five feet eleven, she had the body of a model, but combined with a forgettable face. Regardless, she was good at her job and Aaron Schreiber’s fashion house would be perfect for Sheridan’s new clothing line.
Ignoring her, Sheridan took a picture of Leo, then straightened the peak of her Yankees cap to shield her eyes from the early morning sun. The smell of freshly cut grass wafted from the paddock, making it feel like a spring day. It was hard to believe that such pockets of greenery existed in New York. The stables provided the height of privacy, situated adjacent to an exclusive golf course at the end of a leafy country road. They had changed hands since Sheridan had come here as a child, and had expanded from housing a handful of scruffy horses and ponies to keeping high-quality bloodstock. They now also offered an indoor arena, show-jumping facilities and private hacks along lush green tracks. Such space came at a premium, but the NYC Riding Center had generous backers, and enough exclusive clients to fund its endeavours for years to come.
‘Hi, Sam.’ Daniel had joined them, his hands deep in his jeans pockets. He was the only one who could get away with shortening her name.
‘Hi, Daniel,’ Samantha smiled, spots of pink colouring her cheeks. Poising her pen over her journal, she turned her attention back to Sheridan. ‘About that appointment. Aaron’s leaving for London next Saturday, so this might be the last chance we get.’
‘Fine,’ Sheridan replied. Samantha’s voice felt like a fly buzzing in her ear. ‘Schedule it in. As long as you keep today clear.’
Shoving her journal under her arm, Samantha tapped at her phone.
‘Why don’t you go back with the driver and make the call in the car?’ Sheridan interrupted. ‘I’ll come back with Daniel.’
With a nod of her head, Samantha tottered down the path to the car.
‘Thank God she’s gone,’ Sheridan whispered as Daniel slipped his arm around her waist. ‘I told her I was having today off, but she insisted on following me out here.’
‘Give her a break,’ Daniel said good-naturedly. ‘She’s only doing her job.’ He cast his gaze over Leo, who was calling out to him. ‘Hey, Champ! Good job!’
‘I’m thinking about buying him a pony,’ Sheridan said. ‘It might calm him down a bit.’ Leo kept his nanny busy. He had so much energy, and sometimes she wondered if he had ADHD; but there was no way she was getting him tested. No son of hers was going to be labelled a problem child.
‘Wouldn’t it be easier to get a dog?’ Daniel’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘My beagle was my best friend when I was growing up. Now that’s one intelligent pet.’
‘I’m not having some hound cocking his leg against my soft furnishings,’ Sheridan replied. ‘I rode ponies at Leo’s age. The fresh air will do him good.’
But Daniel’s mind was still in the past. ‘His name was Basil,’ he said. ‘He house-trained easily enough. But when he was mad at me, he’d piss in my shoe.’ He laughed under his breath, a deep throaty chuckle. ‘I still miss that dog.’
‘Please, honey, no dogs,’ Sheridan said. The memory of Bouncer was still fresh in her mind after watching last night’s episode of It Takes All Sorts. ‘At least, not until the kids are a little older.’
Kids. The plural of the word evoked a whispered promise of a brighter future. But she knew that if Daniel wanted a beagle, he’d go out and get one. Her husband was an alpha male and she respected him for it. He would never have become so successful if he’d bowed down to everyone who got in his way. Her attention wandered to the teenage girl leading the pony around. There was a spring in her step, an air of excitement as she caught sight of Daniel. But this was an upmarket establishment, where discretion was guaranteed. Perhaps she was a new girl who hadn’t been briefed, or maybe just a fan. Sheridan’s lips thinned as she followed her gaze. She was a straight female. That was all it took. Sheridan’s nails dug into the paddock fence. Couldn’t she have a family moment without something like this happening? Her annoyance grew – a hot furnace stoked by the teen’s youth and good looks.
Sheridan observed her husband. If Daniel had noticed the young girl’s attention, he didn’t acknowledge it. He still clung on to the need to live a normal life, but it was