Tempted By The Movie Star. Anna DePalo
It wasn’t artificial enthusiasm, either. That was a quality he’d liked about her from the beginning. Hollywood was crawling with fakes, but Geena never pretended to be something she wasn’t.
Perfect example—she could have arrived all duded up in an effort to present herself as a cowgirl. Instead, she’d worn the type of clothes he’d always seen her in. This was his first glimpse of her bare toes, however. She’d propped her feet up on the coffee table and he couldn’t help noticing her sea-blue polish. And her delicate ankles and shapely calves.
He looked away. The situation was complicated enough already.
“Do you ride?” Lexi asked her.
“I don’t know the first thing about horses.” Geena finished off her sandwich. “I take that back. I know what a Clydesdale is because I’ve seen the commercials. My hat’s off to whoever came up with the idea of using them to market beer.”
Lexi smiled. “Yeah, everybody loves those big ol’ horses, me included. I just thought you might be a rider since you’re so interested in the academy.”
“I wouldn’t mind trying it sometime, but I’d be a total beginner.”
“Want to try it while you’re here?”
Matt bit back a groan. That was so Lexi, eager to introduce the uninitiated to the wonders of horseback riding. That was why she was such a good teacher, but in this case he wished she’d zip her lip.
“I’d love to, but all I brought to wear was stuff like this.” Geena gestured to her skirt and jacket.
“I can find you some clothes and boots,” Rosie said. “I’ve stocked up on spare items for the students.”
“I don’t know. I’m pretty tall.”
“So are some of the girls we get here. I try to be prepared when pants get ripped and kids come with expensive boots that shouldn’t be worn to muck out stalls.”
“So they have to be financially well-off to attend?”
“At first they did.” Herb hadn’t spoken much but this was a favorite topic of his. “We’re working on changing that. We already have one scholarship opportunity thanks to Ben Radcliffe, a local saddle maker who conducts a class every semester. We’re looking for more sponsors. There are plenty of kids who would benefit but don’t have the tuition.”
“I’ll offer a scholarship,” Matt said. “I can probably handle two or three if the money stays good. I can’t believe I haven’t thought of it before.”
“That’s brilliant.” Geena smiled. “Too bad we can’t get it organized this week because a picture of you with a recipient would be—”
“Not happening.” Matt gazed at her and wished they didn’t always have to be on opposite sides of this particular fence. But she didn’t seem to get his need for privacy. Maybe he’d have to fire her, after all. “The scholarships would be anonymous.”
She frowned. “You’d be throwing away a great PR opportunity if you do that.”
“And keeping my personal life separate from my public one. That’s always been important to me, but after what happened two days ago, it’s critical.”
Her shoulders slumped. “That makes it tough to do my job.”
“I know. But that’s the way it has to be.”
“It’s okay. I’ll think of something else. I—” She stifled a yawn. “Sorry. It’s been a long day. I guess the beer and food made me sleepy.”
“I’m sure you’re exhausted.” Rosie switched into mothering mode. “You should get some rest. I know what I said about getting up at dawn, but you don’t have to.”
“Oh, no, I want to.” She glanced at the grandfather clock in the corner. “When is dawn, anyway?”
That got a laugh. Even Matt couldn’t help grinning. She was such a city girl. But she was also game for anything, which meant she’d get along fine in this new setting. Resilience was a valued commodity around here.
“It’s around five fifteen,” his dad said.
Her eyes widened. “That early?”
“But you don’t have to get up then,” Herb continued. “We do because the horses need to be fed and turned out to pasture. Rosie likes to organize the food for breakfast, but we don’t eat until after six, so you’ll have some extra time to ease into the day.”
“Well, um, I never eat breakfast.”
“You’ll want to eat this one.” Lexi glanced over at Cade. “Nobody fixes a better breakfast than Rosie. Am I right?”
“Except for you, sweetheart.”
“Nice try, Gallagher.” Lexi gave him an affectionate nudge. “Flattery will get you nowhere. You’re still responsible for fifty percent of the cooking at our house.”
Cade sighed. “But I’m still no good at it.”
“You’re improving. That’s what’s important.”
“You’re both invited down here in the morning, though,” Rosie said. “It’s not every day we see Matt at the breakfast table. But Geena, you’re excused. I’ll have the coffeepot on until at least eight, so if that’s all you need, come in and help yourself. We don’t force food on anyone.”
“I’ll be there at six and I’d love to have your breakfast. I’ll also get up at dawn to watch Herb feed the horses. I’ve never seen anybody do that except in the movies.”
Herb smiled. “It’s not all that exciting.”
“Maybe not to you, because you do it every day. Me, I get up, get dressed, hit the drive-through at Starbucks and head to my office. Feeding horses at five thirty in the morning is exotic.”
“Then you’re welcome to show up at dawn.”
“Great. Thank you.” She turned to Matt. “Listen, before I toddle off to bed, can I have a word with you?”
His mom stood. “We can leave you two alone so you can talk.”
“Heavens, no! You’re all settled in. Matt and I will step out onto the porch.” She glanced at him. “Okay with you?”
“Sure.” He shouldn’t have had that last beer. He was feeling way too mellow and he had to stay sharp. But refusing to have a chat on the porch would seem rude and his mom would call him on it.
Geena walked out there barefoot and that charmed him. He didn’t want to be charmed any more than he wanted to have sexy thoughts about her. He needed to be tough and uncompromising as he sought to protect his family from...he was no longer clear what that was. He hadn’t wanted any part of his life in LA to intrude on his life here, and yet Geena had inserted herself into his inner circle and the sky hadn’t fallen.
After he closed the door, she turned and leaned her slim hips against the porch railing. She looked tired, which was understandable. The trip from California was taxing, especially for someone who wasn’t used to long layovers, little planes and country roads. She’d probably fare better traveling to New York or London than making her way to Sheridan, Wyoming, home to folks who climbed out of bed at the crack of dawn.
He found a spot to lean against the front wall of the house so they’d both be standing. He suspected she hadn’t taken one of the Adirondack chairs because she doubted she’d have the energy to pull herself back out of it. A cricket chirped nearby and a breeze stirred the tall pines not far from the house.
Geena sighed. “This is nice.”
“Yeah.” A little too nice. Even though his family was just beyond that door, he knew they wouldn’t come out. They understood this was private
That left him with a feeling