“I’m sure you could get a great deal of money for him from other owners who want to breed him,” Nash said after a moment. “Are you sure you just want to give him away?”
“I could sell him, sure, but racing was never about money to me.” Damon stepped away from the stall and crossed the aisle to show some affection to a horse named Oliver. “I had a passion for riding when I was a young boy. My mother was single and couldn’t afford to give me a horse, so I would take lessons at a local horse farm in exchange for working in the barns. It was hard work, but I learned the love of the sport and saved every single penny I ever received because I was going to buy my very own horse.”
A slice of guilt slashed right through Nash’s heart. Hearing Damon talk of his childhood, wondering how much more their lives mirrored each other, Nash turned to face his father.
“I know hard work,” Damon continued, resting his elbow on the edge of the door. “I know it pays off and I want to reward you for all you’ve done here in a short time. I realize you came here to technically spy on us, but I have to admit, I would’ve done the same had I been in your shoes.”
That damn lump of remorse settled in his throat, making it nearly impossible to swallow. Nash had never expected to have a bonding moment with Damon and he sure as hell hadn’t thought he’d nearly get choked up over it. But here Damon was sharing a part of his past, proving why Nash should take the free gesture of love.
Damn it.
Nash glanced back to the coveted stallion in question. Could he seriously go through with this? Just take the prizewinning horse and move on? Everything he’d wanted was right within his reach; all he had to do was grab hold.
What would Damon say once he learned the truth? Deceiving the man was initially the plan, but, now that Nash had actually spent time here and gotten to know this family, he cared for them in a way he never would’ve imagined.
Turning down this gesture, however, would require an explanation Nash wasn’t quite ready to disclose yet. So he tightened the web he’d woven around himself and turned back to Damon.
“I’ll take good care of him,” Nash said with a smile that didn’t quite come from his heart.
Damon’s shoulders relaxed as his lips curved into a grin. “Anything for my only son.”
The guilt knife twisted deeper, leaving Nash more vulnerable than he’d ever thought possible. He’d officially become the man he never wanted to be. Because in the end, he would tear apart the relationships he’d just started to build, relationships he realized he wanted more than anything.
He hadn’t even known how much he longed for a family until he came here. Then when he’d discovered the baby another layer of need was added. So here he was, his heart overflowing with family bonds and relationships and in one second that all could be wiped right back out of his life.
Right now, he had to figure out a way to reveal the truth in the least damning way because that tight fist he’d had gripping all he wanted was slowly coming apart and he could feel the control slipping from his grasp.
* * *
Lily didn’t remember laughing so hard in such a long time. Having an impromptu girls’ day was beyond fun and quite a departure from the cattiness of the women in LA. Lily really didn’t have good girlfriends back home and being here with Cassie, Tessa and Linda almost felt as good as being with her own mother.
“So what do you think for desserts?” Linda asked, crossing her leg over her knee and propping her notepad up on her thigh. “So far I only have the main course. What’s your favorite dessert, Lily?”