Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

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

23 –

my palm, saying hello, checking to see if I have a snack. Slowly, I raise my other hand to run over the rich blaze that runs down his face, stepping close

him?” Kent asks, behind

question. Then I turn

mane.

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

freeze at his words. What

Did he mean

turn back to him and see

Kent says to me. “If you want him.”

embarrass myself then by

quickly disappears. Then, laughing at me a little, Kent joins me in the stall. He, too, raises a hand for

Kent says, looking at the horse.

down at me.

from.”

dare,” I growl at him, giving him a little shove away from my horse. Then, I bite

looking up at Kent.

whole stable is mine, full of horses.

can come and see him?” I

seriously. “Yes, you can come every day,

urge to throw my arms around him, so

little breathless now. “Why did you do

me?”

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,

at the floor of the stall. Have I been that obvious? I knew that he noticed, but I wasn’t aware

illicit trips to the basement, no more obstinate disobedience.” He smirks, then. “Or at

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

presents. When they are bad, they get punished.” He lowers his face,

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Gifts

23 –

watching it form his words. “I’d recommend, Fay,” he says softly, “that you stay on my good side. Then you can have more rewards.”

–

down my spine and a darker part of

for awhile – wonders which one,

want more.