| This wasn�t just any racetrack. It was steeped in over a hundred years of racing history. And as they walked through the grounds it felt like a sleeping giant. There was almost an eerie calm, for without the throngs of people and the fever pitch of wagers being made and the color and ceremony as the horses paraded down the track to the starting gate, it was a mere shadow of what it would become on race day. Brian felt strange walking along the rail looking out to the infield where on Derby day it would be filled with avid fans sunning themselves and enjoying the festivities. Moire had walked on ahead and turned, continuing to walk backwards. �Isn�t it great!� She called. He said nothing until he caught up with her. She didn�t find it the least bit unusual for them to be strolling through the empty grounds of this historic place. �I must say it�s quite convenient to have the right connections.� His tone was sarcastic. He looked up into the silent stands. �Okay, I know what you are thinking, but it�s not like that.� Brian raised his eyebrows. �How so?� Here she had carte blanche access to one of the most prestigious racetracks in the world. What was he to think? �Hank and Aunt Kathleen were friends, more than friends actually.� �I see.� Brian was more than willing to see how this all tied together. �Aunt Kathleen?� �My father�s sister,� she clarified. Brian just nodded at the explanation still not sure how it all fit together. �She had a crush on Hank from the time she was 15 but he was a year or so older than my dad and already married. I have no idea if they ever acted on those feelings, but there were times you could see such longing in their eyes. And then one day, Aunt Kat moved away and they never saw each other again. She never married.� �How sad.� �So you see, coming here has nothing to do with racing or my father. It�s a haven of sorts. Daddy has no idea about my trips here. The first time was the day after my mom was buried.� Moire leaned on the rail and stared ahead. Brian turned and watched, as her face became very solemn. �Daddy was holed up in his office grieving, the door was locked and he ignored our pleas. So Aunt Kat took me for a drive and we wound up here. When we pulled up Hank met us. I realized, even at my young age, that she had been here before that day. Ever since when I need to get away, this is my escape from the real world.� �Do I fall into that category too?� Moire looked into his eyes. �No, you are very real.� Her words hung in the air and they both were caught up in the nearness of the other. The soft breeze saturated with her perfume invaded his nostrils. He took one step closer. The desire to feel her softness was pulsing through him. But as Brian reached out to touch her face Moire pushed off the rail and started towards the entrance to the paddocks. �Moire,� he called after her but she ignored him as she pushed aside the urge to stop and let her feelings take over and give in to the strong pull he had over her. So instead she turned and laughed at him. �You know they have a name for women like you.� Brian followed closely behind. �Nothing nice, I�m sure,� she flung back at him as she continued to keep a wide berth between them. She giggled seeing his frustration. She wandered into one of the stables. All the stalls were empty now and the lingering smell of wood and fresh straw permeated the air. She ran her hands along the rails thinking back to all the times she had been here and how she was always able to work through her problems. But somehow even being here didn�t seem to help her latest dilemma. Maybe it was wrong to bring Brian along since he was a big part it. She couldn�t let go of the feelings he stirred within her. She turned expecting him to be behind her and found she was alone. Moire wondered where he had traipsed. She shrugged it off and turned to start back to the entry only to find Brian standing in front of her. She went to go around him, when he took hold of her waist. �Brian let go,� she squirmed trying to free herself from his grasp. �No. You are very real to me too, Moire. Very real.� He let his fingers brush her cheek as his other arm pulled her closer to him. As their bodies touched, Moire�s eyes grew large as she fought to free herself. �Brian, please!� She pushed at his chest. �Let me free.� �No, Not until,� he took her head and brought it closer to his and as his lips went to touch hers she jerked her head causing his kiss to land on her jaw. She broke free and ran from the stables. Running his hand through his hair he walked slowly outside and found her standing at the fountain in the paddock gardens. Moire felt him come up and stand beside her. She refused to look at him. She wanted his kiss more than anything, but she knew once he did, one wouldn�t be enough. So it was better to never feel his lips than to yearn for something that could only lead to heartache. �It won�t work,� she said quietly still not looking at him. �It�s too complicated.� �It was just a kiss Moire. You do remember how to kiss don�t you? My lips touch yours. It�s really quite simple.� She heard the sarcastic humor in his voice. It wasn�t funny. �You know what I mean.� She turned this time and he could see frustration on her face. �How can I forget. I look at you and I see this beautiful, intelligent woman who I want to get to know better, spend time with, kiss in a beautiful garden, but all the while there is this little voice inside my head,� he tapped his temple, �warning me not to trust you.� �Well, see, that should tell you something.� �Moire, you and I both know there is something going on between us. For as much as we both promise ourselves not to see the other, we continually find ourselves in each other�s company.� �But�� �I know, I know. Your father and his plan for me and the other owners. But I can�t let go of what I feel for you. I think we need to play this one out, even if the final outcome isn�t as we hope. I can�t stop seeing you and you, you must feel the same.� She lowered her gaze and he went and lifted her chin to see her face. �I am right, aren�t I?� She nodded her head. �So we take a chance and we take it slow.� �But what if�� He took her hands. �Don�t. Every new relationship has it�s own set of doubts and what ifs. In our case, they are more than obvious. So don�t go adding to the list. Let�s just spend some time together of our own choosing, not merely by coincidence. We might find out we�re not suited for each other and we can walk away.� �You do know that there could be bumpy waters ahead.� �Yes and I will have to take you at your word also. But I�m willing to give it a go because I do believe it will be worth it in the end.� He held out his hand. �Come, how about we go have some dinner.� She reluctantly slipped her hand in his and they walked back to the front gate. Hank caught sight of them as they approached Moire�s car Brian stopping her as she went to put the key in the door. They looked at each other and Hank knew exactly what they were feeling. He was taken back to nearly 15 years before as another Fitzgerald stood in almost the same place. A part of him died that day all those years ago. As they drove away Hank went back into the guardhouse. He hoped that whatever their course, they would see it through and find their way. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ �Well now that you�ve pointed out all the reasons why it won�t work out for us, do I get a chance for a rebuttal?� They were sitting in the corner of a cozy Italian caf� just outside Lexington. When they returned to the car, Brian had taken her keys and ushered Moire into the passenger seat setting off her Irish temper. She argued with him that even though she had agreed to go to dinner, she always went to her favorite restaurant near the track. Brian simply told her not today giving her a cheeky grin. Moire pouted, not used to having someone overturn her wishes. They drove in silence, except for Brian�s infernal humming, which got on Moire�s nerves. She was sulking and he seemed very pleased with the turn of events. She usually called the shots even when she was dating, so to have Brian take control for something as simple as where they would have dinner was simply foreign to her. Her long list of beaus had been only too happy to let her have her way. Being Colin Fitzgerald�s daughter was their ticket to get closer to the man. So she had to admit she admired Brian for his reluctance to placate her. However he had to see that the notion of any kind of future together was just that a notion. His stand against her father did prove he was his own man and not someone who could be lured by money and influence. If only he didn�t have such power over her. He evoked feelings in her she had never experienced before. �I was being serious. Physical attraction is not enough, Brian.� �So you do agree that we have at least that much in common and I wasn�t alone when I felt that spark between us back at the track.� He smirked at her but before she could comment the waiter arrived with their dinner. They both sat silently by as he placed the plates before them adding grated cheese to their liking. �Why are you trying to make a joke out of this?� She said deliberately as she twirled the linguine on her fork. �Because you are being serious enough for both of us. Now do I get a chance to point out all the reasons it could work between us besides the great sex!� Moire choked on her pasta almost spewing it onto the table. �You okay?� he asked solicitously as she sipped some water. �Yes,� she gasped, putting down the glass. �Honestly, Brian this not the way I thought the conversation would go.� Still not fully recovered, she took another sip of water. �We have to be practical.� �Practical?� �Yes. We�ve acknowledged that there is an attraction between us, but let�s face it there are extenuating circumstances preventing us from pursuing any kind of a relationship.� She seemed very pleased with her argument as she now sipped from her wineglass and took up her fork again. �Moire, you have never been practical.� She glared at him. �Okay, maybe once in your young life you heeded the advice of your father, but you are not one to back down. Today is a perfect example. You could have gone to any number of your friends to escape the tension between you and your father but you sought me out. Why?� She shrugged her shoulders. �I�ll tell you why. You know there is something deeper here than just sex.� She went to protest. �No hear me out. I felt it that night we had dinner at the farm. We�re alike and yet so different. You may be all prim and proper and very sophisticated when the need arises, but there is a bit of a wild streak in you Ms. Fitzgerald otherwise you wouldn�t be dining with me right now.� He was right. They shared a common love for the kind of lives they led. Raising and caring for horses was in her blood just like Brian�s. No matter what she ever did with the rest of her life, she would always live here in the heart of horse country. �I see I�ve proved my point and left you speechless.� He continued to eat his dinner letting her digest what he had said. �Like you I don�t see myself ever leaving this place. Horses are my life and always will be and I have to admit that we share other common interests as well. As to why I asked you to come with me today,� she stared at her plate knowing full well the answer. She looked up to see Brian waiting patiently for her to continue. �I couldn�t stay away, I know I should have but I couldn�t. I thought we could just go for a drive, visit the track, have a nice dinner and that would be it. But you,� she hesitated as she felt that tightening in her chest again, �when you held me, I�� There it was. That age old pause. She couldn�t express the feelings he evoked. Yet, he could see her quandary and it wasn�t any easy path for either of them. �Okay, I won�t pursue it. But our course has been chartered Moire, so think about it. And one thing is for sure; I can�t let this go. I�ve had too many women float into my life, but none of them made me want them the way I want you.� He wanted her. There was no mention of her father or what he could do for him, just her. They finished their dinner, their conversation diverting to topics of no real meaning. Moire found it hard to eat let alone follow along with Brian�s banal chatter. The rest of their dinner receded as if in a fog. They had coffee and dessert and then they left. Brian again drove and before Moire knew it they were in front of his house. Brian turned off the car and got out. He came around and opened her door holding out his hand to her, which she took absently. �I really should go home,� she said as he helped her from the car. �Not yet.� He led her down to the pin oak where they had sat only hours before. For late September it was still very mild, yet the air hinted of autumn aching to break forth. A shudder went through her and Brian took hold of her shoulders. �I�m not afraid of your father,� he told her. He lifted her chin. Her face was clouded in shadows as he brushed his fingers along her cheek. Moire let out a soft sigh. Brian didn�t give her time to protest, as his lips brushed hers fleetingly. �I�ll be here all day tomorrow,� he whispered, �don�t disappoint me.� He kissed her cheek and taking her hand he walked her back to her car. He handed her the keys and she got in behind the wheel. By rote, she put the keys in the ignition and started the car and drove off. It wasn�t till she was home that the full measure of his actions hit her. |