Page 6 of Christmas with the Cowgirl
“So Jeremy told me,” he said, and belatedly, wondering where his manners had gone, he held out a hand.She took it, although she looked oddly wary.Maybe she was worried about hanging on to the pony’s lead, although the animal seemed quite enraptured with Jeremy already.The touch was brief, yet warm and…tingly somehow.
“And Miles,” Jackson went on, “is the one I blame for people recognizing me on the street all the time.He’s the one who took me from a mud flat to the Emmy Awards.”
Her expression changed.“You’re the one who saw what he did to save that horse?”
Miles nodded.And then nodded again, toward the full-sized horse in the corral behind them.“That horse, specifically.”
“Who is now one of our best ones with the kids,” Jackson said.
She smiled at that.Miles sighed inwardly as his pulse kicked up a bit.He so did not need this now.He searched for something, anything, to divert himself.“Maybe he relates so well because he knows what it’s like to be that scared,” he finally said.
Jackson looked at him consideringly.“Had that thought myself.”
Miles shrugged.“Trauma gets trauma.”
And when he risked a glance at the striking, blue-eyed woman with the pony, she was looking at him intently.And differently.
And this time he didn’t look away.
Chapter Four
“He’s perfect,” Nicexclaimed.
Riley smiled at her friend across the small table between the kitchen and living room of the house on the rise.She liked Nic, a lot, and most of the time she was able to put out of her mind that she used to babysit her, when she was sixteen and Nic was barely beyond being a toddler.She wondered vaguely when middle-aged started these days.
“I thought he would be,” she said after a sip of the lovely, creamy concoction Nic had manufactured in that fancy machine of hers on the counter in the kitchen.“He’s good with everyone, very sweet.And cute.”
Nic studied her for a moment.“Miles ain’t too bad, either.”
Riley blinked.“I…what?”
“I saw you looking at him.”
She scrambled for something to say.“Of course I looked.He’s a total stranger to me, but he’s a big part of your lives.I was curious.”That was a bit more explanation than was necessary, and she knew Nic had picked up on it.
“He’s also gorgeous.Those eyes of his, did you notice how they look green or gold depending on the light?”
“I thought you were partial to Jackson’s blue.”
“Oh, I am.”Nic grinned.“But that doesn’t mean I can’t…appreciate.”The grin faded.“Plus we—I—owe him a great deal.He didn’t just make Jackson a star, he was there for them just like Tucker was, after Jeremy’s mom was killed.And he’s the only one of the big brass on the show who seemed to understand, or even care, about why he came here and wouldn’t go back.”
“So he’s really a friend, not just a big wheel who runs things.”
“Exactly.”Nic grimaced.“And Jackson could tell you that’s kind of rare in that world.”
“I’ll bet.Hard to stay a good guy when so many around you aren’t.”
“Helps that he’s got the magic touch.Stonewallwas his third huge hit.He was also the driving force behindEastside, andFar Gone.”
Riley blinked.Those were two of her favorite shows.One because of its gritty truth, the other because of pure escapism.That was quite a range, and she felt a little silly that she didn’t know who had been the powers behind them.And that it had apparently been one person who had that range of vision…well, she had to admit she was impressed.
“That’s quite a résumé,” she said.And then, before she could stop herself—something rare enough in itself to make her wary—she added, “Especially as young as he is.”
Nic smiled, as if something had been checked off on a list.Riley shifted uneasily.The last thing she wanted was Nicole Baylor’s attention fixed on her, not when it came to good-looking men.
Good-looking young men.
“He’s older than Jackson,” was all Nic said.
