Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Hunting—ugh. I’d never even liked to think about it.
Slowly, I picked my way up the path back to the cabin. Back to the other two strangers. For all I knew, they hunted, too. Or who the hell knew what they did. I certainly didn’t.
They were strangers, and they were men. In my experience, those were two very good reasons not to let my guard down.
Ever.
11
SIERRA
When I was in the bedroom that evening, my phone rang and the picture of a pretty, dark-eyed woman flashed across the screen. I smiled as I answered it. “Hey, Ronnie!”
“How’s my favorite hermit?” she said, amusement in her voice.
“Stranded.”
“I know. Kylie told me you woke up under a tree yesterday.”
It didn’t surprise me that they’d talked. Ronnie was the one who’d introduced me to Kylie during the filming of Thrill of the Chase last year. “I didn’t get knocked out or anything, but I sure as hell was stuck. I’m sorry I didn’t contact you. It’s just been busy since then.”
“Yeah, living with three strange men. Boy, does that sound familiar.”
I laughed. “Trust me, it’s not anything like your situation. Or Kylie’s.” Jeesh, why did I have so many friends who were dating multiple men?
“That’s too bad. I was hoping you’d found someone to warm your bed.”
“I did, but it was a dog.”
“They have a dog? Bonus!”
“Yeah, he’s a good guy.” I just wished I was as sure about his human friends. “How are things back home?”
“Never better. Tanner taught me to ride a motorcycle, and I’m taking a class to learn some trick riding.”
That definitely sounded like something Ronnie would want to do. Though she hadn’t been a stuntwoman for long, it was a great fit for her. “Just be careful, okay?”
“I’m not the one who had a tree fall on her.”
“True.”
“So, tell me how it’s going. Are they impressed to be sharing their space with a genuine Hollywood star?”
I glanced at the door to reassure myself it was closed. “They don’t know I’m an actress.”
“Really?”
“Really.” Because Ronnie had met me on a big movie set, she always assumed I was more well-known than I was. “Prior to Aiden’s movie, I mostly did indie stuff. Or those movies I did when I was a kid. Not exactly the kind of thing grown men are likely to have seen.”
“You could tell them you’re an actress.”
“No thanks.” I stretched back on the bed, my forearm shielding my eyes.
“Why not?”
“Because people always act differently once they know.”
“And by people, I’m guessing you mean men,” she said.
“Yeah. It’s like they have one of two reactions. First, they treat me like a celebrity is an entirely different species. Like I’m not even a person, I’m just my job.”
“Aiden gets that a lot.”
He was one of the biggest movie stars in the world, so that wasn’t surprising. At least he got to be normal when he was at home with Ronnie and their other two partners. “The other reaction is—”
“Let me guess. They want to get in your pants, right?”
“Right.”
“But wouldn’t that happen anyway? Face it, girl, you’re hot.”
I grimaced. “Possibly, but when guys find out I’m an actress, it becomes even more of a challenge for them. Like I’m some kind of conquest.”
“That sucks. I guess you should enjoy your chance at anonymity while you can.”
“What do you mean?”
Ronnie’s voice was sympathetic. “Well, the press tour starts in three weeks. Your face will be on a lot of screens even before the movie comes out.”
The thought made my stomach ache. I grasped at the only strand of hope I had. “You really think so? Do you remember who the leading ladies were in the first three movies?” Aiden’s character, Chase Cooper, had a different love interest in each film.
Ronnie was quiet for a moment, likely trying to remember. “Two of the three,” she said at last.
“I wish you were coming on the tour.”
“They don’t send stunt people on those.”
“Even when they’re dating Aiden Hunt?”
Ronnie sighed. “According to the studio, we’re not dating. Too much of a scandal, I suppose.”
My heart went out to her. It was so unfair that she couldn’t be open about the men she loved. “I’m sorry.”
“I shouldn’t complain,” she said hastily. “I love my job, I love my men, I love my life. But it’d be nice to go out on a date with them from time to time.”
“Yeah, I get that.”
“Anyway, since I can’t go, you have to promise to keep Aiden in line for me during the press tour.”
“I’ll try.” I rolled over on my side, gazing absently at the rustic furniture in the little room. “Hard to believe that he’s actually one of the people I’m looking forward to seeing.” I realized after I said it that it’d sounded kind of bad, but Ronnie knew Aiden and I’d had a rocky start at the beginning of filming.