Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2)

by Mary J. Williams

  “If Nate and Paige are the right fit, they’ll figure it out. I wish I could be there to watch the bumps along the way.”

  “So you think I should orchestrate this?”

  “Gently, my friend. With baby steps. Kid gloves. Plus, any other metaphor you can think of that fits the situation.”

  “I want Paige to be happy, Caleb. She deserves to have what I had with Erin.”

  “Everyone does.”

  Caleb thought of his oldest son. Wyatt’s marriage had been a disaster from the beginning. Sometimes doing what you thought was the right thing, blows up in your face. Almost three years after its tragic end, Wyatt still dealt with the fallout.

  “Paige goes through life pretending she’s happy alone. I know the truth, Caleb. She wants love.”

  “Nate is tough as nails — on the outside. My boy has insides like a marshmallow. Women. Kids. That puppy he adopted.” Caleb shook his head. “He can’t walk away when someone is in trouble. Paige’s neighbor stirred his protective instincts. If, as you say, the attraction is already there, Nate won’t be able to resist her for long.”

  “I can’t say the same for Paige. She’s good at digging her heels in.”

  Caleb smiled. He had faith in his son. “Give her a little shove. Nate will take care of the rest.”

  “DO I SMELL chocolate?”

  Paige felt her heartbeat flutter then kick into high gear. Nate had a way of causing her body to react in odd and interesting ways. None of which were unpleasant.

  Planning a sexual encounter added a new layer of awareness. This would happen. Tonight. Paige wanted it. Oh, boy, did she want it. Being positive didn’t stop her nerves from rearing their annoying heads.

  Swallowing, she moved her lips into what she hoped resembled a natural smile and turned.

  “My grandmother’s famous chocolate cake.”

  Paige wiped her damp palms on the towel she always kept on her shoulder when she baked.

  “Homemade?” Nate breathed in the heavenly aroma. “I’m impressed.”

  “Mom liked to cook, but she wasn’t much of a baker.” Paige shrugged. “When I was around eleven years old, I found these old, handwritten cookbooks in the attic. They were like a time machine into the past. Most of them came with notes and comments. After I had read a few, I had to make something. Turned out, I had the knack.”

  “No one in the Landis family bakes.” Nate poured himself a cup of coffee before taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I take that back. Lorena does. She’s been our cook since before Wyatt was born. We think of her as part of our family.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “Your dad says you’re expecting company.” Nate winked. “Other than me.”

  Damn. Paige felt a mass influx of butterflies. He was so adorable. And sexy. And Gorgeous from top to bottom. No man in history filled out a pair of jeans like Nate Landis. And his arms? And chest? A t-shirt never looked better.

  “Paige?”

  “Hmm? Did you say something? I wondered if it was time to take out the cake.”

  Nice cover, Paige thought sarcastically. It was difficult not to let her mind wander. Lottie was right. She needed to get laid.

  “Nothing important. I wondered if I should put Beauty in the mudroom during dinner.” He smiled at the puppy who was nodding off at his feet. “She’s a doll, but her manners are still a little sketchy.”

  “Irene won’t mind.”

  “The vet?” Nate watched with appreciation as Paige leaned over the open oven door. “You have a nice ass.”

  Surprised by the matter-of-fact comment, Paige almost dropped one of the pans.

  “Watch it, fella.” Paige carefully put the cake on the cooling racks. “Throwing around remarks like that could result in ruined dessert. And burned hands.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  Nate was in front of her before she could blink. Taking her hand, he turned it over, looking for a burn.

  “I’m fine,” Paige laughed. “I was kidding.”

  “It would be a shame to mar your skin.” Nate raised her palm to his mouth. His lips gave it a warm caress. “You work hard on the ranch. How do you manage to have such smooth, soft skin?”

  Paige’s eyes met his. The blue was so deep she felt like she was drowning. She could feel his smile curve, followed by the light touch of his tongue. Mesmerized, she swayed toward him. She wanted to feel his touch on the rest of her body.

  “Gloves,” she finally answered. “And lotion. A lot of lotion.”

  “Just on your hands?” Nate’s gaze slowly traveled the length of her body before returning. Heat radiated from him. She felt her temperature rise.

  “All over. There are spots I have the hardest time reaching.”

  “If you ever need a hand…” Nate brought her other palm to his lips. “Or two? All you have to do is ask.”

  Paige licked her lips, the movement catching Nate’s avid attention.

  “You could tempt a saint.”

  “I don’t want to tempt anyone, but you.”

  Nate slowly closed his eyes, the breath rushing from his lungs.

  “You aren’t mad at me anymore?”

  “Nope.” She moved closer. The heat she had felt before wrapped around her like a big, soft blanket she couldn’t wait to cuddle under. “There’s the slightest chance that I may have overreacted.”

  “There’s the slightest chance that I didn’t do a very good job explaining myself.”

  They exchanged smiles.

  “Having my face splashed across the tabloids doesn’t worry me, Nate. In Basic, it would make me a celebrity. Free coffee at the diner for life.”

  “They can say some vicious things.” Nate rested his forehead on hers. If her hormones hadn’t been raging like a wildfire, Paige would have found the gesture sweet.

  “Dad and Lottie won’t care. Will you?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “There isn’t anyone else in my life that matters.”

  “I matter?”

  Nate whispered the words, his breath washing over her face. Clean. Coffee and mint. One more thing to like about him. The list grew by the day.

  Paige chose her words carefully. She cared. Too much. Too fast. When Nate left, she had a feeling he would take a piece of her heart. She could live with that. Having Nate, if only for a short time, would be worth the risk.

  For her sake, she couldn’t let him know the way her feelings shifted. Nate would step back rather than engage a fraction of her heart. That was the last thing Paige wanted.

  “Do you matter?” Paige reached for a light tone. “Certainly. What would Dad do without you? Stepping in as director saved the day.”

  “Director. Right.”

  Nate pulled back, though not away. His eyes held hers for a second. Paige didn’t know what he saw but when he started to move, she put a hand on his arm.

  “I need you, too.”

  “Why? For sex?”

  “Yes,” Paige nodded. “That was the deal. We have some fun until you leave in a few weeks.”

  “Paige—”

  “I hope we can be friends, Nate.” Paige interrupted him. She didn’t want to know what he was about to say. If he changed his mind, too bad. While he was in Montana, he was stuck with her. “I know it sounds trite.”

  “It sounds lovely.”

  Paige sighed with relief. This time, she was the one to take his hand. Kissing the back, she rubbed her thumb along his. So strong. So gentle. It was a heady mix.

  “Would you like to go for a drive after dinner?”

  “The two of us? Alone?” Nate grinned. “Seeing a woman who lives with her father makes intimacy a challenge.”

  “I know.” Paige smiled back. “Since I’ve been back home, the men I’ve dated lived alone. You staying here makes for a unique problem.”

  “The last time I had sex in a car was…” Nate thought hard. “Never! Damn. How did I miss out on that rite of passage?”

  “You and me bo
th, fella. I had something else in mind for tonight, but if you’d rather use my truck, we can do that.”

  “Does your option have a mattress?”

  Paige nodded.

  “I want to see you. All of you.” Nate ran a finger down the side of her face, stopping at her mouth. Slowly, he traced the curve of her bottom lip. “We have weeks to take advantage of that truck. We’ll lose our virginity together.”

  The sound of her father descending the staircase was the only thing that stopped Paige from sliding her fingers into Nate’s hair and kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

  Pushing Nate into his chair, Paige checked the casserole, hoping her father would blame her red cheeks on the heat of the oven.

  “Chocolate cake. Paige makes the best dessert. You’re in for a treat, Nate.”

  Nate coughed into his coffee, spilling the contents over the rim. He quickly wiped his mouth with his hand, trying his best to cover his smile.

  Paige knew what he was thinking. She shot him a dirty look. This is my father, you ass.

  Clearing his throat, Nate scooped up Beauty.

  “This little lady needs some fresh air.” As he passed Paige, he whispered so only she could hear, “And so do I.”

  As much as she adored Irene, Paige wished she wasn’t joining them for dinner. Not tonight. Rushing her father through the meal would have been much easier if it were just the three of them. Now, she had to play hostess while trying to keep her mind off Nate.

  Taking the offset spatula from the drawer, she began frosting the cake. This was going to seem like the longest meal in history.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  DINNER WAS AWKWARD. Each of the four people around the table had their reasons. Reasons they had no intention of sharing.

  Paige kept looking at the clock, wishing the minutes away. Naturally, instead of speeding up, time slowed down to a crawl. Her father was to her right. The man she hoped would soon be her lover, on her left. This wasn’t awkward. It was… Honestly? She didn’t know what it was. But Freud would have had a field day with the thoughts pinging through her brain.

  Thank God for Irene. Her bright small talk was the only thing keeping the evening from being a complete disaster. Paige was so wrapped in her own drama she didn’t notice the tension between her friend and her father.

  “Nate. Are you enjoying directing? I understand this isn’t how you normally spend your days.”

  Smiling, Nate shook his head.

  “It’s interesting, Irene. However, this will be my debut and my swan song. Garrett is the director in the family. I’m happy to leave it in his capable hands.”

  Unlike Paige, Nate sensed the friction between Irene and Chuck. It was obvious the veterinarian tried to put on a happy veneer. Perhaps it took an outsider to see the stiffness in Chuck’s shoulders or the too-bright smile on Irene’s face.

  Whatever was going on, Nate wanted to ease the edge of emotions he felt swirling around the table. Irene gave him the perfect solution. He was proud of his family — every one of them. When it came to their accomplishments, he could go on for hours.

  “I loved Time Zone. When it’s on TV, I get sucked in every time.”

  “That was an early one.” Nate’s grin widened. “Lord, what a time he had with that movie. Bad weather and a younger brother who was a little too full of himself.”

  “Was Colton in Time Zone? I don’t remember seeing him.”

  Those were the most words Chuck had spoken since they sat down to eat. Like Irene, it was obvious he wasn’t comfortable. He seemed genuinely interested in what Nate said. Without realizing it, he started to relax.

  Irene caught on to what Nate was doing and sent him a grateful smile. When he gave her a quick wink, she felt a little flutter in her stomach. Oh, my. Nate Landis was a dangerous man. Charm radiated off him even when he wasn’t trying. One little wink. One glimpse into what it would feel like to be the center of his attention and Irene understood Paige’s dilemma.

  How could you resist him? Why would you want to?

  “That’s an interesting story, Chuck.” Thinking about it, Nate laughed. “Colt has a level head on his shoulders. With all the attention and adulation he’s received in the last few years, he could have become an egomaniacal asshole. Pardon my language.”

  Irene blinked. She couldn’t remember the last time a man apologized for using colorful language. This was Basic. Asshole was mild in comparison to what she heard on a daily basis. With that simple apology, Nate raised another notch in her estimation.

  “What about Colt and the movie?”

  Caught up in the story, Paige put her elbow on the table, her chin resting in her hand. Nate had no problem with being the center of attention. It wasn’t something he sought out, but this was different. These were friends. The entertainer side of his Landis blood kicked in. The actor in him didn’t surface often, but when it did, he showed a certain flair that would have made his mother proud.

  “Baby brother was a newbie. The part in Time Zone was small. Garrett had cast him before Our Waving Flags was released.”

  “I haven’t seen that one,” Irene said.

  “It is so good. Colt plays a young man who joins the Army to honor his father’s memory. Lottie and I cried buckets,” Paige sighed. Her eyes brightened. “Then he takes his clothes off.”

  “All of them?” Irene’s eyes widened with interest.

  “Every stitch.”

  “Oh, my. Is it available on Netflix?”

  “Women.” Chuck sat back shaking his head. “Why do they insist on drooling over an image on a screen?”

  “This from the man who watched Be Mine how many times?” Paige crossed her arms, waiting for her father to respond.

  “I…” Chuck blushed, unable to meet Nate’s amused gaze. “It’s a good movie. Excellent, as a matter of fact.”

  “Mom has that effect on a lot of men, Chuck. I’m used to it.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t mention this to your father.”

  The red on Chuck’s face rapidly spread down his neck. Three sets of eyes watched with interest as the bright color melded with the collar of his shirt.

  “Dad has lived with this for over thirty years. Mom is a beautiful woman. Somehow, she gets more beautiful every year. Trust me, he would understand.”

  “Still…”

  Noting Chuck’s distress, Nate let him off the hook.

  “Your secret is safe. Right, ladies?”

  “I was teasing, Dad.” Paige patted his hand. “My lips are now sealed on the subject.”

  Smiling at the exchange, Irene was surprised when Chuck gave her an inquiring look.

  “What?” She shrugged. “Who would I tell? The bull I’m treating for prostate problems?”

  “Bulls have prostate problems?” Paige didn’t know if it was funny or strange. From the grimace on her father’s face, she decided to rule out funny.

  “We have wandered off track. You were telling us about Colt?”

  “And Garrett, Chuck. He puts up with a lot when it comes to family. However, if it affects his work, he isn’t as lenient.”

  Nate took a sip of the excellent red wine. According to Paige, it had been a gift from some friends who ran a vineyard in Washington. Years of travel and good food had developed his palate. He knew a good vintage when he tasted it. He had to remember to get the name. His mother loved wine. A case of this would be the perfect gift for Christmas.

  “As I said before, Colt rode the wave of his first success as an actor. Unfortunately, his head had swelled a bit as a result. He thought he should have a more important part in Garrett’s film.”

  “I take it Garrett didn’t agree.” Paige smiled, sipping her wine.

  “Give the little lady a cigar.”

  Nate weaved the rest of the tale, easily holding the interest of a rapt audience. It wasn’t difficult. Not only was it a good story, he had lived through it. He was able to add a personal perspective, drawing the others in with humor and a brother
’s love.

  Our Waving Flags was his breakout role. One he earned through hard work.

  It was natural for him to want bigger and better parts. Garrett agreed. However, not in his movie. He had his actors. When Colt took the small role, he had been happy to get it. If he didn’t want to honor his commitment, fine. Plenty of actors would be happy for the chance.

  “What happened?” Irene demanded, her eyes wide with anticipation.

  “He showed up. Reluctantly.”

  “Your dad talked him into it?” Chuck asked, sure of the answer.

  “No.” Nate shook his head. “Mom and Dad stayed out of it. They refused to get in the middle.”

  “Smart.”

  “Four competitive sons, Irene. They decided early on not to take sides or step into a problem unless absolutely necessary. Most of the time we find our own solutions.”

  “How much blood was shed?” Chuck grew up with brothers. Fighting came with the territory — no matter how close you were.

  “When we were kids? Not much.” Nate chuckled. “We became very good at directing our punches away from the face. Mom wasn’t big on seeing blood all over her sons’ faces. One broken nose. The way she went on, you would have thought I killed him.”

  “Who?”

  “Wyatt. He borrowed my Jedi action figure. I wanted it back.”

  “Easy as that?” Paige was amused by his matter-of-fact tone.

  “It was my Jedi. And, he didn’t ask. There’s a code of behavior for that kind of thing. I was well within my rights. Besides, Wyatt needed taking down a peg or two. He was in a particularly obnoxious older brother phase. He never completely outgrew it, but he isn’t as obnoxious.” Nate shrugged with a smile. “Most of the time.”

  Paige could hear the love and affection in Nate’s voice. It was there when he spoke of his family. All of his family. She loved her father unconditionally. The fights and disagreements never lasted long. It seemed Nate was lucky enough to have the same kind of relationship with his parents and brothers. The knowledge gave her a warm feeling inside.

  “Finish the story,” Irene urged. “What happened between Colt and Garrett?”

  “They were professional during the shoot. Though, according to Garrett, Colt pushed the boundaries of the term as often as possible. He was never late — but he cut it close. He would arrive with seconds to spare. Garrett hates that. He’s known for bringing his movies in ahead of schedule.”