Chapter 12 #2
Adrian stretched his head from side to side as if trying to release tension. “Interesting timing for that particular history lesson.”
Nate chuckled, acknowledging the point, and changed the subject. “This route has some of the best views in the county. We’ll hit the river overlook in about ten minutes—perfect spot for those scenic shots you’re after.”
As Nate guided the horses along the trail, he kept up a steady stream of local history and stories about the land we were passing. Adrian seemed genuinely engaged, asking questions and laughing at Nate’s jokes.
I focused on getting footage, trying to ignore the way their rapport made my teeth grind together.
“You know,” Nate said casually after describing a particularly beautiful spot ahead, “I usually take couples on this route. It’s considered the most romantic of our trails.”
“Is that so?” Adrian replied politely.
“Absolutely. Something about the snow, the scenery, the closeness.” Nate gestured around us. “Had three marriage proposals on this trail last winter alone.”
I focused on adjusting my camera angle to avoid catching Adrian’s reaction.
“No pressure, of course,” Nate added with a chuckle.
“Well, Nate, I’ve enjoyed this date a lot so far, but considering we just met… Not sure a proposal’s in the cards for us today.”
Adrian’s attempt at humor made Nate chuckle and my stomach twist uneasily.
“I figured,” Nate said with a wink. “I was more wondering whether you and grumpy-ass over there wanted to pick up where you left off last night.”
“Give it a rest,” I bit out, turning the camera off. “You’re starting to sound like my sister.”
“Smart girl, Maya.” Nate shrugged. “Have to say, after that kiss, I was pulling for #TeamMaddrian myself.”
Heat crawled up my neck. I opened my mouth to tell Nate to back off again, but this time, Adrian beat me to it.
He let out a laugh that tinkled like the bells on the sleigh—high, clear, and just a bit brittle.
“The kiss was staged, thanks in part to Maya and the other folks in Legacy. Maddox and I only went along with it because it made for good content. Which is the point of all of this, remember?” He smiled hard and didn’t meet my eyes.
My skin flashed from hot to cold and then settled on clammy and unsettled.
Good content.
Right.
Content.
“I see.” Nate nodded, guiding the horses around a bend in the trail. “It was Maya’s fault that you two happened to be standing right there all cuddled up when the lights came on.”
“We weren’t cuddling! I was blinded—” Adrian protested.
“Knock it off, Nate,” I muttered. “You heard the man.”
Nate laughed. “Hey, I’m not the one you need to convince. It’s a small town. Everyone’s seen how you are with each other. Haven’t you noticed that every potential date for Adrian mysteriously cancels at the last minute?”
Adrian’s cheeks flushed, which was an unexpected reaction. “Maddox thinks it’s a conspiracy.”
Nate snorted. “There’s actually a betting pool at Timber about when the two of you will—”
“Look at that view,” I interrupted desperately. “Perfect shot of Slingshot Mountain coming up. We should stop here.”
To my relief, Nate shut up and slowed the horses. “This is one of my favorite spots. This time of day, the sun hits it just right sometimes.”
The sleigh came to a stop at a stunning overlook. Fresh snow blanketed the landscape, sparkling in the winter sunlight. The river winding below was partially frozen, creating a striking pattern of ice and dark water. Pine trees, heavily laden with snow, framed the mountains in the distance.
“It’s breathtaking,” Adrian said quietly.
“Take your time getting whatever shots you need,” Nate suggested. “The horses could use a rest anyway.”
I climbed down first, camera already in hand, surveying the scene for the best angles. Adrian followed, pulling out his phone to take a quick personal shot before we started the actual filming.
“Let’s get some footage of you by that stand of pines,” I directed, slipping into professional mode. “The light’s hitting them perfectly right now.”
Adrian nodded, moving toward the spot I’d indicated. I followed, stepping carefully through the snow, focusing on framing the shot rather than on the man in my viewfinder.
That was my mistake. Too focused on the camera settings, I didn’t notice the patch of ice beneath the fresh snow until my boot knocked the tripod leg and began to slip.
In an effort to protect the camera, my feet went out from under me, and I stumbled directly into Adrian’s path as he lurched forward to keep me from falling.
“Maddox!” he cried as I crashed into his chest. My hands cradled the camera as my nose buried itself in the soft scarf at the base of his throat.
For a moment, we stood frozen, my body pressed against his, his arms wrapped around my waist. His heart hammered through the thin skin of my cheek, matching the rapid beat of my own.
“You okay?” he asked, his voice rough and low.
I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. His face was inches from mine, his breath warm against my cold skin. His eyes, wide with surprise, darkened as they fixed on mine. Something electric passed between us, a current that had nothing to do with the winter static in the air.
“Watch your step,” Nate called from the sleigh, amusement clear in his voice. “Snow and ice are slippery.”
His words broke the spell. I stepped back abruptly, nearly losing my balance again before steadying myself with the tripod legs.
“Sorry,” I muttered, unable to meet Adrian’s eyes. “Wasn’t paying attention.”
“’S’okay,” Adrian replied, his voice still strangely tight. “Happens.”
I busied myself checking that my camera hadn’t been damaged, though I knew perfectly well it was fine. My heart was still racing, skin tingling where his hands had gripped me.
“We should, uh, get that shot before the light changes,” I said, gesturing vaguely toward the pines.
“Right,” Adrian agreed, moving back into position.
Something about the shot wasn’t right. It took me a minute to figure it out.
Fuck.
“Nate!” I called. “You ready to shoot?”
Adrian’s eyes widened as he realized neither one of us had considered including Nate in the shot. It was supposed to be a date between the two of them after all.
The rancher came sauntering over. “Sure you need me? Seems like the two of you might create better content without a dusty ole rancher—”
“Shut the fuck up,” I snapped. “Get in the shot, and let’s get this knocked out.”
We completed the shoot with a new tension between Adrian and me, both hyperaware of each other’s movements. Nate seemed to enjoy every minute of it, occasionally offering suggestions for shots or angles, his knowing expression making it clear he saw right through our professional facade.
Since the two of them were supposed to be acting like they were on a date, I took several clips of them standing close together, gazing at the view, and even one with Adrian’s arm threaded through Nate’s.
Every time Nate stood close to Adrian, I wanted to throw the sexy rancher clear off the nearest cliff.
“That’s enough,” I barked when Nate tugged Adrian closer with the tails of the Nordique scarf, pretending the same playful, flirty tone I’d suggested when framing the shot.
Adrian’s cheeks darkened while Nate’s head fell back in laughter.
“Alright, alright. The fun police are here, and they are not amused,” Nate teased, shooting Adrian a wink. “I forgot to warn you never to poke a bear out here.”
When we finally climbed back into the sleigh for the return journey, Adrian sat stiffly beside me, careful not to let our legs touch. I focused intently on reviewing the footage we’d captured, avoiding both his gaze and Nate’s amused glances.
Nate, bless and damn him, filled the silence with more local history and stories about his horses, occasionally letting a huff of amusement slip out.
As we approached a particularly scenic stretch of the trail, Nate turned slightly. “Adrian, there’s a barn dance at my place next weekend. Nothing fancy, just locals letting loose with some music and food. You should come.”
I leaned forward and narrowed my eyes at Nate.
Before I could ask Since when are you hosting a fucking barn dance? Adrian replied. “Thanks. That sounds fun.”
“Great,” Nate said easily. “Looking forward to it. I’m not a bad dancer if the music’s just right.”
I kept my expression carefully neutral, though my grip on the camera tightened.
I had no idea what Nate was playing at. He’d been flirty with Adrian, but then he’d backed off long enough to tease us with the stupid #TeamMaddrian thing. Had he believed Adrian’s explanation about the kiss being staged for content?
It shouldn’t matter if Adrian attended a barn dance with Nate.
It shouldn’t matter if they hit it off, if something developed between them.
After all, Adrian would be gone in less than two weeks, back to his perfect life in LA, while Nate would remain here—solid, dependable, part of the community. And apparently flirty as fuck.
So why did the thought of Adrian dancing with Nate, doing… other things with Nate, make me want to shove both of them off the sleigh bench?
No reason. No reason at all.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out two pieces of gum before shoving them into my mouth and concentrating on the sharp burst of flavor. Get your head out of your ass and work, dumbass.
When we arrived back at Nate’s farm, the sky had darkened with approaching snow clouds. Nate busied himself with unhitching the horses while Adrian helped, listening attentively to instructions and seeming genuinely interested in the animals.
I hung back, packing up equipment in Adrian’s rental and trying to maintain at least the illusion of professionalism.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said you’ve got a natural touch,” I heard Nate tell Adrian as they led June back to her stall. “Ever considered moving somewhere you could have horses of your own?”