Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2) by Mary J. Williams

Paige.”
    “Yes.”
    “It will all work out. Trust me.”
    Trust me .
    Paige had trusted her father all her life. Without
    reservation. She wanted to trust him this time. However, with so much on the
    line, she decided she needed some help knocking sense into her father’s head.
    That was why she wrote to Caleb Landis. It had been a long shot.
    Instead of a calming influence, what had she gotten? Not
    only hadn’t the legendary Hollywood producer discouraged Chuck, he gave him
    money. Then to top it off, he sent his son.
    Paige shifted the truck into second gear. She had dropped
    Lottie off before heading back to the ranch. Her passenger seemed content to
    ride in silence. Strange. She imagined all Hollywood types to be talkative. And
    their favorite subject of conversation — themselves.
    Nate Landis wasn’t conforming to her ideas. But it was
    early.
    “How much of this belongs to your family?”
    “As far as the eye can see. And beyond. It isn’t big by some
    standards, but it suits our needs.” At least it was theirs for now. After her
    father was finished, who knew what would be left.
    “This is beautiful country. Living at the base of the
    Bitterroots. All that open, undeveloped area. You’re very lucky to have all
    this.”
    There was nothing condescending in Nate’s tone. Why Paige
    expected it, she couldn’t say. From the moment she found out about his
    impending arrival, she had been on edge. Now that he was here, Nate Landis
    posed a different problem than she had anticipated.
    She wanted him. Plain, simple, unadulterated lust.
    Paige couldn’t remember the last time she felt this kind of
    instant attraction. Oh, when she was a teenager gushing over the latest
    heartthrob’s music video. But that didn’t count. At fourteen, she wouldn’t have
    known what to do with one of those boys if he had magically appeared before
    her.
    She was well past the age where she had figured it out. She
    knew exactly what she would like to do to Nate. Over and over again.
    Sneaking a quick look, she almost sighed aloud. No one
    should be that good looking. Not that looks mattered. She could ignore the
    muscles and the chiseled jawline. They were a nice bonus. Her problem was that
    Nate Landis practically oozed sex appeal.
    The man smelled good enough to eat. Clean and masculine.
    That was it. Good Lord. He wasn’t wearing expensive cologne. It was
    straightforward soap and something that was uniquely Nate. Bottle that and you could make a fortune.
    On top of everything else happening, she would be dealing
    with sexual frustration. Nate was not for her, even short-term.
    First, he was attracted to Lottie and the feeling was
    mutual. That signaled off limits in big neon letters. Second, he wasn’t here to
    give her a tumble. Nate’s father sent him to help, not to scratch an itch she
    hadn’t known she possessed until he stepped off that plane. Third, in spite of
    the instant attraction, something about him rubbed her the wrong way.
    Nate Landis, with his confident swagger and scuffed boots,
    was too casual about his appeal. He had to know that he was sex walking,
    yet there he sat. Cool and relaxed. It pissed her off. And knowing it was
    irrational pissed her off even more.
    Layer upon layer of frustration with no end in sight.
    “Excuse me?”
    “I didn’t say anything.”
    “You were muttering something under your breath, and then
    you gave a long sigh.” Nate pulled down his sunglasses, his eyes meeting hers.
    “Something is wrong. Want to share?”
    “Blue eyes.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You have blue eyes.”
    So blue. Like the clear mountain lake on the Double C. She
    swam in that lake every summer. Just as she swam in his eyes right now. With
    effort, Paige broke away, shifting her gaze back to the road before she drove
    into the ditch. Dangerous. That’s what he was. It was something she would have
    to keep reminding herself.
    “And yours are brown. Like rich, dark