Page 15 of Taking Chances in Cedarwood

“Nice.” He gestured to the tomato. “Bite into that. It’s juicy, so watch you don’t get it all over your shirt.” He winked. “This is where the magic happens. I grow the food, harvest it then sell it.”

Cain’s forehead crinkled. “Seems so easy.” He bit into the tomato and juice spirted out. He curled forward as the mess landed on the grass. A laugh bubbled in his throat. “You did warn me.”

“I tried.” Andrew checked under the leaves of the pumpkin plants. Some of the pumpkins would be ready for early September sales. “Farming isn’t easy. You have to love what you do and accept defeat a lot. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, the heat can be unbearable, the equipment breaks and critters get into the crops. That’s why I’m thankful Maddie helps. We harvest, and she’ll drive the tractor while I bale the straw and hay. It’s hard, but it works.”

“You’re rather self-sufficient.” The wistfulness in Cain’s voice and eyes caught Andrew’s attention.

“Yeah, I suppose. The cows give milk, and I grow the food. I go to town for the dog and cat food, plus other stuff.” He shrugged. “It’s not an easy life, but I love it.”

“Can we sit somewhere? I want to watch the sunset with you.” Cain finished the tomato. “You were right. That was delicious.”

“Why don’t we head to the porch? The swing is good for watching sunsets.” He fell into step beside Cain. The scent of Cain’s cologne made his heart skip a beat. He directed him to the porch. “Here. Sit.”

Cain settled on the swing. “It’s like this is all out of a book.”

“I’ll get some lemonade.” He glanced over his shoulder and ambled into the house to retrieve the drinks. When he walked back to the porch, Cain was still petting Gabby.

“Your drink.” He offered one of the glasses to Cain.

“Thanks.” Cain downed the lemonade in one draw. “Fuck.”

“Are you okay?” He sat beside Cain and rubbed his back. “Hey. I don’t know what’s wrong, but we’ll figure it out.” Cain mystified him. One minute he was happy and jolly, then the next he acted so tense.

Cain stared at Andrew and the last vestiges of sunlight tinged his face with purple hues. Worry filled his eyes as he gripped the glass. “I lied to you.”

Andrew’s heart sank.A lie?He could only imagine what about.

Fuck.

Chapter Seven

Cain couldn’t lie any longer. He had to tell Andrew everything—well, most of it. Andrew deserved the whole story, no matter how much Cain worried he’d push him away. “Andrew?”

“You said you lied,” Andrew said. “I’m guessing I bought your groceries, and you didn’t need me to.”

“No.”God.This was going to be too hard. He’d never survive. His hands shook. “Do you know who Cain Ables is?”

“No.” Andrew laced his fingers together on his lap. “Never heard of him.”

“He’s me.” He should get his phone out and prove himself. He measured his breaths. So many people knew the celebrity side of him, but no one really knew the man. “I did need your help at the store.”

“Okay.” Andrew tipped his head. “Then what?”

Shit.He could do this. “I’m in the movies.”Among other things.

“Right.”

“I am.” He put the glass down and pulled up his website. “Look.” He pointed to the information on his site. “This is me.” He shoved the phone into Andrew’s hands. “This is really me. Promise.”

“You look like that guy, yeah.” Andrew shrugged. “So?”

“Until two weeks ago, I lived in California with my parents and an army of servants. I was the one who brought home the bacon, so to speak, by my acting,” Cain said. “Every time I got paid, the money was funneled through my parents and my handlers.”

“You ran away?” Andrew narrowed his eyes. “You’re thirty.”

“I know, and it took way too long for me to decide to do it,” Cain said. “It’s also hard to believe, so you’re within your rights to think I’ve lost my mind.”

“I’m beginning to wonder.”

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