“I bet you’re still close.”
“Yes, of course, we are. Definitely. It’s just that...it might sound stupid, but I really don’t want to disappoint her. We’ve shared the same dream for twenty years.” Lila felt disloyal and sad just speaking the words. “Hypothetically, because I’m not saying I want to quit, okay? I’m not. I’m just trying to answer your question. So, hypothetically, if I decided I wanted out, I would feel as if I was betraying Erin.”
Clint didn’t speak for about a minute. Then all he said was, “Damn.”
“Yeah,” Lila said, sighing. “And my parents. They’ve always been supportive, never once discouraged me from studying drama. They paid for my entire tuition for UCLA because they believe in me.” She felt her throat tighten. She’d said too much. What was wrong with her? They’d had such a nice evening, and she was ruining everything. She forced a laugh. “I have no idea how we ended up here. I’m sorry I made this about me. Because those aren’t even real issues.” She paused, grasping for something else to talk about. “Why don’t you tell me more about Anne? You never mentioned knowing someone in the business.”
Another long silence had her feeling prickly. Did it have to do with what she’d just told him? Or was it about Anne?
“Don’t be sorry,” he said finally. “I know you were trying to make me feel better about the whole Seth situation.”
Whether he really believed that, she had no way of knowing, but she was grateful just to be able to breathe again.
“Anne died a few years after they were married,” Clint said, and Lila winced. “Every time Nathan was out of town on business, she’d go to Kalispell or wherever the regional theater was holding auditions. She was my age, we were in school together and she loved drama class. But she’d never said anything about wanting to be an actress. According to her friend Bella, Anne had obsessed over whether she could’ve made it big. Nathan felt as if he hadn’t known her at all. For a while, he was a wreck. Three years later he met Beth, and she turned his world right again.”
“Oh, that’s so sad about Anne. No wonder it got so quiet.”
Clint nodded. “I have a feeling he knows everything there is to know about Beth.”
“I’m sure,” she said, wondering how many people at that dinner table were thinking about her being an actress. Someone who would always be chasing her dream no matter what the cost. A woman who wasn’t right for Clint. Just another reason they were location lovers and nothing more.
She looked out the passenger window, her mood plummeting. She’d always tried to be honest with herself. She’d loved being with Clint tonight. With his family. It was all too easy to picture herself in his world.
Lila wanted kids. Even Erin didn’t know that because Lila couldn’t tell her. An actress looking for her big break didn’t commit career suicide by starting a family. So, yes, they were close, and yet they weren’t. Not if Lila wanted to keep a dream alive that she was no longer sure she wanted.
And then here was Clint. Gorgeous, kind, dependable, perfect.
Temporary.
Lila could just cry.
* * *
BY THE TIME they reached the motel, Lila had promised herself she wouldn’t be a buzzkill. She was going to make the most of their time left together. Tonight. Every night. Every minute they could be together.
She had her jacket off before the door closed. She tossed it, wound her arms around Clint’s neck and kissed him hard. She knew she’d surprised him, but he responded quickly.
He pulled her close and teased the seam of her lips until she opened them for him. His tongue swept inside her mouth. She tasted the faint sweetness of his mother’s apple pie. Lila met each slow stroke of his tongue with a caress of her own and pressed closer.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned back to look at her. His dark eyes searched her face as his mouth curved in a warm smile. Was he for real?
It would be so much simpler if he weren’t. She’d been asking herself that question since the barbecue. They’d met just over two weeks ago, and it was hard to separate reality from what she wanted to believe. She knew the answer. Even before tonight.
“It’s okay. I know you can’t stay.” She’d lied. It wasn’t okay at all.
“Why is that?”
“Your parents and grandmother...” She didn’t understand his bewildered expression. “They’ll know where you were...”
Clint smiled and slowly moved his hands up and down her back. The repetitive motion felt incredibly soothing.
“I guess we can set the alarm,” she murmured, wanting to close her eyes and just feel his hands while she daydreamed.
He raised his eyebrows in question.
“In case we fall asleep.”
His hands stopped at the top of her backside. “Do you have to work tonight?” he asked, frowning. “Or does this have to do with my curfew?”
Lila sighed. “I didn’t say that.”
“Listen, I hate that I’m still living with my folks, and I’d never rub anything in their faces. But I’m sure as hell not going to let them interfere with my private life.”
“I understand.” Lila lowered her arms from around his neck. When he didn’t release her, she rested her hands on his biceps. “The thing is, I really don’t want them to think poorly of me.”
Comprehension dawned in his face. Briefly. And then the frown was back.
“I know it doesn’t matter. They don’t consider me...” She drew in a breath. What? A good prospect? Appropriate for Clint? True or not, she couldn’t say that out loud.
“Consider you what?”
She hesitated. “Please don’t make me say it.”
“Is this about Anne?”
“No.” She understood that might also be a problem. “Yes. Partly. My lifestyle is...unpredictable. Although, I do have that role in the sequel.” So it wasn’t as if she was chasing an illusive dream. Her hard work was about to pay off. But she knew far too many people like Anne. Always certain their big chance was around the corner. Clearing her throat, she shrugged. “I mean, they know I’m leaving soon, right?”
Clint tensed. His face. His whole body. Then he relaxed and nodded. “They do.”
Lila sighed. “Well, I sure know how to ruin a party.” She tried to step back, but he held her tighter.
“It’s just beginning,” he said with a thoroughly wicked smile as he backed her toward the bed.
Relieved, she lifted her arms to put them around his neck. He stopped her and gently pushed her sweater off her shoulders.
“Okay,” she muttered, and caught the edges of his shirtfront and yanked. All but one snap popped.
Clint laughed. “Okay, so we’re taking off the gloves.”
“And everything else.” She slid her palms up his strong chest. God, he felt so good. She touched the tip of her tongue to his flat dark nipple.
He jerked, grunted.
“Wow, sensitive tonight.”
Before she could get to the second one, he started unbuttoning her blouse. Slowly, with the utmost care. Probably worried his callused fingers would snag the delicate fabric.
After he’d set the sweater and blouse aside, he picked her up and laid her on the bed. Getting settled, she accidentally kicked out a foot, making Clint jump back.
“Oops. Sorry,” she said. “Good thing you’re fast.”
“Now that might’ve ruined the party.”
She unfastened her skirt. “Can’t have that.”
He just stood there looking at her with an odd smile on his face.
“May I help you?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
“The whole time we were eating supper I wondered which bra you were wearing.”
She glanced down at the cream satin demi-cups. “And do you approve?”
He fl
icked the front clasp and bared her breasts. “I do now,” he said, and bent to take a nipple into his mouth. He sucked hard and did something amazing with his tongue.
Warmth spread from her chest to her belly to the dampness between her thighs. She lifted her shoulders off the mattress, enough to reach his ear. She bit his lobe and felt him smile against her breast.
Then he took a slight nip.
“Ouch!”
“That didn’t hurt,” he murmured, taking a long slow swipe with his tongue.
“It surprised me.” She arched her back. “Do it again.”
He straightened and removed his shirt. “And have you think I’m a one-trick pony?”
“That particular trick stays in your repertoire. Got it?”
As he unfastened his jeans, he raked a gaze across her breasts.
“You’ve seen them before,” she said, a giggle bubbling at the back of her throat when his mouth quirked up only on one side. That meant she was in for something naughty. Something she was going to like a whole lot.
After unzipping his fly, he sat on the edge of the bed. Keeping an eye on her, he removed the first boot.
She didn’t like that he hadn’t said anything. She got up on her knees, let the bra slide off, and pressed her breasts against his back and nibbled his neck.
His body jerked, and he laughed.
“Ah...you’re ticklish?” She started in the middle of his shoulder so she could get some build-up going. Her lips barely grazed his skin.
“Lila?”
“Clint.”
“Listen to me.”
“Uh-huh.” She bit down.
He had her on her back, pressed into the mattress, restraining her with a palm against her ribs before she could react. With his free hand he tried to peel her skirt over her hips.
“Lift,” he ordered.
“Take your jeans off first.” The words came out jumbled. She was laughing and hadn’t caught her breath from his sly move.
He released her, and feeling triumphant, she got up on her elbows to watch him strip.
His hand shot out. It locked around her ankle, and she gasped. Her left elbow gave out, and she fell back. He grabbed her other ankle and hauled her to the edge of the bed.
She should’ve known better. So much for enjoying her moment of victory.
Clint didn’t tell her to lift her butt again. He managed just fine, stripping off her skirt and her thong. And then stood there like a conquering pirate surveying his spoils while he shoved his own jeans off.
Still wearing his boxers, he spread her legs and stroked the skin of her inner thigh. A slight shiver passed through her. When he dropped to a crouch, she held her breath.
“You’re not laughing,” he said with a cocky grin, and kissed the sensitive flesh close to her sex.
She’d never felt more vulnerable, more exposed in her life. Swallowing, she lifted her chin. “Never figured you for a sore loser.”
“I’m the loser?”
“Who’s going down on whom?”
He let out a loud laugh. “Good point,” he muttered, still laughing when he pressed his mouth against her core.
Holy crap!
The slight vibration of his lips felt amazing. She squirmed, causing him to look up. “Don’t stop.”
His mouth was damp, his eyes darker than a moonless night. “I win either way,” he said with a sexy smile.
“Me, too. Please, feel free to go to town.”
Again he covered her with his mouth and used his tongue to make her squirm. And yowzah, did it feel good.
Lying back, she gasped and writhed. And clutched at his hair at the first signs of a climax. But she didn’t want to come yet. She moved back, and managed a quick trick reversal of her own so that she was in a position to take him in her mouth.
He groaned and almost jackknifed when she sucked especially hard.
She glanced up. “Was that a good groan or an ouch groan?”
“It was too good.” He pulled her upright and kissed her hard. His tongue chased hers, stroked it, flicked it, then thrust in and out, mimicking everything he’d already done and would do again soon.
Finally they both gasped for air.
“If you’re looking for my tonsils, I had them out at seven,” she said, barely able to breathe. Laughing didn’t help. “Hey.” She saw him rolling on a condom. He’d worked fast.
“What?”
“I wasn’t finished.”
“I’m not either.” He picked her up and moved her to center stage. “Two or three pillows?”
“Depends. Where are you putting them?”
Leaning over her, he licked her left breast and tucked a second pillow behind her head. He stacked two under her butt.
Lila grinned. “I’m going to like this, huh?”
Clint’s eyes were intense. He was on a mission. He spread her thighs wider and got between them. Before she could take her next breath, he’d found her clit and rubbed it with his thumb.
“Oh,” she said with a soft gasp. A jolt of electricity shot up her spine. “You might want to wait on that.”
He kissed one breast, then sucked the other.
His thumb increased the pressure.
“Uh, Clint.”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Clint,” she practically yelled and arched off the mattress. “I’m not kidding.”
He stroked the hair away from her face and kissed her neck. And then he whispered, “Neither am I.”
He entered her, driving in quick and deep, still thumbing her clit. Oh, God, he really had to stop. She drew in the musky male scent of his skin and moaned.
Everything happened at once. The shooting stars behind her eyelids. The fevered rush of pleasure, so familiar, yet new and different. She writhed and begged, and he wouldn’t let up.
She started to calm down just as he withdrew. He pulled her legs tightly around his hips and plunged inside her again, then kept moving back and forth, picking up speed, plunging deeper. She liked the angle; he was hitting lots of sensitive places. But he stopped.
Her protest was cut short when he put her legs over his shoulders. He rocked gently against her. “How’s this? Okay?”
Panting, she just nodded.
Holding her gaze, Clint leaned down. His eyes were so dark, even this close she couldn’t make out the pupils. “I should punish you for wearing that skirt tonight,” he said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
“I thought you liked it.”
“Your legs are indecently long and very hot.” He pushed in farther, and she clutched the sheet.
“So what’s the problem?”
“I had to sit through dinner, across the table from my parents, harder than a rock thanks to that damn skirt.”
“Well, I’m glad I had nothing to do with it.”
A faint smile curved his mouth. He leaned close enough their lips touched, and embedded himself so deep inside her it left her breathless.
She managed a weak whimper. “Please.”
Clint pressed his lips against hers. The angle and pressure hit a hot spot that set her insides on fire. He started thrusting and pumping, his face taut, eyes locked with hers. She dug her fingers into his shoulder muscles, clinging to him, as her body roared toward a second release.
They climaxed together, both moaning and murmuring incoherent words. Her hands slid from his sweat-slick skin.
Slowly he moved one leg off his shoulder, kissing the inside of her ankle before lifting her other leg and letting it down.
Clint collapsed beside her, falling hard, as if he had no energy left. Then he pulled her into his arms and cradled her with his body, keeping her close, safe and warm.
17
AFTER WA
SHING HER brushes and tidying up, Lila stepped out of the trailer and looked up at the overcast sky. Three days ago the news channels had predicted snow for most of the week. So far they’d only had passing flurries, which turned out well for the crew and shooting schedule in general.
For Lila, the shorter days meant she had more time for Clint. They hadn’t needed him on the set, so she didn’t get to see him until after work. But since dinner with his family, he’d spent every night with her. Lila wasn’t sure how she’d feel about running into his mom again. She’d probably blush to high heaven.
She scanned the groups of crew and extras, hoping to spot Erin. They still hadn’t talked, though not for lack of Lila trying. Erin had become wily about disappearing the minute they wrapped each day. Lila was beginning to think she should ask Clint for a ride to Shadow Creek so she could corner Erin.
Finally Lila saw Erin conferring with the new camera assistant. They were between scenes, so Lila grabbed a jacket and hurried toward them, hoping to pull Erin aside the second they were finished. The borrowed jacket was big, but Lila wrapped it snugly around her body and pulled up the collar. Just because no snow had fallen didn’t mean she wasn’t freezing her butt off.
Yeah, so much for her big, fat, glamorous Hollywood life.
Too late she saw Jason approaching Erin from the other side.
He reached her first and barged right into the conversation. “What do you think, Erin? Were you happy with that last take? I’m not sure I was feeling it.”
She glanced at him, and without answering, returned her attention to the young assistant. The poor guy shifted nervously. First rule on any set, don’t piss off the director.
Lila hung back and imagined the steam coming out of Jason’s ears. To say he was pissed would be putting it mildly. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at Erin’s back. But he didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t unusual for him and Erin to get into disagreements. They’d been crossing swords since college. But they rarely argued in public. That was, until a few weeks ago.
Knowing Erin and the terrible mood she’d been in, Lila figured she’d keep talking and make Jason wait. Since Lila wasn’t about to get in the middle of their feud and he hadn’t noticed her yet, she decided she’d catch Erin later.
Hot Winter Nights (Made in Montana) Page 16
