She took a deep breath and let it out. “You’re right. You will. Some people won’t be able to see past the homosexuality to recognize that you’re still the same person, that you’re still the same outstanding actor you’ve always been, that the love scenes and chemistry you’ve shared with all the actresses you’ve worked with over the years has been just that—acting—just as it would be with any hetero-sexual actor who does a love scene with some actress, then goes home to his wife or his girlfriend. It’s unfortunate that who someone loves has to be the world’s business, but to some people, it matters.”
She laid her head on his shoulder. “But to the people who love you, the people close to you in your personal life, and all your fans who adore you that really count—it won’t matter at all who you love, Colt. They won’t care who you go home to at night, because they love your movies.”
She heard his shaky sigh.
“God, I hope so, Des. I really hope so. My entire career depends on this.”
She grasped his jaw and turned his face toward hers. “I love you. I always have and I always will. And you know whenever and however you choose to do this, I will be there for you, standing beside you, supporting you.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what I’d have done without you in my life all these years.”
She saw the tears shimmering in his eyes, and she pulled him close and hugged him tight.
Colt had always been there for her when she needed him. Now was her chance to be there for him.
“Have you thought about how you’re going to do it?”
“I don’t know yet. I haven’t told my management team yet. They’re not going to be happy.”
She shrugged. “The bottom line is, they can advise you, but it’s your career and you get to make the decisions. Then they’ll have to deal with the fallout. If there is any.”
“Oh, there’ll be fallout. You know there’ll be at least some. If not a lot.”
“Don’t borrow trouble when there might not be any. This is all going to work out for you. For Tony. Then all this hiding and skulking around in the shadows will be over, and you can live your life out and proud. Tony can finally move into that sweet little house of yours, and the two of you can make a life together, like you’ve always dreamed about.”
Colt smiled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Hang on to that, and think about being free.”
He laid his head against hers. “Honey, it’s the only thing I’m thinking about.”
DES PONDERED COLT’S dilemma after she finished her scenes for the day. He was so brave coming out, knowing what was at stake.
And if he could suck it up and not be afraid, so could she.
It was time for her to visit Logan. After they filmed their scenes for the day, she showered and changed into a pair of white capris, a dark blue spaghetti-strap tank with a flowing sleeveless silk button-down top over it, then slid into her sandals. She grabbed one of the SUVs and took a ride over to the ranch. She stopped at the house first. Martha was there.
“Des, I’m so glad to see you.” Martha enveloped her in a hug. “I was just finishing up for the day and waiting for Ben so we could head home. Are you looking for Logan?”
“Yes.”
“He went to the cabin to go fishing. I packed him up his dinner, so he might be out there awhile. Ben and I have a meeting to attend in town tonight, so we’re heading out early. Do you know where the cabin and pond are?”
Remembering that night they spent together at the cabin, she nodded. “I do. Thanks, Martha. I’ll go find him.”
She drove the few miles to the cabin, practicing in her head what she was going to say to him when she found him.
She had no idea, only that this distance between them was uncomfortable. She only had a little time left before they wrapped their location shoot, and the one thing she did know was that she wanted to spend that time with Logan. It was ridiculous to be mad at him.
She parked next to his truck and got out, but didn’t see him outside near the pond, so she went up to the cabin and knocked. No answer.
Huh. She went around to the back of the cabin, then walked down the flagstone path toward the pond. She finally saw him at the far end of the pond, sitting under a tall tree close to the water. The tree’s branches bent low, offering a large spot of shade from the blistering afternoon heat. He had a line in the water and he was leaning against the trunk of the tree, his cowboy hat tipped low across the top of his face. He didn’t wave to her, so for all she knew, he might be asleep.
Not wanting to wake him, she slowed her steps as she crept closer. His legs were outstretched, his ankles crossed. He still wore his boots, dirt caked across the bottoms of his jeans. His dark blue T-shirt was stretched tight across his impossibly chiseled shoulders and chest. She wanted to pull out her phone and snap a picture of him in that pose. How could a man leaning against a tree, who looked to be asleep, be so damn sexy?
She was only about five feet away when he said, “What brings you here, Des?”
She nearly jumped out of her sandals. “Dammit, Logan. I thought you were asleep.”
“Not asleep. And be quiet. You’ll scare the fish away.”
She sat next to him on the ground and stared out over the pond. “Catch anything yet?”
“No.”
“How long have you been here?”
“About an hour.”
“Don’t you usually fish before dawn?”
“I’m usually up and working cattle before dawn. But yeah, that’s the optimal time. Doesn’t mean you can’t catch fish now. This is a cool, shady spot with a lot of trees. And I have good bait.”
The trunk of the tree was thick enough that there was room for her to lean against it.
“Your white pants are going to get dirty,” he said.
“I don’t care.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, then stared out over the water. It was such a beautiful location, the entire pond rimmed by low hanging branches from all the trees that peppered the area. Logan was right, she had definitely cooled off, now that she was in the canopy of shade here. It was quiet, the only sound the rustle of a slight wind through the tall treetops.
She wanted to talk, but then again, Logan wasn’t saying anything either, so she stayed quiet and watched his line in the water. It wasn’t moving. The surface of the water barely moved, and as she managed glances at Logan from the corner of her eye, she noticed his eyes were open and he was staring intently at his fishing line, as if he was willing a fish to jump on it.