Page 19 of How to Kiss a Movie Star
I head toward the garage, but not before Joni yells out, “Please be careful with the machete, Flint. Your face is worth a lot of money!”
I pause, sensing that what Joni really needs is some sort of indication that I’m okay. That despite the tension of our conversation, I’m not going to drive off into the wilderness and never come back.
I pause and lean back into the kitchen where she can see me, offering her a wide grin. “I’m not worried. A few scars will only give me more sex appeal.”
She rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the relief moving across her expression. Her voice follows me as I disappear into the garage. “Flint, I’m serious!”
“Love you, Joni!” I say in reply.
I appreciate my manager’s concern. I really do. But I’m stressed as all get out at the moment, and any man with blood pumping through his veins would agree. There are few frustrations in life a little time with a machete won’t cure.
Chapter Five
Flint
Lateafternoonsunwarmsmy shoulders as I drive a four-wheeler down the roughly cleared trail I’ve been working on the past few weeks. Eventually, it’ll meet up with the old forest service road that runs along the west edge of my property, and I’ll be able tomostlymake it around the entire perimeter. I don’t have a particular purpose in connecting to the road, other than it seems like a good idea to have access to all the acreage I bought.
Plus, it’s not like I have anything else to do. Not unless I want to go hang out with one of my brothers like some kind of lost puppy. None of them would truly mind. But I’m only comfortable being a third wheel for so long.
I drive the four-wheeler as far as I can, stopping a few yards shy of where I stopped clearing. There’s a thick stand of rhododendrons just in front of me, which is going to require more than just a machete.
I smile to myself. I get to use the chainsaw.
An hour later, I’m covered in leaves and dirt and sweat, but I’ve made a hundred yards of progress, and I’ve finally reached the shallow creek bed that runs down the mountainside to meet the Broad River. I crouch down and scoop up a handful of the icy spring water and splash it onto my face, then toss another onto the back of my neck.
I’m tempted to take a drink. There are multiple springs in the mountains that are fully potable, but until I can test the water to be sure, I won’t risk it. I’ve experienced firsthand what happens when youdorisk it, and it’s definitely not worth it.
Back at the four-wheeler, I slide the machete into its sheath and lower the chainsaw into the cargo basket on the back. Sweat drips down my brow, so I lift the hem of my T-shirt to wipe off my face, pausing when I hear what sounds like a gasp.
I freeze as my heart rate climbs, my eyes roving over the surrounding woods. I don’t hear anything else, but all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I’mnotalone out here—I’m sure about that.
Off to the left and up the mountainside a ways, a bush shakes and then settles.
I narrow my eyes and step closer.
Suddenly, everything becomes clear.
The bush isn’t a bush at all. It’s a person disguised as a bush. Afamiliarperson disguised as a bush.
I fold my arms across my chest, my lips twitching into a smile. “Hello, again,” I say dryly.
Audrey doesn’t move, but she’s absolutely close enough to hear me. Does she think I’ll just leave her alone if she doesn’t respond?
“You can’t sit there all day, Audrey,” I say. “Iknowyou’re there. You might as well come out now.”
The bush shakes one more time, and Audrey stands up.
I can’t help it. I burst out laughing.
Her get-up is absolutely ridiculous. It’s also kind of ingenious. Leaves are sewn down the sleeves of her shirt and across the top of her hat, and her camouflage shirt and pants blend into the woods around her. Had she not made a noise, I probably wouldn’t have seen her at all.
But shedidmake a noise, and I’m pretty sure she made it when I lifted my shirt to wipe my face. Is it possible she was actually checking me out? After the way she dismissed me at the Feed ’n Seed, she was more likely startled by a chipmunk or suddenly surrounded by a swarm of mosquitos. She definitely wasn’t impacted by the sight of my abs.Was she?
Audrey slowly moves down the mountainside, her camera in hand, and stops on the trail behind me. She doesn’t look even a little bit repentant even though she’s obviously trespassing.Again.
I nod toward her clothing. “That’s an awful lot of trouble to go to just to hide from me.”
