Love Me Again, Cowboy (Second Chance Romance): Wyle Away Ranch Book 2

by Torsha Baker

  “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

  Landon returns to pumping oil into the tractor. “I find that things work out better when they unfold organically. If you knew, you might have screwed it up.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, brother.”

  He shrugs. “It worked out, didn't it?”

  “That it did.”

  Preston is practically bouncing on his toes. “You told her about Audrey?” he asks in a rush. “She forgave you?”

  “I did.” They’ve both stopped what they’re doing again to look at me in anticipation. “And she did. In fact, we reconciled.”

  Landon nods his head in approval. “‘Bout time.”

  Preston moves his hand in a rolling motion as if to get me to tell more. “And?”

  I shrug. “And what?”

  “Are you back together?”

  I rub another buckle. “Time will tell. You can’t rush these things.”

  A whistle has us all looking to the barn door. Dillon walks inside. “So, the woman whisperer hasn’t completely lost his touch after all.” He’s in his typical bank attire, but he’s taken his tie off and is holding a manila envelope. “Now we don’t have to see you mope around after you’ve watched another one of her episodes,” he continues.

  “I don’t mope,” I say. They all give me a look that says they think otherwise. I just shrug, refusing to let them ruin my mood. I’m still on a Malia high, and I plan to ride it until I see her again.

  “When will she come visit?” Preston asks.

  “It’ll be a bit longer,” I say.

  “Jax wants her all to himself,” Landon says.

  “It’s not just that. I mean, yes. But it’s been eight years. We’re not the same kids we were when we first fell in love. A lot has changed, and we need to see whether or not those changes will allow us to have a future together.” I also need Malia to get used to the idea of a child. It’s a big responsibility, and I want to be sure she understands and accepts that fully before introducing her to Audrey.

  “While I’m actually impressed with that sentiment,” Dillon says, tapping the envelope on his other hand, “you may want to speed up your timeline a little.”

  That’s definitely not the response I’d expect from my twin, who is usually the very responsible, take-it-slow type. He’s the kind of guy who works out every angle and scenario before making a decision, unlike me, who dives in headfirst without reservations or apology—or at least I used to. I look at the envelope in his hands and an uneasy feeling turns my stomach. “Why are you here, Dillon?”

  He holds up the envelope. “I was mistaken for you by a process server today. Brittany got a lawyer.”

  I drop the rag and close the distance to Dillon in three steps, anger and dread closing in like a stampede of spooked cattle.

  He hands me the envelope. “I’m not a lawyer, but from what I can tell, she’s just trying to scare you. No official paperwork has been sent or filed with the court system. The main part is a a statement from her lawyer on letterhead saying that if a resolution isn’t reached between the two of you, Brittany will be left with no choice but to take you to court.”

  “So she implicated herself in blackmail?” Landon asks. He and Preston have stopped what they were doing and are crowding around Dillon next to me. I examine their concerned faces, and my heart warms a little. We’re family, and when one of us is threatened, all of us are.

  Dillon shakes his head. “No, the letter was very careful in wording, making sure not to indicate exactly what the terms of a resolution might be.”

  “If she doesn’t want Audrey, then why is she doing this?” Preston asks, his hands in balled fists.

  I pull the papers out of the envelope and start to read them. “Because she thinks it will strong-arm me into giving her more money.”

  “It’s a bluff,” Dillon says.

  “That doesn’t mean she won’t go through with it eventually,” I say. “Just to spite me. Believe me, the woman has a temper, and she was not happy when I told her I wasn’t going to give her the money this time.”

  “If money is her motivation,” Dillon says, “she may want custody for that reason. If she’s awarded custody, you would have to pay her child support.”

  The thought of Audrey being used as a pawn to get money out of me has my blood boiling. I work hard not to crumple the papers in my hands. “But wouldn’t she have to pay back child support for the past seven years?”

  Dillon shakes his head. “Not if she can prove that she didn’t have the means to pay it at the time. If she didn’t work where she was getting a paycheck that was taxed and traceable, then she wouldn’t have to pay it. She could tell the court that she had to get her life put back together before coming back for Audrey.”

  I curse, realizing that all the times I gave her money I supported that false narrative. “So what do I do?”

  “Well, if things go well with Malia, then we have a leg to stand on,” Dillon explains. “If you guys get married, you can prove that you have a stable house for Audrey and start the adoption papers as soon as possible. Even if Brittany tries to fight the adoption, you will show the courts that Audrey has a father and a mother in your household. That, paired with proving that Brittany abandoned Audrey, should convince a judge to award you sole custody.”

  I stuff the papers back in the envelope. “This isn’t a chess game, Dillon. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a new relationship. Malia and I just reconnected. What if it’s just too much for her?”

  Landon rests a hand on my shoulder. “Just see how things go with Malia over the next couple of weeks. You’ll know when it’s right to talk to her about all of this.” He pauses and looks at me seriously. “You’ll have to talk to her about it eventually. This is a part of your life.”

  Even though I know he’s right, I still don't think it’s fair for Malia to have to deal with the skeletons in my closet. This is my problem, not hers.

  Chapter Fourteen

  MALIA

  “This is by far the best thing you have ever done for me,” Ala says around a mouthful of laulau. She’s sitting cross-legged on the hospital bed, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, and the rolling tray in front of her. She digs another fork-full into the authentic Hawaiian food I had flown in and delivered to her hospital room. It took some finagling to make it happen, but the look of satisfaction on her face when she took the first bite made the effort worth it. The smell of the salty meat is like a nostalgic hug to my senses.

  “Well, your endless complaining about the hospital food had to stop, for the sake of all of our sanity,” I tease.

  I got here a half hour ago to relieve Ben so he could go home to shower, change, and eat. He refuses to leave her alone. It’s really adorable how dedicated he is to her.

  I pull out a can of guava juice from the brown bag and place it on the tray next to her food. “So have they said when you get to come home?” I ask.

  She eyes the can of juice and sighs before popping the top open. “They’re releasing me tomorrow as long as my body and baby cooperate.” She takes a sip before continuing. “But I’ll be on bed rest for the next few weeks, until it’s safe for baby to come.”

  A knot of worry I’ve held for her ever since she was rushed in here eases.

  “That’s great news! And don’t worry about being on bed rest. I’ll do everything. I can get the groceries, cook, and clean.”

  “You’ll clean?”

  “Well, I’ll hire a cleaning company. Same thing.”

  She laughs.

  “You don’t worry about a thing other than keeping that cute nephew of mine safe.” I rub her belly.

  “I love you like a mango,” she says.

  “With li hing mui?”

  “Of course.”

  “Speaking of,” I pull out another container with mango in bright red li hing mui.

  “Shut up!” She grabs the container, a huge smile on her face. She opens the bag and takes
out a slice, bites into it, and moans in tastebud bliss. I pull out a slice and eat some too. The sweet and tangy mingle in my mouth. It brings back memories of longs days spent surfing on the North Shore.

  “You’re in a particularly good mood today.” Ala scoops up some more laulau with rice.

  I smile. “I am.” Then I sigh and decide it’s time to bring up what I’ve been wanting to ask her ever since I got here. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that Jax has a daughter?” It’s something that’s been weighing on me ever since I talked to Mrs. Bassencherry. Ala would have known a long time ago, and yet she never told me.

  Her fork pauses and she looks up from her food. “I was going to tell you,” she starts, setting her fork down. “I swear. That’s why I told you I wanted to talk to you before you have your closure talk with him.”

  “Ala, I’m not talking about now . . . years ago. You can’t tell me you didn’t know that he had a baby. This is a small town, and Ben is friends with the Wyles.”

  She sighs and her shoulders slump. “By the time I found out, his baby was a few months old. I was going to tell you, but I wanted to do it in person. Do you remember when I came to visit you at Cal Arts your first year of college?”

  I nod, remembering the weekend she’d spent with me.

  “You were excited about school. You were even smiling and laughing again. You were finally getting over Jax.”

  “I never got over him,” I say, remembering that old hurt. “Not fully.”

  She absently rubs her belly. “Do you remember when I started to bring up Jax? That’s when I was going to tell you. And do you remember what you told me?”

  I think back to that time. We had been in my dorm room, eating Ramen. The memory slowly comes back to me, and I sigh. “I told you that I never wanted to hear the name Jaxon Wyle again.”

  “And I still tried, but—”

  “But I shut you down,” I say, remembering all of it now. “I said I couldn’t hear his name, and I couldn’t talk about him—not without the physical pain of a hot poker stabbing my heart—and that if you loved me you’d respect my wishes and never mention him again.”

  “So I didn’t,” she says. “And if I’m being honest, I didn’t want to tell you. I didn’t know whether or not Jaxon had cheated on you or when he got that girl pregnant. It’s not exactly something you ask. But if he had cheated on you, it would hurt you all over again. If he hadn’t, then you might have given up on your dreams and gone back to Bisbee to help him raise his daughter. I didn’t want that for you.”

  Why is it that everyone thinks they knew what was best for me? “That wasn’t your choice to make.”

  “You made it yourself,” she says. “When you told me you didn’t want me to talk about him, that was you telling me what you needed. I just obliged. But think about it: you got your degree in acting and directing and then went on to star in a TV show where you won a freakin’ Emmy. Those were your dreams, sis. Do you regret them?”

  “No,” I say. It’s true. I don't regret anything I’ve done. I might be unhappy in my career at the moment, but I wasn’t always. I loved college, and I loved acting in my TV series. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.

  “I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but the truth bomb is that I’m glad he broke up with you when he did.”

  I put my hand to my heart. “Harsh,” I say. But my frustrations for her not telling me fades away to nothing but a wisp that disappears the instant she reaches out and squeezes my hand.

  “Sis, I’m sorry. And I especially didn’t want you to find out from anyone else. It should have come from me.”

  I squeeze her hand back. “Actually, Jax should have told me. But I forgave him, and I forgive you too.” I think about my reunion with Jax, and warmth fills me from head to toe. “Perhaps it all worked out the way it should have.”

  She sighs in relief and goes back to eating her food. “So you got your closure then? You guys talked?”

  I smile. “Well . . .”

  She drops her fork, knowing that the tone of my voice and the pause mean a lot more than closure happened with Jax. “Tell. Me. Everything.”

  And I did. It was like we were back to the first summer I had with Jax when I told her about my first kiss with him and then every moment after. We’re sisters, giggling and swooning and laughing. I love these moments with her. I’ve missed them.

  “You know I always did like Jaxon, even if he is a little arrogant. But then you are too.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s not arrogance if it’s true.”

  This time she rolls her eyes, then she considers me. “You look happier than I’ve seen you in a very long time. And I like seeing you happy. But I do worry about what happens next, logistically.”

  I take another bite of mango. “What do you mean?”

  “Well, what if everything works out great, and you two fall back in love and want to be together long-term. Are you willing to give up Hollywood?”

  I think about the audition I’ve been working so hard to get and how I’m not going to let all that I’ve done for it be in vain. “No, of course not.”

  “And do you think he’d give up ranching and uproot his daughter to go live with you in Hollywood?”

  I sigh and set down the mango, wiping the li hing mui powder off on a napkin. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, these are things to think about.”

  And it’s not like I hadn’t thought about them. “Sheesh, sis. It was one kiss. Slow down would ya? I’m sure we’ll figure it out as we go. But we don’t need to talk about all of this after we only just reconciled.” But even I can hear the doubt that’s crept into my voice.

  “I know, they’re just things to think about and consider because you two fell so hard for each other the first time around. But this time you’re not kids, and your decisions don’t just affect the two of you.”

  I stare down at my red-stained fingers, wondering when everything got so messy.

  The next several days are filled with some of the best I’ve had. Jax and I spend every possible moment together. It’s like we’re trying to make up for all the lost time. It helps that he’s still my extreme adventure guide because he’s already carved out the time in his schedule. And when we’re not together in person, we’re texting or FaceTiming. It’s so easy to be with him. Nothing is forced or staged. I don’t have to be perfect or what everyone else wants me to be. I’m not even daughter or sister. With Jax, I’m just Malia.

  It’s interesting how at moments it’s like nothing has changed. We’re just two kids falling in love all over again. At other moments, I’m discovering a new Jaxon—a more mature and levelheaded one. When we were eighteen, I was the one setting boundaries and saying when it was time for us to head home. Now he’s the one doing those things, albeit reluctantly. He became responsible somewhere over the years, which I suppose he’d need to be as a single dad.

  I can’t help but wonder when he’ll bring me to Wyle Away Ranch and introduce me to his daughter. I haven’t even seen his brothers yet, either. Jax says they nag him about it every day. But we agreed that we both wanted to be sure we work as a couple again, with just the two of us, before bringing other people into the mix. And so far, we work like a two-person cast going on our tenth season. Flawlessly.

  We’re currently lounging on a blanket after our climb. It was so sweet to discover that Jax had set up a picnic at the top. When I pulled myself up the last of the rock wall, I spotted the colorful patchwork blanket, wicker basket, and spread of food laid out for us. We ate and are now just enjoying the sun’s warmth on the chilly fall day. I’m sitting in front of Jax with my back leaning against his chest. His arms are wrapped around me, and his fingers do a lazy dance over my arm.

  Suddenly he stiffens, and I look at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “You have a boyfriend,” he says like he just remembered.

  “No I don’t,” I say reflexively. Then realization dawns on me and I laugh. “Trey?” I as
k, completely forgetting that we’re still rumored to be a couple.

  Jax’s brows scrunch in confusion. “Well, yeah. And I’m not usually the type to steal another man’s girl. But in all fairness, you were my girl first.”

  “Oh, that’s funny. See, I didn’t realize I was property to be had.”

  He nudges into me. “You know what I mean. And for the record, I’d be your property any day. You are going to break up with him, right?”

  He’s so cute when he’s unsure. I give him a grin. “Nope.”

  His eyes widen, and he lets go of my hand. “You know I'm not the side dish kind of guy, Malia.”

  I try but fail to hide my smile.

  His spine is rigid. “This isn't funny.”

  “Oh, but it is. You see, I can’t break up with him because we were never really together in the first place. Trey and I were just faking a relationship for publicity’s sake.”

  He raises his brows as if considering this new bit of information. Then he settles. His posture returns to normal, and a smirk is on his lips. “No kiddin’. I should have known you wouldn’t have been in a relationship with that guy. He’s far too . . . delicate for you.”

  I giggle. “Delicate? You do know he’s been dubbed America’s hero, right?”

  Jax laughs. “I’d love to see him spend one day on a good ol’ American ranch with me and my brothers. Then we’d see who the real hero is.”

  The thought puts a smile on my face. The truth is Jax and his brothers would run circles around Trey. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous of my fake boyfriend.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing you know better.” He moves my hair to the side, and his lips graze soft as a feather over my shoulder. Chills run over my body in the best possible way. “Now let’s talk more about a real boyfriend,” he says against my skin.

  “Hmmm,” I manage. He kisses a trail from my shoulder to my neck, and I wonder if he can feel my pulse quickening. “Are you looking to fill the position, cowboy?” I ask, my voice now airy. He pauses kissing my neck and gently touches my chin, turning my head so that he’s looking into my eyes.