“Yes, we were so happy when she agreed to the role. I think she’s going to be just great in this. She knows absolutely nothing about this kind of lifestyle, though, which is why we wanted to spend the month really getting to know what ranch and rodeo life was like.”
I had no idea who Sloan was, but I already decided that I wasn’t going to like her. I couldn’t imagine a New Yorker ever fitting into this lifestyle. She was going to hate it here. I just hoped she wasn’t going to make my life miserable the entire month.
“Speaking of, here they come. Come on, let’s go and meet everyone.”
As we walked off, Harold looked at me and sighed happily. “This is the most exciting day, don’t you think?”
“Uh-huh,” I said and forced myself to smile.
Roger began the introductions. Everyone had arrived wearing clothes that were completely unsuited for farm life. Surely they knew that they were going to be working on a ranch. Why on earth were they all in tailored suits and fancy shoes? The whole thing was just ridiculous. They’d realize within a matter of days that they would need to change their way of thinking—and the way they dressed. I couldn’t wait to see them in something a bit more comfortable. It was going to be hard to deal with them dressed like that.
“Oh, and there’s Sloan,” Roger said as a car door opened up.
I turned around and tried not to gasp at the woman getting out of the car. This actress, Sloan or whatever her name was, was absolutely breathtaking. She was wearing a powder blue dress that inched up ever so slightly as she was getting out of the car. It was just tight enough to show off her body, and it was clear she was a woman who liked to work out. I felt slightly annoyed that I found her so attractive. For a second, I thought that working with her was going to be okay. Until I looked down and saw her shoes. She was wearing silver heels that looked like they would be uncomfortable to walk in on smooth pavement. How she was going to walk around on the farm with those on, I had no idea. I almost burst out laughing at the sight of her. Ridiculous. No matter how beautiful she was, her lack of common sense was completely off-putting.
“Come on, let’s go and say hello. I’d like to introduce you to her,” Roger said.
I looked at Harold, and it was obvious that he was already completely smitten. Let’s just get this over with, I thought as we made our way toward the car.
Chapter Six
Sloan
I got out of the car and groaned as a gust of wind blew dust all around me. I’d been telling myself that I was going to experience a glorious month of sunshine and fresh air. I’d forgotten all about the dust. And the dirt. I looked down at my pale blue dress and my beautiful shoes that Victoria had insisted I buy and realized what a mistake I’d made with my outfit. I peered out at the rest of the cast members and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that they were dressed pretty similarly. Clearly, we had no idea what we were in for.
I looked around for the producer and smiled when I saw him walking toward me. He had two men trailing behind him. One was a white-haired man with a very wide girth who was grinning at me with unabashed excitement, and the other was a younger, handsome man with a scowl on his face. I assumed they were both coming over to get my autograph. I didn’t mind signing autographs; I knew that it was part and parcel of being an actress. But I had just arrived, and I really wasn’t in the mood for it.
“Darling,” cooed Roger as he took my hand. “You look gorgeous. I’m glad to see you got here safely. All good?”
“Everything is great,” I lied. “It’s good to see you. I’m looking forward to this.”
He beamed. “So are we. So are we. Now, there are two gentlemen that I’d like you to meet. This is Harold; he’s the owner of the ranch, and this is one of his best workers, Brady.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Harold beamed. He leaned in and kissed my hand. I smiled politely but felt desperate to pull my hand away. Thankfully, I was saved by his phone ringing. He apologized profusely and ran off to answer it.
“Actually, I’m sorry to do this to you, my dear,” Roger said. “I’m being called. But you’re in good hands. Brady here knows the lay of the land and I’ve told him what we’ll be doing and where we will be shooting. He’ll show you around quickly so that you have an idea. Afterward, I’ll gather all the cast together so that we know what to do. We won’t do much today, but I just want you to get an idea of the place. Is that okay with you, Brady?”
I looked at Brady, who was standing stiff with his hands in his pocket. He was obviously very nervous to be around me. I couldn’t imagine that they got many celebrities in his neck of the woods.
He shuffled his feet and nodded. “Of course. I don’t mind at all.”
“Wonderful! See you all soon,” Roger said and rushed off.
“Well, uh, thanks for showing me around. I’m Sloan,” I said and stuck out my hand.
Brady shook my hand, and I was surprised at how rough his skin felt against mine. He was a very good-looking man, even better-looking up close, but he didn’t seem prone to smiling. Also, he was looking at me in a way that was making me feel uncomfortable. I thought about what Victoria had said about all the hillbillies in the area and shivered.
“Sloan. Interesting name. I’m Brady.”
He didn’t move from his spot even though he was supposed to show me around, and I suddenly realized that he was probably looking for an autograph. As much as I didn’t want to give him one, I also wanted to get this encounter over with as soon as possible.
“Uh, where can I sign for you?” I asked.
“What?”
“Where can I sign for you?” I asked, speaking slowly this time. He probably wasn’t the smartest person around.
“Sign what?”
“Uh, my autograph,” I said. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
“Why would I want your autograph?” he said and shook his head.
I felt my face go warm and I quickly tried to laugh it off. “Just kidding. Uh, should we get going, then?”
“Sure,” he said and started to walk.
As we walked, Brady showed me around the ranch and told me what they did on the farm and where Roger was hoping to shoot. He kept the conversation to a bare minimum and didn’t seem interested in talking about anything other than what he was supposed to tell me. In fact, I’d go as far as saying he didn’t want me there at all.
“Do you mind walking a bit slower?” I asked. He kept charging off in front of me, and I was already breaking out into a sweat. And breaking out into a sweat was not something I was accustomed to doing when I wasn’t at the gym. I remembered hearing once about someone who had gotten their sweat glands removed. I’d thought it was an awful idea, but now I wasn’t so sure. I hated the thought that someone was going to see me sweating.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have worn those shoes,” he said as he turned around.
“What?” I asked in surprise. I had expected him to apologize and to slow down, not to stand there and insult me. “What have my shoes got to do with you charging off?”
“Trust me, if you want to enjoy your time on the farm, you’ll be better off getting something a bit more comfortable. And if you were wearing better shoes, you’d probably be walking right beside me instead of trailing behind me. I’m not walking fast here. You’re the one that is walking too slow. Did you not realize that you’d be out on a farm?”
Was this man for real? What an asshole.
“Do you even have any idea who I am?” I asked him.
“Sloan Hill, or something like that?” he answered.
“Well, yes. That’s my name. But do you know who I am?” I said again.
“You’re an actress from New York? You’re shooting a film here at the ranch? Am I wrong?”
I shook my head in annoyance. “No, you’re not wrong. That’s right. But you shouldn’t talk to me like that. I mean, I’m an actress. I’m well-known.”
“Hey, you’re the one that’s on my farm. And I’ve b
een perfectly nice to you. I’ve taken time out of my day to show you around. Actress or not.”
“You honestly don’t have to do that, you know. I think I’d rather walk around by myself than walk with you. I mean, what can you honestly teach me that I don’t already know? I went to Yale. Do you know that?”
“No, I didn’t know that. And while that’s very impressive, I honestly don’t think Yale gave you the skills you need to succeed out here. I think that concludes our tour, wouldn’t you say? I think maybe it’s best for both of us if we just end it here for today. But Miss Sloan,” he said, “if you need anything at all, just call me. I’ll be here.”
I looked at him in exasperation as he walked away. Who the hell did he think he was? If you need anything at all, just call me! That was the most insincere message that had come out of his mouth. Victoria was right. This was going to be an absolute nightmare.
I walked slowly back to the rest of the actors. The heel of my shoe kept slipping into the dirt, and it was making the walk very difficult. But I refused to take them off. I knew Brady was somewhere nearby and I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. So I walked, albeit slowly, and kept my shoes on. I couldn’t imagine what the shoes must look like with all that mud on them. Victoria was going to have a heart attack when she discovered what I’d done with them. She treated her shoes better than she treated most people.
“Sloan!” Roger said when he saw me. “So, what do you think? Isn’t this place incredible? It’s exactly what I had envisioned. I cannot believe I found a place that’s so perfect. I think we’re going to make an amazing movie out here.”
“Yeah, it’s great,” I said. But it was hard to sound enthusiastic after my encounter with Brady.
“What’s wrong? You look annoyed.”
I sighed. “That Brady guy.”
“What about him? He seems like a nice guy. Did he do something wrong?”
“He was so condescending to me. He seemed to have no interest in helping me at all.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about him. Remember, Sloan; you’re a gorgeous girl. And not only that, but you’re famous. This is probably the first time that he’s ever dealt with someone like you before. You’re gorgeous, you’re rich, and you’re highly educated. That’s probably just a lot for him to take in right now. He’s probably just a hillbilly who knows nothing other than working on this ranch. He’s going to be perfect when it comes to helping us with the movie. But beyond that, I really wouldn’t let him get under your skin. And when you get irritated, just remember how much better off you are than him. The poor guy is probably just completely overwhelmed by being around you.”
I smiled. “Well, that’s a good thought to have. Thanks, Roger. I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”
Chapter Seven
Brady
It was early Friday morning, and I was sitting with Grant over a cup of coffee. It was still early, and Emily was fast asleep. Grant had already gone out for a run and was now enjoying some coffee before heading out to work. I was glad to see him.
“So, one week down,” Grant said. “How’s it going with the production?”
I groaned. “Not even a full week done and already I’m going out of my mind. Those people are not my people, that’s for sure.”
He laughed. “I didn’t think they would be. So, any idea who the actors are? Anyone famous?”
I shrugged. “I’ve already forgotten half their names. But the main actress is Sloan. I forgot her surname. Bill. Hill. Something like that.”
“Sloan Hill? Are you serious?”
“Yeah. Do you know her?”
“Well, I don’t know her, but I know of her. She was in that big movie a few months ago that everyone was talking about. She should’ve been the lead role. She was excellent. Oh wow. So, is she as beautiful up close as she is on screen? Or is it a major disappointment?”
I thought of Sloan, getting out of the car in her pale blue dress, her eyes matching her outfit, and sighed. “She’s . . . well, she’s beautiful. But the more I get to know her, the less beautiful I think she is. She’s really obnoxious. And incredibly superficial. She honestly does not belong in this place.”
“Sounds like she really got on your nerves.”
“She did. Thankfully, I’ve managed to avoid her most of the week.”
“Oh yeah? Have you gotten involved at all?”
“They’ve asked me to help some of the actors, but not too much. I’ve mostly just been getting all the areas ready for production. So thankfully, I’ve managed to keep a low profile. You should see Harold, though. He’s in his element. He can’t stop gushing around them. It’s pretty embarrassing.”
Grant chuckled. “Poor Harold. At least it’s given him something to do. I’m sure he’s very proud that they’re filming on his ranch.”
I sighed. “He is. And yeah, that’s nice. But man, I cannot wait until this is all over. It’s really not my thing. That Sloan girl actually arrived in high heels on the first day. Can you believe it? She could barely walk.”
“Well, that’s Hollywood life for you. Try not to get too mad at them. They’re just not used to this lifestyle. You’d feel just as uncomfortable if you had to go and live with them for a month.”
“I would never go and live with them for a month!”
Grant chuckled again. “You really are getting worked up about this.”
“It’s just tough, you know. I mean, I work so hard every single day of my life, and I feel like they are almost making a mockery of it. And worse, they will walk away from this with more money than I could ever imagine. Money isn’t everything to me, but it’s still frustrating.”
“I suppose you’re right. Well, don’t let it get to you too much, Shotgun. You’re probably much happier than they’ll ever be. And this will all be over in no time. Anyway, I better go. Good luck with today. Maybe I’ll pop in sometime to see these people.”
“Yeah, you’re welcome anytime. Come and save me. Anyway, say hi to Emily for me.”
“Will do.”
When Grant had left, I made my way to the ranch. The only good thing was that I always got there so much earlier than everyone else. None of these people were early morning people. This at least guaranteed me a few blissful hours every morning when I had the ranch all to myself. I made the most of it that morning, just walking around and doing my work. Grant was right; I was letting these people get to me too much. And it wasn’t necessarily their fault that they didn’t know how to fit into this lifestyle. I was going to have to stop getting so worked up about it.
Two hours after arriving, I heard a few of the crew walking around, and I tried to make myself as scarce as possible. I’d promised Harold that I would be there for them whenever they needed me, but I figured the less they saw of me, the less chance there would be of them asking me for anything. I kept my head down and just worked. I was just about to check on the steers when I heard two men talking nearby, so I quickly headed out to the barn where I thought I’d be safe. I went up to the horses and started feeding them. Feeding the horses was one of my favorite parts of working on the farm. I’d always thought they were the most beautiful creatures in the world. I couldn’t believe that some people were so scared of them. If you gave them respect, they always gave it back to you without question. They were loyal and loving, but only if you were the same to them. I’d always thought that a relationship with a horse was so much less complicated than those with actual humans. I patted Betty, the horse I rode the most, and laughed as she pushed her face onto my hand for more.
“You’re a good girl,” I said to her.
I was just about to start cleaning the barn when I heard someone talking outside. I walked a little closer to the door and chuckled ever so slightly when I heard that it was Sloan. And from the sounds of it, she was all alone. She’d obviously come somewhere quiet to practice her lines. I leaned in closer to hear what she was saying.
“Good morning, darling. Yes, I’ll be right there; I ju
st need to wash the horses,” she said in a fake accent. She put so much emphasis on the word wash that it sounded like she was saying warsh.
“Good morning, darling,” she said again. Her accent seemed to get worse on every try. “Yes, I’ll be right there, I just need to warsh the horses.”
I tried not to laugh, but when she was tried for the fifth time to say the same sentence, I couldn’t help myself. A chortle escaped my mouth so loudly that it was impossible that she hadn’t heard me. I ran back to the horses and pretended to be busy when she walked in.
“Is something funny?”
I turned around and looked at her. Sloan might not have been wearing heels anymore, but she still looked so completely out of place. Her jeans were too tight, her shirt was too white, her face had too much makeup: the list was endless. It was hard to deny that she was beautiful, but it was hard to take her too seriously when she was dressed like that.
“No, nothing is funny,” I said. “I was just talking to Betty.”
“Betty? Who the hell is Betty?”
“Betty is the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“What are you talking about?” she said without trying to hide the annoyance in her voice.
I quite liked that I was able to get under her skin so easily. “This is Betty,” I said and rubbed her nose. “She’s my favorite horse.”
“Oh,” she said. “Well, she’s nice. Do you ride her?”
“All the time,” I said and smiled. “How about you? Do you ride horses?”
“Uh, yeah. All the time.”
“You do?” I said in surprise. “In New York?”
“Yeah. I mean, it’s a big state. There’s places where you can go.”
“Oh, that’s nice. I didn’t realize. Well, come on and say hello to Betty then. I’ll show you her favorite spot to be stroked.”
“Uh, that’s okay. I sort of have things to do.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “You sort of have things to do? You can’t say hello to Betty for just a minute? Remember, you’re probably going to have to ride her soon. You might as well get acquainted.”
Dirty Stepbrother - A Firefighter Romance (The Maxwell Family) Page 136