Chapter Five #3
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. When she passed, all that was left for me was an empty shell of a home and a job I no longer loved. Paige had cancer, so it was my time to come care for her.”
“I still can’t believe Paige had cancer. She’s okay, though?”
“Another long story, but yes. She’s in remission now, but before she and Owen got married, I lived with her and helped her heal. I was going to leave when she got better, but I’d fallen in love.”
Jace’s heart sank to the pit of his stomach at the same time his pulse decided to beat triple time.
“In love?” he asked, gulping back some water this time, as well as a deep-seated fear he hadn’t felt since he’d read his first round of reviews on his acting debut.
His head swam, and he felt nauseated, but not from the few drinks he’d had.
“Yes. Haven’t you? How can you not love those mountains, the lake at the bottom of the hill, the birds that come from the south and bring their babies home? It’s my home now, too.”
A rush of air left his lungs. He was still lightheaded, but his chest swelled hearing Aurelie’s elaboration on her infatuation. The town. She’d fallen in love with the Valley, something he could relate to.
That was as surprising as anything else, that he could see his hometown through completely new eyes. Was she to blame for part of that?
Still, he could no sooner explain his relief that she didn’t seem to be romantically involved than he could explain his compulsion to take his dad’s place off the market.
He took Aurelie’s hand in his. She flinched before relaxing her fingers in his.
God, he hoped that would pass, that she wouldn’t be afraid of him forever.
Because that same compulsion that brought him back to Banberry shoved him at Aurelie.
“I’ve definitely felt something for this place I haven’t felt before, not even as a kid,” he told her.
The way Aurelie looked at him just then, like he’d actually said something right for once, was such a stretch from their first few interactions that it disarmed him and turned him on in equal measure.
A small cough broke the trance that had Jace locked in. He turned his head to see a small boy alongside their table. He couldn’t have been more than six. Jace cleared his throat, nodded toward the kid.
“They let ’em into bars younger and younger, don’t they?” he teased.
Aurelie just smiled, a knowing grin that belied mischief. She shrugged her shoulders and nodded toward the boy, who stared deadpan at Jace.
“I know who you are,” the boy told Jace, his hands on his hips. Figured that his first fan was a mop-head who wasn’t even old enough for braces and had probably snuck in here from the restaurant side. Still, Jace smiled.
“Yep, that’s me, little buddy. Do ya got a piece of paper I can use? I think I have a pen around here somewhere,” Jace said, fumbling around in his pockets for something he could use to sign an autograph for the little champ.
He was amused when the kid scowled at Jace.
“Okay,” Jace said, putting his hands up in resignation, “I’ll just use this napkin here.”
“I don’t want your autograph,” the kid spat. “Don’t think you can come in here with your money and your good looks and steal her from me.” The boy turned to Aurelie and gazed up at her with the widest eyes Jace had ever seen.
A small laugh escaped his lips as the whole situation became crystal clear. This young fella was in love with Aurelie and didn’t give a rat’s ass about Jace. It was kinda cute, even if it did sting a little.
“It’s not funny, mister. I met her first, and I gave her flowers when she helped my sister get here safe. Flowers. Do you know what that means?” The poor kid was as red as the worn Jordan hoodie he wore.
Jace put his million-dollar smile away. He was an actor, dammit. He could pretend for a few minutes that he didn’t find this situation as downright hilarious and adorable as he did.
“I sure, do, fella. What’s your name?” he asked.
“Billy Watson.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what, Billy. When a man brings a woman flowers, it’s about as serious as it gets.
I respect that you got here first, but you know it isn’t up to us to decide, right?
What do you say we let the lady make the decision for herself?
” He glanced over at Aurelie, and instead of winking, gave her a subtle, honest smile.
She grinned broadly, and the striking way it highlighted her cheekbones, set off by the white of her teeth, made a puddle out of Jace’s heart.
“Well,” she said, clearing her throat and trying like hell to wipe the smile off her face, “it seems we have a problem here.”
Billy grinned, nodded. It almost snapped what was left of Jace’s resolve right then and there.
“No matter how great you are, Billy, you’re still a little too young. In fact, does your mom know you’re not on that side of the restaurant? You could get in trouble being over here.”
“I’m s’posed to be in the bathroom.”
“Ah, I see. Well, by the time you’re old enough, I’ll be wrinkly and not attractive in the least. You don’t want to marry someone who’s all wrinkly, do you?”
This time Billy made a face like his mom had snuck some Brussels sprouts in his mac ’n cheese, and shook his head no.
“I didn’t think so. But you’ll always be my guy, okay?”
“Okay, Ms. Aurelie.” Billy turned to face Jace, who was one beat away from losing his composure. This entire situation was too damn cute. “But you’d better treat her right. And bring her flowers. She likes lilies.”
“Thanks for the tip, scout. It was really nice meeting a gentleman like you.”
“Yeah, you’re all right, I guess. My mom thinks you’re handsomer than my dad, by the way.”
With that, Billy ran away. Jace laughed and asked Aurelie to wait up for a second.
He followed Billy back to his booth, where a thoroughly red-faced young woman who couldn’t have been over thirty-five listened in as her son recounted his fight for Aurelie’s honor, including the way her son had thrown her under the bus with his last statement.
Jace cleared his throat, and the mom looked up, giggled nervously.
“Sorry about him. He said some stranger was with Ms. Aurelie when we came in. Aurelie is the nurse that delivered his sister.” Ah, that made a helluva lot more sense.
“I didn’t know the stranger he meant was you.
” She looked down at her half-eaten hamburger, her fingers tapping on the table like an SOS.
“Not at all. I just came back to tell you what a fine young man Billy is, and that if I was ever going to lose the heart of a young lady to anyone, I wouldn’t mind it being him.”
“That’s kind of you, Jace.”
“I actually grew up here next to the Connors and am fixing up my dad’s ranch now that he’s passed. That makes us neighbors.”
She shook his extended hand, and her posture relaxed.
“Welcome to the neighborhood. I knew your dad and liked him very much. I hope you like being back in Banberry.”
Jace didn’t have to look at Aurelie to remember her megawatt smile that had just knocked the breath out of him. He liked everything about being back home so far.
“I sure do. Y’all take care, now,” he said.
Before he made his way back to Aurelie and his whiskey, he stopped off at the cashier stand to pay for Billy and his mom’s meal.
He tried not to do that all too often in California because it drew too much attention to him, but he didn’t think that would be an issue here.
He slid into the booth, and his knee grazed Auelie’s calf. “Wow. That’s twice since I’ve been here that my good looks and money have been called into question.”
Aurelie laughed. “He’s a sweet boy. The day I delivered his sister, he asked to be my boyfriend. So, now it’s your turn. Why acting?”
Jace had often wondered that himself when he looked at the surreal life he was living with more money and shit than he could wrap his head around.
What had started him on this path in the first place?
He knew what had catapulted him into the limelight, but the rest was a blur.
Maybe it was the show choir and acting he’d done at Banberry High School?
He’d enjoyed it fine, but he didn’t remember making the conscious decision to pursue it head-on.
In fact, when he thought back to his childhood on the ranch, followed the timeline through college, he’d actually always wanted to be one of those cowboy poets he heard about, the romance of ranch life part of his genetic fabric.
One thing he was certain of was that he was ready to be done with the typecast roles he’d been handed down from his agent recently. He craved something with substance, with meat behind it. Until that came down the chute, he’d use the ranch as a stop-gap to figuring out what came next.
He filled Aurelie in on all of this, sipping on his whiskey until his thoughts calmed and peace relaxed his limbs.
She was actually the first person he’d met that he felt comfortable sharing the inner workings of his crazy brain with.
Even more surprising was the way she seemed to hang on every word.
She nodded, laughed when it was appropriate, but otherwise just let him speak until he’d said all he could think to say.
He felt like a teenager gushing to a crush, the way his mouth was on overdrive, along with the hormones that surged through his very-adult body whenever he focused too long on her full lips and what he’d like to do with them.
Finally, he stopped. She looked at him, brows furrowed, and he wasn’t sure what to do. Had he said too much?
“You’re entirely too good-looking to be any good at ranching. Real ranching off a set, I mean.”
His laugh echoed against the walls of the small bar. How did she make that comment—the thought he’d been fearing since he decided to come back was that he wouldn’t be able to hack this life even for a week—sound alluring?
“Gee, thanks. But there you go with the good-looking thing again. I get it, you think I’m hot.”
He didn’t miss the heat that crept up her neck, landed softly on her cheeks.
“Ugh. That is so not what I meant. I simply mean you can’t be a movie star, handsome as the devil himself, an athlete, and then a good rancher on top of it all. The stars aren’t that kind to anyone.”
“How about we talk to your friends, I get this house fixed up and the cattle ready for calving, and then I take you out to dinner to hear what you think?”
Aurelie eyed him through long, thick lashes. He’d bet his new land she didn’t need mascara, or makeup in general, her skin and lashes were so perfect the way they were. God, he’d love to see her just after a run, or better yet, after a shower. He shuddered, the image almost too inviting.
“Maybe. I’m not going to be here that long, Jace.
Which is why I need to make this place safe for my friends, for my goddaughter.
” He liked the way she said his name. Jace, the emphasis on the last syllable.
So much so that he had to double back, replay that last part of what she’d said in his head.
“Wait. Why not? I thought I fixed that with my news. It’s not good news, but it is when it exonerates me and puts some other schmuck in your line of sight.
” The giggle that erupted from Aurelie’s chest sounded like a song.
He wished he could record it, listen to it on repeat.
He’d make it his alarm, his ringtone, his everything.
Damn. Maybe he should go easy on the whiskey. He wasn’t sure he was gonna be here long, either.
“It’s complicated.”
Hmmm. Maybe because she and Paige seemed at odds the night before? Or was it something else?
“Listen,” he said, putting his hand on hers.
She flinched again, but the slight tremble calmed quicker than last time, and she put a thumb over his.
That was progress. “Why don’t we meet at Paige’s house, and I’ll fill them in.
The guys don’t know what’s up, and we’re supposed to work on the renovations together tomorrow. ”
“Together?” she asked. Her voice was thick, sultry. Damn if his erection didn’t press heavier against his jeans. This woman was walking, talking sex, and the worst—and best—part about it was she had no idea.
“Yeah, they’re helping me get this thing squared away. I wasn’t exactly planning on running a ranch and fixing up a house when I got here.”
“So, you’re really staying,” she said, the frown lines on her forehead all but gone, the corners of her full, pink lips turned up instead.
“I am. For now, anyway, and I’d like to do what I can to help Brad and Paige; they were my friends, too, once upon a time, and I’m kinda hoping they will be again.
“Fine. But that won’t help me stay.” Jace got the sense that she was letting him in on a secret, one she didn’t want to share with anyone else.
Still, his pulse quickened, and his hands balled into tight fists.
It was the worst news he’d received since he’d arrived.
Worse, even, than finding out someone was determined to decimate his childhood home for the sake of making a tourist trap.
“Why’s that? You don’t like it here?”
“Oh no,” she said, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. “I love it more than any place on earth. Well, I haven’t been to many places, but I love it all the same.”
“Then why would you leave?”
“I don’t want to, but it may be out of my hands. Can I tell you later? Over rum? I want to see Paige and Owen before they leave tomorrow afternoon. They’re spending the night in Hellena. A date for their anniversary, and I’m supposed to watch the baby.”
“Can I give you a ride? I heard these roads are hell on pedestrians.”
“It’s the drivers I worry about. Those damned tourists and their fast cars.”
She bit her bottom lip, and anything half about his erection was gone, a full hard-on in its place.
Great, how was he supposed to hide this from the bunch of bachelorettes flanking a soon-to-be-bride by the exit?
He untucked his flannel shirt, which at least concealed the top half, then slid up behind Aurelie as she left the booth, hoping she’d cover the rest, or at least distract from his bulge with her bright clothing.
Though there was still so much to rediscover about his hometown, including the mystery tycoon, when Aurelie reached for his hand as they left the restaurant, tangling her fingers in his, he couldn’t help but smile.
Whatever force had led him back here, where he swore he’d never return, he wanted to thank.
Love you, Pops, he thought instead.
Because, for the first time in his life, he finally felt like he was home.