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“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” she said with a smile. “When the last nanny quit because I was too precocious, my mother sent me to live with my grandfather on his ranch in Montana for the summer. I never moved back to California.”
Nash polished off the last bite of his sandwich and set his plate on the end table behind him. “Did you miss your mother?”
Londyn nodded. “I did. She missed me, but I didn’t fit in there, and she knew it. Plus, she had a career that required her to travel to different locations, sometimes all over the world. She couldn’t take me with her, and I made it hard for her to leave me with a nanny. Living with my grandfather was the perfect answer. I loved the ranch life and thrived in Montana.” She took another bite and set her plate on the table behind her.
“If you love ranching so much, why take up acting?”
She sighed. “My grandfather died three months ago. He’d mortgaged the property to put me through college. Drought and harsh winters hit him hard, and he couldn’t keep up with the property taxes. I didn’t know any of this until he fell off his horse and died of an aneurysm.”
“I’m sorry,” Nash said softly.
Londyn’s eyes welled with tears. “Yeah. Shit happens. Thing is, my grandfather was often grumpy and would snap at you when you did something stupid.” She snorted. “But I loved that grizzled old cowboy, and I love living in Montana with the big skies, mountains and pastures that stretch for miles.” Her voice faltered, and she blinked several times.
Nash felt her pain and wanted to put his arms around her and hold her through it all. Instead, he remained silent, letting her have the time to pull herself together.
Londyn squared her shoulders, breathed in deeply and let it out. “I had to do something to raise enough money to save the ranch. Mother knew this script needed someone who looked like me and could ride a horse. It was a perfect fit if I could act as well. With some coaching from my mother, I auditioned, did a screen test and got the job. If I can make it through the entire production, I can pay off the debt. From there, I’ll figure out how to make the ranch pay for itself.”
“That’s a lot for one person to manage,” Nash said.
Her jaw tightened. “I have a couple of loyal ranch hands, and my neighbor stepped in when my grandfather died to help me through the spring roundup, culling, and tagging. I just need to come up with the money to keep the bank or the government from seizing the ranch.”
“What about your mother? Couldn’t she help you?” Nash asked.
Londyn shook her head. “I refuse to ask her for money. She wants me to sell and move to LA. I can’t do that.” She stared at the cast iron stove in front of her. “I don’t belong there. I don’t fit in. My life is in Montana, not California.”
“I get it,” Nash said. “I’ve been in cities where you drive for a long time before you can get out of it like it won’t let go of you without a struggle.”
She looked at him, her eyes wide. “Yes. That’s exactly how it feels. Out here, I step outside my house and can breathe without inhaling exhaust fumes. Instead of horns honking and the constant roar of traffic on the move, I hear the chirp of cicadas, the occasional bellow of a cow looking for her calf or a hawk’s cry. It’s beautiful.” She gave him a crooked smile. “Sounds silly, but that’s how I feel. The bottom line is that I’m not a city girl.”
“What if this movie launches you into stardom?”
Londyn grimaced. “I hate to say I’d never do it again. It all depends on how well the ranch is performing. I don’t want to lose it. It’s a part of me.”
“You realize they’ll require you to be there for film screenings and premiers, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“They’ll have to advertise the movie with you and the lead male showing up for the red-carpet events and on talk shows. That will keep you away from Montana quite a bit.”
Londyn’s lips pressed together. “My mother mentioned all of those things. Yes, I’ll go for the premiers and show up for interviews.” She yawned. “I’m just not good at stuff like that. What good does it really do?”
“It gets the word out about the film and increases ticket sales,” Nash said. “The more sales they make, the more royalties you earn. And if this movie is well-received, I’m betting the studio will want you to do more movies.”
Londyn pinched the bridge of her nose. “On the one hand, the money would be beneficial in allowing me to make some improvements on the ranch, but it sounds like a commitment I’m not sure I want to make.” She shook her head. “Right now, I’m focusing on my primary goal...to keep my ranch.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to spin you up when you should be getting rest.” He ran his gaze over her. “Any lasting effects from the explosion?”
Londyn rolled her shoulders. “I’m a little stiff, but that could be from this evening’s horse scenes.” She smiled. “At least my ears aren’t ringing anymore.” Londyn yawned. “I guess I should leave you to your sleeping bag and go to my room. Thanks for getting the fire going. I finally warmed up. And thanks for brushing my hair. That was the best. Your sisters were lucky to have you.”
Nash pushed to his feet and held out his hand.
When Londyn placed her palm in his, a spark of electricity raced up his arm, spreading heat through his body. He pulled her to her feet a little faster than was necessary, making her stumble and fall against him.
His arms circled her waist, steadying her.
She rested her hands on his chest and looked up at him wide-eyed, her mouth parting on a soft gasp. Her body pressed to his, and all Nash could think of was that the woman was close enough to kiss.
