Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Bullshit. I saw them leave the mansion right after you. Both blushing.”
“Maybe the two of them were getting busy.” He grins. “In which case I wish I had been there.”
I roll my eyes. I won’t get a straight answer out of Seb if he doesn’t want to give one. No problem. I’m more intrigued by Rachel, anyway. Or the hair stylist, who looks like the anti-Rachel but is seriously hot in her own way. June, the lingerie model, doesn’t do a lot for me, probably because of her earlier comments about my animals—though I wouldn’t mind seeing her naked tomorrow.
I gaze around the large courtyard. Rachel stands away from the crowd near the large pool house, staring at the sky—a tapestry of fiery oranges, bright pinks, and golden yellows. Sunsets across the wide open skies of Montana are full of rich hues, but this is truly magical. Swept up in the moment, I draw in a breath and walk toward her.
“Rachel.”
She lowers her head. “Hello, River.”
“Stargazing?”
“Sort of. I’m waiting for the sun to set all the way. The sky will be so clear with no light pollution. I brought my mini telescope with me, but I’d love to be able to use my big one here.”
“We can get you one. Not a problem at all.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean—”
“I know you didn’t.” I tilt my head back and stare at the sky, wondering what she sees, what she wants to bring even closer with her telescope. “It is gorgeous.”
“Isn’t it? I can’t believe I’ll finally be able to see Centaurus.”
“Centaurus?”
“Yeah. In Chicago, where I live, we’re too close to the horizon to see it in its entirety, but here, in a southern sky…” She points upward. “It’s not quite dark enough yet, but you can see Proxima Centauri, which is the star nearest to our sun.”
“Centaurus…meaning centaur?”
“Yeah. Once it gets darker, I’ll show you.”
“I look forward to that.”
She turns and faces me, her dark eyes wide. “You’re interested in stars?”
“I like to look at them. On the ranch in Montana the stars are always visible on a clear night. Really visible, like they are here. Of course, I don’t know one from the other.”
“They look a lot different that far north,” she says.
“How do you know so much about them?”
“I’m a physicist. An experimental physicist, actually, but I took some courses in astrophysics, and I’ve always loved stargazing. I decided not to specialize in astrophysics, though. I didn’t want to take something so beautiful and make it into work. I needed it to stay special.”
I can’t help a smile. Physics just became a lot more interesting.
And so did Rachel Cooper.
“Tell you what,” I say. “I’ll get you that telescope.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“You heard Brett earlier. Whatever you want, you ladies can have. All you have to do is ask.”
“We’re on a private island, River. Amazon isn’t going to deliver.”
She makes a good point. I can get one, but who knows how long that will take?
“Besides,” Rachel continues, “there’s something about looking at the heavens with a naked eye. That’s how we were meant to see it—the never-ending magnificence of it all. I’m never more at peace than when I’m staring up into the universe. The sheer beauty and complexity is humbling. To me, it’s like an equation where the sum is greater than its parts. Like there’s a reason we’re here, why we’re connected.”
I can’t help myself. I reach toward her, trail a finger over her cheek, touching her dimple as I inhale a waft of wildflowers from her perfume. “That’s a beautiful way to put it.”
She sighs. “It’s just my way of putting it. Everyone sees something different when they look at the night sky. I see meaning in my life and the lives of others.”
“Would you like to take a walk? We can get away from these artificial lights, really take a look.”
“They’re setting up the dance floor.”
“So?”
Rachel darts her gaze over my shoulder. “Evangeline said—”
I stroke her lower lip with my thumb. It’s plump and soft, and it glistens. “Whatever you want, Rachel. If you want to stay here, we stay here.”
“I think… I think I’d be more comfortable here.” She clears her throat. “At least for now.”
“As you wish.”
She leans forward then, stands on her toes, and brushes her lips over mine.
They’re as soft as I knew they’d be, and my groin tightens.
We cling together for a moment, Rachel scraping her soft hand against my cheek with a whimper, until she breaks the kiss, gasps, and walks swiftly away without a word.
EPISODE 9
DANCING QUEEN
Sienna
Running away from Alex Maxwell wasn’t my best look. He’s gorgeous—they all are—but he came on a little strong with the comment about the bourbon.
Now he’s busy with Ginger, who, frankly, is the most beautiful woman here with her dark hair and sparkling emerald eyes. I’ve never seen eyes as beautiful as hers.