Long Hard Ride

Excerpt From: Long Hard Ride

"The papers you’ve been waiting on are ready."

"About time, you slacker." Windsor Broadhurst grinned, raising his head from the file he had been going over.

"I’m not the one leaving early," Delia Malone, his assistant, countered from where she stood in the doorway.

She came farther into his spacious office. Delia placed the papers, already in a folder, on his desk. It was then that Windsor noted she seemed to be hiding something behind her back.

"What else do you have?" he asked, more curious than anything else.

"The latest of your gifts to Paxton," she said in a sing-song voice.

Instantly, he became aroused at the name. He also prepared for the teasing he usually got when Delia mentioned Paxton Lawson.

"I have no idea what you’re referring to." Windsor smiled, giving her his standard denial, which they both knew was false.

"I contend, Mr Broadhurst, you’ve been buying a certain horse breeder gifts. Nothing too obvious as to let him know your actual intent, but just enough to get to know things about you. And, in turn, you have learned things about this man. What’s his name again? Ah, yes. A Mr Paxton Lawson." Delia laughed, then leaned against the front corner of his desk before continuing. "You really should tell the man you’re interested. I don’t think he has any clue."

Windsor thought of the conversation he’d had months earlier with his good friend Morgan Ralston. Morgan had actually been told to warn Windsor off Paxton by his lover, Blayne Dalton. Blayne was one of Paxton’s sons. All of Paxton’s sons were protective of their father. Instead of delivering the warning, Morgan had advised Windsor that, if he went after Paxton, he needed to be serious. Morgan had also given him a heads-up that Paxton was oblivious to advances unless you came right out and told him.

At the time, Windsor had been drawn to the quiet, sexy man, but his initial feeling towards Paxton had been vastly different than what he usually got when thinking of pursuing a sexual relationship. So he’d gone another way first. He’d got to know Paxton as a person. It hadn’t made the feelings Windsor was experiencing lessen, though—if anything, it had increased his desire for Paxton. He’d already decided he wanted more. Now, it was just a matter of convincing the man, whom he knew was meant to be his.

"I know he doesn’t," Windsor admitted to her for the first time.

He’d taken all her teasing, but had never revealed that. Delia stared at him, looking at him as if he had grown an extra head. Her brow furrowed, then she shook her head.

"You are one strange man, Windsor."

"You’re always telling me that." Windsor laughed.

"Because it’s true." Delia chuckled.

"I’m just me. Now gimme." He wiggled his fingers.

Delia showed him what she’d hidden. He smiled as he viewed the logo that depicted Masters Pages. Delia handed over the bag and Windsor accepted it, opening it right away. He pulled out the two copies of J.D. Robb’s latest hardcover book.

"Leigh dropped it off personally. He said the Lisa Gardner book isn’t in yet. When they do arrive, he’ll have Harvey bring it by."

Windsor knew she was referring to Leigh Masters, the owner of the bookstore Masters Pages. Leigh didn’t usually deliver books to his regular customers, he had other employees for that—Harvey Mertz was one. Leigh’s delivery service to regulars was one of the things that made his store so unique—you couldn’t get that sort of service from one of the bigger chain stores. Since Windsor had discovered one of Paxton’s passions was reading, especially mysteries and thrillers, and he, too, liked to read, he’d made sure to always pre-order the latest book. They shared some of the same favourite authors and had discovered some new ones by exchanging names of books they’d read.

"Okay. I’m heading out. If anything comes up, call me on my cell." Windsor started to clear off his desk, though there wasn’t much to do.

Delia watched, not saying anything. When Windsor was ready, he stood, grabbing his briefcase and the bag that held the books. He came around the desk, pausing by her and kissing her on the cheek.

"Behave now. No terrorising the interns."

"What fun is that? The paralegals no longer fear me." She pouted.

"They’ve been here long enough to know you only try to act tough. But you’re a marshmallow."

"Are you high?" Delia looked at him in disbelief.

Windsor snickered. Even as he’d said it, he hadn’t believed it. Delia was easy-going, but a terror when it came to handling his office. That was one of the reasons he loved her so much.