Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2)

by Mary J. Williams

  “Sharing some lovely wine.”

  Paige sighed. Everything was so literal with him. Fine. If he needed her to bash him with the edge of her blunt tongue, so be it. She should have done this after their first date.

  “You are a very nice man, Lyle.”

  “And you are a very nice woman.”

  “Not really. I can be a bitch.” Paige took her glass to the sink, pouring out the contents. Lyle’s gasp made her roll her eyes. “You haven’t seen that side of me because, the few times we’ve been alone, I never say anything. You do all the talking.”

  “I thought you were shy.”

  “That proves you don’t know me. I’m a lot of things, Lyle. Shy isn’t one of them.”

  “All the more reason for you to come to Chicago.”

  “No.”

  “But—”

  “Just no, Lyle.” This time, Paige wasn’t leaving any doubt about how she felt. “I don’t want to go to Chicago with you. Or Missoula. Or Basic.”

  “Is there a reason or is this a woman’s thing?”

  “You mean am I moody because it’s that time of the month? The answer is no. I don’t have my period. I told you, this is me. I can call on my inner bitch every day of the month. I don’t need any excuses.”

  “There’s no need to be crude.” Lyle picked an imaginary piece of lint off his starched jeans.

  “Fine. How about some honesty? Something I should have given you from the beginning.” Paige slapped her hands down on the imported Italian marble that covered every inch of counter space. Lyle called the color ‘enchanted moss.’ Paige called it ugly. Like mucus with flecks of gold shot through it. “I am not interested.”

  “It’s that walking steroid, isn’t it?”

  “It’s you and me, Lyle. It’s the fact that we— Wait. Steroid? What are you talking about?”

  “Muscle boy,” Lyle sneered. “The guy guarding the house when I drove up? You should get a dog, Paige. They’re easier to train.”

  “Nate? Nate Landis?”

  Under other circumstances, Paige would have laughed. Steroids? She supposed to a man like Lyle who had a slightly underdeveloped physique, it might seem like Nate was muscle bound. To the eye of an appreciative woman, his body was perfection. Sex on a very long, gorgeous stick.

  “Landis. Why does that sound familiar?”

  “It’s a common enough last name.” Paige didn’t want to get into the whole ‘we’re making a movie’ thing with Lyle. She wanted to go home. Now. “I’m tired, Lyle and as you pointed out earlier, my day starts early.”

  “Of course.”

  Nothing ruffled Lyle. Paige could see that as an asset. If you were an air traffic controller. Or if you defused bombs for a living. In everyday life, it was damned annoying.

  If there were ever a time to cut the small talk, this was it. Naturally, Lyle didn’t get the memo. The ride back to the Double C seemed never ending as he went on and on about the fluctuating Asian market. Paige was so happy to see the front porch light she had the truck door open before they came to a full stop.

  “Goodbye, Lyle. I—”

  “I won’t take what you said tonight to be the final word, Paige. Think about it for a few weeks. I’ll call you when I get back from Chicago.”

  “There is nothing to think about. There is nothing between us, Lyle. You must feel the same. You’ve never even kissed me.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Paige saw Lyle’s white teeth gleaming in the glow from the porch. “Why didn’t you say so?”

  When he started to get out of the truck, Paige jumped across the seat, grabbing at his arm. When he wanted to, Lyle moved quickly. Not wanting to be trapped, she slammed the passenger door. Before she could run up the steps to the safety of the house, Lyle was in front her, blocking her path.

  “I don’t want you to kiss me, Lyle.”

  “You’ll change your mind. I’ve been told I’m very good.”

  “No.”

  “Relax.” Lyle’s hands closed around Paige’s upper arms.

  “And what? Think of England?”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “It means the lady doesn’t want you mauling her.”

  Nate’s arrival gave Paige the opportunity she needed. A quick twist of her body and an elbow to his midsection had his hands dropping away. She didn’t stick around to enjoy the sight of him doubled over.

  “Get in the house.” Nate growled as Paige moved past him. She stopped long enough to take his hand.

  “If you come with me.”

  “I’m right behind you.”

  Nate tugged at his hand, but Paige wasn’t letting go. Their eyes met. No longer a warm ocean blue, there was ice in his gaze that made her more determined to get him away from Lyle.

  “Please, Nate. I’m fine. Nothing happened. Besides, he’s already gone.”

  While Paige waylaid Nate, Lyle wisely decided to get out of Dodge. A plume of dust and screeching tires signaled his hasty retreat.

  “Fucking coward.”

  Paige pulled Nate along. With his cooperation, the task was a lot easier. He watched the taillights of Lyle’s truck for a moment longer before following her into the house.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  Nate helped Paige off with her jacket. He lifted the edge of her sleeve, checking the skin.

  “I’m fine.” She tried moving away but when he gently held her still, she didn’t put up a fight. It felt good to be fussed over. If only for a little while. “Nate, Lyle got the worst of the encounter. I jabbed him hard.”

  “You should have let me jab him harder.”

  “With this?” Paige took his hand in hers. “You could have shattered his jaw.”

  “Nah. I know how to throw a punch. I was thinking of a split lip. Painful and lots of blood.”

  Satisfied she wasn’t going to bruise, Nate looked at Paige. The ice had melted, she thought with a sigh. Warm ocean blue.

  “Thank you,” she whispered. “Though I could have handled it on my own.”

  “I have no doubt.”

  Nate gently traced the ridge of her knuckles with his thumb.

  “Bad idea.”

  “Hmm?” Nate smiled.

  Damn that mouth. It gave a woman ideas. Bad, nasty, glorious ideas.

  “I shouldn’t be holding your hand.”

  Remembering his conversation with Chuck, Nate agreed. Friends with benefits, my ass. The warning had been clear as crystal. Keep your hands off my daughter. Nate planned on doing his best. At least in the house. However, Montana was a big state. If Paige could be persuaded, all bets were off outside these doors.

  “You’re sure he didn’t hurt you?”

  “Positive.”

  “Then he can keep breathing.” Nate kissed the back of Paige’s hand before letting it go. “Any chance he’ll be back?”

  “Not if he has a trace of self-preservation.”

  Paige wasn’t thinking about what Nate would do to Lyle. If the jerk showed his face around here again, she would break his jaw.

  “Good. We have an early start in the morning. Chuck has set up a meeting with everyone who will be working on the movie.”

  Paige shook her head. She was amazed at how much her father had gotten done without her knowledge.

  “He isn’t letting any grass grow under his feet.”

  Nate followed Paige up the stairs, stopping at her door. He wasn’t going to look. He was better off not knowing what her bed looked like. Feeding his fertile imagination with images of how she would look, naked and ready for him, would only add fuel to the fire.

  “Good night, Paige.”

  Inside her room, Paige listened to Nate’s footsteps and the closing of his door. Thank God, her father was in the house. His and Nate’s rooms shared a wall. That was all the deterrent Paige needed if she found herself tempted.

  With a sigh, she flopped onto the bed, bouncing slightly. Nothing would happen between her and Nate. But oh, was she tempted.<
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  For the second time that night, she cursed Nate Landis. The man was too good looking. Too sexy. Too… Everything. Why couldn’t the man be a jerk? She could resist a gorgeous asshole. Unfortunately, Nate seemed to be one of the good guys.

  Paige punched her pillow in frustration. Everyone had flaws. She was determined to find something, anything that would dampen the attraction.

  Nate Landis could not be as perfect as he seemed.

  CHAPTER SIX

  MORNINGS ON THE Double C carried a routine that seldom varied. Animals didn’t care if you had a bad night or wanted twenty more minutes of sleep. They depended on you. Their well-being meant your needs came second.

  Paige had always been an early riser. She liked watching the sun crest over the horizon as she tended the horses. It was something she missed when she went away to college.

  It was a bonding time. For the past year, Paige had begun acquiring problem horses. Animals considered untrainable or had been badly abused. They were skittish around humans — rightfully so.

  Neglect, beatings, starvation. She saw it all. These horses had no reason to trust her. It took time and patience. Things other people were not willing to give.

  Paige knew the rewards. Seeing a beautiful animal restored to physical and mental health. On rare occasions, the horses were beyond her help. Calling the vet, having an animal put down, was the hardest part of her work. However, the rewards far outweighed the bad times.

  When one of her horses found a new home with a carefully vetted owner, she knew it was all worth it. She had a growing collection of pictures on her office wall of smiling owners and the equally happy horses. Seeing the fruit of her labor made it all worthwhile.

  “Hey, Rollie.”

  Paige scratched the horse’s nose, feeding him a handful of oats. His constant companion nuzzled her hair, snorting his greeting.

  “Winter.” Paige laughed. The feel of his velvety muzzle against her cheek was familiar and welcome. “When have I ever forgotten you? Here you go.”

  The horses chewed contentedly. They were her favorites. Her first rescues. Looking at them now, it was hard to believe that they were the same half-starved animals that the local vet had delivered to her a year and a half ago.

  They had been two racks of bones, their coats patches of mange and littered with fleas and puss-infested sores.

  No one considered them worth saving. When Dr. Irene Mount contacted Paige, the horses were scheduled for euthanization the next day. Saving them was a long shot. Looking at Rollie and Winter now, she dared anyone to say it wasn’t worth it. They weren’t for sale. Never had been. Never would be. They would live their lives out on the Double C — pampered and content.

  “I love you guys.” Paige gave the animals one last pat. “Maybe we’ll take Nate out for a ride one day soon.”

  Winter’s ears twitched. He loved a good gallop through the fields. When Paige took him into the foothills of the Bitterroots, he could go for hours, exploring different paths.

  Rollie wasn’t as enthusiastic. He needed Winter to spur him on. If Paige took him out alone, he tended to plod, barely picking up his hooves. He would give a long-suffering snort, hanging his head with a heavy sigh. The only time he had any real energy was when he was turned toward home. With his comfortable corral as a goal, Rollie could move like the wind.

  “You keep Rollie on his toes, don’t you? He never lags when you’re there to nip at his rump.”

  They were a perfect pair. Inseparable. Paige didn’t know what they would do without each other. Luckily, neither of them would ever have to find out.

  “You’ve had your breakfast. Now it’s my turn.”

  Paige’s thoughts turned back to Nate. That was nothing new. He had filled her head from the moment he stepped off the plane. Had it only been yesterday? How could one man become so important so quickly?

  Because you’ve never met anyone like him.

  It was true. Paige slowly walked across the barnyard toward the house. In less than twenty-four hours, Nate stirred up a variety of emotions. From lust to frustration and back to lust again. He made her laugh. He made her angry. Mostly, he made her want something she couldn’t put her finger on. How could she want it if she didn’t know what it was?

  Why now? Her mother used to laugh that Paige skipped the worrisome teenage years, heading straight into adulthood. Her parents were never concerned about her becoming boy crazy. It wasn’t going to happen. Not because she was mature beyond her years. There were times when Paige wished for nothing more than to temporarily go off the rails over a boy. Lottie did it every other week.

  Paige would have gladly joined her if there had been anyone in Basic to get her hormones pumping. She remained a virgin until the grand old age of twenty-one.

  As she did every morning, Paige used the side entrance to the house. Right off the kitchen, technically a mudroom, it was designed as a place to leave boots, coats, hats, and gloves that were loaded with muck from all over the ranch. Erin had made the rule before Paige was born. Work boots were not for the house.

  Her mother might be gone, but Paige automatically toed off her boots. It never occurred to her not to.

  “There you are. Perfect timing. I’m just dishing up the hotcakes.”

  “On a weekday?” Paige stopped, breathing in the aroma of hot coffee and bacon. “Did I miss the memo? This is holiday food.”

  “This morning felt special.” Chuck filled a plate. “Sit. They’re always better fresh off the griddle.”

  Having washed her hands in the mudroom, Paige didn’t hesitate. She had been up long enough to work up an appetite.

  “Milk?”

  “Please.”

  Paige liked her hotcakes with plenty of butter and a dash of syrup. Her father liked his to swim in a pool of the dark liquid. Sweet maple soup with hotcake croutons. That was how her mother described it. Then she would kiss him, declaring she picked up enough syrup from Chuck’s lips for her own serving.

  It used to be a running joke. Paige hadn’t thought about it in ages.

  As he set the plate in front of her, Chuck looked at Paige. The smile he gave her was a touch sad but for the first time, she saw a spark of genuine humor in his gaze. The memories were easier to deal with. Especially the good ones.

  “Where’s our guest? Still in bed?” Paige took a sip of milk. “Hollywood hours won’t cut it around here.”

  “Nate was up and out with me before you finished your shower.” Chuck flipped the last hotcake. “We fed the herd down by the old barn and repaired a section of fence I wasn’t aware was down. Nate noticed it on our way back.”

  “So there.” Nate entered the kitchen, using his good hand to smooth back his slightly damp hair.

  “Show off.”

  There was no heat in her words. Nate’s willingness to jump in only added to her admiration. Why couldn’t he be lazy? A slug-a-bed? She needed to find a reason to tamp down on the growing attraction she felt for him.

  “Do you snore?”

  Nate’s blue eyes twinkled as he snatched a piece of bacon off her plate.

  “I haven’t heard any complaints.”

  I’ll bet, Paige thought. A woman would put up with a lot if it meant having Nate in her bed.

  “Hey,” Paige slapped at his hand when he would have taken more food from her. “Dad practically cooked a whole pig.” She pointed to the platter heaped with bacon. “Leave mine alone.”

  “Yours tastes better.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Because it’s yours.”

  Paige’s eyes widened. Flirting when they were alone was one thing. But in front of her father?

  “Coffee, Nate?”

  “I’ll get it, thanks.”

  Neither man acted as though anything odd had been said. It was as though this kind of thing was routine. A stranger was in their kitchen, drinking their coffee, eating food off her plate. That was not normal. Nor was Nate winking at her over the rim of his cup.

&n
bsp; “Hollywood hours?” Nate asked before she could comment on his behavior. “What would those be, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  Paige thought about it for a second, and then laughed at her foolishness. “I have no idea.”

  Surprised and delighted by her response, Nate grinned.

  “Let me give you a crash course on the subject. Unless you aren’t interested.”

  “My mind is a sponge, professor. Consider me your willing pupil.”

  “Oh, I could teach you a thing or two.” This time, Nate whispered. Flirting was one thing; all-out sexy talk was another. “All you have to do is say the word.”

  Paige’s eyes met Nate’s, silently pleading for him to keep quiet. Nate’s smile widened. Apparently, he enjoyed her discomfort.

  “Well?”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “What isn’t going to happen?” Chuck asked, joining them at the table.

  “Nate wants to direct.” Paige felt a burst of satisfaction when Nate choked on his coffee. “I told him it was your movie. You are the director.”

  “Is that true?” Chuck gave Nate his full attention, breakfast forgotten. “I know everyone in Hollywood has aspirations.”

  “Paige is right, Chuck. I wouldn’t dream of stepping on your toes.”

  “You wouldn’t be.” Chuck sat back. He had the look of a man on death row, given a last minute reprieve. “I know it’s a big job. I never would have asked. But if it’s your dream. This is fantastic.”

  Chuck dug into his food with vigor. Between the relief of handing the responsibility of director over to Nate, and the dozen other things he needed to do, he missed the silent exchange between Paige and Nate.

  I am going to kill you.

  There was no misinterpreting that look. Trying her best not to laugh, Paige put a hand over her mouth, rubbing at the corners. A small cough covered the chuckle that slipped out.

  Knowing she wouldn’t be able to hold it together much longer, Paige jumped to her feet. Heading toward the mudroom, she called over her shoulder, “Leave the dishes. I’ll do them when I get back.”

  “Where are you going?” Chuck called out. “Paige? Huh.” He looked at Nate with a slight frown. “I wonder what that was all about?”