Hot Winter Nights

“Nope. We’re good for now.”

“You have to go talk to Landers,” Baxter said. “Jason insists that—”

“Jason told you to do it. Lila, got a minute?” Erin started walking toward the set, and Lila went along with her.

“Yeah, but—” Baxter’s face flushed.

Erin stopped. “But what? Landers told you to take a hike?”

Baxter’s defiant glare faded. “I don’t get why Jason has to have him.”

“Well, that’s a problem. You should be getting it. You need to understand those small details if you want to—” Erin cut herself short. She blinked, thought a few seconds and tried to hold back a smile. “Ask Lila to do it.”

Baxter’s mouth tightened. It was obvious he didn’t like that idea. Finally he turned to her. “Will you talk to Landers?”

“Maybe.” Lila let him stew while she willed her pulse to slow down. “Okay, I’ll do it. But you’ll owe me.”

Baxter had the nerve to look smug again.

Lila jabbed a finger at him. “Owe me big. Got it?”

Baxter grinned. “I’ll take you to dinner in Kalispell.”

She could only stare at him. Clearly he was insane.

“Oh.” A smile brightened Erin’s face. “Spencer’s here.”

Lila turned and waved. She really liked Spencer, and was thrilled Erin had found love and the deep sense of contentment he’d provided in her life. Knowing that helped Lila ignore the occasional pang of jealousy. Over not having someone to share a pillow with at night. Or be there to listen to the highs and lows of her day. And she missed having Erin around all the time.

“Do you mind if I leave?” Erin asked, watching her closely. “Have you got this?”

Lila gave her a big smile. “Oh yeah.”

“There he is,” Baxter said, peering in the direction of the corrals. “Landers.”

“Big,” Lila reminded him as she walked backward. “And no dinner.” She turned toward Clint and hurried her pace when she saw him and Charlie shake hands.

If he went for his truck, she’d head him off.

She didn’t have to do anything but keep walking. The moment Clint saw her, he stopped.

“Hey,” she said, wishing she’d changed her big sloppy sweatshirt for something nicer.

“Hello again.”

“I see you found Charlie.”

Clint nodded. “Nice guy. Knows horses.”

“That’s what I’ve heard. Me, I don’t know anything about... I saw your chestnuts.”

He blinked, and it might have been a trick of the light, but his face darkened.

“Um, geldings? Horses?”

“Right. Sure.”

“Did I say that wrong?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I knew exactly what you meant.” His gaze drifted toward the set. “You all work late every night?”

“Only when we’re shooting a night scene.”

Clint chuckled. “I’m sure I’ll have a few more dumb questions.”

Lila smiled. She liked having to tilt her head back to look at him. “You want to ask them over a beer?”

He met her eyes. His jaw clenched.

“Unless you need to get home for dinner,” she said quickly. “Your wife and kids might be waiting.” She paused long enough for him to deny it, but he didn’t. “I’m supposed to convince you to be in the movie. So, you know, it’s not personal or anything.”

He actually looked disappointed. “That’s a shame,” he said, his mouth quirking upward. “Since I don’t have a wife or kids.”

“No?” She cleared her throat. “Then how about that beer?”

3 (#ud306062c-a9fb-5f06-81a4-b0847fd3a22f)

THE FULL MOON SALOON had opened in July, but this was Clint’s first time in the place. He’d heard about the mechanical bull in the back and shouldn’t have been surprised by the small dance floor, since he knew a live band played Friday and Sunday nights. The only music now was something by Keith Urban coming from the jukebox.

It wasn’t too crowded yet. Some guys were shooting pool in the back, and half the stools at the bar were occupied by local cowboys. Clint nodded at two men he recognized from the Circle K. They nodded back, but their eyes were on Lila. That was probably true for just about every guy in the room.

“Table or bar?” he asked her, hoping she’d choose a table so they could have some privacy.

“How about that one?” she said, gesturing toward a nice corner table.

“After you.”

She led the way, and he did his damnedest not to stare at her behind. Not that he could see much anyway. It looked like she’d worn the same jeans, but she’d traded the old sweatshirt he’d assumed went with whatever role she was playing, for another that was just as bulky.

She pulled out a chair that had her facing the wall. “It’s going to get busy in here,” she said as she settled gracefully in her seat. “I saw two stuntmen playing pool. They won’t bother us, but you can bet someone from the crew will invite himself over eventually.”

Clint took the chair across the table from her. Sitting with her back to the room wouldn’t matter. No man with eyes in his head would be able to pass her by without a second or third look.

“I just realized something,” she said with a laugh. “This is a small town. It’s kind of like a big film crew where people think nothing of pulling up a chair whether you’re having a private conversation or not.”

“Yep, that’s about the size of it.”

“Shall we make a bet on whose people will interrupt us first?”