Page 23 of Resisting Isaac

“This is the main house,” Ivy informs me. “We’ll get the ranch hands to run your stuff down to the cabin where you’ll be staying. I’ll take you down on the side-by-side. It’s close to where Wyatt and I live so I’ll be just a hop, skip, and a jump away if you need anything. It’s a super cozy cabin. Quaint but functional. You’ll have plenty of space to run lines or collapse after a long day of training.”

Training. Right.

Which reminds me?—

“So...is Eli already here?”

Ivy and Laurel exchange a look that makes something inside me go on alert.

“He’s here,” Ivy says carefully. “He just needed a little more one-on-one time with the horses first,” she adds, smoothing her braid over her shoulder. She lowers her voiceas if telling me a secret she’s afraid someone might hear. “He’s never ridden before, and since his character grew up on a ranch, we figured it made sense for him to stay closer to the equestrian center my sister-in-law runs. That way he can get more intensive instruction.”

Laurel smirks at the word intensive. “If he can survive Willow, he can handle anything.”

I nod, trying to keep my expression neutral. I don’t know who Willow is. Could be the sister-in-law or a horse, I guess. ButWelcome to Paradiseis a major gig. My first leading role on a streaming platform, and the buzz has already started. But if Eli James—America’s favorite brooding action hero—shows up unprepared, the entire production could go sideways fast.

Before I can ask when he’ll be joining us, I catch a flicker of movement outside the kitchen window. A tall broad-shouldered figure moving with slow easy precision rounds the side of the house. A weathered ballcap pulled low shields his face, but the way he walks—confident, capable, all that hard-earned cowboy strength coiled beneath denim and sweat—triggers something low in my stomach.

Something…familiar.

No.

He turns slightly, and I catch the angle of his jaw.

“Oh,” Ivy says, following my line of vision. “There’s my husband now. I’ll grab him and get him to help with your bags.”

Her voice softens on “husband” and my heart threatens to stop.

I blink, hard. Hoping the sight before me will change. Quickly.

It can’t be.

But my gut twists all the same, becausethe cowboy who possibly ruined me for all other men last night looks a lot like this one.

“Oh, um, don’t bother him while he’s busy. I can take my own bags down on my lap if needed.”

Please please please do not let that be him.

Maybe it’s a coincidence.

Maybe all Montana cowboys will remind me of the guy from last night. If so, I might move here permanently.

Ivy glances over her shoulder. “He won’t mind. Just don’t pay him any attention if he’s gruff at first. He’s mostly bark.”

I force an uneasy smile and try to ignore the odd tingles running down my spine. A cold sweat breaks out on my neck.

Because if Ivy’s husband is the man from last night, I’m about to make the worst first impression in the history of first impressions. This poor woman already has one cheating ex.

But then he turns fully as Ivy waves him inside from the doorway, and I exhale so hard I nearly lose consciousness.

Nope. Not him.

Thank freaking goodness.

“You okay, hon?” Laurel Logan clearly noticed my near nervous breakdown.

I nod and force a smile with the ounce of energy I have left. “Yeah, just, um, jet lag. I have low blood sugar sometimes.”

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “Have you eaten anything? I made raspberry jam thumbprint cookies for the cast and crew event today. They’re probably still warm.”