Page 46 of Tempting Wyatt

I shake my head and grin at his teasing. “That’s not it at all.”

Discussing my work with someone face-to-face is like being stripped naked and put on display. At gunpoint. On live television.

“I write screenplays, not books,” I tell him. “Scripts for television show series. No actual movie deals yet, but I had a show on several streaming networks last year.Random Hearts.”

I don’t mentionCaptivebecause that’s up in the air now, thanks to Malcolm. Or thanks to me leaving town and ignoring his calls.

Isaac’s forehead crinkles. “Don’t think I caught that one. But I’m an action-movie kind of guy.”

“I understand. I’ll try not to take it personally.”

“You did great today, by the way,” he offers. “I’ll keep a side-by-side parked in the barn just over there, and the keys will be on the hook by the door. That way, you can get back and forth to the house when you need to instead of waiting on me or Wyatt.”

Wyatt.

The mention of his name reminds me of the way his mood changed between earlier today and this evening.

He was almost smiling today. Then he rode up to check the damage to the fence, radioed some ranch hands, took one look at me standing beside his brother, and practicallysnarled. Then he tore out of there like he had somewhere more important to be.

He didn’t say a single word to me.

It’s bothering me more than it should. Maybe he was just busy.

Or maybe I’d done something to make him mad.

“Speaking of Wyatt,” I begin quietly, “did he seem upset to you today?”

Isaac shrugs. “He seemed like Wyatt. He’s pretty much half pissed off all the time. Why?”

I look away so he won’t see how much I care about upsetting his brother.Too much.

“I don’t know. He just seemed agitated. More so than usual.”

Isaac pulls in a slow, deep breath. “The pasture we were at, it’s where our dad died. Wyatt is the one who found him. He doesn’t go out there if he can help it.” He rolls his eyes upward and leans back on the swing, rocking us gently. “But honestly, who knows with him? Might’ve been annoyed I gave you a driving lesson or used the side-by-side for non-ranching duties without permission. Might’ve been mad about the fence or pissy that it was me instead of him teaching you to drive.” He sighs heavily. “Might’ve brought up some old bullshit because of Nina.”

“Nina?”

Isaac massages his neck with one hand, and I see regret all over him.

“Who’s Nina?”

His jaw clenches, the muscle flexing beneath his skin. “Long story.”

My stomach twists with inexplicable anxiety. “I have time.”

He smirks over at me, then finishes his beer. It takes an eternity for him to set the bottle down. I don’t know why I’m so impatient to hear about this Nina, but I am.

“A little over a year ago, we were struggling. A lot. Less than we are now though, I suppose.”

His eyes meet mine, and I can tell he’s choosing his words carefully.

“Dad was working us all like crazy and himself way too hard.”

He rubs his neck again. I’m on the edge of my seat when he continues.

“Winter came early the previous year and lasted far too long. We lost some of the herd.” He pauses and squints toward the horizon while remembering. “Caleb met this woman in town. Nina Berkowitz.” He says her name like it causes a foul taste in his mouth. “She was a documentary producer or some shit. Convinced him to sign off on letting her film us, pitched it as an eye-opening look at our way of life.” He makes an ugly sneering sound. “It was bullshit, of course. Too good to be true.”

I don’t interrupt, but I know the type.