“Oh, I see. I will speak to him about it. He knows to keep his mouth shut as I took him on knowing that he had a criminal record,” he replied, sounding pretty angry.
I already knew this as we had run background checks on all of the staff.
“He knows something about your wife’s disappearance, you know. I heard him talking to Billy and he was telling him to go to the police.”
“Looks like Alan and I need a little chat.”
“Also I need to ask if you have any objection to me trying to ride Puzzle.”
“No, as long as you are careful. He has been going to waste and it’s a crying shame for a beautiful horse like that.”
“Okay, now where were we? Oh yes, we were just getting to the part where we do really dirty things. Let’s go to bed, boss.”
His gorgeous face lit up as he stood up with me in his arms and flung me onto the bed.
Chapter Fourteen
I woke up around six and Zack was rousing in the bed.
“I’m going. I will see you later,” I told him, kissing the top of his head.
“Goodbye, beautiful, I love you,” he said dreamily.
What? That was the second time he had said that!
I stood at the side of the bed looking at him but he was fast asleep.
Sticking my head out of the doorway I checked that the coast was clear and Jasper-free before I darted quickly along the hallway.
After showering, I went downstairs and started to prepare a full English breakfast.
Scarlett bounced into the kitchen followed by Zack who looked beyond gorgeous. I had to restrain myself not leap over and climb him like a flagpole.
“Good morning, ladies.”
“Where’s Jasper?” I asked Zack.
“He’s in his disgusting pit, the lazy boy!”
“Scarlett, your Dad has said it’s okay for me to try and ride Puzzle. But if you don’t want me to, I won’t.”
“I don’t mind at all. He could certainly do with it. I will come over to the stables with you,” she replied.
After our belly busting breakfast, we got ready for the stables. Puzzle was tacked up and ready to go.
“I have given him a lunge, Jennifer, to get some of his energy out.”
“Thanks, Billy.”
Billy led Puzzle into a large paddock and brought over a mounting block. I noticed Zack leaning casually against the fence, taking it all in. No pressure then!
I went over to Puzzle and stroked him gently.
“Hello, beautiful boy. How are you today?” I talked to him soothingly.
Billy held his reins as I mounted him. He bucked up a bit but I managed to stay on him. Puzzle reminded me of my old pony Merlin who tried all manner of ways to dismount me.
“Easy, boy, easy” Billy told him quietly.
We started off walking around the paddock and then I asked him to trot. He didn’t need much encouragement and he glided into a nice trot. We did a few circuits of the paddock and then I took him into a canter. He was a lovely horse to ride and we did several laps before I cooled him down.
“Well, you are the first person to survive riding him. You are a really good rider Jennifer,” Zack told me, congratulating me.
“That was brilliant, Jennifer,” Scarlett said, beaming at me.
“Billy, please could you ask Alan to come to the house first thing in the morning? I want to have a word with him.”
“Sure thing, Mr Cole, and well done, Jennifer, you did really well.”
“Dad, please could you give me a lift over to Yasmin’s house in a bit?”
As we walked back to the house, we met Jasper on his way out.
“Dad, I’m going to Callum’s house. I will get a lift back later.”
Turning around, he gave us both a knowing grin and winked at me. He put his leather jacket on and headed down the long sweeping driveway. I watched his profile, thinking how much he was like his Dad. He just needed to rein it in a bit and the girls would be flocking!
“We will have the house to ourselves. What ever will we do, Jennifer?”
“I can’t think of anything off hand, Mr Cole,” I replied, coyly flashing my eyes at him.
His beautiful blue eyes danced around mischievously as he wiggled his eyebrows.
After Zack was back from taxi duties, we took Gatsby on a long walk around the woods, enjoying each other’s company. I was excited to be with him again, completely on our own.
We ordered a Chinese takeaway and Zack and I sat crossed-legged on the floor, feeding each other. I was so happy in his company and I couldn’t figure why his bitch wife would ever think he wasn’t enough.
Stupid woman!
“I have a big meeting tomorrow about the proposed merger,” Zack told me, clearing his throat.
“Well, I hope it all goes well for you, Zack.”