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Exactly like Ian and Cassie.
What a mess. A complicated, passion-induced mess.
Ian stood to the side as lighting and people were set in place to prepare for filming. Bronson was talking with Max, and Lily’s hair was being smoothed one last time. Grant and Anthony were adjusting the bales of hay at the end of the aisle.
Ian wasn’t sure what Cassie’s plans were for the day, but he intended to keep his distance for now. He needed to figure out exactly how to handle this situation because the last thing she needed was more heartache. And he, who knew nothing about real intimacy, would most certainly break her heart if he wasn’t careful.
Damon Barrington settled in beside him and whispered, “Their chemistry on set is amazing.”
Ian watched Max and Lily embrace in the middle of the aisle, horses’ heads popping out over their stalls. The set was utterly quiet except for Lily’s staged tears as she clung to Max. The couple was the perfect image of a younger Damon and Rose Barrington, according to the pictures Ian had seen.
As soon as Anthony yelled, “Cut!” the couple broke apart and Lily dabbed at her damp cheeks.
Damon glanced around. “I can’t believe my girls aren’t down here. You haven’t seen Cassie or Tessa, have you?”
Ian shook his head. “I haven’t.”
No need to tell Cassie’s father that just a few hours ago Ian had slipped from her bed. Best not bring that up.
“I’m sure they’ll be along shortly.” Damon looked over at Ian and grinned. “My girls haven’t let too many scenes slip by. They’ve enjoyed this process.”
“And you?” Ian asked. “Have you enjoyed the Hollywood invasion?”
Nodding, Damon crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not what I thought it would be. The scenes vary in length and everything is shot out of order. But I’m very interested in seeing how they piece this all together.”
Ian liked Damon, appreciated the way the man had taken charge of his life, made something of it and encouraged his children to do the same. And when his wife had passed, the man had taken over the roles of both parents and loved his children to the point where both women were now two of the most amazing people he’d met.
Ian had never received encouragement from his father and couldn’t help but wonder what his life would’ve been like had his father been more hands-on.
Shrugging off years that couldn’t be changed, Ian excused himself from Damon. If Cassie was going to come watch the filming, he needed to be elsewhere.
Because he had no doubt that if he hung around and had to look Cassie in the eye in front of all these people, there would be no hiding the fact that he’d developed some serious feelings for her.
Twelve
Who was he kidding? There was no way he could stay away from Cassie. All during the business dinner with Lily, his mind had been on Cassie and what she was doing.
By the end of the night he’d nearly driven himself crazy with curiosity about what Cassie and Emily had done all day. Added to that, Lily hadn’t signed with him. Not yet. She’d looked over his proposed contract and agreed with most of it, but she’d also said she needed to look over one other contract before deciding.
He was still in the running, but he’d rather have this deal signed and completed so he could move on to other deals waiting in the wings...not so he could focus on the woman who had his head spinning and his gut tied in knots.
After walking Lily to her trailer, Ian crossed the estate toward the two cottages. Only one of Cassie’s outdoor lights was on and she was on her porch switching out the bulb in the other.
“Hey,” he greeted her as he stepped onto the top step. “Need help?”
“I can manage just fine.”
As she stood on her tiptoes and reached, her red tank top slid up over her torso, exposing a tantalizing band of flesh.
“I can get that so you don’t have to stretch so far,” he told her.
She quickly changed out the bulb and turned to face him, tapping the dead bulb against her palm. “I’ve been doing things on my own for a while now. Besides, I won’t be anybody’s second choice. I figured you were smart enough to know that.”
“I’m sorry?”
Somehow he was not on the same page as her and she was mad at someone. From the daggers she was throwing him, he’d done something to upset her. Considering he hadn’t sneaked out of her bed that morning without saying goodbye, he really had no clue what was going on.
“Forget it.” She shook her head and opened her front door, then turned before he could enter. “I’m pretty tired, but thanks for stopping by.”
