Page 212 of Promise Not to Fall for the Rich & Famous

Ellie didn’t mind the idea. In fact, she hoped she was there to experience the crisp autumn temperatures people seemed to love.

“What if we went just before sunset?”

Nash held her gaze, and Ellie was captured yet again by the color; part gold, part brown, and pure heaven. Her heart skipped a beat, then sped up as he seemed to read something in her expression.

“Are you asking me on a date at sunset tomorrow night?” His mouth quirked into that half-grin again.

She bit her lip. “Are you always this assumptive?”

His smile broadened, revealing a flash of white. Holy smokes, he had a great smile, and she liked being the reason it was there.

“I might be,” he said. “Should we say 6:30?”

Ellie resisted the cheesy smile that threatened to expose her. “Sounds good to me.”

“Perfect. Oh, and bring a shovel. If you want to ride her, you’ve got to first clean out one of the stalls.”

Ellie’s eyes widened.

“Gotcha,” he said with a wink.

And as Nash walked the horse back to the field, Ellie swam in the pool of delightful emotions he’d left in his wake. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d developed crush-like feelings so fast, but she couldn’t deny that they were a welcome distraction after the week she’d had. Heck, after the few months she’d had.

Perhaps Geneva had been right; it was good for Ellie to get involved here at Wild Buck’s Ranch. She would definitely plan on doing so more often.

CHAPTER 6

Nash watched as Buttercup filled up on fresh grass in the field. A quick look at the time said Ellie would be there any minute.

Anticipation bolted through him like a determined racehorse, hot and exhilarating. Nash had barely gotten a wink of shut-eye last night, and even that was infused with thoughts of Ellie Blaire.

Before drifting off to sleep, he’d let himself daydream—imagining what it’d be like to kiss her while they rode bareback in the sunset. Of course, his mind had summoned an image of them sharing a horse, which wouldn't be happening today. It had also dreamed up that Ellie had turned her pretty face toward him, batted her lashes, and dropped her gaze to his mouth in invitation. Something that would alsonotbe happening today.

The odd thing was, while the daydreams hadn’t carried into his sleep, he had still dreamed of Ellie Blaire. In it, he and Ellie were heading up a glass elevator, complete with a 360 view of some massive city. Maybe it was supposed to be the set of a movie or something because Ellie wore a dark wig with a purple dress, and Nash was wearing a suit. To make it even weirder, Wade and Wyatt appeared in the elevator, too, dressed sharpand looking…well, nervous. In fact, he'd realized as the odd dream played on, the energy in the elevator was one of fear. And then it was over.

As benign as the scene should have been—there’d been no spoken or visible danger, after all— Nash had woken up in a panic. He’d spent hours trying to dissect that dream, hoping to figure out why it had him so ill at ease, but he came up short. In the light of day, it didn’t seem like much to lose sleep over, but he’d have been happier having a continuation of the daydream he’d summoned before falling asleep.

Nash pushed thoughts of his rough night aside. He paced in the shadows while waiting for Ellie to arrive, his insides bundled tighter than a hogtied calf. He wasn't sure how in heaven's name he was supposed to stay true to the NDA he’d signed when his family kept poking and prodding and putting their nose in his business.

Aunt Jackie was nearly as bad as Grandma C with all her excitement surrounding Nash’s time at Wild Buck’s. And though his brothers agreed that Nash couldn't rightfully give them any details regarding Ellie’s whereabouts, Nash had received texts from Thatcher, Wes, and Rem, too, each asking, without actually asking, if anything had changed. Nash had ignored them. It was a good thing Thatcher and Wes were now married and in homes of their own and that Rem lived at the old farmhouse with the rest of the ranch hands. At least that made it easier to avoid them when he went back home.

"Which one areyougoing to ride this evening?" Ellie asked from behind.

Nash wondered if this was how his interactions with Ellie would be—her coming up behind him, announcing her presence with that familiar voice that set his blood ablaze. It wasreallyher—the girl-turned-woman who grew up alongside Nash, even if it was on the silver screen. And today, she was there with him.

Without glancing back, Nash eyed the other horses. “I’m riding Pepper, the black and white horse over there. He has his eye on Buttercup, so I figure I’ll let him shoot his shot."

"That's so nice of you." Ellie came up beside him and bumped his arm. The heavenly scent of lilacs filled his senses.Lilacs,he should have guessed she’d pick the best-smelling scent nature had to offer. It seemed the flower’s blooming season—when compared to most—was fleeting, which was likely the case with Ellie’s visit.

He glanced over to take in the beautiful sight of her. Yesterday, Ellie had looked incredible in a light, cotton blouse and matching shorts, but today, she looked even better in a pair of jeans and cowboy boots. She looked like someone who belonged here, who could maybe even belong to him.

"Will this work?" she asked, glancing down at her outfit before looking back up at him.

"Yep.” Nash gulped. “Perfect."

Ellie grinned. “Don't let these fool you," she said, glancing down at the impressively worn boots. "I've never ridden a day in my life.”

“I’d be more surprised to hear otherwise,” Nash teased.