Page 216 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

"Can we?"

Nash pointed to a grassy knoll beside an old wooden fence post. "Sure. I brought us a blanket just in case." He leaned back to pat the blanket draped behind Pepper’s saddle.

Ellie grinned wide. "Then what are we waiting for?"

Laughter drifted over the space as twilight began to fade. Ellie wasn't sure how long she and Nash had been there, enjoying one another's company, but she did know that this was hands down one of the best nights of her life.

"So they actually made you sit there with all of that goop running down your face?" Nash's question referred to one of the first roles Ellie had gotten—a poor-taste horror flick where she had taken an ax to the head.

"Yep. Of course, the scene ended up getting cut because nobody wanted to see a child get axed in the head." The two broke out into laughter again.

"You know, they should be worried about whoever thought that was a good idea."

"Oh, yeah. I didn't tell you. The writer is known for ax murdering his family.” She kept her face flat.

"Seriously?" He sounded so amped up that Ellie couldn’t back down yet.

"Seriously. Look it up."

"Oh, I'm going to. What's his name?"

"Jack. He’d been writing one particular story, and he basically lost his mind. At the time, he was trapped in an old hotel during a massive snowstorm…”

"Ooh…” Nash groaned as he finally caught on. “You were messing with me! How could you do that? You had me for a minute."

"I know.” She chuckled. “So gullible. I kind of like that about you."

He scooted closer and bumped her shoulder with his. "You like that I'm gullible, do you? Well, I like that you’re…"

"I’m…what?" She turned to face him, and her heart skittered out of rhythm.

"Shy." He cracked that smirky grin.

Ellie swatted his arm. "I am not." She trailed down the length of his forearm, yet just as she neared his wrist, Nash turned his hand face up. She moved slower, watching as the heel of her palm glided over the warm center of his. Suddenly, Nash clenched his long fingers around her hand to keep it in place.

She chuckled, as playful as the action was at first, yet just as he released his grip, he shifted so their hands lined up. Gently then, he threaded his long fingers through hers, pleasing her with the heavenly sensation of skin on skin. Up, then back down.

A shaky breath slipped from her lips as he repeated the motion, a sensation so blissful she closed her eyes to take it in.

She sensed Nash lifting her hand to his lips where he gave it a kiss. It was sweet. Old fashioned. Gentlemanly.

“Ellie?” he crooned against her skin, voice low and raspy.

“Yes?” Her eyes flickered open.

“You don’t have a boyfriend back home, do you?”

A thrill shot through her. This was more than butterflies. This was a flock of eagles taking flight all at once. Up, up, and away. “No.”

He leaned in the slightest bit. “Or some fiancé no one knows about?”

She giggled slightly and bit her lip. “Not unless I don’t know about him either.”

Now, he chuckled. “Good, me neither.”

She’d assumed as much, figuring he wouldn’t be cradling her hand and kissing it if he did, but it was still good to hear. And why did she suddenly feel like she was back in grade school?

Nash smoothed a thumb along the inside of her wrist.