The Barrington Brothers: When Opposites Attract... / Single Man Meets Single Mom / Carrying the Lost Heir's Child. Jules Bennett
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working with him.”
Tessa nodded. “Then saddle up and let’s go.”
She waited, actually finding herself eager to ride with her father. So much in life got in the way of their time together. Between her training and preparing for the movie, Tessa figured this would be the last time for quite a while that they would have alone, with no added pressure.
She gripped the reins and fell in behind her dad. When he set out toward the back of the estate, she kicked her horse into gear and eased up beside him. She knew exactly where he was heading.
The early-morning sun beat down, promising another beautiful, yet unpredictable spring day. As always, she’d checked the forecast when she’d woken, and seen possible thunderstorms later in the afternoon.
“Won’t be long, this place will be overrun with famous actors and the threat of paparazzi,” her dad told her as he took in the new on-site trailers.
“I hope whatever security they have will be able to keep the crazies away.” Tessa hated the thought of strangers around her horses. “I just hope they respect my privacy.”
Damon laughed. “You may find you like the behind-the-scenes view. If not, you can always hide over at your house. No one will come there.”
“Not unless it’s reporters or crazed fans,” she muttered as they passed the last of the trailers.
Damon laughed. “We have security for your property, too.”
Tessa smiled, but her eyes were on the man talking to some workers who’d brought the trailers. Grant had on well-worn jeans, aviator sunglasses and a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up his muscular forearms. He might be trying to look as if he belonged in the country, but the man was still polished, still citified and damn sexy. Even his sporty rental car stood out next to the full-size trucks on the estate.
“Your producer is working hard to make sure everything is perfect for his crew,” her father commented as they neared the pond.
“He’s not my producer,” she retorted.
Damon pulled back on his reins at the edge of the water and glanced over. “Honey, I know I’m an old man, and your father to boot, but anyone can see the way you look at him. And, more importantly, the way he looks at you.”
Tessa groaned. She did not want to be discussing this with her dad. Cassie was about the only person Tessa ever confided her secrets to. Maybe if their mother had lived...
“I miss her, too,” he told her in a low voice. “I know you miss her, especially now. I can tell you’re confused, but if you want advice, I’d be happy to give it.”
Tessa laughed. “I’m not discussing the birds and the bees with you.”
Damon’s own robust laughter rippled through the air. “Please, I don’t plan on getting that in-depth here. I was talking more about your heart, Tessa.”
When she glanced over to him, she saw he was serious. He wanted to offer his thoughts from a parenting standpoint. Considering he was the only parent she had, she valued his opinion and the special bond they had.
“What about it?” she asked, almost afraid of his response.
“Risks have to happen. If you want anything out of life, you have to take a risk. Standing on the sideline, watching as chances go by, will only leave you with regrets.”
She swallowed and looked back out onto the glistening pond.
“You take a risk every time you compete,” he went on. “You take a risk of getting hurt, of hurting someone else or your horse.”
Tessa whipped her head back around. “I never even consider that a possibility.”
His smiled warmed her. “Because you’ve learned to take the risk and lead by faith. You let your heart guide you each time you get on that horse and head toward the finish line. Love is no different.”
“I never said anything about love.” Even to her, the defense sounded weak. “He just...he confuses me.”
“Your mother used to confuse the hell out of me,” Damon said with a soft chuckle. “I started asking her out when she was sixteen, and she didn’t say yes until she was eighteen. I knew she was the one, but I was older than her, and to be honest, I think that scared her. In some crazy way, she worried she wouldn’t measure up to standards I’d set for the woman I wanted.”
Tessa swallowed, unable to admit that was one of her main fears. Was it that easy to just let go?
“What worries you about Grant?”
With a shrug, she pulled on the reins when Don Pedro started to shift. “We’re so different, Dad. He’s not a country boy, but practically drips big city.”
“And?”
“What do you mean, and? I hate the city. That was one of the reasons I broke it off with Aaron.”
Her father’s face turned to stone. “That man isn’t even worthy of mentioning, and he is nothing like Grant. Aaron didn’t care about you. If he’d looked at you even remotely the way Grant does, then things may have been different. But Aaron was using you and trying to steer you away from your career. Has Grant done any of those things?”
Tessa shook her head and sighed. “He’s amazing.”
“Well, you’re an adult and you make your own decisions, but please, don’t get so caught up in racing and this image of a perfect world you’ve built for yourself that you don’t stop to take a risk...and enjoy the benefits.”
Tessa closed her eyes, relishing the soft breeze, wondering what risk she should be taking. Maybe admit to Grant that she had developed feelings for him? Go to his cottage tonight and seduce him?
She nearly laughed. She wouldn’t know the first thing about seducing a man, and certainly not one as sexy as Grant Carter.
But one thing was for sure. She was done waiting and playing his game.
* * *
Grant was completely worn-out. There had been a mix-up with the number of trailers and they were still one short, but after some calls he’d gotten everything straightened out.
He’d sent a text to his coproducers, informing them they were good to go whenever they wanted to come. He figured they’d arrive earlier than stars Max Ford and Lily Beaumont.
The two headliners of the film were going to help him catapult to a whole new level, and Grant could hardly contain himself at the thought of his own production company. Marty had sent an email outlining the prospect, and Grant was glad no one had been around to see him read it, because he’d been smiling like a kid with a new puppy. And he may have read it through twice. Okay, three times.
He had just unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from his jeans when someone knocked on his door.
Please, don’t let it be another issue with the trailers.
When he jerked open the door, Tessa stood there, her hair flying loose around her shoulders. A fitted tank, with a long-sleeved plaid shirt over top, unbuttoned, showcased her flat stomach. Her jeans hugged her hips, and the punch of lust to his gut nearly made his knees give out.
She’d never looked this...relaxed. Seeing that massive amount of red hair dancing about in the wind, he nearly groaned, because he could practically feel it sliding along his bare body.
Which meant she couldn’t come inside. The emotional impact she kept hitting him with was targeting closer and closer to his heart.
Grant stepped out onto the porch, pulling the door shut behind him.
“I’m sorry,” she told him. “Is this a bad time?”
Her eyes raked over his bare chest and Grant clenched his fists. “No.”
Those bright blue eyes darted