Читать книгу To Have a Wilde - Kimberly Kaye Terry - Страница 11

Chapter 2

Sonia didn’t need to turn around to know who watched her.

She felt Keanu’s intense, bright, blue-eyed gaze on her, searing her skin through the white gauzy blouse she wore over her tank top.

On cue, she felt her ridiculous nipples respond. She nonchalantly crossed her arms, hoping to hide her body’s telling reaction.

As though it was the noonday sun, the heat from his stare scorched her skin, blazing hot and heavy against her neck. And the intensity brought the same reaction as the noonday sun; she was instantly hot and bothered.

Sonia reached a hand up and massaged her fingers over the back of her neck, hoping to relieve the suddenly bunched muscles. She forced herself to concentrate on her crew.

“I need a small group, including one of your assistants,” she began, speaking to her film editor before turning to the others, “to follow the men heading out to the south pastures. The foreman has already okayed it, and recommended the crew get there by no later than 5:00 a.m.” She held up a hand and waved it back and forth to negate the volley of protest she knew was coming her way. “I know they’re just repairing fence, but it’s all a part of ranch life. I don’t want to miss out on an opportunity for some good promo like we did yesterday, Sheldon.” She turned and pinned one of the location manager’s assistants with a stare.

Although they’d been on site, filming for over two months steady, and would soon wrap up filming, Sonia knew from experience that there was no such thing as too much film.

Her location manager had recently gone on maternity leave and left her assistant in charge, believing, as everyone did, that the six-episode series was wrapping up and the crew disbanding. Although she was competent, as were all of the crew, the assistant manager was not as experienced as her boss and Sonia had been forced to do some quick training to get the young woman up to speed.

Sonia felt lucky to be working with such a talented and creative group on her series. Even though most of her crew were young by industry standards, they were excited to work with her, and they worked well together, just as eager as Sonia to see the show a success.

Sonia couldn’t fault her location manager or her assistant, because in all honesty no one had had any idea the show would be such a megahit so quickly.

Sonia was proud of her crew, as she had been hands-on in the selection process once she’d signed on as producer.

After only a few airings, the show had gone nuclear. The hot new show, became the “it” show, garnering the type of ratings they’d only dreamed of in network television heaven. The response alone, after just the pilot episode, had been an indication to Sonia that the network would approve more episodes; however, before the last episode had been aired, she’d heard from the network execs that they wanted a full season. And today she’d been notified that the network wanted a second season, when the first hadn’t even been completed.

To say the show was a success was putting it mildly. From the network executives to the chatter on social media, everyone knew they had a winner; the combination of ranch life and Hawaii was one their key audience seemed incredibly enthusiastic about.

Again, Sonia felt the heat from his stare on her back, making her body...tingle. She kept her attention focused on the meeting.

It wasn’t just the beautiful location, exotic local and unique features of a Hawaiian ranch that had been the reasons for the early success of the show.

It had been directly due to the appeal of the sexy twin bachelors, Keanu, “Key,” and Nick Kealoha—that had been the major reason. And Sonia didn’t need to see the show’s research report to tell her that.

The twins had more sex appeal than any two men should be allowed, by state law, to have, and although they were identical twins, Keanu seemed to have a fraction...more appeal. At least for her....

Whenever she was within visual distance of the man, all of her “Hollywood sophistication,” as he’d once called it, went right out the window.

The man did it for her. Plain and simple.

Unfortunately, she did nothing for him. Well, outside of irritating the hell out of the man. She sighed.

Keanu seemed to have a permanent scowl on his face whenever she was around him. But none of that mattered, anyway. It was probably a good thing she did nothing for him in the way of attraction, because it couldn’t go anywhere.

Not that she could or had let Keanu know exactly how attracted she was to him. She was the producer on the show, not one of the hundreds of groupies the ranch seemed to have, women who came by the site just to get a glimpse of Hawaii’s new Dynamic Duo, the cheesy but—Lord only knows—accurate name the sexy twin ranch owners had been dubbed by the media.

“The show is doing great, better than expected. The ratings are continuing to top the number-one spot,” Sonia stated, forcing thoughts of Keanu from her mind and focusing on her staff. “And we’ve been renewed for a second season!” She waited for the exclamations of excitement to calm. She had just been given the news, and although she wasn’t all that sure that they’d be able to convince the Kealohas, in particular Keanu Kealoha, to allow them to continue, she kept that part to herself.

She smiled at her staff, knowing pride was in her voice. But she had invested a lot in the show. Once she had agreed to produce it, she’d made sure that every aspect of the show was given attention it deserved.

She knew that Keanu and his family had given permission initially to bring awareness of the impact of ranching on the environment to not only Hawaii but also the world. It wasn’t for the money, as they were one of the most profitable ranches in Hawaii. Neither was it for attention, even though the ranch now had tours for tourists, mostly women coming out to see the sexy twins of Kealoha Ranch.

They had done it for a much more noble reason. Although she didn’t fully understand the whys of his agreement, she hadn’t looked a gift horse in the mouth after he’d finally agreed.

Her only hope was that Keanu would continue to tolerate them on his ranch, as more and more she got the impression the sexy cowboy was less than pleased with their presence.

“Is the direction for the show going to change?” Briana, her director of photography, drawled the question.

“That’s a good question. So far the objective remains the same—why tamper with what works? As for a second season and the direction, we’re going to keep going in the same vein. Show all aspects of ranch life. We can worry later about editing out what doesn’t work.”

“Now Ms. Sonia, you can not deny that a big part of what is making the show a hit is Mr. Fine and his equally gorgeous brother...Mr. Finer,” the woman drawled, her Southern accent and way she drew out the word fine making Sonia laugh despite herself.

Briana was from Tennessee, and her drawling manner of speech, up-front manner and dry wit, coupled with the magic she brought to the angle of her camera had been the reasons Sonia had hired her to lead the camera department.

“I say we take it up a notch! I can see it now,” she began, warming up to her theatrics. She closed her eyes and placed her hands in front of her face, mimicking a camera as she spoke. “Sweat dripping from their naked chests, the amber glow of the setting sun behind them as the twins come home from a long, hard day, wrangling—” she paused dramatically “—cattle.”

Everyone laughed at her antics, including Sonia. Besides the magic she brought to her camera work, drama was most definitely Briana’s middle name. But that same drama, when channeled, was what also had brought the young woman awards in her field.

“Of course I am fully aware of the...impact...of the twins on the show,” Sonia conceded, and held up a hand admitting defeat once the laughter died. “I just don’t want to miss out on good footage. That is what makes the show work. All aspects. Fine is wonderful, it works,” she said, and ignored the snicker of laughter from her female-dominated crew. “But if we don’t capture the heart of the ranching life, it’s all just fluff,” she replied, sobering. “And not only do I not produce fluff, I don’t want to do the ranch a disservice.” She finished and saw heads nodding in agreement.

“We won’t miss good footage again, Sonia. I’ll make sure of it!” her assistant replied, bobbing her head up and down as she stood beside Sonia. “In fact, I’ll be out on location in the morning with them to make sure of it,” she replied.

“Great, Patricia, I’m sure Bri would appreciate anything you can do to help her accomplish that objective,” Sonia carefully replied. “Now let’s quickly finish the schedule.”

Again Sonia unconsciously rubbed at the back of her neck as her glance fell over the schedule, her fingers on the screen of her iPad as she flipped through the digital pages on-screen as the crew gathered their own notes, comparing them with the others.

“Tired, boss?”

She glanced away from the small screen of her iPad as she turned to Patricia, frowning.

“Saw you rubbing your neck. It’s been a long day...” Patricia murmured, sympathy in her tone.

Sonia brought her hand down immediately. It wasn’t the long day that made her rub her neck. It was him.

She didn’t have to turn around to know who was in the large stable, along with her staff and the young stable boys who worked the Kealoha.

She refused to give him even that much power over her.

She brought a purposeful smile to her face. “Yes, it’s been a long day, but I’m fine, Tricia. But thanks,” she tacked on, seeing the crestfallen look on the older woman’s face.

She was always careful with her assistant’s feelings, even when the woman made some crazy faux pas or screwed up a location site, Sonia covered for her, something that was becoming harder and harder to do, each day.

In a lot of ways, she felt empathy for the older woman. It wasn’t easy, the business they were in. So much competition to not only get to the top of their field but stay there, as well.

At one point in her career, Patricia had been on her way to the top; however, bad choices, both career and personal—in the way of drinking—had drastically changed her career path. Paranoid, due to the alcohol, Tricia began to blame those who worked for her for sloppy mistakes. Mistakes that were actually hers, and hers alone.

It didn’t take long for her to gain a reputation as not only an alcoholic but one who mistreated her staff, blaming them for her mistakes.

She’d eventually gotten help for the drinking. But it had come too little, too late.

Despite all of that, Sonia felt a deep sense of loyalty to her once mentor and felt as though she owed Patricia.

As a young woman, Sonia had interned with Patricia Haynes, who at the time had been affiliated with both a major network as well as public television network. As the producer of several shows on a local public television, Patricia had wielded a certain amount of power. The two women had clicked, with Patricia sharing valuable information with Sonia, willing and eager to help Sonia in any way she could as she learned the ins and outs of producing a television show. She’d told Sonia she reminded her of herself at her age.

This had all happened before the downhill sprawl in her career.

When Sonia’s career had grown exponentially, and she’d eventually been offered her first show to produce with a major cable network, she’d immediately thought of Patricia and called her mentor to ask if she’d be interested in working with her.

Initially, Sonia had been concerned that Patricia would be offended, as she would serve as Sonia’s assistant, but was relieved when the woman had eagerly taken her up on the offer, and they’d been working together every since.

That wasn’t the only reason for her hesitancy.

Added to all of that, Patricia had originally been set to produce the show.

However, the show hadn’t ever really gotten off the ground. The ideas that Patricia had come up with to showcase the ranch had fallen flat on the executives. After languishing for two years, no real work had been done to develop the story line, until Sonia was approached by Marty Shop and Sheldon Harris and the deal had been renegotiated. Sonia was becoming well-known in the industry and the two executives had felt that under her directorship, the show would sparkle. Hesitantly, she’d agreed to view the footage they’d already shot.

And she’d been hooked. But she wouldn’t consider doing it without asking Patricia to come on board. She felt she owed the woman at least that much.

Although at times Patricia made a caustic comment and Sonia felt as though Patricia was jealous of her success, she’d immediately feel awful for thinking that way. The woman had always been her biggest champion, and had it not been for the older woman, she wouldn’t have gotten her early break into the business.

“So, that’s it for the day. Why don’t you pack up and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be an early one, and with the holiday coming up, let’s get as much work in as we can. No telling how crazy it’s going to be in a few weeks!”

“Oh, no...don’t remind me!” Patricia piped up. With the Fourth of July around the corner, coupled with an expected increase in holiday tourism, the Kealoha Ranch, as well as the crew, were gearing up for an avalanche of spectators.

“Which reminds me, I need to go to the trailer and download the production schedule from corporate.” Sonia barely refrained from groaning. It had been a long day and she was beyond tired.

She reached a hand up and again began to massage her tired neck muscles. Not to mention the fact that Key was eyeing her down. The longer she’d stood speaking with the crew and Patricia, the more heated his stare had become. She hadn’t even had to turn his way to know that.

She felt that familiar fissure of sharp awareness curl through her stomach, winding its way throughout her body, and the resulting spike of goose bumps to sprinkle over her skin.

“I’ll take care of that, boss, it’s been quite a day. Me and the guys are headed that way on the way back to the hotel.” A big, beefy hand touched Sonia’s back and she barely refrained from wincing. “In fact, before heading to the hotel, we’re going to hit the Wave for a few drinks,” he began, mentioning one of the nightclubs not far from the hotel where they were staying. He stopped and smiled down at her, the dimple in one of his chubby cheeks flashing as he extended the invitation. “You’re welcome to join us.”

“Thanks, Walt,” she replied, smiling up at the large man. “Maybe some other time. I’ve got some work to do in my room before I hit the bed.”

“Well, anytime you change your mind, let me—us—know.”

She saw the disappointed look enter his dark eyes before he nodded his head and turned with the others to leave.

She nodded and smiled before she dismissed her crew, after giving final instructions for the next day’s filming.

“It will be a light day tomorrow, everyone. I don’t expect us to go past noon, and after that, the next few days are yours!” Her response elicited the expected pleased reaction from her staff, bringing a genuine grin to lift the corners of her lips.

She watched the group leave and drew in a deep breath. She knew who she now had to face.

“Looks like it’s time to saddle up,” Tricia murmured, and Sonia bit back a groan in reply.

She didn’t have to turn around to know whom Patricia was talking about. And her assistant’s reference to saddling up didn’t help at all....

Sonia sighed and closed her eyes briefly. She remembered the way Keanu had spoken the heartfelt words to her over the phone after he’d finally agreed to do the show and allow her and her crew on his land.

“The new generation, our generation...we all need to come together and work on the environment to survive. Not just in Hawaii but all over the world. If the Kealoha Ranch can help in any way...we’re ready to saddle up, ma’am.” His deep baritone had washed over her like a hot shower.

As the producer of several hit shows, when she’d been approached about filming a reality show, her first response had been a hearty “hell no!” Not a fan of reality TV in general, she’d always found herself cringing whenever she’d watched it. Even though she had secretly watched a couple, she would never consider producing one.

After viewing the footage the network had provided, her thoughts had changed. They had sent a small film crew over to the island to secretly take film footage of the Kealoha Ranch, located on the beautiful Hana, Big Island, Hawaii, and after viewing, despite herself, Sonia had been intrigued with the idea of a Hawaiian ranch, something she hadn’t ever associated with Hawaii.

Within days she’d booked a flight.

The footage hadn’t done the island justice. After her first night staying at one of the luxury resorts, she’d risen early, unable to stay in bed. Coffee in hand, she’d walked over to the large window and stood staring out in awe, taking in the breathtaking view.

The scene could have been plucked from a blockbuster movie, it was so surreally beautiful.

The beautiful eucalyptus and ohia trees, lolling hills in the distance and the vividly blue wide-open Pacific all made for a magnificent backdrop to the incredible scene.

Sonia had then taken a ride out to the Kealoha Ranch and her fate had been sealed. The unique blend of emerald-blue water, tranquil skies and ranching assured her the project would be a winner.

The ranch and island had captured her imagination and Sonia had eagerly accepted the gig.

But it had taken a lot more than a simple phone call to convince the reclusive rancher to agree. Originally A’Kela Kealoha had agreed to do the show; however, there were production challenges and the show went on hold.

The producers had decided to try again and had contacted Alekanekelo Kealoha, only to learn of the elder Kealoha’s illness and the family’s need for privacy after the death of his wife. Disappointed, Sonia and the others had begun to believe the show wouldn’t be able to be produced.

When they learned there were two other men, the twin sons of Alek Kealoha, Keanu and Nick Kealoha, who were equal partners, they’d approached them in a final effort. With Nick they’d been elated when he’d agreed...only to laughingly tell them it was his “big” brother they now had to convince. His identical twin, who was older than Nick by a full five minutes.

And that had been the beginning of a six-month courtship between Sonia and Keanu, via email, Messenger and iChat.

When she’d learned of his involvement with a local volunteer group that sought to bring awareness about preserving Hawaii’s natural habitat, as well as the foundation his mother had started to help those in need, she’d quickly devised a new angle and brought the proposal to his attention.

When the new angle seemed to appeal to him, she’d barely held her excitement in check when Pat had come into her office, nearly bursting with the news that the fuddy-duddy, as she’d dubbed him, was on line one, waiting for her.

Sonia had taken a deep breath, closed her eyes and prayed to the Almighty for patience before putting a smile on her face and answering the phone. She found that when she smiled while dealing with irritating, overbearing men who thought they knew it all, it helped center her, even if they couldn’t see her fake smile.

“This is Sonia Brandon, may I help you?” she’d asked, infusing more than a little bit of confidence into her voice. Another thing she did while dealing with the aforementioned group.

“The new generation, our generation...we all need to come together and work on the environment to survive. Not just in Hawaii but all over the world. If the Kealoha Ranch can help in any way...we’re ready to saddle up, ma’am.”

With those words, he’d gotten under her skin. Those words issued in that deep, sexy-as-sin velvet voice...

She’d blown out a long breath as soon as she’d severed the connection, with a deal tentatively reached.

God...she hadn’t even had to meet the man for him to get her hot and bothered.

Or maybe it had been too dang long since she’d had a man.

Whatever it was, he’d caught her attention from that moment on...and it had only gotten worse.

After a round-table discussion with key players from the network, the executive producer and Sonia, they’d decided to try once more and had been surprised when he’d agreed. And as soon as they’d all met the reclusive rancher, Patricia had soon stopped calling the handsome rancher “fuddy-duddy.”

“Ms. Brandon...a word.” The sinfully deep voice sent her heart skipping, brought her back to the present with a rush.

“Patricia, why don’t you—” Sonia stopped and cleared her throat from the frog lodged firmly in the back. She kept her cool, her smile firmly in place. “Why don’t you take the rest of the evening off. We’re done here.” She ignored the spark in her assistant’s eyes as she ran them back and forth between Sonia and the man behind her.

Although Patricia never said anything, Sonia knew the woman suspected Sonia was attracted to the rancher. However, she’d prudently refrained from asking, instinctively knowing that although they were close it would be crossing the line.

“Are you sure? I could—”

“Patricia...yes. Please,” she interrupted, still trying to hold it together. Before Patricia could leave, Sonia remembered that she’d forgotten to advise the crew about the change in meeting time. “Patricia, could you let the staff know that I’d like to meet with them tomorrow, at lunchtime?” Sonia hoped that giving Patricia the right to relay information to the staff would mollify her and remove the suddenly wooden expression from her assistant’s face. Normally, she wasn’t so abrupt with Patricia, but lately...well, chalk it up to overactive hormones and Keanu Kealoha, she thought, mentally drawing in a deep breath.

“Right away, boss,” Patricia replied, her voice slightly cooled.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend,” she began, placing a hand on her assistant’s arm.

Although she was sincerely sorry if she had offended Patricia, at the moment, her assistant’s feelings were not primary in her thoughts.

“Don’t worry about it, Sonia. I understand,” Patricia replied, her expression lightening.

“Ms. Brandon.” The deep baritone had a distinctly irked quality, reminding her that Keanu Kealoha wasn’t a man accustomed to having to wait on anyone.

She suppressed a ridiculous shiver. His voice warned Sonia that she and the irritating man attached to the sexy, drop-your-panties voice were going to have yet another...uncomfortable encounter. The thought brought a shiver, again, to run down her spine.

She straightened her back, mentally reminding herself that, no, she was most definitely not looking forward to any type of encounter with him. Unless it was business. Strictly business.

She ignored the self-mocking inner laugh.

She drew in a breath, subtly tugging down the hem of her casual tank top back inside the waistband of her jeans, realizing that it had ridden up, exposing her stomach. She had no intention of him even thinking she was doing anything to get his...attention.

It was strictly business with Keanu Kealoha, she reminded herself, again.

Sonia drew in a breath. Despite her every intention of not letting him know just how much he affected her she knew he’d guess in a heartbeat if she didn’t get it together. Placing a faux look of confidence and casual smile on her face, she turned to face him.

But damn...really? Did he have to be so ridiculously fine?

Sonia mentally groaned, her helpless gaze raking over his tall, muscular body.

“I think it’s long overdue that you and I got to know each other, Ms. Brandon.”

It wasn’t just what he said that made her legs threaten to buckle, although that alone caused her heart to hiccup with the implication of his words. More than that, it was the way he said it that caused the queasiness to settle in her gut, the kind of queasy feeling a woman got when a man turned her on so bad she didn’t know the last time she’d felt so hot and bothered. It was the way he said it, and the way his bright eyes raked her over, head to toe, that made her feel naked, exposed.

And wanted.

Dear God...

Suddenly all kinds of forbidden, delicious images came to mind.

Images of how...what, she could do to convince him to allow the series to continue. A slow, warm heat flushed her entire body at the thought, an unknown grin creasing the edges of her full lips upward.

She turned to face him.