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

and he can help me achieve my dream.”
    Phillip didn’t ease up at all. “What’s in it for him?”
    Instead of being offended by her father’s remark, she carried on as if they were having a casual conversation. “I would ride one of his top stallions and make him money.”
    “Now there’s gambling involved. Oh lord, lass, what have you gotten yourself into?” he responded in a sarcastic but serious tone. He couldn’t believe their conversation and the avenues it kept taking.
    Melissa stepped in her father’s direction. “Father you’ve gambled yourself.”
    “That doesn’t matter, lass. You’re my daughter. You sneak into a racetrack not thinking about the consequences if your caught, and you attracted the attention of a lord who thankfully was nice enough not to turn you in. He probably waived that part so he could get paid in another fashion.” His drink swished in violence as he took another swig. As the scotch coated his throat he realized there was no more denying that his little girl was growing up and making crucial decisions of her own, but they were insane, ludicrous decisions.
    Stunned by her father’s conclusion, she explained again, “Father, please. It’s not like that. His interest lies in his horses and making money. Mine lies in racing. You know it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
    She was making sense and perhaps he was jumping to conclusions, but she was at a ripe age. He didn’t doubt that Lord Blackburn, like any other red-blooded male, would like to pluck at his precious fruit. He set his drink on the table. “Before any of this takes place I want to see him. I want to talk to him again, in private, no interference from you. Then we’ll all talk, you got that?”
    Relief coursed through Melissa. “Of course, father. Thank you for being cooperative.”
    His features turned tender. “Only because I love you so much. And if he is true to his word then I agree it would be a fine opportunity for you, but you have me worried about you. You’re so headstrong, like your mother, worse I’m afraid.”
    She stepped next to her father, leaning down to place a kiss on his cheek. “I know father and I can’t help it, but it’s the only way to get what you want out of life.”
    “I know you’re right love, but you’ve got to give your father a chance to catch up with you. Don’t make any more plans without me, settled?”
    She smiled when agreeing, “Yes father,” and watched him return to his book, his brows creased with leftover frustration.
    Melissa turned to retrieve her own book. Grand, just grand. Now she would have to let Lord Blackburn know that she’d talked to her father and that he requested another visit with him. She understood her father’s concern but he didn’t seem to understand the awkwardness that flooded her every time she had to approach Lord Blackburn because of her father. It wasn’t as if she were courting the lord.
    Melissa grabbed her book and strolled off to bed. She still planned on meeting Lord Blackburn in the morning, where she’d be fighting another battle. She had brought this on herself again. Why, all of sudden, when her life seemed like it was changing for the better, did it seem so tangled up? Tomorrow’s another day, she reassured herself.
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    The next morning John and Melissa stood inside John’s private viewing box at Catterick Racetrack. John became furious when she revealed the discussion she’d had with her father. She had ignored their agreement. After obtaining a level of composure, he responded. “Damn it all Melissa! We had an understanding about this, did we not? What happened to your part of it?” His voice remained low but severe. His arms crossed over his broad chest, his lips thinned, and his eyes narrowed in consideration.
    She didn’t like the tension in his jaw. It was tight, like his teeth were grinding together. Perhaps they were. She couldn’t blame him for being angry with her. At the