Second Chance Ranch: a Hope Springs novel (Entangled Bliss) (8 page)

Cory laughed and so did Royce—that helped, too. It was almost like old times all over again.

“How about ‘Before He Cheats’ and I act out the music video using your truck?” She made a big show of looking around. “Where’s a baseball bat?”

“Hey, do you guys know any Lady Antebellum?” Addison asked, and Sadie whipped her head toward the girl, surprised she knew any country groups, even though that one was pretty crossover. “I actually kind of like them.”

Sadie glanced at Cory. He nodded and started playing the intro to “Just a Kiss.”

Her heart was pounding fast, which was pretty inconvenient considering it had relocated to her throat. She blew out her breath and closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself with the music… Then she started, quieter than she usually did, but the notes were right. Cory sang softly along with her, taking the guy’s part, and while he always rebuffed the compliment, he did have a good voice. With each word, she put more behind it until instinct took over and she was belting out the lyrics, the way she used to when it was all about the music. By the second verse, she got up the courage to look at some of the faces.

And when she was singing about shots in the dark and just a kiss good night, how could she not sing at Royce? She didn’t want to mess everything up, but she found herself hoping that maybe someday she’d get to kiss him again—because the thought of not being able to made a tight band form around her chest.

Then the song was over and adrenaline was pumping through her veins, giving her that floaty performing buzz. There really was nothing else like it.
I did it!

The little group applauded. Addison even said, “Wow, that was really good!” Maybe Royce was right—she should give the girl a chance. Sadie gave a little bow, settled back on the log next to Royce, and stole a peek at him.

He shot up, rubbing his palms on his jeans. “Looks like we’re out of drinks. I’ll be right back.” He took large strides toward the house, fading into the blackness.

For weeks, things had been stilted between her and Royce, but today it felt like the barriers were coming down, and the song had her thinking about taking chances before they slipped away. “I’m just going to see if he needs help.”

Sadie had underestimated the walk back—not the distance, but she kept wobbling on the uneven ground and tripping across rocks she didn’t see. Royce’s place was dark, a black outline against a sky almost as black.

If I fall and break something, he’ll probably scold me for not having a flashlight.
Not like
he
was using one. The lights in his house snapped on, sending enough of a glow for her to see by. Her booted footsteps on the wooden steps sounded loud in the silence.

She almost smacked into him as he came out balancing a couple of six-packs of Coke in his arms. “Whoa, sorry. I thought you might need some help.” Her words came out all together, one big blur she hoped made sense.

His eyebrows lowered. “With soda?”

“Well…yeah? I guess?”
Great, now I’m talking in all questions.

“I got it.”

She scratched the side of her forehead, which had suddenly become uncontrollably itchy. Now that she was face-to-face with him, she was rethinking everything, unsure what she’d been doing following after him. As if things would magically be all good between them because of a water fight, a conversation about Second Chance Ranch, and one song around a campfire. “I guess I’ll just…” She gestured at the fire burning in the distance. She headed down the stairs, holding the rail so she wouldn’t fall and turn this moment from awkward to embarrassing.

“Sadie.”

She spun around, and Royce came down a step, still one above her. “About what I said that first night in the grocery store about you not being on the radio…I should’ve never said it. For what it’s worth, I always thought you’d make it. And when you sang tonight?” His dark eyes locked onto hers. “Well, it blows my mind that you didn’t.”

Sadie ran her hand up and down the polished wood railing, her heart expanding at his words. But then she remembered all those years ago, when she’d told him what she wanted to do and he hadn’t said a word, simply stared at her like she was speaking another language. “Why didn’t you tell me that before I left?”
I desperately needed to hear that all those years ago.

“Why do you think?” He took another step down, but because of his height and the uneven ground she was standing on, he was still looming over her enough that she had to crane her neck. His fingers trailed down her arm, and even with the layers of fabric between them, she felt his touch in her core. “I was in love with you, and I thought that was enough. I thought I could make you happy.”

“Royce.”

He squeezed her hand once, firm and quick, and then continued toward the campfire. If he thought he could say something like that and just walk away, he had another thing coming.

…

Damn it, why had he admitted all that? It must’ve been the singing—he remembered learning about sirens in school, how they’d sing and make men lose their minds. He’d thought it was stupid, but now he got it.

“Royce, slow down.” Sadie caught up to him, but he didn’t dare look at her. She grabbed onto his elbow and he reluctantly stopped.

“You can’t just walk away.”

“Why? Because that’s your thing?”

“That’s not fair. You know I loved you, too. You think it was easy making that choice?”

He stared over at the flickering flames of the fire. “Look, I’m over it—glad, actually, that things worked out the way they did. All I was trying to say was that you should’ve made it. Let’s not make a big deal of it.”

“But it
is
a big deal. I had to try.” Sadie stepped in front of him. Her eyes shone in a way that let him know she was holding back tears. “I knew I’d always wonder. Always regret not giving the singing thing my best shot. In the end, it would’ve driven us apart.”

He shook his head, tamping down the flood of emotions trying to rise up in him. “I’m not doing this, Sadie. The past is the past.”

“I just…” She shrugged. “I miss you.” There was no denying he’d missed her, too, but he couldn’t say it. Couldn’t let himself go there again.

She put her hand on his arm and stepped so close her chest pressed against his. The moonlight glowed on her hair, highlighted her pretty features and spotlighted her full lips. He wanted to drop the soda, take her in his arms, and kiss her. Desire seared a path through his veins and his heart started pumping faster and faster. He shouldn’t still want her the way he did, but heaven help him, he did. Every inch of him trembled with want.

It’d be too easy to pretend he could give in to it without consequence, but having Sadie as an employee helped minimize risks. Things were finally getting manageable, and he needed her to stay working at the ranch as long as possible. After the whole mess with Cory’s girlfriend quitting after he broke up with her, Royce knew better than to try to mix business and relationships—especially knowing how volatile he and Sadie were together. The odds of it not affecting the camp were pretty much zero, and he couldn’t afford to screw up what was keeping his land and Mom’s alternative camp protected.

No, he had to be smart, something he rarely was when it came to Sadie. “The ranch and the camp are my life, and my responsibility is to them. I won’t do anything to mess that up. You and I work together, and I have enough on my plate to deal with without adding complications. We need to keep things on a professional level. Do you understand?”

Her chin quivered, and he had to clench every muscle in his body to keep from reaching out to console her. It was so unfair how girls could cry and make you feel like shit.

“I understand.” Her eyes lit on his and his stomach lurched. “But if you want to keep things professional, that also means not being an ass to me. I know it’s not all the time, but I don’t deserve it.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry. You being here has helped me a ton. I should’ve told you that sooner.”

“Thanks.” She reached up and wrapped a strand of hair around her finger. “Maybe we could even be friends? I could really use a friend right now.”

His insides turned to mush. “Well, you’ve got me. But that’s all it can be.” The words came out thick, hitting him harder than he’d thought they would. He immediately wanted to take them back, but he held on to his resolve, telling himself it was for the best for both of them in the long run.

Her smile was laced with sadness, but at least it was a smile. She hooked her hand in the crook of her elbow and they headed toward the rest of their group.

Maybe they really could be friends. But already, he was starting to feel like he was getting lost in her.

Chapter Seven

The friendship with Royce was coming along better than expected. Lately they’d gotten along and had conversations that lasted almost a full ten minutes. Of course he’d chosen now to get ready for the upcoming Fourth of July rodeo, what with it being a month away, and watching him rope and ride was a new form of torture. But Sadie had only wanted to throw herself at him a couple of times. A day. Or maybe more like a couple times an hour, if she were being completely honest. So, yeah…totally friends.

It was progress, anyway.

Still, when her best friend let her know that she was coming to town for a visit, Sadie called an emergency meeting at the Dairy Freeze. At the time she’d been focused on the getting-ice-cream aspect, but as soon as she stepped inside, she knew she should’ve chosen another location. The Dairy Freeze was just another one of those frozen-in-time places, bursting at the seams with memories of being here with Royce after school, sitting on his lap as they shared the five-scoop banana split.

There were also framed newspaper clippings covering the wall, everything from town awards to school sporting events. Sadie’s attention was drawn to the one in the middle. Mr. Hamilton, who owned the place, had sponsored Royce for the rodeo in Casper that went on during the state fair. She and Royce had driven down to stay with her dad, and Sadie had chewed her fingernails to the nubs—not only because she was singing three songs onstage to warm up the crowd at the fair, but also because she was nervous for Royce. Roping was one thing, but she hated the bronc riding, and bigger rodeos always meant rougher horses. Every time she watched him ride those bucking broncos, each second stretched into an eternity, and she’d sit there imagining every gory scenario involving her boyfriend getting kicked or stomped on.

And now the town’s talked him into riding again for the local rodeo, even though he hasn’t done it for years.

Sadie frowned at the article detailing Royce’s All-Around Cowboy title thanks to winning all three of his events, her heart tugging as the bittersweet memories and regret slammed into her for about the kajillionth time since she’d moved back into town.
Isn’t it about time they update the wall? Surely someone’s done something newsworthy since then.

“Sadie Hart, is that really you?”

She spun to face Quinn and squealed—she couldn’t help it. A couple quick strides and they were hugging. Quinn had headed to the University of Wyoming in Cheyenne shortly after Sadie had taken off for Nashville. Now she was a bigwig at the Sakatas’ real-estate development office there, which was funny because she’d always sworn she
absolutely wasn’t
going into the family business. The Sakatas owned and managed half the commercial real estate in Wyoming, as well as northern Colorado and Utah. Hope Springs was a central location between all of their offices, so they’d built a summer house here and ended up staying full-time while Quinn and her sister attended school.

“I’m so excited we managed to be in town at the same time,” Quinn said.

“Me, too.” Sadie pulled back and studied her best friend—they’d texted and emailed, but it’d been years since they’d managed a meet up. Quinn still did the cat-eye thing with her black eyeliner that accented her exotic eyes—she used to joke that she was going to be the first famous Asian cowgirl, even though her only cowgirl experience was living in a tiny town and occasionally riding a horse.

Then they’d found out “Asian cowgirl” was a slang term for a sex position and had to stop using it—that was a whole different level of aspiration.

Sadie lifted a strand of Quinn’s shiny, perfectly straight dark hair. “Look at you, all business.” Back in high school she was forever putting red, blue, or purple streaks in it and piercing some body part—her nose ring was missing, too, come to think of it. She looked more like the girl her parents always wanted her to be.

“I know, right? Perfectly boring. The office demands”—she gave a dramatic sigh and made air quotes—“‘human-colored hair and no facial piercings.’”

Sadie bumped her shoulder into Quinn’s. “You couldn’t be boring if you tried. You look amazing as usual, and I’m so happy to see you.”

“Right back at you. Except you seriously need some ice cream. You’re crazy skinny, girl!”

“Now you sound like Royce.”

Quinn’s eyes went comically wide. “I still can’t believe you’re working for him!” She clamped onto Sadie’s arm and dragged her to one of the small round tables. “Tell me everything.”

Sadie propped an elbow on the table and rested her chin in her hand. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“How about how the hell you ended up working at Second Chance Ranch with your ex?” Quinn said it loud enough the employees and the few other people in the place glanced over at them.

“Is ‘It’s complicated’ a good enough answer?” Sadie asked with a laugh. When Quinn folded her arms over the table, all business, she knew she’d end up spilling it all. So she filled her in, going into great detail so Quinn could help her analyze everything and figure out what to do.

“I bet he totally wants you again,” Quinn said.

“Uh, no. Did you not hear the we-can-only-ever-be-friends part?”

Quinn waved off the comment, and that was when Sadie noticed the iceberg-sized diamond hanging on her necklace. The sun hit it and shined right in Sadie’s eye. “Dang, Quinn, talk about bling.” She leaned over the table and lifted it to inspect it. “Present to yourself, or is there a guy involved?”

“Well, you know how my sister’s engaged? It’s why I’m in town right now, actually—the wedding planning is about to commence, and trust me, the Sakatas know how to take all fun out of planning things. I give it five minutes until Maya’s in tears and looking at me to fix it. Anyway, her fiancé’s brother and I have been dating.”

When Sadie let the necklace drop, Quinn tucked it into her shirt so that only the silver chain showed. “I think it’s way too extravagant a present for where we’re at, so I almost refused it, but then he looked so damn hopeful and it was big and shiny, so…” Her lips pursed and her eyebrows scrunched together. “I do like him. He’s just already so serious about me, and serious in general—needless to say, my parents
love
him. I figure our siblings’ wedding will either push us closer or screw it up. If it doesn’t work, then Mr. Sparkles is definitely going back.”

“You always did mesmerize the guys.”

“Yeah, all the wrong ones. But I’ve changed my ways since high school. Now I go for the opposite of hot, tattooed, and totally unavailable. That’s why Grayson might be good for me. I was going to tell you about him, but you’d just sent me that sad email with the news about your contract falling through, so…” She shrugged.

“You never have to hold back, you know that.”

“I know. But, seriously, how are you holding up? The whole Royce thing aside?”

Over the past few weeks Sadie hadn’t felt like lying in bed and never getting up again—well, she did some because working on the ranch was exhausting, but not in that sad, my-life-is-hopeless way. “The worst part was having my dream so close, only to get it yanked away. Just like when the girl group dissolved, only worse, because I thought I was finally going to sing the songs I wanted to, my way. To have it fall through again made me question if I was any good. And when I couldn’t even pull off a set I’d done a hundred times the very same day…well, then I was sure I wasn’t.”

“You are,” Quinn said, covering Sadie’s hand with hers. “You know you have a kick-ass voice.”

“Thanks. And I do know. But I was never skinny enough or pretty enough, or big-boobed enough.”

“Also bullshit. You’ve got perfect boobs that are never going to sag.”

Sadie cracked a smile—she also noticed they were getting a few concerned looks now. Quinn had that effect on people sometimes, which was one reason why she loved her so much. “Man, I could’ve used you in Nashville with me. Don’t worry, I’ll stop wallowing soon, and once I get some money saved, I’ll hit it hard again. Being here this past month has actually been a good distraction from it all, though. And now that you’ll be in town more for wedding prep…?” She raised her eyebrows and Quinn nodded. “Good. Then I’m even better. Now, let’s get some ice cream, already.”

After they got their ice cream—and said hi to Mr. Hamilton, who’d asked a ton of questions—they sat to eat and finish catching up.

Quinn’s phone rang, and she glanced at the display. “It’s work. Sorry, I’ll be just a minute.” Whatever the person on the other end said set Quinn off. She shot out of her chair and headed to the corner, telling whoever it was that they better fix it and now, no excuses. She’d kill Sadie if she told her she sounded just like her father, even if it were true.

“Sadie, dear?”

Sadie glanced at Patsy Higgins. The woman was on every town committee ever, and somehow knew everything that happened within the town limits mere minutes after it happened. “Yes?”

“I ran into your mother and grandmother earlier, and they informed me you were in town for a while, and I got so excited because we’ve been missing our town singer ever since you left. We’d just be so honored to have you back.”

Apprehension crept across Sadie’s skin. Singing around the campfire was one thing, but she wasn’t sure she was ready for a larger crowd. Of course, saying no wasn’t really an option. Patsy Higgins didn’t accept no for an answer—Sadie and Quinn used to joke that her grandmotherly exterior was a front to hide the fact that she was a former CIA spy who’d take you out if you didn’t participate in town functions. Besides, a few low-key performances might be exactly what she needed to get her confidence back to where it needed to be. Then she’d be ready when she made her return to Nashville.

“Well, I’m honored to be back.”

“Great! We’ve had to use a recording for the ball games and rodeos the past few years, and it always sounds all garbled and scratchy over the speakers. I’m so glad we’ll have a stronger, more patriotic performance this Fourth of July.”

“Wait? Fourth of July? As in—”

“The rodeo, silly! Good thing you don’t need much prep time.”

Patsy walked up to the counter and started rattling off her order. Sadie really should’ve seen that coming. So, on top of Royce roping and riding, she’d get to start the night with nothing but a microphone, her voice, and years of memories rushing her at once.

All the prep time in the world might not be enough.

…

Royce couldn’t believe how bored he was. This far into the program, they let the kids have free time on Saturdays, and between them becoming pretty good workers and Sadie’s help, he’d actually managed to catch up with things on the ranch. He could always find more to do, but that wasn’t why he was bored. He didn’t want to face the truth, but there it was, whispering in his mind.

He missed Sadie.

Missed watching her walk back and forth between working the horses and helping out with the teens. She was gaining weight—something he’d never tell her because he liked his balls where they were—and she was looking healthier, laughing more.

Royce pushed up the brim of his hat, pulled out his phone, and scrolled through his contacts, stopping on Sadie’s name.

Don’t do it.
If he called her, what would he even say?

“Hey.”

Royce almost dropped his phone. He quickly shoved it in his pocket and turned to Cory. “Yeah?”

“You and I are going out tonight.”

“That sounds nice and all, but I—”

“Don’t say you can’t, man. You’re starting to live like a monk. A cowboy monk, sure, but come on, it’s getting pathetic. And I’m a young, good-looking guy. I shouldn’t be wasting all this charm on horses and cows.” Cory waggled his eyebrows.

Royce laughed and shook his head. “Dude, that doesn’t sound right.”

“That just proves we need to get away from the ranch for a while. I already talked to your mom. Her friend Sheila’s coming over to keep her company as soon as she gets off work at the diner, and Frank from down the road is on call if anything major happens.”

Royce ran a finger across his bottom lip, tempted, but not sure if a night out was what he needed right now.

Hell, I need something to take the edge off wanting someone I shouldn’t.

It was time to remind himself there were other girls besides Sadie.