Hot Winter Nights (Made in Montana) Read online

  “Well, I can see it’s a real hardship for you to live here.”

  He leaned in and surprised her with a kiss on the lips. Without even looking to see if anyone was watching. He kept it brief and G-rated, which was more than fine with her. Even so she sneaked a peek behind them.

  He smiled and nodded at the window. “It’s getting dark, but you can still see we have a great view of the Rockies.”

  “The house you want to build, would it be near here?” she asked and saw him stiffen. “I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t—I won’t bring it up again.”

  “No,” he said, shrugging. “It’s fine.” He turned back to the window. “It’s not a secret. I’m just having trouble deciding between two spots, but yeah, it’ll be about a mile or so north.”

  “Darn, I wish we had more daylight.”

  “I can always bring you back out...” He met her gaze. “If you have time.”

  Something was making her tongue stick. Looking into his eyes often made her heart flutter. But this was different...

  “Come on,” he said with a small resigned smile that she hoped was her imagination. “I’ll show you my mother’s pride and joy.”

  A few more surprises met her in the kitchen. Double ovens and a six-burner stove, an island big enough for four people to work at. Laughter floated in from another room. This house, the holiday songs coming from the family room, the scents, the décor, it was all a bit overwhelming.

  She had to blink back tears as she thought of her family’s much smaller home in LA where her mom and dad and Brit had the tree up. Her brother was married and had his own home, but he and Cheryl lived close and would spend Christmas at the house.

  “Hey,” Clint said, his big hand landing softly on her shoulder. “You okay?”

  “Just missing my family.”

  “I wish there was something I could have done about that.”

  “You have. Believe me. I’m fine.”

  “Then get in there and make that spiced tea you told me about. I want to try it. I’m sure my mom will be back in a second.”

  “Yes, sir,” she said, taking the bag with her to the island. First thing she brought out was the Rocky Road bark, made with semisweet chocolate, mini-marshmallows, slivered almonds and little pieces of peppermint stick and toffee. The tray was just a cookie sheet covered with tinfoil, but she hadn’t had much to work with.

  As soon as she uncovered it, Mrs. Landers, who insisted Lila call her Meryl, joined her at the island. “Oh, my. Doesn’t that look sinfully delicious?”

  Coming up behind Clint’s mom, Beth let out a moan that made Lila blush. “What’s this called? Better than Sex?”

  “Oh, Beth.” Laughing, Meryl swatted at her daughter-in-law as she reached for a piece.

  Beth took a bite. “Oh, yeah,” she murmured, eyes closed.

  They all laughed, and it helped Lila relax. The three men flowed through the kitchen, snatching pieces of her bark as they got water and wine glasses to put on the dining-room table.

  Clint’s grandmother, fresh from a nap, appeared and was introduced. Tall and lean like her son and grandsons, she looked to be in her eighties, with wrinkles that showed the rancher’s life she’d lived, her silver hair tied up in a high swirl.

  “Here, honey,” Meryl said, handing Lila an apron with a snowman on the front. “We don’t want that pretty sweater ruined.”

  Most of the meal was either ready or baking in the oven. A couple dishes needed tending, and there were always last-minute details. All in all, Meryl was so organized she didn’t even use a cheat sheet.

  While she brought out serving bowls from the cabinets, Clint’s grandmother, Shirley, sampled the Rocky Road. “I think I’m going to have to hide this bark you brought, or the men will all be stuffed before supper.”

  “Where are you going to hide it, Grandma?” Beth asked sweetly as she plucked a holiday apron from the drawer. “Your room?” She met the older woman’s squinty gaze and burst out laughing.

  “You hush up, Beth Landers,” Grandma Landers said, holding up a wooden spoon.

  Lila couldn’t help but laugh. They were all wonderful. She could tell Clint’s family all genuinely liked one another. She could hear the three men talking and laughing in the family room. And Nathan and Beth, they’d been married only a year, yet Beth already belonged.

  A few minutes later, as Lila finished sautéing some fresh green beans, she caught Clint at the edge of the kitchen door. He didn’t say anything; he was just checking on her, she was sure. She tried not to let him know she’d seen him, but it was impossible not to smile. He was the very best part of her life these days.

  After all the crap that was going on with Baxter and Jason and her own feelings of disillusionment about show business, it was crazy how much she needed him at the end of the day. At first it had just been fun and exciting. He was so hot, yet funny and kind, a rare combination in a man. And her feelings had changed; she’d known that since the barbecue. But there simply wasn’t anything to do about it. He belonged here with his family, on Landers land.

  As for her, well, Lila didn’t know where she belonged anymore. If it weren’t for Erin, sometimes Lila swore she would just quit, walk away, pretend the twenty-year-old dream had never existed. The thought was scary, but also liberating. And that only made it twice as scary.

  No matter what, though, she would remember Clint, his family and this dinner. It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for her.

  The three women laughed about something, snapping her out of her gloomy thoughts.

  Evidently Beth, who was working on a carrot-and-raisin salad, had told a story about Nathan and her niece Liberty. Lila was sorry she missed it. She promised herself she’d stay present, as she put together the special Spiced Christmas Tea made with star anise, cinnamon and passion fruit nectar.

  “One Christmas,” Meryl said, as she checked on the dinner rolls, “Clint found a dog out by the gate. A rangy looking, big old mutt who was shivering in the cold and absolutely covered in mud. Well, that boy could never turn away an animal in need, so he snuck that dog in, trying to keep him quiet in the mudroom so we’d be none the wiser. Of course he had to show his brothers. You can guess what happened.

  “The dog got out, went straight for the big turkey that had been resting on the counter, took it down and went to town. When the boys tried to get the turkey back, the dog made a run for it, pretty much destroying half the dinner table and most of the presents under the tree.”

  “What did you do?”

  “Ate cold cuts and whatever we could salvage, tied the dog up in the barn, and the boys spent most of their evening cleaning up the mess.”

  When she finished laughing, Lila said, “My mother could tell you a few juicy stories about my brother.”

  “It’s just the two of you?”

  “I have a sister, too. But Brit and I were angels.” Lila barely got the lie out without laughing.

  The other three joined in and she couldn’t have felt more at home.

  * * *

  BY THE TIME they were all seated around the table, one empty chair for Seth, should he decide to show up, Clint was slightly buzzed from a glass of his father’s best whiskey. He’d felt a little guilty about leaving Lila on her own in the kitchen, but he’d sneaked by a few times to check on her, and she’d been laughing and cooking and making herself at home.

  She looked really happy. As happy as he’d seen her. It was like there were two Lilas—the actress who looked so delicate and beautiful she seemed like a different kind of human, but who would show up in purple hair or with crazy eye makeup, all business in the trailer, and putting up with the rowdy crew; and then there was this Lila, who looked as if she belonged in a home filled with family, a life of simple pleasures and down-to-earth dreams.

  Funny enoug
h, he liked both of them. All of her quirks and her mischief, especially when that wicked streak showed up in bed.

  She sat between him and Beth, and those two hit it off like gangbusters. What did surprise him was that tiny Lila could eat like one of the ranch hands. Usually she stuck to salads. Tonight she had double helpings.

  “Meryl tells me you’re an actress,” Grandma Landers said from across the table. “Nathan’s first wife, Anne, she was an actress, too. Pity about the accident. She was a sweet girl. Had a real nice touch growing roses.”

  Clint’s gaze went straight to Nathan, who was letting go of a deep breath, then to Lila. She’d obviously picked up the sudden tension around the table. Even his parents had. His grandmother hadn’t meant anything by her comment, but with Beth there, the topic was tricky.

  Though, Beth looked perfectly fine.

  “I’m not acting in this film, Mrs. Landers. I’m part of the crew. I do hair and makeup.”

  “I’ve never been much for the movies,” she said. “I like a few TV shows though. That Ellen DeGeneres. She’s funny. And she doesn’t curse like so many young people do.”

  “You’re right,” Lila said, “she is funny.”

  “Have you ever met her? I think she lives in Hollywood.”

  Lila smiled. “No. I haven’t. But I know people who have, and they say she’s very nice.”

  Clint relaxed. As he finished his second helping of mashed potatoes and gravy, he realized something. He’d been a little worried about tonight, but it had nothing to do with Lila not fitting in as he’d thought. Now he understood that wasn’t the issue at all. Of course she fit in. He’d already seen how she acted in town, at the motel, with other members of the crew.

  The real issue was that he’d already started picturing her in the house he was going to build. And that was a mistake he couldn’t afford to make.

  A rush of cold air hit the back of his neck, and everyone turned to the sound of feet stomping on the front door mat. Seth had made it after all. Clint hadn’t thought he would. Of course he was late.

  “Hello everybody,” he said, sweeping off his snowy Stetson, spraying water over the floor. “It smells good in here. And I’m starving.”

  Their mom was up like a shot, pulling him into her arms as if she hadn’t seen him in years. Which was fine. Better to keep welcoming him home. Maybe it would stick at some point. Make him forget about whatever the hell he’d been running down to Billings for and reacquaint himself with the family. Nathan and Clint exchanged looks, but tonight wasn’t the time to get into any heavy discussions.

  “He looks just like you and Nathan,” Lila whispered as she leaned close to Clint.

  He breathed in her seductive scent and almost didn’t see Seth’s jaw drop when he noticed Lila. Clint hid a smile. Sure would’ve been a pity to miss that. They weren’t competitive, not when it came to women. Sports, definitely.

  “Hey, Seth.” Clint rested his arm on the back of her chair. “This is Lila.” To her, he said, “Seth’s our baby brother.”

  Shaking his head, Seth snorted a laugh. He came around the table and shook her hand. “Lila, nice to meet you. What are you doing slumming it with this guy?”

  “All right, boys.” Meryl pulled out Seth’s chair. “That’s enough.”

  “Boys?” Clint frowned. He and Nathan looked at each other. “We didn’t say anything.”

  “Baby brother?” Seth kissed their mom’s cheek before he sat. “Nah. You weren’t trying to bait me.”

  “What? Is that not a true statement?” Clint felt Lila’s gentle touch on his thigh. “Okay. Truce.”

  “Fine. Truce,” Seth muttered, and then laughed.

  So did Nathan and Clint.

  “Okay,” their mom said, “Seth, I’ll warm a plate for you. As for everybody else, you all better have saved room for dessert. I made my blue ribbon deep-dish apple pie and pumpkin chiffon.”

  “Which took second place two years running,” Seth added as he got to his feet.

  “Where are you going? You just got here.”

  Seeing the worry on his mom’s face made Clint’s chest tighten. He was a second away from telling Seth to shove the truce.

  “I can warm my own plate, Mom,” Seth said in a low voice. “I should’ve been on time. You go take care of dessert.”

  Clint glanced at his father who hadn’t said one word since Seth had arrived.

  Lila moaned. “I’ve eaten your weight in food already. And you know I can’t resist pie.”

  Clint slid his arm from the back of her chair and draped it around her shoulders. He knew she was trying to be a buffer. “Of course you can’t.”

  “It’s only polite to have a piece of both.”

  He nodded.

  “Does she serve them with ice cream?”

  “How are you so small?” he said, laughing at the seriousness of her tone.

  “Please, you know I live on salads most of the time. Which gets very old. I sure won’t miss that.”

  The odd comment caught him off guard. “What do you mean?”

  Lila blinked. “Nothing. I just— Nothing.” She smiled and turned to Beth.

  Nothing?

  Like hell.

  16

  “I HAD A wonderful time.” Feeling pleasantly tired, Lila settled in the truck’s comfy seat.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself,” he said. “Everyone thought you were great.”

  She wished there wasn’t the console between them, when all she wanted was to snuggle up against him. But she made do with his hand in hers.

  “Your mom’s pies are amazing. I can’t believe she gave me a slice of each. I really hope I don’t eat them both tonight.”

  Clint lifted a brow at her. “You’re serious.”

  She just laughed, then remembered her earlier remark about salads getting old. How utterly thoughtless. She’d have to be more careful and not give anyone the wrong idea.

  It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Clint. She hadn’t told anyone, not even Erin, God, especially not Erin. They’d made a pact to conquer Hollywood or die trying. They were in this stupid business for the long haul.

  Lila couldn’t really explain to anyone that she’d lost her enthusiasm because she didn’t understand it herself yet. Of course being stuck on location for eternity had something to do with it. Plus it was the holidays, and she missed her family. If she could just make it past Christmas, maybe all the doubt would go away and she’d be back to her normal self.

  “Tell me about Seth,” she said. “How much younger is he than you?”

  “Two years. But he acts like he’s twelve.”

  Lila bit her lip. Clint hadn’t exactly been the paragon of maturity when it came to baiting Seth.

  “He got into a little trouble in college, nothing big, he moved past it. Then a year after he graduated he joined the air force. Not a single word to any of us. Told us the day before he shipped out. It about killed my mom.”

  “Well, obviously he isn’t career military.”

  “No, he came home after four years.”

  “So he works the ranch with you?”

  “Sort of...when he feels like it. He’d lived in Billings for a while and keeps running back there. He’s kept himself away from the family for the most part. We’re not sure what’s going on with him. We’ve all tried talking to him, but he’s not saying.”

  “Can’t be easy for him,” Lila said, laying her head back.

  “Easy?” Clint gave her a sharp look. “What do you mean?”

  “He’s got some big shoes to fill, given how amazing you and Nathan are. I’m sure that’s got to put on some pressure.”

  “No, Seth is smart. He was one of those kids who didn’t have to study and still got better grades than Nathan a
nd me.”

  “Yeah, but you guys are ranchers. I mean, how important was it to—You know what? I have no idea what I’m talking about. I know nothing about ranchers or their mind-set or anything else.”

  “Maybe not,” he said. “But humor me. Finish what you were going to say.”

  “Look, I just met your family. I feel like a dope making any kind of observation.”

  “An objective one is usually the best.”

  Lila sighed. “You and Nathan seem to be more like your dad. The ranch, the land, you take pride in the work and preserving your home for future generations.” She brought her head up. “And before you get the wrong idea, I’m not saying Seth doesn’t feel that way, too. Obviously I don’t even know him. But coming up behind two older brothers who are making your dad and the Landers name proud...

  “Well, it’s got to be tough. I’m guessing grades didn’t matter all that much to any of you. And of course I could be...full of beans.” Lila laughed softly, hoping she hadn’t offended Clint. He looked so solemn. “I hadn’t even heard that phrase before coming to Montana, can you believe that?”

  Clint didn’t answer.

  Feeling she’d overstepped and desperate to fill the silence, she couldn’t think of anything to say but, “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. I’m just thinking about what you said. Seth and I had always been close, and you might have a point. I just wish I knew how to get him to open up about it.”

  “I have a feeling, just watching him tonight, that he misses you all. That’s a start.”

  “I hope so. For my mom’s sake.” Clint smiled. “For all our sakes. What about you?” he said. “Whose expectations are you trying to meet?”

  “Erin’s,” she said without even thinking. He probably thought she was joking. And that she had a lot of nerve dodging his question after psychoanalyzing his family. Lila sighed. “Erin’s parents worked long hours, and she practically lived at our house when we were kids. She’s as much a sister to me as Brit. Maybe even more, and yes, I feel horribly guilty saying that. But it’s the truth. We used to be inseparable. Since she met Spencer, things have changed, so you’re not getting a good picture of how close we used to be.”