CONNALL LET HIMSELF inside the arena through the gate, grinning as a small crowd gathered. Karen let out a shrill whistle when Pepper vaulted onto Jonesy’s back and guided him around the arena. No tack required. He did everything she demanded.
She leaned over his neck and stroked his coat. Jonesy stood still and turned his head toward her in an effort to get closer. Connall approached, holding a peppermint in his hand. “I think he’s looking for this.”
Jonesy took the treat and Pepper slipped from his back, sliding her arms around Connall’s waist. “I don’t know how you did it, but I don’t think ‘thank you’ is enough to express how grateful I really am.”
He kissed her temple. “Your joy is enough, love.”
He held her for a few precious seconds before she looked up at him. “I think I should cancel MGA.”
“Oh? How come?” he asked.
“I can’t leave Jonesy now that I have him back. I’ll just eat the cost of tuition. I’m sure I can find another job.”
“You mean to stay here?”
She nodded. “What other choice do I have?”
Connall leaned back. “You don’t actually think now that I’ve found you, there’d be any chance in hell I’d let you go, did you?”
“It’s not letting me go, Con.” She smiled. “I’ll definitely visit. But I can’t leave Jonesy for another minute. I don’t think I could survive it.”
Connall shook his head. “I’ve made other arrangements.”
She stepped away from him, closer to her horse. “Like?”
“He’ll come home with us.”
“What?” She leaned against Jonesy’s shoulder and frowned. “How?”
“Max is finalizing the plans at the moment. He’ll have the flight plan and information no later than tomorrow.”
“Were you going to ask me if that was what I wanted?”
“This solves everything, Pepper.”
She crossed her arms. “And what about Jonesy? Hmm? He’s been traumatized over the past month. You expect him to get into a stall on an airplane? Are you high? He’ll freak! He doesn’t even like the trailer.” She fisted her hands at her side. “I knew you were too freakin’ good to be true! I’m such an idiot. All men are the same. You have to lord over us like we don’t have the ability to think for ourselves. Well, thank you but no thank you. I’ll pay you for Jonesy, whatever you want. I’ll figure it out. But I am perfectly fine without a man to take care of me.”
Connall stood speechless and tried not to laugh. Her cheeks were pink and as she got further into her rampage, she took on a southern accent that grew heavier by the second. She was stunning. The quiet, frightened young woman he’d met three days ago was nowhere to be seen, and he couldn’t have been happier. His mate was a force to be reckoned with, and his heart soared.
“Connall? Helloooo,” she ground out. The irritated snap of her fingers brought him back to the present.
He bit the inside of his cheek in order not to smile. “Let me be sure I’m hearing you correctly.”
She frowned, leaning back slightly.
“You believe that I force you not to think, making you feel reduced to a blithering idiot, while my disregard for Jonesy’s difficulties of late has made you believe that I’m an uncaring overlord looking for any weakness you might reveal so that I might exploit it. Is that about right?”
“Um, well.” She bit her lip. “I think that might be a little harsher than what I actually said…” She trailed off, her face red and her eyes unable to stay fixed on his.
“Pepper.” He grinned. “Look at me, please.”
Her eyes flew to his and he again had to force himself not to grin like a loon.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “You’ve done so much for me and I don’t want to seem ungrateful. I really will pay you back.”
He leaned down and covered her lips with his, cradling her head as he pulled her closer. She sighed and sagged against him. He would have continued, but Jonesy pushed at Pepper, forcing Connall to pull her away in order to keep her upright.
Pepper squeezed her eyes shut and groaned. “You’re not making this easy.”
“I have no intention of making anything that ends in us being apart easy.” He narrowed his eyes. “Now, will you let me finish?”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not this time,” he said.
She waved her hand. “Dictate away, overlord of mine.”
“If you agree, this is my proposal…”
She snorted, but pressed her lips into a thin line at his look of warning.
“My stable is an internationally authorized quarantine facility, and I have relationships all over the world with other similar facilities. I’ve spoken with Karen about partnering with her to bring her facility up to code, and we’re also discussing a more in-depth business relationship. She has a deep understanding and love of horses, and with Mario as her trainer, this could be very lucrative for her.”
“How long will it take to bring Whispering Willows up to code?”
“Several months.” He raised a hand when she opened her mouth. “But before you try to tell me that waiting for Jonesy to go through quarantine is exactly why you can’t go with me to Scotland… I have another solution.”
She stuck her tongue out at him and he was so surprised, he laughed… and then he had to kiss her again… it was a necessity. When he broke the kiss he shook his head. “Ég sé að líf okkar saman verður eingöngu tær gleði.”
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Which means?”
“I can see our lives together will be nothing but pure joy.”
“I’ll ignore the hint of sarcasm in that comment.” She gave him a reluctant grin. “Please continue.”
“Max is organizing my plane to pick Jonesy up—along with you and me.”
“You have your own plane?” she said in dismay.
“I buy and sell horses all over the world. I’ve found it’s much more cost effective to own my own planes than to hire one every time I have to fulfill a sale.”
“You own more than one?”
“Pepper. Focus,” he demanded.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
“I have, in the past, been given permission to bring a horse into the U.K. without it first being quarantined at an approved facility. It’s not a given, however. Max is working with DEFRA to get Jonesy to Gunnach Stables as soon as possible.”
“What’s DEFRA?”
“The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. They handle animal imports into the U.K. Jonesy can go through quarantine there.” He pulled another treat out of his pocket and held his hand out for Jonesy, who lapped it up. “But all of this is only if it’s something you want to do.”
She rubbed her forehead. “I was not prepared for you, Connall Gunnach. I swear to Buddha, you have turned my life upside down.”
“Is that a yes, then?”
“I need to think about it.” She took a deep breath. “Is that okay?”
“Of course it is.” He reached for her hand but she avoided him. “Hey, there’s no pressure.”
She nodded, but he didn’t like her panicked expression.
“Pepper!”
They turned to see Samantha waving from the fence. Kade stood beside her and gave Connall an apologetic smile. Connall figured as soon as Samantha found out Jonesy was back where he belonged, that she’d wanted to share in the joy with her best friend. Sam let herself inside the arena and started toward them.
“Can I have a few minutes with Sam?” Pepper asked.
“Of course,” Connall said. “You okay?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
He wasn’t convinced, but he left her and made his way to Kade.
* * *
Sam clapped her hands and hugged Pepper and then patted Jonesy’s neck. “Connall got him back! I’m so happy for you.”
Pepper nodded, but her emotions were in turmoil.
“What’s wrong?” Sam asked.
“Con wants to take Jonesy to Scotland.”
“Without you?”
Pepper rolled her eyes. “No.”
“Okay,” Sam said slowly. “And?”
Pepper laid out Connall’s plan and Sam frowned in confusion. “I don’t see the problem.”
“Sam,” Pepper hissed. “If he does this, I will have no way out.”
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked.
Pepper let out a frustrated groan. “He just took care of my stalker, rescued my horse, and now wants to whisk us both to Scotland where we’ll what? Spend our lives together in bliss for the rest of our days?”
“Sounds good so far—”
“What happens when it all goes down the shitter and he hates me? I’ll be stuck in Scotland with him holding all of this over my head? I’ll lose him and my horse and still feel like I’m beholden to him. I already owe him too much as it is.”
“What makes you think, one, he’ll hate you and, two, he’ll hold anything over your head?”
“What makes you think he won’t?”
“Because I know him.”
Pepper glared at her. “Well, bully for you, sunshine. I don’t.”
“Yes, you do.”
“It’s been less than a week, Sam. No. I. Don’t.”
Sam stared at her and then laughed.
“What?” Pepper snapped.
“Lightning wrapped in a rainbow.”
“Not even close! Roses with razor blades as thorns.”
“Oh my,” Sam exclaimed sarcastically. “You are in a bad way.”
Pepper sighed. “I have some money left over after the MGA tuition, but could I borrow a little from you?”
“What for?”
“I need to pay him back.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do,” Pepper argued. “I shouldn’t have let him do this for me to begin with.”
“What about Scotland?”
“I can’t, Sam. I’ll just stay here. It’ll be better for everyone.”
Sam crossed her arms. “Not for me.”
Pepper forced herself not to fold. “You have Kade now. I fully intend to visit. I just don’t think it would be a good idea for me to put all my eggs in one basket, so to speak.”
“Which is ridiculous. I may have Kade, but I still need you. Who can I complain about Kade to?”
Pepper smiled. “You can call me.”
“Pepper, come on. We had it all planned out. I really want to explore Scotland with you. The fact that you and Connall are a couple just makes it even sweeter.”
“If I don’t end it now, Sam, I won’t have the strength to do it later. It’s better to rip the Band-aid off now.”
“Pepper…” Samantha stalled, looking as though she was going to say more, but then she shrugged. “Fine.”
“Really?”
“Yep. I don’t want to force you, Pepper. You’re my best friend. I want you to be happy.”
Pepper cocked her head. “What are you doing, Sam?”
“I’m sorry?”
Pepper glanced over to where Kade and Connall were standing. Connall’s back was to her and Kade seemed relaxed and unbothered.
What are you saying to Sam? Pepper asked Connall.
He turned to face her and shrugged. Sam’s all the way over there, love. What could I possibly be saying to her that you wouldn’t be able to hear?
“Is he talking to you?” Pepper asked Sam.
“Who?” Sam asked.
“Connall,” she snapped.
“In my mind?”
“Yes, in your mind!”
Sam shook her head. “Only Kade can, Pepper.”
“Well, then what’s Kade saying?”
Sam stared at her husband. “Um, kind of private, Pepper… and a little on the dirty side.”
“About me!”
“Why would my husband be saying dirty things about you?”
Pepper stomped her foot, causing Jonesy to sidestep.
“Careful,” Sam warned, stifling a giggle. “You’re upsetting your horse.”
Pepper threw her arms in the air and stomped toward the exit. Jonesy followed like a puppy.
“Hey, Pep,” Sam called and caught up with her. “You want to ride?”
Pepper turned, walking backwards, with a scowl on her face. “Hey, Einstein, I have nothing with me.”
“I brought you boots and a helmet.”
Connall pushed away from the fence. “And Karen has Jonesy’s tack.”
Pepper turned toward Connall. “I told her to sell it.”
He shrugged. “She didn’t listen.”
Pepper tried not to smile. Truly she did, but her heart was reluctantly softening and she couldn’t stop it. “I hate both of you. I really do.”
Sam caught up to her and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “I’m picking up on that. Come on. Connall bought three other horses today and has promised me a ride. I say we go on an old-fashioned trail ride.”
“You’re on your honeymoon,” Pepper countered.
Sam glanced at Kade and then smiled back at Pepper. “Yep. And right now, I’d like to go on a trail ride with my best friend. Maybe to the beach?”
“Twist my arm.”
“Yay,” Sam said, and clapped. “I’ll get our stuff. Be right back.”
She and Kade made their way to the car and Pepper was left with Connall. She was less upset, but she still felt like she had to stick with her decision.
“Max texted while you were talking with Sam,” Connall said.
“Oh?”
“We have the okay to bring Jonesy in anytime we want to. The plane can be here day after tomorrow and we can all travel together.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.”
“I can’t pay the price, Con.” She didn’t just mean financially.
“Pepper, the price has already been paid. You don’t owe anyone anything. How can I prove that?”
“What happens when you feel you’ve paid too much?”
He rubbed his forehead. “What are you talking about?”
She shook her head. This was harder than she could have ever imagined. “If I move myself and Jonesy over to Scotland, what happens when you…” She swallowed. “…um, decide I’m not who you want?”
“I thought Sam talked you out of that.”
Pepper gasped. “Can you hear Sam in your mind?”
“No, but I can hear you. Kade filled me in on what Sam was saying.”
“I knew it! I knew you were eavesdropping.”
He shrugged. “If you’re going to insist on shutting me out, I’m going to fight all that much harder to get in.”
She held her hands up in defeat. “Fine. But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re asking me to risk everything after just a few days. I don’t have the resources you do. If it doesn’t work out, I won’t be able to bounce back.”
“Then I’ll stay here.”
“What?” she squeaked.
“If you don’t feel comfortable coming with me, I’ll move here.” He leaned against the railing. “Jonesy can stay where he feels content and you can have the time you need.”
“Time?”
“You obviously need time to elapse in order for you to believe it’s going to work.”
“That’s not a bad thing!”
“Sweetheart, I’m not saying it is.” He squeezed her hand. “Stop trying to find something nefarious in everything I say.”
Pepper narrowed her eyes. “Stop trying to psychoanalyze me.”
“I don’t need to psychoanalyze you, love. I know you better than you know yourself.”
“I know you better than you know yourself,” she mimicked in a sing-song voice.
He smiled. “I’ll give you whatever you need, but I won’t live apart from you. That defeats the whole purpose of being together.”
“What about your horses?”
He shrugged. “Max can run the farm.”
“He’s going on tour.”
“Niall, then.”
“Niall will be with him, won’t he?”
“Then I’ll make Brodie do it.”
“Connall, I cannot make you do this.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have a life in Scotland. You can’t give that up for me.”
“Why not?”
She blinked back tears. “Because.”
“Because why?”
“Because I’m not worth it!” she snapped.
“And therein lies the problem, eh?” He smiled gently and stroked her cheeks with his thumbs, wiping her tears away. “Somewhere you got the idea in your head that you’re not worth it. You’re convinced I’m going to figure out who you really are and run, right? Which leaves you stuck in Scotland with no way home and your horse held for ransom… unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Well, you could accept my offer, and then you’d be in the very precarious position of needing to be perfect, right?”
She dropped her head.
He lifted her chin. “So, in your mind, you have three choices. One, you come with me and act the perfect angel, catering to me, never arguing with me, really showing me how grateful you are because of everything I’ve done for you. Two, you come with me, act yourself, and I’ll figure out I’ve made a really bad investment and send you packing, but I’ll keep your horse, because at the very least, you owe me that because of everything I’ve done for you. Or three, you stay here, because you know this life and can function within it, even if it’s less than what you deserve… am I close?”
She shrugged.
“You’ve forgotten the other option,” he said.
She sighed. “What?”
“You could come to Scotland, bring your horse and go to MGA. Whatever your heart so desires. You will never owe me anything and can walk away at any time. You can set up an escape plan with Samantha. I don’t need to know anything about it if that helps. I will put this in writing, etch it into stone, or put it on a billboard, if that makes you feel comfortable. The bottom line is, I cannot live without you. I know you don’t know what that means right now, but you will, and then you’ll hopefully understand the depth of what I feel for you.” He cupped her cheeks. “I love you. Every part of you, especially the part that argues and fights and falls on the dramatic side. I’ve waited a long time for you and I never could have imagined I would have been given everything I’d wished for and more.”
Pepper snorted. “It’s the ‘more’ you may give back.”
“Never.” Connall chuckled. “I want it all.”
She closed her eyes, laid her hand on his chest, and “listened.” But it was when he kissed her that she was truly lost. She broke the kiss and leaned against him. “You’re killing me.”
He hugged her. “Oh, baby, we’re going down together.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You probably will. Just like I’m sure to disappoint you. But I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her temple. “And neither are you… except for a trail ride.”
She smiled up at him. “None of this makes you a genius.”
“Yes, it does.”
“Will I ever win an argument?”
“Not with a genius!”
She giggled. “You’re impossible.”
He leaned down and kissed her again. “I haven’t been on a horse in almost a week. I’m dying for a ride.”
She grinned. “Me too. Are you sure? I’m giving you one last chance to save yourself.”
“Having you is saving myself.”
With one last kiss, Pepper followed Connall back to the barn, where they tacked up the horses and took off for their adventure.