Read Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse 01 - Dark Horse for Free Online Page A

Dan that he can do what he wants, but Dan knows that it’s not Chris’s call. Chris and Justin may have grown up together, but Chris doesn’t know Justin the same way Dan does. And apparently Chris doesn’t know Dan too well, either, if he thinks Dan would ever want to cheat on somebody who’s lying in a hospital bed.
    Evan’s just a typical rich kid, Dan decides, taking something that means a lot to somebody and turning it into a game for his own amusement. Well, Dan doesn’t want to play. He has to be polite, since Evan’s a bit too powerful to insult, but that’s all.
    Dan realizes that it’s easier to make this sort of resolution when he’s at the far end of the bar. When he’s standing in front of Evan again, faced with the full warmth of the man’s personality, Dan finds himself smiling a little more sincerely than he had intended. “You got one?”
    “Like I said, man, I’ve got lots. I really don’t think one is going to be enough. Is there anything I can do to earn a couple more?” Yes, Evan is definitely flirting. Dan knows he should shut it down, but he’s a little curious to see just how far Evan will take it. And, if he’s completely honest with himself, maybe he’s enjoying the attention a little.
“I doubt it, but if your first one isn’t too horrific, I’ll think about it.” “Oh. Not horrific… I gotta be honest, that eliminates a lot of my ideas right off the top.”
    Another customer needs a drink, so Dan just raises an eyebrow at Evan and moves around the bar. When he returns, Evan is smiling happily. “Okay, I’ve got one. It’s easy, no horror whatsoever.” Dan nods, so Evan continues. “How did you get started with riding?”
    Dan knows that should be an easy question, so he can’t blame Evan for asking it. Still, he doesn’t really want to answer. “I was living with a family, and they had horses, and they taught me.” It’s a bit of a gloss, but it’s not a lie.
“With a family? Like, not your family?”
     
“You got one question, man. Not two.” Dan moves down the bar and picks up a glass to start polishing.
    Evan shifts along to follow him, bringing his beer. “No, this is just a follow-up. A clarification, even. Your original answer was vague and incomplete!”
    Evan doesn’t seem like the type to take hints, and Dan is reminded again that the other man is a spoiled rich kid, used to getting what he wants. “Okay. No, they weren’t my family.”
    “But you do have a family, right?”
“What do you think, Evan, I was hatched from an egg?”
    Evan’s face lights up. “Yeah, that’s good! We’ll exchange questions. That’s a great idea!” Evan almost claps his hands. Dan is pretty sure the innocent enthusiasm thing is an act, but he’s not quite positive.
    Evan continues. “Okay, your question was, ‘Evan, do you think I was hatched from an egg?’ My answer to that is, ‘No, Dan, I do not believe that at all, and I am sure you were born from a traditional union between a human male and a human female.’” Evan’s smile is mockcondescending. “You’ll notice, I think, that I answered the question fully, and even gave a little extra. Perhaps you could use that as a model for your answer to my next question.” Dan refuses to smile, but Evan continues anyway. “Okay, my next question is… do you like your job?”
    That one’s a bit easier, so Dan decides to play along. He has a question he wants to ask Evan, after all. “Yes, Evan, I like my job. It’s not perfect all the time, but in general, I enjoy it.”
Evan nods, looking impressed. “Excellent, you’re really picking the game up quickly. Okay, now it’s your turn.”
     
Dan puts down the glass. “All right, here goes… what were you doing at Molly and Karl’s this morning?”
    Evan’s face falls. “Dan, damn. I’m sorry, but I really can’t talk about it. Not now, at least. As soon as things are settled, you’ll be the first to know.”
    That was about what Dan