Page 39 of Sweet Madness

I’m not worried about her safety. She’s secure here, safer than anywhere else. My land is protected with high-end security equipment, and no one would dare step inside without facing me.

There have been rumors about me for years—rumors that I lost my mind after losing my Ma and that’s why I rarely leave the ranch. I never bothered to correct them. The rumors keep people away from me and my land.

Now that I spotted her, I can finally breathe. I hadn’t even realized I was holding my breath.

I step into the dimly lit stables; my footsteps are muffled by the soft straw beneath my boots. The scent of hay and horses wraps around me like a comforting embrace. As I round the corner, I halt at the sight before me.

Ella stands near the horses, not dressed in a cowgirl getup but in an outfit that should be a crime. She wears a soft pink long skirt that hugs her curves and a white tube top that enhances her ample figure. Shit. I can’t look away. The strapless neckline reveals her shoulders, and she wears a thin gold necklace that seems to mean a lot to her.

Her dark curls fall down her shoulders, framing her delicate face. She is a vision of natural beauty. Fuck, even without makeup, she robs me of my breath.

Then the loveliest sound fills the air—a melody of joy and contentment that breaks the trance she has me under.

Peppermint tosses his head playfully beside Ella, his mane adorned with a colorful array of wildflowers.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

What the fuck? There’s that pain in my chest again.

For a moment, I simply watch, captivated. Ella’s radiant smile and interaction with my horse—a horse that’s usually a complete asshole—are more beautiful than any view from my windows.

I see she has stolen Peppermint’s heart.

As I keep my gaze fixed on her, a small smile tugs at my lips. It feels weird and foreign. She talks to the horses as if they understand every word. It’s endearing how she treats them like friends and not mere animals. And those flowers... adding them to the horses’ manes with such care, as if preparing them for a grand celebration.

Laughter bubbles inside me as I watch her.

Lovely, lovely heiress… What are you doing to me?

I realize I’ve misjudged her completely. She’s neither a spoiled brat nor a clueless heiress. I must admit I judged her without giving her a chance.

She’s still the girl who would make her father’s men dress up and have tea parties with her, making them laugh for hours with her silly antics. The girl who would notice if you were having a bad day and tell you a joke or give you a compliment to brighten your day. She was a little menace but oh so sweet.

That girl is here now.

Who adds flowers to the mane of a horse while chatting with them? She does.

She’s certainly unique, adorable, and maybe a little cuckoo. Yet, in a world full of darkness and chaos, her uniqueness and kindness remind me of how sweet life can be.

As if sensing my presence, Ella turns, her blue eyes widening in surprise before breaking into a delighted grin. “Oh! I didn’t see you there,” she exclaims, her cheeks flushed. “Have you been here the entire time?” she asks, sounding embarrassed.

She shouldn’t be embarrassed, but I don’t tell her that.

Instead, I find myself at a loss for words, struck dumb by the loveliness of this moment. After a second that feels like an hour, I clear my throat. “You gave the horses makeovers…” I point out, my gaze lingering on her twinkling eyes.

“I sure did! Animals deserve to be spoiled too!” she replies, stepping closer without fear. I hate being so close to others, yet I don’t mind her invading my space. I should, but strangely, I don’t. “Come join us! There’s plenty of flowers to go around.” Her smile is both gentle and inviting.

There’s nothing I would hate more than wasting time putting flowers in the horses’ manes, but somehow my traitorous feet move closer. I reach out to touch the soft petals she carries in a small basket, realizing that in this moment, surrounded by her joyful laughter, I’ve found something I haven’t felt in years.

Peace.

Peace and joy.

As I join Ella and the horses, I feel something shift inside me. Something I wasn’t quite ready to admit yet. Something I started feeling from the moment I first saw her on that desolate road, dressed in high-end brands, so out of reach for a man like me.