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“BK?” Londyn asked.
Hank chuckled. “Before kids.”
Londyn liked Hank and Sadie. For a movie star and the hotshot founder of what seemed like the fastest-growing security company in the US, the pair were down to earth, loving and seemed to really care about others. Even complete strangers like Londyn.
“Speaking of kids...” Sadie glanced up at her husband.
Hank nodded and turned to Nash. “You know, all you have to do is call or text, and we can send backup. I can have them here in less than two hours, especially since we have a helicopter now.”
“Thanks,” Nash said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Hank glanced around at the people scurrying about, moving equipment. “I’d love to stay and watch the cattle drive, but as my wife reminds me, we need to get back to the kids.”
Sadie grimaced. “Not that they’ll miss us as much as we miss them. Uncle Chuck and Aunt Kate are staying with them right now, and they brought their little boy Oliver with them. I’m not sure how much the adults can stand with a couple of hell-raising four-year-olds. Emma tries to keep them in line, but those two boys together seem to find trouble.”
“Right.” Hank shook Nash’s hand. “We’d better get back before they burn the house down.” He waved toward the vehicles parked nearby. “I can stash your things in Nash’s truck. If you need anything else, let us know. It might be a day or two before we can make the trip back down.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Londyn said. “Thank you for going out of your way to pick up my things. And thank you for bringing news from home. I’ll be glad when this project wraps up.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how you do this for a living.”
Sadie shrugged. “It paid the bills. Now, I only take projects I truly love. I’d much rather be home with my family. Come see us when you can. We’d love to have you and Nash stay at White Oak Ranch with us.”
Hank and Sadie set off across the field and climbed into the helicopter. Moments later, the rotors started spinning, and the aircraft lifted off the ground and banked toward the northwest.
“That was really nice of them to go to all the trouble of going to my ranch for my things. It’ll be nice to have clothes that fit. Not that I didn’t appreciate your contribution to my modesty.” Londyn said with a twisted grin. Her gaze followed the chopper until it disappeared. She turned to Nash. “Hungry?”
“I am,” he said. “What do you do for food when you’re in a remote location? I can’t imagine everyone drives into town to the nearest fast-food restaurant.”
Londyn snorted. “Considering the nearest restaurant is thirty minutes or more away, they bring food to us. We’ve had a chuckwagon preparing pretty decent meals. Since we’re tight on time, I don’t know what they’ll have, but let’s find out. I’m starving.”
Londyn found people gathered around the chuck wagon where the cook had hamburgers and hotdogs sizzling on the grill.
Londyn grabbed a paper plate and a bun and held it out for the cook to deposit a charred hamburger patty in the middle. She went back to the table with all the fixings and loaded her burger with lettuce, tomatoes and dill pickles. A squirt of mustard, a handful of potato chips, and she was set.
Nash appeared beside her with two burger patties on his bun and a dollop of mustard.
She cocked an eyebrow. “What? No vegetables?”
“This is easier,” he said.
“Not even a pickle?” she asked.
He shook his head. “When I’m feeling particularly civilized, I might opt for a pickle. But this is enough.”
After the gravity of the explosion the day before and the horror of nearly killing one of her castmates, Londyn relaxed in their light-hearted teasing about their inconsequential preferences of toppings on a burger.
Taking it a step further, she said, “I can understand no lettuce or tomato. And, yes, I skip the onion when I don’t want to blast anyone with onion breath.” Londyn shook her head. “But a hamburger isn’t a hamburger without a dill pickle. That’s pretty much a dealbreaker. I could never be with someone who doesn’t put a pickle on his burger.”
Nash tossed a handful of potato chips onto his plate, then turned to follow her to a picnic table. “You set a high bar for a woman who showed up for work this morning in baggy sweatpants.”
Londyn swallowed the giggle that threatened to bubble up her throat. She laid her plate on the table and sat on the bench. “You have a point. But a girl’s gotta draw the line somewhere.”
“Yes, she does.” Nash laid his plate beside hers rather than across the table and slid onto the bench.
His thigh bumped against hers, setting off an electrical charge that shot through her system like a lightning bolt and got her blood pumping hard through her veins. She sucked in a breath, held it and let it out slowly, willing her pulse to return to normal.
Nash held up a package. “You might reconsider when you realize I snagged the last package of chocolate chip cookies.”
Londyn tipped her head. “You think I’d lower my standards for a cookie?”
