Falling for the Hometown Girl

by Shelli Stevens

She reached the end of the trail and stepped onto the property. There were several “Private Property” signs scattered about now, with a large one near the road on the other side of the property.

  It wasn’t hers now. Who was she kidding? It was never going to be hers.

  With her throat tightening in sadness, Katie wrenched her gaze away and focused on the view instead.

  Memories of being here with Hunter raced through her head. Just like that, she was back in his arms and being kissed until she was mindless.

  She blinked against the sting of tears. Her heart pounded, not from exertion, but as if it were trying to break free from the ache of pain that caged it.

  Folding her arms over her stomach, she let out a small sob that was swallowed up by the trees around her.

  Why? Oh, dear Lord, why had she let herself fall in love with Hunter?

  It had probably been as inevitable as the rising moon.

  She sat on the edge of the hillside, losing track of time as she watched the sunset and the darkness creep in.

  The sky lit up in brilliant orange flower as the Marietta Fourth of July show set off it first series of fireworks.

  The air left her lungs on a shaky sigh and some of the tension left her muscles. She could almost get lost in this moment and forget everything that had happened. Imagine this was just another Fourth of July.

  She was so caught up in the show, she almost didn’t realize the flash of lights were coming from behind her now, instead of down in the valley.

  Katie turned and glanced over her shoulder.

  Headlights bounced between the trees as the vehicle they were on approached.

  The new owners.

  She pushed to her feet, disappointment swelling inside her. Her gaze swept to the trail and she mentally prepared to run. Not everyone would take kindly to the no trespassing warning being broken.

  The headlights swept over her, illuminating her.

  Time to go.

  She moved quickly toward the trail, just as the slamming of a car door sounded.

  “Katie.”

  Her name on his lips froze her. Sent waves of shock through every inch of her body. She closed her eyes as it sank in.

  The betrayal. The pain.

  She turned and faced Hunter.

  I can’t do it, Katie. I can’t live here full time. Maybe get a place somewhere and come up for a vacation now and then, though.

  “He sold it to you? To you?” The accusation ripped hoarsely from her.

  The SUV was still on, its lights shining on him as Hunter strode toward her. He was just a silhouette in a cowboy hat until he stopped inches from her.

  “Yeah,” he said softly. “He sold it to me.”

  Deep down she’d hoped she was wrong, but his words nearly had her doubling over in agony.

  “How could you do this to me?” She choked out, fists balled at her side. “You... you...” She tried to swear. Tried real hard to call him the word that began with an “a” and ended in hole, but it still wouldn’t come out. “Jerk.”

  Hunter closed the distance between them and she shook her head, pushing his chest to keep him away.

  He caught both of her hands and pulled her flush against him. “Listen, sweetheart—”

  “Don’t you sweetheart me, Hunter Richardson. Ever again. You lost that right when you left me. When you left this town.” She choked out. “You know how much I wanted this property.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He transferred her wrists into one hand and used the other to gently touch her cheek. “Which is why I bought it for you. For us.”

  Katie stilled against him. “You did what now?”

  Her whisper sent a lick of hope through him.

  God, he hoped like hell it wasn’t too late. Would she forgive him? For everything?

  “I called your uncle and told him my plans and made an offer.”

  “What plans? Last I heard the only thing you wanted from this town was a summer home.”

  He winced, unable to blame her for the hint of bitterness in her words.

  “I thought that’s all I wanted. All I needed.” Emotion had his voice breaking. “I was wrong. So wrong, Katie.”

  In the car’s headlights, he could see the mix of confusion, wariness, and hope in her eyes. It broke his heart to know he was responsible for them.

  “So what are your plans then?”

  Now or never, buddy. Grow a pair.

  The fireworks of Marietta continued to put on a show in the background.

  He fumbled in his pocket for the box and pulled it out, then dropped to one knee in the dirt. He flipped the box open and she gasped.

  “Will you marry me, Kaitlyn Marshall? Let me build you the dream home we both want and maybe have some kids to run around this property of ours.”

  Tears leaked out the corner of her eyes, before she gave a small nod. “Yes. Of course, I will.”

  He stood, placed the ring on her finger. “I love you, sweetheart.”

  Before she could ask the questions he knew were coming, he covered her mouth in a deep kiss. A kiss he’d missed like hell for the last two weeks.

  When he lifted his head, she leaned into him trembling.

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “What about Vendetta Interactive?”

  “I’ve been pressured to IPO the company for a long time now. I was tempted, but never quite enough to actually do it.” He paused and touched her cheek. “Until there was you. You are so much more important to me than my company, sweetheart.”

  “I don’t even know what the means, but no.” She shook her head. “If it means abandoning the company you built, then no. I won’t let you do it.”

  “It means I’m no longer at the helm of it, but I’m in no way abandoning it. I’m a director, so I’ll still be involved. I may have to fly out four times a year or so, but for the most part I’ll get to offer R&D advice—company guidance—remotely. From Marietta. And they kept upping the offer. I’m getting a major windfall from doing this.”

  Her mouth dropped open and hope flickered in her eyes, until it faded. “You can’t move back here, Hunter.”

  His stomach clenched. “Why is that?”

  “You’ll be miserable.” She lifted her hand, before he could reply. “Please, let me finish. I told you my mom left us when we were kids.”

  He nodded, waiting for her to continue.

  “I never told my brothers, but looked her up when I was in Seattle going to college. We had dinner together.”

  He drew in a deep breath, suspecting he wasn’t going to like this story.

  “She admitted she was miserable in Marietta, being married to a cowboy. There was no reason to stay. She didn’t love my dad.” She swallowed hard. “And she didn’t love us. Or not enough, I guess. I don’t think she enjoyed being a mother.”

  Then why the hell did she have three kids? He was furious at the selfish woman who’d caused the Marshall kids so much misery. Wished like hell he could’ve spared Katie some of the pain.

  Katie sighed. “But in Bellevue, she was in her element. She loved the city. The money and shopping. I could see it in her eyes. She was never meant for a small town. Some people aren’t.” Katie searched his gaze. “And what if you ended up like her, Hunter? I don’t want you to be miserable here, just to be with me.”

  He squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, did I seem miserable when I was here for a week?”

  She hesitated. “At times.”

  “Yeah, well, most of those were because of Lance.” He grimaced. “But I fell in love with the wide-open spaces. The countryside. Even started to love the people again. But, most importantly, I fell in love with you.”

  “What about Cal?” She brought up her brother. “You hate him.”

  “Not as much anymore.” He gave a lopsided smile, thinking back on the memory from a few days ago. “He came out to Seattle to talk to me. To apologize. We bonded over sushi and craft beer.”

  “Cal went to Seattle?” Her eyes rounded
. “And ate sushi?”

  “Yeah. He dug it. So I think we’re actually cool now.”

  “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  “Well, let it sink in while I tell you something else.” He touched her cheek gently. “I also spoke to my mom about some things that have always bugged me. She gave up New York and a big career to marry my dad and move here. I thought she was like your mom, hating Marietta and being stuck here. I’d been meaning to talk to her about it for years. She always seemed so unhappy.”

  She bit her lip. “What did she say?”

  “She was bored. She missed the city. But she never regretted marrying dad and moving here.” He’d been surprised by her admission, and yet it had made sense. “I think our conversation made her realize some things she wanted though. She told my dad she wants to visit a big city at least once a year to spend a weekend and see a Broadway show. And she’d going to get a part-time job to keep herself busy.”

  “That’s great.” She looked genuinely happy for him. “What about you though, Hunter? I can’t help but think you’ll get bored with ranching.”

  “I don’t think I’ll get bored with it, but you’re right, I will need something more at times,” he admitted. “Which is why I contacted the high school and offered to run an after-school coding club. If it’s a success and enough interest, we’ll offer classes at the high school. It’s something to offer stimulation to kids who were like me. Kids like Eddie.”

  “Really?” Tears filled her eyes. The fireworks grew brighter and louder, in what seemed to be the finale of the show.

  “Absolutely. When I worked with him that week and saw him grow in his knowledge, in his excitement, it was just as much of a rush for me as game development.”

  Wonder shone in her eyes. “I didn’t think it was possible to love you anymore than I already did. I was so wrong. You really want to stay?”

  “I really, really do. Sweetheart, I’m not running away from Marietta again.” He traced her lips with the pad of his thumb. “I love you so much, Katie. And I promise I’ll spend the rest of our lives making sure you know that.”

  With the firework finale roaring behind them, and the world around them shimmering with color, he claimed her mouth in a kiss that said he’d start that promise right now.

  The End

  If you enjoyed Falling for the Hometown Girl, you’ll love the next book in...

  The Marshall Ranch series

  Meet the Marshalls of Montana. The Marshall siblings inherit the family cattle ranch after the death of their father.

  Book 1: Protect Me, Cowboy

  Book 2: Falling for the Hometown Girl

  Book 3: Coming soon!

  Enjoy an exclusive excerpt from

  Protect Me, Cowboy

  Shelli Stevens

  Book 1 in the Marshall Ranch series

  Copyright © 2017

  “Monday? But it’s Thursday. Are you sure that’s the earliest you can fix it?” Claire glanced from her car back to the mechanic in overalls, dread growing in her stomach.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Dillon, the owner of the Dillon’s Garage, shrugged. “You caught me just as we were closing up shop. Usually I’d have one of my guys who’d probably fix it for a bit extra, seeing that it’s the weekend and all, but the whole town shuts down rodeo weekend.”

  “The Copper Mountain Rodeo.” Which started tomorrow and lasted three days. She’d be going the entire weekend without a car. Without a way to get back to Bozeman Sunday morning.

  “Yeah, the rodeo.” He grinned. “Is that the reason you’re in town?”

  “Yes.”

  “Barrel racing?”

  She blinked. “I have no idea what that even means.”

  He chuckled. “Gonna take that as a no.”

  “Definitely a no. I’m the entertainment.” She was singing with Bourbon and Boots, the band hired for the big steak dinner and dance Saturday night.

  She’d heard stories about the whole town showing up for the event, but she’d thought it might be more exaggeration than truth.

  Apparently not, going by what Dillon had just told her.

  But now a busted radiator was going to keep her stranded after the gig. Catching a ride with her bandmates wasn’t an option, because their car was all full up with musicians and instruments.

  Even if there was room, she was the new one in the group. The singer they’d brought in just a few months ago to replace the woman who’d left before her. She was still getting to know everyone, and while there was no reason not to trust her bandmates, there was still a part of her that was wary of being alone and dependent on a group of men.

  She preferred to drive herself to the gigs. To not have to rely on anyone else. It was safer. Or at least it felt safer.

  “So will that work for you, ma’am? Waiting until Monday?”

  “I don’t seem to have much of a choice.” Claire bit back a frustrated sigh. Trying to stay calm, she drew in a deep breath and could almost taste the oil and exhaust in the air. “Sorry. Yes, that’ll work.”

  She followed him to the counter and filled out the necessary paperwork. Once she was done, she grabbed her suitcase and guitar case and left the garage.

  There was no question about it. This little town in Montana was the epitome of a small town. She’d thought Bozeman was small, but Marietta was downright quaint.

  She glanced down Front Avenue—four or five blocks long, and spotted the Graff Hotel down at the other end.

  She still needed to book a room for a couple nights. Well, three nights now it seemed.

  With that frustrating reality still settling in, she set off walking, dragging her suitcase in one hand and holding her guitar in the other.

  The September air was growing cooler at night, and a shiver shook her small frame. Why hadn’t she thought to pull her sweatshirt out of the suitcase first?

  When she reached the hotel, the amount of people milling about inside sent another wave of apprehension through her.

  They’d have a room available, right? She figured no one really went to the rodeo here except the locals, and she’d assumed coming in on Thursday before the rodeo even started would ensure she got a room.

  Wrong. She couldn’t have been any more wrong.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am, we just don’t have anything available.”

  “None?” Claire repeated faintly.

  “First room we have available won’t be until Monday night.”

  Oh, God, could this day get any worse? The hotel was packed and she could feel the curious gazes of several people on her.

  “I see.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”

  “Hang on, let me give you a list of some other possible options that could put you up.”

  Ten minutes later she was back on the street, a scrap of paper in her jeans pocket with the harried scrawl of other potential places to spend the night. But the receptionist had warned her it didn’t look good. So Claire had grudgingly thanked the woman, and then asked where the nearest bar was.

  After the constant barrage of bad news from the past hour, she needed a drink. Maybe two.

  With tears of frustration sneaking out her eyes, she dragged her suitcase and guitar back down First Street until she found Grey’s Saloon.

  She found a table in the back and settled in—grateful for the opportunity to rest her feet and put her things down.

  Only when she had a beer in front of her and an order of fries in the works, did she pull out the scrap of paper to look over her options.

  Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone approaching the booth. Instinctively tensing, she glanced up, just as the woman settled into the seat across from her.

  “Kind of silly to come to town on rodeo weekend without a room booked, don’t you think?”

  Claire blinked in dismay at the tall, slender brunette. She was pretty. Close in age to her, maybe twenty-four or twenty-five? The arched brow look the woman gave her sent a wave of annoyance t
hrough Claire.

  “Excuse me?”

  “The Graff hotel is booked solid being that it’s rodeo weekend. Has been for quite a while now.” The woman nodded her chin at the slip of phone numbers Claire clutched. “Chances are all those will be as well. Unless there was a cancellation.”

  “How did you know—”

  “Carol Bingley, the town gossip. She was at The Graff and overheard you. I ran into her afterward and she told me everything. Including that you were heading to Grey’s.”

  Seriously? Claire’s lips thinned. “Oh, she just offered up that information, did she?”

  “Yeah.” The brunette glanced up as a waitress appeared to take her order. “Hey, Mardie. Can I have Bud Light? Thanks.”

  Small towns. Claire struggled not to look as irritated as she felt. There was no such thing as privacy.

  “Sorry, let me start over. I’m Kaitlyn.”

  “I’m Claire.”

  “Nice to meet you, Claire. I’m here because I can help you.”

  “Really.” She hated needing anyone’s help. Loathed it actually.

  “Really.”

  Kaitlyn’s beer and Claire’s fries arrived at the same time.

  “I’m part owner of a cattle ranch not too far outside of town.” Kaitlyn grabbed her bottle and took a sip. “We have extra cabins on the property that I’m in charge of renting out during the summer.”

  “Just summer?”

  “Peak tourist season. We close down after Labor Day. But during the summer we give people a rustic escape from the city, you know?”

  Rustic sounded uncomfortable.

  “We offer fly fishing. Horseback riding. Guided hikes. All that kind of fun stuff. Brings in a little extra money for us, too.” Kaitlyn snagged a fry and ate it. “Which is all kind of irrelevant right now that summer is almost over, but what I’m saying is you’re welcome to rent one of my cabins.”

  Claire hesitated.

  “Pull out your phone and look us up. We’re legit.” Blue eyes sparkled with amusement as Kaitlyn rattled off the name of the ranch.

  Because the other woman clearly waited for her to do it, Claire quickly checked out the website on her phone.