The temperature had dropped throughout the day, and the forecast called for rain, so she washed up, fixed her makeup and changed into leggings and a long-sleeved shirt, then added her ankle boots. She finished the look off with one of her long silver chains, brushed her hair and went downstairs. She grabbed her keys and her phone and headed toward the trailers. It was dark, but the path was well lit so she had no trouble finding her way.

  She’d noticed throughout the shoot that most of the production staff and actors left the site to go out for dinner. She couldn’t blame them for that, plus there were some awesome places to eat in the city and a lot of fun things to do.

  The lights were all on at Kane’s trailer, so she went up the steps and knocked. He opened the door and smiled down at her. “Come on in.”

  “Thanks.” She entered, immediately assailed by something that smelled amazing. She laid her phone and keys down on the table by the door and followed him farther into the trailer, realizing he hadn’t had something delivered but had stuff going on his stove.

  “You’re cooking.”

  He nodded and smiled. “Well, yeah. I invited you here for dinner. Wine?”

  “Yes, please. And I just figured you’d have food delivered.”

  “Nah. I get tired of restaurant food and I like to experiment.” He poured a glass and handed it to her.

  “Thanks. So what are you fixing?”

  “Chicken piccata with rice and asparagus.”

  Her stomach shouted for joy. Rather loudly, in fact. “That sounds delicious. What can I do to help?”

  “Uh…” He looked around. “You can slice and season the asparagus and put it in the oven for me.”

  “I can do that.” She washed her hands, then rolled up her sleeves and got to work on the asparagus.

  It wasn’t a huge kitchen, but roomy enough that she could work side by side with Kane. It also gave her the opportunity to watch Kane work. He seemed comfortable and confident as he cooked the chicken and worked with the other ingredients.

  “You like cooking?” she asked.

  He nodded. “It relaxes me. Plus, I can fix food the way I like it.”

  “Same. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a good restaurant meal, but there’s something about creating something yourself.”

  “Exactly. And I like making up my own recipes. Trying new things. Though sometimes I fail.”

  He laughed after he said that, and she appreciated that he didn’t take himself too seriously.

  Once the oven was at the right temperature, Mae slid the asparagus in and set a timer on her phone. Kane had put a lid on the chicken, so they took a seat in the living area. She sipped her wine, taking in how sexy he looked in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows.

  The man had very fine forearms. What was it about a man’s muscular forearms that could make a woman swoon? Not that Mae ever swooned, but those forearms made her heart rate tick up. She breathed out a contented sigh.

  “How was your day?” he asked.

  “It was good. Hectic, but good. Yours?”

  “Fine. Finished off a couple of scenes with some of our other actors, so those can actually be finalized since they didn’t require Everly. And before we get any further, Everly was doing her reshoots at the studio and we ran into each other. So we had lunch. That’s all it was. All it could ever be, really. We’re just friends, Mae.”

  “Okay.”

  He laid his glass down on the table and shifted to face her. “I know you have no reason to believe me—or trust me—but I’ll tell you right now I don’t cheat. I’ve never cheated. When I’m seeing a woman, I’m only seeing that woman. No one else. I’m seeing you. No one else.”

  Whoa. That was some declaration, and now she did feel swoony. “I believe you.”

  “Good.” He took her glass and set it on the table next to his, then pulled her into his arms and laid one hell of a kiss on her, the kind that made her feel hot and desired, the kind that made her want to slide her hand under his shirt to feel his skin against her palm.

  But then her timer went off on her phone, pulling them apart. And then a timer beeped on his, too.

  “We’ll continue this after dinner,” he said.

  She smoothed her hand across his chest. “Definitely.”

  They got everything ready and served from the stove.

  “Sorry it’s not fancy,” Kane said. “But I don’t have a big table or a lot of dishes.”

  She tilted her head back and smiled at him. “I like that it’s not fancy. This is good for me.”

  “You’re good for me,” he said, leaning down to brush his lips across hers.

  If he kept doing that, she was going to jump him and then she’d miss out on this great dinner. Plus, she was really hungry.

  They took their plates and drinks to the table and dug in. The chicken was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The rice was tender and the asparagus turned out awesome.

  “This is so good,” she said, trying not to speak with her mouth full, but she couldn’t help herself. She was hungry and the food was delicious.

  “It is. Thanks for helping.”

  “I didn’t do much, but I’m happy to help you cook anytime.”

  “Hey, if this gets you in my trailer, I’ll do this every night.”

  She took a sip of her wine and shot him a look. “Oh, you’re smooth.”

  His lips curved. “I try.”

  “When did you learn to cook?”

  “On the ranch. First, steaks and potatoes, then sides. My aunt’s wife lives there and is an excellent cook, so whenever I wasn’t outside working with the horses or at one of the barns, she put me to work in the kitchen. I learned a lot from her. When I got out on my own I experimented with other foods. I started traveling a lot for work, so I got tired of eating out all the time. I liked being able to cook the foods I wanted to eat.”

  “That makes sense. Plus, you have this nice trailer, which I’m sure helps you feel more at home.”

  He shrugged. “It’s okay. Not like a big sprawling ranch, but as far as on-location living, it gets the job done.”

  “Don’t they put you up at a hotel?”

  “They would if I wanted that, but this is easier. I tend to have early calls, and driving back and forth from the hotel to location is a giant pain in the ass. Plus, hotels have a lot of people.”

  “Ah.” She took a drink of her wine. “Which means a greater chance of being recognized.”

  “Yeah. Not that I mind fans. I don’t. But sometimes…”

  “You just want to be left alone?”

  He nodded. “Especially when I’m working. So when they chose this location, with it being nicely remote, I knew the trailer would be ideal.”

  She looked around. Even though she’d stepped in here before, she noted again how spacious it was. More like an RV and definitely livable. “I’ve lived in apartments smaller than this.”

  He laughed. “Me, too. When I first started out in Hollywood? I shared a six-hundred-square-foot apartment with two other people—along with several roaches. And I could still barely afford it.”

  Mae grimaced at the thought of the lack of space. The bugs would be a deal-breaker for her, but hey, sometimes it was necessary for survival. “That does not sound ideal.”

  “It wasn’t, but we all worked a couple of jobs along with going out on auditions, so it wasn’t like we spent a lot of time there. Just to crash and shower, you know?”

  She did know. “My mom and I lived in some tight quarters here and there after my dad died. I was too young to get a job, so she was the one responsible for making ends meet.”

  “I’m sure that was tough.”

  “It was, but we made do. And I got a job as soon as I turned sixteen, so I could help with rent.”

  “Not easy when you’re trying to juggle school.”

  She shrugged. “We all do what we have to do, right?”

  “That’s true. But look at you now. Independent, doing what you love. That’s the dream, right?”

  “It is. Same for you, right?”

  He finished off his wine and laid the empty glass down. “Yeah. Sure.”

  He didn’t seem as enthused about his career as she thought he’d be. But it wasn’t her place to ask.

  They took the dishes to the sink, washed and dried them along with the pots and pans. Kane put everything away while Mae cleaned the table.

  “Feel like a walk?” he asked.

  She rubbed her very full stomach. “That sounds good.”

  They grabbed their jackets and put them on, then stepped outside.

  “Can you smell it?” she asked as she led him to her favorite walking path, away from all the trailers and toward the trees.

  “Smell what?”

  “The rain. It’s right there, lingering in the clouds, filling up and just waiting to burst.”

  He took her hand and held it in his. “Interesting take.”

  They entered the woodsy area, a path she’d taken countless times before. “You’re not buying it?”

  “No, that’s not it at all. I can smell it, too. I just always go by the animals. They’re restless. Some can sense an upcoming storm well before we can. They’ll huddle and find shelter under the trees. I think they sense the change in atmospheric pressure. So we watch them for clues to the weather.”

  “I see. I guess I’m not as sophisticated as animals. I just smell the rain when it’s close. But now I’ll keep an eye on the horses at the Bellinis’ place or at Clay and Alice’s ranch.”

  He laughed. “I can show you what I mean.”

  She stopped and turned to face him. “How?”

  “Thanksgiving is coming up, which means the production will break for the week. I plan to head to the ranch.”

  The thought of him leaving made her stomach clench. “Oh. Of course you will. You’ll want to be with family.”

  “Right. How about you come with me?”

  She was so taken aback she was momentarily speechless. And she was rarely, if ever, without words. Finally, she swallowed. “You want me to go to your ranch?”

  “Well, yeah. And that would be with me. I mean, I’d be there, too. Just in case that wasn’t clear.”

  “I think I was clear on that part. Thank you, Kane. I appreciate the invitation.”

  He cocked his head to the side. “You have other plans.”

  “No, actually, I have no plans. I mean, of course the Bellinis invite me to their Thanksgiving every year. But otherwise, no.”

  “Then will you come home with me for Thanksgiving?”

  His words were so warm, so inviting. So terrifying with the thought of meeting his family.

  She let the words tumble out before she changed her mind. “I’d love to.”

  He pulled her into his arms, moving her backward until she was pressed against the trunk of a thick tree. She looked up to see the canopy of limbs above her, the sky obliterated, encasing them in a hushed forest. Now all she focused on was the very hot man in front of her.

  His lips met hers in a slow, delicious kiss that heated up in a hurry. She lifted on her toes to wrap her hand around the nape of his neck, drawing him closer. And when he pushed himself against her, it was exactly that closeness she needed.

  Breathless with desire and anticipation, she palmed his cock, taking in the rough sound of his groan, the way he pushed against her hand while she fought to draw down the zipper of his jeans. He popped open the snaps of her coat, slid his hand inside and teased her nipples. Even through her shirt and bra, she felt the zing of erotic sensation, but oh, what she’d give to be naked out here, to feel the cold air and his warm hand on her skin.

  She intended to touch him, but he got to her first, stroking his hand across her sex, finding all the right spots until she saw stars. Not the literal kind, but the ones that made her brain cells go pow. She gripped his arms, holding on so she wouldn’t collapse as every sweet move of his fingers over her clit drove her closer and closer to orgasm.

  Between his mouth and tongue and his ever-so-expert fingers, she was lost, suddenly struck by waves of climax that hit her like a bolt of lightning, making her feel out of control in the best way. She moaned against his lips as she rode it out, feeling the thunder with every beat of her heart.

  It was only as she came to her senses that she realized the thunder was real, and the first pelts of rain had finally made it through the canopy of tree limbs. And then the skies opened and the rain came down in a heavy stream.

  They ran like hell, Kane taking her hand to guide her out of the woods and back to the trailers. By the time they made it back inside his trailer, they were both soaked. Mae stood there, staring at Kane.

  “Well,” she said. “Normally I hate getting caught in a storm, but I have to say that was totally worth it.”

  He laughed, then shrugged out of his coat. “Hell yeah it was. But we need to get out of these wet clothes. How about a hot shower?”

  “Love that idea.” She handed him her coat and kicked off her boots, silently bemoaning the suede that might never recover from her wet, muddy run. Still worth it, though.

  For a trailer, it had a surprisingly roomy bathroom. Not exactly luxurious, but at least the two of them could stand in there together, though they occasionally bumped butts as they stripped off their clothes, which made both of them laugh. The funny thing was, she wasn’t the least bit self-conscious around him. Being around Kane seemed normal. Natural. Which was totally weird, but she wasn’t going to question it. He had already turned on the shower and they climbed in.

  Between the hot water and Kane’s body pressed against hers, her chilled body warmed quickly. She let the spray hit her in the face, then grabbed the bodywash to scrub off her makeup.

  “Let me wash your back,” Kane said.

  She turned around and reveled in the feel of his soapy hands gliding over her skin. When he reached around to cup her breasts, his fingers lingering as he teased and plucked her nipples, she leaned back against him, letting arousal take over.

  She pivoted to face him. “My turn.” Filling her hands with soap, she stroked her fingers across his shoulders, his chest, down to his rock-hard abs. And lower.

  Kane gasped, then groaned. “Oh, yeah. That’s good.”

  She lifted her gaze to his as she wound her hands around his cock, pulling and pushing, making a fist so he could thrust. Her breath caught as she watched the pleasured expressions on his face, the way he reached out to touch her while she touched him. And when he came, she felt such a burst of desire for him it nearly undid her.

  Kane pulled her to him and kissed her, a deep, soulful kiss that left her breathless.

  The timing was good because the hot water had started to dissipate. They finished rinsing and got out. Kane handed her a towel and she dried her hair and body, then wrapped the towel around her, realizing all her clothes were wet. Okay, this was a dilemma.

  Kane left the bathroom and came back with a T-shirt. “This should fit.”

  The shirt—with the logo of an action movie—was soft and well worn. She slipped it on and it fit like a nightgown. Awesome. She pulled his comb through her hair, then went out into the kitchen to find him dressed only in boxers while he brewed them some coffee that was—she checked—yes, it was, in fact, decaf. Perfect, because the last thing she needed was to stare at the ceiling all night. She had enough thoughts rolling through her head as it was, mostly about the total sex god standing next to her drinking coffee in his underwear.

  “Do you have cream?” she asked.

  He inclined his head toward the fridge. “Help yourself.”

  His refrigerator was neat and orderly. She’d bet some assistant did that for him. She grabbed the cream, poured a dollop into her coffee, then headed over to where Kane sat at the small table. She took a seat, pulling one leg up underneath her.

  Kane was staring at his phone. “So according to the shooting schedule, we’ll break the weekend before Thanksgiving, and resume the Monday after. How does that work for your schedule?”

  She sipped the warm coffee, enjoying the robust flavor as she pondered the thought of spending a week alone with him. Okay, maybe not totally alone, but alone enough. “I’ll have weddings to handle the weekend before but I could be ready to go Monday? If that works for you.”

  “That’s perfect. We’ll drive because it’s only about four hours, give or take, traffic-wise.”

  Alone in the car? Even better. “I like that.”

  “And you’ll want to pack comfortable clothes. We’re not fancy or anything at the ranch. Even on Thanksgiving. So…casual?”

  She smiled at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “Do I look like I dress fancy all the time?”

  “Well, not at the moment.”

  She snickered. “Hey, I’ll have you know this is the latest in sexy lingerie.”

  He looked her over, his heated gaze raising her temperature a degree or two. “Hey, it’s doing it for me.”

  “Is it, now?” She got up and went over to him, climbing onto his lap and sliding her hands over his chest. “I’m going to need you to be a little more specific.”

  He grasped her hips and lifted, his cock rubbing against her. “I think my dick being hard as stone should be your first clue.”

  “We should do something about that.”

  “Hell yeah we should.” He moved his hands under her butt and stood.

  She wrapped her legs around him while he walked them to the bedroom. He set her down on the bed, then climbed in, settling himself on top of her. His mouth met hers in a passionate tangle of lips and tongues. And then there were no words, just hands and mouths and bodies touching.