“We wouldn’t want to put you out, Martha,” Colt said. “We’re used to eating in our trailers.”
“Nonsense. You’ll come for dinner. I insist. Besides, it’ll be a treat for me. I’ll get to pick your brains about the movie business.”
Des looked at Colt, who then grinned at Martha. “Sounds like a win-win to me. Besides, I’d really like to get back on a horse again, provided Logan doesn’t mind.”
If he said he minded, Martha would likely kill him. “I don’t mind. Come for dinner, like Martha said. The more people Martha can cook for, the happier she is.”
“This is true,” Martha said with a smile. “Sunday dinner is my specialty.”
“Sunday dinner it is, then,” Des said. “And thank you. If I never see a Chinese-food box again, I’ll be happy.”
When the bell rang, Des and Colt had to leave to get ready for their next scene. Colt was talking to Martha, and Des moved in next to Logan. “You sure you’re okay about us coming to the ranch house for dinner?”
“Hey, I’m not the one cooking. If Martha wants you, consider yourself invited.”
“Still, I’d hate to intrude.”
“You’re already here on the land. A couple extra people at the house won’t make any difference.”
She patted him on the chest. “That’s what I like about you, Logan. So warm and inviting.” She tilted her head back, and he was caught again by her ever-changing eyes. “See you later.”
“What was that about?” Martha asked after Colt and Des left.
“Nothing.”
“I think she likes you.”
“I think she likes Colt.”
“And I think you know nothing about acting. Or women.”
“That much is true.” What he did know was they were going to have guests for dinner on Sunday. And one of them was Des, a woman he didn’t understand at all. Not that he understood any woman, but her in particular.
And when she’d touched him, he’d felt something, which bothered him.
He liked the type of woman he could categorize—the kind you took to bed and the kind you stayed away from.
He’d like to stay away from Des.
He’d also like to take her to bed. She had a smart, sassy mouth, a sexy smile, and an attitude a mile long. But he figured that Colt guy was her boyfriend, and he didn’t get in the middle of a relationship, so he planned to steer clear of her.
He was good at staying away from women, had lived thirty-four years without tangling himself up in a woman. He had enough trouble just managing the ranch, which was enough to handle.
Women were a lot more work.
A woman from Hollywood? No way in hell was he tangling with that.
Chapter 3
“THIS ISN’T EXACTLY a Hollywood premiere, Des. Let’s get a move on.”
Colt paced impatiently in Des’s trailer while she put the finishing touches on her hair, which had decided not to cooperate today. Damn Oklahoma humidity. Her hair was flat and uncooperative and looked like a mop. Ugh.
Not that she was trying to impress anyone or anything. That someone she was definitely not trying to impress would likely not even notice her, anyway, so why would she even bother? She was only going over there for the home cooking.
She finally gave up and pulled it back in a high ponytail, slipped on her boots and came out of her bedroom.
“I’m ready.”
Colt gave her the once-over. “You look cute.”
She looked down at her dark blue short-sleeve button-down shirt, shorts, and boots. “Not too casual?”
“No. It’s cute.”
She leaned into him. “And you look hot.” Then again, he always did, even in jeans and a button-down shirt.
“What do you think about the boots? Too city-boy-trying-to-look-country?”
“Not at all. Your boots are scuffed, and you’re not a city boy.”
“Tell that to my house in the city.”
She laughed. “Let’s go. I’m seriously craving some home cooking.”
They made the drive over to the main ranch house. Des stared out the window at all the land. Stuck in L.A. all the time, where space was at a premium, she gaped at the free expanse of land here, couldn’t fathom what it must be like to look out your front door and know the land as far as you could see was yours.
She rented a condo and she could hear her neighbors argue. She made good money, but she invested it. One of these days she’d like to have property somewhere remote, where she could be alone . . . like this. Someplace to call her own, where she could establish roots and never have to pick up and move again.
“You’re quiet.”
She turned to Colt and smiled at him. “I’m enjoying the view. Isn’t it magnificent here?”
“It’s pretty damned awesome.”
He pulled into the driveway and parked. Dogs suddenly appeared and started barking, their tails wagging furiously back and forth. And, oh my, there were a lot of dogs.
“Oh, my God, they have dogs,” Des said with a wide grin. She opened the door and slid out of the SUV, suddenly surrounded by yips and wagging tails as the dogs greeted her. She crouched down to pet them, all various breeds and shapes and sizes.
“Hi there, cuties.”
“I see you’ve met the dogs.”
Logan’s voice was deep and entered her senses right away. There was just something about him that got to her. She lifted her head and smiled up at him. “I have. What are their names?”
He stepped down off the porch and gave a low whistle. In an instant, the dogs ran to him.
“Sit.”
It was like magic. They all sat at his feet, clearly knowing who their master was.
She stood and followed while he pointed down the row.
“This is Whip, Duke, Maisie, Sally, Cinder, and Punk. We have a couple of cats around, too, but they’re harder to spot. They like women, though, so they might come out today to see you.”
Des crouched down to pet them again, shoving her face in their fur. “They’re gorgeous.”
In the meantime, Colt went over to shake Logan’s hand. “Thanks for letting us come over today.”
“You can thank Martha for that. She’d have invited the whole crew if I’d let her.”
Des looked up at him. “I take it she likes to entertain.”