“You might as well give up. She never lets guests help wash the dishes,” Logan said.
Des, however, refused to budge. She made herself at home and started scrounging through the cabinets looking for containers for the leftovers. Logan leaned back and watched with amusement as Martha sputtered that a movie star should not be crating leftovers in her kitchen.
“First, I’m hardly a movie star. Being an actress is just my job. Second, my mother and father both would kick my butt if I just walked out on someone who had fixed a meal for me without helping to clean up. So you can forget it. I’m not leaving.”
Colt pitched in, too, nudging Martha aside to scrub the roasting pan for her while she dried some of the pots and put them away.
“It’s not like we have servants doing our dishes at home,” Colt said.
Martha dried her hands on the towel. “You don’t?”
Des laughed. “Not quite. I live in a two-bedroom condo. No room for anyone but me in my small kitchen.”
“I would have thought you’d have some big house in the hills or maybe on the beach.”
“They ask ridiculous prices for homes out in California. And a house on the beach?” She laughed. “There’s no way I’m shelling out good money just for a beach view. I’m still renting. I’m on the road half the time making movies, anyway, so why buy a big house I can’t enjoy? Eventually I’ll buy a place, but right now I’m saving my money.”
“Smart girl,” Martha said.
“I have a house, but it’s a small one in Sherman Oaks,” Colt said.
Des smiled. “It’s a charming older house with two bedrooms.”
“Big enough for my needs. I just got sick of condo living. I wanted a yard. Not quite as big as your backyard, Logan, but in L.A. terms, it’ll do.”
“You make do with what you have,” Logan said.
Colt nodded. “Exactly. And speaking of your wide-open spaces, how about a ride on your horses?”
“You up for that?” Logan asked Des.
Des shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m too full to go bouncing around on the back of a horse. But I’d love a look around. Unless that’s too much trouble.”
“I can take Colt out for a ride on the horses,” Ben said. “I need to check on a few things anyway. He can come with me.”
“Great,” Colt said. “I’m excited to get back on a horse again.”
Logan was hoping to tell Des no, but it looked like he was out of options. “Fine. Let’s go, Des.”
“Martha, do you want to come along with us?” Des asked.
“Oh, thanks, but no. I’m in the middle of a really good book, so I’m going to put my feet up and relax for a while. You and Logan go ahead.”
Logan gave Martha a look, and she smiled sweetly at him.
Martha was up to a bit of matchmaking, which wasn’t going to work.
For a lot of different reasons.
DES PICKED UP her pace alongside Logan’s long stride, excited about seeing the land. She was certain Logan wasn’t thrilled about being anywhere near her or taking her anywhere.
Which made her want to annoy him even more.
Who knew this location shoot was going to be so much fun?
“Where would you like to go?” he asked.
“How about we just start with a walk? I’m stuffed after all that food, and I need to walk off a few hundred calories. You can show me what you do around here.”
“All right.”
While she hadn’t always lived in a big city, it had been a long time since she’d seen so much land. The smell of dirt and cattle, while not exactly pleasant, wasn’t a turnoff for her. It smelled of hard living and muscle, the kind of work that had nothing to do with makeup and looking pretty for a camera. There was no acting involved in that kind of work.
They’d moved past several barns and stopped at one of the penned-in pastures where a herd of cattle roamed. The cattle moved lazily about, some eating, some standing around, and some huddled in the shade of several tall trees.
Des climbed up on the fence and straddled it. She looked down at Logan.
“What is your typical day like?” she asked.
“There really isn’t a typical day. It depends on the season. There are always calves to work, moving cattle from one part of the land to another, separating grown calves from their mamas and putting heifers in with the bulls to make sure they’re impregnated. There are cattle to take for sale, getting them weighed in and sold off. In the winter months we have to supplement the feed and make sure the ponds aren’t frozen so the cattle have access to water. We do inoculations, castrations, and assist with births if they’re needed, though most of the cattle do just fine on their own, birthing-wise. Weather and cattle health may come into play.”
She stared at him. “I think that’s the most you’ve ever said to me at one time. You really love what you do.”
And then he clammed up and stared out over the pasture.
She hopped off the fence and they started walking again.
“So is it me you don’t like, or women in general?”
He kept his gaze straight ahead. “I like women just fine.”
“Then it’s me.” She quickened her steps to stay up with him. “And why is that?”
He stopped, turned to face her. “Shouldn’t you be out riding with your boyfriend?”
She studied him. “You think Colt and I are in a relationship?”
“Sure seems that way.”
“Based on what, exactly? That we’re starring in a movie together?”
“I’ve just seen the way you interact.”
She laughed. “First, I’m an actress. If our chemistry comes across when we act together, I guess that means we’re doing a damn good job. Second, Colt and I have been friends since we were eighteen years old.”
“Which was what? Two years ago?”
Des rolled her eyes. “You’re kind of a dick, Logan. I’m twenty-five.”
“Oh, all worldly and mature, aren’t you?”
“And you’re still being a dick. Anyway, for the record, Colt and I are not now nor have we ever been involved with each other romantically.”
“So you’re just sleeping with him.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, my God. Do you work for the tabloids or something?”