Page 122 of Tempting Wyatt

I fix myself a cup, get dressed, then head to the main house to find Laurel.

She opens the door for me, then returns to the kitchen counter, kneading dough.

“Did you get my email?” I ask her quietly in case Wyatt or Isaac is around.

She nods, pausing her kneading. “I did. And I read the script.”

My heart takes off in my chest. “What did you think of it?”

“Well, I’ve never read anything like it before. You’re a talented writer, Ivy. Really talented.” She wipes her hands on a towel, a wistful expression on her face. Her lips curve gently. “I always thought I might write a book someday. Jack’s family had quite a rich history with this ranch, and mytwin sister married into a Tennessee family with a hundred-year-old feud with a neighboring family over bourbon of all things. Pretty sure they’re still at it.”

“Never too late to start,” I tell her. “I’d be willing to help you in any way I could, though I’ve never written a novel, only screenplays.”

She waves her hand. “I’m busy enough at the moment. But the point is, you were inspired, and you wrote something beautiful. I appreciate you running it by me, but it’s your screenplay, sweetheart. You don’t need my permission. You should submit it.”

Before I can respond, the door opens, but it’s not Wyatt who enters, like I expect. Willow breezes in, pulling her long, dark hair into a high ponytail.

“What’s up with Wyatt? He looks ready to murder someone.” Before Laurel or I can answer, she spots the cookie dough. “Oh, my favorite.” She snags a piece and pops it into her mouth. Her gaze bounces from her mom to me. “What are you two talking about?”

“I sent your mom my screenplay. The one I told you about. Wanted to make sure she was okay with me submitting it to my agent.”

She hops onto a stool at the countertop bar beside me. “Nice. Can I read it?”

“Sure. I can email it to you.”

Laurel leans against the counter across from us. “Email it to your agent while you’re at it.”

Willow looks confused. “You haven’t yet? I mean, that’s the reason you wrote it, right? And why you came out here? Why wouldn’t you submit it?”

I exhale slowly. “Because it’s about this ranch. And well, I still haven’t talked to Wyatt. Which is an issue since it’s basically about him, too.”

I didn’t mean for it to be, but reading it back, there’s no way I could deny it.

Silence settles across the kitchen.

I don’t know everything about how Nina Berkowitz manipulated this family, but Isaac told me enough. I thought last night would be the perfect opportunity to talk to him about it, but after the personal visit he got from the bank guy, I’m thinking now is still not the best time.

Laurel watches me carefully. “Maybe we wait to tell him.”

I shift my weight against the counter. “I don’t love the idea of going behind his back, even if it’s for the right reasons.”

Laurel sighs. “I don’t either. But he’s got history with people in the movie business trying to take advantage of this family. He needs to see this as a solution on his own terms.”

Willow tilts her head. “So, we wait until he sees the show or hope he never watches television?”

I glance at Laurel. She knows her son best.

“I’m scared he’ll hate me,” I confess.

Laurel’s kind eyes meet mine. “Once he can see past the similarities between what happened with that awful Nina woman and this, he could never read this and hate you. It’s clear how you see him. And you do trulyseehim, sweet girl. Anyone who reads this will see that.”

My emotions clog my throat. This is why it’s hard to let people read my work—because I put my whole stupid heart in there.

“Okay, seriously, send it to me,” Willow says suddenly. “I’ll highlight the important parts for him so he can focus on what matters.”

Laurel smiles warmly. “That’s a great idea.” She turns to me. “When we know for certain it’s going to get picked up oroptioned or whatever you called it, we’ll discuss it with him then. Right now, he has enough weighing on him.”

Like a thirty-day clock ticking down.