Wilde Horses

by Jannine Gallant

  Blake unzipped his wetsuit and peeled it down to his waist. “I can’t believe you’re here. What happened?”

  “Dad hired a foreman who was able to start immediately. I’d booked my plane ticket yesterday right before you called, but I thought surprising you would be fun.”

  “Best surprise ever.” He pulled her up against him and kissed her again. “I’m sorry I wasn’t at the house to welcome you properly.”

  She grimaced. “When no one answered the buzzer at the gate, I called your cell. Then I ditched my suitcase behind a bush and walked around the property. Your canine eliminator stopped me before I could get inside, and I was wondering what to try next when I saw you out in the water.”

  “Duke only wanted to greet you, not eat you. He sounds a lot more ferocious than he is. Let me grab my board, and we’ll head up to the house.”

  She waited while he draped a striped towel around his neck and hefted the surfboard, then took his hand when he reached her side. “Sorry to interrupt your, uh, meeting with your agent.”

  “She drops by to surf on a regular basis, and we were finished with our business discussion. Right now, Roxi isn’t super happy with me.”

  “Why, because my appearance on the beach cut your evening short?”

  “Huh?” He stopped at the wooden door and frowned down at her. “No, she had other plans tonight. I’m talking about my next project…or lack thereof. I turned down a role she thought I should take. Now she’s scouting for alternatives, but I told her to hold off.”

  “If you aren’t making money, she isn’t making money?”

  “Something like that.” He pushed the door open a foot. “You might want to stand behind me. Duke has a bad habit of jumping on people, and he’s pretty big.”

  Eden nodded then peered around him as barking erupted. A dog the size of a pony galloped across an expanse of lawn and skidded to a stop, paws flying.

  “Down, boy. Get down.” Blake patted the beast. When the dog shook his head, slobber flew everywhere.

  “Good heavens, what is he?”

  “An English Mastiff.”

  Eden held out a hand for the dog to sniff. “Wow, I think he might be even bigger than Tiny.”

  Blake shoved the dog out of the way with a grunt and headed up the path toward the house. “Who or what is Tiny? A baby elephant?”

  Eden smiled. “Devin, my future sister-in-law’s, Great Dane. Tiny is a little taller, but your boy looks heavier.”

  “He outweighs me by twenty pounds.”

  “I can believe it.” When Duke nudged her leg and whined, she fell against Blake. “I think he likes me.”

  “He’s a pushover for a pretty woman. Pet him, then tell him to go away, and he will.”

  Eden rubbed the dog’s wrinkly brow. “He’s a beauty.”

  “His sheer size deters overzealous fans, which is why I bought him in the first place, but I’ll admit he’s grown on me.”

  “If he grows any more, he’ll be as big as Apollo.”

  “You’re hilarious. Come on inside.” Blake crossed a stone patio to open a set of French doors. “Not you.” Grabbing the dog, he held tight while Eden entered the house. “You can stay out.”

  After one mournful glance, Duke wandered over to a water bowl near a tub of zinnias and slurped and slobbered.

  “Your home is beautiful.” She walked farther into the room and glanced around the spacious living area with its bank of windows facing the ocean and high cathedral ceiling. A pair of oversized tan couches with black accent pillows faced each other across a rug with a Native American design. “They remind me of your dog.”

  “Huh?”

  “The couches are the same color as Duke. I guess that hides the dog hair better.”

  “He has his own bed.” Blake turned down the stereo then pointed to a massive pad in the corner of the room beneath an even bigger TV. Standing on one foot, he peeled the wetsuit down first one leg then the other before he tossed it out on the patio. “Let me go shower off the saltwater and dress, then we’ll go get your luggage. I’ll be right back.”

  “No rush.” She stood in the middle of the area rug, feeling a little out of place.

  As if sensing her discomfort, he paused as he crossed the room and detoured over to gather her into his arms. “I’m really glad you’re here.” He pressed his cheek to her hair.

  She breathed in the salty scent of his skin as she kissed the side of his neck. “Me, too.”

  His arms tightened before he released her. “Make yourself at home. Explore the house. Or, come watch me shower.”

  When he wiggled his brows, she snorted with laughter, the awkwardness fading. “Maybe later. Go.”

  He went. She wandered through the open-concept dining area with its long, distressed wood table and bench seating to a gourmet chef’s dream kitchen with stainless steel appliances, cherry wood cabinets and black granite countertops. “Impressive.” After taking a glass from the cupboard, she filled it with tap water then nearly choked. “Ugh. Nasty.” She dumped it in the sink and found a filtered bottle in the fridge.

  Sipping her drink, she wandered back to the patio doors. The sun hovered just above the horizon, tinting the sky in streaks of orange and gold and glistening off the endless expanse of sea. A sigh slipped out at the sheer beauty of the vista. When arms slid around her waist, she leaned back against Blake’s chest, bare beneath an unbuttoned shirt.

  “What do you think?”

  “Spectacular.”

  “The view is the best part about living here. Certainly not the traffic getting to and from work. The weather is a plus, too.”

  “No snow to shovel in the winter, and a breeze off the ocean in the summer.” She smiled up at him. “Now if your water didn’t taste like it came out of a swimming pool…”

  He eyed her glass. “That isn’t from the faucet, is it?”

  “Not after my first swallow. I experienced the worst SoCal has to offer—rush hour traffic on my way here from the airport and unfiltered tap water—and survived both. The way I look at it, everything’s a plus from here on out.”

  “I like your attitude. Let’s go get your bag, and then we’ll make dinner. I’m starving.”

  She set her glass on the coffee table then smiled when he clasped her hand to lead her toward the front entry. “What, no butler to handle luggage or chef to cook your meals? Next you’ll be telling me you clean your own toilets.”

  “I like to cook, but cleaning isn’t my forte. A woman comes in two mornings a week. Catalina was here today, so you won’t find any dirty socks under the couch or sand in the sheets.”

  Her brows shot up as they left the house to stroll down the curving driveway. “Sand?”

  “Duke jumps up on my bed now and then, even though he knows he isn’t supposed to.”

  “So, if I’m sleeping on his side, I can expect to have a two-hundred-pound dog land on me in the night?”

  He laughed out loud. “Duke isn’t brave enough to get on the bed while I’m in it.”

  “Good to know. Who takes care of him while you’re filming on location?”

  “A friend of mine who lives down the beach a few houses keeps him. Cher loves Duke.”

  Of course his friend was a woman… “Convenient.” She waited while he punched in a code to open the gate then followed him through. “My bag is on the left side behind the rhododendron.”

  “Got it.” He pulled out her suitcase then glanced down the street as a car slowed. The two-door compact stopped then turned around. “Looks like a rental. Someone must be lost.”

  “Or a looky-loo who wanted to catch a glimpse of the great Blake Benedict then chickened out when confronted with you in the flesh.”

  “That would be a first. I have a reputation for being a sucker when it comes to signing autographs because it just seems so rude to say no to the people who watch my movies.”

  “You really are still that nice boy from Blu
e Valley, Oregon.” She tucked her hand through his free arm as he rolled her bag up the drive. The gate closed behind them.

  “You can take the man out of the country…”

  She smiled. “But you can’t take the country out of the man?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Maybe that’s why I’m not intimidated to be dating the world’s sexiest man.”

  “I think the official designation was sexiest man alive. I guess there are some dead guys I didn’t beat out.”

  A giggle bubbled up. “That would be hysterical if I wasn’t picturing a bunch of hot zombies.” Her amusement faded. “I was a little nervous about coming out here. I thought you might be different on your home turf, more awe-inspiring or something.”

  He held open the door for her. “Am I?”

  “No. You’re the same Blake I fell…for in Wyoming.” The words in love with hovered in the air between them, unvoiced. Speaking about feelings she could no longer deny would make her too vulnerable. She wasn’t sure she was ready to face the reality of loving this man. Not yet.

  White teeth flashed in his tanned face. “Hard to look formidable when you’re on a surf board. I’ll take your suitcase upstairs and be right down. Go browse through the refrigerator to see what you want for dinner.”

  She nodded and headed toward the kitchen. In the refrigerator she found a package of steak, another of chicken and a third of salmon steaks. Taking out the fish, she set it on the counter then rummaged through the vegetable drawer and came up with an assortment of summer squash, tomatoes and scallions.

  “What are we having?”

  She turned with a smile as he crossed the room. “Salmon with stir-fry veggies. I figured the steak and chicken will keep longer.”

  “Good plan. Obviously Catalina went shopping and stocked my fridge. I’ll go start the charcoal then work on the rest of our meal.”

  She set the vegetables on the counter. “I’ll light the grill.”

  He gave her a skeptical glance. “I use the old-fashioned type with charcoal briquettes. I think food tastes better when it isn’t cooked over gas.”

  “Do I look helpless? I can light briquettes.”

  “Then by all means, go for it. Everything you need is out on the side deck.”

  Eden found Duke next to the bag of charcoal and stroked his huge head. He moaned and rolled over for a belly rub. Smiling, she complied then hefted the big bag to pour briquettes into the grill bed. After squirting on some lighter fluid, she waited for it to soak in. A steady breeze stirred her hair, and she brushed strands off her cheek as she faced the ocean and breathed deeply of the salt-scented air. She hadn’t spent much time on the coast in years, not since her college days in the Bay Area, and hadn’t realized how much she’d missed the shriek of seagulls circling overhead.

  Turning to face the grill, she used a long-handled lighter to ignite the coals. When the back of her neck tingled, she glanced over her shoulder. Nothing but twilight to fill an empty stretch of grass while Duke dozed nearby with his nose on his paws. A shiver slid through her. The closest house was a good twenty yards away and had no windows facing this direction on the second floor. Still, she would swear someone was watching her.

  The porch light flickered on, and Blake stuck his head out the doorway. “Everything okay? You’ve been out here for a while.”

  “Just enjoying the evening.” She shrugged. “Maybe I’m a little paranoid, but do you often have paparazzi or fans watching you at home?”

  “Once in a while someone climbs the wall, or I forget to lock the beach gate. Usually Duke runs down to greet the intruder and is pretty vocal about his enthusiasm for unexpected company, so I have a fair amount of warning. Why?”

  “Just a feeling that eyes were on me. I’m not used to neighbors within shouting distance. Maybe that’s my problem.”

  “I was lucky to get this place because it offers a fair amount of privacy, and the brick wall was already in place. The original owner was a reclusive billionaire from the East Coast who imagined his neighbors were commie spies back in the Cold War era.”

  “Maybe they were. You know the rest of the country believes Californians are all a little crazy…” She grinned and followed him into the kitchen. “What can I do to help?”

  “You can slice up those veggies while I make an orzo dish to go with the salmon.”

  “Sounds good.” They worked together in silence for a few minutes. Studying the clean line of his jaw and nose as he chopped fresh herbs—the profile that always sent a quiver through her in a darkened movie theater—she could hardly believe she was here in his home.

  His gaze met hers. “Do I have crumbs on my face? I’ll admit I snuck a cookie while you were lighting the coals.”

  “No, it’s just strange being here with you.” She shrugged. “On the ranch, I could forget about your movie idol status.”

  “Truthfully, I’m a little surprised you came. I was afraid after I left Wyoming you’d rethink our whole relationship.”

  She laid down the knife next to the pile of squash. “I don’t know what to think. That’s why I flew out, to try to make sense of this. Of us.”

  “What can I do to make this whole situation easier for you?”

  “You can’t stop being famous. But watching you cook your own dinner helps.” She leaned against the counter while he sautéed the orzo. “Why did you turn down the part your agent wanted you to take?”

  “I intend to cut back on work. Can you stir this while I check the briquettes?”

  “I’ll take care of the salmon instead.” Picking up the plate, she walked out to the porch and poked at the coals, then carefully slid the fish onto the grill with the man-sized spatula hanging from a rack of tools. Hope stirred that Blake’s decision to reject the part was in some way related to her.

  He glanced up when she returned to the kitchen. “Were they hot enough?”

  She nodded and set the empty plate in the sink. “Was this part you refused the one you were reading in your bus before the drain cleaner incident?”

  “Yep, but the timing for filming the movie sucks. I’d finish this project and jump straight into the next one. I wouldn’t have a break.”

  “Is there something in particular you want to do instead?” She held her breath.

  He met her gaze. “Just spend time with you.”

  She stepped around the island to wrap her arms around his neck. “When you talk like that, my insides turn to mush, and I want to kiss you all over.”

  “I can clear off the countertop right now and strip…” His eyes sparkled. “Or do you have enough willpower to wait until after dinner?”

  Standing on her toes, she pressed a kiss to his smiling mouth. “Let’s keep the anticipation going as long as possible.”

  “In that case…” He stretched out an arm to lift a pan of garlic butter off the stove. “Go baste the salmon.”

  Chapter 19

  Blake drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as the Thursday afternoon traffic slowed to a halt. Again. Letting out a long breath, he resettled his ball cap as the sun beat down and held back the urge to shout. Some motorist would probably use his phone to video him yelling obscenities and send it to one of the celebrity gossip shows. When the traffic finally began to move, then increased to the usual warp speed, he zigged around some idiot going sixty in the fast lane then zagged around a big rig. What was the point in having a convertible sports car if you weren’t prepared to maneuver like an Indy Car driver?

  A grim smile slipped out. Of course video feed of him getting stopped for speeding would make an even bigger news splash. Today, he was willing to risk a ticket since Eden had chosen to stay at the house rather than accompanying him to the set. After a week in Malibu, he sensed her restlessness even though she swore she was enjoying every moment of her vacation.

  In his mind, that was part of the problem looming in their future. His beach house didn’t feel like home to her
, and he had a sinking feeling it never would. On the other hand, he’d been very comfortable on the Wilde ranch, but there was no way he could stay in her parents’ house, sleeping in their daughter’s childhood bedroom, for longer than a weekend without making everyone involved uncomfortable. Worry that there was no simple solution ate at him because the more time he spent with Eden, the greater his need to find a long-term compromise.

  Flipping on his blinker, he exited the freeway and headed toward the coast. After work, they’d fallen into a comfortable routine of taking long walks on the beach then tossing dinner on the grill and watching TV or a movie before heading to bed. Since going to a restaurant usually involved interacting with fans, he didn’t eat out often. Slowing the car, he turned down his street, looking forward to a quiet evening with Eden. For the one party Roxi had forced him to attend, Eden had put on a brave face, though he was dead certain she’d hated every minute of it. Thankfully, he had nothing important on his social schedule for the next few days, and by then they’d have wrapped up filming.

  Blake turned into his driveway and pressed the remote for the gate then glanced in the rearview mirror when a compact car with tinted windows drove slowly by on the street behind him. Once the gate swung open, he cruised up the drive to put the car in the garage. Circling the house on foot, he headed toward the patio where he expected to find Eden, since she seemed to prefer being outdoors as much as possible. She was stretched out on a recliner in the shade with a book open on her lap, wearing shorts and a crop top that bared a strip of skin across her belly. Sunglasses had slid down her nose. Duke lay on the cool stones of the patio beside her, twitching every now and then in dreamland. Blake wondered how long the pair had been asleep.

  Stepping over the dog, he sat on the edge of the chair and removed her glasses then bent to kiss her. She opened her eyes, deep blue and clouded with confusion, and blinked as comprehension dawned.

  “You’re home.”

  He nodded. “Did you have a nice nap?”

  She grimaced. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.” Swinging her legs to the side, she sat up and set her book on a nearby table then stretched. “What time is it?”