Prologue
Danny
Breathe. Just breathe. It’s nothing you haven’t done before, I keep reminding myself. I step out of the Audi and look up at the mansion’s fortress-like towers bearing down on me. Miles from the nearest neighbor, the house feels more like something out of a romance novel set in the Scottish Highlands than a southern farmstead. Liam walks beside me. Feeling his gaze on me, I turn my head, and my eyes meet his. His fingers lace through my own as we step up to the large wooden door.
Entering the home of Sophia and Jackson Wilson, two of the richest and best-known horse breeders in the States, is like entering a whole new world and going back in time all at once. Gold and silver radiate throughout the entranceway. A few steps in and Liam has already said hi to ten people. Names I won’t remember in the next five minutes. Glancing at Liam, I think once more how handsome he looks in his tux.
We pass a waiter and Liam grasps two glasses of white wine and hands me one. Taking a sip, I look around the room and take in everything. Gold-spun hair catches my eye, and instantly I take in the woman that I hadn’t thought to see again for some time. A glance over and the laughter between Holly and the man next to her ends abruptly as she realizes that I’m here. My gaze leaves hers in search of someone else. Eyes darting over the room, I scan faces quickly. There. Far-left corner. No. This can’t be happening. Nick. If Nick and Holly are here, that means one thing. Our father must be here as well. The room spins.
