Chapter 22
“I’ve never …”
“I know …”
Windsor shivered as Bo slid the muslin dress over her shoulder.
“You don’t need to worry about a thing, Eliza. I’ll take care of you. But you didn’t just get a husband. You got a lover too.” He pressed his lips to her naked shoulder as the dress fell forward.
“And cut! We got it.”
Windsor whipped the dress up to cover herself as sound and motion began again, disturbing the silence of the historic ranch house in the middle of Granite Point property.
The set team had brought period-appropriate antiques and linens and had the whole thing looking lived in, like it would’ve been circa 1850.
“Great job with that one. We got it. Moving on. Cam A, let’s set up here. Cam B, other corner of the room,” Mitch said. Turning to Bo and Windsor, he said, “You can step out. Give us ten.”
Windsor was glad they were getting these scenes out of the way first. That way, she didn’t have to dread them or worry about how her partially or fully nude body was going to look weeks from now.
Tonight was the full nude scene, in the river in the moonlight, as it was a full moon. All jokes aside, Windsor wasn’t as afraid as she would’ve been with anyone else. After all, aside from the audience this time, at least she was comfortable being naked with Bo.
“You want some water? Protein bar?” Lyric came toward her as Bo’s hand on the small of her back guided her out of the tiny room crammed with people and equipment.
“Water. Thank you.”
“Bo? Can I get you anything?” Lyric asked. She’d unofficially become his assistant as well.
Everyone had settled in and seemed comfortable with the fact that they were together.
“I’ll take a protein bar, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. I have chocolate date, cinnamon roll, peanut butter chocolate chip, and lemon honey.”
Bo chuckled beside her. “I love this girl. Always prepared. Cinnamon roll for me.”
Windsor watched Lyric light up. “She’s the best.” She accepted the water as soon as they were out of the way.
Lyric unzipped her fanny pack, checked the labels, and handed one to him. “Let me know if you like that one. I’ll restock when we break for lunch. My cabin looks like a healthy concession stand.”
“Thank you. You enjoying yourself on the ranch?” he asked her as Windsor sipped her water.
“Oh my gosh, yes. Ephraim showed me the pool yesterday. He said he’d take me riding this weekend if we have time and it’s okay with you both.”
“Fine by me,” Bo said.
Windsor studied her assistant. Was she being charmed by a Montana mountain man? Not that she was going to judge one bit.
“If there’s time, by all means. He doesn’t live on the property though, does he?”
Bo opened his mouth to reply, but Lyric beat him to it. “He lives across the river, in a cabin on twenty acres.”
“Really?” Windsor said. “Have you gotten a chance to see it?”
Lyric shook her head. “Of course not. I’m working. But maybe if we stay a couple of days after wrap …”
Bo met Windsor’s gaze and winked. He saw it too.
Jenni, the hair and makeup artist, came toward Windsor. “Mind if I do some touch-ups?”
“By all means, fix me.”
“You already look gorgeous,” Bo said.
Jenni sighed. “You two are so cute. Seriously, best development in the industry ever.”
Windsor sat in the folding chair while she popped open a compact.
“I’d have to agree,” Bo said before taking a bite of his protein bar.
A few minutes later, Lyric spoke. “They’re almost ready for you. Knock ’em dead, guys.”
Windsor let out a long breath.
“Nervous?” Bo asked.
He’d watched her all day, knowing this was a big one for her.
“It’s fine. I’m fine.” She said it automatically and then paused. “Yes. Okay. What if … what if I’m immortalized looking like … shit?”
They were in the master suite, waiting for full darkness and the moon to move into the ideal position. The crew was all set up on the riverbank already.
“That’s what you’re worried about?” Bo came toward her and covered her shoulders with his hands. He massaged the tension out of her traps. “You look so fucking good naked that there’s a part of me that hates that anyone else is ever going to see what we’re filming tonight.”
She relaxed under his touch. “Really?”
“Fuck yeah. Your ass … if I were a poet, I’d write sonnets about the perfect curves and creamy skin.”
Windsor’s body shifted as she chuckled. “Seriously?”
“Strip for me,” he whispered in her ear.
She tensed. “Right now?” She looked over her shoulder.
“Can you think of a better time?”
“I guess not.” She paused. “But you have to promise me we’re not going to accidentally have sex. I can’t do that right before we film. I just …”
“Shh. Not happening. Trust me, I’m with you on that. As tempting as your naked body is, I promise, we are on the same page here.”
“Okay.”
“Just call it practice. All right? We’re just running lines.”
“Okay,” she repeated as he lifted his hands from her shoulders, and she let the robe fall away.
Bo took two steps back and stared at the perfect hourglass figure before him. That’s all people are going to see, he reminded himself. Nothing else. That’s all mine.
“Is it okay?” She glanced back over her shoulder.
“Good thing I’m supposed to have a hard-on in that scene because even with twenty-five people watching, I don’t know if I could do it without one.”
Windsor laughed. “Seriously?”
“You’re fucking perfect, Win. I hate that your agent pushed you into this though.”
She looked away. “He didn’t. He might be a dick, but”—she reached down and grabbed the robe, pulled it back on and turned to face him—“I actually said no. There was no changing my mind—or so I thought. And then he said something about how there were plenty of other women who would happily get fully naked with you. And that was when I agreed.”
“When he said it was me?” Bo replied, wanting to clarify.
She met his gaze. “That’s the only reason I agreed. Because it was you.”
He stepped toward her. “That makes me a lucky man. And, fuck, after we’re done tonight …”
Windsor smiled. “One step at a time, cowboy.”