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Poppy nodded. “Got it. I didn’t mean to imply…”
“No, it’s okay.” Audrie shook her head. “I just know Jessica’s interested in him, and I don’t want her to get the impression we’re a couple or anything.”
The line had moved ahead of Poppy, but she just stood there, staring at Audrie. “I see. I thought something was weird with that. There’s definitely tension in the air when you and Landon are together and Jessica’s nearby. If I can help you…you know.”
Those last words were added so suddenly at the end, it took Audrie a second to realize what she’d said. “Help me?” Audrie asked.
Nodding, Poppy turned and grabbed a plate from the top of the stack and scooted to the left. “If you want Jessica to think nothing’s going on with you and Landon, just say the word. All I have to do is plant a seed. I could tell her you have a hot boyfriend you’re madly in love with or that Landon told you he doesn’t find you in any way attractive. Revolting, actually.”
Audrie couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s a kind offer, but I don’t think—”
Poppy whipped her head around to face Audrie again, interrupting her. “Yeah, that second one is probably going too far, but an imaginary hot boyfriend wouldn’t be so bad.”
And then it would get back to Landon that she had a hot boyfriend. That was the last thing she wanted.
“That wouldn’t help,” Audrie said. “She’ll think Landon’s still interested in me and not her. That’s the problem.”
“Good point.” Poppy picked up noodles with the tongs and they slipped right through. So, she tried again while Audrie filled her plate with lettuce.
After a brief silence, Audrie spoke. “We just have a week or so to get through this, and then Jessica will be on to her next shoot, and Landon...”
Audrie let her voice drift off because she really wasn’t sure. She hoped Landon would stick around. She had no idea whether the scripts they were shooting in the next couple of months all needed a cowboy consultant. Maybe he was just here for this one. Or maybe he’d head back to L.A. for a few weeks and come back when he was needed. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t even thought to ask him yet.
“Landon will be free to sweep you off your feet like you deserve,” Poppy finished for her.
Those words sunk into Audrie’s brain. She realized for the first time how much she longed for that. Exactly that. For a man to come in and try to win her over—to fight for her love. She’d never had that. She’d always been the one fighting all the way up to the end, and she’d promised herself she would never do that again.
Yet here she was, feeling as if she were fighting to get this relationship to work, even though this time it was no fault of the man she was seeing. This time, circumstances were to blame.
With her spirits low, she followed Poppy to the table where Christian was seated. It was the same table they’d all occupied the night before with Jessica. Only this time, Rourke and Landon weren’t there when she arrived.
They must have gotten in line for food. She didn’t look back over her shoulder to see. It was best she just focused on enjoying her meal.
“What’s going on?” Christian asked as they took their seats.
“What do you mean?” Poppy asked. She’d been reaching for her fork, but her movements stilled with his question.
“Landon and Rourke were talking about you,” Christian told Audrie. “I heard your name specifically mentioned and something about how Rourke was not going to tell Landon again.”
Audrie once again found herself practicing her neutral expression. She really wanted to grasp onto any little bit of information she could get.
“They were talking about me?” Audrie asked, her attention on the plate of food in front of her.
“Yes, but I couldn’t get a grasp of what they were saying.” Christian shrugged and added, “Rourke didn’t sound happy.”
Frowning, Audrie stared down at her food. She’d have been better off not knowing the information at all if he wasn’t going to give her details.
“I’m sure they’ll clue you in soon,” Poppy said, looking over at her.
Audrie didn’t have a good feeling about this. Not at all.
“Excuse me.” A female voice cut in. Audrie turned to see one of the production assistants smiling down at her apologetically. “Mr. Dixon wants to speak with you.”
“Me?” Audrie looked around, just in case she was talking to someone else at the table.
“Yes,” the production assistant said. “Over there.”
Audrie had turned to look at Poppy and Christian. When she looked back at the production assistant, she was pointing at the front of the tent. Audrie turned, expecting to see Landon there, waiting for her at a table alone. Maybe he’d reassure her everything was going to be fine.
