Chapter 7
Ellie wasn't exactly sure how to dissect the strange yearning rushing through her at the speed of light. All she knew was that something new and exciting had taken her by storm.
It was better than any role she had played. Better than any scenario she could have imagined.
Since she and Nash parted ways yesterday, Nash had been a constant on her mind, like an addictive crush that she couldn't stop thinking about, smiling about, and dreaming about. Yes, she’d dreamed of him. In fact, she’d dreamed of kissing him, and it, too, had been better than anything she'd known.
It was funny, considering that she’d kissed quite a few Hollywood hunks over the years, but those usually felt as forced and scripted as they were.
Directors standing close, cameras zooming in even closer, and the constant directions like, ‘more tongue, speed things up, back off and, her least favorite, let’s try that again. ’
The time she’d spent with Nash yesterday was anything but scripted. There’d been no plan to meet up, go out, or get to know each other. It was spontaneous and fun, bumping into a real-life handsome cowboy with a heart for horses and a smirk that made Ellie’s heart take flight.
Today was like a gift—a compilation of every opportunity she’d missed out on, wrapped into one beautiful cowboy beau.
For once in her life, Ellie was letting herself get lost in a real-life romance.
Swept away like the silly characters who fell head over heels for a man just hours after they met him.
It didn't matter what would come—Ellie finally realized that now.
She understood why fools rushed in. And call her a fool if you would, but she couldn't wait to join the team.
Buttercup’s massive form rocked and swayed with each step along the trail.
Ellie had been so distracted by her thoughts and, of course, by her desire to remain upright on the horse that she’d kept her gaze solely on the trail ahead.
Yet just as they cleared the bend and stepped into a golden, sunlit clearing, a splendid view unfolded before her.
It was a lake. A gorgeous, dream-like lake with glistening sunlight and a shimmering reflection that no photograph or painting could capture.
She gasped and put a hand over her heart. "You didn't tell me there would be a lake."
Pepper and Nash came to a stop beside her. "I wanted it to be a surprise. Do you like it?"
She turned her gaze to Nash. With the halo-like glow shining over him, the rugged hat slightly hooding his hypnotizing gaze, Nash was nearly as beautiful as the scenery. "I love it."
"Would you like to stay a while?" he asked in that deep, sexy voice.
"Can we?"
Nash pointed to a grassy knoll beside an old wooden fence post. "Sure. I brought us a blanket just in case." He leaned back to pat the blanket draped behind Pepper’s saddle.
Ellie grinned wide. "Then what are we waiting for?"
Laughter drifted over the space as twilight began to fade. Ellie wasn't sure how long she and Nash had been there, enjoying one another's company, but she did know that this was hands down one of the best nights of her life.
"So they actually made you sit there with all of that goop running down your face?" Nash's question referred to one of the first roles Ellie had gotten—a poor-taste horror flick where she had taken an ax to the head.
"Yep. Of course, the scene ended up getting cut because nobody wanted to see a child get axed in the head." The two broke out into laughter again.
"You know, they should be worried about whoever thought that was a good idea."
"Oh, yeah. I didn't tell you. The writer is known for ax murdering his family.” She kept her face flat.
"Seriously?" He sounded so amped up that Ellie couldn’t back down yet.
"Seriously. Look it up."
"Oh, I'm going to. What's his name?"
"Jack. He’d been writing one particular story, and he basically lost his mind. At the time, he was trapped in an old hotel during a massive snowstorm…”
"Ooh…” Nash groaned as he finally caught on. “You were messing with me! How could you do that? You had me for a minute."
"I know.” She chuckled. “So gullible. I kind of like that about you."
He scooted closer and bumped her shoulder with his. "You like that I'm gullible, do you? Well, I like that you’re…"
"I’m…what?" She turned to face him, and her heart skittered out of rhythm.
"Shy." He cracked that smirky grin.
Ellie swatted his arm. "I am not." She trailed down the length of his forearm, yet just as she neared his wrist, Nash turned his hand face up.
She moved slower, watching as the heel of her palm glided over the warm center of his.
Suddenly, Nash clenched his long fingers around her hand to keep it in place.
She chuckled, as playful as the action was at first, yet just as he released his grip, he shifted so their hands lined up. Gently then, he threaded his long fingers through hers, pleasing her with the heavenly sensation of skin on skin. Up, then back down.
A shaky breath slipped from her lips as he repeated the motion, a sensation so blissful she closed her eyes to take it in.
She sensed Nash lifting her hand to his lips where he gave it a kiss. It was sweet. Old fashioned. Gentlemanly.
“Ellie?” he crooned against her skin, voice low and raspy.
“Yes?” Her eyes flickered open.
“You don’t have a boyfriend back home, do you?”
A thrill shot through her. This was more than butterflies. This was a flock of eagles taking flight all at once. Up, up, and away. “No.”
He leaned in the slightest bit. “Or some fiancé no one knows about?”
She giggled slightly and bit her lip. “Not unless I don’t know about him either.”
Now, he chuckled. “Good, me neither.”
She’d assumed as much, figuring he wouldn’t be cradling her hand and kissing it if he did, but it was still good to hear. And why did she suddenly feel like she was back in grade school?
Nash smoothed a thumb along the inside of her wrist.
She wondered if he could kiss someone with his cowboy hat on or if he usually removed it beforehand. Wondered—because all she could think about was that heavenly kiss from her dream.
“Is there a rule about volunteers not getting involved with the guests?” Ellie asked, suddenly curious to see what he looked like without the hat.
As if sensing her thoughts, Nash lifted it off his head, rested it on the blanket beside him, and quickly ran a hand through the thick, loose waves of his dark blond hair.
Now that the brim wasn’t hooding his face anymore, she caught the heated look in his hazel eyes. Wow, he was easy on the eyes. She liked him without the hat as much as she liked him with it. Something unspoken passed between them as he held her gaze, her heart thudding wildly out of beat.
“If that rule does exist, and I’m not sure whether or not it does, I’d say it falls into that rare five percent territory.”
Adrenaline spiked through her at his response. “Good answer.” Her gaze fell to his lips as she thought back on her dream once more. And was it just her, or was Nash looking at her mouth, too?
He was, but he seemed to catch himself suddenly, glancing out over the water and clearing his throat.
Too soon, Ellie figured, at least for a guy like him. They’d only just met, after all, and it seemed Nash was a true gentleman; she liked that. Of course, she couldn’t help but wonder if that five-percent rogue would come out soon.
A slight breeze picked up, and Ellie nudged in, daring to rest her head on Nash’s shoulder. It felt nice there, very nice. She breathed in the crisp, spicy scent of his cologne—masculine, woodsy, and capable of making her stomach tighten in waves of pleasing warmth.
Nash had a soothing presence about him. And a confidence she didn’t see often. He wasn’t hiding who he was or trying to be someone else to impress her. That level of authenticity was rare, and Ellie couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Couldn’t wait to discover more.
Hope welled within her, and she caught herself grinning like one of the lovesick characters she’d played. What a perfect night this was.
“Hey, Nash,” she said, feeling as if she were floating on clouds.
“Yeah?” he rasped.
“Thanks for letting me experience this. I wouldn’t have known it, but I think this is exactly what I needed.”