Chapter 9
LILA WAS SHIVERING by the time they arrived at the motel.
She’d recognized Baxter’s car even before they turned into the parking lot.
The red Beemer convertible occupied the same spot they’d vacated a couple hours ago.
Just the idea of it annoyed her, which said a lot about her anxiety level lately.
“Don’t tell me,” Clint said, glancing at the car. “It’s Baxter’s.”
“How did you know? The California plates?”
“It’s December in Montana. How many idiots would leave the top down?”
Lila grinned. Feeling a slight pinch near her ear, she realized it had come from her jaw joint.
It actually ached from smiling so much. After dinner when she’d asked if they could drive around and look at Christmas lights, he’d agreed without even a blink.
Of course they hadn’t been gone long. Other than a pair of residential side streets, the ranches were spread out.
Christmas was obviously a big deal around Blackfoot Falls, which made Lila like the place even more.
Clint pulled into a parking spot near the door, and her pulse jumped.
He could’ve simply dropped her off, so maybe he wanted to come to her room.
Although he hadn’t cut the engine, so it was hard to know for sure.
Lila appreciated that he’d been chivalrous before, but now she knew exactly what she wanted.
“Do you want—”
“How will you get—”
They spoke at the same time.
Clint motioned for her to go first. And then his phone chirped.
“Go ahead,” she said when he didn’t bother looking at it.
“Later. It’s my mom.”
“Oh, did you miss your curfew?” Her teasing apparently missed the mark.
Staring at the phone, he sighed. “How many times have I showed her how to text?”
“I can get out if you want.”
“No. I’ll only be a minute,” he muttered, then shut off the engine and answered.
“What’s up, Mom?” He listened for a moment, frowning.
“No way. I brought up every single box you had marked.” He paused, chuckling under his breath.
“No, ma’am, I stacked them in the same corner I do every year. The basement’s not that crowded.”
Lila typed a text to Erin. Nothing important. She just didn’t want to make Clint uncomfortable or have him think he had to rush.
Clint stretched his neck to the side. “Fine. I’ll check when I get home,” he said, then turned his head and lowered his voice. “Yes, I did. In town. I have to go.” He dropped his phone on the console and scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be.” She sent her text and pocketed her phone. “I should’ve just gotten out.”
“That would’ve made things worse. Believe me, there’s no crisis. She thinks some Christmas ornaments are missing.”
“Are you insane?”
“Maybe,” he said. “Could you be more specific?”
“Definitely a crisis. How long has she been collecting the ornaments? I bet they were passed down from your grandparents. Probably even from your great-grandparents.” Lila sighed. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re serious.”
“Well, of course I am! Those kinds of things are irreplaceable.”
“Okay. I see your point. But I know damn good and well it’s all there. The minute I get home—” He couldn’t have looked more disgusted if he tried. “How are you getting to the set tomorrow? Can I give you a ride?”
“I think Erin is going to pick me up. Did I say something to upset you?”
“No, it’s not you. It’s...nothing.”
“Okay.” It sounded as if he might live with his parents and maybe he didn’t want her to know. “What time do they want you on the set?”
“By eleven.”
“Lucky you. I start at seven.”
Clint snorted. “Hell, I’ll have fed and watered the horses by then.”
“Wow. That’s right. You have a bunch of ranch things to do.”
He found her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Don’t feel too sorry for me. We have some hired men to help with the ranch things.”
“Okay, I should’ve said chores. Would that be more accurate?” How crazy was it that just the feel of his callused palm could make her skin tingle?
“I like ranch things. I’m going to start using it.”
Lila laughed. “You’ve never told me exactly what you do.”
“I’m the foreman, so I handle the daily operation, ordering supplies, payroll, buying and selling cattle at auctions. When it’s roundup time, I work right alongside the guys.”
“Does your father do anything?” She groaned. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Honestly, that was so rude.”
Clint chuckled. “Let’s just say he’s semiretired...” He looked as though he was about to say something else but changed his mind. Whatever it was, his mood seemed to take a dip.
Lila shifted restlessly. “Thank you for dinner,” she said. “And for getting me an amazing room.”
“Amazing, huh?” He smiled. “Hey, I didn’t look. Does it have a tub?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Has to be pretty generic.”
“I’m not complaining.” She drew in a breath. “Maybe you’d like to try it out with me some time...”
The moon lit most of his face. Desire flared hot in his eyes. “No maybe about it.”
Lila’s mouth went dry. She knew she should say something. Clearly it would be up to her if and when they were to take the next step. But she couldn’t seem to think straight or even make her mouth work, which at the moment was probably a blessing.
She hated the timing. She knew she was overly touchy about sex being used as a favor; hard to live and work in Hollywood and not be aware of it. Clint was different. Knowing with absolute certainty his generosity came without strings attached helped, but not enough. Not in this particular instance.
What had tripped her up was thanking him for dinner and the room. It was appropriate, even though she’d already thanked him, but saying it again and then jumping into bed with him? Too weird. She liked him too much to give him the wrong impression.
He’d been watching her, and when she met his eyes again, he gave her a patient smile.
“I love the name Whispering Pines,” she said, feeling like the biggest wuss in the whole world.
He didn’t release her hand, so he hadn’t written her off as a lost cause. “It’s okay. Not very manly, though,” he said with a shrug and a self-deprecating laugh. “The ranch has been in the family for generations. I think it might’ve been my great-great grandmother who came up with the name.”
“Is it very far?”
“Thirty minutes.”
She waited, hoping he’d suggest taking her there some time. The invitation didn’t come.
“Am I going to see you tomorrow?” he asked.
“I’ll make a point of it.” She curled her fingers around his hand and leaned slightly toward him.
Clint took it from there. Sliding a hand around the back of her neck, he drew her closer as he leaned over the console until their lips met.
The pressure of his palm against her nape had an odd and intoxicating effect on her.
She parted her lips, anxious to feel the warm stroke of his tongue, and he didn’t disappoint.
She tasted his hunger as he explored her mouth, her need for him growing with breathless speed. Shifting her body so that she faced him, her hand landed high on his thigh. His muscles tensed underneath her touch, and his low, husky moan filled her mouth.
Her heart seemed to stop.
Oh, how she regretted not inviting him to her room. It was silly to be sitting out here. She’d fretted for nothing. She would make the suggestion...
He’d deepened the kiss and she could barely stay still, much less think. He sucked on her tongue, nibbled her bottom lip and teased the corners of her mouth. He tilted her chin up and changed the angle of his head, then traced his fingers along her jawline before plunging them into her hair.
The loud bang of a car door changed the tempo.
Clint didn’t pull away, but he tamed the kiss and relaxed his hand. He took his time ending things, but it didn’t blunt the sense of loss she felt the moment he broke away.
His mouth curved in a smile as he brushed the hair away from her eyes. And then his gaze drifted past her to something outside. Something that caused his expression to tighten, and she couldn’t resist a backward glance.
Over two dozen cars crowded the small lot. But of course it had to be Baxter. Standing beside his Beemer and looking in their general direction. Between the moon and the motel’s floodlights, the visibility was good if he knew where to look.
Exasperated, Lila groaned. “You think he can see us through these tinted windows?”
“I wouldn’t have thought so. But he slammed the door for a reason.”
She hadn’t considered that, but of course. He hadn’t just arrived, and he obviously wasn’t in a hurry to leave. “Should we give him a show?”
Clint looked at her. “You really want to do that?”
Her inner child was all pumped to say you betcha. “I guess not,” she muttered, sitting back against the seat. “Stupid jerk. He’s probably pleased with himself for killing the mood.”
Clint looked as though he was about to say something, but changed his mind. “I’ll stay here in the truck until you get to your room and he leaves. I’ll make sure he sees me. Hopefully he’ll take off and not bother you tonight.”
Lila tried to think fast. It was a good excuse to invite Clint upstairs. “Or you could come up with me.”
“I could,” he said with a slow nod as he searched her face. “If that’s what you want.”
Oh, God, she hated being put on the spot like this. Despite the fact that she’d started it. Usually she had no trouble dealing with men. No was an answer she knew well. But it was different with Clint. Darn him.
Tempted to run a hand down his fly and ask him what he wanted, she huffed a breath instead. “What’s today? Wednesday?”
“Yep.”
“Okay.” She put her hand on the door handle. “I’ll see you on the set, but I’m going to be busy all day tomorrow and then we’re shooting a twilight scene.” She lifted the handle. “Don’t even think about weaseling out of Saturday night.”
Clint let out a laugh. “Nope.”
“Now, go find your mom’s ornaments.” She opened the door and slid out. “Thanks again for...everything.”