Chapter 3 #2
I guess there’s no getting away from this now. Instead of reaching for his hand I reach up to slip off the massive shades I’m wearing. It takes a beat longer than I’m used to, but I can tell the moment he recognizes me. His hazel eyes widen as he takes in my familiar face.
“You’re…”
“Aurelia Lane, yes. That’s me.”
“Oh.”
“Right. All I ask is you keep this to yourself. I’m trying to keep the lowest of profiles here.
” That disappearing into the hedge meme?
That’s the energy I’m channeling right now.
I shift my head slightly to the left, but no one among the handful of patrons is staring, pulling out a camera, or making a beeline for our table.
But I still take a few deep breaths and attempt to relax my shoulders.
Because this is possibly my last chance in the industry, and if he decides to go to the press, the entire thing is shot.
He leans forward, palms pressed flat on the table. “Wait a minute. Are you in the show? The one they’re going to be filming at our place? Who else is in the cast? Caleb did not tell us there were going to be big stars at our place.”
His fanboy enthusiasm leaves me frozen in place.
“They wouldn’t have told him. Look, maybe this was a bad idea.”
I should go. I should walk right out the door and leave Quinton Holloway, my maple cream latte, and the last glimmers of hope for salvaging my career behind me forever.
I can’t believe this was my only plan. It seemed like a good idea.
Who would have thought the cowboy living out in the middle of nowhere Canada would be a fan of Paisley Creek?
His mouth falls open, and he rubs the back of his neck, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. Was that a bit too much? I’m sure you have people fawning all over you all the time. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s okay. It’s just…I’m not sure. Maybe I shouldn’t have come here.”
“No, I’ll be cool. You were looking for me for a reason.” His brows pull together in confusion, as if he can’t believe this is real. “Please tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone else.” He runs his thumb and forefinger across his lips as if he’s zipping them up, which is actually kind of adorable.
I take a deep breath, then blow it out. This is it.
I’m going to tell him the truth. He might out me to the world, or spill the news to someone he thinks he can trust. Anything is possible at this point.
But I can’t see any other way out of this situation.
I can’t go back to LA without at least trying.
It’s easier to tell him the first part without looking him in the eyes, so I squeeze them shut. “Okay, so this is obviously a show about cowboys and a working ranch, right?”
“Makes sense.”
“All the leads are required to have some horse knowledge and at least basic riding skills.” My heart is pounding so hard I can barely hear my own words, and I’m afraid it’s going to tip me over into a panic attack.
I cannot afford that. Not here. Not when everything is riding on how this conversation goes.
I open my eyes again, focusing on a picture on the wall over his shoulder.
It’s a serene landscape of the mountains.
Perfect for calming the nerves. “So to get the part, I said I could ride.” I pause, struggling to get the words out. “But I can’t.”
He’s silent for so long, I glance at him afraid of what I’ll see. But there’s no sign of judgment on his face. Just confusion.
“Why?”
Right. Of course that’s what he wants to know, but there’s no way he’s going to understand. My PR struggles, the way the media turned on me after the breakup and leaving the show. How goddamn hard it is to be a woman in this industry.
“It was my last shot. Jobs have been hard to come by since my breakup and all the scrutiny. The media, the executives. You wouldn’t understand. But this showrunner wanted me. She sought me out. This might be my last chance.”
The confusion is still there in those multi-hued eyes of his, but there’s something else underneath it. A growing understanding. Of my situation, if not the logistics.
“Okay. Still not understanding why you wanted to talk to me.” He reaches up to run a hand through his mess of wavy brown hair.
“I was hoping you could teach me to ride.”
He jerks his head back. “Me? I’m no riding teacher. Couldn’t you hire a professional?”
I can’t tell him the real reason I targeted him—because he’s young and seemed like the easiest of the brothers to…
not control, but convince. But I stay close to the truth.
“It’s hard to find someone to trust. Even a professional.
But I did some research, and it looks like your family is committed to the show.
” I don’t mention the dire financial situation the location fees will be saving them from, but the droop of his lips tells me he’s thinking of it.
“And out of your siblings, you seemed the most logical choice. You just finished school, you’re moving back to the ranch.
And you’re committed to the horses. Also, some of those horses will be used for filming as I understand it, so that would be a huge bonus for me.
You know, having a horse I’m already comfortable with when filming starts. ”
He nods slowly like he’s thinking it over.
“And I’m not asking you to do it for free. I’ll pay you. That’s not a problem.”
My heart sinks at his laugh.
“Please. I need this.” My tone is pleading to the point of begging, and my breath is coming so fast I’m almost ready to stand up and bolt out of this café.
Right out of this town. But then where would I go?
Home to my parents, who never really approved of my career choice anyway?
There’s nowhere. Nowhere that wants me. Except here, on this show, in this goddamn small town.
But then he smiles, eyes shining with excitement, and leans forward. “I’d love to. And you don’t have to pay me. I’ll do it for free.”
There have been too many times when men “helped” me out and expected something in return.
I can’t accept his help without some sort of payment.
“No, we should make this official. Write a contract up. I’m going to need you to sign an NDA anyway.
I need to know you’re not going to suddenly sell my story to the press.
If I pay you, then I’ll worry less about that. ”
He blows out a frustrated breath. “Fine. But I just need you to know, I would never double-cross you like that. That’s not how I was raised.”
I nod, giving him a small smile. He might believe his words, but it wouldn’t be the first time a man masqueraded as a good guy before betraying me.