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“Damn, I want to hold you,” he told her, resting his forehead against hers. “But I smell like the ass end of that stable and I need a shower.”
Lily laughed as she settled a quick peck on his lips. “I don’t mind, you know. But, go shower. I’ll throw on my shoes and pull my hair back real quick.”
Nash’s brows rose. “That’s all you’re going to do?”
“Uh, yeah, why?” Stepping back and narrowing her gaze, she crossed her arms. “Are you saying I need to change or put makeup on? I know you’re used to seeing me all made up on set, but this is the real me, Nash. No fuss and kind of boring.”
His hand snaked out, wrapped around her arm and tugged her until she fell against his chest. “I’m a much bigger fan of the no-fuss Lily. I’m just still surprised that you don’t care about getting all made up to leave the house.”
With a shrug, she laid her palms against his taut T-shirt. “I’m not like most women and I’m definitely not like most Hollywood women. I’m pretty low-key when I’m not working.”
Nash’s hands roamed down to cup her bottom as he pulled her hips against his. “That’s a good thing. Now let me get in the shower and stop manhandling me or we’ll be late.”
Rolling her eyes, Lily laughed as he kept squeezing her backside. “Yes, of course. What was I thinking?”
As he moved down the hallway, Lily watched him go. The confident stride, the wide shoulders pulling the material of his sweat-soaked T was beyond sexy and his sense of humor only added to his appeal. She found they were growing more and more comfortable with each other outside the bedroom, not that their passion had diminished any, either.
Within thirty minutes they were in Nash’s truck, making the ten-minute drive to the Barrington estate. Lily was nervous for him, but he seemed pretty relaxed with his wrist dangling over the steering wheel, his other hand lightly holding on to hers in her lap.
“So what happened with you today?” he asked, breaking the silence. “Are you feeling bad?”
“No, nothing like that.” She glanced out the side window, taking in the beautiful farms with the acres of white fencing as far as the eye could see. “I’ve been on the phone off and on with Ian. He’s still trying to find a part for me that will work with this pregnancy. There was one role that would have been a good fit, but I just turned it down before you got home.”
“Turned it down? Why?”
“I’m not ready to commit to something long-term just now.” She turned to face him, loving the comfortable feel of his hand wrapped around hers, loving even more how fast they were venturing beyond their physical connection. “Besides, the producer is beyond arrogant and he assumed I’d jump at the script. To be honest, if this was another time, with no complications, I would’ve sucked it up and taken the film.”
“Then take it,” he told her simply. “Don’t let anything hold you back. If they want you, they’ll work around the baby.”
“I know they will.” She wasn’t so sure they would work around the fact that she was falling in love and had no clue where she would end up if Nash wanted a future. “It felt good to say no, though. Money is a big part of negotiating contracts, but he just flashes it like it’s the red flag and we’re the bull charging in after it.”
Perhaps that sounded petty, but she wasn’t one to be swayed so easily.
“I just have issues with people throwing money around, thinking that will buy them happiness or anything else they want,” she went on. “My stepfather kind of ruined me for the rich type. That sounds strange coming from me with what I pull in per film, but I’ve never thrown my money around and I certainly have never tried to buy someone to get my way.”
Nash tensed. “Not everybody with a lot of money is bad and sometimes they have good intentions but things can still go wrong.”
Lily wasn’t quite sure how to respond and she was quite frankly shocked that Nash was defending the upper class. But it wasn’t worth arguing about and she held tightly to his hand as they pulled into the Barringtons’ entrance. The wrought-iron gates, with a scrolling B on each side, were standing wide-open, inviting them in.
The long, picturesque drive leading back to the property, showcased the horses out in the pasture and led the way to the grand stone stable up ahead. Of course the family famous for their world-renowned success in the horse racing industry would have something that monumental in their lives front and center.
The months she’d spent filming on this farm and in the surrounding area were some of the best of her life. The small-town atmosphere, the intimate setting and getting to know the family of the story she was depicting was icing on the cake. She’d really grown close to Cassie, Tessa and Damon, and even their cook, Linda. The Barringtons might be small in numbers, but they made up for it in love and determination. Lily wanted that kind of family bond, craved it actually.
