IN THE END, Charlie had photographe

IN THE END, Charlie had photographed not just Margot but Travis and Nocturne as well, falling in love with the contrasting textures between the light-as-air tulle confection Margot wore, Travis’s travel-creased, jet-black garb, and the slate-gray of Nocturne’s shiny coat.
Charlie succeeded in coaxing Travis before the camera by telling him that the Vogue editors were going to flip once they learned they had exclusive pics of Margot Radcliffe’s finacé. Travis’s agreement would earn Margot major brownie points with the editorial staff.
To see Travis submitting to Palin’s and Kristin’s ministrations—minimal compared to what they’d had to do to repair her tear-streaked face—served as added proof of the lengths Travis was willing to go to demonstrate his support, and Margot’s heart swelled with love.
Her happiness was a physical thing: a golden, incandescent warmth that flowed through her. It must have shown, for after the series of shots on the lawn, Charlie whisked her inside, framing her against a light monotone backdrop Keisha and Evan had set up. Picking up his Nikon, he’d zoomed in for a close-up, giving her a single prompt: “Think Travis.”
The shoot was finished, the equipment all packed away in the back of the rental truck. Margot, Jordan, and Jade walked Charlie to where he’d parked his rented SUV.
“Ladies, this has been a blast,” Charlie said, stopping a few feet short of the car. “Jade, I’m going to express some proof sheets to you. I’ll be waiting for your input. And kid, if you want to give modeling a whirl, I happen to know an agent who’d be real happy to sign you on.”
Jade’s eyes widened with astonishment, unable to believe what Charlie was saying. She glanced at Margot for confirmation.
The moment was bittersweet. Margot remembered the night Charlie had said those same words to her as if it were yesterday. Now her younger sister was being offered the chance to represent the next generation of faces. But Margot realized she would happily cede her place to Jade and do everything she could to help her in the business. She had her own future with Travis to look forward to.
“You’d be great at modeling, Jade, if it’s what you want to do.”
Jade was silent. Then, with a smile, she shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, Charlie. Right now my sisters need me. And this new horse I’m riding is going to need a lot of attention. Maybe I’ll give modeling a shot later on.”
Jordan and Margot exchanged looks, and Margot easily intuited her sister’s thoughts, certain that they mirrored her own. What an amazing person Jade was turning out to be. Not many sixteen-year-old girls could resist such a lure.
Charlie didn’t seem surprised by her decision. “Like I said before, you’re one smart kid. Besides, there’s no rush. Looks like yours will keep. But put me on speed-dial in case you change your mind.” He glanced at his watch. “Time the gang and I hit the road. New York’s gonna seem a pretty dull place compared to good old Warburg, VA.”
Turning to Jordan, he gave her a hug. “Bye, beautiful. Thanks for the gracious hospitality. And make sure you remember what I said.”
“I’ll try. You’re a kind man, Charlie Ayer. I hope I’ll see you again very soon.”
“After getting me to agree to shoot the wedding, I think Travis will make sure of that,” he said with a laugh. Wrapping an arm about Margot, he pulled her close. “You better be prepared to have Damien ringing you nonstop with bookings. You’re gonna be the hottest ticket in town once this Vogue cover hits the shelves.”
No longer troubled by the competing demands of modeling and running the farm now that she was sure of Travis’s love and secure in the knowledge that together they would work out a balance, she smiled. “Maybe I’ll only take the jobs where a certain shaggy Californian is behind the viewfinder.”
“Works for me, babe.” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Releasing her, he opened the car door and climbed inside. “So long. I’ll call you tomorrow. I love you, babe.”
The three of them watched the SUV and the equipment truck roll down the drive and disappear from sight.
Margot turned to her sisters. “So I guess I have you two to thank for going behind my back and saving me from throwing away my chance at love.”
“Yeah, you do. And so does Travis. You owe us big-time,” Jade said happily. Without missing a beat, she asked, “So do you think Travis’ll teach me how to drive Mom’s Porsche?”
Margot hid a smile. “Why don’t you ask him?”
“I will. I gotta go over to the barn anyway to start braiding.”
“I’d almost forgotten about the Hunt Cup,” Margot confessed. “You don’t have to braid if you’re too tired, Jade.”
“I’m not that tired. Besides, I want Doc to look extra special since this may be my last competition with him. And Mystique and Colchester have to look just as good when we get our picture taken with the Cup trophy.” She went off at a jog toward the barns, leaving Jordan and Margot alone.
“What I wouldn’t give for a thimbleful of Jade’s confidence,” Margot said.
“You and me both,” Jordan agreed.
Margot enfolded her older sister in a hug.
“I’ve got to say it again. Thanks, sis, for being my guardian angel and taking care of my heart. Especially when yours is close to breaking.”
“It did it good to know you’re happy,” she said. More quietly she continued. “Seeing you with Travis made me realize that I have to go back to Richard and do whatever it takes to fix what’s broken between us. If we’re lucky we’ll find our love again. I’m going to take the kids home to D.C. after we meet with Edward Crandall about the estate.”
Margot squeezed her hand. “I think you’re doing the right thing. You know we’re always here for you, Jordan.”
“I do know. I’m pretty darn lucky to have such amazing sisters. And such incredible friends.” Jordan gave her a tremulous smile. “Speaking of friends, I want to go down to the barn and thank Ned and Travis for all they’ve done.”
“Do you want to go now?”
“Definitely.” Jordan threaded her arm through Margot’s and together they started toward the barns. “I want to catch Jade at work on Travis, wheedling him into giving her Porsche-driving lessons. Want to hear something incredible, Margot?”
“I would.”
“As wild as Jade is at times, if she gets her license, I’ll trust her with Kate and Max in the backseat of that Porsche.”
“Yeah. I certainly never thought I’d say this, but she’s a pretty fantastic Radcliffe.”
It was evening. Margot and Travis were alone on the porch, Jordan and Jade having shooed them out of the kitchen after dinner, insisting they would tackle the dishes. The springlike temperatures had disappeared with the setting sun. Margot sat on the step beneath Travis, her back nestled between his muscled thighs, her arms blanketed by his. The warmth of his body felt delicious, as did the kisses he was scattering in her hair, along the nape of her neck, in the sensitive hollow behind her ears.
The most wonderful thing of all, though, was the deep rumble of his voice as he talked to her, telling her about how he’d sold Raider to the Olympian rider Steve Sheppard and how generous Sheppard had been in offering him the tip about Nocturne, a stallion at his father’s Thoroughbred farm down in Kentucky. “Nocturne’s gorgeous. Perfect conformation. A real nice mover, too. He just doesn’t have the speed to be a racehorse. Shepp’s father had only decided on selling him last week. We really lucked out.”
They had indeed. Margot had almost fainted at dinner when she’d finally opened the envelope Travis had given her. The three checks totaled $350,000. Combined with the money she’d get from the Vogue shoot and the Ralph Lauren contract, they’d be able to make serious inroads paying off the estate’s outstanding debts.
“Travis, how did you afford Nocturne?”
She felt his shrug against her back. “I had some money set aside, earmarked for a horse. And Steve Sheppard Senior was real reasonable, though I did promise I’d offer Shepp first dibs on Nocturne’s get. Only fair, since I sold Raider to him for one hundred fifty thousand.”
“I would be proud to know that Steve Sheppard has one of Rosewood’s horses. He did such an outstanding job at the Olympics last summer.”
“I kind of thought you’d say that.” He was silent for a moment. When he continued, his voice was husky. “Margot, I have enough money left over for an engagement ring. Did I rush you when I asked you to marry me? If you want to wait—”
She shifted on the step so that she could gaze up at him. “I’d marry you tomorrow if we didn’t have a Hunt Cup to win.”
“That right?” He laughed softly. “So, Hunt Cup first, marriage second?”
“That’s right,” she said, nodding. “I want to see the look on Edward Crandall’s face when you, Jade, and I hold that trophy aloft.”
He tilted her chin and brought his lips to hers, drinking in her smile. “Have I told you that I love you?”
“Only about five minutes ago.” She rose on her knees to kiss him lingeringly in return, luxuriating in the sensual heat slowly building between them, knowing it would be theirs for a lifetime. “Tell me again,” she whispered.