My Forbidden Mentor by Laura Mills Read Free Book Online Page A

adventurous endeavor, there will be stipulations we need to discuss,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.
    “All right, let’s hear them.”
    John grinned at Melissa’s eagerness as he scanned their perimeters. “Is your father around?”
    “No, he’s working,” she replied with clear impatience.
    “Very well. We will discuss this now and then make arrangements to include your father another time.”
    “My father will appreciate that.”
    He followed her to the covered entrance of the cabin. They sat on a wooden swing and began going over the initial plans. Melissa agreed to most, taking exception to the last. John wanted sole dealings in regards to negotiations.
    “I will be the one riding, Lord Blackburn, therefore, I certainly shall be involved in bargaining,” she stated.
    “Melissa, who has more experience here?” John asked in return.
    “Does your experience include women for riders?” she implored, knowing she was his first female student.
    “That’s quite unfair. You know what I mean.”
    “I beg to differ. You will need a different approach presenting a woman.”
    “We will deal with that when the time approaches. Meanwhile, we will need to decide whether to choose the route of public display as opposed to camouflaging you.”
    “Very well, but be aware that I would prefer to be involved with negotiations,” she made clear, pausing for a moment before sharing her private thoughts. “Wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful though to be able to race against professionals as myself, as a woman?”
    “Yes, it would be,” he agreed, realizing how much all of this meant to her, at the same time realizing the extensive challenge he’d gotten himself into.
    They both agreed the next step would be to present their intentions to her father and further agreed to do it together.
     
    But later that evening, while Melissa and her father were in the sitting room reading, she wanted to share with her father her chance of a lifetime. From time to time she would look up at her father, not concentrating on reading at all. No longer able to repress herself Melissa closed her book, deciding to say something, anything, to ease the pressure. “Father, I’ve come across a superb opportunity. I know you’ll be pleased.”
    Philip’s eyes lifted from his book to capture his daughter’s. “Then spit it out, lass.”
    Her smile widened while she explained. “Well, do you remember Lord Blackburn?”
    “Of course. He’s the fine gentleman who rescued you last week.”
    “Yes, and he’s a trainer, father, one of the best, and he has agreed to a trial training session with me!”
    “What!” His book shut loud enough to make Melissa flinch. “Why didn’t he talk to me himself?”
    She regained her confidence. “He had planned on it but I wanted to talk to you first. You see he’s not aware that I’m doing this without him,” she explained and started to feel guilty at what she’d just admitted, remembering her agreement with Lord Blackburn.
    His narrowed gaze stayed on her. “When did you have time to discuss this with him?”
    She stood to escape his scrutiny. “When he brought me home last week,” she told him as her footsteps took her before a large window where she could see blooming roses in her garden.
    Phillip stared into her backside. “Tell me the truth, lass, was that all you did was talk? Why would he be so willing, huh?”
    With a low gasp, Melissa turned around to face him. “Father, he was a perfect gentleman. He’s seen me ride and that’s the truth.”
    Phillip shifted in his chair, his hand reaching over to retrieve his glass of scotch. “At Middleham, I suppose?” he said and swallowed a bit of his drink. “How did you manage that? You seemed to have left that part out of your story last week?”
    By now the excitement that had built inside Melissa had changed to utter disappointment in herself. “I’m sorry, father, but the point is that he sees true potential in me