Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Chapter 23

Gifts

Chapter 23 – Heathcliff–1

We drive a little down the lane, over a slight rise, and then a barn comes into sight. A beautiful barn, really, immaculately cared for and painted in shades of gray. Three little gables peak out of the roof and two little cupolas crown it, weathervanes at their peeks.

“Oh!” I say, completely charmed by the sight. But then I see the real draw. In a series of pastures beyond the barn, my eyes can just barely see a group of horses grazing in the afternoon light.

“Oh!” I say, louder this time, far more thrilled. “Is this a stable?!”

Kent laughs as he turns the car into a parking spot next to the barn. “I thought you’d like it,” he says seriously. “One look at you and anyone could tell you grew up dreaming of horses.”

I nod fervently, scrambling to unbuckle my seatbelt and open the door at once. “Can we see them?!” I ask, my words falling over each other in my hurry. “Can I feed them? Do they have any foals?!”

He laughs at me as I almost fall out of the car, climbing calmly out himself. Before I can dash into the barn, he holds out an arm to stop me. “Let me take the lead here, all right, Fay?”

I look up at him, shining with joy, and nod. I quickly look back towards the entrance but then do a double–take, looking back at his face, which is somehow…gentler? Kinder?

shoulders. He’s dressed almost like a cowboy, with jeans tucked into western boots and a button–down plaid shirt. He gives me

a happy nod and then turns his attention back to Kent. “He’s all ready for you, gentle as can be. A real beauty.”

Kent nods to the man and looks beyond him. “Well, I’m ready if you are.”

The man bobs his head and the three of us walk through the stable to the last stall on the right, which the groom pulls open. Kent walks up to the open door and leans on the far side of it, nodding into the stall.

“What do you think, Fay?” he asks.

Slowly, so excited I can barely breathe, I peak around the corner of the stall to see the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever set eyes on in my life.

“Oh,” I say again, though this time it’s barely a breath of air puffing out of my lips as I take another step forward and cover my mouth with my fingertips, just staring at him.

A beautiful blood bay gelding stands in front of me, an Arabian by the arch of his neck and the height at which he holds his tail. The horse gently paws at the shavings of his stall, looking over at us curiously.

My eyes sweep over him, his glossy mane, his wide and gentle eye. And immediately, I know it. I’m in love.

“Can I…” I say, glancing over at Kent. “Can I go in? Can I touch him?”

but otherwise he does not balk as I walk towards him.

B

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W

Gifts

–

if I have a snack. Slowly, I raise my other hand to run over

Kent asks, behind me.

at him a little. What a stupid question. Then I turn back to the beautiful horse as I stroke

mane.

says, laughing. Then he pauses. “I’m rarely wrong

freeze at his words. What –

Did he mean

to him and see him smile

Kent says to me. “If you want him.”

myself then by bursting into tears.

groom, who quickly disappears. Then, laughing at me a little, Kent joins me in the stall. He,

says, looking at the horse. “Here I was trying

down at me.

from.”

little shove away from my horse. Then, I bite my

ask, looking up at

of horses. What’s the harm in you having just

come and see him?” I ask, desperate for it,

seriously. “Yes, you can

smile spreads over my face and I resist the urge to throw my arms around him, so thrilled am

ask, a little breathless now. “Why did you do this for

me?”

“Because I could tell you were miserable, Fay. You might not believe it, but I don’t take pleasure singularly in making people unhappy. I want you to be safe, for Daniel’s sake, as his future bride,”

floor of the stall. Have I been that obvious? I

to the basement, no more obstinate disobedience.” He smirks, then.

for his sake. There just hadn’t been a lot of opportunity for rebellion in the last few weeks. Or I might have

he says carefully, studying my face closely, “they get presents. When they are bad, they

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Gifts

–

Fay,” he says softly, “that you stay on my good side. Then you

–

and a darker part of me

awhile – wonders which one,

want more.

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