Rhett follows Pilar’s commands to a T, and when he’s situated just perfectly, with his Stetson pulled low, Pilar turns to Molly. So do I, and holy shit.
My jaw nearly hits the dirt. How they transformed her into a cowgirl goddess in such a short amount of time, I’ll never know. She’s wearing a pair of faded jeans that hang low on her hips and a flannel shirt tied below her breasts, showing off her tiny little waist. Her hair is in a loose braid hanging over one shoulder, and her Ariats are scuffed to perfection—although I’d bet just about anything she had nothing to do with that.
And it’s settled: I hate her.
Pinching at the roll that hangs over my jeans, I frown. Okay, I don’t hate her as much as I do myself for letting my own health go. Frustrated, I focus my attention on Rhett.
“Molly, I want you to start over there and slowly walk toward Rhett. Rhett, when she hits this post, your gaze is going to slide up her body. I want to see chemistry. I want to see the connection. You’re the cowboy, and she’s the bull you’re about to mount,” he says, using a terribly inappropriate analogy, if I do say so myself. “You two stare at each other. It’s intense, and after a few seconds, you push away from the fence and walk toward her. That’s where we’ll cut.”
Rhett’s face tightens, but he nods his understanding.
I know from a previous conversation with Jessica that the campaign is going to be a series of short videos spliced together. It’ll start with this scene, followed by a shot of the two of them coming together, most likely in a heated kiss, and end—of course—with them riding off into the sunset.
“Places, people,” Pilar yells.
Rhett and Molly take their places, and Jessica tugs me behind the video camera so we can watch the take. Pilar yells action, and Molly saunters into the frame. Her hips sway seductively, her heated gaze trained on Rhett, and when she hits the designated spot, she stops.
I hold my breath, watching as Rhett’s head slowly rises, his eyes sweeping up her body—only the heat she’s projecting isn’t reflected at all on his face.
“Stop! Stop, stop, stop.” Pilar throws his hands in the air.
“Damn,” Jessica hisses. “Not even a spark.”
“How do you know?” I whisper. “Maybe he just needs a second to adjust.”
She shakes her head. “Trust me, I know. I’ve been around the business long enough. Some people have it and others don’t.”
“Now what?” I ask, secretly glad Rhett doesn’t have a spark with someone else.
“We’ll make it work. They’re both too gorgeous not to feel something.” She closes her eyes as soon as the words pass her lips and looks over at me. “I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure—”
I hold up my hand to stop her. “It’s okay. I understand, and I trust Rhett completely.”
She pinches her lips together and nods before turning to watch Pilar. He’s talking with Rhett, and when he steps away and calls action, everything starts into motion again.
This process is repeated over and over again until frustrated, Pilar turns to Jessica. “We need to take a break, and you need to talk to him. Her tits are perfect, she’s sexy as hell, and there’s no reason for him not to feel some iota of attraction.”
Jessica turns a pleading look my way. “Could you talk to him, please? Try to get him to come around.”
“Sure.” Let me convince my boyfriend to drool over another woman. That’s exactly what I want to do today.
As I approach, Rhett’s hands are jammed into his pockets, a scowl marring his face.
“Some women may be scared of that scowl, but it sort of turns me on. I suggest you remove it from your face before I force you to have sex with me in the hayloft.”
His jaw slackens, the tight line of his lips curving up into a smile. “You wouldn’t have to force, darlin’. I’d be a willing participant.”
My cheeks flush. I slide my hands up his flannel shirt, unbuttoning the top few buttons as I go because he looks way too uncomfortable. “Maybe if you’re good and do what Pilar asks of you, I’ll make it worth your while.”
“In the hayloft?”
“Anywhere you want.”
“How about any way I want?”
Rhett’s words wrap around me, caressing my body like a feather.
He takes a step closer, crowding me against the fence. “There are parts of you I’ve yet to explore.”