Her Horse Racing Billionaire Groom, page 1
part #4 of Bachelor Second Chance Cowboy Romances Series
Her Horse Racing Billionaire Groom
Bachelor Second Chance Cowboy Romances
Rachael Eliker
To Jack, who makes me feel like the richest woman in the world.
Foreword by Taylor Hart
I seriously loved this book so much!
Clark and his witty banter!
Maren and her spontaneous move!
The author has woven such a marvelous love story with a bit of a love story triangle, too! I love love triangles!
This book kept me guessing for a bit and then—bam—it was true love!
You don’t want to plan on doing much else besides reading when you pick this book up! You won’t be able to put it down!
Cheers-
Taylor Hart
Best-selling author of Her Country Star Billionaire: Bachelor Second Chance Cowboy Romances
Copyright
All rights reserved.
© 2019 Rachael Eliker Books
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews. The reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form whether electronic, mechanical or other means, known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written consent of the publisher and/or author. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. This edition is published by ArchStone Ink LLC.
First eBook Edition: 2019
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the creation of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Also by Rachael Eliker
About the Author
Chapter 1
“I can’t believe he did this,” Clark muttered under his breath for no one except the darkness to hear.
It was nearing midnight and though his car had warmed up enough since driving it from the O’Hare airport parking garage, there was a distinctive chill that had sunk deep into his bones that had nothing to do with the typical November temperatures in Chicago. Usually, the flutter of crisp snowflakes drifting down from low-hanging clouds seemed so serene but as he watched them collect on his windshield, quickly melting into droplets of water, they did little to help his mood.
After returning from the Kelly Brother’s Ranch in Colorado where he’d listened to the family’s lawyer, Niles, read their father’s will while he and his four other brothers listened, Clark had been in shock. They’d always known their father, Jack Kelly, was a strong-willed, visionary man but the terms he’d put on his sons inheriting their share of his billion-dollar fortune were hard to swallow. Be married by Christmas—all of the brothers—or risk losing their inheritance as well as their individual charities they’d set up with their father when they were each twelve. The brothers had been raised with a strong connection to God, country, and family, and Clark knew their dad was testing it.
It’d been a while since Clark had thought about Racing for Home Thoroughbred Rescue, his retired racehorse rehoming and rehabilitation program. As a boy, it’d been so exciting to have a project for only him and his dad. But, like it always seemed to, life got in the way. Clark had been so busy finishing his college degree and focusing his efforts on climbing the corporate ladder in a job he felt lukewarm about that the charity had become little more than a passing thought. He knew he had distanced himself from everything he’d once loved but he’d done it to protect himself. Heartbreak had that effect on him.
The idea for the charity had grown from Clark’s love of horses and recklessly fast speeds. Jack Kelly had always supported Clark in his dream to become a jockey but once he turned seventeen and shot up to six foot three, filling out with muscle, that dream quickly faded. Clark hated the looming feeling that his father thought he was living beneath his potential when he turned his back on horses and instead of finding some other fast-paced career, Clark had settled on marketing. It wasn’t always glamorous but he had a knack for it.
“This is never going to work,” Clark said bitterly. He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. In the distance, the Ferris wheel on the pier spun lazily while it lit up the dark sky with a dazzling light display. It almost felt wrong that something so lively and beautiful could exist in the world while Clark felt so lost and broken.
Still, never one to be deterred from a challenge, Clark worked the muscles of his jaw and pulled his phone from his suit coat pocket. Scrolling through his phone, he landed on his girlfriend Gemma’s number. If she hadn’t been out-of-town to Boston on a work trip of her own, he might’ve driven over to her apartment and knocked on her door, even if it was after midnight. Instead, he pushed the call button and jiggled his leg, hoping she’d pick up.
“Clark?” she said, a hint worry in her voice. “Is everything alright?”
Rubbing his hand across his eyes, he said, “Yeah. I just got back.”
“I figured. How’s everyone doing?”
“As well as can be expected,” Clark said. “I think we’re still kind of in shock about the whole thing. I never thought I’d be an orphan at twenty-four.”
“Oh, Clark,” Gemma said, her tone tender.
He could visualize her as she spoke. Her eyebrows would be pushed together and her full lips tugged down in a slight frown as she concentrated on what Clark was saying. She was a beautiful woman with copper hair and hazel eyes, slender and tall enough that she could almost look levelly at him in the eyes. She came from the Applegates, a wealthy family the Kelly’s had run together within social circles for years. Clark and Gemma’s match made sense. Not only did she come from a good stock, she was a funny, sophisticated, compassionate woman…but Clark wasn’t sure there was a spark there. So far as Clark knew, he’d only felt that feeling with one other girl. Too bad she’d dumped him the second he pulled out an engagement ring and got down on one knee.
“I can’t imagine how rough this all must be. For all of you,” Gemma said.
Clark grunted, “Yeah. It sucks.”
His palms started to sweat as he thought about what he was about to say to Gemma. Wiping his free hand on his slacks, he drew in a calming breath and coached himself that it was no more intimidating that pitching a marketing plan to one of the multi-million-dollar companies he oversaw at work. Chuckling to himself, he thought how ironic it was that he was thinking of proposing to Gemma as little more than a business transaction.
“What’s so funny?” Gemma asked through a yawn.
“I was…” Clark rubbed his hand down his face. “I was thinking about you and me.”
“What about us?”
“We’ve been dating for nine months, right?”
“About,” Gemma agreed. “You know how bad I am about keeping track of dates like that.”
“Me, too. But nine months is a long time. I’ve been thinking that maybe it’s time to take it up a notch.”
“What are you saying? I thought we were on the same page that moving in together wasn’t the route we were going to take. I think either one of our parents would kill us if we even thought about it.”
“No, I know.” Clark tapped his fingers against the steering wheel and quit dancing around what he was trying to say. “I meant maybe it’s time we get married.”
Clark wasn’t sure what he was expecting from Gemma—squeals of delight? outright laughing to his face? His suggestion was met with silence.
“Gemma?” he said tentatively.
“I’m sorry, Clark. This is all a bit of a surprise for me.”
Clark wanted to divulge everything, hoping that maybe if she understood the constraints he was under that Gemma would take pity on him and help him but his father’s will expressly forbid anyone from finding out about the terms of their marriages. All of that aside, he did care deeply for her. Sure, they’d been waiting but honestly, for what? It was time. Clark couldn’t care less about the money he stood to inherit but he knew he wasn’t in a position yet to save his charity. Even if he hadn’t spent as much time with it as he wanted to lately, there was no way he was going to let go of helping all those horses. He was going to be a self-made man like his father—eventually—but most of his wealth was tied up in company stock. His father’s fortune could slip through his fingers but the charity felt like the one connection he’d had to his parents and family, back when life was simpler and happy.
“I guess my dad’s passing has put a lot of things into perspective. Life’s short, you know? Why wait?”
Another long pause. “I’ve been thinking, too.”
“Is that right? About what?”
More silence.
“Gemma?”
“I think we should break up.”
Her words slammed him back against his seat and his heart was surely going
Gemma spoke kindly but decisively. “You’re a great guy, Clark. Really. I think maybe in another life we could’ve worked out but there’s this voice in my head that I can’t ignore that keeps telling me we’re not right together.”
Pushing a hand through his wavy brunette hair, Clark asked, “What can I do to convince you that we are?”
“Nothing. Breaking up isn’t a hasty decision. It’s been on my mind for a while but the timing has been all wrong. I really didn’t want to do it since your father’s death and it being so close to Christmas…”
“You’ve been thinking about breaking up for a while?”
“Look,” Gemma said softly, “I should go. I have an early morning meeting tomorrow and you should really get some rest after your trip. Goodnight, Clark.”
Gemma didn’t wait for him to respond and hung up, leaving him alone with his thoughts. Looking out through his windshield, the consuming darkness of the night sky felt like a representation of Clark’s life. What had seemed so bright and hopeful was now crashing down on him. If he was the only brother who didn’t marry, then none of the brothers would receive their inheritance or support for their charities. Sure, maybe Parker would go rogue, but J.J. was pretty convinced he’d come around. Clark had been one of the closest ones to having a relationship that was ready for marriage but there he was, unexpectedly back at square one. If his brothers saw him then, they’d never let him live it down.
Hearing a laugh before he realized it was his own, Clark dropped his head into his hands. He’d definitely been blindsided by Gemma’s confession but he refused to be down for the count. She was right. All he needed was sleep to clear his mind. Then he could logically think through the problems facing him.
Putting the sleek black Jaguar sedan his father had gifted him on his twenty-first birthday in reverse, he pulled out of the parking lot and pushed the engine until it growled as he drove toward home.
At a stoplight, he dialed Hugh, knowing without a doubt one of his closest friends was going to answer, regardless of how late it was on a weeknight.
“Clark! What’s up, man?”
Clark smiled grimly to himself. “I just got back from the reading of my father’s will. How do you suppose I’m doing?”
“Oh,” Hugh said, subduing his tone. “Sorry. I forgot. I’ve been busy.”
“Working?”
“Sort of. Keeping up an image is pretty much a full-time gig.”
Clark chuckled as he shook his head. “You’ve been partying the whole time I’ve been gone?”
“I call it networking. It keeps people from thinking that everyone in my family is a total stick in the mud. Speaking of family, I’m surprised you’re not on the phone with my cousin right now. As handsome as I am, I figure you’d much prefer the company of Gemma at a time like this.”
A jolt of annoyance bittered Clark’s mood at the mention of Gemma but he pushed it aside and forced out a laugh. “Actually, she just broke up with me.”
“Dang,” Hugh said, sucking in a breath. “Gemma’s always been the sweet, perfect cousin. I would have never suspected her of something that cold. Breaking up with a man when he’s grieving? Ouch.”
“It’s fine,” Clark said, taking a turn a little too tightly, smirking as the wheels squealed on the pavement. “I think deep down, I knew it was coming.”
“Well, that’s gonna make family reunions awkward..”
“Um, if I remember correctly, you’re the one who set us up when she moved to Chicago. You were asking for it.”
Hugh laughed. “I’m teasing, man. It’ll be fine. I was hoping maybe you two would work out and you could be a new brother-in-law.”
“Cousin-in-law,” Clark corrected.
“Whatever. Now, I’m going to have to pick sides and that’s always so awkward.”
“It’ll be fine, man. She’s already over me, I’m sure. I’ll recover.”
“So, are you going to take a week or two off for bereavement? If you are, I know of several social events happening that might lift your spirits.”
Clark rolled his eyes at Hugh’s thinly veiled attempt to lure him to parties, undoubtedly to try and find him a new, but most likely temporary, girlfriend to cheer him up. Pulling into his apartment’s drive and waiting for the valet, he maneuvered into an open spot and killed the engine. “Thanks, but I have meetings scheduled for tomorrow.”
“You’re killing me, Clark! When you have a perfectly valid reason not to go to work, you still would rather be at work. Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got a problem?”
Closing his eyes, he tipped his head back and leaned against his seat’s headrest. “Once before.”
“Whoever had the gall to tell you must’ve been one brave soul.”
“I like to think I inherited my parents’ work ethic.”
“I’ll give you that.”
Clark smiled to himself, though the memory held a measure of sadness he’d never quite been able to shake. “It was Maren who put me in my place.”
“Good ol’ Maren. That doesn’t surprise me. She was a spitfire and I think probably the only one in this world who could match your tenacity.”
“Yeah,” Clark agreed. Working up the courage to ask, he spit out, “Have you heard from her lately?”
“Maren? Nope. I’m pretty sure she hated my guts and only tolerated my presence because she loved you that much.”
Clark huffed a laugh. “And why do I tolerate your presence?”
“Ha ha,” Hugh said. “Why are you asking?”
“Never mind.” Clark suppressed the urge to punch something as he thought of the bind he was in. “Curious, I guess.”
“Don’t go down that path, bro, wondering about all your past breakups. It doesn’t do any good.”
“Seriously? You never evaluate where you could’ve done better?”
“Nope.”
Hugh was silent for a moment and Clark steeled himself for what he knew was coming next. “Look, I really am sorry your dad passed away. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be without parents, and so young.”
“Yeah,” Clark said, swallowing the painful lump of emotion choking his throat. “Like I told Gemma, it sucks.”
“I know offering to introduce you to some other ladies might seem kind of shallow, but that’s sometimes what distracts me from the painful realities of this world.”
“Sometimes?” Clark teased.
“Fine. Most of the time.”
“Unless you’re in contact with some mail-order bride company or some foreign ballerina desperate to get American citizenship, I’ll do my own dating, thanks.”
Howling with laughter, Hugh asked, “Am I hearing you right? You’re looking for a bride? I mean, I know you’re facing just how short life is but you’re practically still a baby. Hang on…did you scare Gemma off with a proposal?”
Clark shrugged even though he knew Hugh couldn’t see him. “The timing seemed right.”
“If you say so, buddy. What’s the rush to get married?”
For a minute, he wanted to tell Hugh about the debacle his father was causing, but he kept the family secret to himself. “I want that kind of happiness my parents had. Why would I want to put that off?”
At least that confession was true.
“I can respect that,” Hugh said. “If you change your mind and need help finding your next one and only, let me know.”
“Thanks.”
Clark said goodnight to his friend and turned off his phone, tossing it onto the passenger seat. He had less than eight hours before he’d be walking into the office for a first meeting with a high-profile potential client but for the moment, sleep evaded him. He needed a plan if he was going to pull off a marriage by Christmas.
“Dear God, if you’re still listening, I could really use some help right about now.”
