“You’re ten years older than me.”
Why did that sound like an accusation?
“And?” he asked.
“I’m...you’re...”
She let out an unladylike growl, and Grant again had to bite back a smile. “What does age have to do with attraction, Country?”
“When I started kindergarten you were getting your driver’s license!”
This time he did laugh. “I believe we’re all grown up now.”
“It’s just not right. Your life experiences, they’re levels above mine, and I won’t be played for a fool.”
The word again hovered in the air, and Grant wanted to know what bastard had left her full of doubts and insecurities. But he refused to let himself cross into anything too personal.
Tessa’s shoulders tensed up as silence settled between them. Grant didn’t want her angry. He wasn’t even sure what had spawned this, but he was here to work and there was usually enough drama on sets. He didn’t need this on top of it.
“I read you have a twin,” she told him, breaking the silence. “But I never saw anything else.”
Tension knotted in his belly. “My family isn’t up for discussion.”
“Seriously? You know everything about mine and you—”
“Not. Up. For. Discussion.”
Tessa shook her head and sighed. “Looks like we’re at a stalemate then.”
Stalemate? No. He refused to discuss his family—his sister—but he also refused to let this attraction fizzle because of a past nightmare that threatened to consume him at any moment.
“Pull over.”
She jerked her gaze to his briefly. “What?”
“Pull over.”
Once she’d eased to the side of the road, Grant waited until she’d thrown the Jeep into Park before he reached across the narrow space, grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to meet him in the middle.
A second later his mouth was on hers, and she all but melted. Grant indulged in the strength of the kiss for long moments before he let her go.
“Don’t throw stumbling blocks at me, Country. I’ll jump them,” he told her. “Don’t lump me with whatever jerk broke your heart. And do not downgrade yourself by thinking I’m using you simply to pass the time.”
She lowered her lids and sighed. She was exhausted. Physically and emotionally. No wonder Cassie was worried. Guilt tugged at Grant’s heart. Damn it. His heart had no place in this.
She didn’t want this movie made, didn’t want him here and was fighting this attraction. He wanted the movie and he wanted Tessa.
Grant hated to tell her, but she was fighting a losing battle.
“What’s really bothering you?” he asked. “I realize you’re uncomfortable with...whatever we’re doing, but that wouldn’t have you this angry.”
When she met his eyes, she shook her head. “I’m not sure. It may be nothing, but I’m just so paranoid lately.”
“Tell me what it is, and I can help you decide if it’s nothing. That way you won’t drive yourself insane with your internal battle.”
“Too late,” she said with a smile. “My dad hired this new groom a couple days ago. We needed to fill the slot, but this guy...I can’t put my finger on it. He almost looks familiar. It’s his eyes, but I can’t place him. He’s really quiet and keeps to himself.”
Squeezing her shoulder in reassurance, Grant said, “I fail to see an issue.”
“It just seems like every time I turn around he’s there. I don’t know if he’s spying on me or what.” She paused, bit her lip and went on. “I know this sounds silly, but what if he’s out to harm the horses or sabotage my training? We don’t know this man and the timing...”
Grant didn’t think this was a big deal, but if Tessa was concerned, he’d definitely look into it. Because she was right, the timing was perfect if someone wanted to ruin her racing season. Better to be safe than sorry. And he sure didn’t want anyone to screw up this film before it got started. This was his big shot at producing with the biggest names in the industry. No way in hell was someone going to come in and ruin everything.
“He passed the background check, and from what I can tell he’s a very hard worker.” Tessa blew out a sigh. “Maybe I’m just paranoid because of Cassie’s ex. We thought we could trust him, too.”
Grant cupped Tessa’s cheek, stroking her soft, delicate skin. “I’ll keep an eye out for the guy and do a little digging of my own.”
“Really?” she asked, her eyes widening.
“Yeah. I mean, I can’t have some random guy wreaking havoc on the set. Best to get to the bottom of this now before my crew arrives.”
Tessa nodded and pulled from his grasp. Putting the car back in gear, she drove back out onto the highway.
Grant realized his words may have hurt her, but he wasn’t quite ready to admit he was falling for her a little more each day. So there was no way he could tell her that he’d be watching this stranger like a hawk to make sure he wasn’t out to take advantage of Tessa or any of the other Barringtons.
He may have told her it was all about the movie, but that was a lie. A good portion of it was because he refused to see Tessa hurt.
Damn. There went that heart of his, trying to get involved. But a little voice whispered that his heart was already involved.
Seven
The feed store showed promise. Maybe not for an entire scene, but most definitely for a backdrop or even during the opening credits.
But the little white church, complete with bell in the steeple and a picturesque cemetery amid a grove of trees, would without a doubt be in at least one pivotal scene.
“This is where my parents were married,” Tessa told Grant as she pulled her Jeep to the side of the gravel road. “It’s small, but my mom wanted an intimate wedding. She was very private.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Grant said, throwing Tessa a smile before stepping out of the vehicle.
She came around and joined him as he stared up at the simple structure. Tall, narrow stained glass windows adorned either side of the arched double doors. A narrow set of steps led up the embankment toward the church, and Grant could easily see Damon Barrington and his young bride marrying here.
With a director’s eye, he could see a smiling, maybe tearful couple exiting the church, while rice sprayed them and lined the path to an awaiting car.
Key to the start of the movie was the whirlwind romance of Tessa’s parents. They’d known each other for only six weeks, but according to Damon, he didn’t need to know Rose a moment longer to be sure she was the woman he wanted to spend his life with.
Unfortunately, she’d passed all too soon.
Grant’s eyes drifted to the cemetery, then back to Tessa, who was also looking toward the graves...and he knew.
“You want to go see her?” he asked softly.
A brief smile spread across Tessa’s face as she nodded. “You don’t have to come, but I can’t drive out here and not go visit.”
Without a word, Grant slid his hand into hers and headed up the slope. He let her take the lead and found himself standing in the shade of a large oak tree. The sunny spring day had a bit of chill to the air, so he slipped his arm around Tessa’s shoulders.
Or that’s what he told himself. Honestly, he wanted her to know she wasn’t alone, wanted her to know he was here. He couldn’t fathom the heartache of losing his mother. Nearly losing his sister had crushed him, leaving him in a world he couldn’t even describe.
“This never seems real,” Tessa whispered. “I should be used to not having her, but I always feel... I don’t know. I guess I feel something is missing.”
Grant stared down at the polished black stone with a single rose emblem beside the name Rose Barrington.
�
�I can’t imagine the void that slips into your life,” he told her. “Nothing replaces that.”
The hole in his heart for his sister had never been filled...never would be unless he faced her.
“You just learn to cope,” Tessa said softly. “There’s no other choice.”
Grant let the gentle breeze envelop them, allowing the silence to take over. He had no idea what to say, so he said nothing. There was no need to try to fill the moment with useless words.
Tessa bent down, rested her hand over her mother’s name and whispered something. He took a step back to allow her more privacy. Other than his sister, his heart had never ached for another woman until now.
Even though her mother had been gone fifteen years, Tessa was obviously very torn up. More than likely coming here for her was both comforting and crushing. And seeing Tessa so vulnerable wasn’t something he’d planned on.
At one time Grant’s family had been close, had had a bond that he’d thought nothing could destroy. But he’d murdered that when—
“You okay?”
Grant shook off his thoughts and realized Tessa had come to her feet and was studying him.
“Fine,” he told her, refusing to let past demons haunt him. “I wanted to give you some privacy.”
She moved on through the cemetery, and he followed, taking in strangers’ names and various dates. Some stones were obviously decades old, and others were fairly new.
“This area holds a lot of meaning to your family,” he commented as Tessa moved in behind the church.
Large trees shaded the entire area, providing a canopy over the stones. Grant could hardly wait to show Bronson and Anthony the stunning scene.
“I hope to marry here someday,” Tessa said. “I still have my mother’s wedding dress. It’s old, but it’s so simple and classy, I want to wear it.”
Grant could see her with her auburn hair pulled back in a timeless style, and wearing a vintage gown. She’d make the most alluring of brides.
He wasn’t too happy thinking of another man waiting for her at the end of the aisle, but it was hardly his place to worry about such things. After all, in a few months he’d be out of her life.
“I bet you have everything all planned out in a color-coded spreadsheet,” he teased as he stopped and turned to look down at her. “I’d guess you have each detail, down to the shade of each flower.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes, tilted her chin. “Maybe I do.”
Grant laughed. “Nothing to get defensive about, Country. Some people are just wired to never relax.”
“I relax,” she countered, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m relaxing right now.”
He took a step forward; she took a step back. They danced that way for a few moments until Tessa’s back was up against an old weeping willow.
Grant rested an arm on the trunk above her head and smiled when she had to tip her head to look up at him.
“You’re relaxed?” he asked. “The only time you’ve fully relaxed with me was when my mouth was on yours. You never take downtime, and you work yourself too hard.”
“That’s not true,” she said, her words coming out almost a whisper.
Grant took his free hand and traced a line up her neck, right over her pounding pulse. “Really?”
Tessa continued to hold his gaze, never wavering. And he wanted to keep her guessing what he’d do next.
“Then in that case—” he leaned down, coming within a breath of her lips “—have dinner with me.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Slick.”
“Sure it is.” Grant eased back, just enough to give her room to breathe. “You pick the day and time. I can work around you, but I want to have dinner with you, and I want you to take one evening to do absolutely nothing.”
“I’m training,” she insisted. “I have way too much to do and...”
“And what?”
“And I can’t think when I’m with you,” she whispered. “I want things, things I shouldn’t. I can’t get involved, Grant.”
“With me or with anybody?” he asked, resisting the urge to kiss her until she lost her train of thought. But she was torn, and emotional right now.
That made two of them.
“Anybody.” She placed her hands on his chest and eased him farther away as she straightened from the tree. “Besides, we couldn’t be more different, and when the film is over, you’ll be gone. I already said I won’t be the one to help you pass your time here.”
Grant shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “I asked you to dinner. I’m not asking you to have a wild, torrid affair worthy of headlines.”
Not yet, anyway. Damn that clause. He had to get creative here, to protect not only his career but his peace of mind. Sex was all he could afford, all that he wanted.
Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
“Dinner only?” she asked.
“Unless you find me irresistible and can’t keep your hands off me,” he countered, offering her a smile, hoping to lighten the mood. “In that case, we’ll have to keep it a secret so I don’t get fired.”
“I’m pretty sure I can keep my hands off you, as long as you keep those lips off me.”
Grant winced. “Ouch, you really know how to drive a hard bargain. But I want you to relax, so I’ll keep my lips to myself.”
She raised a brow and twisted her lips as she contemplated. “Fine. Dinner. One evening and nothing more.”
“What night and time?”
She slid her phone from her pocket and searched. No doubt she had her spreadsheet on that damn thing, too.
“Tomorrow at seven.”
“Perfect. Don’t wear anything too fancy, and come by my cottage.”
“You’re not going to pick me up?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t want you thinking this is a real date. It’s just dinner, remember?”
“As long as you remember, that’s what matters.”
Grant suddenly felt as if he’d won the lottery. Of course, a miracle had been performed. Tessa had not only agreed to spending downtime with him, she’d agreed to relax.
And he might have to keep his lips off of her, but she’d said absolutely nothing about his hands.
Eight
Don’t wear anything too fancy.
Tessa nearly laughed. Oh, she had fancy clothes for uppity events she was forced to attend, but those gowns and dresses lived in the back of her closet, more than likely collecting dust on the shoulder seams that were molded around the hangers.
After working in the stables, helping Cassie clean stalls, Tessa did shower and throw on fresh jeans and a white shirt, rolling up the sleeves. She shoved on her nicer black boots and grabbed a simple green jacket to top off her “not a date” outfit.
The air outside had been a bit chilly, and she knew she’d be cold when she came home later.
She groaned as she grabbed her keys from the peg by the back door. How the hell had she let him talk her into this? Intriguing as he was, she simply couldn’t allow herself to sink deeper into his world...a world of class and glamour. A world she’d narrowly escaped a few months ago, along with a man who’d claimed to care for her.
But something about Grant seemed to pull her. He had no qualms about the fact that he found her attractive, but he also seemed genuine, and at the cemetery he’d been supportive and caring.
He also guarded his family...that had been evident when she’d brought up the topic of his twin. And while his instant raised shield intrigued her, leaving her wanting to know more, Tessa could appreciate the value of privacy. Ironic, considering she loathed the idea of this movie, of virtual strangers invading her space, her life.
But Grant seemed to be truly concerned about her fee
lings. He’d gone out of his way to assure her he’d portray her family in the best light.
He understood family. And, she had to admit, was starting to understand her. He was a Hollywood hotshot, used to elegance and beauty surrounding him. Yet he was blending just fine here in her world.
She didn’t want him to have so many layers, because each one threw her off and made her wonder about the possibilities beyond those kisses.
No. Tessa shook off her thoughts as they started down a path she wasn’t ready to visit.
If Grant knew she was a virgin, he’d probably give up his quest...or he’d see her as a challenge he needed to meet.
Dinner. He’d only said dinner. Added to that, he’d promised to keep those talented lips to himself. A part of her was disappointed that she wouldn’t feel them, but the logical side of her knew this was for the best.
Each kiss made her yearn for...well, everything he was willing to offer, which scared the hell out of her. She’d never desired so much from one man, never considered giving in before.
But somewhere along the way, she felt as if they’d crossed some sort of friendship line. She found him easy to talk to, and as much as she hated to admit it, she wanted to spend more time with him. She really didn’t have friends outside her racing world, and Grant was refreshing...kisses and all.
That friendship line they’d crossed held a lot of sexual tension, and Tessa worried one day all that built-up pressure would explode.
Which was why she had to stop this roller coaster of hormones before it got too far out of control. The two different worlds they lived in would never mesh, so why even add something else to her list of worries?
Besides the upcoming season, as if that weren’t enough stress, she really wasn’t comfortable with the new groom. When she’d mentioned this to her father, he’d waved a hand and told her she was imagining things and was probably just still skeptical because of Cassie’s ex.
Yet the stranger had made a point not to get too far away from her and Cassie as they were cleaning stalls earlier. He’d been working hard, but still, Tessa had a gut feeling he’d been trying to listen to their conversation.
When Opposites Attract... Page 6
