by Cora York
“What about her?” White-hot anger flared in my stomach, and nothing would give me more satisfaction than backhanding her face, but she wasn’t worth me getting arrested for assault.
“You don’t have to worry about me, sugar,” she drawled, crossing her arms. “He’s all yours. Thought I still loved him. Turns out I was wrong.”
More tears threatened to fall, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t cry in front of her. “Why’d you come here?”
“Like I’d tell you,” she snapped.
“Don’t talk to me like that,” I said, gritting my teeth. “You might be some big, rich country star, but you have no right to speak to me like I’m not worth your time.”
“Girls like you aren’t even worth a second of my time.” She turned up her nose as if she smelled something rancid. Finished with me, she turned her attention to Colt. “As soon as everything’s organized, give me a call. I’ve left my number on your desk.”
“Not so fast.” Colt shook his head. “Nattie’s right, you can’t talk to her like that. If you want my help, apologize.”
The sour expression on Montana’s face showed she’d rather lick a wasp’s nest than apologize to me, but with a sickly-sweet smile, she said, “Sorry, sugar. I didn’t mean to be so rude or hurt your feelings.”
“And to think I used to worship you.”
“How’s the saying go? Never meet your heroes, because they’re sure to disappoint.”
“You broke a good man’s heart, and I hope you live in regret knowing what you did and what you gave up.”
“Well, aren’t you precious?” She sauntered out of the apartment, followed by her glowering bodyguards.
“Are you helping her with something?” I demanded.
He looked apologetic. “She needs a place to lay low after this tour. Somewhere she can go to get her head straight. I said she could stay at the ranch.”
Anger bubbled inside me, ready to boil over. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”
“I’m not the kind of man to kick someone when they’re down. She has issues and needs help. She can hide out at the ranch until she decides her next steps. Grudges tend to eat away at people, and I’m not going to spend my life hating her. It’s time to move on.”
“Some people clearly deserve to have grudges held against them.” If I sounded callous and bitter, I didn’t care. “Why’d you keep your relationship with her a secret?”
“You idolized her. Thought she was some kind of goddess.”
The anger I felt wasn’t entirely directed at Colt, but I wasn’t buying his bullshit. As pissed off as I was, I loved him and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him, but if he couldn’t be truthful with me, what was the point?
“Try again and this time tell me the truth.”
The look in his eyes was hard, closed off. “You read her autobiography. Three years boiled down to one sentence. I wasn’t even worth a paragraph. She erased me from her past,” he said coldly. “I tried to do the same with her. I wanted to forget she was ever part of my life. When she left me, the pain was crippling. I drank too much. Slept around.” He tunneled his fingers through his hair, looking like a man who’d lost everything.
I stared at him for a minute, gathering my thoughts. “Why’d she come back?”
“Said she saw the video of you singing and thought she wanted the life she used to have with me.” He shook his head. “That’s not what it was about. Her coming here was a cry for help. I’m kinda thankful she showed up out of the blue like that.”
“I’m sure as hell not,” I huffed.
“Seeing her today made me realize something.”
“Yeah? What’s that? Let me guess, she made you realize women aren’t worth the hassle.”
“I love you. More than I ever thought possible.”
“W—what?” Disbelief washed over me, and to steady my jellied legs, I reached out and held on to the nearest wall. “You love me? Are you sure?”
“For Pete’s sake, Nattie. Can’t a man declare his love without being asked if he’s sure? I’ve never been surer in my life. I. Love. You.” He got down on one knee and took my hand in his. “I don’t want to spend a day without you by my side. Marry me. You’re everything in the world to me. If you say yes, I’ll make you the happiest woman alive.”
My hand flew to my mouth. In answer to his question, I squealed and jumped into his arms.
“I love you so much, Colt Flynn.” More tears ran down my cheeks, washing away any lingering hurt. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you.”
There was nothing I wanted more in the entire universe than to spend the rest of my life with my dirty-talking, beer-slinging, horse-wrangling, guitar-playing cowboy.
And just like that, the cracks in my heart began to heal.
Epilogue
Natalie
With a contented sigh, I lay my head on Colt’s chest and looked out of the bedroom window.
Fall in the Smokies filled me to bursting. Halloween was right around the corner, and the trees had turned several stunning shades of red, yellow and orange. The view from up here was so breathtaking the landscape almost seemed photoshopped.
This was only my second visit to Whistling Wind Ranch, and I was still in awe of its size and beauty. The five-thousand-acre haven was the perfect place to get married. Our guests would sit on bales of hay and dine on the finest barbeque while being serenaded by neighing Arabian horses, frolicking foals, and bleating goats.
I’d asked Colt more than once if he missed life on the ranch. He said sometimes, but he much preferred the hustle and bustle of Nashville.
“One more day till we get married,” I said. The butterflies in my belly were working overtime, leaving me both nauseated and excited. “When I walked into your bar, bet you didn’t think you’d be getting married three months later.”
“And you did?” He chuckled softly.
“I already told you I knew from the second you shook my hand that you were meant for me.”
He pressed a kiss on top of my head and stroked the curve of my waist. “Luckiest day of my life.” He rolled out of bed and pulled a pair of jeans over his muscular legs and tight ass. “Promised I’d go help my dad and brothers for a few hours.”
I stretched and yawned. “You sure you don’t want to stay here with me? Third time’s a charm. We won’t be able to sleep together tonight. Your mom has a bachelorette party of some sort planned.”
“Don’t remind me. My brothers, dad, and the guys have God knows what in store for me. I’d be more than happy having a few beers and sneaking into bed with you.”
“Not going to happen. Your mom will have this place locked down like Fort Knox.”
“You’ve got that all wrong, little lady,” he said in an exaggerated Southern twang. “Ain’t no one gonna keep me away from my woman, not even my momma.”
I pursed my lips in thought.
“Let me guess. You’re going to use that in a song.” He picked up a discarded T-shirt from the floor, sniffed it then pulled it over his head.
I flopped on the mattress and giggled. “It’s a little too redneck even for me.”
Colt placed a deep, lingering kiss on my lips, getting me all hot and bothered again.
“Stay,” I murmured. “The horses can wait a little while longer.” Reaching out, I cupped his crotch and gave a gentle squeeze. “It’d be a shame to waste this.”
He closed his eyes and groaned, but a second later, he opened them and shook his head. “ Think about me while I’m gone.”
“You’re the worst husband-to-be ever,” I joked. “What kind of man denies his fiancée an orgasm?”
“The kind of man who’s already given his fiancée two this morning.”
“Not my fault you’re such a high achiever.”
“Not my fault you’re a nympho.”
“Totally is your fault.” Reaching back, I wrapped my hands around the headboard spindles and gave what I hoped was a seductive stretch. “Go on now, get ou
t of here before I get all dominant and tie you to the bed.”
“Save that for our wedding night,” he said, his voice molten, his eyes flashing. “Only I’ll be the one tying you to the headboard.”
Before he left, he placed one more kiss on my lips, followed by a firm tweak of my nipples.
Once he was gone, I grabbed my phone and saw several missed calls and messages from Conrad. We’d posted the official video for Break Me online yesterday. I guessed he was calling to talk about how it was being received.
My thumb hovered over the call back button. What if everyone hated it? The butterflies in my belly were now flapping their wings so hard, I was ready to throw up. Over the past few weeks, I’d been so anxious about the wedding and my new songs that I’d been sick more than a few times. After the wedding, I’d make a doctor’s appointment to figure out what the heck was going on.
To stop myself from throwing up, I pressed a hand against my stomach and breathed deeply. When the wooziness passed, I returned Conrad’s missed calls.
“Where’ve you been?” he asked, sounding like a kid in the middle of a sugar high.
“Sleeping,” I lied. I could hardly say I was begging Colt to screw me senseless one more time.
“Have you looked at your viewing numbers?”
“Not yet. I’m almost afraid to ask. Good? Bad?”
“Good? How about better than good. Stratospheric. Twenty million views in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Holy shit.” I shot out of bed and began pacing the floor. “That’s insane.”
“You’re trending everywhere. Good Morning America invited you on to talk about your overnight rise to stardom. Thing is, they want you there tomorrow morning.”
The butterflies plunged to the bottom of my belly like I was on a daredevil rollercoaster ride. “You do know what tomorrow is, right?”
“Postpone the wedding. You can get married anytime. This is the chance of a lifetime. We need to capitalize on the buzz surrounding you right now. Colt will understand.”
“Did you seriously just say that I can get married anytime?”
“That’s not what I meant. I—”
“Understand this, marrying the man I love is the chance of a lifetime. I’d walk away from everything for him. He’s more important than a song, streaming numbers, or going on Good Morning America for a five-minute appearance.”
Static crackled through the line. No way would I change my mind.
Eventually, Conrad blew out a breath. “You’re right. I got carried away. I’ll see you and Colt tomorrow.”
I hung up and opened my YouTube channel. The views were up to twenty-two million. A number my mind couldn’t fathom. The video wasn’t anything special, just me sitting in a barn singing my song and playing my guitar.
People were calling me the new Montana Chambers. To think, at one time I would have taken that as a compliment. I was nothing like her, but as far as the world was concerned, she was as wholesome as American Pie on July 4th.
Soon after the whole Montana debacle at the bar, I’d signed a five-album deal with Conrad and Missy’s record label. We’d discussed going on a countrywide tour when we released the album, then maybe Europe and Asia. My dreams were coming true at breakneck speed, but if my success ever interfered with my relationship with Colt, I would slam my foot on the breaks.
Enticed by the scent of bacon floating upstairs and encouraged by my rumbling stomach, I threw on some clothes and went in search of food.
Tricia’s spacious kitchen with its stainless-steel appliances and marble countertops would make The Pioneer Woman green with envy.
“Morning, sunshine. Coffee?”
At the mention of coffee, my stomach somersaulted, and all thoughts of food fled my mind. “Think I’ll have some water for now.”
Her forehead furrowed, and she looked at me with concern. “Something you’re not telling me? You got a little birdie in the nest?”
Instinctively, I moved my hands to my belly and shook my head. I couldn’t be, could I? I was neurotic about taking my pill at the same time every day. “God, no. Probably just nerves.”
She didn’t look convinced. “You have nothing to be nervous about. That boy loves you from head to toe. We all do.” She sat down at the dinner table and gestured for me to do the same. “We’re lucky to have you join our family.”
“I’m the lucky one.”
The sound of a phone vibrating incessantly came from behind me, and I looked over my shoulder.
“That darn thing’s been buzzing like a porn star’s vibrator for the past thirty minutes. Colt said he didn’t want to be disturbed and left it here.” Tricia gave a disgruntled shake of her head. “Guess it’s all right if I’m disturbed.”
“Maybe something’s up at the bar. “I went over to the countertop where Colt’s phone sat.
My throat constricted, and I did all I could to rein in my rapidly rising rage.
A stream of texts and missed calls from Montana flashed up on the screen.
The first text said: I need you.
Colt
When I got back to the kitchen after a few hours of working in the paddock, both my mom and Nat sat at the kitchen table lost in conversation.
“You both look like someone died,” I commented, pouring myself a steaming cup of coffee.
Nat slid my phone across the table. “Your ex.”
“My what?”
“Montana’s been blowing up your phone,” she explained, her voice sounding strained.
Annoyance flared through me. The last time I’d seen her was when she walked out of my apartment flanked by her bodyguards. Hadn’t heard a peep since then, which suited me just fine. The cynical part of me thought it coincidental that she was texting me the day before my wedding.
I picked up my phone and swiped through the messages, each one more desperate than the last. “Jesus. There’s a video?”
“Yup,” Nat confirmed. “Shows her as drunk as a skunk yelling at two little girls to get the fuck out of her life. She ripped their homemade poster in two and threw it in their faces.”
Tricia tutted. “Shameful behavior. That girl could piss off the pope.”
“You’d better call her,” Natalie said wearily.
“You sure you want me to do that?”
She gave an uneven laugh. “There’s nothing more I want than for my fiancé to call his ex-girlfriend on the eve of our wedding. But if you don’t talk to her, then I have a feeling she’ll turn up here tomorrow and cause a drunken scene. I trust you with my heart and soul, but I don’t trust her one iota.”
I dialed her number, and she picked up immediately. “What the fuck, Montana?”
She sniffed loudly. “My career’s over. Did you see the video?”
“Didn’t watch it. Heard about it.”
“I’m in a whole heap of trouble. The little girls’ parents are going to sue me. My drink was spiked with something. I’m a lot of things, but I would never do anything to hurt my fans. I need to hide out at the ranch.”
What she needed was some tough love and a lengthy stint in rehab. “You have to get sober and help from people who know what they’re doing. My family ranch isn’t the place to get the help you need.”
“Please, Colt. There’s no one else I trust. Everyone is out for blood. If I go to rehab, the paparazzi will camp outside. I’m afraid the employees will sell stories.”
As much as I wanted to throw her to the wolves, I also felt sorry for her. She sounded terrified and lost. “I’ll get back to you,” I said before hanging up.
My mom and Nat looked at me expectantly. “She wants to take me up on the offer of staying here for a while.”
“Over my dead body.” My mom pushed away from the table and began unloading the dishwasher. How any plate remained intact was a miracle. “That girl has been nothing but a pain in all of our butts. She’s an alcoholic, and now it seems a child abuser. I won’t have her stinking up my ranch with her booze breath. Natali
e is your number one priority, not Montana Chambers.”
“It’s okay,” Nat said, getting up and wrapping her arms around my waist. “She’s not right in the head and needs help. The people around her obviously aren’t giving it to her.”
My mom huffed out a breath. “That snot-slinging drunk is so spoiled she expects spoon-feeding and expects my son to be the one to do it. How you don’t want to scratch her eyes out is beyond me, Natalie.”
“I’m secure enough in my love for Colt and his love for me to know she’ll never come between us. Maybe being here for a few months will help her dry out and put her demons to sleep.”
I rested my chin on top of her head and counted my blessings. “You amaze me, darlin’.”
“I don’t like this.” My mom continued to storm around the kitchen, not bothering to conceal her disgust. “Don’t expect me to be civil to her.”
“Put her in one of the mountain cabins,” I said. “Far enough away that you’ll never have to see her if you don’t want to.”
“I most definitely don’t want to.” The tone of her voice left no question she saw Montana as the devil.
“Tricia,” Nat said gently, “if I can give her a chance, you can too.”
My mom’s hard-as-nails expression softened a touch. “Fine. She can stay for as long as she needs. I’ll do my best to be pleasant if our paths cross, but I can’t promise anything.”
With Nat’s head resting against my shoulder, I redialed Montana’s number and told her she could come stay the day after tomorrow. Nothing and no one, especially not my messed-up ex, would ruin my wedding day.
Extended Epilogue
Natalie
I stood outside the wedding barn with Jonah by my side. The setting sun painted the sky with pink and orange hues, and the air was crisp and clear.
“Tricia and I never had the good fortune of having a baby girl,” he said, his voice breaking a little. “We couldn’t be prouder or happier to have you as our daughter. I’m honored you asked me to give you away.”
I dabbed beneath my eyes and sniffed back my tears. “Don’t you go making me cry. I’m the one who’s honored. From day one, you, Tricia, Brooks and Gunner welcomed me with open arms and have treated me like one of your own. I’m just so thankful for all of you. There isn’t a luckier woman alive.”
