Grin and Beard It(33)

“He’s got five brothers and a sister, all of us love him something fierce. As such, none of us are going to sit idly by and watch while he’s being toyed with. So either you tell him who you are, and tell him soon, or I will.”





CHAPTER 8


“Nothing on earth can make up for the loss of one who has loved you.”

― Selma Lagerlöf



~Sienna~

I didn’t get a chance to speak with Jethro during the drive back to Hank’s place, not with Cletus in the back seat glaring daggers at the back of my head. I didn’t blame him for disliking me, not when it was clear I’d been dishonest with his brother about my identity.

But despite how magical, exhilarating, and honestly addictive it had been to be just some girl flirting with some guy, I was determined to explain everything to Jethro the next morning. Unfortunately, Cletus was in the truck when Jethro picked me up at 5:00 a.m.

Jethro held the door for me, giving me a wide grin and offering me his hand. “You left your thermos in the truck again last night, so I took the liberty of filling it with coffee for you. Watch your step.”

After he helped me up his hand lingered in mine, entwining our fingers for the barest of seconds, sending a shock of warmth up my arm and stars in my eyes before he pulled away. I mourned the loss of his touch as soon as he shut the door and watched his easy strides as he crossed in front of the truck.

But Cletus’s hard voice saying, “Sienna,” by way of greeting pulled me out of my happy Ranger Jethro musings.

“Cletus,” I returned, frowning.

“Have you told him?”

“When would I have told him?” My response was urgent, because Jethro was almost to the driver’s side.

“You need to tell him.”

“I will.”

“When?”

“As soon as we’re alone, somewhere quiet and private. Where we can discuss it.”

“Make it happen,” he whispered hastily and harshly just as his brother opened the door.

Jethro climbed into his spot and gave me a friendly smile. “How’s the coffee?”

“She hasn’t had any yet,” Cletus answered for me, then added, “but she wants you to ask her on a date tonight, no place public. Somewhere private, for discussing things.”

Jethro’s eyes widened, and he glared at his brother’s reflection in the rearview mirror, snapping, “Cletus.”

“Don’t clutch your pearls at me, big brother. Look at her, for hootenanny’s sake. She’s got the hots for your ugly face, Lord help her. And I know you’ve been thinking about her, judging by how long you took in the bathroom this morning.”

I clamped a hand over my mouth just as shocked laughter burst from my lips.

“Dammit, Cletus,” Jethro growled, turning the ignition and shooting his brother an incendiary look. “You are the worst. Just, don’t speak. Ever. Don’t speak ever again.” Jethro’s gaze darted to me then away as he sighed, looking remorseful. “I’m so sorry.”

I placed my hand on Jethro’s thigh—FYI he had a really nice thigh—to ease his mind and because I wanted to touch him. “No, no. Please don’t apologize. He’s right and he’s wrong. I do have the hots for your face, but it isn’t at all ugly.”

At this Cletus snorted and grumbled, “Well, it ain’t pretty.”

Jethro pressed his lips together and I could see the hint of a smile there amidst his frustration. “Glad you have the hots for my face.”

“Just ask her out already,” Cletus demanded. “She ain’t doing anything tonight. You two will go out tonight.”

Jethro cast his brother another murderous look, but I took the opportunity to interject. “That’s right. I’m not doing anything tonight.”

Cletus pressed his hand to Jethro’s shoulder. “Fine. It’s settled then. And you’re welcome. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to sleep back here until we get to the Cove. So if you two lovebirds could keep it down, I’d much appreciate it.”



I ran into Tom in the staff tent during breakfast.

Actually, let me clarify that.

Tom’s administrative assistant, Elon, tracked me down in the staff tent during breakfast and demanded I come with her immediately to eat with Tom in his trailer. When I politely but firmly declined, she left. And then five minutes later, Tom swept into the staff tent.

This was kind of a big deal. Tom didn’t like to mingle with the production staff. I honestly didn’t blame him. As soon as he entered, capable women were reduced to giggling girls. Even some of the men behaved like star-struck goofballs.

Production staff and support actors never behaved this way around me. I didn’t enjoy having colleagues who lost their ability to speak whenever I walked onto the set, which was prone to happen when headliners held themselves separate from the people actually making the movie. I made a habit of making myself available from the get-go and worked on ingratiating myself to everyone, from the production assistant to the cameraman (or woman).