good this morning, her hair brushed back behind one ear and held with a clip. An indigo-blue chambray shirt was belted over a pair of snug-fitting jeans. Something about the way she moved as she walked toward him sent a flare of anticipation through him. Conn got to his feet.
Honor saw the hunter looking out at her from Conn Landry's eyes as she came up to the railing. It sent a tiny jolt through her, even as she acknowledged the sense of pleasure she felt in his presence. Perhaps she had been right early this morning when she'd told herself it might be better to forgo the invitation.
Every time she was with Conn she risked deepening an involvement that she sensed was dangerous. Yet here she was, unable to stay away.
"I was beginning to think you might not make it," Conn said quietly after the greetings had been exchanged. His gaze moved over her, seeming to take in every detail.
"I wasn't sure myself." She smiled politely and sipped her coffee, refusing to elaborate. "Is that one of your horses, Ethan?"
"Yes, ma'am," Bailey declared proudly as he set a stopwatch to time the filly. "Paid a handsome sum for that little lady. Expect great things from her."
"Ethan expects great things from all his horses," Conn remarked.
"I want more than tax shelters, I want a winner," Ethan said firmly. "All the tax sheltering in the world ain't as satisfying as one good win."
"How long have you owned racehorses?" Honor asked curiously.
"Oh, years. More than I care to count. Gets in a man's blood."
"Is it in your blood, Conn?" she asked, looking directly at him.
"I don't know yet. Legacy is the first horse I've owned," he told her flatly. The gray eyes were very cool as he returned her questioning glance. "A lot of things besides racing can get in a man's blood."
Honor felt a prickle of alarm. "Such as?" she challenged with false lightness. A woman.
"Or hot coffee," Ethan Bailey inserted suddenly, as if sensing the new tension in the air. "That cup of java sure looks good, Honor."
"I got it at a concession stand. They've opened one to serve people who are attending the workout session this morning. If I'd known you didn't have any I would have picked up an extra couple of cups."
She felt oddly grateful to the older man for having dispelled the momentary uneasiness caused by Conn's words.
"What say we get ourselves some, Conn?" Ethan suggested promptly.
Landry got to his feet. "I'll get the coffee." He turned and paced toward the concession stand.
Honor watched him, conscious of the smooth coordination of his stride. He was wearing jeans today and an open-throated khaki shirt that suited the hunter she had seen in his eyes a few moments earlier.
Honor shifted restlessly and took another sip of her coffee.
For the hundredth time since he had left her the night before last, she told herself she would be wise to ease out of the relationship that was developing between herself and Conn Landry. And for the hundredth time she decided she'd wait just a little longer before making a firm decision in the matter.
"He's an interesting man, Honor." Ethan spoke quite gently as he picked up the field glasses and focused them on his filly.
"Have you known him long, Ethan?" She wasn't quite sure how to ask all the questions she wanted answered about Conn.
"Just since he bought Legacy. He's new to the racing world."
It seemed to Honor that Ethan was about to say more and then changed his mind. She felt an overpowering urge to push a little further. "Do you know what, uh, kind of business he's in?"
Ethan lifted one shoulder indifferently. "Well, I believe he's made a few substantial investments."
"In what?"
Ethan lowered the field glasses and gave her a vaguely troubled look. "Business investments. You know, a bit of this and a bit of that."
"Where are these investments?" she tried to ask casually, deeply aware of the older man's hesitation.
Ethan cleared his throat. "I think he mentioned Tahoe at one point." Then his face
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