Dreaming With My Eyes Wide Open (Hollywood Legends #2) (14 page)

Irene had known before she hit puberty that she wanted door
number three.

Boys were great. Though she always went for the ones she
couldn’t introduce to her family. Not thugs or delinquents, but boys whose
fathers’ names didn’t end with Roman numerals.

The one and only blow-up had occurred before Irene was
supposed to come
out. She thought it a ridiculous, arcane term.
Come
out
?
What was she? A lesbian
debutante?
It was meant as a
joke. Unfortunately, her family had no sense of humor

The moment the words came out of her mouth, Irene’s father
raised his voice for the first time in her memory, the noise echoing through
the normally silent mansion. Servants stopped in their tracks. Her mother had
the vapors. Genuine, nineteenth century vapors. The family doctor was summoned.
Smelling salts were applied. If Irene hadn’t been in the middle of it, she
would have found it anthropologically fascinating.

However, these were staunch, conservative Republicans.
Homophobia ran rampant. Parents passed the affliction down from generation to
generation along with stiff upper lips and snobbery.

There was only one known cure. Amputation. With a slight
trace of regret, Irene cut off her family like a gangrenous limb. To this day,
the pain lingered. However, she realized the second she walked out of those
stifling walls that she hadn’t breathed, really breathed, for the first
eighteen years of her life.

The road she decided to go down hadn’t been easy. She
stumbled. A few times she fell. Hard. But not once had she been tempted to
return to Boston or the life she left behind.

The cards she sent on birthdays and holidays were returned
unopened. She made her choice — and so did her family.

Veterinary school came as a surprise. She needed a job.
Working at the Chicago Zoo, cleaning cages wasn’t glamorous, but it paid the
bills while she took basic night school courses. She fell in love with the
animals — and the man who looked after them.

He encouraged her to take a few classes in animal husbandry.
Then a few more. She was on her way before she realized the destination. The
love affair didn’t work out. It seldom did when the man was married and never
intended to leave his wife.

However, Irene found her passion. She worked hard to become
one of the most respected large animal veterinarians in the country. She moved
to Montana because she fell in love with it while vacationing with friends.
They thought she was crazy when she announced she would leave Chicago for
Basic.

Irene considered it one of the smartest things she had ever
done. She and her practice thrived. Her reputation meant she consulted with
other vets all over the world. When necessary, she flew where she was needed.

She knew the moment she saw the sleepy little town at the
base of the Bitterroot Mountains. For the first time in her life, she was home.

Irene and Paige’s friendship began soon after Paige returned
from college. Her mother’s illness made it difficult for her to work with her
beloved horses. Despite the circumstances, taking over wasn’t a hardship.
Paige’s love for the animals was inbred. Irene would drop by the ranch to visit
Erin. That was when the subject of taking in rescue horses first arose.

It was a gradual process. Irene didn’t want the horses
placed with a novice who would lose interest, or worse, do more damage to the
traumatized, neglected animals. It didn’t take long for Irene to discover that
Paige was a natural. She had a gentle touch and a firm belief in what they were
doing.

Almost two years later, the women had a smooth working
relationship and a strong friendship. It made segueing from the subject of Nate
as Beauty’s new owner, to him as her potential new lover, easier. Almost.
Discussing her love life wasn’t something Paige was comfortable doing. Not with
Lottie. Not with Irene.

“I hear Nate Landis has made quite a stir with the young
women of Basic.” Irene calmly gave Beauty a shot in the rump. The puppy took it
with good grace, licking Irene’s hand in forgiveness. “All my patients should
be so sweet. The last one I treated tried kicking me in the face.”

“Lucky for us all you’re quick on your feet.”

Paige made light of it, but she knew there were dangers
involved when working with any animal. The large ones that Irene specialized in
didn’t always understand that she was there to help them. Their instincts,
especially when sick or injured, were to lash out. Irene was fortunate. She had
sustained plenty of bruises and a few lacerations. Nothing worse.

Soft hands and soothing words helped. However, vigilance was
the key. The moment she became distracted, that was when she opened herself to
broken bones. A friend from college had died last year when he was kicked in
the head. It wasn’t something Irene liked to dwell on. She needed her mind
clear and focused at all times.

Irene was good at her job because she cared. She loved what
she did. It got her out of bed in the morning and sent her back happily
exhausted every night. She knew what it was to let fear rule her life. That
ended when she left Boston. Never again.

“Pilates and clean living keep these increasingly old bones
spry.”

“Oh, please,” Paige scoffed. “Old? You?”

“Fifty next month.”

“Since when is that old?” Paige wasn’t being kind. She meant
every word. Her father was pushing sixty and he hadn’t lost a step. “You look
fifteen years younger.”

It was true. Irene was a slender woman. A few inches shorter
than Paige, she stood tall and straight, her body strong. She wore her hair
short, the dark strands cut in a flattering bob that skimmed just below her
chin. Good bones and bright hazel eyes gave her face a classic quality. She
drew a person’s notice with a combination of vitality and intelligence. Pretty
faded. What Irene had lasted a lifetime.

“I wasn’t searching for compliments.” Though she was pleased
by Paige’s words. “Now spill the info. Is Nate Landis as yummy in person as he
is in all those pictures on his fan page?”

“Irene!” Paige was genuinely surprised. “Did you like his
page?”

“Maybe. I’m only human, Paige.” Irene smiled. “When I
stopped by the diner for dinner last night, it was all anyone could talk about.
My curiosity was aroused. And speaking of aroused. Wow! I quickly discovered
why the women were buzzing like rabid bees.”

“Do bees become rabid?”

“Smartass,” Irene laughed. “You know what I meant.”

“I do. And I can tell you he isn’t thrilled by all the
attention.”

“He
is
a Landis, right?” Irene set Beauty on the
scale, recording her weight. “Isn’t he used to being in the spotlight?”

“According to Nate, that isn’t his thing. He prefers being
the anonymous Landis.”

“With that big, tall, gorgeous body? How has he pulled that
off?”

“You’re looking at it from Basic, Montana. In Hollywood,
every other guy looks like Nate.”

The second the words came out of her mouth, Paige knew how
crazy they were. No one looked like Nate. He stood out, even in a family of
beautiful people.

“Okay,” Paige conceded, returning Irene’s grin. “He’s
unique. However, he’s found a way to stay behind the scenes. Apparently,
stuntmen are invisible.”

“Interesting. There you go, Beauty.” Irene set the puppy on
the floor so she could explore and sniff out any interesting smell. The office
was small and cleaned once a week, so there wasn’t any mischief for her to get
into.

“You still haven’t answered my question. Does the man live
up to his pictures?”

“Yes. And then some. Why don’t you come over for dinner
tonight and see for yourself? Dad put a pot of his world famous chili on to
cook this morning. I know you’re a fan. It’s been too long since you stopped
by.”

“True.” Irene had her reasons for avoiding the Double C. Or
rather, the man who owned the ranch. It was a complicated story and not one she
wanted to share with Paige. Luckily, she had a legitimate excuse. “Not tonight.
I have a business meeting.”

“Sometime this week?”

Friends. They were a blessing and a curse. She couldn’t keep
pushing Paige away. She was too important. “I’m free at the end of the week.
Friday?”

“Perfect.”

“Now that we’ve settled that. What’s the problem, Paige? Why
does Nate Landis have you so skittish?”

“He’s… I don’t know, Irene. I thought I understood what I
felt. There’s nothing wrong with good old-fashioned lust, is there?”

“I’m a big fan,” Irene said. “As long as it doesn’t hurt
anyone. You’re single. He’s single?”

Paige nodded.

“The feeling is mutual?”

“Yes.”

“Then lust away.” Irene picked up Beauty, handing her to
Paige. “Go and grab yourself a handful of sexy man.”

“What was simple early this morning became complicated.
Nate’s flirted with me since he stepped off the plane. Though at first, I
thought he was interested in Lottie.”

“All men are interested in Lottie. She’s a doll.
Uncomplicated. Men like women who are easy to understand. Now, don’t give me
that look.”

“What look?”

“The one you get when you think a loved one has been
insulted.” Irene patted Paige’s hand. “You know I think the world of Lottie.
She has a heart as big as Montana. What I meant was she lives for the moment.
If she likes a man, she acts on it. You are a tougher nut to crack.”

“So Lottie is a peanut and I’m what?”

“Macadamias have the hardest shell.”

Paige loved Irene’s mind. Brilliant in her profession, her
brain was filled with endless trivial facts that she could pull out at a
moment’s notice.

“What is the second—”

“No,” Irene vigorously shook her head. “You can’t distract
me. I can tell when you need to talk things through, Paige.”

“You’re right.” Paige absently scratched Beauty behind her
ear. “I planned on resisting his charm.”

“How long did that last?”

“The big jerk kissed me, Irene. Without warning, he grabbed
me and…”

“And?” Irene asked breathlessly.

“I’ve read about women melting. They feel like their bones
have turned to goo.”

“Mmm, I remember that feeling.”

“I don’t,” Paige sighed. “I thought it was a bunch of crap.
The overwrought romantic drivel that sold books and set women up for
disappointment.”

“Nate didn’t disappoint?”

“
Nate
could write a book.
The
book. Throw out
all the rest, that man should teach a Master Class.”

“Oh, my.” Irene fanned herself with her hand.

“Then he’s all
the next move is yours
.”

“What does that mean?” Irene frowned.

Paige filled Irene in on what happened with Lyle, including
Nate’s insistence that he wouldn’t exert his will on her — no matter how
willing he thought she was.

“I’ve never cared for Lyle. He tried too hard to be smooth.
For the first time, he let some rough edges show. Nate, on the other hand,
sounds like one of the good ones, Paige.”

“He is, Irene. Too good.” Paige smiled when she saw that
Beauty was sound asleep. It must be nice to drop off so easily without a care
in the world to plague your thoughts.

“No one is
too
good, Paige. Take my advice. Pull him
off that pedestal before it gets too high.”

“That isn’t the problem,” Paige said ruefully. “One second,
I want to rip his clothes off, the next I’m so pissed off I can barely speak.
That is
not
a man you put on a pedestal.”

“He sounds like a man I can’t wait to meet.”

“Watch out. He’ll flirt with you before you’re in the door.”

“Is that it? Nate goes after every woman he meets?”

The question made Paige pause. It was so easy to forget how
little she knew about Nate. Two days since they met. How was that possible? He
didn’t feel like a guest, it felt like he belonged. It was dangerous to think
that way. When he left — and he
would
leave — Paige was afraid it would
be much harder to get used to
not
having him around.

“You don’t know him.”

Paige smiled. Leave it to Irene. She knew how to cut to the
heart of the matter.

“I can’t answer questions about him, Irene. I can only go by
my instincts.”

“You have good ones. What do they tell you?”

“He doesn’t lie,” Paige said emphatically. “Nate told me
that he likes women. Obviously, women like him. Why bother to hide the obvious?
He’s made it clear. He isn’t looking for a long-term relationship. Whatever
happens, it’s temporary.”

“Is
that
the problem?” Taking the long way around
wasn’t Paige’s usual style. Nate Landis had her twisted into an increasingly
intricate knot. Irene wanted to help — if she could find out what was wrong.

“I made it clear that I felt the same way.” And she did. The
important thing was to keep reminding herself. “We set the ground rules. No
strings. I had my mouth set for a big bite of Nate. Then wham!”

“Wham?”

“The tabloids,” Paige said with disgust.

“I’m aware of them. I need you to elaborate.”

“Right. Sorry.”

“Take a deep breath,” Irene instructed. “Let it out. Now,
start again. Tabloids?”

“Nate is convinced that between the movie, and his new
status as the newest teen-dream, if we begin an affair, I will be fodder for
the gossip rags.”

“Isn’t he right?”

“Probably,” Paige conceded. “I’m a big girl. Isn’t it up to
me to decide if I’m willing to deal with the attention? Nate wants to
backtrack. Friends and only friends. Not because he doesn’t want me. It’s for
my own good.”

“That’s what he said? Final? No debate?”

“Yes.”

“Paige…?”

“Okay.” Paige sighed. “I don’t remember. There is the
slightest chance that I overreacted. All I heard was him taking my choices away
from me. After that, I was out of there.”