Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 20081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 20081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 100(@200wpm)___ 80(@250wpm)___ 67(@300wpm)
I step out of the tent with Tara, and she walks along with me. A makeup brush is in her hand, and I know she’s waiting to see how I look in the harsh sunlight so she can see if she needs to make any adjustments. “Or maybe it’s not Whiskey Run...”
When I look at her, she nods over to where the locals have already gathered to watch today’s taping. “Maybe it’s a certain man in Whiskey Run that has you glowing.”
I follow her gaze, and there stands Tate Jennings. He looks uncomfortable with his hands jammed in the front of his pockets, and he’s scowling as he stands out in the crowd. People are trying to talk to him, and he nods and answers, but his eyes are on me. When he catches my eye, his face completely transforms. I’m speechless as I watch him. Even from across the way I can feel the attraction he feels for me.
I smile and wave at him. If only I had time, I would give anything to go talk to him.
Tara must realize it too. “Go.” She hits me lightly on the arm with the makeup brush and then points toward Tate. “Go ahead. You’re taping with Josh today. I’ll go adjust his makeup or spill something on him. Buy you a few minutes at least.”
I squeal and then whisper-squeal when I realize that I don’t want the whole crew to know we’re up to something. “Thank you, Tara. I owe you.”
She shrugs. “Yeah, yeah, five minutes.”
“Thank you,” I tell her as I walk over toward Tate. When he sees me coming, he breaks away from the crowd and goes down the line of the tape where no one is standing.
We stand in front of each other, just a thin piece of caution tape between us. “Hey.”
Up close, his eyes are tired, and his hair is haphazard like he’s brushed his hand through it about twenty times. “Hey.”
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
He opens his mouth and closes it again, then sighs. “Nothing’s wrong.”
I reach for him and grab on to the shirt that’s covering his flat stomach. His muscles flex underneath my knuckles. “How come I feel like you don’t like seeing me like this?”
He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re beautiful...”
“But?”
“It just reminds me...”
His voice trails off, and my mind starts wandering. “What? Reminds you of what exactly?”
He lifts his hand and covers mine. He’s pressing my palm into his belly and holding it there. His face is torn, and I can see the inner battle he’s having with himself. “It reminds me that you’re too good for me... for this place.”
“I’m not,” I tell him, shaking my head side to side.
He sighs, and I know he’s about to break my heart by the thick emotion in his voice when he says my name. “Lakelyn.”
“No.” I release him and step back. He’s not going to end this. I’m not going to let him, not for some insane way he sees me.
He says my name again. “Lakelyn, honey.”
“Lakelyn!” Kameron hollers.
I sniff loudly and do all I can to hold back the tears, but one big fat one rolls down my cheek.
“I have to go to work,” I tell Tate before turning around and running toward Tara. She’s going to have her work cut out for her because I can’t stop the tears. Tara sees me coming, and with a dirty look over my shoulder she hustles me into the tent. Damn him.
Tate
I royally fucked that up. I was up all night thinking about Lakelyn. I let myself believe that there could be a chance between us... that maybe we could just see where it goes. But as soon as she walked out of that tent, I got all twisted up inside.
I need to leave. I should have been at the garage an hour ago, but here I am still standing here, putting myself in misery.
I just can’t leave until I know she’s okay. Then I’ll leave.
A few minutes later, I watch as the man Kameron walks into the tent. I can tell he’s mad, and it takes everything I have not to follow him in there to make sure he’s not yelling at Lakelyn. I have my hands on the caution tape, about to rip it into shreds when he comes back out... with Lakelyn and the other woman behind him.
The woman pats Lakelyn on the back as Lakelyn makes her way to the staging area. I should go, but I’m fixed to the spot. Today they’re shooting the commercial. It’s been all over town, and when I went to grab a biscuit at Red’s this morning, everyone was asking me about my relationship with Lakelyn.
I didn’t realize she was shooting as a couple today, but that’s obviously what’s happening. I feel like I’m about to lose my breakfast when the man is holding Lakelyn’s hand and they’re smiling at each other. They’re taking pictures of different poses... holding hands, hugging, even a brief kiss that makes my fists clench at my sides. I can’t watch this... but at the same time, I can’t look away.