Desperate Times (Silver Ridge Series Book 2)

by Emily Goodwin

  “Better, but I’m still worried he’s going to pull a muscle again. Retired racehorses can run into lots of issues. It’s sad, really how they’re worked so hard when they’re young and it sets them up for a lifetime of issues after that.”

  “That is sad, but he has a good home now.”

  “Yeah.” I smile and follow along, letting Spartan take the lead on where to go. “I do think he’d like being in the Midwest where it’s a little cooler and the grass isn’t always dry. Plus, almost having to evacuate him a few years ago really traumatized me. I mean, I know something bad can happen anywhere, but the fires…they scare me.”

  “That would be scary. He’s making me miss having horses.” Sam pets him again, brushing pieces of hay of his withers. “There’s an old farmhouse in the town Rory lives in that I’ve always liked. It’s in rough shape, but any time we go visit her, something about it appeals to me.”

  “Do you think it’s haunted?”

  “It probably is, which is why it’s been bought and sold so many times.”

  “Ohh, now I’m interested.” Spartan leads us to a new patch of grass. “How far from Chicago is she?”

  “Only about an hour or so. It’s not a bad drive if you don’t run into traffic.”

  “I’d like to go see her sometime,” I say with a smile. “It would be fun.”

  “She would love that. She still looks up to you so much. You helped her probably more than you know.”

  My smile widens. “If I can make anyone weird, I’ve done my job.” We walk Spartan to the pasture and Sam opens the gate for us and Spartan takes off, nickering to the other horses out there. We walk back to my car hand in hand, needing to rush back to my house so I can pack enough stuff to last me a week at Sam’s place.

  It’s nothing official; I can’t really say I’m moving in with him. But it’s a start, and I know our ending is going to be a happy one.

  28

  Chloe

  I look up from the couch and see Sam standing in the doorway. His eyes go from me to Charles and back again. I don’t think anything of it until I see the abhorrence on his face.

  “Is this why you needed more time?” Brows pushed together, he turns and starts to walk away.

  “Sam!” I call, scrambling to get up. My foot catches in the blanket and I fall, hitting my arm on the coffee table. Pain radiates through me, but I ignore it. “Sam!” I call again.

  I make it outside and he slows but doesn’t turn around.

  “It’s not what you think!”

  This time he stops. “Then what is it?” He looks at me, pain obvious on his face. “Because it looks like you went back to the arms of your ex-boyfriend as soon as things get rough.”

  “No,” I press, heart racing. I open my mouth to tell him the truth, but it’s not my secret to tell. “There’s nothing going on between us. Charles is my friend and we…we…”

  “It’s fine, Chloe,” he says, and sounds so defeated.

  “It’s not,” I go on and move toward him. Sam takes a step back and my heart breaks. “There’s nothing between us.”

  “She’s right.” Charles appears in the doorway and Eric, his stuntman boyfriend that joined us for a pity party, stands behind him. “We’re friends and nothing more. That’s all we’ve ever been.” Charles comes down the stone porch steps. “Because I’m gay.”

  “What?” Sam asks, looking from me to Charles and back again. Charles has a playboy reputation—with woman. Sam’s confusion is warranted.

  “I’m gay,” Charles repeats and motions to Eric. “That’s my boyfriend.”

  “Charles,” I start. “You don’t have to.”

  “I want to. For us both.” Charles steps forward. “Nothing is going on between the two of us and it never has. Our whole relationship was fabricated by Karina, our publicist, to get attention for the show. It worked, and when we were fake-dating, we became close friends. Chloe was one of the few people who knew—and kept—my secret. I love Chloe like a sister, and even if the thought of kissing a woman did appeal to me, I wouldn’t want to kiss my sister.”

  Sam’s shoulders relax and he rushes forward, taking in his arms. My heart swells in my chest, and I wrap my arms around him, kissing him with fervor, pulse racing.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask, still shaking.

  “Stacey lied. She really is pregnant, but it’s not mine. I wanted to tell you in person.”

  I blink, needed a second to process everything. “Seriously?” I blurt and Sam nods.

  “Yeah. There’s no way it’s mine. The last time we were together was June, but she’s only nine weeks along.”

  “What a bitch,” Charles says and I turn, almost forgetting he and Eric are there. The world disappeared the moment Sam took me back into his arms.

  “I don’t know how she thought it was going to end,” Sam goes on, brushing my hair back. “I would have found out eventually.”

  “So everything is okay now?” I ask, eyes filling with tears.

  “It was always okay,” Sam soothes. “Because I love you Chloe, and our love isn’t fragile. It won’t break easily, no matter what happens.”

  A tear rolls down my cheek and Sam brushes it away with his thumb before kissing me again.

  “I love you,” he whispers. “I’ve always loved you, Chloe Fisher. And I always will love you.”

  “I’ll always love you too.” I’m crying as he kisses me again, dipping me back and pushing his tongue in my mouth. Charles and Eric cheer and Sam straightens me back up, chuckling.

  “Let me introduce you,” I say, not letting him go. Sam envelopes his arms around me and inhales deep. “Come in.” I take his hand and we turn. “Guys, this is Sam. And Sam, this is Charles and his boyfriend Eric.”

  “Hi,” Sam says, looking at Charles a little starstruck, which I find adorable. Hand in hand, we go back inside.

  “You came all this way for me?” I ask Sam.

  “I’d go anywhere for you, Chloe.” He takes both of my hands in his.

  “We’re going to take off,” Charles says, smiling at me. “I take it you two are going to want to be alone.”

  “Yeah,” I say, heart swelling in my chest. “I know I do.” I break away from Sam so I can walk Charles and Eric to the door.

  “Text me later,” Charles says and hugs me goodbye. I wait a beat, making sure they get into Eric’s Range Rover and then close the door, going back to Sam, who takes me in his arms.

  “I’m sorry, Chloe.”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “For putting you through that.”

  “You didn’t do anything.” I let out a breath and we sit on the couch, close together. “You’re here.” I’m getting emotional again.

  “Hey,” Sam says gently and pulls me onto his lap. “I’ll always be here.”

  “I can definitely get used to the sunshine.” Sam stretches his arms out over his head, and lays back down, snaking his arm around me. We’re in my bed, naked from having sex. It’s sometime in the morning, and I have no intentions of leaving this bed anytime soon.

  “It is nice.” I roll over, smushing myself against Sam. “I could easily be a snow bird and spend most of the winter here.”

  “Like an old person.”

  “Very much like an old person.” I rest my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat. “Though the last few year, I’ve missed the change of seasons. Working from home makes it so I don’t have to leave the house and go out in the cold very often either, and writing while sitting by a fire in the living room as snow drifts down does sound heavenly.”

  “Mhhh, yeah. And then I come home from work, take your computer way, lay you down in front of the fire and fuck you senseless.”

  “This needs to happen. I wonder if we can get my dad and Nancy to go on vacation so we can use their living room.”

  “As long as you tell them specifically we want to fuck in the living room, I’m sure they will pack up and leave right away.”

  I
laugh and run my fingers up and down Sam’s arm. “You’re going to be the one to tell my dad that.”

  He nods. “Excuse me, Mr. Fisher, can you please vacate the house for at least twenty-four hours during a snow storm? Your daughter wants me to bend her over, pull her hair, and choke her while I’m fucking her from behind.”

  “Sam!” I laugh. “Yes, please say that.”

  “If I do, I think the guns will come out of the safe in the basement.”

  “Oh, for sure.”

  Sam kisses my neck and I close my eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work?” I ask as it suddenly dawns on me.

  “I called off sick,” he admits. “First sick days I’ve used in years, so it’s okay.”

  “You rebel. I like dark-Sam. Especially when he shoves me up against a wall and fucks me until I can’t walk.”

  “Your dirty talk is getting better.” He kisses me again and then pulls me onto his chest. We lay together in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. “When I thought Stacey was having my baby,” he starts. “It made me realize that I do want kids and a family, but not with her.” He rakes his fingers up and down my bare back. “Anytime my mom or sister brought up how I should get married and settle down, my mind always went to one person.”

  “I really hope it’s me.”

  He smiles. “Yes, it’s you. All I could think when she said she was pregnant was that I wished it was you, and I know how messed up that is since we’re not even in the same state. Chloe, there will never be anyone for me but you. I don’t want to rush you into anything,” he breathes. “But I know I want to spend the rest of my life with you. You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted and I can’t see anyone else but you being the mother to my children.”

  I know anything I say is going to pale in compassion to that, so instead I sit up and kiss Sam. He moves on top of me, kissing me passionately.

  “Come back to Chicago with me,” he says between kisses. “I want you there with me when I wake up every morning and when I come home from work. I don’t want to be without you, Chloe, and I know we’re going to have time apart, but when we can…I want us together.”

  “I want that too. I want you, Sam, and I’ll take you any way I can.”

  He’s right. The long distance is difficult, but not being together is worse.

  “He’s beautiful.” Sam runs his hand down Spartan’s neck. “And big.”

  “He’s a big softie is what he is.” I clip the lead rope to his halter and lead my big gray horse outside. The grass is dry and browning, and Spartan sniffs around, looking for the best grass to eat. Sam has been in LA with me for two days now, and has to leave in a few hours so he can get back to Chicago from work.

  And I’m going back with him.

  “How’s he doing?” Sam asks.

  “Better, but I’m still worried he’s going to pull a muscle again. Retired race horses can run into lots of issues. It’s sad, really how they’re worked so hard when they’re young and it sets them up for a life time of issues after that.”

  “That is sad, but he has a good home now.”

  “Yeah.” I smile and follow along, letting Spartan take the lead on where to go. “I do think he’d like being in the midwest where it’s a little cooler and the grass isn’t always dry. Plus, almost having to evacuate him a few years ago really traumatized me. I mean, I know something bad can happen anywhere, but the fires…they scare me.”

  “That would be scary. He’s making me miss having horses.” Sam pets him again, brushing pieces of hay of his withers. “There’s an old farmhouse in the town Rory lives in that I’ve always liked. It’s in rough shape, but any time we go visit her something about it appeals to me.”

  “Do you think it’s haunted?”

  “It probably is, which is why it’s been bought and sold so many times.”

  “Ohh, now I’m interested.” Spartan leads us to a new patch of grass. “How far from Chicago is she?”

  “Only about an hour or so. It’s not a bad drive if you don’t run into traffic.”

  “I’d like to go see her sometime,” I say with a smile. “It would be fun.”

  “She would love that. She still looks up to you so much. You helped her probably more than you know.”

  My smile widens. “If I can make anyone weird, I’ve done my job.” We walk Spartan to the pasture and Sam opens the gate for us and Spartan takes off, nickering to the other horses out there. We walk back to my car hand in hand, needing to rush back to my house so I can pack enough stuff to last me a week at Sam’s place.

  It’s nothing official; I can’t really say I’m moving in with him. But it’s a start, and I know our ending is going to be a happy one.

  Epilogue

  Sam

  Four months later…

  “Natural twenty!” Chloe pumps her fist in the air and does a little dance in her seat.

  “If I wasn’t watching you roll, I’d say you’re cheating.” Mason lets out a sign and leans back in his chair, putting on an over-the-top act to appear bored. And he says Rory is the dramatic one.

  “It hits!” Rory says, looking up from the little barricade of folders she has hiding her Dungeon Master notes from us all. She and Chloe have had this game in the works for weeks now, and we finally found a time to all get together at Rory’s house in Eastwood. We’ve rescheduled twice, as it’s hard to find a time when we can all get together. “Archer, it’s your turn.”

  “Uh,” he says, looking at the cheat sheet Rory made for him. “I’m going to throw my axe.”

  “You’re too far away,” Chloe say and reaches forward, moving a little silver game piece. “Move first and then you can do your action.”

  “That,” Archer says with a nod. “And which dice do I use?”

  “This one.” Chloe hands him one of her pink and purple die.

  “Why is this game so confusing?” Archer asks and we laugh. Unlike Mason, he’s actually trying, which is more than I can say for Quinn and Jacob, who disappeared to some cat rescue Quinn volunteers at after a call came in saying someone found a garbage bag full of five-week old kittens in a ditch. They’ve been gone for nearly two hours now, which is how long we’ve been playing. Though to be fair, there’s been a lot of drinking, talking and laughing going on too.

  We came to Eastwood to celebrate as well as visit with family. Not only did Chloe just send in another round of edits on her latest Nightfall book, but she just signed a five-book deal with her publisher for the spinoff series she said she’s been dying to write for a few years now. It lets her stay in the world she created and loves so much without dragging her current series out to the point of being boring. And this morning, her agent called and said there’s been some talk about adapting the spin-off as a TV show for a younger crowd.

  It was the perfect way to start the weekend, and I know the excitement for the spinoff helps reassure Chloe that she did the right thing by turning down the offer to write and direct another TV series. She said her heart wasn’t in it, and having to write in someone else’s world wasn’t her thing. I’m so damn proud of her for sticking to her guns and staying true to herself.

  She’s been staying with me in Chicago more than not, and this is Spartan’s last last month living in sunny California. Chloe already has a stall reserved at some post barn in the city.

  “Anyone need another drink?” Dean asks, finishing his beer.

  “I could,” Rory says, motioning to her empty wine glass.

  “I was thinking more along the lines of going to Getaway,” he says, meaning a bar his brothers own. “Chloe hasn’t been there yet.”

  “That is is true,” I agree, trying to throw us all a bone so we can stop playing Dungeons and Dragons without hurting Chloe or Rory’s feelings. They’ve gotten really into it this evening.

  “Quinn might leave the cats for booze,” Archer goes on. “It’s worth a shot.”

  Rory looks at Chloe, who nods. “Yeah, let’s go.”

  “Thank go
d,” Mason groans, throwing his head back dramatically. Chloe and Rory go upstairs to change out the costumes they put on just for playing the game, and about twenty minutes later, we’re on our way to the bar. Quinn and Jacob meet us there not long after we arrive, and Quinn shows Chloe photos of the kittens who are in need of homes.

  My phone rings, and as soon as I see the number, I motion for Chloe to step outside of the noisy bar with me.

  “Hello?” I say, putting the call on speaker.

  “Hey, Sam! It’s Glenn. Sorry to be calling so late, but I have great news.”

  Chloe’s hands go to her face and she widens her eyes, excited. “Yeah?” I say, pretty sure what what the good news it.

  “Your offer got accepted. Congratulations! Now it’s time to celebrate.”

  “You have good timing. We just got to a bar.”

  Glen laughs. “I think the wife and I might be headed to one tonight too. I’ll get the rest of the paperwork over to you two in the morning. Is Chloe there?”

  “I’m here,” she says to the real estate agent. “And now I own a haunted house!”

  “Just remember you knew it was haunted when I sold it to you,” Glen laughs. “Have a good night.”

  I put the phone back in my pocket and give Chloe a kiss. When Rory called to say the creepy house I liked was at risk of being torn down and having a neighborhood built on its farmland, Chloe suggested we buy it. We’re going to restore it and then we’re not sure what we’ll do with it from there. Chloe plans to sell her multi-million dollar home in California soon, and said she’s “re-investing” her money by restoring the old house. She really enjoyed the whole restoration process of her dad’s house, and it’s like a hobby for her in a way.

  We go back into the bar to tell everyone we saved the old house.

  “So, you’re moving here, right?” Rory asks eagerly.

  Chloe looks at me, and I know she’s actually considering it. “I don’t know. Maybe.” She shrugs and Rory gets way too excited. I’m still working at the trauma center in Chicago, and Chloe has a busy book tour coming up in the next few months. After that, we want to put a focus on settling down and starting our own family.