“Only on good days.Again, kinda like his owner, so I’ll talk to Brad and see if he can slum it with Penske outside.”
Penske was Brad’s farm dog who lovingly chased all trucks, especially the brightly colored Penske moving trucks.
“Okay.And I knew your father, but I never saw him with anyone.Where is your mom?”
“She died a long time ago.”The alcohol swirled with the truth in his throat and burned.
“I’m sorry to hear that.We can work out the rest of the details later.I’m sure I’ll be forced to answer questions about you from the immigration officer.”She swallowed the last of her rum.How was she so steady after drinking more than two shots in a matter of minutes?More importantly, how long would this woman keep surprising him?
One thing worried him.He hadn’t considered how much of his life would be under a microscope if he did this with Aurelie.He’d have to be careful he didn’t let the dirt from unearthing his past bury any new growth.
She went to the back room and left him with his thoughts.
He glanced out of the window and recognized the edge of his new property along the right side of the panorama.Otherwise, he was overtaken by the vastness of the land spread in front of him like a bounty.Movie stars like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne had both lived the lifestyle they portrayed in their films.Maybe if he’d have landed more of those roles, he’d have found a way to bring his upbringing to the screen and not feel like an impostor on both ends.Then again, maybe not.When he was acting, he was someone else’s avatar.Out here, he was master of his own design.
He hoped he could hack it.
Aurelie returned in a turquoise shawl over the dress that already stopped traffic.The pop of color against her year-round tanned skin was enough to make Jace’s mouth run dry.
“Again, wow.”
“Shall we?”she asked, a corner of her lips pulled up in a sultry half-smile.Maddie was still asleep in her car seat, none the wiser to the looks that passed between Jace and Aurelie.
“Hell yes.”
Helping Aury to the car, he was treated to her backside right at hand level.It was all he could do not to reach out and cup her perfect curves, but the time for that would come.He shuddered with lust thinking about post-wedding celebrations with Aury.At least they could enjoy that part of their union.
The drive to the courthouse was quiet, and maybe Jace was misreading it, but he didn’t think it was an awkward silence.Stealing a glance, he caught a contented smile on her face, giving him permission for one as well.
Until his phone rang loud over the speakers, disrupting the moment.Cammie’s name flashed across the screen.As much as he wanted to let the call go to voicemail, she’d just call back.
Aurelie nodded and smiled.They were already able to communicate wordlessly, something he’d always wanted with a partner.He hit the answer button on his steering wheel.
“Cammie.What’s going on?”He smiled back at Aurelie and mouthedmy agent.She nodded again.
“You tell me, Jace.What the actual fuck are you thinking?”
Jace was stunned silent.He was pretty damn sure he understood what she meant, but the bigger question was how she knew what he was up to when he himself had just figured it out.Also, she’d never in all the years he’d worked with her spoken to him like that.
He pushed the button on his media screen, sent the call back to his phone, and held it up to his ear.
“Not sure what you mean, Cammie,” he said, playing dumb in the hopes she’d change her tone with him so he didn’t have to address how inappropriate it was.
“Funny, Jace.I never pegged you for an idiot, but now I’m not so sure.”
Or maybe not.“Careful, Cammie,” he cautioned.His blood pressure spiked.This conversation was about to irreparably change his relationship with his agent.And probably not in a good way.
“Are you about tomarrysomeone, Jace?Like, walk down the aisle and commit to them for life?Tell me a wire was crossed somewhere, and I’m wrong.”
“You aren’t.I’m about to do just that.”
“Have you lost yourfuckingmind?”
He hissed out a slow breath.She’d gone too far.“Not at all.I’m doing what my agent said I should to repair my playboy image.”
“I sure as hell didn’t mean to marry the first hillbilly you met up there.I meant for you to find a Hollywood leading lady who could catapult you to the top of the stratosphere, not land you on the front page of the gossip magazines.”
“Cammie, you have no idea what you’re talking about.”He seethed, his blood a boiling inferno.He might not be able to love Aurelie the way a husband loves a wife, but he sure as hell respected her.Anyone who didn’t was at the top of his shit list.
