Page 7 of The Backup Bride Proposal

She stopped, turned and faced him. “Really.”

“Yeah.”

She pulled out her phone and made a note to ask Brenna about that, because she couldn’t imagine strangers being allowed in the cellars, let alone staging a fight there. “Anyway, on to the wedding venue.”

She walked him through the vineyards and stopped at the arbor that looked out over the grapes. Seeing acres of vineyard never ceased to inspire her. “We perform ceremonies out here. It makes for spectacular pictures. We also do ceremonies in the barn during inclement weather.”

He nodded. “We’ll be shooting some scenes out here, including a big romantic declaration-of-love scene for the end.”

“Huh.” She would not ask, didn’t want to know, didn’t even care. He was just making a movie, so it would all be fake anyway.

Just like real love. Not that there was anything real about love. Or relationships. Or marriage.

She was much happier without any of those in her life.

“Anyway, if you follow along this path, it’ll take you to the barn, where we typically hold receptions. Of course, you’ve already been there.”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. I like to show up early to location shoots to get a feel for the places I’m going to be filming. I tried to stay out of the way and under the radar. No one even paid any attention to me and I didn’t eat the food.”

She couldn’t hold back her laugh this time. “It’s fine. Just don’t wander in areas you’re not supposed to be.”

“Which are?”

As they walked up the steps of the barn, she pointed across the way toward the main house. “That’s the Bellinis’ private residence. You would definitely not be welcome there.”

“Noted. And where do you stay?”

“I live off-site.”

His smile was like lightning in a bottle, making his blue eyes sparkle. “Too bad.”

She resisted shivering at his husky tone. Quite the actor, this one. He probably knew how to push all his leading ladies’ buttons.

Her button, on the other hand, would not be pushed unless she wanted it to be. And the last person she wanted touching any of her buttons was some good-looking, sexy-as-hell hotshot actor.

She might be their liaison, but she intended to keep her distance from Kane August.

“I’m getting hungry,” he said. “Could you recommend some good places for lunch?”

“Oh, sure. But they’re all in the city. Are you sure you want to risk being recognized?”

“You know, I’m pretty good about going places incognito. But I really could use someone to show me around.”

She knew that GPS could show him around easy enough. But being new in town—and alone—also sucked. And she was hungry, so it was a self-serving gesture. “Sure. Let’s go get some lunch. Anything in particular you want to eat?”

He shrugged. “Surprise me. I’m not a picky eater.”

Their property was well outside Oklahoma City, and she intended to keep Kane from too many eyes that could recognize him, so she drove them to a place that had amazing barbecue. Of course, most of Oklahoma had amazing barbecue joints, but this was one of her favorites. She’d been coming to Ray’s in Norman for as long as she could remember, and it was the best.

It wasn’t fancy inside, and she was sure that Kane was used to high-class eateries, so she expected him to look down his nose at the place.

They walked in and he took a deep breath. “I can already smell those ribs. How did you know I love barbecue?”

Again, he surprised her. “I didn’t. I just know thatIlove barbecue.”

“Then let’s eat.”

She ordered a pulled pork sandwich along with okra and fries. Kane ordered a basket of ribs with the same sides. He tried to pay for her meal but she refused, insisting she pay for her own.

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