by Jane Jamison
“Because, bro, if she’d fallen against it, the television would’ve gotten knocked off the table. You know how precarious it is anyway. You’ve come close to knocking it off twice now. But you never broke the screen.”
“So she bumped against it harder than I did.”
“Yeah, sure. You’re what? Around two hundred pounds? And she’s a big, bulky bruiser of gal, right? Give me a break.”
“Then how’d it get broken?” Carter’s arms dropped to his sides, indicating that some of his reasoning was getting through at last.
“Did you see the book on the floor? And how it had pieces of the screen in it?”
“Yeah. So?”
He slapped his brother lightly on the side of the head. “Don’t be muleheaded. She broke it by slamming the book against it. Probably at just the right angle to break the screen, but not to knock it off.”
Carter frowned, and Bill could see how much he wanted to contradict Bill’s claim. But he couldn’t. “Okay, say you’re right. But tell me why she did it? Is she upset about the Middle East? Did they cancel her favorite show?”
“Yeah, go on. Joke about it.” He glanced toward the house and saw her moving around the kitchen. “I don’t know why she’s lying, but we’re going to find out. Until then, try to keep what’s left of your senses intact around her.”
“There’s William.” Bill stepped out of the shadows and gestured for his cousin to join them.
William detoured from his path toward the house. The expression on his face left Bill waiting for bad news. “What’s wrong? What happened with Gabriel?”
“You’re never going to believe this.” William ran a hand through his hair.
“What? Spit it out.” Bill’s stomach flipped over. He had a bad feeling that he knew what was coming.
“It’s about Shawna.” William paced a few feet away then turned toward them again. “Her name isn’t Shawna.”
Bill’s stomach dropped to his feet. “Then who is she?”
William gritted his teeth and ground out his answer. “She’s a singer by the name of Sela Reynolds. Guys, we’ve been had.”
Chapter Seven
Carter’s chest tightened at William’s words. Bill was right. Shawna, or rather Sela, was lying to them.
Bill laughed, but the sound had an edge to it. “I thought she looked familiar. Sela Reynolds. Oh, hell.”
“Who’s Sela Reynolds?” Carter’s words came out in a whisper as the tightness in his chest worked into his throat. The woman he’d grown to care about in such a short time wasn’t who he thought she was.
“She’s a pop star. She’s fairly new, but she’s coming up fast and making a big splash in the music world.” Bill shook his head as though mentally chastising himself. “I remember now. I saw her on one of those stupid talk shows.”
Nothing made sense anymore. Shawna was really Sela. She’d lied to them about who she was and then about breaking the television. “How do you know, cuz?”
William exchanged a look that said he felt sucker punched, too. “I was over at Gabriel’s signing those papers. He sent me to the kitchen for a couple of beers, and as I was passing through the living room, I saw her face flash across the screen. It seems she’s been reported missing by her manager.”
“Crap. So we’ve got a runaway music star on our hands? Shit.”
Bill’s outburst didn’t help much. The more they talked, the worse Carter felt. “I can’t believe this. She’s using us as her hideaway.”
“You’ve got it.” William’s face was drawn, but his eyes flamed with anger.
Carter whirled around and was off and moving toward the house before his friends could say anything more. “I think it’s time we get the truth out of her. And if she doesn’t come clean one way or another, she’s out on the street.”
* * * *
Sela couldn’t shake the bad feeling she’d gotten ever since the men had come into the house. Carter kept giving her strange, hard glances while William ignored her and Bill seemed overly friendly. Did they know something? But if so, why weren’t they drilling her with questions? Nonetheless, she decided it was safer to remain quiet.
That quiet, however, didn’t last long.
She was searching the kitchen cabinets for another bottle of tequila when they sauntered into the kitchen. Bill and William grabbed a barstool each, and Carter leaned against the wall.
She paused and gave them a smile that brought out her dimples. “Hi, guys. I hope you don’t mind, but I was snooping around. I thought maybe, if you had another bottle, we could have a few shots tonight. You know, getting a taste of the hair of the dog and all.”
“Why not?” Bill pointed to the pantry. “Carter, grab a bottle, will you?”
She’d flashed them an even bigger smile as she turned back to the cabinets and started searching for glasses. “Do you have more shot glasses or do we need to improvise? If we do, I call dibs on the cup with the cute kitties playing across the side.”
“We keep the shot glasses in that far cabinet, Sela.” Bill’s expression was open, but that didn’t match the tone in his voice. That put her nerves on edge even more.
Her hand was in the air, her fingers almost touching the first glass, when the use of her real name finally hit her. She closed her eyes, swallowed, and got ready to confront them. “I can explain.”
When she faced them again, it was as if the three men had changed into stone walls. Bill’s easy manner was gone, replaced by a cold expression. William narrowed his eyes while Carter dropped his gaze to the floor, a hurt look on his face.
“Do tell.”
She nodded at Bill and frantically tried to think. She could make up another story, but she didn’t have the heart to lie to them any longer. Not now. Not feeling the way she did about them.
It had happened too fast for her to trust her feelings, but there it was again. She cared for them. Could, in fact, even love them if only she could break down the wall that she’d built to keep her heart safe.
She swallowed. Could she let down her guard? Just this one last time? If these men hurt her, then how could she ever trust in any man again? She’d never even try.
“Yeah, Sela. Tell us why you lied to us.”
She couldn’t stand to look at Carter. His expression cut her to the bone. She’d hurt him more than she’d thought possible. Bill’s and William’s hard glares were easier to take. After all, she deserved their anger.
“I want to tell you that I’m sorry.” She pulled herself taller. “But I can’t because I’m not. I hate it if I hurt you,”—she resisted reaching out to Carter—“but if I hadn’t lied to you, I wouldn’t be here now.”
“You don’t know that.” William’s voice was husky, filled with emotion. “You should’ve told us the truth from the beginning. We would’ve understood.”
“Oh, come on. If I’d walked up to you, much less Gabriel, and told you that I was a poor, little pop star who needed time to get away from it all, you would’ve laughed and sent me packing.”
“Maybe and maybe not.” Bill took the tequila bottle from Carter then motioned for her to set the glasses on the counter. He poured himself a shot then downed it. The muscle in his jaw jumped as he ground his teeth. “We’ll never know because you never gave us that chance.”
“Facts are facts. You lied to us.” William took the drink Bill offered him and downed it.
“Why did you need to ‘get away from it all’ anyway?” Carter used air quotes. “I’d think the life of a famous singer would be amazing. Better than hanging out on a ranch with three simple-minded cowboys.”
“Don’t say you’re simple-minded. You’re far from it. It’s just that I’m very persuasive.” She tried a smile that didn’t work its charm.
“You still haven’t told us why.” William snagged the bottle and poured himself another drink.
She wanted to touch them. Maybe if she did, the anger flowing off their bodies would lessen. But she didn’t dare. Bill and William were both tight. If she p
ut her hand on them, she was afraid they’d either strike out or crumble like stone statues struck by a wrecking ball.
Instead she leaned against the other counter, taking hold of the edge behind her. “Okay, here’s the truth of it. I’m on tour right now, and that’s rough enough. It’s my first one, and I didn’t realize how tiring it could be.”
“Oh, boo-hoo. You’re right. I’m not buying the poor-little-pop-star routine. Try spending your days mucking out manure or castrating a calf. Then tell me you have it so bad.”
She couldn’t blame Bill for making fun of her. “Yeah, I know. But I had the added benefit of having a boyfriend who not only cheated on me—with a man, by the way—but stole from me at the same time.”
“Ouch.” Carter’s head came up. “Okay, I can see how that would suck.”
“You’ve got to be kidding, cuz.” William whirled on Carter. “What’s wrong with you? She made a fool out of us and you’re feeling sorry for her? Come on, man.”
Cringing from the onslaught of William’s anger, she put her focus on Carter. “Yeah, it did. It was, to say the least, embarrassing. I needed space to breathe, and when a friend of mine mentioned you guys”—she waved her hand in the air—“I mean, Cowboys for Hire, I figured I might have a place I could go where the paparazzi and my manager couldn’t find me.
“Besides, what girl could resist finding out what Cowboys for Hire was? It’s like something my mom would’ve read in one of her romance novels.” She tried her winning smile again with no luck.
“All that doesn’t excuse the fact that you lied to us.” Bill took another drink then offered Carter a glass which he refused.
Although Bill appeared to keep himself in check, she could sense the underlying fury. His gaze burned into her.
“So the boyfriend you mentioned isn’t really trying to find you?”
She couldn’t mistake the hope in Carter’s voice. He wanted to forgive her and she prayed he would. “Not a chance. I’m sure he’s getting as far from me as possible. Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s not going to ham it up on television and play the doting and worried boyfriend.”
“So that’s why you broke the TV?” Bill set his shot glass down so hard she was surprised it didn’t shatter. “You saw him, didn’t you? And you were afraid we’d see the news about the missing pop star and bust you. Am I right?”
She let out a long sigh. What had Mom always said? In for a penny, in for a pound.
“I’m sorry, Bill. I didn’t plan on breaking it. But it was on when you guys were out in the barn, and there was my lousy ex talking about me.”
She tracked her fingers through her hair and resisted pulling it out. “He was giving an interview about me. I just got so mad that I couldn’t hold back. I grabbed the nearest thing to me, which was the big book, and whacked him right in the face. At least, that’s what it felt like I was doing. I didn’t even realize what I’d done until the pieces were around my feet. I promise I’ll replace it as soon as I can.”
“At least I know you can afford it now.” Bill scoffed. “You’re still sidestepping the problem.” He leveled his gaze on her again. “You lied to us.”
“He’s right. That’s the brunt of it. We don’t like people who don’t tell us the truth.” William’s hard glare softened, if only for a moment. “Especially when we care about that person.”
Her heart took a leap.
They care?
She took a step closer. “Can you guys ever forgive me?”
“That depends.” Carter moved close to her and took her by the wrist.
“On what?”
“On the condition that you never lie to us again.”
“Fuck that, bro. She can’t get off that easy.” Bill slugged back another drink.
“I’m with Bill,” added William. “Everything we thought we knew about her isn’t real.”
She had to make them understand. She had to get them to forgive her. If she’d trusted them from the beginning, she wouldn’t have made up her cover story and given them a fake name. “Please, guys. I’m sorrier than I can ever say. I know I should’ve told you the truth right from the start, but I just couldn’t.”
She fought back the tears. If they were going to forgive her, she didn’t want them doing it because they’d been swayed by her crying.
“Why couldn’t you?” William took a step closer. “What about us made you think you couldn’t?”
The answer burst out of her in a rush of words. “I just couldn’t tell you the truth. You don’t get it. You don’t know how it’s been. Men have always shafted me whenever I trusted them too much.” She turned away from them, unable to bear seeing their hard expressions any longer.
“I don’t want you to pity me.” She wiped away the one tear that had gotten loose.
“Trust me. We won’t. But finish what you were saying.”
Something in Bill’s tone had grown less harsh, but she didn’t want to let herself hope that he was considering forgiving her.
She let out a short laugh. “It’s just like the typical story in the movies. The girl’s father takes a hike, leaving her mom to tough it out by herself. Then the girl tries finding a substitute male figure in every boyfriend and, yeah, even in a teacher. But those men always wanted something from her. Sex or money or both, it didn’t matter. They never really cared about her.”
“And then this latest jerk did the same thing.”
She nodded, confirming what Carter said. “Every time I meet someone, I tell myself not to trust him, but damn if I didn’t give it another go with Johnnie. I don’t know whether I’m a hopeless romantic or just a fool. And, as usual, I got screwed over.”
She turned to face them. “After Johnnie, I just couldn’t risk telling you guys. Even if I’d wanted to, it was too soon. And besides, you three just seemed so perfect. You were just too good to be true, you know? Like the hero in the stupid movie only there are three of you.”
Carter gave her a smile that lessened the ache in her gut. “Yeah, I know. That’s what we thought about you.”
She searched Bill’s and William’s faces. Did they seem less angry? Did they understand why she’d had to lie?
“I swear. I will never, ever lie to you again.”
“How do we know that?” Bill crossed his arms as though protecting his own heart.
“You don’t. But I’m begging you to give me another chance.”
“I guess I can understand why you lied. If someone had messed with me like they have with you, I might feel the same way.” William frowned at her, but she could tell he wanted to let go of his anger. “What do you think, Bill?”
Bill didn’t answer right away. Was that a good sign?
“All right. If you’re saying you’re an open book now, then prove it. Tell us the truth. Does he mean anything to you? Is it really over?” Bill dropped his arms to his side.
Her heart skipped a beat. “Johnnie? I don’t think we were ever anything to begin with. Like I explained before. I needed someone, and he needed my money. Trust me. I have no feelings for him except disgust.”
“I believe her.” Carter glanced at the other two men. “And I’m willing to forgive her, too. What’s the alternative anyway? If we don’t, then we all lose.”
“I’m with Carter, Bill.” William let out a breath and he visibly relaxed. “I don’t want this, whatever it is, to end. If we don’t forgive her, then she has to leave. I don’t want that to happen. Besides, she didn’t know us then. Now she does.”
“Then she should’ve told us sooner.”
She closed her eyes. Would Bill ever forgive her? “Please give me another chance.”
“It’s not like you’ve never lied, bro.” Carter lifted his eyebrows at Bill. “Come on. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
She could see the struggle to stay angry in the emotions running across Bill’s face. He wanted to forgive her, but she’d hurt his pride. She finally reached out and placed a hand on his arm.
Bill’s body jerked, but he didn’t force her hand away. Instead, her touch seemed to melt the fury in him. “Okay. I’ll give you another chance.” He pointed at finger at her. “But don’t ever lie again. Got it?”
She squeezed his arm and couldn’t suppress her grin. “I swear. I will never, ever lie to you again.”
“Good. Then it’s settled.” William toasted their bargain with a quick shot. “Right, guys?”
“Right,” added Carter.
Her breath hitched in her throat as Carter yanked her close and sealed the deal with a kiss. Relief met with lust as she tugged him closer. She needed him, needed them, more than she needed air to breathe.
He broke their kiss, his gaze diving inside her to drag out any other lie she’d held back. Happy that she’d told them the truth, she gave him a seductive smile. “What was it you said about being simple-minded?”
The playfulness in him came out. “Well, what can I say? We aren’t as sophisticated as a famous singer like you.”
“Does that mean you do everything in a simple way?” She darted her gaze toward the hallway and the bedroom that lay beyond it. Yet when she focused on Carter again, she found her attention drawn by the men behind him.
“Not everything.” Bill’s wicked grin sent a chill through her. He motioned for Carter to bring her along with him to the living room. “I said that we’ll forgive you this time, but if you ever lie to us again, I’m going to lay you over the edge of the couch and wail on your ass.”
The idea of it took her breath away again. “I’d like to see you try it.”
William pushed his hat back on his head. “I do believe she just challenged you, Bill.”
“She sure did. But unless she tells another whopper, we’ll never know.”
She took the bait and ran with it. “Bill, I broke your flat screen, and I’ll break it again.” When he frowned at her, she realized she needed to make herself clearer. “Bill, ask me what color the sky is.”
He caught on. “What color is the sky?”
She leaned past him to check. “Looks to me like it’s zebra striped with pigs flying through the air.”
