He watched her drive away, feeling every inch the ass**le he’d been today.

And knowing it might be a long damn time before he saw Des again.

Chapter 17

“AND . . . CUT.”

Des exhaled, too tired from the heat to even complain about three takes for the scene. She just lifted her gaze to Colt, who looked as exhausted as she was. Fortunately, it was an early-morning scene, and the only one for today.

Thank. God.

It was Saturday, and they had spent all week filming the penultimate battle scene that would occur at the end of the film, something she thought Theo was going to save until last. But he explained he wanted to get a look at it earlier, just in case there were any needed changes that would have to be made.

Which meant special explosive effects and fire, which meant they had to get in touch with Logan and the local fire department to bring in water trucks because it was as dry as a tinderbox on the land. They also had their own water crews to douse the fires with water trucks as well. Everything had been planned out well in advance, and the scene would be played out with stunt people, except the close-up shots and dialogue between her and Colt prior to the explosions.

They went ahead and did the explosions and stunt work earlier in the week. Des stood by and watched as they filmed those on another part of the set. It was amazing to watch, and Theo had been satisfied with the way it had turned out. Fortunately, the land around the set had remained fire-free.

She had seen Logan and his crew out there with their water trucks, ready to intercede should a fire get out of control. He appeared to be searching for her in the crowd, but she’d stayed out of sight.

“Why aren’t you going over to say hello to Logan?” Colt had asked her.

They were filming that scene at dusk, when the winds had died down and the heat wasn’t so oppressive. She and Colt both wanted to watch, so they were leaning against one of the buildings just out of sight of the set.

She shrugged. “I’m taking a cooling-off period from Logan.”

“Which means you had a fight with him.”

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. What happened between the two of you?”

“Nothing.”

“Des.”

“I don’t want to talk about it, Colt.”

Fortunately, he didn’t press her, and they stood side by side and watched the scene unfold. The stunt people were magnificent, as were the pyrotechnics crew. After it was over and it was clear there were no fires, Logan and his people left and Des exhaled.

She hadn’t seen him in a week. She’d been busy with her scenes, on call almost all day every day. Besides, she was still mad at him.

He had called her, though. And texted her.

She hadn’t answered either. What was the point? Logan wasn’t going to be the kind of man to ever trust a woman. He had issues, and she’d long ago given up chasing after men with issues.

So when Emma called asking if Des was up for their spa day in the city, Des hesitated. Maybe it was time to distance herself from everyone in Hope.

But then she had second thoughts. She liked Emma and her friends. Why the hell should she back away from making new friends just because of Logan?

So she accepted. Emma told her they’d come to the ranch and pick her up, then squeeze her into the car so the media would never know she was in it.

She loved the idea of sneaking off the ranch, though she doubted Emma and her friends would be able to pull it off. Emma told Des she didn’t know her friends and what they were capable of.

She went to her trailer and took a shower, then put on a sundress and slipped on her sandals. As soon as she finished drying her hair, her phone rang. It was security, telling her she had visitors.

“I’ll be right there,” she said.

She headed up to the main entrance to the set, where Emma, Jane, and Chelsea stood waiting for her.

“You look pretty. Are you ready for your adventure today?” Emma asked.

“Definitely.”

“Great,” Chelsea said. “Get in the far back of the SUV and lie down.”

Des laughed. “Is this like a kidnapping?”

“Sort of. We’re going to hide you from the paparazzi. They’ll never know we’re leaving with you.”

“I find that hard to believe. They’ll likely follow.”

“Oh, we’re going to decoy them by making a few stops first. If the paparazzi find anything exciting about the gas station and Walmart, then they need a life.”

Des often thought the paps needed a life, but she was willing to go along with it. She climbed into the third-row seats and lay down. The windows were darkly tinted, so she’d be hard to see.

“Aww, you put a pillow back here,” she said as she stretched out.

Jane leaned over the backseat to look at her. “We can’t have you uncomfortable. You’re not uncomfortable, are you?”

“Are you kidding? After the week I’ve had, I might take a nap back here.”

“Go ahead,” Chelsea said as she pulled away. “We’ll wake you when we’re close to the spa.”

Des laughed, especially as Emma gave her a blow-by-blow of the goings-on when they reached the entrance to the ranch gates.

“Paparazzi are hovering close, trying to get a peek in the windows. Quit waving at them, Jane, you’re only encouraging them.”

“I’m trying to throw them off by being friendly,” Jane said.

“Are they following?” Des asked.

“A few of them are,” Chelsea said. “Bastards.”

Des wasn’t surprised at all.

“Don’t worry. We have this covered,” Emma said.

By the time they got into town, after a stop midway at a gas station, where the paparazzi had hovered yet again, and Jane had rolled down her window to smile and wave at them, exclaiming in a deadpan fashion that for some reason they weren’t at all interested in taking her picture, they were off.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Walmart shopping center in Hope. Chelsea left the motor running and Emma and Jane hopped out.

“Be back in a few,” Jane said, then shut the door.

“There’s only one car left,” Chelsea told her.

Des sighed. “Some of them are extremely persistent.”

“I think they’re all ass**les. I’m sure their parents are so proud of their chosen professions as stalkers.”