Page 18 of Cowboy Superstar

“But you want …”

“Everything,” he finished for her.

Her heart thudded in quick succession against her ribs, and a shiver ran through her body as she swallowed. “What if I can’t give you that?”

He pulled back and looked her in the eye. “Let’s not worry about what-ifs. We’re just seeing where this goes, remember?”

“But you want …”

“Sure, I’ve got an idea about a future with you and me together in it, but only time will tell what happens. It takes two to tango, Win. I’m just hoping you want to dance.”

CHAPTER 11

Maybe Bo was missing a massive opportunity by not taking her when he had a prime chance, but he wanted more. More for her. More from her. He didn’t want a rushed and frantic encounter to set the tone for what was between them.

He’d meant what he said. She deserved to be savored. She deserved his full attention and as much as he could give her.

He knew, if he’d been willing to settle for less, he probably could’ve had her one night, long ago, at a wild party at her house. But something told him that it wasn’t the right time yet for everything he wanted. She was brittle and jaded with an undercurrent of anger, as she’d just come out of a messy divorce. He knew there was so much more to Windsor Reed, and he’d been willing to wait. He hadn’t expected to wait this long, but now that he had, what was a few more hours?

“You’re going to crush this role,” she finally said. “Lovestruck rancher, wooing his mail-order bride … it’s going to be good. I can feel it.”

Bo was more interested in wooing Windsor Reed in real life, but the film was a perfect opportunity, and he was grateful for it. “Of course, it’s going to be good. It’s got you in it.”

“And you. Don’t sell yourself short either. I’ve seen your work. You’re talented. A natural. And I’ve been in this business a long time.”

“I appreciate that. What’s it been like? A whole lifetime of playing make-believe?”

“You want the truth?”

“Always.”

“It kinda fucks you up. You know everything you make is fake, but you do such a good job that the people watching it think it’s real. You start to wonder if playing their emotions like a violin is even right. But they love it, and it pays, so you don’t honestly know if you could ever walk away.”

Bo knew she’d never been more honest with him. “Thank you.”

She lifted those trademark blue eyes to his. “For what?”

“Being real.”

She hauled in a breath and let it out in a rush. “That’s what you said you wanted.”

“And you’re good at it. Even though you thought you wouldn’t be.”

He threaded his fingers through hers. “Let me show you the barn.”

“I thought we were in the barn.”

“The horse barn.”

“I love horses. Always have. I grew up riding in Santa Barbara.”

“Perfect. You’ll be better at it than me. I didn’t learn until I moved here. Come on. There are some pretty fillies you’re gonna love.”

Once again, Windsor wanted to pack up everything she owned, move here, and never leave. He had stall after stall of beauties.

“We saw some of them earlier as we came in. Out in the pasture?”

He nodded. “Most are still out. These ladies came in for special treatment. The vet is coming to check them. They’re pregnant.”