It was like they’d never met.
She didn’t want to be disappointed, but she was. She’d let her hopes get up, and for what? An evening where she’d only seemed to connect with another person?
Apparently, Kane hadn’t felt the same things she had. It was time to let it go.
There would be other men. Right then, she needed to focus on work.
Her hair and makeup done, she walked downstairs and to the set, which was the front yard of a suburban house. The first ClayFuel shoot took place in an everyday American neighborhood, and would feature her walking down the sidewalk while addressing the camera, kids playing in the background and cheery neighbors washing their cars and checking their mailboxes.
For the day, the production company had rented a two-story house. Not only would they film the beginning of the commercial on the front porch as Leyla walked out of her “home,” but they were also staging inside.
In other words, upstairs was where all the equipment went, along with the actors and crew members when they weren’t working.
Nervous about the lengthy lines, she’d rehearsed them tirelessly over the last few days. The constant repetition had proven to be a good distraction from thoughts of Kane. On the set now, though, she felt like she saw him everywhere.
By lunch, she was half convinced she was going crazy. That is, until Jessie, the director, walked up to the makeup chair as she was getting her foundation touched up.
“Mr. Clayton is here,” he announced. “He wants to talk to you.”
It felt like she froze from the inside out. “Oh. Um. Okay.”
“Don’t worry. He’s a nice guy.”
Leyla smiled tightly.
Her foundation finished, the makeup artist left the room. The next thing she knew, Kane was coming up the stairs. His white Stetson was the first thing she noticed. After that, the cautious look on his face.
Rightfully so.
She couldn’t help but feel a bit smug. He’d gone quiet on her after their date, and now he had to face her at work. If that was uncomfortable for him, well, it served him right.
“Hello.” He stopped right after entering the room and looked at where she sat in the makeup chair.
Voices drifted up the stairs. The crew was down there getting ready for the next shot, which meant the two of them had privacy for the time being.
“Hi.” Leyla sat straighter and smiled. No way would she show the sting his quiet had caused.
“I saw some of the takes. You’re doing great. You really are perfect for this.”
“Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “How are you?”
It was hard to look at him longer than a couple of seconds. If they maintained eye contact for too long, he might see past her facade.
“I’m good, thanks.”
Kane stuffed his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans and took one step forward. In his dark blue button-up and pointy cowboy boots, he was the most Texan she’d ever seen him.
It hurt that he looked so damn good.
“Jessie said it looks like you’ll finish up here by five,” he said. “Do you have plans this evening?”
Leyla’s ears rang. “No. I don’t.”
“Will you have dinner with me again?” Before she could answer, he went on. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch this week. It’s been crazy.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, debating. It seemed weird that he hadn’t at least texted her since their date, and she had heard the “oh, I was so busy” excuse from guys before.
In his defense, Kane was a CEO. He’d recently lost a parent, and she knew firsthand how that could mess with your mind and make you distracted and antisocial.
Why not give him a second chance? If it didn't work out, then it was only dinner. At least she wouldn’t spend the rest of her life wondering about what could have been.
“Dinner sounds nice.” She smiled. “I’d love to.”
A broad grin broke across his face.
Leyla wouldn’t have been able to check her own giddiness if she wanted to.
When it came to Kane Clayton, she truly was a goner.
“I’ll see you at seven again, if that works,” he said.
“Perfect.”
With that, he honest-to-goodness cowboy-tipped his hat and retreated downstairs.
The rest of the afternoon couldn’t pass fast enough. Having let go of any bitterness and deciding to give Kane a pass, Leyla found she couldn’t wait for that evening.
At home, though, she had the same dilemma as last time. What to wear when she had no clue where they were going?
Eventually, she decided on another floral dress, this one white eyelet lace. Although, this time, she took a chance and paired it with some red cowgirl boots that had been her mom’s.
Maira had gotten the boots ages ago because she’d wanted to “look more Texan.” Once, when Leyla was a little girl, her mom had mentioned something about loving old western movies and how that had inspired her to pick Texas out of all the other states as their new home.
Predictably, when Leyla had begged for more information, Maira had clammed up.
The buzzer made Leyla jump and catch her reflection in the living room mirror.
How long had she been standing there, lost in thought about ten years ago?
With one last fluff of her hair, she answered the buzzer and let Kane in. As she opened her apartment door, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Something funny?” A grin stretched across his face.
“I was worried about how to dress, but it looks like I shouldn’t have been.” She waved her hand at him.
Though he’d kept on the white cowboy hat from earlier in the day, he’d changed into a flannel T-shirt.
“Looks like we go well together.” He nodded at her boots.
“I take it we’re not going to another five-star restaurant?” She grabbed her purse and locked up. “Not that I didn’t love that place.”
“I thought that tonight we could go somewhere a little closer to heart.”
Kane offered his arm, and she looped her elbow through his. The contact was warm and comforting. She almost hoped he didn’t say anything else while they walked to his car, because if he did speak, she probably wouldn’t hear a word of it.
During the ride into the heart of town, Leyla tried guessing where they were headed. Each time, he only smiled and shook his head.
“I’m no good at this.” She slumped back against the sports car’s leather seat.
“Keep going. I think you missed about a hundred restaurants.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. Right then, the car passed a familiar hair salon.
“Hey!” Leyla sat up straighter. “Are we going to Hog Wild?”
“What are you talking about?” He pretended to be puzzled.
Sure enough, they ended up at the barbecue restaurant they’d talked about on their first date.
“We really are dressed perfectly for this.” Leyla settled on a wooden bench, Kane seated across from her.
“Along with most of the people in here.”
He was right about that. The joint was a true Texas hole-in-the-wall. There were more cowboy hats and boots than not, and the speakers blared classic country.
“Yeah,” she agreed, “but none of them look as good in a Stetson as you.”