by Nina Crespo
Chloe’s smile held a bit of mischief. “Yes.”
She remained protective of the bag, not allowing him to touch it, even when they got to the house. Chloe put the bag in a far corner of the pantry. “Promise me you won’t look inside.”
Tristan peeked at it over her shoulder. “Don’t I even get a hint?”
“No.” She patted his chest. “You’re not the only one who can keep a surprise.”
Soon, they busied themselves with dinner, teaming up on making grilled steak and potato salad.
Close to sunset, they found themselves in the hot tub.
As Tristan relaxed in the tub, he wrapped his arms around from behind Chloe as she sat between his legs. She looked so sexy in her bathing suit, he couldn’t stop touching her even if he’d wanted to. Which he sure as hell didn’t.
He let what little tension was left inside of him leave in the heated water swirling around him. Having Chloe there in his home, wrapped in his arms, watching the last of the sun slip below the horizon—with no place to go for the rest of the night but upstairs to his bedroom—felt more than right.
She laid her head back on his shoulder. “You know what.”
“What?”
“This place.” Chloe looked to the house. “Best vacation spot ever. Seriously, you could Airbnb it if you wanted to if you’re not moving in for a while.”
Just a vacation spot? Nothing to do with them being in his home there together? A strange tinge of disappointment pinged inside of him, but he caught it and tossed it aside. He’d promised her a getaway, he’d taken her there and she was happy. That’s all that mattered.
He kissed her. “Being here is a great getaway.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Tristan carried the short wide cardboard crate with berries into the kitchen. As he set it on the counter a few of the strawberries fell onto the tile floor.
Chloe quickly set her black paisley boho bag on the island, scooped them up and washed them off in the sink. She bit into one and juice dripped onto her sky blue T-shirt. Not that she cared. It was already smudged along with her jeans and tennis shoes from wading through rows of berry plants, searching for the best fruit to pick. And it was worth it.
He glanced at the fruit in her hand. “Can I have some or do you plan to eat all of those, too?”
Earlier they’d washed a few off before getting into the car to drive home, and she’d pretty much eaten them all.
Laughing, she held the largest one in her hand to him. Instead of taking it from her, he just bit into it. He suffered the same fate she had with berry juice landing on his T-shirt.
Tristan licked his lips and wiped his chin. “So you’re serious about never having picked a fruit or vegetable from a plant?”
“Very. Not even leaves from an herb plant on my window sill. Well, actually someone did give me a basil plant once, but it didn’t make it.”
He shook his head and kissed her. “City girl, you have a lot to learn.”
“Are you offering to teach me?” She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for another strawberry flavor–filled kiss.
Lena’s pop song ringtone chimed from her phone in her bag.
The unexpected sound drew her attention as well as Tristan’s.
“It’s my agent.” Still, she didn’t move to answer it. She and Tristan had gone through almost a whole twenty-four hours without interruptions.
“You should get that.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll get the rest of the stuff from the car.”
Just before it flipped to voice mail, she answered. “Hey, Lena, what’s up?”
“Changes. Lots and lots of changes.”
Had she lost another part? Chloe’s heart sank. “What do you mean?”
“Nash Moreland. Do you know him?”
Who didn’t know him? Dirty blond hair, deep blue eyes, a camera-ready smile, currently on everyone’s sexiest man alive list, and as an actor, he was establishing himself in action films. But that’s not what Lena meant about knowing him.
“We met through friends a few years ago before his career took off.” She snagged more fruit from the crate and washed it off. “They even set us up on a blind date. Or is that called a surprise date since technically we knew each other?”
“Who cares what it was called, please just tell me you two ended whatever happened on a good note.”
“We actually got along well. The only reason we didn’t go out again was because he flew to Italy to make a movie. Right after that his film career started taking off, and we went our separate ways. Why?”
“Nash is taking over as the leading actor in Holland’s film. The other guy, I can’t remember his name right now, but he’s out and Nash is in.”
What was that guy’s name? Chloe plucked the top from the strawberry in her hand and put the fruit in her mouth. But that was typical of Hollywood. The things you did either made you easy to remember or quickly forgotten.
Lena continued, “Nash has input on who’s playing what parts in his films, including this one. He’ll even be there for your audition. From what I hear, he really gets into playing his characters, this one included. He’s at a horse farm as we speak so he’ll be ready to ride at the auditions.”
Chloe swallowed the strawberry prematurely. Ready to ride? She must have been hearing things. She actually thought she’d heard Lena say something about the auditions involving a horse. “You mean just Nash on a horse at the other auditions, not mine.”
“No. You and him riding horses. The other thing that’s happened, Holland is expanding the role you’re auditioning for...”
Riding horses. This couldn’t be happening.
“Isn’t that great?” Lena’s enthusiasm pulled Chloe back into the conversation. “Now aren’t you glad that you’ve gotten all of that experience with horses?”
“Uh...yeah.”
As Leah ended the call on a high note, dismay sank into Chloe’s stomach along with the strawberry.
Tristan strolled into the kitchen carrying the combination crate of fresh carrots and peas. “Why don’t w—” He looked to her and immediately set the crate on the counter. “What’s wrong?”
Everything. This was not supposed to happen.
Concern grew in his face when she didn’t answer him. He lightly grasped her shoulders. “What did Lena say?”
She met his gaze. “I’m doomed.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chloe startled herself half awake. Several seconds later, she registered that she was lying in Tristan’s bed at his house.
It was just a bad dream—riding and falling off a horse at her audition. In reality, she didn’t have to ride a horse with...
Chloe opened her eyes. Sunlight and shadows patterned the ceiling. No. She really did have to audition on a horse with Nash Moreland...and she had to leave Maryland early.
She reached for Tristan and her hand rested on the cool empty sheet. When she’d told him the news, he’d been so supportive and reassuring that everything would be okay. Over dinner at the chocolate-themed restaurant, where she’d hardly eaten the coffee-and-chocolate-glazed short ribs she’d ordered, he’d assured her she could learn to ride in a week. Or at least stay upright and not fall off like in the dream she’d just had. Her heart started to pound as her past and the dream collided into something that felt very real in her mind. Why was this happening to her?
A longing for Tristan’s solid warmth made her sit up in bed. She listened for sounds in the house. All was quiet. Chloe slipped out of bed, pulling down the hem of her pink STRESSED, BLESSED & CAFFEINE OBSSESSED sleep shirt as she went into the bathroom.
After taking care of the essentials, she walked downstairs.
Tristan’s voice echoed from the short hallway on the right leading to what would become his home office.
She peeked in. He was at the far end of
the room, drinking from a mug and talking on the phone in the empty space with light spilling in from a side window. He was already dressed in a white T-shirt that hugged his chest and a pair of jeans.
Just before she was about to duck out and give him privacy, Tristan met her gaze and tipped his head, motioning for her to come in. He met her halfway and as he talked on the phone, he loosely wrapped his free arm around her along with the mug.
“Yeah, that should work.” As Tristan listened to the person on the line, he brushed a kiss near her temple.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed him in along with the scent of coffee. Up close, near his jawline, he not only smelled like his soap, but something else was there that reminded her of wide open spaces under the sun.
“Okay. I think we’re good to go,” he said. “I’ll take care of that now. Thanks. Bye.” Tristan turned to look at her and his hazel-brown eyes focused on her face. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She lifted up slightly on her toes and kissed him.
“You were tossing and turning for most of the night. Did you get any sleep?”
“A little.” Wanting to be near him, but unable to resist the pull of caffeine, she moved from his arms and slipped the coffee mug from his hand. It was sweeter than she usually drank it, but still good. “What time do you want to leave?”
“Are you in a hurry?” He took her free hand and stroked over her knuckles with his thumb.
Not even close. If she could have another day of escape, she’d be more than tempted to grab onto it. “No, but I know you have to get back to the stable. I’m sure they’re calling you.”
“I’ve got time.” He said that, but he looked preoccupied. “Are you okay here by yourself for an hour or so? I need to make a run to the store.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Need anything?”
“No, I’m good.” He gave her hand a light squeeze and walked out of the room.
Moments later, the front door opened, then she heard the faint rumbling of a car engine.
She wandered through the downstairs, sipping coffee. The caffeine started to erase the foggy feeling in her head, allowing her to appreciate the smooth coolness of the wood floor beneath her feet, the natural light adding a layer of vibrancy, and how the lack of furniture made the rooms even more open and inviting.
I could get used to this...
As she stood in the front room, looking out at the lawn, a vision came to mind of a different start to her day—this time, waking up with Tristan.
They’d both be reluctant to leave each other to begin their day. She’d nestle further into his arms, his chest the perfect pillow, his heartbeat tempting her to fall back to sleep. But then they’d get up, tag team turns in the shower and in front of the bathroom mirror, get dressed and then go to the kitchen for mugs of steaming coffee. He’d go to Tillbridge, and depending on the task at hand, she’d either hang in the back office talking to Lena about her next big acting or directing project; or maybe she’d camp out where she was now standing—it definitely wouldn’t be a formal dining room, but just as she’d envisioned it when she first walked into the house. And if it was too beautiful a day to miss, she’d curl up in his hammock out back.
But that was just a daydream. An illusion to preoccupy her so she wouldn’t have to face what was next. Leaving the house. Leaving Tillbridge. Her audition in LA. Riding a dang horse with Nash who was probably a horse whisperer by now. That was her reality.
After washing her mug out in the sink, she went into the pantry to find the oatmeal. The bag she made Tristan promise not to open caught her eye. It contained her thank-you to him for their getaway.
Chloe took it to the kitchen and unpacked the lemon poppy seed muffin mix, powdered sugar and a red silicone muffin pan on the counter. She grabbed the rest of the ingredients needed—butter, milk, eggs and fresh lemons—from the refrigerator.
Not much of a baker, but knowing that lemon was Tristan’s favorite flavor, she’d wanted to make something special for him. She’d reached out to Rina for help with a lemon pie, what she thought was his favorite dessert, but Rina told her it wasn’t. His all-time favorite lemony treat was actually lemon poppy seed muffins. Rather than tackle baking them from scratch, Rina had given the name of a brand that made a mix that wasn’t as good as her homemade muffins, of course, but passable. Especially with the homemade glaze.
Chloe turned on the oven, then rummaged around the cabinets and drawers until she found the bowls and utensils she needed. Following the instructions, she made the mix, spooned the batter into the pan and put it in the oven.
She made note of the time. Hopefully, Tristan would be gone closer to an hour so she could get everything done. Picking up the pace, she squeezed lemons in a bowl with the sugar and mixed it together. Unable to resist, she licked the spoon. Tart and sweet, and so easy to make—she liked it. Chloe ate another spoonful before cleaning up and washing the dishes. By the time she finished, the muffins were done. She drank more coffee, and ate more glaze than she probably should have, waiting for them to cool. Then just like Rina had instructed her, she spooned on the glaze while they were still slightly warm. The dozen golden muffins glistened on the plate. They looked good, but how did they taste?
A car engine echoed.
Instead of coming through the front door, Tristan came in through the side door next to the garage that led into the laundry room just off the kitchen.
Not wanting to give away her surprise yet, on a reflex she stuck the plate in an empty cabinet above her.
Tristan walked into the kitchen.
“Hey.” She smiled brightly, feeling all kinds of guilty.
He sniffed the air and gave her a quizzical look. “Did you bake something?” His gaze landed on the muffin pan. “Did you make cupcakes?”
“No, not quite.” She backed up and leaned against the counter. “Just a little something.”
“So what is it? I smell lemons.” Humor was in his eyes as he walked over to her. “Come on, tell me.” Tristan leaned in as if to kiss her and paused.
As he reached behind her, she realized what he was going for. The glaze. She’d left it out.
He took the spoon out of it and as he licked it, a curious expression came over his face. “Did you make me lemon poppy seed muffins?”
She pointed up and behind her. “See for yourself.”
Tristan opened the cabinet and grinned. She moved aside so he could take them down and put them on the counter. “This is what you were hiding from me at the store?” He picked one up and grinned. “Who told you these were my favorites? Rina?”
“Yes.” She couldn’t stop herself from grinning back at him. “I saw some lemon cookies and a tart way back on the bottom shelf in the bakery. You’d missed them. But when I called her about which one to buy, she said you liked the muffins more.”
“Thank you.” He gave her a long, lingering kiss that had her leaning into him.
“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t tasted them.”
The sound of a car engine grew louder as it came from the back of the house.
She looked to Tristan. “You have contractors here today?”
“Not contractors.” He took her hand. “Come take a look.” Tristan led her from the kitchen to the adjoining space near the living room with a view of the back.
Adam and another groom were unloading Moonlight Joy from a horse trailer.
Tristan stood beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist.
“Is that where you went, back to the stable, to bring her here for me?” Suddenly overcome by tears, she turned and burrowed her face into his shoulder.
He held her close. “I actually did go to the store for hardware for the stall out back. But I called Adam to bring her. I thought it might be less intimidating if you had your first lesson here without people around
. You can take as much time as you need today to ease into it.”
She took in a shaky breath and inhaled his wonderful scent, and just like her first day at the stable it and his strength reassured her. “Can you really spare Adam for the day?”
“He’s not teaching you. I am. They’re just dropping off Moonlight, then they’re heading back.”
She looked into his eyes. “Really? Can you do that?”
He quirked a brow. “Do what? Teach you how to ride a horse? Do I need to show you my résumé or something?”
“You know what I mean.” She poked him in the stomach and he chuckled.
He kissed her forehead. “Yeah, I got time. It’s important.” Tristan looked sincerely into her eyes. “You’re important.”
Less than an hour later, Chloe was dressed in a lime T-shirt, jeans and her cowboy boots, gripping the reins and trying to stay balanced on Moonlight in the arena. She hazarded a look down at Tristan, standing beside her. “I thought you said I had all day to ease into this?”
He held on to the bridle as Moonlight settled in place. Despite his serious expression, hints of amusement were in his eyes as he looked up at her. “This is easing into it. What did you think we were going to do?”
“I don’t know. Talk me through it first.”
“You need to leave in a few days for your audition. What do you think we should be doing right now? Talking about riding or riding? You tell me.”
She flew home next Monday. The audition was soon after that. It really was that soon. Anxiety and dread intertwined and twisted into knots in her stomach. He was right. Talking about riding wasn’t going to help her now. She had to learn to ride a horse, and feel as comfortable as possible doing it, if she wanted that part. And she did.
Chloe released a long shaky breath. “Okay. What do I need to do?”
“First, relax. Moonlight isn’t going anywhere until we tell her to.”
Moonlight fidgeted and Chloe clenched the reins.
Tristan reached up and squeezed Chloe’s hand. “The only reason she’s moving around is to coax you into the right position on the saddle. You’re leaning back a little too much. That’s making you feel off balance and causing you to pull too much on the reins. Find your seat. Think of being plugged into the saddle while there’s a string from the top of your head pulling you up and keeping you straight.”
