MONTANA HOMECOMING (Montana Book 2)

by Lane, Soraya

  "Thank you," she said, knowing that he could see what she'd said even if he couldn't hear her over the chatter from everyone else.

  She wished she could reach for him, tell him how much his words meant to her, but Scott understood - he wouldn't have said what he'd said if he didn't.

  "So will we all be together at Christmas?" Charlotte asked.

  Amanda turned her attention from the handsome man smiling at her from the other side of the table to her little sister. "I'll be back for sure," she said. "Blake?"

  She looked at her brother, pleased that he'd managed to put his feelings aside and accept Scott as part of the family for the night.

  "If I can get away from the ranch, I will."

  Blake was leaving first thing in the morning, too, which meant they'd both be heading to the airport together. He usually drove, Fergus County was only a few hours drive away, but he'd flown their light aircraft to get back fast for the funeral. He was going back to their other ranch, the one he managed, and she back to New York. Everyone was getting ready to go back to their normal lives, move on and deal with the fact that their dad was gone.

  "Mom, you'll be a grandparent by then," Amanda said, grinning over at her mother.

  "And I'll be looking forward to having you all back here under the one roof," her mom replied. "That includes you, Scott. You'll be here on Christmas Day too, unless you get a better offer, okay?"

  Amanda switched her focus back to Scott, sad that the night was almost over. She could have snuck off and spent the evening with him, enjoyed one last night in his company, but she also only had one evening left with her family. And they needed her more than she needed a naughty night with Scott - she had memories of being with him that would last her a lifetime.

  But when her mom got up to clear the table, and Blake and Charlotte stood to help, she crossed the room and tapped Scott on the shoulder.

  "Mind if I sit here a minute?"

  His eyebrows shot up in surprise, but he pushed his chair back and let her drop onto his knee. Maddison and Jack were busy talking, and there was no one left in the room, so she slung her arms around his shoulders and kissed him full on the lips, mouth falling into rhythm with his.

  "You're a better man than you realize, Scott," she whispered. "I don't know if I'd have the nerve to leave here in the morning and gear up for this exhibition if it hadn't been for you."

  He shook his head. "You're wrong. You just needed a little encouragement."

  "I don't think I'm any good at this whole no-strings thing," she admitted, touching her forehead to his.

  "Yeah, well I used to be. But this…" his voice trailed off. "Hell, I don't know. This is tough."

  "I'm going to miss you," she told him.

  "I'm gonna miss you too, sweetheart."

  Her mom's heels tapped on the oak floor, alerting her to the fact that they were about to be joined by the rest of her family. She reluctantly stood up and looked down at Scott.

  "I'm terrible at saying goodbye," she confessed, reaching for his hand and just holding it, looking at the way their fingers so naturally interlaced.

  "Yeah," he said, voice gruff. "So how about I blow you a kiss once we've finished dessert and just walk out of here?"

  She nodded. "Deal."

  "And then we forget that this whole thing ever happened?" he asked as the room filled with her family again.

  She just nodded her head and went back to her seat, looking at the huge chocolate cake now in the center of the table. She'd just walked away from the man she'd always wished she could have been with, and it hurt like hell.

  "You okay?"

  Scott grunted and went back to cleaning the water trough.

  "Scott?"

  "I'm fine. Quit it."

  "You can just admit that you miss her," Jack said, leaning over the fence and looking down at him. "Besides, only a seriously pissed man would voluntarily clean this slime up."

  "Gotta be done, doesn't it?" Scott glared at Jack and then wished he hadn't taken his anger out on his brother. "Sorry."

  Jack ducked under the fence and leaned on it, watching him, and Scott dropped the brush he was using and sat down on the grass.

  "She got under your skin, huh?"

  He shrugged, but Jack was right. Amanda was the first woman to ever get under his skin like that - same as when they'd been younger and he'd wanted her more than he'd ever wanted another girl before. Back then, he'd thought it was because she was forbidden, the one girl he wasn't allowed to touch, but he wasn't so sure that was the only reason now. Not after the time he'd just spent with her.

  "She's probably on her way to the airport now. You could still catch her before she gets on that plane."

  "And say what?" Scott muttered.

  Jack shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just saying, there's still time if you need there to be."

  He was wrong - there was nothing left for him to say to Amanda, because he wasn't going to hold her back, especially not when he didn't even know what he could offer her. What he was capable of giving to a woman like her.

  "She needed to go," Scott told his brother, picking up his brush again and standing. "It was fun, but that's all it was ever meant to be."

  "If you say so," Jack said, ducking back under the fence and walking back to his truck. "Give me a call if you feel like a beer later on."

  Scott didn't look up, but he did appreciate the offer. Maybe after a dozen beers, he'd start to forget all about sexy as hell Amanda Jones. Although he seriously doubted it.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  One month later…

  AMANDA took a deep breath and held up her champagne flute, taking a slow sip. The bubbles tickled her throat on her way down, before hitting her empty stomach. She should have had something to eat, but her nerves had been getting the better of her all day.

  "Are you ready to go out there?"

  She turned and smiled at Louis, the owner of the gallery where her work was about to be shown to a roomful of people. He'd been so understanding when she'd had to delay the exhibition, and now she just hoped he would forgive her if the collection didn't sell.

  "I think another few glasses and I'll be ready to join you," she replied, only half joking.

  "Darling, they're going to love it. They love you already," he gushed, taking her by the arm and steering her toward the door. "It's time you started to realize how talented you are. All this bashfulness is getting tiresome."

  Amanda squared her shoulders and tried not to be intimidated by the chatter in the main gallery. Her father had taught her to be proud of who she was, and she needed to make him proud now. She'd done her best, poured her heart and soul into her work, and there was nothing more she could do even if she wanted to.

  "Okay Louis, let's do this," she said, walking through the open door before she could back out.

  There was no fanfare, no applause or big announcements, but she did receive smiles and nods as she passed and made her way across the room, stopping to talk to one man who wanted to compliment her on the last piece in her collection.

  "See all those stickers," Louis whispered in her ear as they walked. "We only opened the doors 30 minutes ago and we've sold everything with a black tag on it."

  Amanda shook her head, amazed. So it hadn't been a complete disaster.

  "Excuse me, are you the artist?"

  Amanda turned, a shiver tracing her spine at the deep voice that sounded oddly familiar. It couldn't be.

  Scott. He was standing on his own, slightly separated from the crowd, dressed in a close-fitting black suit, open-neck shirt and with his hair cropped close, no longer brushing his collar. He looked incredible - sexy and composed in a way she'd never seen him look before - but the expression on his face was one she knew well. One she'd seen in her mind so many times since she'd left, and one she'd never expected to see directed at her again.

  Amanda was standing dead still, not moving, just staring back at Scott as he waited for her to say something.

&n
bsp; "Amanda? I think this gentleman was talking to you." Louis smiled and extended his hand, and she watched as Scott did the same, even though his eyes never left hers. "Would you like to make a purchase?"

  Scott laughed and it jolted Amanda out of her dream. She cleared her throat. "Louis this is Scott, a friend of mine from home."

  Louis nodded and touched Scott's arm before leaving them alone. "If decide to buy a piece, you know where to find me."

  "I've actually already made a purchase," Scott said, one corner of his mouth kicking up into a smile. "I had some fierce competition, but I secured the painting closest to the door. I think it will look perfect on the wall of my new living room. Come to think of it, maybe I should take another. Mandy, care to help me find something else?"

  Amanda laughed, there was nothing else she could do. "You're kidding me, aren't you?"

  Louis left them alone and Scott crossed the distance between them, the smile never leaving his face.

  "You've cut your hair."

  Scott's grin became wider. "I come all this way to surprise you and it's my hair you comment on?"

  Amanda was still in shock over the fact that he was standing in front of her, and it was his hair that she couldn't stop noticing.

  "It looks different," she managed. "I mean, well, you look great." And he did. The longer hair had been sexy, but there was something equally sexy about seeing Scott clean shaven with shorter, tousled hair, more grown up maybe.

  "So do you approve of my purchase?"

  She'd thought he was joking, that there was no way he would have paid that much money for one of her pieces.

  "Are you serious? I would have painted something for you if I'd known…"

  Scott reached for her hand and it stole the words from her mouth. "Your work is amazing, and it's worth every penny I paid for it."

  "Really?" Hell, he'd just paid New York money for something that she'd have happily done for him as a gift.

  "Really," he said. "But most importantly, it means I don't have to feel guilty for taking up your time when there are so many people here to see you."

  Scott's voice was deep and husky, and it sent a thrill through her body just to have him holding her hand, standing so close, knowing he'd traveled all this way to see her. Unless he was here for something else and this had just been a coincidence?

  "Are you in town for other business or did you just…" Amanda let her sentence trail off.

  "Mandy, I've missed you. More than I want to admit." He blew out a breath and reached for her other hand, staring straight into her eyes. "I've missed you so damn much that when I found out when your exhibition was I booked a ticket. And here I am."

  Tears pricked her eyes and she gripped his hands tighter, shut her eyes for a moment, trying to swallow away her emotion.

  "You came here just for me?" she asked.

  He nodded, his smile making his eyes crinkle ever-so in the corners. "I mean it when I say I missed you."

  "I missed you, too," she whispered, letting him pull her in against him, complying when he touched her chin with his thumb to tilt it up.

  Scott kissed her slowly, his lips so soft against hers she almost wondered if it was really happening, if he was actually standing in front of her, in New York. He cradled her face so gently as he deepened their kiss, touched her with such care, that Amanda's body melted against him. When Scott pulled back, broke their kiss, she clutched his shirt, hand fisted, refusing to let him get away.

  "I think we're making a scene," he whispered, grinning down at her. "We always did have trouble finding the right place and time, didn't we?"

  She laughed and touched the corners of her mouth, hoping she didn't have lip gloss smeared everywhere. "Please don't tell me you're leaving anytime soon?"

  He shook his head. "Not a chance. I'll wait for you as long as I have to."

  Amanda glanced sideways, knew that Louis would be waiting for her, and as much as she didn't want to leave Scott's side she also didn't want to let down the one person who'd taken a massive chance on her.

  "Amanda?"

  She turned back to Scott, still holding on to him.

  "There's something I came here to tell you, and…" he cleared his throat, broke his sentence as he stared down at her. “Things felt different after you left. I saw things differently, things that were right in front of me all along. Being around Maddie and Jack now, seeing what they have, it’s made me realize how much I want that, too. I can’t pretend like it doesn’t hurt seeing them so damn happy, knowing that I’ve already met the one person who I could have that with.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Amanda said, looking back at Scott, finding it hard to believe he was actually standing in front of her.

  “I want what they have, Mandy, and I want it with you,” he told her.

  She was speechless.

  "I love you, Mandy. Always have, always will. I was just too damn scared to admit it before.”

  Amanda's knees almost gave way. He loved her? Now that wasn't something she'd been expecting. But there was one thing she did know, and that was how much she loved Scott right back. Because ever since she'd left Montana, she'd wondered if the stupidest thing she'd ever done was thinking she could just have some fun with Scott. The fun had been one thing, but leaving him behind and thinking she was capable of not falling for a man she'd essentially had a crush on her entire life had been crazy.

  "I love you, too," she whispered, running a hand down his arm, loving the feel of his muscles beneath the tailored suit.

  "Amanda, I'm sorry to interrupt, but…"

  Louis' assistant was standing nearby, looking anxious, and she couldn't keep them waiting any longer.

  "Scott, I…" she started.

  "Go," he said, sliding his hands into his pockets and looking as at ease amongst the art crowd as he did on the ranch. "I'll wait all night if I have to."

  Amanda gave him one last look, wished she could just stay and talk, but knew they had all night. Right now, she needed to touch up her lipstick and then work the room with Louis to make sure this exhibition was the success it needed to be. She smiled to herself as she quickly crossed the room, head down. Less than an hour ago, she'd been dreading the evening, not feeling confident enough to do what she needed to do. And now she felt like she could conquer the world.

  Because three little words had just changed her life. Three little words that she'd never in a million years expected Scott to say, not to her.

  Scott leaned against the make-shift bar and took a slow sip of his beer. He could have knocked back a dozen of them, but instead he was trying to stay sober for when Amanda finished. It was looking like she was almost ready to join him, now that she'd schmoozed every potential client and managed to sell all but one piece displayed.

  "Hey," she said when she finally crossed the room.

  "Hey," he replied, leaning over for a clean glass and pouring her a champagne. The bartender had disappeared now that almost all the guests had left.

  Amanda took it and held it up for him to clink his bottle against. "I'm so exhausted I could collapse."

  He sipped when she did, watching the look on her face as she swallowed the bubbly and visibly relaxed. "You did great out there tonight."

  She sighed. "Really? I was so nervous about this, like I haven't been in years."

  "Do you want to go out and celebrate, or maybe just a quiet dinner for two?" he asked.

  Amanda took another sip of champagne and sighed. "Honestly? I'd just like to go back to my apartment and order Chinese take out. Maybe smuggle a bottle of this out and just relax."

  He wasn't sure what she was trying to say, whether it was a hint that she didn't want him around. "You mean by yourself or…"

  "No!" she said, her hand shooting out to close over his forearm. "Of course with you."

  Scott grinned. "Chinese take out it is, then. I'll handle the champagne." He reached for the already open bottle and tucked it under his jacket. "After the thousands I spent
tonight, I'm sure no one will object."

  Amanda giggled and took his hand, abandoning her glass. "Let's go. We have a date with my sofa and a carton of noodles."

  "So I'm guessing I can stay the night?"

  She swatted at him, playfully punching his arm before he pulled her close and tucked her against his body as they walked.

  "Yes you can stay, you idiot," she said with a laugh. "But where are your things?"

  He dropped a kiss into her hair as they walked out the door and toward a taxi. "That's the thing, I kind of just jumped on a plane with only my wallet."

  She stopped and looked up at him, wide-eyed. "You're kidding me?"

  "No. I arrived a few hours before the opening here, got my hair cut, brought what I'm wearing, and left my old clothes at the store."

  "You're crazy, you know that?"

  Oh, he knew. Jack had told him exactly that when he'd decided at the last minute to race to the airport. But he didn't care what anyone thought. He'd come to get the girl, and he wasn't going to leave until he had her.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  "So did I manage to surprise you?" Scott asked, walking around her apartment.

  "Surprise would be an understatement," she said with a grin, pouring two large glasses of champagne. "Sorry I don't have any beer. I'm not used to having men over."

  That brought a smile to Scott's face. "Suddenly I don't mind drinking champagne at all, if that's your excuse."

  He watched as Amanda set the two glasses on her coffee table before crossing the room again to collect their takeout. She held up chopsticks and he shook his head.

  "I might be wearing a suit but I'm not that civilized."

  She laughed and grabbed a fork instead, before joining him. "So what do you think?"

  "I think," he said, sitting down on her sofa, "that this place is everything your family home isn't." It was true - the Jones house had a big wood plank kitchen, made from oak that had grown on the ranch, oversized sofas piled with cushions, rugs on the floor. This place looked like it should be gracing the pages of a modern décor magazine, full of glass and chrome.