Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Betsy shook her head modestly.
Howie continued, “I’d always loved Carmel-by-the-Sea, but I wasn’t sure Betsy would ever want to do more than make weekend trips here, given that her career was two hours away at Stanford. But once we started having children, she wanted to raise them here, and even though I’ve always felt she sacrificed her own career, we’ve been so happy. We’ve been blessed with six amazing, talented, beautiful children. But what I’m most proud of is that they’re all fine people too. When I think about gifts, I look at you, my family, and I know you’re the greatest gift of all.” His voice caught on the last line, and Tessa felt her own eyes fill as he poured his love and genuine emotion into every word.
Betsy was the first to reach him, throwing her arms around him and saying, loud enough that even Tessa could hear her, “I never gave up anything. This was my choice, and I’d make it again and again.”
Then all the kids came up, and Howard grabbed each of them in a bear hug. Tessa couldn’t hear his words, but she was pretty sure he was saying I love you to every one of his children.
Not long afterward, the party started to break up. Conscious that Margaret was still recovering from her injury, Tessa gathered her employer’s coat and the beaded handbag, not giving her much chance to argue. The silver-haired man who’d been sitting beside her helped her into one sleeve of the coat, then carefully settled the other side over her shoulder.
“That’ll do, Carl—I’m not an invalid,” Margaret snapped, but there was affection there too.
As they left, Tessa thought she’d never enjoyed a birthday party more. She’d arrived feeling like a stranger and left feeling like they had accepted her into their group of friends. As Howie had said, it was a gift.
It seemed Archer was leaving the party at the same time. Tessa found herself standing very close to him as he hugged his mother good-bye and then his father. “I’ll call you from the set,” he promised.
“Good luck, son,” Howie said.
Mila, who was walking by, stopped. “Dad, don’t you know it’s bad luck to wish an actor good luck?”
“That’s right, I always forget,” he said with a light smack to his forehead. “Son, you go out there and break a leg.”
As the three of them walked down the path, Archer offered his arm to Margaret, who seemed thrilled to be escorted by a movie star, even if they had been friends for years. Then he offered his other arm to Tessa. It would have seemed rude not to take it, so she tucked her hand into his elbow, enjoying his warmth and the strength in his arm.
Buster the shaggy dog decided to tag along with them, so it was quite the entourage.
Archer led them to the car and helped Margaret inside. Then he opened Tessa’s door for her. When was the last time a man had opened a car door for her? It must have been years.
He looked at her with such sudden intensity that she felt a quiver of longing shudder through her. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Great meeting you. I hope to see you again next time I’m in town.”
“I’d like that,” she managed.
As she got into the car and he shut the door, the twelve-year-old deep inside thought she might never wash that cheek again.
Chapter Four
Arch was back on set in Death Valley before he’d even had time to reflect on how restful his weekend at home had been. Every time he visited Carmel, he felt the hold it had on his heart. There was nowhere like home and no one like his family.
Plus, there was something about Tessa Taylor that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Not only was she gorgeous, but her kindness and gentle capability also shone through her beauty like a sunbeam. Since the night of his dad’s birthday party, his mind kept flashing back to the tangible bond between Tessa and Margaret. How Tessa had managed to tame her feisty client and make a friend, too, was impressive.
What’s more, the sparks between him and Tessa at the party had been undeniable. He remembered her blush when he’d held her gaze and a wave of electricity had raced through him.
He swallowed, trying to get a grip on himself. Especially now that he was worlds away in the desert, with an entire film crew waiting on him. Shooting for the buddy Western remake was running behind schedule, and everyone was showing symptoms of stress. What’s more, they’d saved a tough stunt on a horse until the end of the shoot, and the crew was clearly on edge.
Arch didn’t see what all the fuss was about. He liked to do his own stunts. It was one of the things that set him apart from some of the other Hollywood action stars, and he jumped at any opportunity to learn a new skill or try out a tricky sequence. But something about this particular stunt had the crew in knots, not least the stunt director. His name was Jesse Monroe, a seasoned director with a string of hit action movies under his belt and a reputation for running a tight ship.