Love All Out - The Complete Series (A Stepbrother Romance) Read Free

than the main house. Daddy was never one to be extravagant for the sake of extravagance. He built a practical home and invested most of his money in the barns and livestock.
    “I hope you’re hungry,” Daddy called out as he pulled out a baking sheet stacked with fresh fried chicken. “Mary really outdid herself. She came in at nine and only left about half an hour ago.”
    “I didn’t realize we were having Mary’s fried chicken. This is a real treat,” Matt said as Daddy set the tray on the countertop. “What can I help you with, Cole?”
    “If you want, grab the potato salad and slaw out of the fridge. There’s a fresh pitcher of herbal tea in there too, if you’re thirsty,” Daddy replied.
    Cole jumped up to fetch our sides and I followed close behind him. I poured three glasses of iced tea while Matt and Daddy made our plates. We returned to the table and ate in silence until half of the food was gone.
    “This is amazing,” Cole said, wiping salty grease from his chin. “Thanks for inviting me to eat with you, Cole.”
    “You know you’re welcome here any time,” Daddy reminded him. He took a long sip of his tea and returned his glass to the table. “But I have to confess, I have ulterior motives this afternoon.”
    Here we go… I bet he’s going to try to get out of going to the Derby this year. Or maybe he wants to put more focus on the working stock. God, I hope he doesn’t want me to sell any of the racehorses.
    “There’s something I’d like to talk to you both about,” Daddy continued. He turned to Matt. “My daughter insists that you don’t need any help with the thoroughbreds, but you two have twice as many horses as you did a year ago.”
    Here it comes… he thinks we need to scale down.
    “We do have a lot of work on our hands,” Matt agreed. “But we’re managing all right.”
    Daddy nodded. “Yes, I’ve been paying attention and I know that you’re both doing an exceptional job. But it’s spring, and things are going to start getting pretty chaotic around here. I’m expecting nearly as many spring foals as spring calves. I know that you both want to go to Churchill in a few months, but I won’t be able to spare any of my guys to cover your work while you’re gone. And after the Derby, there will be Preakness, Belmont, summer vacation. And wouldn’t you like to have a day off together every now and then?”
    I still didn’t understand where he was going. “Daddy, it’s not that big of a deal. I don’t have to go to the Derby…”
    “Nonsense,” he interrupted. “You have two horses in the race, you have to go to the Derby.”
    “I’m only five percent owner on each of them,” I reminded him. I didn’t have the time or resources to train and race my own horses, but I was smart enough to retain a small percentage of ownership in them.
    “You’re going to the race,” Daddy insisted. “We just need to hire someone to help in the thoroughbred barn, that’s all. I know you’ve been resistant to the idea, Willow, but it’s time to stop being so damn stubborn about it. Matt, I’m assuming you’re not opposed to a little extra time off? Your salary will remain the same, of course.”
    Matt shifted nervously in his seat and stared down at his near empty plate. Matt knew how I felt about taking on new workers in my barn and I appreciated him keeping his mouth shut.
    That’s why he invited Matt. He knew he’d never talk me in to this on his own.
    “Daddy, you know how I feel about having strangers in my barn.”
    “Pumpkin, you’re being unreasonable. I know that working with the thoroughbreds helps you feel closer to Mom. And I’m not trying to take that away from you. But it’s not like this would be the first time we’ve hired help with the racehorses. You remember Carl, he ran the whole program while you were growing up. And Harry was a great help to Matt while you were away at college.”
    “But I’m not away anymore and I’m not a little