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

by Torsha Baker

  Trey Wentworth gazes up at me with a huge award-winning smile. He’s wearing dark-washed jeans, a black shirt, aviator glasses, and a leather jacket. A camera man stands behind Trey, looking into the viewfinder and adjusting the dials. JulieAnn has her hair in its signature updo with hairspray keeping it vertical enough to add three inches to her tiny frame. She wears oversized sunglasses, a black outfit, and gaudy gold jewelry that matches her gold platform shoes. A cigarette burning in her left hand.

  No, no, no. What are they doing here?

  My jaw must have fallen open because JulieAnn waves at me. “Stop catching flies, darling, and come down here.”

  I descend the steps in a daze, clutching my phone and trying to figure out what is actually happening.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, pointing the question to all of them.

  Trey pulls down his glasses and gives me a crooked grin. “You miss me, sweetheart?”

  I give him a glare. “You know how much trouble you’ve caused me?” But then I consider all the wonderful things that have happened as a result of his bad choices with women, and I shake my head. “Never mind. Why are you here?”

  He puts his sunglasses in the front pocket of his shirt. They stick out awkwardly. “I’m trying to make up for cheating on you, babe.”

  I sigh. “You don’t have to do that, Trey. It’s fine.”

  “Oh, yes he does,” JulieAnn says. She looks past me to the brick wall. “This is actually a nice backdrop, Kenny.” She motions to the photographer. “Why don’t you get some shots right here. I just love the rustic feel of this wall. It’s speaking to me . . . either that or I’m really high. Probably both.”

  Pictures? Is that why she brought Trey here? “JulieAnn, what’s going on?”

  “Oh, right. Sorry, dear,” she says and then kisses the air on either side of my cheek. “Hello, darling. Hello. I’ve come with amazing news. You got the audition with Henry Wilson. It’s set for tomorrow evening, so I want to get a few shots of you and Trey before we head back to Hollywood. The headlines will read . . .” she puts her hands up to emphasize, “Trey has stood by Malia throughout rehab. Now recovered, they’re back together and stronger than ever.”

  The actress in me understands how a reconciled relationship would help to promote the movie and ultimately my career, but I’m so tired of living a lie that a knot forms in in my stomach.

  JulieAnn pulls Trey and me together and in front of the brick wall. She’s surprisingly strong for being so small. “Perfect! Now, give us some kissing. Don’t be shy. Throw some tongue in there. Let’s really sell it this time.”

  What? No, not more lies. I still haven’t gotten a chance to tell Jax about my decision not to confess to the public about the rehab stint. How will he respond to my fake relationship with Trey being rekindled? And what if Audrey sees a picture of Trey and me in a magazine showing us as a couple?

  Trey moves in, and I put my hand on his chest to stop him. “Whoa there, Trey. I thought our fake relationship was over.”

  “Not over, darling,” JulieAnn says. “Just on hold while you recovered from your drug addiction.”

  Trey sighs like I’m being an errant child. “We made a deal, remember?”

  I gently push him back. “I remember you broke any deal we had when you fake cheated on me.”

  The corner of his mouth quirks up. “You know, you seem pretty angry for this being a fake relationship.” He covers my hand with his and drawls out his words intimately. “Let me make it up to you. And when we’re leading together, the pictures will be golden for promoting the movie. This will be the time of your life.”

  I’m sure his charms win girls over all the time. But my eyes are only for one person, which makes me immune to Trey’s womanizing. “This is just getting too out of hand.” I pull my hand out from under his. “Besides, I got the audition, didn’t I? We don’t need to carry on with this anymore.”

  JulieAnn’s phone rings. “Get the shots,” she orders the photographer before taking her phone call.

  Trey moves in again and flashes light us up. Like a practiced dancer, Trey pulls me into his arms in one swift and elegant motion.

  I put my hand on his chest again to hold him back. “Trey, I’m not going to kiss you.”

  “Oh, come on. This whole thing was your idea in the first place. We’re both professionals. Just think of it as an acting job. That’s all we’re doing here.”

  He lowers his head, and I block his kiss with my hand. How do I get out of this without offending my future costar?

  “Malia,” he says, exasperated. But before I can say anything, he’s pulled from me and thrown up against the brick wall.

  Jax has him by the collar.

  “Keep your hands off her,” Jax growls. Trent is in good shape and handsome, but he pales in comparison next to Jax—both in muscle size and looks. And this is really bad . . . like really, really bad.

  “Stop it,” I sputter. “Let him go!”

  Jax acts like he hasn’t heard me. His attention is all on Trey, who attempts to struggle out of Jax’s vice-like grip. “Hey, I wasn’t trying to attack her. It’s just a business deal.”

  I cringe, realizing exactly how bad that sounds.

  Jax seems to agree, because he presses him harder to the wall. “She’s not a prostitute.”

  Trey’s eyes widen, realizing his mistake. “No, I didn't mean—”

  “Jax,” I pull on his arm. “He’s Trey Wentworth.”

  “I don’t care who he is.” Jax curses, keeping Trey pinned. “He was pushing himself onto you.”

  “Whoa, whoa.” JulieAnn has returned and runs over awkwardly in her platforms. “Don’t mess up his face. Not the face.”

  “Look,” Trey lifts his hands in surrender. “This is just a silly misunderstanding. I know Malia. Malia, tell him please.”

  “Jax, just let me explain.”

  “Daddy?” Audrey says from a few feet away, fear in her little voice.

  Jaxon snaps out of it at Audrey’s plea. He finally releases Trey and turns to Audrey. “It’s okay, honey. Daddy is just making sure this man understands that when a woman says no, she means no.”

  Trey brushes his hands over his shirt to smooth the wrinkles out. “Duly noted,” he says, then turns to me. “I apologize. Who is this guy anyway?”

  “My boyfriend,” I say.

  JulieAnn looks Jax up and down appraisingly. “I take back what I said about the town. Now I really see the appeal. He is delicious.”

  “What is all of this?” Jax asks, gesturing to JulieAnn and the photographer.

  “This is my publicist, JulieAnn,” I say.

  Audrey’s eyes widen as she takes in JulieAnn. “So, you’re the evil villain?”

  JulieAnn raises a brow then smiles. “Only to my three ex-husbands, darling,” she says, smoke trailing all around her.

  I wave the smoke from the air in front of Audrey. “JulieAnn thought pictures of Trey and me together, reconciling our relationship, would help my career.”

  Jaxon’s eyebrows are scrunched. “So your ex-boyfriend is here to reconcile with you?”

  I give a nervous laugh. “He was never my real boyfriend.”

  “No,” Trey says, nervously laughing with me. “I’m her fake-boyfriend, you see. This,” he says signaling to us both, “never actually happened.”

  I shake my head emphatically. “I told you before, we just pretended to be together as a publicity stunt, well and to help me get the role I’ve been training for.” Jax knows all of this, but I can’t seem to stop rambling, as if hearing it again might help it all make sense. “Oh, and to help Trey have a better image to America.”

  Jax looks even more confused. “So, dating a drug addict was supposed to help his image?”

  I cringe. “I wasn’t a drug addict when we were first fake-dating, but Trey cheated on our fake relationship, which led me to drugs apparently.”

  Trey shakes his head. “No. Remember, it was your drug use that l
ed me to another woman.”

  I narrow my eyes at him “Yeah, I still don’t like that narrative.”

  Jax rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “You guys can’t even keep your own lies straight.”

  Shame washes over me—he’s right. This whole thing is ridiculous and it has all gotten so out of hand.

  “And what now?” Jax asks, his lips drawn into a tight line. “You’re reconciling? You’ll just kiss him, they’ll take pictures, and you’ll go on lying to everyone more?”

  “No,” I say. “I told them I'm not doing this anymore. That’s what I was saying when you came down.”

  Trey tilts his head back like a junior high girl about to roll her eyes. “We had a deal.”

  “But I already got the audition,” I say. “I don’t need more publicity stunts. I can earn my place in the movie based on my acting skills. So, you can go back to your player ways, and I can live my life with Jaxon without hiding.”

  JulieAnn calmly flicks ash onto the sidewalk. “Not if you want the part.”

  My gaze snaps to her. “Wait, what?”

  Trey steps toward me, but Jax glares at him and he backs away. “You got the audition because I told Henry that he would get a couple promoting the movie.” Trey shrugs. “He loved the idea.”

  A muscle in Jax’s jaw twitches. “How long is this going to go on for?”

  I feel at a loss for words. I know it’s not ideal, but I’ve worked so hard for the part. If this is what it takes to get the job, then I have to do it. I don’t have a choice. But how do I get Jax to understand where I’m coming from? “Jaxon, it’s not real,” I reach out and squeeze his hand. “We’re real. They just need pictures for a job, that’s all. And once I get through this movie—”

  He pulls his hand from mine and tucks it into his pockets. “You said when you got through the audition the lies would be over. Now it’s the movie? What am I going to have to do next? Hold a bouquet for you at your fake wedding? When will it end?”

  “It’s just a little deception,” Trey says, “just for the public eye. But then you, my man, get to take her home at night.” He raises his brows two times to emphasize his meaning, and I cringe again.

  “That’s lying,” Audrey says, crossing her arms over her chest. “And lying is wrong. Everyone knows that.”

  My heart sinks at her words.

  “From the mouth of babes,” Jax says. “Yes, baby girl. It is wrong.” He reaches out and takes Audrey’s hand before turning back to face me. “You do what you have to do, Malia. I’m taking Audrey home.” And with that he walks away.

  JulieAnn peers after him. “Oh, I like him.” She gestures to Jax with her cigarette. “Such dramatic effect . . . and those eyes, those muscles, that dimple. Can you get me a headshot? I could get him jobs within the week.”

  I fight off the tears that threaten to come. “That man will never step foot in Hollywood,” I say.

  She finally pulls her eyes away from him. “Pity.”

  “So, are we going to do this or what?” Trey asks. He’s practically pacing the sidewalk. “I really need to get back. I’ve had enough of small-town charm for a lifetime.”

  I turn to him and JulieAnn and lift my chin. “We’ll do this after I sign a contract for the role in the movie, not before.” I’m not about to sell my soul without knowing I’m getting my end of the bargain.

  Trey abruptly stops and throws up his hands. “So, I just came here and got manhandled for nothing?”

  JulieAnn must see that I’m on the edge because she doesn’t argue. “Well, we’ll have plenty of time for that later, I suppose. Let’s head back to Tucson, darlings. I already have a private jet booked to take us home. And once you sign the contract, we’ll move on to the next step.”

  I tell myself that this is good news. Starring next to Trey in a Harry Wilson film is what I wanted all along. But it doesn’t feel that way. Still, what else can I do? Follow after Jax and throw away my career? “I have to go home and pack. I’ll meet you at the coffee shop in a half hour.”

  I’m packed for California, but I’m driving to Jax’s. I told JulieAnn I’d meet them at the airport instead of the coffee shop to get more time. I can’t leave town without seeing him. Not after the way we left things. I turn off the highway and drive through the Wyle Away Ranch gates. My car tires crunch over the gravel driveway. Today was going so well until JulieAnn and Trey showed up. I just need to get Jax to understand how my world works. He loves me, so I’m sure he’ll look past the ugly parts of my career. And besides, it won’t be like this forever.

  I pull up in front of the house. The wind has picked up, and big dark clouds are rolling in from the East, covering the sun and casting a shade of grey over the ranch. Hopefully, Jax has cooled off. One thing I’ve learned with Jax is that he just needs a little time after he gets mad, and then he’s much more reasonable. I make my way to the house and climb up the stairs to the porch. As I reach the top, Jaxon opens the front door and walks out to meet me. His face is serious, and his posture is bent forward as if in exhaustion. This is so much worse than him being mad. He looks sad, defeated. A knot of unease settles in the pit of my stomach.

  “Jax?”

  His eyes look away before he drags his gaze back to me. “Are you going to California with Trey and JulieAnn?”

  “Well, yeah. I have the audition tomorrow. I just stopped by on my way to the airport.” His shoulders droop at my words. I know this is hard for him. I reach out to take his hand.

  “I can’t do this anymore,” he blurts.

  I snatch my hand back like I’d burned it. “What are you talking about?” He can’t be dumping me again. Not over a kiss that didn’t happen. “Because of Trey?”

  He lets out a huff of disbelief. “Because of your lifestyle of lies and deceit. It’s not something I can be a part of or ignore from the sidelines. Not when it spills into our real lives.”

  I blink at him. I feel off center, like trying to walk in six-inch heels on a rocking yacht. “I’m not asking you to ignore it. Just let me get through this one movie, and then Trey will be out of our life for good.”

  His chin dips. “So, we just put us on hold until then? You’re willing to sacrifice our relationship for your career?” He examines me and his brows crease. “Can you honestly say you like living your life with all these lies? And for what? A role in a movie?”

  He says it so dismissively, like my life’s work isn’t important. As if it’s just frivolous. I take a step backward. I feel as though he’s slapped me. “How dare you. I’ve worked my tail off to get to this point in my career. And this role will slingshot me forward so that I can get any role I want. I thought you said you could handle my Hollywood obligations.”

  His voice drops. “This isn’t just about a job anymore. That role you want so badly is controlling your life. I can handle you being an actress. I can handle the paparazzi. I can handle the long distance while you work on movie sets. But what I can’t handle is telling my daughter that lies and deceit are wrong, just for her to see us living them. I refuse to forfeit my integrity. It’s not right Malia, and you know it.”

  Pain and anger war in my mind, each one trying to win the duel. “So what? I’m supposed to give up on everything I’ve worked for the past eight years because you want to be judgmental of something you don’t understand.”

  He looks at me with fire in his eyes. “Judgmental? No. You’ve just been around selfish people for so long that you’ve lost sight of what really matters. I don’t expect you to give up on your career, but I am saying that this is not working—not this way, not with me.” He drags his hands through his hair. “Who knows, maybe it was never meant to.”

  Thunder cracks overhead and the first drops begin to fall.

  My hair whips angrily in the wind. “Are you serious?” My voice hitches, my throat feels tight, and my nose burns. “You’re just going dump me—again?”

  His brows scrunch in pain. He lifts his palms, spreading his fingers. “T
his is your choice. Audrey and I don’t fit in your world.”

  He’s just going to put everything on me? As if he’s so perfect? “No, you’re choosing not to fit in it. And don’t sit there and pretend that you’re Mr. Forthcoming. I know you’re keeping things from me. You told me just yesterday not to worry about it when I asked you what was still bothering you. And you didn’t tell me why you and your brothers seem at odds. You can blame me and my career all you want, but we both know you never planned to fully let me in. You didn’t eight years ago, and you won’t now.” He just stares at me and makes no attempt to correct me or to open up.

  Rage fills my veins. “You’re the one sabotaging this relationship!”

  I shove him out of my way and flee down the steps to my car. When I get there, I turn around. Jax has followed me out into the storm. The fat droplets fall between us, and I can’t tell if he’s crying or if it’s the rain falling from his face, but it doesn’t matter.

  I yank the car door open. “At least you had the balls to do it in person this time,” I snap. I slide into my seat and drive away from Wyle Away Ranch and Jax for the last time. Before I reach the highway, hot tears fall freely. I hit the steering wheel and curse Jax’s name. How could he do this to us again? My thoughts go to Audrey, and my heart sinks as I realize I’ll probably never see her again. A sob racks my body, and I leave Bisbee the same way I arrived—hating Jaxon Wyle.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  JAXON

  I watch Malia’s car drive away in the pouring rain. Just like that the love of my life leaves, again. An old, familiar hurt resurfaces and burrows its way deeper and deeper into my heart. I was a fool to think that she might choose me over her career. And yes, maybe it wasn’t fair of me to give her an ultimatum, but what was the alternative? Live in secret with her? Teach Audrey that we have to live a lie so that Malia can be in a movie? She was willing to let the world think she’s a drug addict and that she’s dating a player. If she’s willing to do that, what will she be willing to do next time? Where does she draw the line?