Natasha regarded her through slit eyes. “I’m going. I was just surprised.”
Nanny shrugged and took Raelynn’s hand. “Come on. You’re on set in five minutes.”
“Bye!” Raelynn waved at Jack and smiled at Natasha.
Natasha waved back at her. They made their way to Tinsel Town. They filmed the little girl and single-mom scenes in a trailer turned into a living room set.
Natasha glanced skeptically at the sleigh. “Not that time isn’t of the essence, but this looks cold.”
Jack gulped. How in the world could she be cold when he was burning up at the sight of her? The idea of having this woman all to himself for the next two hours was a giant yule log burning bright inside his chest. He patted the velvet seat. “Try it out. You might be surprised.”
She climbed up and sat down. He waited, and ten seconds later, she melted into the seat. “Heated?” She ran her mitten over the velvet.
He reached down and pulled out the tin-lined drawer where several hot bricks lay. “It’s an old trick, but it works.”
She smiled, and their gazes held. She had the most beautiful brown eyes he’d ever seen. “Oh!” She blinked like she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. “Your hat. Here.”
He swiped the stocking hat off his head and replaced it with the felt cowboy hat–already feeling more confident and more like himself. “Thanks. Instead of a Hollywood extra, I look like a wrangler in this thing.”
“Yes, because the Justin boots, Wrangler jeans, and Carhartt work coat don’t scream country boy.” She swirled her finger at him while smiling.
McJingles looked over his shoulder:She has a point.
Jack ignored him. “Yeah, but the hat… a man’s hat means something. Ya know?”
She smiled softly. “I do.”
“Really?” She’d drifted into a memory somewhere, and it seemed to be a good one.
Tearing her eyes off him, she faced forward. “How do we get this thing going?” she asked, changing the subject. She held the side of the sleigh and looked at McJingle’s backside dubiously.
“That’s easy enough.” Jack lifted the reins and called, “On McJingles!” The reindeer dug in with his mighty hooves and soon slid along at a good clip. Fence posts flew past them. Jack let McJingles run. He was anxious to exercise and show off for the lovely lady.
There was more to Natasha than she was willing to share with him. He shouldn’t want to know more, but he couldn’t help himself. Something about her drew him in a way that no other woman had ever done. She was unique with her own bit of magic.
The reindeer in the pasture lifted their heads at the sound of McJingles running by. They moved as one, sprinting to catch them at the fence. The race was on!
Natasha’s eyes lit up. “Look!” She pointed. Her cheeks and nose were bright red from the wind, and her hair flew behind her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“I’m looking,” he said quietly. Was he ever looking.
Apples, a bull who liked to play, came up next to them and lowered his chin in challenge. McJingles squinted.
Jack held up a hand. “Not today, boys!” he called. “Apples, I have precious cargo in this sleigh.”
Apples glanced at Natasha and then pulled up, slowing to a quick jog. McJingles kept pace, his breath coming harder. He maintained speed until they were past the herd as a matter of pride, and then he slowed down on his own.
Pft. Reindeer!
Natasha tipped her head back and laughed. “If you’d told me three days ago that I’d be riding in a reindeer-drawn sleigh, I would have called you a liar.”
“Really?” Jack asked in surprise. “I kind of took you for a sleigh riding gal.” The way she approached McJingles said a lot about her background.
She was about to answer, but then closed her lips quickly. Folding her hands in her lap, she seemed to pull away from him.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to insult you.” He nudged her with his elbow. “Believe it or not, where I come from, that’s a compliment.”
“I’m sure.” She smiled down at her hands. “I’ve worked hard to create a different image for myself. I didn’t realize I–.” She cut off and took a deep breath, turning so she was watching the trees on the right.
