Hot Coco Read Free Page B

sexy.
    Leaning back against her pillows, she bit her lip and became completely lost in concentration while trying to picture herself in the sweet little ride. Her dream of whizzing along the highway with her blonde mane whipping in the wind was broken by the sound of a loud snort and a rustle of the shrubs below her bedroom window.
    Looking up from the laptop, Kate’s eyes narrowed. She listened intently. Nothing. Shrugging her shoulder, she returned her attention to the Ford dealership’s website. The colors of the glorious Mustangs changed. Red. Silver. Black.
    The study was dimly lit. The glow of the computer screen on Eric’s desk cast a soft, blue hue over the handsome man’s face while he studied race results on the Churchill Downs web page. He slipped his glasses from his face and rubbed his eyes.
    Munching on a sandwich, Shane wandered into the room, plunked down on the sofa, and propped his feet on the coffee table before taking another big bite.
    Rapping his fingers on the desk, Eric stared at the youngest West with his lips pursed until the sandy-haired man looked up. Eric pointed sharply at his feet.
    Clearing his throat, Shane jerked them from the coffee table. “Tom Mason is supposed to call me sometime tomorrow afternoon.”
    His father chuckled. “Tom is a very old friend of mine, but don’t forget that he’s new to the Thoroughbred game. He wants to talk about a swimming program for his horse, but he’s not exactly convinced that horses should be swimming. He’s worried the horse will sink.”
    “Don’t worry, Dad. I can be very persuasive when I wanna be.”
    “When he calls, talk slowly.”
    “Wait a minute, isn’t this the guy that you’re always getting wedding invitations from?” Shane asked.
    The thought of his eccentric friend prompted another chuckle. “Oh yeah, Tom’s been married and married. His wives seem to be getting younger and younger. I think his last wife was twelve.”
    “They say there’s someone for everyone,” Shane said. “How old is he anyway?”
    “Fifty-one. Maybe fifty-two. Tom’s charming in a very clumsy sort of way. His fourth—Or was it his third wedding? Anyway, Tom and his newest bride were having their first dance together—” Eric snorted while trying to suppress his amusement. “He stepped on her gown and ripped the entire skirt off.” He burst into chuckles. “I shouldn’t laugh. It really was terrible. But there she stood with a blue garter around her thigh while wearing a white thong. That marriage lasted only a year.”
    He and Shane laughed.
    “Yeah, Tom is very well-to-do,” Eric said. “He doesn’t have any trouble finding someone.”
    Kate found herself ambivalent between the blazing red Mustang and the classic ebony sports car. Both were convertibles, and both were hot. She couldn’t make a decision. Unconsciously, she nibbled at her pinky fingernail. The sound of a horse whinnying broke her deliberation. The whinny was followed by hooves shuffling through grass. Then, there was a loud squeal.
    She set the laptop aside and tip-toed to the window. The silhouette of a grey horse trotting through the yard like a phantom in the moonlight caught her eye. While straining to see where he had gone, she spied five more. Kicking and nipping at each other, the group of escapees were galloping up and down the driveway.
    “Cripes.” Grumbling, she slipped on a pair of flip-flops and dashed from her bedroom. Her shoes thump, thump, thumped against her feet while she hurried down the sweeping staircase, past the grandfather’s clock in the foyer, and into the study.
    “Dad! Shane! Loose horses!”
    Shane and Eric rushed to the bay window and pinched back the curtains.
    “How did they get out?” Shane asked.
    “It doesn’t much matter,” Eric said. “Let’s go.”
    Mike had decided to retire early. After taking a hot shower, he pulled on a comfortable pair of lounging pants, and grabbed a Yuengling beer from the fridge. He sank into