Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Nate, bless and damn him, filled the silence with more local history and stories about his horses, occasionally letting a huff of amusement slip out.
As we approached a particularly scenic stretch of the trail, Nate turned slightly. “Adrian, there’s a barn dance at my place next weekend. Nothing fancy, just locals letting loose with some music and food. You should come.”
I leaned forward and narrowed my eyes at Nate.
Before I could ask Since when are you hosting a fucking barn dance? Adrian replied. “Thanks. That sounds fun.”
“Great,” Nate said easily. “Looking forward to it. I’m not a bad dancer if the music’s just right.”
I kept my expression carefully neutral, though my grip on the camera tightened.
I had no idea what Nate was playing at. He’d been flirty with Adrian, but then he’d backed off long enough to tease us with the stupid #TeamMaddrian thing. Had he believed Adrian’s explanation about the kiss being staged for content?
It shouldn’t matter if Adrian attended a barn dance with Nate.
It shouldn’t matter if they hit it off, if something developed between them.
After all, Adrian would be gone in less than two weeks, back to his perfect life in LA, while Nate would remain here—solid, dependable, part of the community. And apparently flirty as fuck.
So why did the thought of Adrian dancing with Nate, doing… other things with Nate, make me want to shove both of them off the sleigh bench?
No reason. No reason at all.
I dug into my pocket and pulled out two pieces of gum before shoving them into my mouth and concentrating on the sharp burst of flavor. Get your head out of your ass and work, dumbass.
When we arrived back at Nate’s farm, the sky had darkened with approaching snow clouds. Nate busied himself with unhitching the horses while Adrian helped, listening attentively to instructions and seeming genuinely interested in the animals.
I hung back, packing up equipment in Adrian’s rental and trying to maintain at least the illusion of professionalism.
“I wasn’t kidding when I said you’ve got a natural touch,” I heard Nate tell Adrian as they led June back to her stall. “Ever considered moving somewhere you could have horses of your own?”
Adrian’s laugh floated back to me. “My condo association would have something to say about that. Besides, I’m not exactly the rural type.”
Nate made a thoughtful noise. “You seem to be adapting pretty well to Legacy.”
I forced myself to focus on the equipment, not on their conversation or the implications behind Nate’s words.
Adrian wasn’t adapting to Legacy; he was using it as a backdrop for his content, just like every other influencer who’d blown through here. Once he got what he needed, he’d be gone.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn’t notice Nate approaching until he spoke directly beside me.
“Take that man to bed, Sullivan,” he said casually. “And if the sex turns out to be as hot as it ought to be, then consider taking him into your heart, too. Since that’s a thing some people seem to want.”
My head snapped up. “What the fuck?”
Nate met my gaze steadily, his earlier teasing glint nowhere to be found. “You’re not a dumbass, so stop acting like one.” He glanced over to where Adrian was giving June a final pat. “I saw the way you look at him through the lens. Stop fighting what’s obvious to everyone but you, Sullivan. Life’s too short.”
Before I could respond, he walked away, heading back to Adrian. I watched as he said something that made Adrian laugh, then suddenly freeze. After a moment, they shook hands, and Adrian walked toward the passenger side of his rental, where I was already waiting.
“You mind driving?” he asked. “I’m not confident on snowy roads.”
I grunted my agreement and began the drive back to town in awkward silence. Adrian stared out the passenger window at the darkening sky, occasionally checking his phone. I kept my eyes fixed on the road, hands clamped on the wheel.
“Thanks for driving,” he said at length. “I had a near miss on a slick spot yesterday when I was heading to town. Glad not to be the one at the wheel, honestly.”
The steering wheel creaked as my hands tightened further, imagining him in danger. Cold sweat prickled on my skin as memories of my parents’ accident flashed through my mind like an old VCR tape worn thin in spots from being played too many times. “Anytime.” I glanced at him. “I mean it. Anytime.”
He nodded and swallowed. Silence descended again for several awkward minutes.
“So,” Adrian said, breaking the silence. “Nate seems nice.”
“Yeah,” I agreed neutrally. Don’t fucking dance with him. “Known him since high school. Good guy.”
“He, uh, said something interesting to me before we left.”
I tensed, keeping my expression carefully blank. “Ignore him. He’s full of shit.”
Adrian turned slightly in his seat to face me. “He told me Maya begged him to cancel on us.”