Just Home for the Holidays - Deborah Cooke Page 0,27

the past. I’d have nothing to talk to anyone about.”

Again, Chloe sensed that he had regrets.

“Then you don’t know,” Reg said, casting a smile over his shoulder. “My dad bought Duchess.”

Hunter frowned and looked at the park. Chloe saw his throat work. “I thought she was out west. Montana or something.”

Whoever Duchess was, Chloe would have bet that Hunter had known exactly where she was.

“Well, she doesn’t compete anymore and her breeding days are coming to an end. My dad heard she was for sale, so he bought her. He said a dressage horse like Duchess deserved a great retirement.”

“She does,” Hunter said with heat. He was still avoiding Chloe’s gaze.

“Who’s Duchess?” she asked Reg, knowing Hunter wouldn’t tell her.

“A great mare that Hunter trained and rode. They competed and everything. Whatever happened to all those blue ribbons?”

“Char has them in a box in her basement,” Hunter said.

Char must be his sister.

“Is she a bay with a white star on her brow?” Chloe guessed and Hunter turned to her with surprise.

“Yeah!” Reg said. “The Duchess of Westchester. She never danced for anybody the way she danced for Hunter. You should have seen them together.” He spared a glance over his shoulder. “You should come out and ride.”

“I don’t have any gear anymore,” Hunter said quickly. He was staring into the park, his shoulders tense.

“You never forget, you know,” Reg said easily. “It’s like riding a bike. We could fit you out for a day, if you were ever interested.”

Hunter changed the subject, asking after another old acquaintance.

Chloe wished it could have been further to the Museum of the City of New York. She wanted to know more of what Reg remembered about Hunter and Duchess. Her mom’s party was always held in the Rotunda with its sweeping staircase and the Marble Court on the floor above. The dancing would be in the Marble Court and it would be a glittering, glamorous affair.

The lights of the Museum shone on the next block, the curb crowded with cars and limos letting out guests. There were paparazzi crowding the sidewalk and she wondered whether any celebrities would be in attendance. Reg talked to Ella then, keeping her calm as he guided her toward the curb and ensured her safety. When they were at the curb, he got out and held the reins.

“I want to know about Duchess,” Chloe said to Hunter when Reg couldn’t hear them.

“You’ve had your secret for the night.”

“And Char.”

“Oh well,” he said and got out of the carriage. She could feel his barriers going up and knew when he turned to her with a perfect smile that he was performing again.

She liked the Hunter behind the mask.

“How’d I do?” he asked as he handed her down. Cameras flashed all around them and Chloe smiled, feeling like a celebrity herself.

“Great. Awesome. I love the carriage.”

He smiled. “Good. I wanted to get it just right.”

“Why?”

“You work with Ty. He’s always got the details covered. I wanted to see whether I could do it.” He shook his head. “It made for a crazy ass day, but if you’re happy, it’s all worth it.”

“Thank you, Hunter.”

They smiled at each other for a long warm moment and once again, she wished it wasn’t time to go into the party. Then Hunter shook hands with Reg, thanking him. Chloe thanked Reg too, patted Ella’s nose, then sailed into her mom’s party on Hunter’s elbow.

She felt like a million bucks and it was fun that the photographers assumed she was someone famous. She wasn’t used to being the focus of attention, but this was a change that she liked.

“Having fun?” Hunter asked in an undertone.

“Yes!” she said, smiling at him so brightly that he blinked. “Thank you.”

“Hey, when I’m a fake date, I try to make it real,” he said and she laughed as they stepped into the party.

“I’m glad I took you up on your offer,” Chloe admitted.

“See? Taking a chance isn’t always a bad thing,” he replied lightly, already scanning the room.

But he was right, and that made Chloe think about taking more chances.

Starting tonight.

Five

Josh Harley was big, blond and convinced of his own charm. He was exactly the kind of guy who put Hunter’s teeth on edge, and that would have been the case no matter where they’d met. Josh exuded confidence as he worked the room, his perfect smile in place as he shook hands and slapped backs. He had a word for everyone and seemed to remember all their names. He