by Peyton Banks
She would be free.
“That’s fine,” Nasia replied.
“Okay, I’ll let her know.” Sara paused in the doorway, tilting her head to the side. “You’re sure you’re good? It looks as if there was something bothering you.”
“I just wished I would have taken some more time off,” Nasia said. That was partially true. She had been working nonstop since she’d moved to Shady Springs.
“You should have. We would have made it work here. You’ve trained us all well, we can follow recipes, and we all know you need time away from this place.” Sara leaned against the doorjamb.
“I appreciate you all,” Nasia said. “I promise I will take a real vacation soon.”
“We’re going to hold you to it.” Sara tossed her a wink, disappearing through the door. It closed behind her with a soft click.
Nasia grabbed her phone and dialed her sister. She needed to speak with someone she could trust, and there was no one else on the planet that she knew wouldn’t judge her other than Aleka.
“Hey, sis. What’s up?” Aleka’s cheery voice came onto the line.
“I think I fucked up, but I don’t know how,” she admitted.
“What on earth are you talking ’bout?”
“Stan isn’t taking my calls.” Nasia pouted, fear taking over her. Was it over between them? Why wouldn’t he at least speak with her to tell her?
“What do you mean?”
“When I call, he doesn’t answer.” Unshed tears blurred her vision. She blinked and felt the warm trail of tears on her cheeks. She hadn’t cried over a man since she was a young teen, sobbing because her crush hadn’t asked her out to the homecoming dance.
“When did this start?” Her sister’s voice grew serious.
“In Denver. I haven’t spoken with him since the night before we left for the concert.”
“That’s weird, and he’s not even telling you any reason why he’s giving you the cold shoulder?”
“No. That’s the worst part. I’m left in the dark, guessing.”
“Well, maybe it wasn’t time for you to settle down,” Aleka said. “Maybe what you need is just a fuck buddy. No strings attached. Just someone to rearrange your guts—”
“Aleka!” Nasia wiped her cheeks and shook her head. What was she to do with her twin?
“I’m just saying, like me and Killian.”
“Killian? From high school?”
“Yes. Girl, I didn’t get to tell you that we hooked up that night I went out for girls’ night.”
“How did you forget to tell me that?” Nasia asked. Now it was her turn to be a little hurt by her sister keeping something from her.
“Long story short, we came back to your place—”
“My place?” Nasia gasped.
“Yes, you weren’t home, and we stayed in my room. I even washed the sheets and comforter,” her sister teased.
“I thank you, but seriously, Killian?” He had been the captain of the football team their senior year and had been a real asshole.
“He’s just as fine, if not hotter, and let me tell you, it was best you weren’t home. My throat was sore from all the screaming before we got to the concert. That’s why I barely have a voice now.”
“Okay. Can we get back to my problem, please?” Nasia rolled her eyes. She was happy for her sister that she got to have a dick appointment while in town, but she had much bigger problems on her hands.
“That’s what I was trying to say. You need a new man. What kind of man is Stan to not break up with you face to face? Just nothing? No word. That’s not a man,” Aleka snapped.
They were extremely defensive of each other. They always looked out for one another. It was second nature. Even though Aleka was younger by mere minutes, sometimes she acted as if she were the elder of the two.
“Hey, watch it now. He’s my man.”
“Are we sure?”
Her sister never held back.
And her question had Nasia stumped.
Was he?
Stan entered the Farmhouse Diner. It was one of his regular places to eat. The owners boasted that everything in their kitchen came from local farmers. The theme was farm and ranch life and had everything in the restaurant to give it a barn feeling.
Today he didn’t have to be at the ranch and had a few errands to run. Grabbing a bite was one of them. He hadn’t been eating well after watching Nasia with that man. The scene played on repeat in his mind, and he had to find a way to get it out.
One trick that worked was exhaustion. He’d been working so much at the ranch that he crashed afterwards then got up early in the morning and did it all over again.
“Hey, Stan. Your usual table?” Mindy asked. She was a long-time server at the diner, and they were on a first-name basis. The Farmhouse Diner was one of the first diner’s he’d tried out when he had moved to Shady Springs.
After his divorce, his visitations increased.
“Yup.” He followed her to his favorite table in the back of the restaurant. It sat along the row of windows that gave him a perfect view of the downtown street. It was a block away from Nasia’s café. As much as he wanted to see her, confront her, and demand an explanation, he just couldn’t.
From his experience, lies would be all he heard.
He took his seat. Mindy got his drink order and placed a menu down in front of him with the promise to return.
He glanced over it, contemplating whether he should deviate from his normal order. They had great food, but Stan was a simple man.
“Here’s your Coke.” Mindy set it down and placed a straw next to the glass. “Ordering your usual, or are you going to be adventurous today?”
“Well, what’s the special for the day?” He fiddled with the laminated menu, his gaze roaming it one last time.
“Country fried steak with two sides.”
It sounded good, but that wasn’t something he’d want for lunch.
“Give me my usual.” He laughed, handing her the menu.
“Double cheeseburger with all the works, loaded fries with extra chili on them,” she recited from memory and wrote it down. “All right, suga. It shouldn’t be too long.”
Mindy walked away, leaving Stan alone. He took off his Stetson and put it on the booth next to him. He stared down at his phone and wondered if he should just call Nasia or stop by her house. Maybe he should admit that he saw her with the other man and see what she had to say.
He was going to need closure.
Another relationship down the drain, and this one hadn’t taken years to implode.
“Is this seat taken?”
Stan glanced up, finding Victoria standing by the table. He swore he was seeing her more now than when they were married.
“How the hell did you know where I am?” He narrowed his gaze on her as she slid into the booth in front of him.
She held up her phone and smiled. “You are still sharing your location to my phone from yours.”
“So you’ve been stalking me?” He filed a note in the back of his mind to block her on his phone.
“No, I was doing some shopping and thought of you. I figured you might be at work, but to my surprise you were here. I remember how much you liked coming here.” She smiled softly. “You, Stan Larsen, are a creature of habit.”
“Well, you can go ahead and forget my habits,” he grumbled. He shoved a hand through his hair and glanced out the window. Pedestrians made their way along the sidewalk. It was a nice day for fall. The air was crisp, but the sun was still shining brightly. “What do you want?”
“I just want to have lunch with you,” she replied softly. Victoria leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Nothing else. Just share a meal with you and catch up.”
He studied her. She had her hair in a low ponytail and was dressed in a burnt-orange sweater and jeans.
But she wasn’t the woman he wanted to be sharing a meal together with.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were expecting som
eone,” Mindy said, stopping by the table. She turned to Victoria. “Hey, Vicki. What can I get you?”
“It’s Victoria,” she said, a frown marring her features.
Stan knew Mindy called her by the nickname on purpose. He was sure the entire town had known about their divorce. It was a small enough community where news spread like wildfire.
“Of course. How silly of me to forget.” Mindy rolled her eyes and giggled. “Can I get you something?”
“Diet Coke and a chopped salad with Italian dressing,” Victoria replied.
Stan cleared his throat and stared at her. She had never been one to be adventurous when it came to food either. When they went out to restaurants, it was always a salad. She always worried about her figure and worked out constantly.
“So what do you want to talk about?” he asked.
“Dad retired finally,” she announced.
“Good for him.”
“Mom says that since he’s been home with her, she’s close to putting him out.” She laughed.
Stan smiled. Her parents, Barb and Jim, were good people. He had never had the issues with crazy in-laws. He hadn’t minded spending time with them when they’d stopped by their home. They still lived in Shady Springs. He may give Jim a call to wish him well on retirement.
“I’m sure he’s just tinkering away in his garage and she’s not used to him being there during the day so much.”
Jim owned one of the automotive service shops on the outskirts of town. He opened a few other locations in towns located not too far from Shady Springs. If he’d retired, Stan assumed Victoria’s brother had inherited leadership of the business.
“Yeah. He’s taken it upon himself to start doing all the repairs around the house and getting in her way.” Victoria chuckled.
“Here you go,” Mindy interrupted. She set her tray on the table next to them and began placing their plates in front of them.
The aroma of the chili fries and burger hit Stan, and his stomach growled, reminding him how hungry was.
“Anything else I can get you?” Mindy asked.
Stan glanced around the table and found he had everything he needed. “We’re good, thanks.”
“Holler if you need anything.” Mindy grabbed her tray and took off.
“A creature of habit.” Victoria pointed to his food.
“What can I say? It’s good.” He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. He didn’t care what anyone thought, he enjoyed the food he liked. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.
Someone stopped by their table, and he glanced over and froze.
Nasia.
She was as beautiful as ever. Her hair was in two braids on each side of her head. She was dressed in a warm gray sweater that stopped mid-thigh, leggings, and riding boots.
The small dark smudges underneath her eyes caught his attention, and for a second he felt horrible, somehow knowing he had put them there.
He swallowed hard, but the memory of her leading that man into her home came rushing back.
“Hello.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Well, hello, Nasia.” Victoria placed her fork down on the table and reached for her napkin, blotting her lips.
“Nasia.” He was tongue-tied, not knowing what to say.
“I don’t want to keep you from your meal.” Nasia ignored Victoria. “But I guess what Victoria told me is true and why you’re avoiding me. I just want to say message received.” She spun around and dashed through the restaurant toward the door.
“What the hell you say to her?” he growled.
“Nothing that won’t be true soon.” She shrugged, trying to appear innocent. She picked her fork up and stabbed at a tomato.
Stan flew from his seat and jogged after Nasia.
What the hell was going on?
Why was she playing the victim?
13
Breathe.
In.
Out.
Nasia chanted in her mind. She didn’t want to be seen crying in public over a man. She rushed out of the Farmhouse Diner.
The crisp air was comforting as she inhaled it.
She had left the café, needing to get out. She had decided to go for a walk to see if it helped clear her thoughts.
Never would she have thought she’d been walking down Main Street and see Stan having lunch with his ex-wife.
“I guess she wins,” Nasia muttered. Crying wasn’t going to fix it. Her heart was shattered. She had been ready to give Stan her everything.
If he wanted to go back to his lying, cheating ex-wife, then that was his business. Now she agreed with her sister, anger filling her.
He should have been man enough to tell her himself.
Nasia folded her arms in front of her and stalked away from the restaurant.
“Nasia!” Stan shouted from behind her.
She ignored him, increasing her pace. She’d go back to her café, finish up what she was doing, then go home to break open a bottle of wine and a tub of ice cream.
Today called for both.
“Nasia.” He was right behind her. He snagged her arm and spun her around. “Wait a minute.”
“Go back to your wife, Stan.” She narrowed her gaze on him, snatching her arm from him.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he snapped.
“She told me that you two are getting back together, but I would have thought you would have had the balls to tell me instead of sending her.” Nasia pointed to the Farmhouse Diner.
“We’re not getting back together.” He ran a trembling hand through his hair. “I don’t know why she’s talking to you or spreading lies, but that is not happening.”
“Well, you two were looking mighty cozy.” She had stood outside the window for moments staring at the two of them smiling at each other. Nasia hadn’t even realized her feet were carrying her into the restaurant until she’d stood inside next to their table.
“You’re a fine one to talk,” he growled.
He took her arm and moved her out of the way of a couple of women walking down the sidewalk. They cast a worried glance at Nasia and Stan and moved on.
“What hell are you talking about?” Had he hit his head on something at work? Nothing he was saying was making sense.
“I saw you with that man outside your house.”
She paused and stared at him. Her pulse pounded in her ears. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them. “Say again?”
“I came by your house last week to surprise you and follow you to the café when I saw you kissing a man then leading him into your house.” He rested his hands on his hips, glaring at her.
“That’s why you haven’t taken my calls and have been avoiding me?” She wasn’t proud to admit that a couple days she’d waited at his house waiting for him to come home from the ranch, but he never did. She assumed he was staying at the ranch, but after seeing him with Victoria, she was unsure where he’d been staying.
“I can’t do another cheater, Nasia.”
Her head jerked back as if she’d been slapped. Nasia took a step away from him. Did he just call her a cheater?
“And you did nothing? Didn’t go to the house and question what you thought you saw?” she asked quietly.
“What for? I know what I saw.”
Her anger exploded.
“That was Aleka!” she cried out. She stepped forward and shoved him away from her. “My sister. My identical twin, or did you forget? It wasn’t me.”
“Wait, what?” The color drained from his face. His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Your sister?”
“Did you forget I told you we are identical twins?” The tears flowed down her cheeks. She lost the battle to hold them back. “She ended up coming down to Shady Springs to meet up with her friends. That’s who you saw. I was at the café to prep since I was going to be gone for a few days.”
She spun around and took off, unable to look at him.
“Nasia, please stop.�
� Desperation was in his voice. He reached for her, taking her by the shoulder.
She paused, uncaring who saw her openly crying. He gently guided her around to face him.
“Baby, I didn’t mean it. I know what I saw and I just…” He clamored for words.
“You immediately put me in the box with your ex-wife.” She sniffled. Nasia shrugged, backing away from Stan. That hurt worse than him mistaking her for her twin. If he had come to her, she would have cleared up the mistaken identify and they could have worked past that. Instead, he had grouped her with Victoria. “After everything I did to try to show you that I loved you, this is how you treat me.”
“You love me?” His eyes widened in disbelief.
He reached up to touch her chin, but she jerked away from him. There was no way she could allow him to keep touching her. She was only so strong, and her body was already responding to him.
If she stayed in his embrace, she’d give in to him.
She had to resist.
She would never be anyone’s second choice.
“Yeah, but don’t worry about it. I’ll get over it. Go back to your wife.” Nasia spun around and stalked away from him. Her vision was blurred with tears. She blinked, allowing them to continue to stream down her cheeks.
What little of her heart remained, shattered completely.
Stan closed the door to Ringo’s stall. The horse snorted, coming to poke this head through the door. Stan gave it one last rub.
At the moment, the only company that tolerated him was that of the equine type.
Nasia’s words echoed in his head, even a week later.
Yeah, but don’t worry about it. I’ll get over it. Go back to your wife.
He had truly fucked up. Here it was he’d had the love of a good woman and he’d thrown it all away due to his own insecurities.
“I see that you have been staying at the ranch lately,” Parker’s voice sounded behind him.
Stan looked over his shoulder at the elder Brooks brother.
“There’s been much to do around here.” Stan cleared his throat. He gave Ringo one more pat and turned away.
“There’s plenty of men working this ranch to help. You don’t have to do it all.” Parker tilted his head to the side and studied him. Under that low-brim Stetson of his, those eyes appeared to see everything. “You sure that’s all it’s been?”