What worried her the most was Ethan. She was terrified he was beginning to pull away. The morning after the gala, she'd caught him staring at her with a sadness in his eyes she'd never glimpsed before. Sure, he denied it and covered it up with a smile, but his goodbye shook something inside her. What if he wasn't happy with a long-distance relationship anymore? What if he was beginning to wonder if the effort and frustration were worth it? What if each time he visited her, he was losing a piece of himself by being back in the city--in his old life? She couldn't forgive herself if he sacrificed his happiness for hers. But more important, this life she thought she wanted so badly wasn't what she expected. It didn't fulfill her the way being on the farm with Ethan had. All she did lately was lie in bed, not sleeping, trying to figure out the right answer.
Her speaker buzzed. "Mia, Jonathan Lake is here to see you."
Surprised, she clicked on. "Send him in."
She greeted him with a smile when he walked in. He looked polished in a charcoal suit with a conservative tie. But his face showed evidence of tiredness, lines bracketing his eyes and mouth. He took a seat across from her desk. "I didn't expect to see you this week," she said, slipping into her chair. "Is everything okay? Problems? Anything I need to solve?"
"Work is good. Busy, but good. Prepping my successor and trying to figure out a million other details, but I'm solid, Mia. Thank you."
"Of course, you know I'm always here for you."
"I know. You've always proven that, which is why I needed to see you." He paused, as if collecting his thoughts. "It's Chloe."
She leaned forward with concern. "What's happening? School? Friends? She hasn't gotten into any trouble, has she?"
He raised a hand in the air. "No, nothing like that. In fact, she's been perfect. She's getting all As this semester. She's home in the evenings and hasn't been spotted at any crazy parties or social functions that could cause problems. She meets me for lunch on a regular basis and takes all my calls."
"Then what's the issue?"
He stared at her, blue eyes glinting with regret. "She's not . . . happy."
Mia let out a breath. "How do you know?"
He smiled grimly. "I'm her father. I may not notice everything, but my daughter has lost a zest for life that made her who she was. Like my wife. God, she's even lost her hostility and sometimes smart-ass demeanor, and I miss that. I think I made a big mistake, Mia. Forcing her to come back and attend NYU. She's done everything I've asked to get me elected, and she put her own life on hold."
Mia blinked back the sting of tears. "She loves you."
"And I love her. I'm starting to realize I've been selfish. I was so focused on helping the people of New York, I forgot about my own daughter. You know who she constantly talks about nonstop? The farm. Ethan. You. Phoenix. Something happened this summer I've never seen before. It was like she found a second family, but I never saw it. Didn't want to see it. I was blinded by wanting to win this election."
"It's understandable, Jonathan. It was important, and Chloe understands. But I think you're right. I think she'd rather go back to SUNY New Paltz. Work for Ethan. Find her happiness, on her terms."
He nodded. "I think so, too. It's going to be hard losing both of you in one swoop. I've come to rely on you, Mia. But it's time for me to move on, too."
"I understand but--wait, what are you talking about? I'm not moving on."
He blinked in confusion. "Oh. I figured you'd be moving upstate with Ethan."
"I thought you assumed he'd move here with me. You're the one who got me all those extra clients."
He cocked his head and regarded her. "Well, that's what I originally thought, but you're miserable. You've been miserable since you left the farm, just like Chloe."
"How do you know that?"
"It's obvious every time I see you. Oh, sure, you go through the motions and do your job perfectly, but there's a lack of zest, like Chloe. You used to be so excited and focused and energized. You lived for challenges. That's why I thought you'd be thrilled when your business exploded, but now I realize it backfired. Because I don't think you want to do this anymore. At least, not like this." He got up from his seat, straightened his jacket, and headed toward the door. "I'm going to talk to Chloe and give her the news. It'll be nice to know she has you and Ethan to look out for her."
He shut the door behind him.
Jonathan's words dove deep and unearthed the truth she'd been struggling with since the moment she came back to the city.
She didn't want this any longer.
Jonathan saw what she had been trying to deny. She was living in a fog, only half-involved in her life because her heart was with Ethan. She didn't want to live in the city and work nonstop and go to glossy, famous parties and solve celebrity problems. She didn't want Ethan to travel to the city and lose a piece of himself just so she could add another client to her roster.
She wanted Ethan and Hei Hei and the inn and the farm.
She wanted that home.
Shaking slightly, her mind flashed through the endless tasks that needed to be accomplished to get her to the goal.
To get her back to Ethan.
She hit the "Speaker" button. "Gabby, get in here. And bring a bottle of wine. You're going to need it."
"Ah, fuck." Gabby groaned over the speaker.
Mia smiled with anticipation.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ethan rubbed under Phoenix's chin. Each time he tried to stop, the horse butted his head hard against his chest, then regarded him with a haughtiness that hinted at royalty genes. Every day, some of his broken pieces healed, and he regained not only his confidence and dignity but his love of racing, too. It was bred into his bones and that big pure heart of his. Watching him rediscover it reminded Ethan of how much he loved his job.
This time, he stepped back when the horse tried to butt him. "Nope, I have other horses to attend to, buddy. But I think you'll be happy with this." He took out the iced oatmeal cookie and fed it to him. "We're gonna get a snowstorm today, so this coat should work well." He adjusted the cover over Phoenix's body and closed the gate, heading down the line. When each horse had been coddled, fed, and wrapped warm and tight, he leaned against the barn door and stared out at the mountains.
God, it was beautiful here.
The peaks were coated in frosty white, and the snow blanketed acres of land in a nonending blinding silvery sheet. The sky was a cranky gray, and clouds hung low to give off a thick mist. He would miss it, but already, being away from Mia was a constant ache he didn't want to suffer any longer. He'd planned to tell her this weekend, but they'd canceled due to the storm. Ethan figured he'd finish up for the day and head out in his truck to surprise her tonight. He'd already been working with Harper to hire an additional hand, and he figured he'd plan biweekly weekend visits to the farm to keep an eye on Phoenix and the rest of the horses.
"Ethan!"
His name rippled through the air. Half turning, thinking it was his imagination hearing her voice, he watched in shock as Mia raced forward, furry designer boots pounding over the ground, snowflakes sparkling in her golden hair, face alight with an urgency that gripped him temporarily in panic.
"Are you okay?" he demanded, running to meet her.
"Yes." She threw back her head and laughed, her red-mittened hands thrown out to her side to catch the flakes. "Yes, I'm more than okay. I love you."
"And I love you, but dammit, Mia, I told you not to drive! Don't you ever listen to me?"
"No. Maybe, sometimes. Ethan, I have to tell you something."
"No. There's no need to do this any longer. I'm moving in with you, Mia. I can't take this separation anymore, and you deserve to be able to run your business and make a mark on this world. You were meant for greatness, baby. I'll come up some weekends, and we can make this work. Say yes."
She blinked. Snowflakes clung to her lashes. Those beautiful whiskey-colored eyes gazed into his with a swirling mixture of raw emotion. "You'd
move to the city for me?" she whispered.
"Yes. I love you, of course I'd move to the city."
The smile broke open her face, filled with pure joy. "Thank you for that. But I've already made my own decision. I'm moving up here."
He shook his head. "No, there's no need, baby. I will not let you walk away from your business."
"Too late," she sang. "I already did. Well, kind of."
He froze, staring at her. "What do you mean?"
"Ethan, listen to me. I've been unhappy for a long time, and when Jonathan came to visit me, he made me see how I've changed. Yes, I love my business, but not at this breakneck speed and level where I'm required to live in Manhattan and work around the clock. I don't want that anymore. I want this. I want you. I want it all."
His heart stopped, then pounded in a crazy, uneven rhythm. "What do you want to do?"
"I'm making Gabby full partner. I'm hiring additional people. I'm assigning certain clients to representatives, and I'm going to work from here and oversee the whole production. I have clients clamoring for our services, so now I can pick and choose carefully and not overwhelm any of us."
"You won't be bored living in this small town? You won't miss the glamorous city life you're used to?"
She placed her cold mitten-clad hands on both sides of his face and smiled up at him. "No, silly. I can go into the city whenever I want. But what I really want is to take on clients right here, in this town. I have big plans for these local businesses, and I think I can be a huge help. Plus, Ted owes me that tattoo."
His hands shook and words failed him, so he did the only thing left to do.
He kissed her.
His tongue dove deep, claiming her for him. Her cold lips were slippery and delicious, and they stayed together locked in an embrace for endless, perfect moments.
"Oh, and Chloe's coming back to New Paltz for the upcoming semester. Jonathan agreed she was better off being where she was happy."
"I'm glad. Now, let's get you inside before you freeze. I know someone else who is dying to see you."
"Ophelia? Harper?"
"Hei Hei. He's been a beast lately, locked up and squawking for you nonstop. You stole his heart and everyone else's around here."
"As long as I have yours."
He stopped to gaze down at her. His heart broke open, and for the first time, all the pieces fit together in a perfect puzzle. For the first time, everything made perfect sense. Because he'd learned early on you needed to take the bad with the good and embrace it all. They'd started with something good, but they'd ended up with the best thing of all.
Love.
"Let's go home," he said, voice hoarse with emotion.
"Yes. Let's go home."
Epilogue
"Ophelia, you've officially outdone yourself."
The woman stood at the head of the table, pride glowing in her sky-blue eyes. The turkey was fat and roasted to a golden perfection. Each side dish boasted vibrant color and delicious scents of garlic, rosemary, and onions. Sparkling crystal glasses and matching dishes gleamed under the chandelier. A bottle of champagne chilled in the ice bucket. The table was set with the rustic fall colors of burgundy, rust, and forest green. Mia sighed with pleasure as she gazed at the beauty laid out before her.
"Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday," Ophelia said, waving off the compliment with her usual humbleness. "I enjoy it."
Ethan shook his head. "Tink, I watched you slave all week to make sure we all had our favorite dishes at the table. Just like--"
"Mom used to," Harper interrupted.
They all raised their gazes up, as if acknowledging another presence at the table. Mia squeezed Ethan's hand, and when he squeezed back, a rush of warmth and gratitude washed over her. Right here, at this table, she'd found everything she'd always wanted.
It had just been packaged differently than what she had expected.
"Let's eat," Ophelia announced, clasping her hands together. "Ethan, will you carve?"
They feasted and chatted and laughed and teased. The upcoming months were going to be full of change, but Mia had never felt more at peace with herself. They planned to renovate the bungalow, expanding it to a fuller house so they could stay on the property, and had already sketched out an office space. Gabby was thrilled to dive headfirst into the business as full partner and had hired a savvy associate to help with the overflow. They'd begun turning down more clients and had trimmed down their roster until they had a core group they were proud to represent.
"Has Chloe called yet?" Harper asked.
"We're FaceTiming after dinner. She'll be spending winter break here, though, so I can't wait to see her."
"Chloe's Pride is doing well," Ethan commented. "I'm going to surprise her. The filly is hers to take care of and be responsible for."
"She's going to be so lit," Mia said.
Ophelia laughed. "I'm glad she'll be coming back to New Paltz. I made a big mistake not hiring her at the inn. We have a nice crowd here for the holiday."
"Oh, I forgot to tell you," Ethan said. "I spoke with Kyle, and he's going to be staying here for a while. I told him it wasn't a problem, but you should block a room for a few months. He's writing some new screenplay and needs some solitude."
"That's your best friend, right?" Mia asked. "The one you grew up with and got into all that trouble?"
"Yeah, haven't seen him in years but--Tink? Are you okay?"
The woman stared back at him with eyes full of shock and a touch of fear. Her fingers gripped the edge of the table in a deathlike vise, and her throat seemed to work to emit words that wouldn't be uttered. The usual calm, cool competence she radiated was now replaced with an edgy panic Mia had never seen before. "I-I-don't understand." Her voice came out ragged. "He . . . he can't stay here."
Ethan stared at her. "What are you talking about? We used to be the three musketeers. I know it's been a while since he's been here, but he's like family."
Her gaze snapped to him. Blue eyes flashed with fire. "We don't have the room. I'm sure he'll be happier somewhere else that's better suited to him."
Ethan shook his head, as if trying to clear it. "Did something happen I'm missing, Tink? I know you had a fight out in California and stopped speaking, but we all grew apart and went our separate ways. Never figured there was bad blood between you."
A barrier slammed down over her face. Ophelia focused on refilling her dish. When she finally spoke, her voice was back to her normal calm focus. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap like that. I'd prefer if Kyle stayed elsewhere. His father has plenty of space, and he'd be more comfortable there."
"Kyle's father is an asshole," Ethan said.
"Maybe it's time they deal with their issues, then," she shot back.
Mia cleared her throat, not wanting to bring tension to the holiday table. She sensed Ophelia needed to process the news that her childhood friend may be back in town. Her reaction was telling, though. There was much more going on than Ophelia's busy schedule. It was quite obvious she had no desire to see Kyle again.
Had something happened between them Ethan didn't know about?
Mia pushed the thought to the back of her mind and concentrated on lightening the mood. "Hey, did I tell you the big news? I'm getting a tattoo!"
Ethan frowned. "Princess, just because it's free doesn't mean you have to get ink."
"I want to."
"Whatcha gonna get?" Harper asked.
"A name. A very important name, of someone who I couldn't stand at first, but who eventually won my heart."
Ophelia shook her head. "Oh, no, Mia, don't do it. As much as we adore our brother, having his name permanently inked on your body may not be a good idea."
Ethan straightened in his chair. The pleasure in his eyes contradicted his statement. "That's sweet, but not necessary. I don't need a tat to know you're mine forever."
"Aww, you're so sweet." She leaned over and kissed him. "But it's not yours."
"Huh?"
&nb
sp; She grinned with delight. "I'm getting the name Hei Hei!"
For a few seconds, everyone stared in shock. Then burst into laughter.
God, it was good to be home.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to the Montlake team, my fabulous editors, and especially Maria Gomez, for helping me bring this book to my readers. I love being part of the family! Special thanks to Kristi Yanta, who whipped this book into shape early on. Thanks to my agent, Kevan Lyon, for her support; my special Probst Posse reader team (I'm always looking for new members!); and my assistant, Lisa Hamel-Soldano, for all her help.
But most of all, thank you to Alana Payne at Payne Farms II. She's an extraordinary person who taught me about rescue horses and allowed me to step out of my writing cave for an hour per week to ride a horse and enjoy the world in all its haunting beauty. Any mistakes I made are my own. I used her farm as inspiration for this story and loved watching Ethan and Mia come alive week by week, ride by ride, story by story.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo (c) 2012 Matt Simpkins
Jennifer Probst is the New York Times bestselling author of The Billionaire Builders series, The Searching for . . . series, The Marriage series, and The Steele Brothers series, among others. The Start of Something Good is the first book in her new Stay series. Like some of her characters, Probst, along with her husband and two sons, calls New York's Hudson Valley home. There, she enjoys reading, watching "shameful reality television," and visiting an animal shelter, when she isn't traveling to meet readers. Follow her at www.jenniferprobst.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jenniferprobst.authorpage, or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/jenniferprobst.
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