by Taylor Hart
Montana winked at Coach, and noticed tears forming in the man’s eyes. He slapped his back. “I’ll be at homecoming in October, so you keep these kids whipped into shape. I gotta go.”
“You bet.” Coach waved at him, looking quite pleased. “You done a good thing, Montana. We won’t let you down.”
Montana took off, but turned back to say, “No, Coach, I won’t let you down.”
Getting back to the motel, Montana couldn’t believe how light and free he felt. He loved this town. He remembered that now. Loved the people. Cindy and Frank. All the teachers and coaches at the school who’d accepted and loved him. He loved the community. Yes, in the future, he would make this town part of his home. He’d come back, mingle with his old friends even if he’d messed up. Families forgive you—at least, the kind of family Montana had always wanted did. He was done forgetting the past. He had Jason to thank for that.
He could feel himself changing. As he took the steps to the motel and back to his room, his mind was flooded with Lily. He could have sworn somewhere between one and four in the morning he’d heard something from her room. Something like crying. It was there, and then it wasn’t. He’d wanted to go to her, but she didn’t want him.
He didn’t know what she was ready for, but he prepared himself to walk away if he had to. It would hurt, more than he wanted to admit. He respected her, though, and he wouldn’t demand she do the list with him.
After all, these were his demons to work through. For Jason. For himself. He wished with every part of him he could change the way he’d treated everyone, wished he could take back the silence. But he could only change the future.
As the shower pounded against him, Montana did something he hadn’t done for a long time. He prayed. Not just for himself, but for Lily too.
* * *
When Lily came out of the motel at eight sharp, she looked professional. Today, she wore black pants, black boots, a high ponytail, and red lipstick.
His heart almost stopped. He wanted to ask if her lipstick was the same kind from high school, but he couldn’t ask anything. He needed to know if she’d made her decision.
She sucked in a long breath and evaluated him.
“Lil.”
She took off her Jackie O sunglasses and gave him another once-over. “I’ll come with you to Hawaii.”
Wanting to fist-pump the air like the Storm had just won the championship, he kept his composure. She was not Cameron Cruz, and she wouldn’t appreciate the victory hooting and hollering. He spoke evenly. “Okay.”
Lily sighed. “I want you to know something.”
His heart thudded inside his chest.
Her lips pursed together. “There’s no secret.” Her voice was firm. Her look was severe. This must be the look she gave opposing counsel in the courtroom when she didn’t want to be bugged by an issue any longer.
He knew it wasn’t true. He could feel it. But he didn’t care. Why should they fight about it? If he hadn’t known for eight years, why did it matter now? “Fine.”
“Fine.” She took the acceptance quickly. “And we’ll have to talk more about the rest of the list. I’m not sure yet, so don’t ask if I’m going to do it.”
“I won’t.”
“And we don’t need to talk about our pasts and everything that’s happened in our lives. In fact,” she said, seeming to be gaining speed, “I think it would be better if we didn’t bring the past up at all.”
“I don’t agree.”
“What?” She looked confused.
Taking a step toward her to close the distance, he peered into those vibrant eyes. “If you come on this trip, I want to get to know you again, Lily.” He put his hand up when he saw she was about to disagree with him. “Not because I want what we had, Lil.” Gently, he reached out and removed a wisp of her hair that had fallen into her eyes. “Because we were friends. All of us. I want that again. I won’t try to extract secrets, I won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with, but if you come, you treat me as your friend.”
“I’m dating Brad.”
Breaking eye contact and rubbing his eyebrow, he sighed. “I know.”
She scowled. “I won’t kiss you anymore, either.”
This statement took him by surprise. He kept her hand for a second. “That’s fine, Lil. But I want to be friends. Deal?”
She dropped his hand. “I’m not promising anything. I’m coming because of Jason, not because of you.”
“Fine. Let’s go catch a plane.” He plastered on a grin, hoping he could stop torturing himself by thinking about kissing her last night. It’d been all he could think about since they left the water tower. At least his foot was in the door. He would take it.
14
She would be lying if she said she wasn’t intimidated by the rock star life Montana lived. She was. When they got to the Billings airport, they were immediately escorted to Montana’s jet. They taxied right after boarding. As soon as the jet leveled off, a flight attendant appeared to serve drinks and snacks.
Montana left her alone for most of the plane ride. Toward the end, he spoke business to his assistant on the phone.
For a brief moment, she listened to him conduct business. As she peered down through the clouds at the ocean, she had to admit to herself that she was giddy. Completely giddy. It was Hawaii! She wanted to gush and call Charity, but she refrained.
When they arrived on the island of Oahu, the smell of the ocean and the muggy feel in the air made her smile. They were ushered to a resort on the other side of the island in a limo. She watched the city of Honolulu rush by her and finally yield to ocean views. It was beautiful. As they got to a resort on the beach called Turtle Bay, Montana turned to her. “This place is a bit older, but it has great service and is right on the beach.” Digging into his wallet, he handed her a credit card.
“What are you doing?”
Cocking his head to the side, he smiled. “Lil, this trip is my treat. I didn’t give you time to prepare. You’ll need clothes, a swimsuit, and I don’t know what else.”
She still refused. “No, I’m not some kept woman. We’re on a mission. We are here for Jason. That’s all.”
Montana shrugged and slipped the credit card into her purse. “I’m still paying your firm for your time.”
She dug into her purse, retrieved the card, and shoved it back at him. “Are you trying to make me regret my decision to come?”
“Stop being so stubborn, woman. Do you get that I have billions of dollars?” he challenged.
Without anything to say, she settled for saying, “Bragger!” Then she dropped the credit card between them on the seat.
Stunned, he released her hand and threw his head back, laughing. Then he took his hat off and wiped his head. “Man, I’ve missed you, Lil.”
Not understanding why Montana Crew brought out the worst part of her, she shook her head and sucked in a breath. The limo waited in line to drop them at the front doors.
He laughed even harder.
“You just don’t know what to do because usually the bimbos you hang out with never say no to a credit card.”
Sobering, he nodded. “One correction: I don’t hang out with bimbos. But yeah, if I’ve ever given one of my cards to a woman, they’ve never declined the offer.”
Her door opened, and she got out.
She’d never been to Hawaii before, and staring at the beach instead of going into the main area to check in, she really did feel like it was everything the movies had always made it out to be. The breeze smelled like pineapples. Or was it the person placing a flower lei around her neck? The lei also smelled amazing.
“Aloha,” the beautiful dark-skinned girl said as she pulled back and kissed Lily’s cheek. She held out a flowered gift bag to her.
Another girl was doing the same to Montana, and he was smiling back at her.
Their eyes met. Lily felt the wonder and excitement of the moment, and all the pain of the past briefly melted away. It was crazy—she was
in Hawaii! She couldn’t stop herself from grinning.
A mischievous glint was in his eyes. “What do you think, Lil?”
Again, unable to stop herself, she grinned back at him. “I think I want to go surfing.”
He nodded to the bag and reached into his own. “I thought we’d need swimsuits.”
Unable to even care he’d bought her something, she rushed into the lobby. “Let’s get changed.”
He matched her grin and took her hand. They rushed through check-in and up to their adjoining rooms. Lily was so happy.
She changed into the red halter-top swimsuit and gave herself a once-over in the mirror.
He knocked on her door. “Are you ready?”
She flung the door back and rushed down the hall, not thinking about how she was here with a famous country music star. At the elevator, she pressed the down button repeatedly. It was like her very life depended on this moment, doing this thing for Jason. For herself.
Montana was on her heels. “Dang, woman, you’re in a hurry.”
She ignored his bare chest and the way his blue, flowery swim shorts showed off his six-pack abs.
Montana turned to her. “Have you ever been here, Lil?” Montana asked on the way down.
“No, have you?”
His eyes turned sad for a second. Then he nodded. “To Hawaii, yes. But Turtle Bay? It’s the first time.”
This made her happy. They got out of the elevator, and she took off, breaking into a full-on run when she got through the door leading to the beach. “Race ya!”
15
Montana was surprised that she’d gotten the jump on him and that she even wanted to race. He let out a redneck yell and chased her.
When they got closer to the ocean, he kicked it up a notch and caught up to her. Her eyes widened, and she let out a raging laugh as she slowed to wade into the ocean. “I can’t believe we’re here.” Her eyes trailed over him, and he felt the attraction between them. She grinned. “I beat you.”
His eyes met hers, and the side of his lip tugged up. Unable to resist teasing her, he closed the space between them and put his hands on her hips. “Whoever wins gets thrown in first!”
She giggled and shrieked while he picked her up and ran into the ocean, tossing her when he got waist deep.
A wave showered over them, and he tasted salt water on his lips.
The sun was bright, and there was barely anyone on the beach except a few families further down with kids building sandcastles.
She came up laughing and coughing, her skin glistening. Her red swimsuit accentuated her perfect curves.
The waves were behind her, the sun was warm, and Lil was here. His heart could have stopped, and he would have considered himself a lucky man.
Then his heart was racing. A painful racing. He wanted to say he didn’t want to know her secret, that he could leave what they had in the past, but he couldn’t deny he wanted her again.
And the secret came with her.
Everything was coming back, slamming into him like some tsunami, threatening to take over. He wasn’t the boy from ten years ago, and she wasn’t that girl. No, now he was a man, and she was a woman. All of his feelings were heightened and growing. The magnetic attraction she’d spoken about was more powerful than ever.
They could have everything. Together. Right now.
Montana held himself back. He wouldn’t scare her away. It felt like they were finally breaking through the anger she had carried around since he’d seen her again. It felt like he was getting through the shield she used to protect herself.
Happily, she smiled and turned to look out at the ocean. “Oh my gosh, are there really turtles here?”
He moved next to her, scanning the shoreline. “There’s snorkeling gear on the beach for us. Should we go get it? Our surf lesson isn’t for another hour.”
“Yes.”
They started wading back to the beach, where he saw two piles of snorkeling gear. This hotel was good.
“This is when I need Charity,” she said breathlessly.
“Who?” Montana gestured for her to sit.
“My assistant, the one who told you more than she should have.”
“Right.”
“She’s a free spirit. She’s way better at this kind of thing.”
Montana slowly shook his head. “The Lil I knew was a free spirit too. I remember the first time you and Jason took me to out to Keystone Lake. I couldn’t believe it when you just jumped off those cliffs. Then I had to jump, too.”
Lily laughed, and it sounded delicious. If her laugh were food, Montana would be getting second helpings. “I’d forgotten about Keystone. Those cliffs.”
“You’re braver than you think, Lil.”
Pulling her hair away from her face, she used an elastic band and pulled it into a ponytail. She didn’t look at him. “Brave or stupid?” she asked quietly.
Montana had the feeling she wasn’t talking about the cliffs, but he let it go. Reaching down, he grabbed a fin and nodded to her set. “Here, you put it on like this, and then you tighten the back.”
Lily copied him.
Next, he showed her how to put her mask on and adjust it. Popping his off, he grinned. “The trick to snorkeling is not freaking out when you can’t breathe normally. Keep the seal tight around your nose, and let your mouth do all the breathing. It’s weird at first. Just remember that all the air has to go back and forth through your mouth.”
Looking tentative, she nodded, putting the mask in place and the tube into her mouth. “Okay.”
Montana positioned his own, then pulled the tube out. “Let’s go find those sea turtles.”
She nodded.
They began the process of scooting out into the ocean. The first time he’d come to Hawaii had been with Kim, his ex-wife. That’d been five years ago. He’d been divorced for three, so it felt like forever.
Even though he wasn’t sure what their relationship was, being here with Lil meant everything. His heart soared. He’d take this gift, and he’d be grateful to Jason.
They snorkeled to the deeper water, and he saw Lil pull up for a second.
He pulled up and pulled out his tube. “You okay?”
She laughed. “I started trying to breathe with my nose.”
He laughed. “Mouth. Mouth.”
She nodded and started again.
He pointed to a fish. Then he heard her making a noise, and he turned and saw another fish. Black, yellow, long. Beautiful.
He loved being under water. It was a whole new world. An unseen one.
The turtle came through two large rocks. Montana tried to get Lil’s attention, but she was investigating something else.
So he went to her and took her hand. Jerking her head back to him, she followed where he was pointing. They swam to the turtle, and he could see Lil’s wonder and excitement through the mask. He imagined his face showed the same emotions. Being this close to the sea creature was incredible.
In a rookie move, she reached out and touched it.
“No!” he shouted through the water.
Confused, she went to the surface.
He pulled off his mask as he emerged. “You can’t touch them. It could hurt them. All the wildlife can be hurt by having their natural habitat taken off of them.” He should have told her this sooner.
“Oh. Okay.”
They put their masks back on and went to explore some more. They showed each other every new school of fish and interesting rock or shell.
It was just like when they’d first met.
16
Old memories rushed through Lily’s mind. Being with Montana in Hawaii felt so normal. In the past few years, she’d kept a strong clamp on all thoughts of him, of the past. If she did think of him, she put in him the worst version of what he could be—cocky, arrogant, unfeeling, uncaring. Going from woman to woman after his divorce. The version she’d seen touted in those stupid magazines in the grocery store line. The ones she tried not to look
at. Lately, she’d noticed that he’d been caught hanging out with famous football players.
But now, being here and having him gesture to some under water marvel felt surreal. Like she was in a movie, but she didn’t recognize the actress who was playing her. Between school, work, and her mom, Lily hadn’t taken time for herself for as long as she could remember. Enjoying life had always been a “later” kind of thing.
But here it was. Later. With the man she used to love.
A nervous wave pulsed through her, and she abruptly turned away from him.
Brad. Brad. Brad. Tonight she would call him. They had to talk about Jared Carter anyway. Brad had people getting more interviews and was putting pressure on the maid to testify in court. Hopefully, they could get Jared into a home where he would be safe. A home that was nothing like her childhood home.
Her father’s face flashed into her mind, the face he’d always worn when he’d come home drunk late at night—glassy-eyed, spittle flying when he yelled at her and her mom. Immediate fear and adrenaline spiked through her. Jared had to get away from his father.
Suddenly, she realized Montana was tapping her shoulder. All her dark thoughts immediately dissipated, and dang if her heart didn’t pitter-patter just like when she’d been so affected by him as a stupid teenager.
They emerged out of the water and onto the beach. His eyes swept her up and down. Her red suit wasn’t fancy, but she watched her diet and worked out regularly. It wasn’t pride, she told herself, to feel good about the way she looked. She could see the appreciation in his eyes.
The side of his lip tugged up. “That was fun, right?”
Without trying, she couldn’t help but notice his bare chest and actual abs, his slick, wet hair that trailed messily into his green eyes, and his tanned skin. The lower part of her gut stirred. Yeah, Montana Crew looked better than ever. Then she thought of the millions of women and girls that probably had his posters up on their walls, and she turned away. “It was fun.”
He laughed, and she turned to him. His dimple, the one that only came out when he grinned widely, deepened. “You look good, Lil.”
