Coming Home Country (Rust Canyon #2)
1. Bex
Chapter 1
Bex
“Four years at the firm, and you haven’t taken so much as a sick day, let alone a vacation—not for lack of begging on my part to take you on one—but you’ll drop everything to head to the middle of nowhere for a wedding?”
“Aspen’s my best friend, and I’m the maid of honor,” I explained for the millionth time in the past four months.
“You get two weeks paid vacation a year, Rebecca.”
Thankfully, my back was turned as I zipped my suitcase, so he couldn’t see my eye roll. He’d insisted on using my full legal name from the start, saying it was more professional than the childhood nickname my late father had given me before he died.
Guess it was par for the course. Bex was my past. Rebecca was my future.
“What’s it going to take to convince you to let me spoil you a little bit? You work too hard.”
Aaron had made partner by the time he hit thirty and couldn’t understand how much harder I was forced to work as a woman to earn that distinction for myself. As a junior associate at the law firm of Brooks and Andrews, I spent more nights crashing in my office than I did at home.
Did I voluntarily take on a higher caseload than my peers? You bet your ass I did. Being in a relationship with a partner, I didn’t want it to look as though I was sleeping my way to the top.
Not that it mattered to anyone, but Aaron had pursued me. Quite aggressively. For months, he’d begged to take me out, but each time, I politely declined. I wasn’t in the market for a boyfriend. Especially one who needed to be disclosed to HR.
When I buried my head in my case files, burning the midnight oil at the office, he changed tactics, bringing takeout and churning through them with me. He gave up his free evenings to sit and wade through what equated to grunt work in the law world—when he’d already paid his dues—just to spend time with me. And he always made sure to escort me home afterward since Chicago in the middle of the night wasn’t the safest of places for an unaccompanied woman.
So, I’d given him a chance. And here we were three years later, our lives completely intertwined. We lived together, we worked together, and now we were engaged to be married.
“Here’s what I don’t get.” Apparently, my silence had been an invitation for him to continue his tirade about my taking time off in a way that wasn’t all about him. “Blaze comes from one of the wealthiest families in the country. This wedding should be the society event of the year. But instead, they’re getting married on a ranch? With, like, fifty people on the guest list?”
Yes, my best friend was marrying Macallan Blaze, a billionaire who was also formerly the most eligible bachelor in America. But he wasn’t the stereotypical prick you’d expect of someone with that kind of bank. His family might own the largest hotel conglomerate in the world, but he didn’t work in their corporate offices. Instead, he was at the tail end of his training to become a firefighter. He wanted to make a real difference in the lives of others.
A smile touched my lips, knowing how his entire life had changed when he met Aspen.
She’d brought Mac home for Christmas a few years back, and he fell in love with her and our hometown of Rust Canyon in tandem.
It was on the tip of my tongue to spit back a snarky retort about money not being everything, but I knew it would fall on deaf ears.
Pulling the zipper on my carry-on, I turned to find Aaron stepping out of his walk-in closet, affixing cufflinks to his shirt sleeves.
“You sure you don’t want to take a week off and come down early with me?”
An unimpressed snort sounded, and he didn’t bother to look up as he replied, “Spend a full ten days in bumblefuck Oklahoma? No, thanks.”
“Hey!” The sharp bite in my tone had his head snapping up, an eyebrow arched. “You don’t get to talk bad about where I come from.”
Turning his back to me, Aaron grabbed his suit jacket from where it lay over the edge of the chaise lounge in the master suite. As he shrugged it on, he shot back, “Yeah, well, there’s a reason you’ve never gone back.”
He was right about one thing: I hadn’t returned to my hometown since I was eighteen.
But he had no clue as to why.
I’d pushed it to the back of my mind, locked it up tight, but there was no hiding from it anymore. Going home meant facing my demons. Even a decade later, the memory of why I left had the hot stab of betrayal slicing through my insides, the pain of it stealing my breath away.
That was almost enough for me to call this whole thing off. Cancel my plane ticket and tell Aspen I just couldn’t do it. She would understand. She’d been there when my world fell apart without warning, offering a shoulder to cry on before helping me pick up the pieces and start over.
But this was her wedding. As little girls, we’d hung pillowcases from the back of our heads more times than I could count, pretending they were veils, imagining this day. As teens, we’d poured over bridal catalogs, picking out dress styles and flower arrangements. Aspen’s groom remained faceless, but by then, I already knew who I was going to marry.
Boy, was I wrong.
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, strengthening my resolve. I could do this. It was only ten days, and then I never had to go back, effectively closing that chapter of my life forever.
There might be memories lurking around every corner in that town, but it wasn’t like I would bump into him. He’d left Rust Canyon to attend one of the most prestigious medical programs in the country. There was no reason for him to return to our small town when his prospects were better elsewhere.
At least, that’s the hope I clung to so I didn’t chicken out.
I was twenty-eight years old. I should be over some silly teenage heartbreak by now.
But deep down, I knew I would never get over it.
The buzzer on the intercom at the door to our high-rise apartment sounded, and Aaron left the bedroom to answer it.
“Babe, your car to the airport is here!”
“Coming!” I shouted, lugging my suitcase off the bed.
Looping my leather travel backpack over my shoulder, I stepped out of the bedroom and into the living room. Aaron stood by the door, and when he caught sight of me, he flashed me that charming smile he used when trying to woo prospective clients, our little tiff in the bedroom seemingly forgotten.
“Come here, Rebecca, and give me a proper goodbye.”
I almost snorted. He’d already gotten his “proper goodbye” when he shoved me to my knees in the shower this morning, but I wasn’t about to point that out—or the fact that he’d gotten off and left me hanging—and stir up more shit before we were set to spend a week apart.
So, like the dutiful fiancée I was, I closed the distance between us and let him pull me into his arms. His lips descended on mine, his tongue demanding entry. I parted for him, but my only thought was that he’d never set my soul on fire. I faked a lot of orgasms. I was practically a pro at it by this point.
What we had was convenient. Honestly, I didn’t know how anyone working at the firm had time to find a significant other outside of work; there simply weren’t enough hours in the day to carve out time for a personal life. It just made sense to accept a proposal and build a life with someone who understood the rigors of the job and I could actually see during the day.
I’d made my peace with it and told myself that plenty of people survived in practical, satisfactory marriages. My life now was very different from the one I’d imagined for myself as a girl, but sometimes, there were factors outside of our control and we were forced to pivot.
Gently pushing on Aaron’s shoulders, I broke our kiss. “See you on Thursday, right?”
He gave a firm nod. “Thursday.”
Aaron opened the front door, giving me what he deemed a playful swat on the behind when I stepped through. “Gonna miss you, babe.”
Probably will miss the blow jobs more than you’ll miss me.
Giving him a bright smile I prayed he wouldn’t see was fake as hell, I tossed over my shoulder, “You too. ”
The elevator doors slid closed, and I sagged against the mirrored wall. Tilting my face toward the ceiling, I let out a heavy exhale.
Ten days. Ten days to lay the past to rest and move on for good this time.
The flight from Chicago to Oklahoma City took less time than it did to drive from the airport to Rust Canyon. It had been a decade since I’d traveled these country roads, but I still knew them like the back of my hand.
When I finally reached town and rolled down Main Street, memories assaulted me without warning.
That time I’d convinced Quinn at the salon that my mama had given permission to cut my butt-length brown locks so that they barely brushed my shoulders, as well as the subsequent scolding when I came home missing the majority of my hair.
That time Aspen and I had hidden in the back corner of the bookstore to read a copy of the bestselling romance novel our moms were whispering to each other about, and our curiosity got the better of us.
That time Mr. Sullivan, Aspen’s dad, taught me to ride because my own dad wasn’t around, and he’d declared that any good country girl worth her salt should feel just as comfortable on horseback as she was walking.
That time my heart was shattered into a million pieces, and no amount of glue could piece it back together, so I ran from the only home I’d ever known.
That night altered the course of my future, and the mere thought of it had tears burning behind my eyes .
Fuck, I’d been back in this town for less than five minutes, and already I could tell being here was going to be harder than I imagined.
If there was one person I could go to for comfort, it was my best friend. So, instead of simply passing through on the way to my mom’s house, I pulled over on Main Street.
The sun glinted off the ostentatious diamond resting on my left hand, and I wrenched it off, stuffing the ring into the glove compartment for safekeeping. This week was about Aspen and Mac; I didn’t want to steal any focus away from them. Especially when their marriage would be built on a foundation of love, whereas mine was going to be more about convenience and companionship.
Hopping out of my rental, I gazed upon Aspen’s showroom, the big pane glass windows featuring sketches she’d drawn by hand of Rust Canyon’s signature storefronts.
I was so proud of her for chasing her dream.
We’d both attended SoCal University for undergrad, but she’d stayed there to gain experience in her chosen field of architecture before obtaining her master’s. I, on the other hand, moved to Chicago for law school and got my position with Brooks and Andrews right after graduation.
Aspen embraced our roots, her mission to bring a slice of our cozy country hometown to the suburbs. The first residential development featuring one of her Main Streets had opened last month, only forty-five minutes from where I lived. Her frequent trips to Chicago allowed me the chance to get to know Mac and watch her vision materialize from concept to reality.
As I pushed inside the door to her office, a tiny bell sounded above my head.
“Be with you in a minute!”
I smiled when I heard my best friend’s voice call out from somewhere in the back of the space .
I doubted she had any prospective client showings the week leading up to her wedding, so she probably figured I was someone poking their nose in to say hello. Which wasn’t too far off from the truth, though she likely wasn’t expecting me to pop up before the wedding party get-together on her family’s ranch tomorrow.
“Bex!” Aspen’s screech was so high-pitched that I cringed, worried I’d suffer permanent hearing damage. “You’re here!” She barreled into me so hard I stumbled back a step, barely able to remain on my feet.
She was a few inches taller than me, so I got a faceful of her free-flowing strawberry-blonde waves as she wrapped me up in a hug so tight I could swear I heard a rib crack.
“Need to breathe,” I joked, strained laughter bubbling up from my constricted chest.
“Sorry.” My bestie pulled back, her blue eyes glassy. “Just can’t believe you’re really here.”
I huffed out a wry laugh. “Yeah, well, that makes two of us.”
Her lips twisted to the side. “You okay?”
“Depends on your definition of okay. Didn’t make it past Main Street before it all came rushing back.” My eyes slid closed as a fresh wave of pain crashed over me.
“Oh, Bex.”
I waved her off, my lower lip trembling as I blinked furiously. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Blowing out a breath, I met her concerned gaze. “You’re the only person in this world I would set foot in this town for, you know that?”
Her lips twisted into a sad smile. “I know.”
Clapping, I changed topics. “I know you gave me a rundown weeks ago, but what does the itinerary look like?”
Aspen shook her head. “We can worry about all that tomorrow. ”
“I need to keep busy.” When she stared at me, unsure, I begged, “Please.”
A heavy exhale shook her entire body. “Okay.” She tugged me toward a couch off to the side of the room, where we sat down, and I whipped out my phone to take notes.
Maid-of-honor mode officially activated.
Using her fingers, she ticked off the list of activities. “Tomorrow’s the wedding party bonfire on the ranch. Sunday, your mom is hosting my bridal shower at the church. Monday, we’ve got the scavenger hunt.” Her light laughter floated in the air as she explained, “That one was at Mac’s request. Then, on Tuesday, we’re doing the final dress fittings. Wednesday is the trail ride, camping out overnight optional. Thursday, we’re hitting the Watering Hole for the joint bachelor/bachelorette party.”
Nodding as I typed, I mused, “Of course, Friday is the rehearsal dinner, with the wedding on Saturday.”
“Yeah, the boring parts.” I could hear the smile in her voice.
I grasped her hand, my voice growing thick. “Nothing boring about marrying the man you love.” I was glad at least one of us would get to do that.
Clearing my throat, I pocketed my phone. “I have to say, I think we’re missing a real opportunity here.”
Aspen quirked an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? What’s that?”
“You’re marrying a firefighter.”
Confusion flickered over her features, not picking up on where I was going with this train of thought. “I’m aware . . .”
A smirk teased onto my lips. “We could have some real fun at that bachelorette party with him stripping off that gear.”
Her pale face turned so pink her freckles disappeared, and she covered her eyes, groaning, “Oh my God.” Then came a gasp, and she sat up straight, pointing a finger in my direction. “Don’t you dare go mentioning that to him. Because he’ll think that idea is brilliant and actually do it.”
I’d mentioned it as a joke, but now that I thought about it, she was right.
My giggles couldn’t be contained at the mental picture of Mac putting Aspen in a chair in the middle of the bar and removing his fire gear, piece by piece, while she died of embarrassment.
Aspen playfully swatted at my arm. “I mean it!” But her own laughter bubbled up from her chest, and the two of us fell back onto the couch.
This was exactly why I’d stopped in to see my best friend. She could put a smile on my face even on the darkest of days, and I hated that we lived so far apart. Sure, she was always a phone call away, but it wasn’t the same as when we were growing up and saw each other every day, or even in college when we were lucky enough to share a dorm room. Those were the best times of my life.
When we finally calmed down, and I felt so much lighter than when I’d walked through the door, I asked, “So, where is the groom-to-be?”
“Chief Jones lets him do a couple of training shifts per week at the fire station. This is his last one before the wedding.”
“He liking it so far?”
“For a thirty-three-year-old man who decided to change career paths on a dime, I’ve never seen him happier.” A dreamy smile lit up her face as she thought about her fiancé.
I elbowed her playfully. “Pretty sure you’ll see him happier next Saturday.”
“Maybe.” Her blush was back.
“No. Definitely. The man is gone for you. I could tell the minute I met him. The way he looks at you . . .” My heart twisted. “You’re really lucky.”
Aspen pulled me in for another hug. “I’m gonna head to my parents’ tonight for dinner. Wanna come? ”
As much as I wanted to accept the invitation to dine with the Sullivans, whom I viewed as family, I couldn’t keep my mama waiting much longer. She’d waited more than ten years as it was.
“Raincheck? I’ve kinda got somewhere I have to be.”
She nodded in understanding. “Tell Rose I’ll see her on Sunday and thank her again for offering to host the shower. She really didn’t have to.”
“You’re like a second daughter to her. I’m sure she’s pleased as punch to play some small part in your special day.”
My engagement was still fresh, and we hadn’t gotten around to the planning stage yet, but I knew one thing for certain: it wouldn’t take place in Rust Canyon. If Aaron had it his way, we’d have some fancy blowout where most of the guest list consisted of the firm’s clients. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about feeling uncomfortable about being the center of attention; Aaron would make sure that honor went to him.
Why was I marrying that guy again?
Repeat after me, Bex: stability, security, convenience.
It was getting harder each day for my head to convince my heart that I was doing the right thing. My heart wanted a love match, but my head knew that ship had sailed on a cold winter’s night over ten years ago. That organ inside my chest was fragile; it wouldn’t be able to survive another fracture.
It was better this way. I wasn’t attached enough to Aaron that I would be left hurt if, someday, things didn’t work out between us.
I gave Aspen another hug before standing. “Tomorrow at two on the ranch, right? Just the maid of honor and best man helping with the setup before everyone else shows up for the bonfire at five, right?”
Something flickered behind Aspen’s bright blue eyes, but I couldn’t place it. “Yep. Meet us out by the barn.”
“Got it. See you then. ”
Already, I felt better about this week. So long as I had Aspen by my side, I could handle anything.
Pulling up to my childhood home, I sat in the car for a few minutes, gazing at the ranch-style house I’d grown up in. The barrage of memories Main Street conjured was nothing compared to the ones invoked by this simple structure.
This was where my parents had brought me home from the hospital and where I’d taken my first steps.
This was where, as a young girl, I’d watched my father slowly lose his battle with cancer.
This was where my mom and I had found our footing as a new family of two, our bond only strengthening with each passing day.
This was where I’d come home after my first day of kindergarten, excited out of my mind to tell my mama about my new best friend, Aspen.
This was where Aspen and I had more sleepovers than I could count.
This was where I’d experienced my very first kiss on the front porch.
This was where I had spent so many nights, lying awake in bed, picturing my future—a future that would never come to pass.
This was where I’d burst through the front door in tears to pack my bags before never returning.
Until now.
My mama was all I had left in this world besides Aspen, and I hadn’t seen her—outside of video calls—since the day I’d left this town in a cloud of dust. As a single mom after my dad passed, she’d given me everything, and guilt gnawed at my gut, knowing I hadn’t been the best daughter to her these past few years. She didn’t make much as the church’s secretary, so there hadn’t been funds for her to visit me during the years I’d been in school. When I finally began making decent money in Chicago and could afford to fly her out, she’d balked at the idea, having never been on a plane before, with no desire to see the “big city.” Like most residents of Rust Canyon, my mama was comfortable in the country, the place where she was born and raised.
Once upon a time, I’d felt that way too.
Not anymore.
I had Tucker Grant to thank for that.
God, even allowing myself to think his name after a decade of blocking it out had a shiver rolling down my spine and my chest tightening to the point where it became a struggle to breathe.
We’d been Rust Canyon’s golden couple, even as teens. We fit so well together that people could hardly wait until we made it official and got married.
But he’d had such big dreams that they couldn’t be contained in a small town. When he got accepted into one of the most prestigious medical programs in the country, a thousand miles from home, he almost didn’t go. I was the one who’d talked him into it, convincing him that the sacrifice of spending a few years apart would be worth it in the long run and that it would only be a tiny blip in the course of our life together.
With Tucker being two years older than me, I was still in high school when he left for Baltimore. The long-distance thing sucked, not seeing each other every day like we were used to, but I kept busy enough with my friends that the time flew by.
After graduation, I followed Aspen to LA, not wanting to be left behind by both of the people I was closest to in this world. Growing up, our elders always warned us to enjoy our youth because it passed by in a flash, and I was almost counting on it. What kept me going was knowing that by the time I finished my four years of college, Tucker would be a good chunk of the way through medical school, and we’d be one step closer to starting our forever.
Not that he wanted to wait. He’d made it no secret how impatient he was to marry me, but his hands were tied until I turned eighteen. And a proposal wasn’t the only thing he’d been holding back until I became a legal adult. The final threshold in cementing our physical relationship hadn’t been breached either.
When I returned home for Christmas break after the fall semester of my freshman year at SoCal, having celebrated my eighteenth birthday that September, I was more than ready. The anticipation was at an all-time high. Everyone knew what was coming.
But, like some of the tornadoes that ran rampant each spring through our beloved Oklahoma, the destruction came without warning.
My eyes squeezed shut to prevent the tears from leaking out. I had promised myself long ago that I was done crying over that man. Unfortunately, that was damn near impossible to stick to when being back here reminded me of how my life had been picture-perfect one minute, then blown to smithereens the next.
All these years later, I couldn’t help but wonder why.