Read Online Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2) by Mary J. Williams - Free Book Online Page A

man existed. Chuck gave Nate
    a considering look. It was early days. But maybe. Just maybe that man had
    finally arrived. Caleb Landis’ son. Wouldn’t that be something?
    “You’ve been here a grand total of…” Paige looked at her
    watch. “Three hours and already you’ve decided I’m a smartass?”
    “Better than a dumbass.”
    “Should I thank you for that distinction?”
    “Sure.” With Chuck behind him pouring a cup of coffee, Nate
    felt safe giving Paige a wink. “I never turn down a woman’s gratitude.”
    When Paige rolled her eyes, Nate felt a zing in his stomach.
    She wasn’t pissed off as she had been earlier. This was fun — for both of them.
    Something had changed.
    When they met at the airport, Paige was all bristles and
    borderline resentment. The bristles were still there. Nate would be surprised,
    and a little disappointed if they weren’t. The difference was in the
    temperature of the barbs she threw at him. No longer icy. The temperature had
    risen to a nice, comfortable level during the ride to the ranch.
    As they sat drinking some of the best coffee he could
    remember, Nate felt another uptick in the heat index. He doubted Paige would
    have called it flirting. She was still under the misguided idea that he was
    interested in her friend Lottie. Being under no such delusions, Nate knew
    exactly what was going on.
    This was a prelude. Not the dance itself. That would come
    later — if they decided to act on it. The attraction. The desire. The need.
    Call it what you wanted. Nate knew the signs. Right now, he was happy to play
    around the edges. All the reasons not to act were still there. However, Nate
    realized, if Paige gave him any encouragement, he would drop kick any obstacles
    without the slightest twinge of regret.
    “The light will be good for another few hours. Why don’t you
    take Nate on a mini-tour? I’ll take care of dinner while you’re gone.”
    “But… I mean, don’t you want to talk?” When Nate and her
    father gave her blank looks, Paige sighed. “Hello. The movie? The reason Nate
    is here? I thought you would want to lay everything out right away.”
    “There’s plenty of time for that.”
    “No, there isn’t.” Paige barely refrained from hitting her
    head on the hard, cherry wood table. “Shooting starts in two days.”
    “That soon?” Nate frowned. His father hadn’t mentioned a
    timetable. Nate was under the impression this was still in the planning stages.
    “I didn’t see any reason to dilly dally.” Chuck joined them,
    taking a seat next to Nate. “It’s a small production. Digital, not film. I
    called in a few favors from my Hollywood days. Once I started, what I thought
    would be a slow rolling ball quickly picked up momentum.”
    “Meaning?”
    “I’ll explain everything at dinner.” Chuck poured a dollop
    of cream into his cup, slowly stirring, with a benign smile on his weathered
    face. “Go. Stretch your legs. Between the two plane flights and the drive to
    the ranch, you must need to move around. Some fresh air will do you good.”
    “Dad…”
    “Steaks!” Chuck slapped Nate on the back. “Thick and juicy.
    Our own beef, too. We still run about a hundred head. Prime, grass-fed Montana
    Angus. Once you taste it right off the grill, you’ll weep every time you have
    to order that inferior crap most restaurants serve.”
    “Sounds good.”
    Nate looked at Paige and shrugged.
    “Fine. Grab your jacket. It cools down early this time of
    year.” As she passed her father, she leaned close. “This isn’t over.”
    “Of course not, honey.” Chuck smiled. “It’s just beginning.”
     
    THE DOUBLE C never failed to impress.
    Paige was proud of her home. The sweat and labor her parents
    put into it during the early days of their marriage was a tradition Paige
    happily carried on. It wasn’t a sense of duty that made her keep the tack and
    saddles in the barn immaculately tended. Nothing forced her to muck out the
    stalls