by Nina Lane
He closed his eyes, finding it hard to look at her. She was so beautiful and desirable that anything she asked for, he’d give her. Even the moon if he could.
“Brody, if I do this, there’s no telling how soon I’ll get to come home. It could be weeks, months from now. I don’t know.” She reached out and laid her hand over his. He ignored the temptation of her touch, the allure of her voice when she pleaded her case. “I’ve wanted you for so long…and now that I have you…I’m not sure I’m ready to give you up.”
Brody clenched his teeth. He had to remain strong. “If you don’t get on that plane, there is no us.”
Her hand slid from his. “What are you saying?”
He opened his eyes and riveted her with an intense stare. “If you throw away your only chance at stardom for me, I’ll never forgive myself. What kind of man would I be if I held you back? How could you continue to love and respect me if I didn’t push you to chase your dream?” He edged closer and cradled her face, catching her tears in his palms. “It kills me to tell you to leave. Especially when I’m finally holding the one person in my life I can’t live without.” He brushed his thumb across her cheek and softened his voice. “But because you are the only thing that is right in my world…I must do right by you. You deserve nothing less.” He drew in a breath, holding back his own emotions. “Now, you’re going to get on that plane…and you’re going to knock the socks off Nashville. You hear me?”
Through their tears, they shared a laugh recalling her words from earlier this evening. He pressed his forehead against hers, and swallowed the lump in his throat. “Tell me you’re going to Nashville, Liv.”
She nodded.
“I need to hear you say it, baby.”
“I will,” she whispered. “I will go to Nashville. And I will make you so proud of me.”
He looked deep in her eyes, brushing back a flyaway strand of hair from her face. “You already do.”
* * *
After more than a four-hour trip through Wyoming the following evening, Brody parked his truck in the lot across from the ticketing entrance of the Jackson Hole Airport and rounded the vehicle to open Liv’s door. He took in the majestic snow-capped Teton mountain range standing at an impressive thirteen thousand plus feet, less than a few miles away. For once in his life, he felt small. Unimportant. He wondered if this was how all the significant others of famous people felt.
Holding her door open, he took her by the hand and helped her out of the seat. The wind blew her hair in whips of wild ebony. He reckoned she was thankful she hadn’t worn that sundress he liked so much.
“Are you ready?” he asked, though he felt more inclined to ask himself the same question.
Liv peered out toward the mountains and watched a plane come in for a landing. “I guess so.” She bit her nail and tilted her head up to look at him. “Not really.”
“You’ll be fine,” he tried to soothe.
“I’ve never flown before, Galven.”
He smiled at his rough and tough tomboy falling apart. He lifted her suitcase from the bed of the truck and grabbed her guitar case from the seat. “I’ve not either, but I heard the takeoffs and landings are the hardest to get through. Close your eyes and think of me. I’ll have my arms around you the whole time.”
“I wish you were coming with me.”
Brody nodded, determined not to make this harder than it already was. “Call me when you land. And when you find your agent at the terminal. And when you get to your hotel. And before you go to sleep tonight.”
Liv giggled at his overprotectiveness, though he was serious.
He walked her to the beautiful lodge-like building and stopped at the glass doors at the front entrance. He set her guitar and suitcase on the sidewalk. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to maneuver all this on your own? What the hell did you pack?”
“Some necessities.”
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “Okay, so your mother knows your flight schedule, right? I don’t have to call her?”
Liv swung her upper body outward, giving him that puppy dog look. “It wouldn’t hurt if you did. In fact, it might make her feel better to know you cared enough to call her.”
June, Liv’s mom, was a hard-nosed, hard-working female who didn’t seem to notice the good in any man, especially since both her father and husband had left her. Though Brody had always tried to be courteous toward the bitter woman, he knew one phone call was not about to change fifty years of intense animosity. “She doesn’t like me much. I can tell.”
“Momma likes you,” Liv insisted. “She’s just protective of me. Surely you, of all people, can understand that.”
Precious time with Liv was running out, and he didn’t want to spend it debating June’s hang-ups. He cupped the back of her head and pulled her against his chest. “Yeah, yeah. I hear you.”
“Thanks, Galven. Oh, and tell Rod thanks for helping you get my car back home. I was so worked up last night, I completely forgot about leaving it at Jonas’s.”
“Not a problem.”
“And speaking of Jonas, tell him I’m sorry that he had to come home to…well, you know.”
“Got it.”
“Oh, and one other thing! Will you—”
Brody seized her face and pulled her into a kiss to get her to shut up. It worked like a charm. Even better, he was able to savor the taste of her one last time before she said good-bye. He knew letting her get on that plane was going to be difficult, but he never expected it to be this hard. Next to burying his father, this was definitely the toughest thing he’d ever had to endure.
“What are you going to do while I’m gone?” she asked as he slowly pulled out of the kiss.
He gave it some thought. “Might school Psycho some more, turn him into a cutting horse. Thought about painting Mom’s porch for her. She’d like that, I think. Maybe see if Mr. Corinth still has that old 1953 Chevy 3100 he wants to fix up. Aside from those things, I’ll be sitting around missing you. But don’t worry. No matter how long you’re gone, I’ll still be here, waiting for you.”
Liv picked up her guitar case with one hand and grabbed her suitcase with the other. She walked to the door, opened it, and hesitated. Looking over her shoulder, she rocked him with a smile that beat all. “I love you, Galven.”
With his heart in his throat, he rushed over and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her lips in another searing kiss. He memorized her scent, her curves beneath his hands, and her sweet whimper in his ears. “I will always love you, my dear sweet Liv.”
He tipped his hat and walked backward toward his truck, unable to tear his gaze from her. She broke first, which he figured she would, as she had a plane to catch. But little did she know, he’d stay in his truck for the next two hours until he personally saw her plane take off, all the while longing for his Liv to come back home.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
If you enjoyed Longing for Langston, the prequel novella to the Mavericks of Meeteetse series, and are dying to find out how Brody gets along with Liv jumpstarting her career in Nashville, then I encourage you to read the continuing books in this series to find out. The first book in the series, Made For McKinley, is available for pre-order now!
*All are meant to be stand-alones (and can be read in any order), but for a more satisfying “happily ever after,” reading in order is helpful.
* * *
Take a trip out West and meet Jonas, Cole, and Sawyer—the three sexy, rugged cowboys who rope and run the McKinley ranch, as well as the women who try to tame them.
MAVERICKS OF MEETEETSE
A cowboy romance series set in the small town of Meeteetse, Wyoming.
Made for McKinley, Book One
Falling for Forester, Book Two
Wild for Wallace, Book Three
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
RENEE VINCENT is a bestselling Contemporary & Historical Romance author who also pens humorous, sweet contemporary roman
ce (with a smidgen of spunk) under the name GRACIE LEE ROSE.
From the daunting, charismatic Vikings, to the charming, brazen Alpha male heroes of modern day, readers will be whisked away to a world filled with fast-paced adventure, unforgettable romance, and undying love.
Her books have earned numerous accolades, including a #1 Amazon Bestseller for Viking Romance, countless 5 Star TOP PICKS by Night Owl Reviews, a "5 HEART Sweetheart" Award by The Romance Studio, and a "Best Book of the Year" nomination from Long And Short Reviews.
Find Renee Vincent at http://www.reneevincent.com/
LAGUNA HEIGHTS
The Laguna Beach Series
By
Kaira Rouda
www.KairaRouda.com
Books by Kaira Rouda
Women’s Fiction:
Here, Home, Hope
In the Mirror
A Mother’s Day
Mystery/ Suspense:
All the Difference
Contemporary Romance:
The Indigo Island Series
Weekend with the Tycoon
Her Forbidden Love
The Trouble with Christmas
The Billionaire’s Bid
The Laguna Beach Series
Laguna Nights
Laguna Heights
Kindle Worlds:
The Remingtons: Spotlight on Love
LAGUNA HEIGHTS
In high school, Annie Johns was the calm, supportive sidekick to the rest of the tumultuous female stars of the hit reality TV show, Laguna Nights. Today, she’s living the happy life as a mom that she predicted on the show long ago. There’s only one problem: the secret from her past that haunts her most nights, a secret that if revealed could ruin everything she shares with her husband, Hank, a man who saved her from the heartache.
CHAPTER ONE
TODAY
RALPH’S PARKING LOT
LAGUNA BEACH
Why won’t Madison pick up? Annie’s hand shook as she held her phone to her ear, wishing her best friend would answer her call. Annie sat crouched down, hiding in the front seat of her white mini-van, ducked below the steering wheel, hoping Chris hadn’t followed her out to the grocery store’s parking lot.
Knowing him, as she did, he would.
“Madison, it’s Annie. I need to talk to you. Please, call me,” she said before hanging up. Breathe in, breathe out, she reminded herself, techniques the counselor at college had taught her to deal with this situation her senior year in college all those years ago. She had been free from Chris for more than a decade.
What was he doing in Laguna Beach? Had he come here to find her or was it just a coincidence?
A fist pounded on the driver’s side window.
“Hey Annie,” Chris yelled through the glass as Annie screamed.
CHAPTER TWO
TEN YEARS EARLIER
IRVINE
Annie sat at her favorite table at an outdoor café at the University of California Irvine’s center. She had loved college, every minute of it, and especially enjoyed sitting here at the café and people watching. She’d spent the summer waiting tables at an outdoor restaurant in her hometown of Laguna Beach, just down Coast Highway from the campus. Her face was dotted with freckles to prove it, her typically dark brunette hair streaked with some auburn highlights. She’d taken up jogging, too, and her newly toned body was something she was proud of, and she’d worn shorts and a tight-fitting T-shirt to show it off. Even her arms were tanned and toned.
She took a sip of her coffee, a bittersweet thought crossing her mind. She couldn’t believe she already was a senior, with only one more year of soaking up all she could about art history in her classes, and of course, partying. As the newly elected president of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, she had a lot to do this semester for rush, and she was waiting for her vice president, and roommate Robin, to show up so they could get started.
“Hey, aren’t you Annie from Laguna Nights?” asked a young woman who approached Annie’s table with a big grin. Annie was accustomed to the question. She’d spent two seasons, her junior and senior year of high school, as a cast member on the hit reality TV show. The show continued still, with a new group of kids from her high school, and the fan base continued to grow exponentially.
At UCI, this year’s freshman class would likely be filled with a new crop of fans, Annie knew. Unlike some of her former cast mates, she liked the attention, liked her portrayal on the show as a sympathetic friend and a basically happy teen. And Annie was thrilled she was able to pay for college with what she’d earned from the show. Her past celebrity status was good for sorority recruitment, too.
Annie pushed her sunglasses up onto her head and smiled. “Yep, I’m Annie!”
“I love that show. You were like the perfect friend on that show. Everybody liked you. Girls. Guys. Well, except Josh.”
Annie shared a laugh with her. She was right, Josh was the bad boy on their reality TV show and he’d hurt Annie’s best friend Madison, so Annie had treated him in the manner he’d deserved. “I was Annie from Laguna Nights. Now I’m just Annie at UCI,” Annie said, smiling warmly at the gorgeous blonde standing in front of her. “Are you a freshman?”
“I am. My name’s Sophie and I’m from Indiana. Everything is so different here,” she said, holding her arms out to encompass everything around her, and probably the whole Golden State. “I mean, we don’t have celebrities there.”
Annie had to be careful about rush rules, but she could ask one question. “Are you going to go through recruitment?”
“Oh yes,” Sophie said. “I hope to be a Theta just like you.”
Good. “Well ok, I’ll see you around. You know we can’t talk about sorority stuff, rush rules,” Annie said with a wink.
“Yeah, thanks, see you around,” Sophie said walking away as Annie’s friend Robin approached the table. Robin’s face was locked in a frown.
“What’s wrong?” Annie asked, standing to hug her friend. At six-feet tall, Robin was a beach volleyball player, a natural at the sport where her height was a bonus.
“I didn’t get all of my classes scheduled. I’ve got to go meet with my adviser, I’m sorry,” Robin lamented. “Can we meet later?”
“Sure, no problem,” Annie said. “I’ll just sit here and review the freshman class as they walk past me. I met a good rushee already!”
“No dirty rush,” Robin chuckled, waving a cautionary finger in Annie’s face. “Be good!”
Annie dropped back into her seat, contemplating another cup of coffee when a guy approached her table. He looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. He was cute, with shaggy brown hair and, Annie noticed, sleepy bright blue eyes. He smiled, revealing straight white teeth. “Hey, are you Annie? From the show Laguna Nights?”
“That’s me,” she said, feeling her cheeks blush under his gaze, a strange phenomenon as this was the expected question. Coming from him, though, with his eyes focused intensely on her, she felt electricity crackle in the air between them. This was a first. So far, through high school and college, she had been on dates with some great guys, even multiple dates with a couple of them, but none of them she would consider boyfriend material. She had decided she was destined to be everybody’s friend, guys and girls. But with this guy, well, she felt her heart beat a little faster.
“Can I grab you another cup of coffee? I was just going inside to order. Black, right?” he said, looking at her almost empty cup.
“Yes, sure,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“I’ll be right back,” he said. “Oh, I’m Chris, by the way.”
Annie leaned back in her chair and felt a rush of happiness wash over her body.
TODAY
RALPH’S PARKING LOT
LAGUNA BEACH
“Annie, I just want to talk, for God’s sake,” Chris yelled through the glass of the driver’s side window.
Annie forced herself to stop screaming. It was daytime, she was in a busy parking lot. She was fine.
It’s safe here. He only wants to talk. The past was behind them. College was so long ago. Stop shaking, she told herself as she pushed the button to roll down the window. But the restraining order, her brain screamed, even as they were suddenly face-to-face for the first time in years.
“Geez, Annie, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Why did you run away from me in there?” he asked, now resting his forearm on the car door, leaning toward her, his blue eyes flashing darkly. Her brain registered the smell of his same cologne, the shape of his fingers.
“I didn’t run away from you. I had to get something I forgot. That’s all,” Annie said, leaning away from him towards the passenger seat. She heard her voice wavering, even as she tried to sound firm. “I need to go.”
“That’s ok, you can go,” Chris said, smiling, his eyes flashing. “I’ve moved to Laguna Beach, so we’ll see each other a lot from now on. How do you like living at the Top of the World? I hear the views are spectacular. Your neighborhood is at the very top of the Laguna hillside. Pretty good life, I’d say.”
Annie felt the part of her brain that was trying to remain calm begin to slip as a shudder spread over her, hatred and fear mixing a toxic potion. “I have a restraining order against you.”
“Come on Annie. We used to be so close,” he said, adding. “You know, sweetie, hate isn’t the opposite of love, indifference is. And clearly, you aren’t indifferent to me, are you?” At that, he turned and walked away.
Tears ran down Annie’s cheeks as she rolled the window up and dropped her head onto the steering wheel and sobbed.
CHAPTER THREE
TEN YEARS EARLIER
IRVINE
Annie’s life had been blessed, she knew. Great friends, supportive parents, and a recurring role on a hit television reality show in high school. Now, she was president of the top sorority on campus and she was sitting across the table from one of the cutest guys she’d ever met. Senior year had started out with a sweet surprise.
“I can’t believe I’m finally having coffee with you, talking with you. It’s like a dream,” Chris said, smiling his broad smile and making her heart skip a beat.
“Have we met before?” Annie asked. She knew she would have remembered him if she’d seen him on campus. He was gorgeous, in that under-the-radar, laid back, ruggedly handsome, Owen Wilson kind of way.
