CHAPTER ONE
The Rolls Royce pulled onto the wide, circular driveway of the Royal Estates Stables. Prince Jamal “Jay” Assante III lowered his tinted window, cocking his head with interest. Through his sunglasses, he watched a jockey gallop by on a gleaming thoroughbred in the closest arena, one of several on the grounds. They were making an insanely fast time on the horse’s powerful haunches.
“Who’s that?” Jay asked his chauffeur.
Eddie lowered his window and squinted into the May sun. “It’s a new jockey, Your Highness.”
Jay’s lip twitched. “No, I meant the horse.”
“Oh.” Eddie coughed. “Sorry, sir. It’s Untamed Lady.”
A frisson of pleasure coursed through Jay’s veins. “And I own that wonderful beast?”
“Well, actually, no, sir.”
Jay frowned. “Then what is that jockey and horse doing on my property?”
“You agreed to let Green Gable Acres board here until their new facility is re-built, sir. They had that fire?” The last question was said as a half-statement, half-question.
“Of course.” Along with feeling foolish for forgetting, he found himself highly disappointed. What he would do to own that horse. He could make discreet inquiries about it. Yes, that’s what he would do. Green Gable was down on their luck and might be open to a generous purchase. That horse was as good as his.
“Could you please arrange for the jockey to come see me soon?” Jay said.
“Of course, sir.”
Jay thanked Eddie and got out of the car, entering the house he stayed at in Lexington, Kentucky, whenever he was here on business. It was a gigantic three-story building, full of history and homey touches. It was more house than he needed, but it served his purpose. He usually stayed there for about two weeks tops, less if he could. The staff ran the place well and delivered excellent results at the derbies. He visited just long enough to keep them on their toes and to make sure his late father Franco’s pet project was still worth his investment.
At thirty, Jay wasn’t exactly idling away his days as one of Europe’s most eligible royal bachelors. Well, his mother, who had been pressuring him to marry, might beg to differ. At least she’d backed off from her threat of arranging a marriage with distant but equally royal kin back home. They were all nitwits, Mother declared, and she didn’t want them tainting her gene pool.
Oh, but how she wanted a royal grandbaby soon, she’d told Jay. Especially since Father died, followed by Mother’s breast cancer scare. Suddenly faced with mortality, Mother put her affairs in order and tried to make amends with Jay and his four younger brothers for leaving them to teams of nannies while their parents globe-trotted.
But it was, sadly, a little late by now. As Jay prepared to assume the throne after observing the proper mourning period, he felt well-enough adjusted, thank you, and simply wanted to make the most of a normal life.
Nowadays, “normal” meant splitting his time on business interests between Boston and the small but wealthy Mondragón, his family’s island principality off the coast of Spain. And, of course, Father’s horse stables in key horse-racing cities.
Lexington seemed almost an afterthought. Jay wasn’t keen on the country feel here. Sitting home alone without his friends seemed like banishment. Nearly every night in Boston, he had his choice of the opera, a musical, or an art show, and he accepted invitations as business permitted.
He climbed the stairs to his office and tackled his must-dos. A little while later, someone knocked on his door.
“Come in,” Jay said.
His secretary, George, walked in with several folders in his arms. George traveled with him everywhere, but Lexington was his least favorite place to work. Unfortunately, he had the worst case of hay fever and was suffering from it terribly today. The poor guy’s nose was red, and his eyes were already tearing up.
“Good morning, George,” Jay said.
“Good mo…mo…achoo!” George said, pulling out a white handkerchief from his pocket and blowing his nose.
“Pollen particularly bad today?” Jay asked.
George nodded, miserable. But the sport still managed a smile.
“Sorry, George. Just two weeks.”
“I’m sure I will survive, Your Highness.” George blew his nose again and stuffed his handkerchief back in his pants pocket. “I brought the ledger you requested.”
“Excellent. Just set it on the table, thank you.”
They went over the day’s schedule, interrupted by a few sneezes. When they were done, Jay asked his secretary to schedule an appointment with the Royal Estates Stables manager. Bruce had taken over the finances in the last year, and Jay hadn’t met him yet. George waved his handkerchief as he left Jay. His sneeze echoed in the hallway.
Jay’s butler, Simon, knocked on the open door and poked his head in. “The jockey is waiting in the paddocks, sir,” he said. “Eddie assumed you wanted to meet the horse too.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’ll be down shortly. Thank you.” Jay massaged his neck and flexed his muscles. It would be good to take a break from all the morning’s financial reading and to move around.
He walked down the hall past George’s office, where his secretary’s medicine must have kicked in, as he was quietly seated at the computer, typing.
Jay’s hand slid over the shiny banister as he took the steps of the curving stairwell, light on his feet. Even though he didn’t know much about horses nor running a stable, he took pride in a successful business venture.
The jockey stood in the shaded courtyard, facing away from Jay, the beautiful horse’s halter rope in hand. As Jay approached, the jockey pulled their helmet off, and down came a waterfall of auburn tresses.
Who Jay thought was a he was a she?
Not just any girl, but a gorgeous and shapely petite woman in a white long-sleeved shirt tucked into a pair of hip-hugging pants. Nicely weathered boots encased slim legs.
Her profile looked as exotic as Untamed Lady. She had high cheekbones and deep-set eyes fringed with long, thick lashes. Maybe some Spanish blood a few generations before? The hours she must spend under the sun gave her skin a luminous tan.
“Hello,” Jay said when he had the presence of mind to speak.
She turned striking gray eyes toward him. Wariness lurked in their depths. “Hello, Prince Jamal,” she said.
It caught him flat-footed that she knew who he was. “How’d you know who I am?” he asked.
“Your family picture’s in the lodge.”
“Oh, right. Inscribed with our names?”
She nodded.
“The sign was wrong,” he said.
She raised an exquisite eyebrow.
“I go by Jay. And you?”
“Talia Morris,” she said.
He offered a handshake, but she held up her hands.
“I’m kind of a mess right now. You don’t want this gunk on you.”
He followed her glance to his clothes and shrugged. “I don’t care. I can easily get a new shirt.”
Her expression turned to flint. Disdainful. Then it reverted to a polite mask. “Your driver said you wanted to talk to me?”
“Your horse is a beauty. Any chance she’s for sale?”
She sucked her breath in, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Um, I don’t think so. You’d have to ask the owners.”
“Aren’t you privy to that sort of information?”
She averted her eyes. “I…I think they’ve informally accepted an offer from someone.”
Jay frowned. “Odd. That’s not good business. A horse sale just on a handshake?”
She raised her chin, defiant. “They want only the best owners for their horses. They weren’t in the market to sell her. But after the fire, they discussed it more. They’re making private inquiries.”
He raised an eyebrow. “And I suppose, from your tone you’ve made up your mind that I’m not a good horse owner?”
“Well, I’ve never seen you around your horses. Can you blame me for thinking that?” She bit her lip. “Sorry. That was rude of me. You’re the owner of this place, and you do seem to run a good ship.” She turned to the horse. “Eula has really grown on me, so I care where she ends up.”
“You call her Eula?”
She nodded. “For the U in Untamed and La for Lady.”
“Clever.” He smiled. “If it’s any consolation, I probably don’t need another horse. I simply can’t resist a beautiful lady.”
He hadn’t intended to say something with double meaning, but he couldn’t help chuckle at her affronted expression.
She was definitely irresistible.
***
Talia was sure Jay was used to charming women. What girl wouldn’t be able to resist his good looks, along with the promise of a royal title and money?
Grudgingly, she did notice he was respectful and sweetly formal, as though they were making small talk at some ball. And, just because he was good-looking didn’t necessarily mean he was a playboy.
Suspicion still lingered, however. A gentleman in the horse racing industry was more of an exception than the rule. Of course, she didn’t hang out with a lot of stable owners to compare.
Beyond his shoulder, she noticed a bright pink Jeep driving down the stables’ driveway, followed by a black limo. Like the one Jay rode in this morning.
There was so much money being bandied around here. It was a little ridiculous.
Jay looked over his shoulder, too, and watched the vehicles’ progress. “Mmm,” he said under his breath. “What is my mother doing here?”
“Your entire clan coming over for a visit?” Talia asked, half-serious. The limo looked like it could hold as many as a dozen passengers.
He turned back to Talia, his eyes filled with amusement. “It looks like she’s got a friend or two in her Jeep. I have no idea who might be in the limo.”
They watched as the vehicles came to a stop.
Talia squinted at the fake blonde at the wheel. “Is your mother the one driving?”
“Yes. She likes to drive her own vehicle, even though she has a driver. I bet you the limo is empty.”
She deadpanned, “So the driver just shadows her.”
His eyes danced as he turned back to her. “Yes.”
The excesses of the rich.
And yet, even as she thought this, she also knew it was a glamorous life. Something that a mere peasant could only dream of.
“Do you drive your own car?” she asked Jay.
“Definitely, when I can. I love the freedom.”
“What kind is it?” She blurted out her question before she could stop herself.
His eyes assessed her. “A Maserati.”
She didn’t even know what a Maserati looked like, but it sounded expensive. “Do you do the same thing as your mom?”
“What?”
“Have the limo shadow you.”
“No.” He made a face. “I don’t need a chaperone on my dates.”
For some absurd reason, Talia pictured herself in the passenger seat beside him on a date, with him stopping the car and leaning over to kiss her good night…
“Talia?” he murmured.
She blinked. She could get lost in his intense gaze, if she allowed herself. “Yes?” She sounded out of breath.
“I was going to ask you a question,” he said softly. “But I’ve already forgotten.”
A female voice cut into their conversation. “Jay, darling.”
The couple broke eye contact and watched as a woman in a pink suit holding a Maltese in a matching tank top and bows emerged from the Jeep, bearing down on them with the fierceness of a warrior. Her limo driver got out and stood by the vehicle at the ready.
“Mother!” Jay greeted her. “What are you doing here?”
She pouted. “That is not a very nice welcome for your mother whom you haven’t come to see in ages.”
“I’m sorry, Mother,” Jay said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “It’s just…you’ve always stayed away from the stables. As I recall, you once said, ‘Let your father have his hobby.’”
“Well, yes. But some things have changed in the past year, haven’t they?”
They exchanged a pain-filled glance. Jay’s eyes flicked toward Talia. “Father passed of cancer nearly a year ago.”
Talia murmured her sympathy.
His mother’s lips tightened into a thin line as she glared at Talia. “We mustn’t speak of such private things in front of strangers.”
“Ah, but I am forgetting my manners,” Jay said. “Talia, this is my mother, Nina Assante…and Chi-Chi, her dog. Mother, Talia Morris.”
Nina looked Talia up and down. “A jockey, I take it?”
“A great jockey,” Jay qualified.
But the damage was done. Nina made it clear by her snobbish gaze and the tone in her voice that she had an awful opinion of jockeys.
“She works for a stable that’s boarding here because their barns burned down,” Jay explained.
The edges of Nina’s mouth puckered, indicating boredom. “I brought some of my friends today, Jay,” she said, dismissing Talia.
She beckoned for the rest of the Jeep passengers to come out. They looked like two mother-daughter pairs. One daughter had beautiful blonde hair that fell to her waist. The other had dark, curly shoulder-length hair. The mothers looked like an older version of the young women, dressed in expensive designer clothes.
“If you will excuse me,” Talia said. “I need to put away Eula.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you,” Jay said.
Nina didn’t even acknowledge her.
As Talia started to walk Eula back to the pen, she saw Nina coaxing the blonde girl forward as she said, “Jay, this is Geneva―”
“Her dad and I conceived her in Geneva, Switzerland,” the mom piped up.
“And this is Katy.”
The other lady, Talia presumed the mother, said, “She’s been to thirty countries. Before the age of thirty.”
Well, Talia was twenty seven and she’d been to zero countries abroad. Wait, she crossed the border into Tijuana, once.
Talia had some catching up to do.