Love Me Again, Cowboy (Second Chance Romance): Wyle Away Ranch Book 2

by Torsha Baker

  I hate it when she still talks to me like I’m a child. I yank out another reluctant weed, scattering dirt on my pants in the process. “Yeah. I know, Mom.”

  “Well, you need to not only take Jax’s feelings into consideration, but Audrey’s as well.”

  I wipe the dirt from my jeans. “People raise children in Hollywood all the time,” I counter.

  She tilts her head. “And how well does that usually work out for the kids?”

  I wince. She’s right. A lot of kids raised in Hollywood end up with issues. I know some of them, and they all have therapists and pharmacies on speed dial.

  She must see the truth in my expression because she places a hand over mine. “And do you really think Jaxon is the Hollywood type?”

  “I think he’d be able to fit in wherever he goes.” But then I think about how Jaxon feels about lying about my rehab. He might be vain enough for Hollywood, but he’s honest and good to the core. Hollywood can be brutal to the good.

  “He’s a rancher, Lia-girl. He belongs in a small town. Like the one you were raised in,” she adds, referring to our small town in Hawaii. “I’m not trying to burst your bubble, but you have some things to consider. You’ve been living on your own with only yourself to worry about for a long time now. Things have changed.”

  “Are you calling me selfish, Mom?”

  “There's nothing wrong with living a selfish life when you’re by yourself, but you’re not by yourself anymore. And isn’t that why you were unhappy in the first place? You were lonely living that kind of life. Don’t be mad because the thing that was making you unhappy is the very thing that you need to change.” She shrugs. “If you don’t want to make changes, that’s fine too, but you’d better figure that out soon. It’ll only get harder the longer you wait. You’re falling again, my girl, and so is he.”

  She’s wrong, I’ve already fallen for Jaxon again, or maybe I never really fell out of love with him. Either way, I do need to figure things out. Despite what Jax said earlier about making things work with my life, can he really handle everything that goes with it? Will he grow to resent my profession? I mean, if I'm being honest, I’m even growing to resent my profession. I sigh and pull more weeds.

  I sit on the porch swing with my warm cup of tea and my AirPod in. It’s late enough in the morning now that JulieAnn should be up. I call her, and when she answers, I tell her everything that happened with the paparazzo.

  “At least you were able to delete the pictures,” JuliAnn says when I’m done with my story. “What a disaster that would have been.”

  Yeah, only because she set up the ridiculous ruse in the first place.

  “Well, darling,” she purrs. “It looks as though I need to speed things up on my end. If one paparazzo found you, it’s only a matter of time before more do. You’re going to have a full recovery from rehab by tomorrow, or at least that’s what every newsroom will be reporting.”

  “I knew I could kick my habit,” I say dryly. “I just needed to follow the twelve-step program.”

  “Oh, that’s golden, dear. Make sure you say that if anyone asks.”

  I pull the tea bag string up and down in the hot water, seeping its contents. “So, I was thinking, what if we say that I was never actually in rehab? That it was a misunderstanding, and I just needed to get away. Or maybe we could say I went to a treatment center but only so I could have some privacy while I figured some things out.”

  “Oh no, darling. Not unless you want everyone who was sympathetic to your recovery to suddenly turn on you. They’ll be downright pissed that you lied and will call you deceitful. And no one wants to come off as if they’re not appreciative of everything Hollywood has done for them. There’s no quicker way to end your career than to come off as ungrateful. It’s better to be on drugs, I assure you.”

  I sigh, thinking of Jax and how disappointed he’ll be if I continue the lie—how disappointed I am in myself. “But misunderstandings happen all the time,” I urge.

  “Now, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but don’t sink your ship right before you’re gliding into harbor. I’ve finally gotten a hold of Harry Wilson’s people, and we’re just trying to settle on a day and time for your reading. Enough nonsense talk. Be ready to get your caboose back in Hollywood as soon as I have it set.”

  “Really?” My heart jumps a beat, and I set the cup of tea on the railing before I spill its contents. “Finally.” I’ve worked so hard for this interview: I’ve been cheated on by a fake boyfriend, gone through fake rehab that my real boyfriend isn’t pleased about, and even conquered my fear of heights. But it will all be worth it when I land the lead role.

  “I’ll be ready.” Guilt washes over me like an old scratchy blanket. I’m being dishonest and not following through with what I told Jax. Maybe I’ll just come clean after I get the role. Then it won’t matter what the public thinks because I’ll be in the next Harry Wilson blockbuster, and my acting will speak for itself.

  “I really admire everything you’ve done to land this role, sweetie. It proves that with the conviction you have to do what it takes, you’ll have a long-standing career in Hollywood. Okay, I have to go now. Careers to save, interviews to set up. Kisses.”

  I take the AirPod out of my ear and slide it into my pocket. I pick up my mug of tea and sip it, the warm citrus of bergamot tea mingles with the sweetness of local honey. I think about what JulieAnn said about having the conviction to do what it takes, and that she admires it. I frown. That isn’t what I want to be admired for, or how I wanted to get my movie career started. I want to get roles based on my acting ability, not on how much hype I can get from media. Is it really worth it?

  My phone beeps with a text message. It’s Jax. Warmth fills me again but this time from the inside out. At least one thing in my life is real. I read the text:

  Jax: Morning beautiful. Lunch at Santiago’s at noon with Audrey and me?

  I consider what JulieAnn said about staying away from public places. But then she also said that after today my recovery will be the top headline. Even if paparazzi get shots of me eating with Jax, the pictures won’t get to the media until after tomorrow, and my recovery will be in the news by then anyway. I text Jax back.

  Me: Good morning, cowboy. Can’t wait. Miss you.

  Jaxon: Miss you more. See you then.

  I smile but immediately feel guilty that I’m not going to tell the truth about my fake rehab. Hopefully, he can understand that I just need it to continue a bit longer. I’ll just explain to him that everyone will forget I was even in rehab in a month’s time. That’s like ten years in Hollywood time.

  Chapter Twenty

  JAXON

  I put down the phone, smiling into my mug of coffee.

  “You were just texting Malia, weren’t you?” Landon asks. He’s dressed and showered but hasn’t bothered to comb his blond hair yet. It sticks out from his head in a tangle of wet spikes.

  I shrug. “Who else would I be texting?”

  Landon bobs his head to the side as if to say, true. We’re in the kitchen. I’m leaning against the counter and take a sip of my coffee, allowing the robust flavor to work its caffeine magic.

  Landon pours his own cup of coffee, yawning big and loudly. A steer got himself stuck in some fencing, and we were up late as we worked to set the grumpy animal free. Audrey is still sleeping. It’s Saturday, so I usually let her get a few extra Zs in.

  Landon scoops sugar into his mug. “Have you talked to Malia about the Brittany thing yet?”

  I sigh. The act blows the steam from my coffee. “I already told you, I’m not putting my baby-mama drama on Malia.”

  “But you want to marry her someday, right?”

  The thought has definitely crossed my mind recently. “I can’t imagine being with anyone else,” I admit.

  “Then let me give you a little advice, seeing as I’m in my first year of marriage. You need to open up to Malia about what’s going on with Brittany. Healthy relationships n
eed trust. And that means transparency. Don’t you remember all the trouble Kitty and I had when we started second guessing each other’s motives? It almost broke us up for good. So be up front with Malia. And this stuff with rehab could be detrimental to a custody case. You need to talk about that too.”

  I pause, seeing his point, but then imagine Malia having to change how she manages her career just for my and Audrey’s sake. Whether I agree with her Hollywood actress lifestyle or not doesn’t change the fact that it’s what Malia chose to do. Becoming an actress was her dream, and amazingly, she accomplished it. She hasn’t had to think about how that affects anyone else for the past eight years. Raising a daughter and having to make all your decisions based on what’s best for her isn’t easy, and then having to deal with a crazy ex-girlfriend who blackmails and manipulates? Would suddenly coming into all of that be too much for Malia? I set my cup down. “Malia told me that as soon as she gets the role she’s after, she’s going to tell everyone she wasn’t actually in rehab.” I lift my shoulder. “Problem solved.”

  “And then you’ll marry her?”

  “Maybe. I don’t want to rush things.”

  “When you know, you know. No point in putting off the inevitable.” Landon takes a sip of coffee and looks contemplative before speaking again. “And you might have to rush a little before things with Brittany take a turn for the worse. You do realize what will happen once she finds out you’re dating Malia again, don’t you?"

  I crease my brows not liking where this is going. “What do you mean?”

  “Malia is rich. Brittany will take one look at the two of you in the tabloids and come running back asking for even more money.” He shrugs. “I’m just saying, if you want to stop the extortion for good, marry the woman you love and have her adopt Audrey, who adores her. You’ll be a family and Brittany won’t be able to threaten taking Audrey from you again.”

  “It’s not that simple,” I say and set my half-full cup in the sink. I’m feeling a little nauseous.

  “Daddy,” Audrey says. I spin and spot her in the doorway. Her dark hair is a tangled mess, and she’s still in her purple PJs, squeezing the stuffed unicorn Malia gave her the other day. How long has she been standing there?

  “Morning, baby girl.” I scoop her up into my arms. “Did you have a good night’s sleep?”

  Her lower lip sticks out and quivers. “I don’t want anyone to take me away from you. Can Malia be my new mommy so I don’t have to go away?”

  My stomach drops. It would seem she heard everything. I give Landon a wide-eyed glance. He shrugs and gives me the same expression and mouths the word sorry.

  “No one is going to take you away,” I say, trying to reassure Audrey.

  Landon closes the distance and rubs her back. “Don’t worry, little lady. We won’t let it happen.”

  “But you need to marry, right? That’s what Uncle Landon said. And I heard Uncle Dillon say it too.”

  Sometimes we all forget that just because Audrey’s ears are little, doesn’t mean they hear any less. In fact, I think she might have super hearing. “Your uncles talk too much.”

  She pets her unicorn absently. “But you love Malia, right?”

  “Yeah, baby. I do.”

  She tilts her head. “And she loves you?”

  I nod. “Yes, I believe she does.”

  A smile lights up her face. “Good! Then you can marry, and she can be my mommy.” Audrey leans forward like she’s telling me a secret. “I love her too, Daddy.”

  My heart aches at her words. I want to give her everything, but it’s not that simple. I wonder if I made a mistake allowing Malia into Audrey’s life so soon. If Malia decides that someone more like Trey Wentworth is better for her career, someone else who fits her lifestyle better than us, then Audrey will be crushed. “The thing is, marriage is serious, and it’s not something that two people should rush into, even when they love each other. So, when, and if, I ask Malia to marry me, it’ll be right. We’ll be sure it’s going to be for forever. Does that make sense?”

  She smiles. “I guess so. But adults make easy things too hard.”

  “You’re probably right.” I set her down. “How about some breakfast?” I want to change the subject as quickly as possible. “I think Uncle Preston got some lucky charms for you.”

  I pour her the cereal and hope that she forgets the conversation.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  MALIA

  I head to Santiago’s in a floral dress with a lightweight cardigan over it. I used to love eating at Santiago’s. In fact, the first official date Jaxon and I went on was there. I smile at the memory, thinking about the first kiss we had and how cute he was when he was trying to impress me. And then how surprised I was when he did. He met my challenge from the first time we met. A light breeze ruffles my skirt. It’s surprisingly warm for fall, a beautiful day with fluffy scattered clouds. I smile at the people I pass. I don’t recognize anyone, but a few certainly recognize me.

  When I reach the restaurant, I see Jax and Audrey at the top of the small set of stairs leading to the restaurant. They’re playing thumb war. Their laughter rings out like a melody of happiness. My cowboy and his little girl. Jax looks as sexy as ever in a button-down flannel shirt, Wranglers that beautifully hug his bum, and a black cowboy hat and boots. Audrey’s feminine floral dress is the perfect contrast to Jax’s rugged look. My heart fills with love watching the two of them. I laugh when Audrey bonks Jax on the nose to distract him before pinning his thumb down with both hands.

  They spot me. Audrey skips down the steps and jumps in my arms. The excitement on her face makes me feel like coming home. She gives me a huge hug. “I missed you,” she says.

  “I missed you too,” I say.

  Jaxon closes the distance and gives me a kiss. “I’ll go see if they have our table ready.”

  “Okay.” He walks into the restaurant. I set Audrey down and we climb the steps.

  She holds her hand up to her mouth and whispers loudly, “I have a secret to tell you.”

  “Oh, do you? I happen to love secrets.”

  She signals me to come closer. I crouch down until I’m at her level. “I love you,” she whispers.

  I smile, feeling my heart somehow grow. “I love you, too,” I whisper back. And I do. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier or felt more complete than this moment right now.

  A woman walking by smiles at us. “You have a beautiful family,” she says.

  I’m about to correct her, but then I look at Audrey and return the woman’s smile. “Thank you.”

  Jax pokes his head out the door and signals us. “It’s ready.”

  We follow him in. The waitress, a girl about seventeen with short blonde hair and a nose ring, leads us to our table. The restaurant looks exactly the same as it did before: a narrow dining room, bright colors everywhere, and brick walls and windows on one side. She seats us at the same table we had on our first date: right in front of a window. The waitress places a basket of tortilla chips and bowl of salsa on our table.

  “Can I get your drinks?” Her attention is reserved for Jax. She doesn’t even seem to notice Audrey and I are at the table. I’m usually the focus of attention, and I find it a nice change. Jax is more the celebrity here than I am, it would seem. It doesn’t bother me that Jax gets the attention, even if it is from a young girl flirting with him. I know from my own experience that just because someone else flirts with you, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to act on it. We give her our order. She stares at Jax for a moment, then leaves to get our drinks. I try to hide my smile but fail miserably.

  “What?” Jax asks.

  “Nothing,” I say, looking at the menu. “I’m just finding your groupie very amusing.”

  He looks at the waitress, and his brows crease. “Her?”

  “Oh, yes. She’s smitten,” I say with a giggle.

  Jax shrugs like it’s the most normal thing, but he has a grin when he does.

  “Wha
t’s smitten mean?” Audrey asks.

  “It means she thinks your dad is very nice,” I say.

  Groupie-girl comes back as often as she can throughout our meal to be sure we are happy, and by we, I mean Jax. I enjoy teasing him about it. Jax and Audrey show me how to play table hockey, and I show them how to turn your straw wrapper into a worm. The whole meal is normalcy at its best. As we sit here laughing at Jax trying to balance his spoon on his nose, I think that I could do this with the two of them for the rest of my life.

  It’s my turn to balance the spoon and my phone rings. I see it’s JulieAnn and decide to ignore it. A moment later, it rings again. JulieAnn. Jax gives me a questioning gaze. “Sorry,” I say. “I’ll put it on vibrate.” Just as I’m turning the sound off, a text comes through.

  JulieAnn: Stop ignoring me. I’m here in Bisboo. Where are you?

  I drop my phone. “What the. . .?” I say, picking it back up.

  “Everything okay?” Jax asks.

  My phone rings for the third time. “I’m so sorry. I have to take this.”

  “Go ahead.” He winks. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  I kiss him on the cheek and slip out of the restaurant. I don’t want to take the chance of Jax overhearing us. She might reveal that I’m not planning to tell the truth about fake rehab. I want to tell Jax later when I can explain it without Audrey around. Will he understand? Or will my career be too much for him to handle? I push the thought away and answer my phone.

  “JulieAnn?”

  “It’s about time,” she says in her gravelly voice. “I thought you’d never answer.”

  “What do you mean you’re in Bisbee?” I’m at the top of the mini staircase connecting the restaurant to the sidewalk. I look down one of the streets with nervous anticipation. I spot some teenagers riding skateboards and a couple pushing a stroller.

  “Yes, darling. We’re here. We went to your sister’s house, but they said you were at some Mexican restaurant. Now I’m wandering around this strange, eclectic little town, trying to find you. I think I just got a contact high passing some old hippies. I finally see the appeal of this place. It’s like entering a real-life wonderland. You never know what you’ll see at the next bend. I walked past a drag queen and then a cowboy. It’s very avant-garde.” I hear her last words outside of the phone, from the other direction. My veins freeze over when I see who walks around the corner with her.