empty stalls. I turn my face away, but he grabs
my chin. “I don’t think so, princess. You’re going to look at me when
I say this. Do you want me to tie your hands and feet together too?”
I have no
doubt he’ll do it. “Fine,” I huff, lifting my glare to his. “What do
you want?”
His lips
close over mine, hard and raw as he forces his tongue inside. I try to fight
him off, but it’s a half-ass attempt. Who am I kidding?
I don’t want him to stop. Not to mention,
I can’t move. I’m at his mercy, and I like it. He pushes me
into the wall, rubbing his arousal against me. Moaning, I bite his lip and he
pulls away.
“You."
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Heidi McLaughlin
Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times,
Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont
Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.
Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she
now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and
their three dogs.
In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for
reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty
novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.
When writing isn’t occupying her time, you
can find her sitting courtside at either of her daughters’ basketball games.
Heidi’s first novel, Forever
My Girl, has been adapted into
a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex
Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January
19, 2018.
LP Dover
New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author L. P. Dover is a southern belle living in North Carolina with her husband and
two beautiful girls. Before she began her literary journey she worked in
periodontics, enjoying the wonderment of dental surgeries.
She loves to write, but she also loves to play golf, go on mountain
hikes, and has a passion for singing. Her youngest daughter, who she’s also
written a children’s book with, expects a concert each and every night before
bedtime, usually Christmas carols.
Dover has written countless novels in several different genres,
including a children’s book with her youngest daughter, but her favorite to
write is romantic suspense. However, she has found a new passion in romantic
comedy, especially involving sexy golfers. Who knew the sport could be so dirty
and fun to write about.
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