“So … hi.” That soft expression—the one that felt vulnerable and kind. A flood of memories seeped in at the sight of it.
“Hey,” he mumbled, glancing around the room once more. “Let’s, uh, go outside, if you don’t mind. We can have a seat out back.” He pressed open the screen door, recognizing hints of her perfume. Much different from Miranda’s.
“Thank you,” she said, stepping onto the creaky porch.
Hunter flicked the outdoor light on and motioned for her to follow him around the side of the house. “Just a bit further,” he said, leading her to the back patio. An outdoor table stood there, surrounded by several chairs. He pulled one out for her, remaining quiet as she lowered herself into the seat.
Light spilled from the kitchen windows, lending a yellowed glow to the bluish black of the night. Hunter took a seat across from Vanessa, gulped back the lump building in his throat, and set his eyes on her. “What brings you out to Montana?”
Vanessa flashed him that smile. “You’re sitting so far away.” When he didn’t reply, she continued. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. Thinking that if I could go back and do things differently, I would.”
Hunter’s heart lurched like the swather out on the field when a part went awry. She had to be kidding. “Well, we can’t go back, Vanessa, so I guess I’m kind of wondering why you came all the way out here to tell me something we can’t do anything about.” Sure, it wasn’t the nicest thing he could say, but he’d been yanked around by this woman enough already. There was no need to go playing any more of her games.
The corners of her eyes caught reflections of light, revealing hints of moisture there. She sniffed, and Hunter couldn’t help but wonder if this was real or an Oscar moment.
“I knew you’d be angry with me. I don’t blame you for that.” She shook her head, dabbed at her eyes with glitter-covered nails. “I know we can’t go back in time, Hunt. But we still have the future. If we wanted to make things work between us, we could find a way.”
“There’s nothing to work out, and there is no us. In fact, if you look at it on paper, it’s like there never was an us. They took a big fat eraser to that mistake, and now it’s gone.”
She nodded, her shoulders curling over her chest. Her lip began to tremble.
Hunter was being heartless. Whether her emotion was real or feigned, he should be a gentleman. With a resigned sigh, he pulled out the chair beside her and took a seat there. He rested a hand on her back, rubbing it as she wept.
“I wish I could erase the giant mistake I made when I left you.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand and sniffed some more.
“You can’t really want to take that back,” Hunter said. “Look at everything you’ve accomplished since you left. You finally got the life you always wanted.”
Vanessa lifted her chin, turned her head so that she faced the land. Crickets chirped. A horse neighed. And a warm breeze blew the scents of hay across the fields. “But why couldn’t I have wanted a simpler life instead? Then I could have had you, and all of this too.” She waved an arm toward the barn and the back field. “I want a new life. One that doesn’t include stupid movie stars who hop from one bed to the next without a second thought. I want people to love me because they know me, not because they know my face or my name. I miss having someone love me for who I am. Despite the fact that I wake up super ornery. Or that I can’t sing one note in tune. Or that when I stub my toe I curse like a sailor. You loved me the way I was, star or not. And I miss that. I want it back.”
She turned back to him, her gaze pleading.
Deer in the headlights couldn’t do the moment justice. Vanessa had just poured her heart out, and now she wanted a reply. Trouble was, Hunter couldn’t summon a word.
Mia eyed the clock on her phone as she texted her granddad. She didn’t want to wake him with a phone call if he’d already gone to bed. But she didn’t want to wait until the morning, either. Not if he was still awake.
Hi Gramps, this is Mia. Would you mind if I got Connor’s number from you? By the way, I miss you.
Within moments her phone buzzed, a text showing on the screen. Mia’s pulse spiked.
I miss you too, Dollie. Here ya go.
Connor’s number followed. It was fairly late in the evening, but it was a Friday night. If Gramps was awake, chances were Connor would be too. Possibly out on the town, but awake just the same. She considered what she wanted to ask him, pulled in a deep breath, and then made the call.
Three rings, and the line picked up. “Hello?”
“Hey, Connor? This is Mia.” Country music sounded in the distance, and memories of her mechanical bull ride came back to her in spades.
“Hi there,” he crooned. “How are you?”
She smiled, picturing that brow lift he always did. “I’m good.” Had she said that before the last hour, she might not have meant it, but now, with the plan she had in mind, Mia was feeling better than she had in days. She was ready to take action. Action she should have taken long before now.
“So I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay,” he said. “Shoot.”
Mia inhaled one more breath of courage. “How would you like to take Karen’s place?”
Chapter 23
Mia could hardly wait to surprise Gramps. She’d been tempted to call him after her conversation with Connor last night, but they’d talked for nearly an hour, and she was certain he’d probably hit the sack by then.
She looked out the airplane window as the pilot announced that they’d arrived at their destination. Blue sky, fields of swaying gold, and plenty of sun, sun, sun! The word home ran through her mind. It felt more like home than any place ever had. It made Mia hopeful that Option A—at the top of the list in her polka-dot binder—would work.
The good news was, Connor, unlike Mack, could actually relocate if need be. If it came down to that, Mia would make the most of it. But she was hopeful. Optimistic. And really looking forward to setting things right, no matter the outcome. She had an apology to make. Some pride to gulp. And a relationship to save.
There seemed to be cheering and jeering sections competing in her head. A crowd that told her she could actually get the happy ending she now dreamed of, and an opposing side that told her it was too late. Perhaps it was, but that wouldn’t stop her from trying.
Mia reminded herself of that very thing as she wheeled her carry-on down the jet way.
“Excuse me,” a voice came from behind.
She turned to see a group of teenage girls dressed in matching sports gear.
“Are you Mia from Try My Life?”
Mia grinned, taking in all of their lovely smiles. “Yeah. Hi, ladies!”
“Are you coming back to see Hunter?” a girl in braces asked.
“He’s so hot,” a few gushed in unison.
Mia laughed. “Yes,” she admitted, “he is. And I definitely plan to see him while I’m here.”
A round of squeals sounded among the girls.
“Can we take a picture with you?” one asked.
“Sure.” Mia didn’t want Hunter to know she was here before she had a chance to talk with him, but he was the last person who’d see a post about her on social media.
The girls took turns handing their phones to the accompanying parent.
“Do you need a ride to the ranch?” one asked. “My dad could probably take you.”
“Oh, thanks, but I’ve already got a ride.”
“Who is it?” a wide-eyed blonde asked.
“Connor,” Mia announced, and the squeals started up again. Looks like Connor was going to have a welcoming committee when he arrived.
It took only a minute to find him by the doors. Mia hadn’t checked any luggage this time, so they passed by the carousel, but she couldn’t help but look at it and think of the way Hunter reached in and snatched her suitcase on her first day here.
And while she took pictures of Connor with the group of adoring (albeit yo
ung) fans, Mia relived the time she’d bumped into Hunter while filming. Where had that footage ended up anyway? She wouldn’t mind watching the moment the two first met, even if it was filled with tension and awkwardness and a lot of irritation on his part.
She smiled, enjoying thoughts of him more than she should allow. It was dangerous ground, after all. What if he wanted nothing to do with her?
Her pulse sped up like a racehorse at the thought, but Mia worked to calm it, assuring herself she could handle whatever came her way. If Hunter wasn’t interested, she’d simply go with option B or C. She had backup plans, and that’s what mattered. Gramps would be covered as well, seeing that Connor’s younger brother was set to replace him at the ranch. Which should work out well since the kid had already worked there the last few summers.
During the drive, Connor shared a list of ideas he’d come up with. Ways they could really take advantage of the country environment, local businesses, and some new, nationwide sponsors, if they ended up staying in Montana.
“Wow,” Mia said, jotting the ideas in her binder. “If you came up with all this overnight, I’d be interested to see what you could do with a week.”
Connor chuckled. “This is right up my alley. I’ve been dying for an opportunity like this. So thanks.” He shrugged. “Which place are we headed to first? Wayne’s, or the ranch house?”
The motion in Mia’s stomach could churn butter. “The ranch house,” she said.
Hunter might not have been in the car, but she could feel the unspoken question of him in the truck cab. So far, Connor was doing a great job of staying out of her personal life and not asking. She appreciated his respect, but Karen wouldn’t have held back. She missed that, missed having someone around to talk to about things. She’d have to adjust to this new norm.
Mia was torn about mentioning him at all. She’d see Hunter soon enough and get answers to her questions then.
“Maybe we should go see Gramps first,” she said, already chickening out.
Connor glanced over and smiled. “Nervous about seeing Hunter?” He drove right past the turnoff to Gramps’s place.
Mia shifted her focus out the window. “The answer to that is a booming yes.” A small laugh fell from her lips. The part of Mia that was worried about the two of them working together disappeared. “My stomach feels like there’s a gremlin trying to claw its way out.”
Connor chuckled. “I’ve had that feeling before.”
“And my hands don’t feel normal either. My palms are like these wet, clammy things that keep skidding against the leather seats.” She joined him in laughing this time. What a mess she was.
“Hunter’s a stubborn guy,” he said. “And he doesn’t open up a whole lot. But I do know that he really cares for you, Mia. I think he’s going to be very happy to see you.”
Mia smiled and nodded as she repeated his words in her head. “Thanks. I hope so.”
They pulled up to the house. Hunter’s truck stood out front, but Mia’s body reacted to the sight like it was Hunter himself. Warmth and tingles and excitement. She straightened her shoulders as the engine stopped and rubbed her palms over her jeans. “I should have kept the barf bag they gave me on the flight.”
“Naw,” Connor said. “You’ve got this.”
Chapter 24
Hunter woke to the sound of hangers clanking in his closet. He pried an eye open in time to see Vanessa slipping into one of his button-up shirts.
He stretched his arms over his head as she turned to face him. “Good morning,” she said softly. “How’d you sleep?” Vanessa stepped over to the foot of Hunter’s bed and took a seat on the edge, the shirt she wore hiking up her thigh.
Hunter diverted his gaze, turning onto his side to where he faced the wall. “I slept fine. What about you?” It couldn’t have been great. The woman refused to go back with Wayne and stay in a spare room at his place. When Hunter reluctantly offered his bed to her, suggesting that he sleep on the couch, Vanessa insisted she sleep on the couch instead. Which was nothing if not out of character.
A hand landed gently on his leg over the covers. “I slept fine too. I kept thinking about you, though.”
Hunter rolled his eyes.
“I know you said you didn’t feel the same, Hunter, but I think we still have something. Aren’t you curious?”
Since he’d already told her last night that he wasn’t, he remained silent.
“Come on. I have a little time to kill before my flight.” Her hand moved up to his knee, lingered there as she spoke further. “My clothes are in the wash. All that I’m wearing right now is your shirt.”
“Just stop, Vanessa. Okay?” Hunter climbed out of the bed and headed toward the bathroom. “I’m going to shower. I’m sure you brought other clothes besides the ones you wore—”
“I didn’t.”
Yeah right. The woman couldn’t pack light if her life depended on it. Although, he hadn’t seen her holding any luggage when she came in. “Do you have a shuttle coming for you?”
“I was hoping you could take me.”
He should have figured. “When did you say your flight leaves?”
Vanessa’s face took on that pout she always wore. “In, like, three hours.”
“Fine. I’ll grab a quick shower. You get dressed, grab some breakfast if you’d like, then I’ll take you to the airport.” He slammed the door behind him, frustrated by the way he’d let her crawl under his skin. Who knew if the ranch hands were up yet. If so, they’d probably think they’d died and gone to heaven, stumbling into the one and only Vanessa McKlainy in their kitchen. Wearing his shirt, no less. No doubt Vanessa would love to strut around in front of the adoring men half-naked as she was, eating up the attention. The thought had him shaking his head.
Steam rose from the shower as the water heated up, telling Hunter it was ready. He finished rinsing off his toothbrush before stepping into the steady spray. He could hardly believe he’d compared Mia to the conniving woman he’d been married to. If Vanessa thought seeing her would bring back old feelings of tenderness, she was wrong. It had done the exact opposite. Made him wonder how he could have ever liked her in the first place. And boy, did it make him yearn for Mia. That girl didn’t have a conniving bone in her body.
Probably because her priorities were different. Mia liked spreading light in an often too-dark world, and she was good at it. Dang good. She was just as much herself on-screen as she was off, and he liked that.
Hunter had been wrestling with guilt over the last few days. Why he’d fought that guilt, he wasn’t sure. In the end, he’d overreacted. She’d simply changed her mind about staying. It wasn’t like she’d said she wasn’t coming back. Mia had made it clear that she did want to come back. That she didn’t want to leave. He’d been a real idiot in retrospect.
Mia had every right to be concerned about the show with Karen leaving. In the end, he hadn’t taken her job any more seriously than her father or ex-boyfriend. He should have supported her better, made what was important to her important to him instead of feeling like he had to compete with the show. Mia never made him feel that way. Those feelings had all come from inside him, from that fear that he’d nurtured over the last few years. He’d sabotaged the relationship before it had a chance.
The feelings within him pushed past guilt and straight to embarrassment. He tipped his head back, let the hot water fall over his face. He needed to find a way to fix things. Try reaching out to her. A phone call or text. Maybe a clever comment on one of the vlogs … No, that would be lame. No matter, he’d find some way to apologize, and fast. He only hoped she’d forgive him. Beyond that, he hoped Mia would give him another chance.
“I don’t want to take my bag out of the car,” Mia said.
Connor shrugged. “Okay.”
“’Kay.” Only she didn’t move. Simply stayed in place, her seat belt strapped over her body, her fingers clenching the strap of her carry-on.
Before she even noticed Connor getting
out, he was opening the door for her. And then leading her up the steps of the ranch hands’ place. A memory rushed to her of the time she’d gone into Hunter’s room to charge her phone. Mia had joined him on the edge of his bed. She’d told him goodbye in that moment, and Hunter had come after her. She hadn’t done it to play games. Rather to avoid playing games, seeing that he’d gone from kissing her one moment to ignoring her the next.
So why hadn’t he come after her the second time, too?
The question had her wanting to take backward steps down the porch and slink back into the truck before she could be seen.
Connor pulled open the front door and motioned for Mia to step inside.
After a nervous smile in his direction, she did. She glanced around the front room, noticed the side table where they’d seen his microwaved burritos, and smiled. She missed him. Couldn’t wait to see him.
“Should I just … I mean, do you want to see if you can find him first? Ask him to come out or something—”
“Hi there! Oh my goodness, are you Mia?”
If eyes had the ability to double in size, Mia’s would do it in that moment. She couldn’t be seeing straight. There was no way Vanessa McKlainy was standing in that kitchen.
Connor strode over to the lovely woman. “How are you doing, Vanessa? I’m Connor.”
Mia tiptoed in behind him.
“Oh, I recognize you,” Vanessa assured. “I’ve seen you on the show. You’re so cute.” She reached out to give him a hug, and that’s when Mia noticed what she was wearing. And what she was not wearing. Part of her bare behind showed as she reached her arms around Connor.
“That’s nice of you to say,” Connor said. “I didn’t know … uh, when did you get here?”
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