Jared spotted the end of the path leading to the parking area and the barn. But he didn’t relax his grip on the saddle horn or the reins. If he didn’t hold his horse back, his larger mount would beat Beauty back to the stables. He was pretty damn sure he’d terrified his date. He wasn’t about to leave her fending off a gator on her own.
He stole a glance over his shoulder. A large tail slashed across the dusty path as the alligator turned around and headed for the canal.
He looked toward the barn. Lucy had steered her mare to a waiting stable hand and collapsed on the animal’s neck. Her face was buried in Beauty’s mane. Even from a distance, he could see she was breathing hard.
Because a damn alligator crashed our romantic walk.
Jared slowed his horse, carefully guiding his mount to Lucy’s side. A second stable hand rushed out to greet them. He released the reins and allowed the man on the ground take control of his horse. Then he swung out of the saddle and moved to Lucy’s side.
He placed his hand on her trembling leg. Slowly, she raised her pale face from her horse’s mane. “Are you all right?” he asked.
She nodded. “I think I’m ready to say goodbye to Beauty.”
He stepped back, giving her space to dismount. When her feet landed on the ground, he took her hand. “I’m sorry, Lucy. I made you a promise.”
“You didn’t invite the gator on our date.”
He reached out and drew her into his arms. Her cheek rested against his chest, and her arms slipped around his waist. She trembled against him.
After effects of encountering an alligator on a date.
“Guess I’m in competition now with Mr. Thigh Gap for rock bottom,” he said wryly.
“Tonight wasn’t a total disaster.” Her fingers pressed against his lower back. “I was with you.”
And that’s enough?
Her logic didn’t make sense, but he’d take the win. “Next time will be better.” He let out a dry laugh. “It can’t get much worse.”
She looked up at him. Her chin rested against his chest. “What if next time starts now? The sun will be down by the time we get back to Palm Beach. We could go to your place.”
“I still have a picnic in my saddle bags.” He nodded to the horses waiting patiently with the stable hands. “Do you need to be home by midnight?”
“Nothing changes at the stroke of twelve.” She released him and stepped back. “What you see is what you get, I’m afraid. One workaholic princess who won’t give up on fairy tales. Even if they include that occasional visit from a gator.”
“I like what I see,” he said firmly, looking straight into her blue eyes. He held out his hand, and she placed hers in his. “Let’s go, Lucy. Let’s turn this date around.”
Lucy had visited his mansion before, but never the winding corridors off the main rooms. Last time she’d stopped by with her brother, and they’d gone straight to the white marble kitchen.
But tonight they bypassed the kitchen. They had eaten the picnic dinner during the car ride home while recounting the look on the alligator’s face. She believed the gator looked hungry. But Jared disagreed. He thought the beast just wanted to make trouble. If he’d been looking for a meal, the gator would have gone for something smaller. Jared bet the gator liked the thrill of the chase.
You and that gator just might have something in common, Philip Ryder.
But they were done playing chase. He’d caught her through his crazy online dating scheme. And now, they were heading into the depths of his home. She looked around the hallway and noted the arched ceilings of the long corridors. Glass doors with ornate iron frames lined the hallway. Through the panes, she saw a landscaped courtyard and a lap pool. He turned left at the end of the corridor. She could still see the pool, and the sounds of the ocean grew closer.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“Do you trust me?”
“Right now?” she murmured. “Yes. I think this is a gator-free space.”
His blue eyes shone in the dimly lit space. Moonlight worked in tandem with the outdoor lights. Together they illuminated the pool and select palm trees beyond the glass doors.
He has that lord-of-all-that-I-see look in his eyes again, she thought.
“I trust that I’m going to like what’s on the other side of that door,” she added.
He placed his hands on his hips and nodded to the entrance. “What if I told you the guest bathroom lies behind those doors?”