Chapter 14 #2
“I don’t understand what brought this on,” Clint said, his insides clenching. “But I’m telling you that I’m—” He leaned back, not sure if he felt ashamed or offended. “You think I’ve been neglecting my job—”
“Hell, no. I told you to take time off, didn’t I?
Anyway, we have good men living in that bunkhouse,” he said, jabbing a finger in that direction.
“No reason you should be here 24/7. Not to mention you can handle the job with one arm tied behind your back. Your mom and I just want you to be sure. That’s all. ”
Swiftly losing his sense of humor, Clint sighed.
“I’m telling you I’m sure. I want to run the Whispering Pines.
A Landers has held the reins for over a hundred years.
” Why had he said that? It had no bearing on anything.
He was tired. Maybe his dad had mistaken weariness for uncertainty.
“My decision has nothing to do with Seth acting out or Nathan having his own ranch to worry about. I’m telling you I’m ready. ”
“Good.” His dad stood, and Clint exhaled. “I expect you’ll still be ready in three weeks.”
“Dad...”
He walked around the desk and stopped at the door. “Do me a favor, son. Pick me up some of that tape next time you’re in town.”
“I don’t know when that’ll be,” Clint lied, feeling like a defiant teenager. Idiot.
“No rush.” His dad tried hiding a smile. “It can wait until you go shopping for that present.”
SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED on the set. Lila didn’t know the specifics, only that the problem was big enough that Erin could weasel out of their talk and force half the crew to take an early lunch. Which sucked so bad because the day was already crawling.
Lila turned to go back inside the trailer when she thought she saw Clint’s truck. She didn’t think they needed him today, but he could be delivering horses. Straining to see around the corner, she nearly fell off the step.
“Looking for someone?”
The sound of his deep voice sent an army of goose bumps marching down her arms. She spun to face him, almost losing her balance, but he caught her by the waist.
“Someone tall, dark and handsome, as a matter of fact.” She paused as he gave her the exaggerated eye roll that never failed to make her grin. “But you’ll do,” she added.
“You’re in a good mood,” he said, releasing her. “Filming must be going well today.”
“Oh, no, it’s a complete mess. They’re at a standstill.” She smiled at his puzzled expression. “I’m happy to see you,” she said, considering sneaking in a kiss. “God, you’re wearing your hat. Have I told you how much I love that Stetson? On you. Not the hat by itself.”
Clint laughed.
“Did you get your business taken care of last night?”
“Yeah.” He lifted the Stetson and resettled it on his head, looking beyond her toward the set. “Everything’s fine.”
“Did they call you to come today?”
He shook his head. “I had something to pick up in town and figured I’d stop by. You eating lunch with Erin?”
“We had plans to meet, but I doubt I’ll see her for a while,” she said, glancing toward the set. Baxter was headed their way. “Oh, great.” She quickly turned back to Clint, who looked equally thrilled to see the moron.
Clint’s jaw was set, his gaze fixed. Neither of them spoke. She braced for impact.
“What are you doing away from the set?” Baxter asked Clint. “They need you over there by the—” He waved a hand, clueless as usual. “Whatever they call it.”
Clint’s straight face dissolved, and he let out a laugh.
“They’re not using him today, Baxter,” Lila said, so sick of his obvious attempts to separate them. “Didn’t you read the call sheet?”
His evil glower startled her, but she held firm and glared back.
“Jason and I want something for lunch.” He challenged her with a dark look she’d never seen before.
“Okay,” she said, shrugging. “You know where the craft service is set up.”
“We’re sick of that shit. Make yourself useful, go pick something up at the diner.”
She opened her mouth to remind him he was Jason’s gofer, not her. But she saw the anger in Clint’s face and reconsidered.
Better not throw gas on the fire, she decided.
Baxter frowned at her outstretched palm. “What?”
“Money and the keys to your car.”
Baxter scowled. “Don’t you have money?”
“Nope.” She waited, wiggling her fingers. “Hurry up, I don’t have all day.”
He pulled some bills out of his pocket and passed them to her, while he dug for his keys.
“You don’t need his car,” Clint said, pressing a hand to the small of her back. “I’ll drive you.”
“Thanks.”
Baxter didn’t like that at all. She tried not to let her glee show.
“Wow, a hall pass I hadn’t expected,” she said as they started walking. “Nice.”
Clint still looked as if he wanted to rearrange Baxter’s face. “What the hell is his problem?”
She shrugged. “He’s jealous.” It was a short walk to his truck. She glanced back a couple times, hoping to see Erin. Lila had been ready to have that talk. Since that wasn’t possible at the moment, this wasn’t a bad way to spend the time.
Although, she’d warned herself about relying too much on Clint.
He turned onto Main Street, and she looked at the crumpled bills. “Awesome. There’s enough here for us to have lunch, too.”
Clint chuckled. “How about I buy you lunch?”
“Actually I’m not hungry. Where are we going?”
“You tell me.”
“Okay, the Food Mart.”
Clint looked at her. “Have you had their ready-made sandwiches?”
“They’re terrible. Jason will hate it.” She smiled at his confusion. “Jason would never tell Baxter to send me to get lunch. That’s part of Baxter’s job description.”
He kept driving, a smile slowly curving his mouth. “You can look so angelic. But you really are a little devil, aren’t you?”
“When it comes to Baxter? Oh, yeah.”
The parking lot wasn’t crowded. Clint found a spot close to the front. As Lila slipped out, she caught a brief glimpse of herself in the side mirror and laughed.
“What?” he asked, coming around to hold the door. He was unfailingly polite. And not just with her. He always held a door for any woman.
“I forgot about this purple extension.” She lifted it away from her own hair. “You didn’t say anything.”
“I’ve rearranged my expectations when it comes to you.”
Lila waited for him to close the door. “I’m not sure if that’s good or bad.”
He surprised her by taking her hand. “Is this okay?” he asked, glancing at their entwined fingers as they walked toward the entrance.
“It is with me.” She smiled so big her cheeks hurt. Her parents would adore Clint. She squeezed his hand tighter.
He squeezed back. “Mom?”
“What did you say?” Laughing, Lila glanced up at him.
Clint wasn’t looking at her. He’d stopped and was staring at a short, middle-aged woman with sparkling hazel eyes and the same olive skin coloring as Clint. “What are you doing here?”
The woman glanced from Clint to Lila and then at their joined hands. She smiled. “Shopping.”
“Right.” Clint released Lila’s hand. “What’s wrong with Bill’s Food Town? Other than being thirty miles closer to home.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” Mrs. Landers was studying Lila, but in a friendly way.
“Lila Loveridge meet Meryl Landers, my nosy mother.”
“Oh, hush,” Mrs. Landers said, sending him a reproving look.
Grinning, Lila extended her hand. “I’m so happy to meet you.”
“I confess to being a bit starstruck,” Mrs. Landers said as she accepted Lila’s handshake. “I usually do shop at the Food Town in Twin Creeks, but I was hoping to see someone famous.”
“Oh, we don’t have any really big names. But I bet you’ve heard of Dash Rockwell and Penelope Lane.”
“And you,” Mrs. Landers said. “My goodness, I can’t believe Clint has been keeping you a secret. You can’t be the hairstylist...”
“Oh, brother,” Clint muttered. “Sorry, Mom, but Lila’s on a tight schedule. We need to hurry.”
“Of course, I understand,” Mrs. Landers said, and kept staring like so many awestruck fans.
But Lila didn’t mind. For once she was sorry to be a disappointment.
“I know.” His mom beamed at them. “How about coming over for dinner? That way we can visit without rushing.”
“Nope,” Clint said. “She works tonight.”
Lila nodded. It was true. But Clint didn’t know that.
“It doesn’t have to be tonight. What about this weekend?”
“I’d love to,” Lila said at the same time Clint said, “No can do.”
His mom ignored him and patted Lila’s hand. “I’m so looking forward to having you.”