The Barrington Brothers. Jules BennettЧитать онлайн книгу.

       Thirteen

      Things were starting to progress at Stony Ridge. Trailers were set up for the actors and other producers and directors, who should be arriving in just a few days. This film was about to get under way, and for once Tessa was glad.

      Now maybe Grant would have other things to do besides tempt her, tease her, then walk away. How dare he do that to her twice? What game was he playing?

      She might be a virgin, but she wasn’t that naive. He wanted her, yet he kept denying himself. Did he think he was being gallant? Chivalrous? Well, in her opinion he was being a player, and she would put a stop to that as soon as her training for the day was over.

      She’d had enough of being pulled around. And honestly, she cared for him and knew he cared for her, or he would’ve already taken her or moved on. Grant had self-control, and he was holding on to every last shred for her.

      Well, enough was enough. Tessa wanted him, and she would be the one to decide what was best for her body...not him.

      She leaned down, patted Don Pedro and set out at a trot. Today she’d keep it easy, especially since Cassie had to take Emily to the doctor for shots.

      “Care if I ride with you?”

      Tessa turned to see her father coming from the stables, leading Cassie’s newest problem child, Macduff.

      “Not at all. You sure you want to get on him?”

      Damon shrugged. “He’ll be fine. I’m bigger than you, so you were easier to buck. And Cassie’s been 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,