Racetrack Romance BOX SET (Books 1-3) Read Online Free

Racetrack Romance BOX SET (Books 1-3)
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five stalls away when recognition struck, and he smoothed his flare of distaste.
    This was the same kid who’d been dumped in the manure pile. The startling green eyes were unmistakable. Not a kid though. The vest and helmet were gone, freeing shoulder-length blond hair and high cheekbones, a face startling beautiful without the dirt.
    Damn curvy too. He gave a hard gulp. She didn't look much like a murderer, and his distaste was joined with a more irritating reaction. He yanked his gaze back to her face, afraid he’d been ogling. Besides, looks were irrelevant. It was already clear she had a quick temper and way too much pride.
    Not a coward though. She walked right up to him. Didn’t avoid eye contact, didn’t slow her step, didn’t hide her regret. He heard her soft intake of breath as she squared her shoulders, seemingly resigned to letting him choose the tone of their next encounter.
    And his tone was set. She was to be his new best friend, unpleasant though her company would surely be.
    “Hello, Julie,” he said. “I'm Kurt MacKinnon. I believe we met earlier.”
    “Yes, we did.” She gave a cautious smile, as though surprised by his civility. “I’m very sorry about what I said earlier. Thank you for trying to rescue me from the…mud.”
    Her diction was precise, almost formal, but her smile carried a hint of dimples, a whisper of mischief. He almost smiled back but stopped himself, preferring to keep her on edge and observe a little longer. He crossed his arms and used his deadpan expression that always made people twitch.
    She waited, not fidgeting, not speaking, just looking at him with a guilelessness that surprised him. Such beautiful eyes, darkened now with a myriad of emotions. Regret, shame, hope—she was young, open, and a cinch to read.
    Excellent. Relief softened him, and he finally nodded and smiled back. There’d be no trouble learning what she knew about Connor's death. It might even be possible to wind the case up by week's end and return to his real race business.
    A stall door banged shut. “Come see his horses!” Sandra called.
    “I already saw the gray,” Julie said to Sandra. “He looked huge but I was flat on the ground.” She turned back to Kurt, and dimples fluttered in her cheeks. “You were right about not paying attention. I was thinking of something else.”
    “What was on your mind?” He was careful to display only polite interest.
    “Another horse,” she said so ruefully, he grinned. A bit of a surprise since he wasn’t a spontaneous man. Control was a quality he’d learned to value.
    “Come on, Julie.” Impatience edged Sandra’s voice and she pointed over the stall door. “That’s Cisco, his track pony.”
    The Appaloosa remained at the back of his stall, uninterested in the attention of strangers. He rested a hind leg, and the hair on his fetlocks was so long it curled in the straw. Only his ears moved, flicking back and forth as he appraised his visitors.
    Sandra chuckled. “You can always hire me if that lazy horse can’t keep up.”
    “Cisco knows his job,” Kurt said, remaining behind them, amused at how quickly Sandra dismissed his Appaloosa. Everyone always underestimated the scruffy gelding. Neither he nor Cisco cared.
    Julie gave Cisco a polite appraisal then followed Sandra to the adjoining stall.
    “This is your two-year-old, right?” Sandra asked, glancing back at Kurt. “Mature-looking guy. You want a maiden race for him?”
    Kurt nodded. “Yeah, that’s Ace. Hope to get his first start in the next couple of weeks once he’s gate approved.”
    But Sandra had already turned and was tugging on Julie's arm. “This last guy is Lazer Cat, the horse I told you about. You gotta see him.” Her voice rose as she dragged Julie to the third stall. “He's out of a Storm Cat mare.”
    “Wow.” Julie spoke in a reverent whisper.
    “That’s the colt you saw earlier,” Kurt said, studying Julie and wondering how he’d ever mistaken her for a
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