A Trap So Tender by Jennifer Lewis Read Free Book Online

Scotland.
    “Not at all. I play polo at least twice a week.” He drank some
tea.
    “Oh.” Of course. No wonder he looked so fit and muscular.
    “Do you play?”
    “No. I’ve never tried it. I’d love to, though.”
    He raised a brow. “Really? We’ll have to look into that when
we’re back in Singapore.”
    Her heart beat faster. Damn, she wished she could take him up
on his offer. She’d always wanted to play polo but never had the chance. Going
for trail rides and the occasional jumping competition was a pretty exclusive
experience back in Cali, and she’d felt privileged to do that. But of course by
the time they were back in Singapore, James would likely know who she really was
and probably hate her guts, so she wouldn’t be invited to his polo club.
    If she was successful, at least. Regret unfurled in her heart.
It was almost a shame that James had to be her enemy. She could have had a lot
of fun with him.
    After breakfast she changed into jeans and James led her to the
stables, a long stone building with an elegant slate roof. Tall, magnificent
horses peered out over freshly painted stable doors. “You have a lot of
horses.”
    “Eight.” He strode along the cobbled walk in front of the
building. “That’s more than enough work for Mick.”
    “Is he the groom?”
    “The trainer. He rides them every other day. Toby is the head
groom.”
    Even the stables were a small industry in this well-run machine
of luxury and privilege. And he thought the place desolate and deserted!
    “I think you should ride Taffy.” He indicated a large gray
horse with a kind eye.
    “She looks lovely.” Her halter and lead rope hung next to the
door. “Should I bring her out, or is there a large staff for that?”
    He laughed. “Bring her out. I always groom and tack up myself.
It’s the only way to know what mood they’re in before you go out looking for
trouble.”
    Taffy put her head right down into the halter and stood like a
rock while she buckled it. She led her out and was surprised her hooves didn’t
clatter on the cobbles.
    “Is she barefoot?” She glanced down and mentally answered her
own question before he could answer.
    “Yes. I keep all my horses unshod if they can handle it. Their
feet adapt to handle their work and it’s healthier for them. People stare and
point but I get the last laugh when their horse loses a shoe in the middle of a
hunt.”
    Fiona blinked. James was full of surprises. She wouldn’t have
thought someone like him would put a moment’s thought into the well-being of his
animals.
    “You can tie her up here. I’ll bring out the grooming kit.” He
pointed to a large iron ring, gleaming black, no doubt from the invisible work
of skilled hands. She tied up the very polite Taffy, who outside her stall was
absolutely enormous, and let her sniff her hand.
    James returned with an elegant wooden grooming kit and a tall
bay horse with steam pouring from its nostrils. “Poor Dougal has been cooped up
in his stall for a month. He’s a bit fresh.”
    Fiona stared. He was going to ride that thing? “He’s very
handsome. How do you choose your horses?”
    “Gut instinct. I bought most of them as babies. An old school
friend of mine is a breeder and he suckers me into visiting his stud at least
once a year.”
    The horses were so clean someone had probably already groomed
them that morning. She dusted Taffy off with a soft brush, and a young man
appeared with two saddles and bridles. “Let me put that up there for you,
ma’am.” She let him heft the polished saddle onto Taffy. Probably a good thing
since the mare’s back was well above the top of Fiona’s head. The mare put her
head down so Fiona could slip the bridle on, then the groom brought over a
polished wood mounting block the size and shape of a flight of six steps. In a
flash of disappointment, she realized she had been hoping James would have to
give her a leg up.
    What’s wrong with you, Fiona? Keep your
mind on the