clause?” he asked, intercepting her thoughts. “Seeing as how you’re attracted, too, I don’t see why we can’t pursue more. Behind closed doors, of course. No one would have to know, Tessa.”
“I’m not interested,” she told him, lying through her still tingling lips. “Save your attraction for another woman.”
Grant dropped his hand. “Then it’s my turn to apologize. I assumed by the way you look at me, the way your pulse beats at the base of your neck, the way you catch your breath when I touch you, that you were interested in me, too. And the way you participated in that kiss... But apparently, I was mistaken.”
He leaned right next to her ear, so close his lips brushed against her lobe when he whispered, “Or you’re lying.”
Tessa tugged on the door and moved out of his grasp. “Good night, Grant.”
Like the coward she was, she ran away. Nobody made her feel more out of control, more internally restless than this infuriating man.
Surely that didn’t mean...
Tessa sighed as she climbed into her Jeep. She had a sinking feeling that Grant Carter was the man her mother had told her about. The man who would come along and make her question how she’d gotten along without him in her life.
The one man she’d been saving herself for.
Tessa slid out of her worn boots and set them beside the back door. Then she hung her heavy cardigan on the peg and moved through her kitchen toward her bedroom. Spring had arrived early, but the nights were still pretty cool, and she wanted to relax in a nice hot bath after her late-night ride. She was a creature of habit, and her raspberry-scented bubble baths were a nightly ritual and the only way she allowed herself to be pampered.
As usual, she hadn’t been able to fall asleep. But this time, instead of having horses and racing on her mind, her thoughts had been full of a certain Hollywood producer who had kissed her so gently, yet so thoroughly, she couldn’t even remember what kissing another man was like. Not that she’d kissed a slew in her life, but enough to know that Grant Carter knew how to please a woman.
And that was the main thought that had kept her awake. If he could cause so much happiness within her body with just a kiss—and a tender one at that—then what would the man do when he decided to really take charge and not hold back?
Her antique clock in the living room chimed twelve times. Midnight. The same time every night she found herself getting back home from her ride on Oliver. He always stuck his head out of the stall when she returned to the stable late at night. It was almost as if he knew her schedule, knew she’d be back for one last ride to wind down her evening.
Tessa padded into her bedroom, undressing as she went, so when she made it to the hamper she dumped in all her clothes. When she entered her bathroom, she paused.
Grant Carter was consuming way too much of her time, both in person and in her mind. She plucked the short cotton robe from the back of the bathroom door and went to the old desk in the corner of her bedroom to boot up her laptop.
For a man she’d met just two weeks ago, a man who’d kissed her like no one ever had, she really should learn more about him.
Of course, the internet gave only basics, but that was certainly more information than she had right now. He had a whole file on her life, her sister’s and her father’s. Grant and his crew knew way more about her childhood and the entire backstory of the Barringtons, so Tessa felt it only fair she level the playing field.
Clicking on a link, she quickly learned that Grant was a twin, but there was no other mention of this sibling.
She glanced at his birth date. A Christmas baby. Tessa’s eyes widened as she stared at the screen, inching closer because there was no way she was seeing that number correctly.
He was ten years older than her? As if her virginity, his obvious experience, her country life and his city life weren’t enough major blockers between them, he was ten freakin’ years older.
With a groan Tessa moved to her bed with the laptop and sagged back against her plush pillows. Grant was out of her league. She could tell by the way he’d kissed her, by how he flirted and his laid-back mannerisms, that he was more experienced with life than she was. But ten years was a hell of a lot of time.
She ventured into the area of pictures. Image after image she clicked through showed a smiling, sometimes heavy-lidded Grant, and in most of the pictures he wasn’t alone. Beautiful women were his accessory of choice, apparently. Surprise, surprise.
So, what? Was his kissing her just passing time while he was here? Did he choose a woman on each set to keep him company? No, he had that clause that prohibited that. But she had a feeling Grant Carter was a rule breaker when it came to getting what he wanted.
Hollywood was a far cry from Dawkins, Virginia, and the fast-paced city life was something she just couldn’t—and didn’t want to—grasp.
Another man, another city charmer with smooth words, flooded her mind. But he’d had hidden agendas: marrying her for her family name.
The hurt of betrayal still cut deep. Hindsight helped, because she could admit that she’d never loved him...at least not the way she thought she’d love the man she would marry.
Tessa’s eyes slid back to the screen, where Grant’s dark gaze held hers. Stubble covered his jaw, and she knew from experience how that felt against her palm, her lips.
Now more than ever she was convinced she needed to keep her eye on him. He was a slick one, probably expecting her to turn to putty in his hands. She wouldn’t be played, and she wouldn’t fall for another man just because of physical attraction. He couldn’t be the one for her. Tessa was merely confusing frustration for lust.
She honestly didn’t think Grant would do anything underhanded like Aaron had done, but she had to be cautious. No way would she be blindsided again.
But she also had to be honest with herself and admit Grant pulled emotions from her that Aaron hadn’t even touched on.
Groaning, she shut off the computer and returned to her spacious adjoining bathroom. Her bubble bath was calling to her. She had to be back in the stables by seven, so didn’t have time to waste online...no matter how intriguing the subject.
* * *
After several days at the stables, today they were changing up the precious spreadsheet. Grant couldn’t wait to spend the majority of the day with Tessa away from Stony Ridge. She was taking him around town to show him various locations, such as the old feed store and the church. Grant was banking on shooting a few scenes in the quaint, historic community.
The script already had several locales specified, but Grant wanted to get a good idea of lighting during different times of day, possible angles, and the atmosphere of each place.
Last night he’d been unable to sleep, so had emailed Bronson and Anthony all the notes he’d taken thus far. The grounds and main house were going to be the primary focus, as well as tracks to showcase the actual racing and practicing.
While
