After celebrating the New Year at The Templar, Dylan and Flora enjoyed a few quiet days to recuperate. Whilst still seeing to the horses and attending the all-weather meetings, they finished strictly on time every afternoon whenever possible and let the staff cover the evening stables. The yard was almost running at full capacity now and Dylan had decided to extend his team and employ more stable staff, to the delight of Flora. This also meant she would be able to spend more time with Phoenix, but she had the foresight not to voice this to Dylan.
Whilst Dylan was busy with paperwork at home one late afternoon, the phone rang.
‘Hello, Dylan. It’s Jade Fisher here.’ Dylan frowned for a moment before realising who it was. Ah, yes, the journalist from Hi-Ya magazine who had contacted him a few months ago.
‘Hello, Jade.’
‘Dylan, you promised me an interview.’
Dylan gave a soft laugh. ‘No, Jade, as I recall, I said I’d think about it.’
‘And have you? We’re willing to pay a very generous fee,’ she coaxed.
Why not? Thought Dylan. The money would come in handy, and Flora had looked favourably upon the proposal of an interview, believing it would be good for business. He also remembered his reply: that it would have to involve her.
‘Yes, I’ll do it, on the condition that you include my partner, Flora.’
‘Business partner or girlfriend?’
‘Both.’
Jade’s ears pricked up. This was a first. Dylan Delany, the playboy former Champion Jockey, settling down? He’d been pictured with various glamorous beauties on his arm, but that’s where it ended. Never had there been any hint of him in a serious relationship. To want this Flora appearing next to him in the interview was a scoop.
‘Certainly, it would be a pleasure, Dylan,’ Jade smoothed, practically rubbing her hands together. This was going better than planned.
‘And be kind, no tricky questions,’ he warned.
Jade gave a light chuckle. ‘As if. You have my word,’ she assured him.
Dylan gave an unconvinced, ‘Hmm,’ having experienced the gutter press before.
‘I’ll have the details sent to you. We’d like you to feature in next month’s issue, so I’d like to interview you as soon as possible.’
‘OK.’
‘Could we say next week? Monday?’
‘That should be all right.’ Then an idea came to him. ‘You can interview us at the stable yard.’ He was keen to promote the business and maximise coverage.
‘Yes, good idea. We’ll get some fantastic shots,’ gushed Jade, her enthusiasm evident.
‘Good. I’ll await the details.’
‘Yes, I’ll get them over to you today.’
‘And I want the fee, too. Today,’ he replied firmly. He wasn’t standing on ceremony; he’d learnt how to deal with these slippery journalists.
‘Of course.’ Jade smiled to herself. The fee was a drop in the ocean compared to the sales he’d bring in.
*
Flora was initially edgy about being interviewed, despite having agreed to it before. ‘But why do I have to be involved?’
They were in the kitchen washing up after dinner. Flora was standing at the sink, gazing thoughtfully out of the window, and Dylan was behind her. He wrapped his arms round her body and ran kisses up her neck.
‘Because we’re a partnership and I want you to be there beside me,’ he answered in her ear, before turning her to face him.
‘But…’
‘No buts, Flora.’ His lips covered hers. Flora could feel herself beginning to melt. Yes, she would be interviewed – why not let the world know they were a couple?
*
Monday saw the early arrival of Jade Fisher, accompanied by a photographer. All the stable yard staff had been prepared and the grooms were rather excited by the visit, especially the young women, who had taken extra care of their appearances.
‘I hardly recognise them,’ muttered Dylan to Flora as he took in their coiffures, painted faces and perfect manicures. Hardly the image he wanted to create, preferring his staff to look like hardworking, practical grooms, not something from a catwalk.
‘Oh, leave them alone,’ laughed Flora, who also had been at pains to look her best. Whilst not going to quite the same lengths, she had freshly washed and blow-dried her hair and carefully applied a little make-up. Dylan didn’t need to try. His natural dark, gypsy looks and twinkling blue eyes always made him picture perfect.
‘Right, Dylan, if we can just take a few shots of you tending to a horse, that would be great,’ enthused Jade.
Dylan did as he was told. Flora had made sure Phoenix was at hand as a star attraction. Phoenix, however, had other ideas and didn’t quite like the way he was being handled by Dylan and not Flora. The horse head-butted Dylan out of the way when he tried to take his reins. Dylan smiled wryly to himself; the old tinker was playing silly buggers.
‘I think it would be better if Flora was on this shot, too,’ he told Jade.
‘OK. Flora, if you could just position yourself next to Dylan – oohh!’
But Phoenix apparently didn’t like that either, as he opened his bowels and dumped a huge pile of dung at Jade’s feet. Dylan’s lips twitched at the horror on Jade Fisher’s face.
‘Perhaps just have Flora in this shot?’ He knew when he was beaten. There was no way Phoenix was going to behave the way they wanted him to. Jade stepped gingerly away from the steaming pile of crap.
‘Hmm, maybe we could take a few shots with you at the stable doors, with the horses safely inside?’
‘Good idea,’ smiled Dylan.
Flora tried not to laugh as she led a disgraced Phoenix away. ‘You naughty boy,’ she quietly chuckled. The horse neighed in response.
Dylan was a natural in front of the camera, his good looks and charm oozing through the lens. Once Flora had returned they were photographed together in the office. Dylan made sure his arm was protectively around her, in an attempt to instil some confidence in her. It worked, as Flora assertively answered Jade Fisher’s questions. Any sign of hesitation was met with Dylan’s calm support. The interview was mainly focused on him, however, much to Flora’s relief. Dylan was self-assured, artless and keen to promote his yard, praising all his staff, but especially his assistant trainer.
‘That Delany’s Racing Yard is a success is hugely down to this one’s commitment,’ he said, squeezing Flora affectionately.
‘And yours, too,’ she chipped in.
Dylan’s head swooped down to kiss her and the camera went into overdrive. Jade slowly smiled to herself. This was going to be one hell of a feature.