He walked over to the spot where Sparkle was supposed to come from off-camera. “Do you remember what you’re supposed to do?”
Sparkle threw her head, like a woman tossing her hair over her shoulder:Don’t insult me. I’m a professional.
“Right. Sorry.” He took off her harness, placing a hand on her back to remind her to keep her hooves on the ground. So far, she’d been the model of an ordinary reindeer—well, as ordinary as Sparkle could be—but he couldn’t afford to let his guard down.
They started rolling. In this scene, Raelynn sneaks through the forest, looking for her reindeer friend.
He had given little thought to how movies came together before Tinsel Town came to the ranch. One thing that surprised him was that they filmed the scenes out of order. They would set up the cameras and lights around one set and film everything that happened in that location, even if the scenes were days apart in the movie.
Raelynn cupped her hand around her mouth. “Sparkle?” she called. “Sparkle.”
They’d used Sparkle’s actual name in the movie because she answered quickly to it. Jack didn’t bother to tell them she would understand being called a different name for the show. This was not one of those times when telling the truth would get him a light chuckle of disbelief and an elbow nudge. They could think she behaved so well because she was exceptionally well-trained and cared for if they wanted to.
Sparkle held back just a moment and then poked her head between the two branches. The scene continued to unfold in a miraculously smooth manner.
Sparkle was a superstar. She hit all her marks and even spoke to the camera with her eyes, which made the crew melt.
They adored her.
Even as she stole the show, his thoughts went back to Natasha and her accusation that he was a cowboy Casanova. He wasn’t one, was he? Sure, he dated around. He was looking for a wife, so he had to date. And he went on many first dates, but that didn’t mean he kissed every girl he drove home. Nor did he lead them on. Yes, he turned on the charm around Natasha, but what man didn’t when he liked a lady?
Even as he mentally argued his case, the mistletoe debacle played out in the back of his head. None of that was his fault. Mitzi hung the mistletoe. Ashely kissed him—twice!
And yet… he held some responsibility. He should have been more aware. He could have asked Ashley not to kiss him again. He could have gone after Natasha, assured her he was into her and not Ashely, and asked her out right then.
That would have meant throwing all his hopes into one stocking, and he didn’t feel ready for that. There were a lot of variables where Natasha was concerned. Variables that made him feel vulnerable. That wasn’t a feeling he was used to, and he needed a minute.
He needed to show her that he was for real.
“Hey,” Ashley popped up beside him. He jumped and moved away from her, creating as much distance as possible without getting into the shot. Did she have some kind of programming that told her when it was the perfect time to screw up his chances with Natasha? He glanced at his adorable Christmas Elf. She had her back to them.
“Raelynn wants to talk to you after filming.”
“I need to stick around with Sparkle,” he replied, worried she was trying to get him alone. That was the last thing he needed at this moment, with Natasha right there in those striped tights.
“Cut!” called Miguel. He fell backward in his chair. “I’m going to win so many awards for this film.”
Jennifer laughed like she was in on a grand scheme. “You and me both.”
Sparkle nudged Raelynn:Good job.
Raelynn pet her on the neck. The reindeer began to strut, drawing out the girl’s laughter. In a fit of honest childhood love, she threw her arms around Sparkle. “I love you,” she said.
Sparkle dropped her chin over Raelynn’s shoulder and hugged her back in her reindeer way.
Jack approached slowly, not wanting to break up the moment. Christmas Magic was as thick as pudding around the two of them. If anyone could convince Raelynn to believe in Santa, it would be Sparkle. Perhaps Sparkle had it in her to be one of Santa’s elite eight, after all.
Raelynn opened her eyes and saw him. “Jack! You promised me a sleigh ride.”
Ashely came up beside him, standing close enough that their arms brushed. “We have the rest of the afternoon off.” She nudged him.
Jack felt like a reindeer caught on the rooftop. He looked around frantically for an escape hatch. There! “Drake!” He lifted an arm to signal his brother.
Drake was covered in straw and looked like Dunder had put him through the paces in the workout arena. If Jack weren’t so happy to see him—and grateful—he would have teased him about the oldest reindeer on the ranch getting the better of him.
“What happened to you?” Ashley asked, laughing as she helped Drake brush off his coat.
He scowled. “A bale of straw fell out of the rafters.”
