Leaping Hearts by J.R. Ward Read Free Book Online

wasn’t likely to. He’d had a profound effect on her and, as thrilling as it had been to be in his orbit, she felt like she was on dangerous footing.
    The reality check, and the fact that she’d arrived at Sutherland’s, made her think of the stallion. As she pulled between the majestic white pillars that marked the drive to the stables’ compound, she wondered how Sabbath was going to like his new home.
    As it turned out, his hooves didn’t even get a chance to touch the ground.
    When she halted the eighteen-wheeler in front of theclapboard expanse of a stable building, Peter and her father emerged from the office. Their expressions told her she was in for it. Peter was looking serious and her father wore the pained grimace he always did when he was going to deny her something.
    Without stopping to greet them, A.J. got down from the cab and wrenched open the side door to the trailer so she could check on the stallion. They followed her inside.
    “That horse has got to go,” Peter said. “Your father agrees with me.”
    “Arlington, darling,” Garrett urged, “please be sensible.”
    A.J. let out an exasperated breath. “Look, I don’t have the time to argue with both of you. My first priority is getting this poor horse out of the shoe box he’s been in for the last hour and a half.”
    “You’re not bringing that stallion into the stables,” Peter said.
    “Doesn’t look like you have much choice, does it?”
    “You’re the one who’s out of choices. I’ve found a buyer for him.”
    “What!” She wheeled around. “You’ve no right to sell any of our horses without my permission!”
    “Tell her, Garrett.”
    “Tell me what?” Fingers, shaking from anger, sought out her diamond.
    “Well, dear, I—”
    “There’s been a little change in paperwork,” Peter said. “Courtesy of your stunt, I’m now president of the corporation that owns Sutherland Stables.”
    “And what exactly does that mean?”
    “Now I can run the business freely without worrying about your spending habits. I’ve got veto power. I can streamline operations, maybe even diversify. And I can send this demon as far away from here as I want.”
    “He’s not a demon!”
    “Then your definition of the word and mine are different. One thing I do know is that buying that stallion is another example of your inability to think things through or see financial realities.”
    “Financial realities! I’m talking about a champion. I’mtalking about winning. What we need at this stable are winners, not bean counters.”
    “You paid way over market value for him.”
    “He’s worth every penny.”
    “He’s worth half what you paid.”
    “How would you know?”
    “Because that’s what I sold him for.”
    A.J. looked at Garrett, stunned. “You can’t be serious about all this.”
    “Peter is right,” he said with a pleading tone. “The horse is dangerous and you probably paid too much for him.”
    “So you’re giving him the stables?”
    “He would never abuse—”
    “What would you call unilaterally deciding to sell a horse I have every intention of competing on?” She watched as her father fumbled through his pockets, looking for Rolaids. As he downed two and chewed desperately, she said, “This is ridiculous. It’s unnecessary.”
    “Arlington, I’m worried about your safety.”
    “I understand, but it takes risk to succeed.”
    “Calculated risk,” Peter pointed out.
    “I’ve made the calculations. I’m taking the risk.”
    “But you’ve got to learn to accept authority,” Garrett said. “You can’t keep running around, acting on a whim and explaining later. This is a big business now. There are other people involved. It’s not just a family hobby anymore.”
    With a stiff spine, she began to check Sabbath’s fastenings. “I know all that.”
    “Don’t bother getting him out of the trailer,” Peter told her. “The new owner wants him delivered tonight.”
    A.J. was about to take her