Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76647 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
I gave him a weak smile that I didn’t really feel. The truth was, I was excited about the prospect of a date with these guys, but I wanted to do my part to make it special, too. No woman wanted to go on a date while looking like a slob—especially not on a date with such attractive men.
“Honestly, that’s the last thing you should be worried about.” Drew squeezed my hand, trying to convince me.
For his sake, I nodded. “What should I be worried about then?”
Drew grinned. “Carter’s cooking, of course.”
He definitely had a point about that.
20
SIERRA
The next morning, I was too hyped up to settle down to write. I hadn’t been asked out on a date in a long time—at least not by someone I actually wanted to go on a date with. Some guys on a movie set were more than willing to invite me back to their trailer or a hotel room, but few wanted to take me on a real date.
Little got done on my screenplay as I alternated between excitement about the date and anxiety about what I could possibly wear. It was sweet of Drew to say I looked good in anything, but that’s not how the world worked. I wanted to look my best for them. My best definitely didn’t include sweatpants, thick wool socks, a t-shirt, and god, no makeup whatsoever.
At least I could shower, wash my hair, and shave with a disposable razor I’d swiped from one of the guys. That was on the agenda for later in the afternoon while they were working out.
But right now, I was supposed to be writing.
Except that sure as hell didn’t seem to be happening.
I couldn’t stop thinking about my three dates for the evening. Tristan was in the kitchen getting a snack. Carter sat on the couch, his feet up on the coffee table while he swiped through his phone. It looked like he was just surfing the web, but I knew him better now. Judging by the look of concentration on his face, he was researching something work-related.
And Drew… I actually wasn’t sure where he was, so I asked Tristan when he came back with an apple and a bowl of chips.
“I think he took Zeus for a walk,” Tristan said.
“No, he didn’t.” Carter turned to face me. “You left your door open, so he’s taking a nap on your bed.”
I assumed he meant the dog, not the man, but I walked over to double check. Zeus had his shaggy head on my pillow, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him to get down. “I haven’t seen Drew in a while. Has anyone?”
Tristan set his food on the worktable. “I’ll check outside and see if he’s around.”
While he was gone, he stole a few of his chips. I regretted it instantly, both because I needed to watch what I ate since the press tour wasn’t that far off—plus my fingers got all greasy and I had to go wash them off.
As I emerged from the bathroom, Tristan returned. He went straight to Carter. “His tracks lead down the mountain.”
Carter swung his legs off the coffee table. “Shit. Why would he go that way?”
The stolen chips formed a lump in my stomach. “Oh no. No, no, no. I think he went down to my cabin.”
“What?” Both men turned to stare at me.
“He knew I was worried that I didn’t have anything nice to wear tonight, so I think he went down to see if he could find some of my clothes.”
“I hope he took a chainsaw with him,” Tristan said, shaking his head.
Carter strode over to the door. “No, but he took the axe.” He shook his head as he pulled on his coat. “He’s either going to slip and break his neck, or chop off a few fingers. Maybe both.”
The worry on Carter’s face chilled me to the bone. I would rather attend our date in a garbage sack than have Drew do something dangerous. “This is all my fault.”
“No, it’s not,” Tristan said before turning to his best friend. “Want me to come?”
“No, I’ll be faster on my own.” He was already geared up and ready to go. “Keep Zeus here.”
He slammed the door shut behind him, and now I worried about two people’s safety.
“They’ll be okay,” Tristan said. He strode past me and looked out the front window. I joined him, and we watched Carter make his way carefully down the steep hillside until he was out of sight. Tristan put his arm around my shoulder and repeated his words again. “They’ll be okay.”
The next hour was a very long one. Tristan’s snack sat forgotten on the table. Neither one of us got much work done. Every few minutes, I glanced at the clock on my phone, even though I’d barely bothered to check the time since I’d gotten here.