Of course, she knew he cleared a space for the movie production company and not for her specifically, but the wording took her off guard.
And his offer to keep her warm? Hot peppers and wowza! Just the words had her melting through the snow.
She’d turned him down only to find his hat perched on her head. A hat that smelled like Christmas and sunsets and man. Darn it all, if Jack wasn’t hotter in person than he was on her computer screen. Too bad she wasn’t into cowboys anymore because this one would be a keeper.
She’d seen Jennifer walk up the steps to the main house. A light gray, two-story country home with a roof stacked with snow and Christmas trees in every window. Seriously, every single one. Their set designer would say that was going overboard, but it looked just right to her.
Jennifer drummed her fingers on the porch. How she managed not to turn blue in this cold was a mystery. Perhaps she was an ice queen under her Tom Ford highlighter. Traveling made her grumpy.
“It’s about time,” Jennifer snapped at Natasha. However, the cowboy in front of her jerked as if she’d snapped at him.
“My apologies.” He held out his hand for her to shake. “I wasn’t aware that you were waiting for me.”
“Jennifer, this is Jack,” said the other cowboy standing there. Nat ran through the images burned into her mind and decided this must be Drake. “He’s the one who will represent the family and watching over the ranch. If you have any questions, you can ask him.” Drake skedaddled into the house as if his britches were on fire.
Jennifer looked Jack over, and Natasha took a second to do the same. His shoulders were broad, and his voice deeper in person. And that sparkle in his eye? Something in their communication over the last two weeks should have warned her that Jack was a flirt, but he’d been nothing but professional.
She hadn’t taken into account his good looks, though. A guy like this probably had his pick of women on a Friday night.
Jennifer smiled easily at Jack, dropping the irritability in the face of his two-day scruff and deep blue eyes. She shook his hand eagerly and flashed the Miss LA County smile that landed her husband number four. “It’s very nice to meet you, Jack. I’m Jennifer Odem, the producer of this project. I believe you’ve been working with Natasha.”
She pointed at Natasha and did a double-take. “What are you wearing?”
Natasha’s cheeks burned. “The winter clothing I ordered didn’t arrive before we had to leave. I had to stop at the local store and buy something to wear.” She felt like a hick–even if the boots were the most comfortable shoes she’d owned in years, and the coat was warm and cozy.
“You’re Natasha?” Jack asked.
She nodded, grateful the focus was off her wardrobe. “The one and only.” The words sounded stupid and flirty, and she wanted to snatch them back and toss them into her trunk.
Jack’s eyes grew large, and he quickly recovered.
Jennifer grinned back and forth between them like a host on a dating show who believed they’d made a match. Was Nat’s interest in Jack that obvious? She thought she’d well at keeping it tamped down.
“You two will be joined at the hip for the duration of our film schedule. If I need anything from you,” Jennifer pointed at Jack, “I will call her.” She pointed at Nat. “If you need anything from me, you call her. Do you see how this works?” She waited for Jack to answer.
“Don’t worry, Jennifer, you will never see my number on your caller ID.” He gave her a charming smile.
Jennifer’s shoulders lowered a fraction in disappointment.
Nat had to hand it to him for making his intentions, or lack thereof, clear.
Jennifer cocked her head and gave him an open once-over. “You know, you’d make a great lead in one of our romance stories. Have you done any acting?” She practically salivated ratings this guy would bring in.
Natasha waited to hear his answer. Most people jumped when Jennifer offered them a movie deal.
“Thank you for the offer, ma’am. But I’m afraid I’m married to this land and would like to keep it that way.” He rocked on his boots.
Nat smiled softly. There was something attractive about a guy who dropped the M-word casually. It was sexy that he was confident enough to tie himself to the land. That wasn’t a concept the men she’d dated in California understood. They had no sense of home, no roots.
She liked the way roots looked on a man.
“I’m not the type to be the other woman,” Jennifer said in a sultry voice. “I expect a man’s full attention.”
Gag me.Jennifer was barking up the wrong tree. These men, Jack and Drake–from what she’d seen, weren’t out for conquest. They had substance. She coughed into her glove–a warning kind that told Jennifer to back off.
Jennifer snapped her gaze to Natasha. She typed into her phone. “I’m texting you a list of things I need by the end of the day tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Nat smiled as if she hadn’t just embarrassed Jennifer.
