Alex was the first to greet them as they returned with victory smeared all over them in the form of sweat and mud. She took Promenade’s reins to lead him to the winners circle, but her eyes were on Dejado.
“I did it for you,” he said.
Alex swallowed. “I know.”
The whole North Oak crew gathered around them. Promenade was so dark, Alex couldn’t tell where the mud ended and he began. The blanket of bright yellow and purple flowers they draped over his shoulders was almost as blinding as the flash of the camera. Or maybe it was lightning.
North and Alex’s family disbanded back to the protection of their private viewing room while Dejado dismounted, and quickly removed his tack from the colt’s back. A clearly defined outline remained on Promenade’s hide, black with the storm.
With the saddle and gear loaded over his arm, Dejado moved to Alex. He stood before her, out of breath. And for a moment, she thought he might try to kiss her. Instead, he wiped mud from his nose and smeared it on hers, laughing.
Promenade shook like a dog, catapulting a spray of mud all over them, but it was all confetti to Alex. At least the three of them looked like they’d been to battle together now.
No one was more relieved to change into clean, dry street clothes after the race than Alex. Alright, she had to admit, maybe Promenade and Dejado were pretty glad too.
She sat cross-legged on a hay bale outside of the colt’s stall, reaching up to scratch under his chocolatey jaw. Dejado emerged from the tack room, finishing toweling his hair. He paused before her with the terrycloth expanse over his shoulders, looking like he was trying to figure out how to say something.
“Look. I don’t know how good I am at this dating thing. Can we skip to the part where we fall in love and live happily ever after?”
“No.” She kind of got a kick out of the way his shoulders fell, and how pathetic his sad face looked. She smiled. “But you can buy me a burger… and that’s kind of the same thing.”
Dejado lit up instantly. Even his eyes looked like they were on fire. He offered his elbow. “I know a place with a great view of the track.”
Alex snorted. “The Clubhouse? You just won twenty grand, and we’re going to the place where I had this morning’s hot dog.”
“Hey. Poor I am not, but hungry I am. Do you know how long I had to starve myself to make weight today? That money’s going to be put away like the two cheeseburgers I’m about to go down on.”
“Sounds like World War Three.” She rose and took his arm. “How romantic.”
“Once upon a time, a boy and a girl shared a cheeseburger.” He put his hand on hers and headed toward the grandstands, sighing, “I think every fairytale should start like this.”
Thank you for reading North Oak #4: To Bottle Lightning
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About the Author
Multi-award winning author, Ann Hunter, grew up barefoot with a herd of Arabian horses. She fell in love with racing at the age of 9 when her aunt brought her a magazine from Saratoga with Hall of Fame Jockey Julie Krone on the cover.
Ann loves pedigree research, founded the Model Thoroughbred Racing Assocation, and dreams of one day building the real North Oak.
She likes cherry soda with chocolate ice cream, is a mom first and a writer second, has a secret identity, and thinks the Twilight movies are cheesier than cheez whiz (which is why they are her guilty pleasure!)
She lives in a cozy Utah home with her two awesome kids and epic husband.
Table of Contents
Contents
Series Titles
THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS
DAY 626
CENTERED
A BETTER PERSON
PONY UP
NEVER ALONE
ONE DREAM
BLOOD AND ROSES
HALF AS GOOD
GRAVE REALIZATION
MY TWO MOMS
THE DEAL
PAY IT FORWARD
FORGIVE HER
KISS ME GOODNIGHT
POP
THE CUP
JUST FRIENDS
BOYS ARE DUMB
DIRTY GOGGLES
TRACK STAR
FIFTEEN
HIS CHANCE
KATIE DID
NOBODY ELSE
ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE BREEDERS CUP
Fan Ann
About the Author