me. She looks sad. I want to comfort her, but I have no idea who is lurking in the shadows. There is too much at stake right now, especially this close to the Derby. Her father already tried to push me under the bus when it came to Maximus, I don’t want to even think about what he’d do if he found out about his daughter and me.
I reach for her hand and she weaves her fingers into mine, but we keep a distance between us. She’s the forbidden fruit that I crave.
“At the end of next week, we should go away. Take a trip to the Bahamas or something.”
“Bri, unless I win on Saturday, you know I can’t afford a trip like that.” At least not a trip she would want to go on.
“I can.”
Ouch. I can’t look at her right now. She moves closer and caresses my cheek, tugging my chin toward her. “I didn’t mean it to sound so harsh. What I meant is, I have the funds to go, and we should, if you want.”
I shake my head slowly. “Brielle, you know I’m not going to be the guy who can do that for a long time. I’m just starting out. We’ve known from the beginning that we live in two different worlds.”
“Yeah, well, I’m bringing you into mine.”
“Is that so?” I laugh and she smiles.
Her face beams. “Yeah, I’m telling my father about us.”
My stomach clenches because I know what I’m about to say is going to hurt her. “Please don’t.” Her expression falls and I quickly bring my hands up to her cheeks so she can look into my eyes. “He will ruin me, and I can’t do that to Baker, the staff at Lucky Seven or Maximus. I need to prove myself at the Derby, show people like your father that I’m worthy of their attention. Please tell me you can understand that.”
Her shoulders sag, and she rests her forehead against my shoulder. “I do.” Her head rises and I can see the anger in her eyes. “I hate him sometimes. Shouldn’t he want me to be happy?”
Unfortunately, that’s not the way the world works. “I would think so, but even my parents are the same way. My dad will hardly speak to me and if they knew about us, he would cut all ties.”
“What’s wrong with us?” she asks.
Slowly, I shake my head. “We are two people born on different sides.”
“So stupid.” She leans forward and presses her lips to mine. My mouth opens, welcoming her in. Once our tongues touch, my hands move from her face, to her body, pulling her as close to me as her dress allows. I’m careful to keep my hands out of her hair, afraid of messing up her hat or making it noticeable she’s been trysting when she should be working the room on behalf of Armstrong Acres.
All is well until someone in the darkness clears their throat. We part and I look over our shoulders. “It’s William,” Brielle says. As if on cue, the man she spends most of her time with emerges from behind a tree. Brielle straightens her dress and sits upright. When William comes into full view, she smiles at him. “William, this is Colby Hensley.”
William steps forward and I rise. We shake hands. “It’s nice to meet you,” I say.
“You too. I feel like I already know you.”
Brielle chuckles and I glare at her. “I had to tell someone.”
William sits on the opposite side of Brielle and places his arm along the back of the bench, making it look like his arm is around her. I’m trying not to feel jealous, but I would give anything to be as free with Brielle as he is.
“Your dad was looking for you,” he tells her.
She sighs. “Thank you for watching out.”
He shrugs. “Of course.”
“Yeah, thanks,” I add, even though I feel about two feet tall.
William leans forward. “Anything I can do to help Brielle to be with the one she loves, I’ll do.” He then looks at her. “I’ll be over there when you’re ready to go back.” William rises and leaves us alone.
Brielle takes my hand in hers and holds it to her face. “Where are you staying?”
“At the stables. There are rooms on the second floor. I’m above Maximus’s stall.”
“I’ll be by tonight, leave your door unlocked.” She leans forward and kisses me before running off into the darkness. I watch her until her silhouette disappears. I really like the