Chapter 2

"Here, I figured you needed the boost."

Dani wrinkled her nose as she took the tall glass of green juice. "What is it this time?" She asked, sniffing at the contents.

"You don't want to know." Dragging his fingers through his mass of ink-black curls, Jason settled his long length gracefully in a chaise next to her. "Suffice it to say that it's chock filled with iron and several vitamins, guaranteed to give you energy and vitality for days. Oh, and it's also excellent for the skin and is supposed to boost your sex life."

"All of that in one drink." She took a sip and grimaced.

"It's an acquired taste." He pushed the glass back to her mouth when she made to lower it.

"Drink up. I spent several precious minutes of my valuable time preparing it."

"You should have spent it making something edible or in this case, drinkable." She took several more sips and put the glass away, her stomach revolting. "And you are forgetting one very important aspect."

"That is?"

"I do not have a sex life."

"Ah yes." Jason drawled, light blue eyes twinkling. "I keep forgetting that you are so scary, you chase away every potential lover. Darling, you need to lighten up." She cast him a scathing look which only earned her a grin.

Jason Fielding was her best friend and the only person who was allowed to speak to her that way without feeling the full force of her sarcastic wit. They had met when she had just started out and after a shaky start, he had taken her under his wings.

They had done several projects together where he had played her love interest. The papers salivated over their supposed love affair for years and kept wondering when they were going to make it official.

But aside from Dani and a few close friends, no one knew that Jason was decidedly gay. They used each other to fend off potential suitors and that arrangement suited them well.

They were referred to as ‘the beautiful couple'. They were on the covers of several magazines and had made several provocative ads featuring perfumes and nightwear.

"You are one to talk." She reached for the drink again and tried several more sips. "You have not been with anyone since- "Her voice trailed off at the flash of hurt on his incredibly handsome face.

Jason was tall, dark, and handsome and on top of that, he was sensitive and a very loyal friend. He had all the attributes of a perfect partner and Dani found herself wishing that he was not gay.

He would have been perfect for her. They knew each other so well and, in a profession where people were not genuine, he was one who always tells her the truth, even if it hurts.

But when it comes to picking men, he tends to choose the ones who use him for advancement. The last relationship had ended in disaster, with the prick threatening to expose his secret if he was not paid a vast sum of money.

Dani had jumped to his rescue and threatened the asshole with a lawsuit and had advised Jason against giving him a cent. But he valued his privacy and had paid what the man asked for.

"I am sorry." She told him soberly.

"No.' he shook his head, his expression somber. "That experience as well as the others taught me to just chill and take it easy. I am looking forward to just getting out of town and going on this shoot."

She arched a brow at him, happy that he was not sinking into depression. "Do you know where we are going?"

He grinned at her. "Unlike you darling, I am dying to see the country. Just think of the tails where we can go for long walks and smell the clean, pure air."

"I am thinking about the various creatures and insects we are going to encounter on those walks. And I am not looking forward to it."

"You are a city girl."

"Damn straight. I love bright lights and the theater a few feet away from me."

"Sometimes we need to get away from it all and just recharge." She eyed him for a minute in silence.

"What?"

"Nothing. I am happy that you are going to be my love interest in this series. The idea of starting with someone I have never worked with was giving me chills. I don't have the patience to break in someone new."

He chuckled; white teeth gleaming. "You mean you scared the powers that be and demanded that I am the one or there would be no ‘High Country'." He said referring to the name of the series.

"Something like that. We work well together."

"And have that chemistry going on." He reached over to link his fingers through hers. "We make a hell of a team, it's a pity I am not straight."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"Ah well." Lifting her hand, he kissed the back of it, eyes gleaming. "Our relationship has lasted longer than most marriages."

"Especially ones in Hollywood." She agreed scathingly.

"Precisely, my pretty." He chortled. "I think we should make a pact."

"What pact?"

"That if we reach fifty without finding the right person, we live together, minus the Lady Deidre, that is."

She cast him a retiring glance. "You know she hates it when you call her that."

"The reason I constantly do it.' He told her with an unrepentant grin. "How about we try out that new and awfully expensive grill I purchased?

"Please tell me there will be red meat."

"The reddest, if that is even a term." Rising gracefully, he pulled her up from her chair.

*****

"What are you reading?"

"Society rags." His grandfather grinned wickedly as he came over to the table where he was finishing his meal.

"Why?"

"That young lady is on the cover along with the guy who will be playing her husband. See." He pointed to the glossy photo. "Exquisite, isn't she?"

"They an item?" Taj asked without much interest, even though he was caught by the sheer beauty of the woman. The guy looked too handsome to be real and he wondered if the photos were air-brushed.

"Rumor has it. But you know those Hollywood types, rumors are always circulating on who is seeing whom, or what not. It will be interesting having them here."

"And hopefully not too much of a nuisance." Shoving aside the magazine, his attention on another matter, he went over to the sideboard to help himself to lamb chops.

"Something wrong?"

"We lost the damn mare," he muttered, walking over to pull out a chair and straddling it.

"Debby?"

"Yea. She developed an infection we did not notice and had a raging fever. Before the vet could get over here, she was already gone."

"I am sorry Taj."

"So am I."

Putting away the magazine, Thomas picked up his glass of water and studied him over the rim. "You look tired. When was the last time you had a vacation?"

Looking up from his plate of food, he cast the older man a rueful look. "I went to the club just last month for a weekend."

"I am talking about a damn vacation in Europe. We have places scattered around the globe. Find a willing woman which I am certain is not a hardship for you and get away for a week, at least. I am certain the ranch will not fall to pieces if you are gone for seven days."

"I am sure it won't, but who will you have to pick on?" Taj teased.

His grandfather's eyes glowered. "I don't need a damn babysitter and that's what you and that son of mine are doing. We have tons of servants here to see to my various needs and I am not so far gone that I cannot dress and feed myself. You are young and should have a life away from this place."

"I do have a life away from here. I go to the theater and the opera whenever I can get away and last month I did a bit of travelling."

"On business."

"It was still traveling. And you are forgetting that I love the ranch. When you love what you do, it's not called work."

Huffing out a breath, Thomas took another sip of water. "Your dear mother would have wanted you to have a life. You need heirs to carry on this place."

"In time." Finishing the meal, he pushed back his chair. "I have to get back."

His grandfather glowered at him. "That meddlesome son of mine sent you here to check that I was eating my meal and taking my meds."

"Something like that." Giving him an abashed grin, Taj rubbed his shoulder gently. "And I got to eat the delicious meal. See you later. We have some repairs to do to the barn on the east end of the property. There was also flooding in some sections."

"I would tell you not to work yourself into exhaustion, but I would be wasting my breath."

"And we don't want that." With a wave, he was gone.

Picking up the magazine, Thomas studied the woman on the cover keenly. He was not familiar with the term ‘airbrushed', but he could see how truly beautiful the woman was.

She had thick dark brown hair that flowed past her shoulders and flawless cocoa brown skin. But what caught his attention was the sparkle in her dark brown eyes and the whiteness of her smile. She had her head turned slightly upwards to the man who was looking down at her with a very intimate smile on his handsome face.

A frown touched his face as he stared at the intimate pose. It was clear that there was something between them, they seemed to genuinely care for each other. An idea was forming in his head.

Marion had come to the ranch to do some research on a book she was writing and ended up staying because she had fallen in love with his son.

His daughter-in-law had left Ireland and settled in New York, where she had a very successful career as a historical romance writer, and had not hesitated to settle here when she fell in love with Theodore.

He wanted something more for his grandson, someone who was going to love him for who he was. Studying the photo again, he put the magazine away, a thoughtful expression on his face.

*****

"I never expected to see you tonight." The woman propped against the pillows, gazed in admiration at the man walking towards the sofa where he had heaped his clothes on entering the bedroom.

"I wasn't certain I would have been able to get away." He glanced over at her briefly, a smile touching his lips as he took in the seductive pose. She had not bothered pulling the sheets over her and he admired her lack of coyness and most of all, her patience and understanding.

She never asked where the relationship was going and that was what he liked most about her. She knew his heart was still tied to the woman he had fallen in love with thirty-five years ago. Jane was an attractive fifty-six-year-old widow, who had lost her husband tragically five years ago.

They had started seeing each other a year ago and Theodore was happy he had her to talk to. They were very discreet and even though she had been to the ranch a few times, he had never introduced her to his father and son. That would have made things official.

"You should spend the night."

He shook his head, hating to be constantly disappointing her. But he felt strange not sleeping in the bedroom he had shared with his wife. He felt her presence whenever he was in that room as if she was still there with him.

And he would never feel comfortable taking another woman in that space. Jane understood all of that because she had been in love with her husband.

It had taken him a long time not to feel as if he was cheating on his wife. "You know I won't." Dragging on his pants, he zipped up and lowered himself on the sofa to drag on his boots.

"We had some flooding in the area and a large section of one of the barns caved in. The rain is welcome, and we are grateful for it of course, but it is more than we anticipated." His smile tugged at her heart.

She never thought she would meet someone else after her husband died, but Theodore Byrne was proving to be very important to her. His family owned most of the town, but he was a gentle person who did not put on air. And she loved that about him.

"I hear you are expecting some out-of-towners. Celebrities for that matter. The entire town is buzzing with excitement about the entire thing."

"Including you?" He cocked a brow at her.

"Of course." Smiling at him, she brushed back the thick black hair from her face, the movement unconsciously seductive. "I am expecting proper introductions and autographs. I have watched Dani Matthews and Jason Fielding in several movies and series, and they make quite a pair. They are so beautiful."

"Dad is also raving about the actress," Theodore admitted dryly as he rose. Instead of heading for the door as she expected, he strode over to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, he trailed his finger down one cheek, his eyes smoldering.

"Stay awhile?" She whispered, feeling her heart picking up the pace.

"I think I can manage a few more minutes."

*****

The sound of water splashing had him changing direction and winding his way through the tangled vines and roses blooming in the arbor. Theodore stopped short as his son heaved himself out of the glistening blue water and reached for a towel.

"A midnight swim?"

"Something like that." Taj eyed his father as he came forward and stood there with his hands shoved into the pockets of his faded denim.

"When are we going to officially meet her?"

"It's not like that."

Rubbing the excess water from his hair, Taj looped the towel around his neck, a smile touching his lips. "We all know about her dad, and we happen to like her. I am assuming that since you spend so much time with her, that you do as well."

He shrugged restlessly. "This is not a conversation I want to have with my son."

"It is when that son is thirty years old. I am fine with it Dad. After losing mom for so many years, you are entitled to happiness."

His eyes clouded and he felt the familiar ache inside his chest. He could forget whenever he loses himself in Jane's very attractive body, but the minute he surfaced, it would come crashing back.

He missed Marion. Losing her had been like losing the best part of him and he could not recover. She had been the love of his life, his soul mate, and the woman who had understood him completely.

She had also been the woman who had refused to take any sort of nonsense from him. She had been light and love and laughter and now it was all gone.

"Dad?"

"You have never been in love." He cleared the huskiness from his voice. "When you do, you will realize that when you love someone completely, you will never be able to replace them.

What your mother and I shared was not just physical, it was spiritual, and she is always here," he placed a hand over his chest where his heart was beating a little unsteadily. "I will never be able to love another woman, the way I love her."

Taj went still at that, feeling the potency of that statement. He wanted something like that. His grandfather had experienced it as did his dad and he wasn't going to settle for anything less.

Moving forward, he touched a hand to the man's shoulder lightly. "You were blessed to find something like that. And I hope I will be too."

Theodore nodded, shaking off the sadness. "What do you say we go and raid the kitchen in search of a midnight snack?"

"Sounds like a plan," Taj said with a grin.

*****

"I know you are going away for what? Four weeks on location to the Southern Ranch, where you will be playing the daughter of a corrupt rancher. We also understand that the person playing your dad is someone you have worked with before and you are paired up once again with the gorgeous Jason Fielding! How cool is that?"

"It's pretty cool," Dani admitted, eyes glowing as she looked over at the audience. The invitation to appear on the popular talk show had been encouraged by her agent and the producers and even though she had several things to tie up before her journey, she had reluctantly agreed.

"Working with people I have previously worked with is very reassuring and we have a certain kind of working relationship that's also valuable and necessary."

"And you are also producing," Sally added with a laugh. "How scary is that?"

"Scary," Dani admitted, shifting slightly and crossing her gorgeous legs. "I have done it before in a minimal capacity and found it fascinating, but this time I will be getting more involved."

"I have to broach a particularly touchy topic and hope you won't bite my head off."

"I will probably, but just a little." She lifted her hand and positioned her thumb and forefinger with just a little space. "Ask away."

"It's said that you are particularly difficult to work with."

Dani maintained her serene expression by sheer will. "I don't hear a question."

"Is it true?"

"If enough people say it, then it must be true." Her eyes twinkled as the audience erupted in laughter. "I am – "She paused as she searched for the appropriate word. "I like things a certain way and I am a professional.

I happen to know exactly what I want and there is no going around that. I would not say that I am a perfectionist, because admitting to that would make it seem that I am inflexible and not willing to take suggestions. I have been doing this for years now and I know what makes a scene pop and we need it to pop.

I am very critical, and mediocrity simply annoys me. This is my livelihood; acting is a craft and should be treated as such. And I am not one to settle for second best." She beamed as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

"I think that settles it," Sally said with a laugh.

"Are you looking forward to ranch life?"

Dani wrinkled her nose and had the crowd laughing again. "I would love to tell you that I am brimming over with excitement at the thought of going country, but I would be lying and one thing I don't usually do is lie. I am a city girl and will always be."

"We have a surprise for you and our audience," Sally told her.

"I hope it's not a going away party."

"It's better than that. Ladies and gentlemen let's give a round of applause to our surprise guest. Jason Fielding!"

A flash of delight settled over Dani as she slowly and gracefully rose.

"This is a wonderful surprise." She opened her arms to Jason as he came over and wrapped his arms around her in greeting. It took several minutes for the audience to settle down. Moving out of her arms, Jason greeted their host with a kiss on the cheek, before taking the chair next to Dani.

"I have to say that you two make a gorgeous couple." Sally enthused.

"We do." Reaching over, Jason linked his hand with hers, much to the audience's delight.

Hundreds of miles away at the ranch, a very fascinated Thomas was enjoying the show immensely.

"You are becoming obsessed," Taj murmured as he stepped into the parlor.

"She is magnificent," he remarked, barely taking his eyes away from the screen.

"They make a beautiful couple," Taj remarked, his eyes going to the screen. The woman was laughing at something the host said and was leaning over to whisper to the man who was holding her hand. She had a winter green dress that looked great against her skin and her thick hair was loose around a very enchanting face.

"She mentioned the ranch."

"Yeah? What did she say?"

"She called us country living." His grandfather said with a laugh.