Jace paused at the stall door, making sure that Commander had ample opportunity to know he was coming. Commander's ears flicked back and forth, curious about the man with the brush saying hello. Every inch of Jace exuded confidence and tranquility, as he stepped forward and let the horse smell his hand before gently stroking his neck. Commander let out a friendly huff, eagerly presenting himself for a brushing from his new friend.
“Where'd you learn about horses?” Ella asked, intrigued at how easily the man had won over the gelding. Commander's eyes were already closed in happy bliss as Jace worked strong circles with the curry comb.
“I played polo as a teenager,” Jace replied, his tone light and his eyes focused on Commander.
“Polo?” Ella repeated. Playing polo meant he came from serious money. She should have guessed, since had to be at the inn for the wedding. Suddenly the very nice shoes and expensive clothes made more sense. It made her shudder a little bit to think of just how much he must have paid for those shoes and how easily he was willing to be around horses in them. Money was of no object to a man like him.
“Yeah. I was never very good, but my mother wanted me to play. Be like the other kids.” He paused in his grooming and grinned at her. “I didn't like the game, but I did like the horses.”
“You're certainly good with them,” Ella replied, watching his hands move across the gelding's coat. His movement was strong and sure, and for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to have his hands on her like that. Touching her skin, her legs, her arms, her back...
Heat rushed through her and she shook her head, trying to clear the thought. The man was a guest. She shouldn't have those kinds of thoughts about a guest, no matter how handsome he was. Business before pleasure.
“What about you?” Jace paused in his brushing once more to look at her, earning him a grumpy foot stomp from Commander. He quickly resumed his deep, even strokes. “Where'd you learn about horses?”
“Here.” Ella glanced around the barn, remembering countless days spent grooming, mucking, riding, and mending tack. “My family owns the inn, and I basically grew up with Captain and Commander.”
“Ah, so you're part of the infamous Phillips Family.” It wasn't a question. It was a judgment.
Ella's hand hovered over Captain's smooth coat. While it was technically true that she was part of the Phillips Family, it wasn't something she wanted to be associated with. Delores Phillips was her stepmother, not her family. Ella chewed on her lip, hating the way it sounded. Delores was the known gold-digger that had accidentally married a nearly bankrupt man with only an inn to his name. She was a joke, even if Ella didn't find it funny.
“I guess you could say that...” The words were thick on Ella's tongue. How do you explain to a complete stranger that your family is not your family? No one ever remembered that Johnathon McDaniels had a daughter, or that she got nothing but a promise when her father died due to the way Delores restructured the will.
“I apologize,” Jace said, stopping his brushing and looking at her. “That was rude of me and I apologize.”
“Oh, it's nothing,” Ella quickly countered, doing her best to smile and wave it away. “It comes with the territory. Happens all the time.”
“It shouldn't. You obviously aren't Delores Phillips, and her sins shouldn't pass to you.” Jace waited until she nodded before resuming the quiet pattern of his brush. “I, more than anyone, should know that.”
Her chest went heavy with emotion. No one ever apologized to her about lumping her with Delores, and it honestly was refreshing to have someone say it out loud. “Thank you,” Ella whispered.
“So, you obviously work here,” Jace said, trying to change the topic to something easier. He moved around Commander, working the brush. Bits of hay stuck to his expensive shirt, but he didn't seem to mind. If anything, he seemed to be relaxing and possibly even enjoying himself. “It must be wonderful to work in a place so beautiful.”
“It's my dream to make it even better,” she blurted out quickly. The words escaped her mouth before she knew what she was saying. She never told anyone that. Ever. Yet, here with Jace in the barn, a man she'd known for about ten minutes, she had spilled her guts. Shame and regret flooded her stomach. Why in the world had she even let him in the barn? She should have just kicked him out when she had the chance. She waited for the snide laughter that she assumed was coming.
But it never came.
“Even better?” Jace sounded impressed, rather than derisive. “You managed to convince a billionaire family to hold their wedding here. I think you've got a pretty good place.”
Ella stared at him for a moment, watching his hands move across Commander's white coat as she searched for the words. No one ever told her that she had a good place. Especially not Delores.
“It can be better,” she mumbled.
“Better? How?”
“It's nothing big.” He had to be leading her on. She'd tell him and he'd laugh at her and tell her how silly it was. A foolish little girl's dream. Impossible. Gripping the brush tight, she focused on Captain's grooming, wishing she had just kept her mouth shut. “It's not important.”
“Ella.” The way he said her name made her look up. He was smiling at her, and not in a way that made her feel little or stupid. The way he was looking at her made her feel special. Important. Like maybe her dreams were important. “Tell me. I'm actually interested.”
It felt like she could cook eggs on her cheeks they were so hot. Something like hope or pride filled her chest. The words tumbled out, desperate to be heard by s
omeone who might think they were worthwhile.
“I want to make this place the number one hotel in the state. Then, make it best in the region, and then, maybe even in the country. I want to upgrade the restaurant to a five-star rating, and get boats back out on the lake. I want every billionaire wedding to come here, not just one.” Flustered and hot, she stopped. There was a reason she stopped telling people this. He was going to think she was silly. He was going to laugh at her.
But he didn't.
“Ambitious,” he replied. She looked up to see him thoughtful as he paused in Commander's brushing to consider her words. “I like it.”