by Nina Crespo
Tristan slowly ended the kiss. “Let’s go for a ride.”
A short time later, she rode Moonlight and he rode Thunder down one of the riding trails she hadn’t been on. It wound through the trees along the edge of the south pasture.
After her first lesson at Tristan’s house, Adam and Blake had taken over alternating as her riding instructors. As each day passed, and she’d started to doubt herself less, and trust her instincts more, as Tristan had suggested, she’d started to feel comfortable and secure in the saddle. And at her audition, if for some reason she fell off, well, she’d get up and get back on the horse. If the producers and Nash didn’t choose her, she’d walk away knowing without a doubt that her own fears and judgments about herself didn’t prevent her from getting the part.
As the trail narrowed, Tristan and Thunder fell behind her and Moonlight.
She glanced briefly over her shoulder. “Are you sure you want me leading the way? I don’t know where we’re going.”
“Yes. We’re just going a little ways up, and Thunder really likes the view in front of him.”
Someone liked the view and it definitely wasn’t Thunder. She laughed. “I bet he does.”
Up ahead an area was chained off with a no-trespassing sign.
They halted in front of it and dismounted. Tristan unchained the sign, and they continued leading the horses down the path to a hitching post where they secured Thunder and Moonlight.
Tristan unbuckled a blanket from the rear of the saddle. He tucked it under his arm, then took her hand.
They walked a few yards ahead to a grassy clearing overlooking Tillbridge. He unfolded the blanket, and she helped him spread it under the tree. When they sat down, she scooted between his legs and he embraced her from behind.
As the sun rose higher, a long shadow moved from left to right, revealing the expanse of green pasture below.
It took her breath away.
He kissed and nuzzled her neck. “This is my favorite spot.”
“I can see why.” She laid her hands over his and leaned in to him. “It’s beautiful.”
“Very beautiful.” The quiet tone of his voice made her turn her face to look at him.
He traced his finger down her cheek. The way he looked at her made soft emotions swell in her chest and tears to prick in her eyes. She didn’t want to spend her last few hours with him crying.
She faced away from him and looked out at the pasture, blinking tears away. “You told me that you wanted to expand Tillbridge. Tell me about it.”
“You honestly want to hear about that?”
“I do.”
He wrapped his arms around her and laid his cheek next to hers. “Well, with the stable, we can extend it out and add on more stalls...”
As he talked, she envisioned what he described in her mind. A future with his plans fully realized. But then the image transformed into more. Of her not just witnessing his dreams, but living them...with Tristan.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Cut!” Holland Ainsley called out from where she stood in the open field at a movie ranch outside of Los Angeles, gripping a medium-sized handheld digital cinema camera.
The former model turned director/producer was the epitome of sleek, on every level, from her hair gathered in an afro puff at the top of her head to the large round sunglasses perched on her light brown freckled nose, the white long-sleeved cropped sweater she wore, despite the heat, to the military-inspired camouflage pants tied at her ankles above her brown combat boots.
Nash Moreland looked equally cool and confident sitting on a black horse in front of the camera. For the Saturday late-morning audition, he’d completely embraced the character he’d play in Shadow Valley, wearing a tan cowboy hat, gray shirt, jeans and boots.
“Whoa.” Chloe held on to the reins and naturally shifted her weight as Peanut, the chestnut-colored horse she was on, shuffled a bit to the left after he came to a stop. She’d managed to keep her cool on the horse, but compared to Holland and Nash, she felt like a wilted “before photo” in a makeover ad. Her pink button-down clung to her back, her thighs prickled underneath her jeans from the heat, and as much as she’d come to love her cowboy boots, she couldn’t wait to slip on her favorite red flip-flops.
For the past two hours she’d been riding Peanut and interacting with him, Nash and Nash’s horse in front of the camera. So far she’d managed to stay in the saddle while saying the lines she’d memorized from the new script she’d been sent yesterday. But had she embodied the character in a way that would lead Holland and Nash to choose her for the part?
The shot Holland had just filmed was about seeing if Chloe and Nash had that attention-getting chemistry that would captivate an audience and make their relationship believable on a movie screen.
Nash and Holland were in total sync about what they wanted for the movie. They’d already reached the point where they were adding onto or finishing each other’s sentences.
“That was great.” Holland grinned.
“I think we got everything we needed,” Nash added.
Holland nodded. “I think we’re done.”
Nash got off his horse, handed the reins to the horse trainer, and walked over to Holland who packed up her camera.
As Chloe dismounted, she released a long breath. Her audition was over. “Thanks for the ride, Peanut.” She rubbed and stroked the horse near his neck and shoulder and he softly nickered.
Nash drifted over to the trainer loading the horses into a trailer.
Holland walked to Chloe carrying her camera bag. “Thanks for doing this. You did well. You looked like a natural on that horse.”
Chloe shook her hand, fighting the urge to go into fangirl mode. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to audition.”
“I’m glad it worked that we could get you here on such short notice. Well, we’ll be in touch as soon as we make our decision. Bye.” Smiling, Holland gave a quick wave as she hurried off to her next meeting.
“She’s right.” Nash strolled over to Chloe.
Until a few hours ago, it had been years since she’d seen him, except for on a movie screen. For the most part, he looked the same. His hair was a deeper shade of blond. His smile revealed perfect capped teeth and more perfect cheekbones, and he sported a deep tan that he was trying on for the part he was playing in Shadow Valley.
He’d look fantastic on film as Montgomery the futuristic gunslinger with telepathic abilities and superhuman strength. But he had none of the grounded authenticity that Tristan naturally had.
He flashed a smile and peered at her from under the brim of his hat. “You really did look like you belonged on a horse. Your time at Tillbridge Stable really paid off. I heard it’s a really nice place. Lots of spectacular views.”
Spectacular views? How did he know that? Maybe Lena had mentioned it to Holland and she’d told him. “Yes, it’s a great place.”
“There’s a restaurant not far from here that makes killer fish tacos. I was planning to stop there for lunch. Join me? I’d love to catch up.”
Honestly, going home and taking a shower sounded better, and she’d promised to call Tristan to tell him how she’d done. But this was probably also part of the audition, another chemistry test. Even though they were professionals and could act as if they liked each other, Nash getting along in real life with whoever scored the part would make things easier for everyone. And it would be nice to catch up.
Flipping the internal on switch that amped up her energy, she smiled. “Fish tacos sound fantastic. Let’s do it.”
Twenty minutes or so later, they walked into an establishment that had a café-like flair. Its vibrant decor of rich oranges, pinks and yellows made her think of Brewed Haven. Rina also had a thing for rich uplifting colors and a casual aesthetic.
They sat down in a corner booth with orange seats aw
ay from the other diners in the half-full space.
After they both ordered the tacos he’d mentioned, Nash leaned forward a bit in the seat opposite from her at the table. “I’m really looking forward to working with Holland. Her last films have been amazing. I’m sure you’ve seen them.”
“Yes. No pun intended but the ‘snowmageddon movie’ completely blew me away. The visuals, and the actors’ performances were spot-on. I just love her work. I really hope someday when I’m a director, I can do the same.”
Nash’s brow rose. “You’re interested in directing?”
Now that she’d said it she couldn’t take it back. And she didn’t want to. “Yes. I want to direct.”
“Have you mentioned that to Holland?”
“No. I figured the only thing I should be discussing with her right now is the part for this movie. And doing what I can to get this character right.”
“I hear you.” His expression grew sincere. “Like Montgomery—I’m still working out how to play him. He’s hardworking, loyal and tough-minded.”
Chloe sipped water from her glass. The character sounded a lot like Tristan. “That’s definitely how I see him from what I read in the script.”
“Yeah, but how do I lift him off the pages and make him real. What’s grounding him to the cause?”
“Abandonment.” The response came out without a thought.
Nash’s brows narrowed in interest. “How? When?”
“Like what if one of his parents abandoned him. Wouldn’t that bind him in some way to the other?”
“And that’s driving his protective instincts.” Nash leaned in farther. “Go on.”
* * *
A few hours later, Chloe walked into her one-bedroom apartment, tired but exhilarated. She dropped her purse on the emerald couch.
The pothos plant in a purple pot on the dark wood coffee table, that the actors who’d stayed in her apartment had left her as a thank-you gift, thrived from the light shining through the side window.
Leary of inflicting her lack of plant mothering skills on the healthy, green vine-like plant with heart-shaped leaves, she’d planned to hand it over to Lena next time she saw her. Hopefully in a few weeks to sign her contract with the production company for the film.
Her audition really had gone well. And she had Tristan to thank for that. She found her phone in her purse and dialed his number. Her breathing shallowed a little in anticipation of hearing his voice.
Tristan answered. “Hey, I was just thinking about you.”
A smile took over. “You were, huh?” He probably hadn’t been thinking of her exactly but just wondering whether or not she’d done well for her audition.
“How did it go?”
“I stayed in the saddle.” She walked past the high beige granite-topped counter separating the living room from the small kitchen on the right.
“I knew you would.”
What sounded like a car door shutting along with passing cars came through on his end. She could also hear what were probably his footfalls connecting with concrete.
As Chloe grabbed the clear pitcher of water infused with lemons from the fridge, she envisioned where he might be in her mind as she filled the glass she’d taken from a top cabinet. The parking lot at Tillbridge? Downtown Bolan maybe? “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
The rumble of his voice settled inside of her like it always did, raising awareness and something else. A calming sense of protection like when she was in his arms.
“You know what I wish I could do with you right now?” he asked.
“No. Tell me.”
“Hold you.”
“What else?”
His chuckle was low and sexy. “A lot more.”
As her mind took over conjuring up what more might look like, Chloe took another sip from her glass, soothing her suddenly parched throat. But the coolness of the water failed to quell the delicious warmth curling through her like wisps of smoke.
She released a shaky breath. “I like the sound of that. Too bad you can’t send it to me special delivery.”
“Maybe I can.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tristan rang the doorbell to Chloe’s apartment. His grip involuntarily tightened on the handle of his large duffle as his heart beat a hair faster with each passing second. Had he made a mistake? Was she standing on the other side of the door right now trying to figure out what to do because she didn’t want him there?
Chloe opened the door. “Tristan!”
She launched herself at him, and he barely had time to brace for her impact as she wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
As she kissed him on the lips, a smile he couldn’t contain curled up his mouth as he wrapped his free arm around Chloe and carried her and his bag across the threshold.
“You’re really here.” She laid her cheek to his and tightened her arms around him, making it a challenging balancing act as he dropped his duffle and shut the door.
Both hands free, he cupped her bottom with his hands and went in for what he’d been thinking about for days. A long lingering kiss. Was he imagining things or did she taste like lemons?
When they came up for air, she leaned back a little and looked into his eyes. “What are you doing here?” she asked softly.
“Like I told you over the phone a minute ago, I missed you.”
There was more to it, but he wasn’t ready to put the rest of what he felt into words. Tristan kissed her softly. Too many long hours had passed since she’d left. All he could think about was holding her. The cottage, hell the whole damn property had seemed empty without her voice, her smiles, her laughter.
Yesterday, he couldn’t deal with it anymore. He’d informed Gloria, Blake and Philippa he was leaving, put them in charge, paid the exorbitant cost of the plane ticket for the short, last-minute trip, and got himself there.
One long soft kiss turned into another filled with fierce need that sparked fire in his veins. He reluctantly took his mouth from hers. “We should stop now.”
“Why?” Her whispered response near his ear raised goose bumps over him.
Her barely there kisses trailing downward past the collar of his white button-down and her teeth nipping the side of his neck pulled a groan out of him. His growing erection pressed against the front of his jeans.
Tristan tightened his grasp on her butt. “I need you.”
She kissed his earlobe. “The bedroom is straight down the hall.”
No need to tell him twice. He heard her loud and clear.
A short time later, she lay under him on the pale peach sheets. The small amount of light let in through the closed blinds bathed her skin with a soft appealing glow. He soaked it in with slow kisses and caresses. The play of passion on her face as he glided his hand down her belly and lower still mesmerized him as she arched up to meet his touch.
Soon after, he glided inside of her, wound tight with need, unable to get enough of her softness and heat. On some level it scared him. On another it eased his mind and body more easily than any eight-second ride ever had for him.
He’d faced too many wrongs in his life to count, but Chloe wrapped around him in every way, including his heart, felt more than just right.
* * *
Coffee...it had to be there someplace. Tristan opened the top dark wood cabinets in Chloe’s beige tiled-floor kitchen. A long narrow cabinet caught his eye in the corner. He opened it. Jackpot.
When he got up an hour ago this morning, one thing had been on his mind. Well two things. Kissing Chloe and making her breakfast. But she’d looked so sweet and peaceful, he couldn’t bring himself to wake her up. Between her audition and his unexpected arrival yesterday, she had to be tired. Instead he’d quietly cleaned up, dressed in a black T-shirt and navy blue sweats and closed the d
oor to the bedroom as he’d left.
After hunting down mugs and figuring out the coffee maker on the counter, he moved to the next project on his list. Eggs. Maybe an omelet if he could find the right ingredients in her refrigerator.
She had most of the standard stuff he did, but he did find one unexpected food in her cabinet. Fruit Loops. That was one of his favorite cereals growing up. She never failed to surprise him. And why couldn’t he stop grinning about that?
He’d just assembled the ingredients for a fresh basil, tomato and cheese omelet when he heard her in the bathroom. She could enjoy the coffee while he cooked. But he forgot something. What was it? Sugar for her coffee.
Tristan rummaged around and found it. The bedroom door opened and he poured the steaming coffee into a mug, then stirred in two teaspoons of sugar, just the way she liked it.
“Good morning.” Chloe walked into the kitchen. She looked cute and comfortable in a pair of beige shorts and a white cropped tee. As she lifted on her toes and kissed him, he wrapped an arm around her waist. “What are we doing?” she asked.
With her lush curves pressed against him, his mind short-circuited for a moment. He reached for the cup of coffee he’d prepared for Chloe and handed it to her. “You’re having coffee while I make breakfast.”
“Okay.” Smiling, she kissed him on the mouth, then drank from her the mug. “What are we having?”
“Omelets. Is there anything else you want with it?”
“We cou—”
A Drake ringtone sounded from her phone on the coffee table.
“That’s Lena.” Chloe plunked her mug down on the counter and rushed to answer her phone. “Hey. No, I’m up.” She came back to the kitchen. “No I haven’t heard anything. Uh-huh.”
Tristan put a skillet on the stove. Lena was probably calling about her audition. Was “uh-huh” in response to something good or bad?
Chloe’s shriek and jumping up and down in place filled in the blank. “This is the best news ever!” Smiling, she ran over to him and smacked her lips to his cheek. Just as he went to wrap an arm around her, she slipped away. “Hold on, Lena. Someone else is calling.” She briefly checked the screen on her phone. “It’s Nash. Yes, he has my number. I gave it to him yesterday when we had lunch. Hold on a sec. Hi, Nash. Yes, I just got the good news...”