Page 30 of Flippin' Cowboy
“Wow, that sounds like a really great evening,” Kelsey said with warmth, pushing the afghan aside. “But it’s way past your bedtime, buckaroo, so let’s go brush teeth and get you tucked in.” She glanced up at Nick.
“Didyouhave fun?” she asked pointedly.
Caught by surprise, he couldn’t suppress a grimace. “It was okay.”
Kelsey shot him a look, and he hastily added, “It was great food, and Bob and Priscilla are excellent hosts.”
“We’ll talk later,” she promised. “After I get this young man ready for bed, and you read him his bedtime story.”
A half-hour later, Kegan was snug in his bed, presumably dreaming of cowboys and Spider-Man, and Nick was relaxing in front of the fireplace.
“Okay, now I want to hear all about your dinner with the Snowberry family,” Kelsey demanded, as she returned to the living room.
Nick groaned. “Can I pour you a drink before I get started? I feel the need for a whiskey.”
“Sure. I’ll take one, too.” Kelsey settled herself comfortably in the armchair opposite Nick.
She waited until Nick handed her a tumbler filled with two fingers of amber liquor. “So, what went wrong?”
“Nothing,” Nick said defensively. “What makes you think something went wrong? We ate and we filmed another fake discussion about the house. End of story.”
Kelsey brushed her long, curling hair back from her face and gave him an exasperated snort. “I can tell you’re pissed about something. Is it Winnie Snowberry…again?”
Dammit, I need new friends, he thought grumpily.This one knows me way too well. I can’t get away with anything.
“Kind of,” he admitted. “After we wrapped up filming for the night, she cornered me with some kind of bullshit about me being, and I quote, ‘cantankerous.’ And she also warned me that Karla’s planning to make me the villain of the show.” Now it was his turn to snort. “Isn’t that the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard? Cantankerous, my ass!”
Her brows went up during his rant. They stayed up as she surveyed him. “Well, youhavebeen pretty cantankerous lately,” she said, to his dismay.
“Well, if you knew what that damnwomanhad been planning to do to the Snowberry Inn before I got there—” Nick began, feeling a fresh surge of righteous rage bubble up. “She advised Mrs. Snowberry to raze the building to the ground and start over!”
Kelsey sighed and shook her head. “Look, Nick, I’ve known you forever. So, I’m gonna say this as your friend… Winnie is right. Youarecantankerous. It’s like you get so wrapped up in beingrightall the time that you’ve become inflexible.”
Nick stared at her in shock. “So you’re saying youagreewith her?” he demanded, feeling a twinge of betrayal. “Am I really acting like an SOB?”
Tiffani had yelled that he was domineering and always had to have the last word, right before she got into a car and headed for the airport to start her new life in New York City without him or Kegan.
Kelsey paused, clearly considering her next words.
Which told Nick everything he needed to know. “Dammit,” he growled.
“I’m not saying you’re wrong,” she said in the same tone she used to soothe Kegan when he was cranky. “But maybe consider how you’re coming across on camera? You know what you’re talking about, and you have strong opinions. But maybe—”
“I am not gonna sugar-coat—” Nick interrupted her hotly.
“But maybe youshould,” she continued, raising her voice to talk over him. “Look, Nick, you got some good advice tonight, even if it wasn’t from someone you like or respect. Just think about it, okay?”
Chapter 11: Soiled Dove
Snowberry Springs Inn
The next morning
Nick Evans was late.Again.
Winnie huffed in irritation. He was so bleeping unprofessional. She hoped Karla would take him down a peg or two.
At least it was warm inside the makeup trailer. As the makeup artist, a middle-aged woman named Emily, deftly patted on powder over a thick layer of foundation, Winnie sat in her chair, reviewing today’s filming sequence.
