“If you’re not feeling better tomorrow, I’m taking you to Dr. Harper.”
“I have to be better. The crew arrives in the morning, and we’re shooting the commercial in the afternoon. All I need is some sleep.”
“You need to take this seriously. Altitude sickness can be life threatening.”
“Thanks. That makes me feel better.” No way would her life end out here in the middle of nowhere. She had plans. Goals to achieve.
There had to be more to life than this. Something longerlasting. Something that would leave a mark on the world after she turned to dust.
She wanted to be remembered for more than being a hard worker who created ad campaigns to sell jeans and Tug-Ups.
Those thoughts sucker punched her right in the gut.
At least before she met Rory she’d been content. Being with him and his family made her realize how alone she was. How empty her life had become. How could she go back to that?
Super. Altitude sickness mixed with a dose of self-pity. Could the night get any worse?
“You need to take it easy for a couple of days. Altitude sickness leaves someone pretty weak.”
She grabbed the toilet, trying to use it for leverage to stand. Immediately, Rory’s strong arms wrapped around her, helping her to her feet. For a second she gave in to the urge to rest her head on his arm. His warmth seeped into her. He felt so good. Too good.
She could get very used to having him around.
Now that was something to worry about.
Chapter Twelve
Rory woke the next morning with a crick in his neck from sleeping in the chair in Lizzie’s room. He’d been afraid to leave her alone in case her symptoms worsened.
She’d scared the daylights out of him last night. People died from altitude sickness. Granted, not very often, but it happened. Then his fear of losing her had scared him even worse. Just what he needed in his life, one more person to worry about and take care of. But no getting around it, he cared about Lizzie. The question was how much did he care, and what should he do about how he felt?
There couldn’t be anything more than a fling between them. Their lives wouldn’t allow it. He couldn’t see himself in New York any more than Elizabeth could see herself in Colorado, and he wouldn’t make the mistake of begging a woman to stay here with him again.
He’d never been big on short-term relationships, but now he was rethinking that policy. A bug bite became all someone thought about when he didn’t scratch it. If Rory didn’t explore what was between him and Lizzie, he’d wonder about it forever. If he gave in, their relationship would run its course and he could move on. That would work. And if he laid out his expectations before they got involved, no one would get hurt.
We’re adults. There’s something between us. We both know we can’t have anything permanent, but how about we enjoy each other while it lasts?
Okay, so the laying-it-out-on-the-table speech needed some work.
Lizzie groaned.
“Feeling that good, huh?”
“I feel better than I did last night.” Her gaze flicked in his general direction. “Thank you for helping me.”
“No problem.”
“Please tell me you didn’t sleep in that chair all night.”
“I planned on staying awhile to make sure you were okay, but then I dozed off.”
“You have to look good for the shoot today. You needed your rest.”
“Woman, you’ve got to learn to think about something other than work.” He leaned forward and brushed a stray curl off her cheek. “Do you need to bump the shoot back a day?”
“I can’t.”
Her soft whisper wrapped around him, and for a minute he lost himself in her clear blue eyes.
“I’ll have to thank your mother for helping me last night. She’s a terrific woman. Your whole family is pretty amazing. You’re very lucky.”
He didn’t miss the wistfulness that slipped into her voice. “They’re okay most of the time. What’s your family like?”
“There’s not much to tell. My parents are archeologists. They travel all over the world.”
“Did you go with them as a kid?”
Her lips tightened into a thin line. “I stayed with my grandmother when they were on their digs. When she died my parents gave me the choice of living with my aunt and uncle or going to a boarding school. I chose the boarding school.”
Why would a child choose living at a boarding school over moving in with relatives? Then he thought about the situation from a kid’s point of view. If her parents didn’t want to spend time with her, why would she trust anyone else? The only reason he could think of for a child making that choice was because she wanted to insulate herself from being rejected again.
No wonder Lizzie kept everyone at arm’s length. An image of her as she must’ve been as a child flashed in his mind. Same honey-blond hair, same curiosity filling her eyes. Same keen mind searching for a challenge. How could parents walk away from a gift like that?
“That must’ve been rough.”
She shrugged, but he glimpsed the pain in her eyes. “I survived.”
Her quiet strength wormed its way into his heart. The woman had grit. Nothing got the best of her. “I bet you were a terrific kid. They missed out.”
She closed down right before his eyes. The vulnerability in her face vanished, as her jaw tipped up.
“I’ve got to get ready for the shoot.” She clutched the blankets to her chin. “You need to leave.”
He crawled out of the chair and stood beside her bed. “When you’re feeling better, Lizzie, we’re going to talk. Things have changed between us.”
“No, they haven’t. I’m the boss. You’re the employee.” Her gaze hardened. The closeness they’d shared a minute ago disappeared.
Rory rubbed his thumb along her jawline. “There’s been a slow fire burning under us for a while now, and I’m not the only one who feels it.”
“I have a rule about never mixing business and pleasure.”
“Every rule is meant to be broken.” Rory smiled. If Griff heard him say that he’d laugh himself silly. Of the two of them, Rory was the rule follower. He now knew he just hadn’t met a rule worth breaking. He intended to smash this one of Lizzie’s to pieces.
LATER THAT AFTERNOON, Rory cringed when he walked out of the house to find a good portion of Estes Park’s sixty-five hundred residents milling around the ranch. He’d known the juicy news of a commercial being shot at Twin Creeks would whip through town faster than stampeding cattle. He’d told himself he was ready to face everyone, but seeing his neighbors and friends now, he realized nothing could prepare him for everyone he knew turning out to watch him make an ass of himself.
He spotted Joshua Stone and Cade Jacobson, his friends since kindergarten, among the crowd. Damn. Those two wouldn’t let an opportunity to harass him pass them by. Rory always gave as good as he got, but today’s jokes wouldn’t be so easily ignored.
“Mom saw you on Wake Up America,” Cade called out. “She said you’re on a billboard in New York City. Why would anyone want to see your ugly mug on something that big? Have they gotten complaints about it scaring children?”
Joshua punched Cade in the arm, and the pair laughed. Rory gritted his teeth. They’d tossed insults like this since the moment they’d learned to talk, but today’s jibes pricked his skin. Damned if he’d let them see his humiliation, though.
“Your dad still using that picture of you to scare the coyotes off your ranch, Cade?”
“Rory’s got you there, Cade. You are damn ugly.”
“He’s probably all high and mighty now that he’s been on national TV, and can’t talk to us,” Joshua taunted when Rory turned to leave.
“Just look at those fancy jeans he has on,” Cade added.
Their loud guffaws bruised his eardrums. “I could pencil you in later, and we could grab a couple of beers at Lonigan’s, but now I’m working.” Rory tossed this over his shoulder as he started walking
toward the barn.
He’d told Lizzie no self-respecting man would wear these blasted jeans. Now he had proof. Knowing he’d been right didn’t make wearing them any easier to stomach.
“Working?” Joshua goaded. “Is that what you call it? Doreen sure loved your little striptease on Wake Up America.”
That zinger dug deep under Rory’s skin, drawing blood. He stopped dead and spun around. “You’re just jealous because even Doreen hollers for you to put your shirt back on, not take it off.” Rory plastered an I-don’t-give-a-damn-what-you’re-saying look on his face, the one he’d perfected from years of trading insults with his mouthy younger brother.
Cade pulled out his iPhone and pointed the thing at Rory. “How about you strike a pose for us? We can print the pictures and sell them on eBay. If you’d autograph them, that is.”
His patience stretched thin, he was about ready to punch his buddies in the nose, lifelong friends or not, when Lizzie materialized at his side.
“I’m sorry, gentlemen. You can’t take pictures, since this is a commercial shoot. You’re welcome to stay in the parking lot, but this area is closed to the public.” She placed her hand on Rory’s forearm. Despite the weariness in her eyes and her pale complexion, she emitted her customary take-charge attitude. “I’m sorry to drag you away from your friends, but we need to get started.”
“Those two should send you flowers,” Rory muttered as he and Elizabeth walked away.
“I know. You were about to take a swing at them.”
He froze. “How’d you know?”
“Intuition. I figured you needed an out. I’ve situated a spot for you and the stylist in a far corner of the barn. No one can see you from there. I’m off to check the lightning.”
Her concern for him, for his embarrassment, and her attempt to help him salvage his pride, wrapped around his heart and squeezed.
Minutes later, as he sat having his makeup done—no way would he ever get used to that—he couldn’t get his thoughts off Lizzie and how she’d sensed what he needed and rescued him. That had always been his role in the family. Damned if being on the receiving end didn’t feel good.
His gaze sought her out where she was talking to the cameraman. She looked like she’d been dragged behind a truck for a mile or two. He noticed she didn’t have any water on hand. He needed to remind her to keep hydrated, and he needed to get her a chair, too. She appeared ready to topple over any minute.
“Why didn’t you tell Joshua and Cade why you’re doing this?” Avery asked as she stopped beside him.
“Yeah, that would be better, telling them I can’t afford to pay for Mom’s medical treatment.”
“Everyone knows how expensive health care is these days.” His sister put her hands on her hips. “They’d want to help. The whole town would. You’re not Superman, so quit trying to pretend you are.”
“We don’t need handouts.”
“Pride is a good thing, to a point.”
“I can handle our finances.”
“I know that.” Avery nodded in the direction of Rory’s friends. “They know that. I know how hard this job is for you. You’re not a spotlight kind of guy like Griff is.”
“If I hadn’t found a way to pay for Mom’s treatment, I’d ask for help. But since I’ve got this wonderful gig, I don’t need to.”
“What can I do to help you?”
“Keep an eye on Elizabeth. She had a rough night with altitude sickness.”
“I’d be happy to, but won’t you be with her all day?”
“I won’t be able to make sure she takes care of herself while I’m working.” Rory glanced toward Lizzie. “She doesn’t have any water, and she needs a chair. She can’t stand all day. Plus this client of hers is a real pain in the ass. If he gets too irritating, distract him so she can get the commercial done.”
Avery smiled like she had when they were younger and she knew a secret. He braced for her latest revelation.
“Wow. You’ve got it bad.”
He scoffed. “I’m just concerned about her welfare. She’s my boss.”
“I saw how you two looked at each other last night in the barn, so no way am I buying that fish story.” Avery rubbed his arm. “I’m thrilled. It’s about time you found someone. You worry too much about everyone else. You need someone to worry about you. I like her, especially since she doesn’t bow down to you.”
“It can’t go anywhere between us.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. She lives in New York. I live here. My idea of a relationship isn’t a long-distance one. I’m not big on phone sex.”
“You never know what fate has planned.” Avery smiled and nodded toward Elizabeth. “Don’t wait too long before you let her know you’re interested. You’re not getting any younger.”
“You’re acting like I’ll be getting my AARP card any day now.”
Elizabeth called his name and motioned for him to join her and Devlin. “Gotta go,” Rory said to Avery. “I’m on the clock.”
As Elizabeth watched Rory stroll toward her, she remembered how she’d woken to find him sitting beside her bed. His concern for her had been touching, but then he’d spoiled everything by talking about their relationship.
The man could be so impossible, but so unexpectedly kindhearted, and oh so delicious. She should be mad at him for wanting to talk about how their relationship had changed, but how could she when he was right? Things were different between them, but she wasn’t yet sure what she wanted to do about the fact.
“We’re starting with you in the barn,” she said when Rory joined her and Devlin. “We’ll shoot you getting your horse ready, then ushering it out of the barn. Then we’ll film you riding around the ranch.”
“How’s that going to fit in with our real-man slogan?” Devlin asked.
Elizabeth bit her lip. They’d been on the set for only thirty minutes, and the man had already maxed her out with questions. Every one of which sent of rockets of pain through her throbbing head. Soon she’d be popping Advil like they were Altoids. How many ibuprofen could a person take without risking overdosing?
“I emailed you a copy of the voice-over dialogue,” she said with as much politeness as she could muster.
“I haven’t had the chance to read it,” Devlin admitted.
Why would he take time out of his schedule to read the copy himself? Not when he could take time he’d set aside for the shoot and have her explain it to him.
Sure, he could waste her time. “The voice-over will talk about Rory’s day, then end with the line, ‘no matter where your day takes you, Devlin’s men’s jeans can handle the job.’”
Devlin nodded in approval.
“Rory,” Elizabeth began, “go about your business like you would any day. The camera’s here to film what you’re doing. It’s not like the still photo shoot, where I wanted you to look at the camera.”
“Got it.”
A few minutes after the filming started, Avery materialized beside Elizabeth with a canvas collapsible chair and a refillable water bottle.
“Sit,” she whispered in her ear. “You won’t make it through the day if you don’t.”
Realizing the truth in what she said, Elizabeth gratefully sank into the chair as Avery shoved the water bottle into her hand. Smiling, Elizabeth mouthed thank you and sipped the water.
Luckily, she felt better than when she’d woken up. This morning when she’d swung her legs to the floor to get out of bed, the small motion set her world spinning. It took a few minutes for the dizziness to pass, and twice as long as usual for her to shower and dress. Now if she could just make it through the shoot today without collapsing, she’d be happy.
“I’m not sure about Rory’s shirt,” Devlin began.
Add or killing her client to her list.
What problem could he have with a simple beige, button-down shirt?
“It’s one of your shirts.” Elizabeth smiled. What she wouldn’t give for a muzzle. H
ey, maybe one of those bridle things scattered around the barn would work.
“I like the shirt. Rory looks super in it,” Avery interjected. “The light cream color accentuates his complexion and his brown eyes without detracting from the jeans.”
Elizabeth smiled, thankful for the unexpected support. “You should be in advertising. That was very well put.”
“I think he’d look better in a darker color,” Devlin insisted, and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Let’s go with what he has on,” Elizabeth said with as much assertiveness as she could muster, considering her throbbing head. “We’ll review the film before dinner, and if you’re not happy with what you see, we’ll try a darker shirt tomorrow.”
Devlin thought for a moment, and at one point seemed as if he might argue, but finally nodded, momentarily pacified.
One bullet dodged. How many other details would he question before the day was over?
Maybe she’d get lucky and he’d be struck mute. She smiled at the thought. A girl could dream.
Turning her attention back to the commercial, she watched Rory. His biceps rippled as he tossed the saddle onto the horse’s back. Definitely eye candy, but she’d come to realize how much more there was to him. She admired his honesty and his work ethic. Though he didn’t exactly admire the advertising business, he gave this job all he had.
He looked so comfortable, so at ease here at the ranch. Had she ever been this comfortable in her own skin?
No.
She longed for the contentment, the peace she sensed in Rory. She longed for a family like his. She longed for him.
Damn. She couldn’t fall for Rory. Talk about a doomed relationship.
“Cut,” the director called out.
“Great job, Rory,” Elizabeth said, shaken over her recent thoughts. “We’re going to do it again so we can get closer shots of the jeans and your face.” She turned to the cameraman. “How’s that sound to you?”
“I’m not sure about this horse,” Devlin said before he could answer.
The man had to be kidding. He had problems with the horse she’d cast? Wasn’t the animal horsey enough?
Big City Cowboy (Harlequin American Romance) Page 16
