Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” I finally said when we reached the main road. “I got territorial and worried about someone appearin’ out of nowhere. My insecurity believes you’re gonna get enough of me and move on.”
“That’s because you want me to stick around to kiss me, and hold me, and love me, or however the saying goes…” See? This could now be my future with this silly man.
I rolled my eyes, a hard, pronounced roll at such a dumb thing to say. Slade would probably poke a lion if given the chance. On its own accord, not by any plan I had, my hand reached out, taking Slade’s. The touch made the crazy inside my head relax.
“I’m sorry. I’ll apologize to Nico too.”
“Not necessary. He knows what he looks like,” Slade said, teasing me, except it was probably the truth. “He practices the growls and mean stares in the mirror.”
That tidbit piqued my interest, and I whipped my head toward Slade. “No way.”
“Well, maybe he does. I don’t really know, but it makes sense with as easy as the expression lands on his face,” Slade explained, as he caressed his thumb over the skin on the top of my hand. “You don’t have to apologize. Again, it’s good.”
Oh lord, here the circle of conversation went again. I rested my head on the headrest and did my best to relieve my muscles of all the tension I’d created. I was happy this morning, and I needed to get that back.
Chapter 19
Mace
Once on the actual property of Grainger Studios, past all the security measures in place, it took me about three seconds to understand how Austin and Kitt had made their compound a locked-down, secure fortress for the people inside. The sight instantly calmed any worry I’d been harboring, allowing me to take in the greatness on what appeared to be a small city working within these gated walls.
Kitt was there to greet us. Whether Slade arranged that for my benefit or Kitt had chosen to be there at our arrival, it relaxed me further.
We hit the ground running. Austin and Kitt gave us a tour of the compound. The four of us piled into one of what appeared to be a fleet of low-speed, open vehicles. Austin and Slade took the front, Kitt and I sat in the back. White fences, very Kentucky horse barn vibed, ran the length of the property and separated various pastures. The ranch and barns were state of the art and designed to impress. They certainly did. I itched to get inside and explore what I was missing.
If I had questioned whether a small city actually existed, that answer came when we crested one of their rolling hills to see a complex of sprawling buildings, paved rounds, and loads of concrete. A populous of security guards and others were visibly present. Hundreds of cattle sprinkled the land on the other side of a large privacy fence surrounding the small city.
If I remembered correctly, Grainger Studios encompassed five hundred acres of land. A small portion of the acreage he and Kitt owned.
Around the fringe of the studio, but still inside the fenced-off area, were small homes creating a small but pretty neighborhood. Kitt explained the mini living community was for the crew and actors to stay while they filmed. They were currently vacant. Austin had a firm rule that very little happened in the excessive heat of July and August. Apparently, it was entirely too hot to be conducive to optimal filming.
Since I’d lived my entire life in this desert-style heat, either actors were fragile or my mind had slowly baked inside the hot summer oven. Judgy, yes, but still my first impression.
As we rode, I received a lesson on how Austin had challenged the film industry head-on, creating a brand of western movies and TV series that rivaled anything currently out there. Since I didn’t watch streaming or movies, it was all foreign to me, Austin had had enormous success, even spawning many spin-offs.
Kitt shared with me that Slade was a large part of Austin’s vision for the future. Landing him was a coup in their industry. Austin planned to move heaven, or hell, if necessary, to have Slade a part of the dream.
Once we’d toured the surroundings of the studio, doing a drive-by, checking out the operational restaurant and bar, Kitt and I parted ways with Austin and Slade. My guy gave me a spontaneous quick chaste kiss in all his eager happiness.
I accepted the peck which seemed damned grown up of me. Maybe I was beginning to see a path to coming out… My theory had holes, so I put a pin in it to deal with later.
Kitt took the driver’s seat, and I hopped in the front passenger seat. He gave me a more thorough circuit of the land Kitt called “his side of things.” I felt much more in my element as we encountered the animals and his ranching enterprise.