by Jess Bryant
Trent didn’t look convinced and honestly, neither was Lemon but she tried not to let him see that. Trent had to perform tonight. He had to go up on that stage and put on his mask of the playboy, ladies-man, bro-country star. The only thing he needed to be thinking about his sexuality right now was how to make the ladies scream when he wiggled his hips.
“Hey!” A familiar voice squealed nearby and Lemon promptly planted her fake smile back on her face as she turned to greet the couple that would be sitting beside them.
“Hey, good to see ya’ll.”
She kissed cheeks and exchanged hugs. She nudged Trent and he dutifully stood and did the same thing. The couple was an up-and-coming duo that would be competing for an award tonight and in truth, Lemon really liked their music. They’d met a couple of times at various events so it wasn’t difficult to make small-talk as the rest of the theater filled up around them.
Trent eventually came out of his shell. He smiled and joked with the people around them. When someone mentioned that kiss he acted coy and shy but wagged his eyebrows and wrapped an arm around her. It worked in his favor, just as she’d pointed out. But when he made a crude comment about her tasting citrusy like her name she gave him a look that shut that down.
Somehow, someway, they made it through the awards ceremony without any more problems. The cameramen must have been told about the scene Trent made outside because they lurked around them the entire night. She kept her smile firmly on her face. She clapped and danced along when Trent went to perform. And when he won in his category for best male album of the year she hugged him and let him hold her as he thanked her softly before rushing the stage.
By the end of the night her cheeks hurt, her feet hurt and her heart hurt. Despite the smile she’d kept plastered on her face she couldn’t shake the worry and fear that had cropped up as soon as she realized Shane had seen that kiss. He must have. Even if he hadn’t been watching, her parents would have been. His parents would have been. Hell, Holly had probably been watching and called him the moment it aired. Even if Shane’s ex-wife hadn’t been opposed to their relationship Lemon doubted that the woman would miss the opportunity to kick her out of his life if she thought Lemon would hurt him.
And that kiss would have hurt him. It would have had to. Because it would have hurt her to see him in the same position. And not only that but the image of her kissing another man would be on every television and celebrity news outlet, not just the small town rumor mill in Fate.
She counted down the minutes and was the first one out of her seat when it was allowed. She all but dragged Trent out the back after having him call his driver so they could sneak out. She didn’t intend to give the media any more ammunition tonight.
Neither of them spoke the entire drive back to her house. Trent was lost in his thoughts and she was lost in her worries. She chewed her nails, frowning that Millie had insisted on a manicure before the event. The pink and white tips were classic, sure, but she’d have preferred one of Rosie’s purple glitter manicures. The thought made her lips tremble because if she didn’t get home soon she might not ever get one of those manicures again and she needed it.
She needed Shane. She needed Georgie and Sophie and Rosie. She needed Fate. She’d gone home to find answers and she’d found them, just not where she’d thought she would find them. She’d found a new chance in an old crush and the possibility for a future she’d always dreamed about. She needed to go home.
As soon as the limo pulled up outside her house, she was out of the car. The driver stared at her but she didn’t wait for him to open the door. She heard Trent calling her name and his footsteps behind her but she didn’t stop. She rushed into the house and Trent was hot on her heels. Still apologizing. Still telling her that he would talk to Shane and explain things. But she wasn’t listening because she’d spent hours waiting for the first chance to get to her phone and she wasn’t going to waste a second now.
She moved through her house, looking for the place where she’d left it. The whole house felt empty and far too big. It always had but never so much as it did now. After spending time in Shane’s house, in his home, it was blatantly obvious that this place had never been that for her. It was just brick and walls and things. Home was wherever he was and she had to get back to him.
She grabbed her phone from the counter and winced at the screen. She had a voicemail but it wasn’t from Shane. It was from Georgie. Some deep down part of her thrilled at the idea of Georgie calling her. She wanted the girl to like her, respect her, and want her in their lives. But another part of her told her that this call hadn’t come for any of those reasons. With shaking hands, she punched the button for her voicemail and put the phone to her ear.
“How could you do that?” The sharp, high-pitched wail of the teenage girl was deafening when it came through the speaker and Lemon winced at the pain in Georgie’s voice, “How could you? We trusted you! I trusted you! How could you do that to Dad? I saw you! I saw you kissing that other guy! How could you do that on TV? I hate you! I hate you and I hope you never come back!” A sob tore through the line and Lemon felt one of her own work up through her chest as Georgie sniffled, “I hate you.”
The line went dead but Lemon couldn’t move. She could barely even breathe. Georgie hated her. They’d seen her on the television. They’d seen her kissing Trent. Shane had seen it but he hadn’t called. He hadn’t left her a message. Only Georgie had called, crying and screaming about how much she hated her and Lemon couldn’t blame the hysterical teenager. She hated herself for ever having put herself in this situation.
She should have just stayed home, in Fate, with Shane.
“Lemon?”
She flinched at the sound of Trent’s voice. She’d forgotten he was still here. She turned to face him and he looked just as scared as he had on that red carpet when that reporter had said Heath’s name. She knew he’d heard every word of that message when he winced. She avoided his concerned gaze and stared at the phone that was vibrating in her shaking hands.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think.”
“I know.”
“I’ll fix it. I’ll…”
“Stop.” She held up a hand, “It isn’t yours to fix.”
“It’s my fault.”
“It is, but it’s also mine.” She dropped her head and sighed, “I never should have come back here. I don’t belong here. Not anymore.”
Trent swiped a hand through his hair and nodded, “You’re going back to Texas, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe someday I’ll be able to join you there.” He moved towards her and she let him hug her, “If I can help and explain it to him, just call me. Tell him my secret if you have to. Don’t lose him because of me and my issues, okay Lem?”
She nodded.
“Love you, babe. Go get your happily ever after.” Trent kissed her on the forehead and then turned to leave.
“Trent?” She called after him, her voice scratchy with tears.
“Yeah?”
“Tell him the truth, before it’s too late.”
He nodded but said nothing as he shut the door behind her. Lemon wondered if she’d gotten through to him. Somehow, she doubted it. His reaction in front of the press had been so extreme, so desperate. She thought it would take a lot more than this to make Trent rethink his life.
But as much as she cared about her friend, she had to focus on her own life right now. She had to get home. She had to get back to Fate and back to Shane. She had to explain herself to him and then she would have to explain herself to Georgie as well. She owed the girl that much. She’d sworn to her that she wouldn’t hurt her father once, during one of their chats, and she knew instinctively that she’d broken that promise tonight.
She put the phone back to her ear and dialed Millie. She ordered her assistant to get a plane together immediately. For once, Millie didn’t argue. She didn’t even try to force Thad on her. She simply said to pack her bag and she would se
nd a car for her when the plane was ready.
Lemon hung up and immediately dialed another number. It rang and rang and rang and she realized before the voicemail even picked up that he wasn’t going to answer. Her heart clenched in her chest when she heard Shane’s recorded message telling her that he was unavailable and to leave a message.
When it beeped, she rushed her words, “Shane, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I should have told you more about Trent before I left. He’s a friend but that’s all he is. That kiss… it wasn’t what it looked like. It was an act, for publicity, because he was upset. I’ll… I’ll explain more as soon as I get there. I’m coming home. Tonight. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’m coming back to you just like I promised I would. I….” She bit her lip and swallowed hard, “I love you and I’m coming home.”
Chapter Eighteen
Shane growled when he clocked the old red Ford at sixty-two miles per hour. The speed limit on this stretch of road was forty-five. That kind of speeding couldn’t go unchecked which meant he had to flip the switch on his truck and turn on the lights and siren. It meant he would have to pull the Ford over and get out of his car in this bitterly pounding rain and that pissed him off.
What pissed him off more was that he knew that truck. It had showed up in front of his house more times than he could count. Certainly more times than he was comfortable with, because the driver was a sixteen year old boy and Shane’s daughter had been in that truck time and time again. The driver was Georgie’s boyfriend.
The truck instantly pulled over onto the side of the road and Shane threw his own into park before stomping through the rain to confront the kid. The boy had rolled down the window and was waiting for him with his license and insurance information like a perfect citizen. That only pissed him off more and he growled as he snatched them through the window.
“Mr. Lowry, I…”
He snapped, “It’s Deputy Lowry right now Robbie.”
“It’s Rob.” The kid’s tone went sharp in response and Shane glanced up from where he was reviewing the license to find the boyish face had hardened as well.
His dark hair flopped over his forehead but the equally dark eyes beneath were far more mature than his sixteen years. They seemed to take in everything at once and give nothing away. His chin tilted up a degree, as if he was expecting a reprimand and ready to counter it but Shane couldn’t quite force himself to yell at the kid like he’d been planning when he remembered the speech his ex-wife had given him about Georgie’s boyfriend.
Robbie had been through hell as a kid. His father had been an abusive bastard. Even with Riley West happily married to his mom now, he still had those memories and those demons to deal with. And Shane couldn’t go all alpha, pushy police offer or father on the kid and threaten him knowing full well that it would only harden him further.
“You know why I pulled you over Rob?” He said instead, handing the license back and not missing the brief flash of surprise in those dark eyes that said he’d done the right thing giving the kid a chance to explain.
“Yes, sir. I was speeding.”
“Nearly twenty over the speed limit is a bit more than just speeding, Rob. It’s reckless endangerment and it’s just plain stupid. You want to tell me what’s got you in such a hurry that you’d risk me hauling you down to the station and calling your parents?”
“Uh…” Rob’s face went pale as the idea of being arrested hit him but a second voice didn’t hesitate at all.
“We’ve got to get to the hospital, Deputy Lowry.”
Shane flicked his glance to the passenger seat of the truck. He’d noticed the younger boy when he first walked up but hadn’t expected him to speak up. JP West was generally a quiet, bookish kind of kid and if he’d ever been in trouble a day in his life Shane would have been surprised. That was why he hadn’t expected him to stand up for his older brother.
“The hospital?” Shane frowned, “Someone hurt?”
“Our aunt’s in labor. The whole family is down there. We’re late because Robbie had to pick me up.” JP pushed his glasses up his nose, “Please don’t give him a ticket. It’s my fault. I uh… I wasn’t where I said I’d be.”
That last comment earned a scowl from the older brother and Shane fought a grin he hadn’t been expecting. He would be willing to bet there was a story there, a good story, but it wasn’t his to hear. In fact, if the kids were telling the truth, and he had no reason to think they weren’t since it was a small town and he knew one of the West’s was indeed pregnant, he figured he had no real reason to delay them further. A warning would be sufficient and it just might earn him some bonus points with the kid when it came to dealing with his daughter.
“I won’t write you up this time but I better not catch you speeding again. This rain has the roads slick as it is. It’s dangerous so slow down or you’ll be the ones needing a hospital. Okay?”
“Yes, sir.” JP nodded quickly.
Robbie looked wary, “You’re not gonna write me a ticket?”
“Not this time, but don’t push your luck. If I catch you driving that fast again it’ll be straight to the station. You got me?”
“Yes, sir.” Robbie nodded this time.
“Good. Then go on, get out of here, just do it slowly.”
The kid nodded again and his face softened, “Thank you Mr…. Deputy Lowry.”
“Tell Bluebell and Zach congrats for me.” He stepped back and waved them off as they chimed in that they would pass the news along to their aunt and uncle.
Soaking wet but slightly less pissed off, Shane crawled back into his own truck and turned off the siren and lights. He swiped a hand over his face and sighed. It had been a long day. A long day that started with him waking up alone, something he’d hated.
He’d gotten used to having Lemon with him, waking to her sprawled across and around him. His morning routine had become less rigid with her in his life and in his bed and generally involved a lot of kissing and stroking and loving her soft body before he bothered to drag himself to the shower. Today, she’d been gone before he woke and it had pissed him off that he hadn’t gotten to kiss her good morning. All day he’d been counting hours and minutes and seconds, waiting for the time when she would call to tell him she was done with her event in Nashville and would be coming home to him in the morning. He’d contemplated asking her to bump her flight up to tonight even but he’d thought that would be selfish. He could be patient and wait for her. It was only two days, like she’d said.
But that didn’t mean he hadn’t missed her. He had. Every spare moment his mind had been on her, on where she was and who she was with and what she was doing. That wasn’t abnormal for him anymore. Most of his days went like that and had from the moment she walked into town. But not being able to see her, knowing he wouldn’t be going home to her tonight, it confirmed what he’d already known.
He couldn’t live without her. He didn’t want to. He wanted her back here, in his home, in their home, permanently. He fully intended to tell her as much as soon as he set sights on that pretty face of hers.
For now, he resigned himself to a quiet night at home alone since his shift was almost over. It was Holly’s night with the girls and though he always missed them when he didn’t see them he knew tonight would be worse. Because since Lemon entered his life he’d started to live for more than just the days when he had the kids but she wouldn’t be there to distract him from his loneliness or to fill him up on happiness instead.
The only pleasure he saw for himself tonight was that he would get to see her on his tv. He’d set the awards show up to record before leaving for work tonight. It had already started and would be over before he got home even with the time difference. But with a recording he could flip through all the crap he didn’t need to see and simply watch for the moments when Lemon would light up the cameras. The media loved her so he had no doubt that he’d get to see her plenty. And in some part of him, he liked the idea of seeing her all dolled up and dressed
up for the world but knowing that she was all his. He’d watched her on television plenty of times but he hadn’t really known her then. Not like he did now. Now she was his even if she was on the arm of some other prick tonight.
She’d explained that she was attending with a friend. Trent Thorne. He’d scowled at the mere name. He knew of the country star boy wonder that was taking the charts by storm. He was young and handsome and charming as fuck and Shane hated him. Even if Lemon had said they were nothing but friends, that all the rumors were wrong and completely fabricated for publicity, he hated the guy. Because Trent Thorne was the one with his arm around Lemon tonight and in Shane’s possessive mind no man should ever touch her but him ever again.
“Base come in, this is Lowry.” He picked up his radio to make his nightly check-in before signing off as he headed for home.
“Base to Lowry, go ahead.” The familiar voice of Sheila who had been running the Sheriff’s dispatch since he was three feet tall came back immediately.
“Nothing new to report. Heading in for the night. Nichols is on night duty. Lowry out.”
“Noted and relieved.” Sheila paused and then cleared her voice, making his brow furrow because normally she’d simply tell him goodnight and sign off. He was even more confused when she spoke again, “Uh, Shane? We got a call a few minutes ago. Your ex-wife asked that you call her back ASAP.”
Shane scowled at the information. Holly had called the station looking for him? That made no sense. If something had happened with one of the kids, she would have called his cell phone. He didn’t bother asking Sheila for any more details because if Holly was looking for him while he was on duty he knew it must be an emergency. He thanked dispatch and signed off. He tossed the radio aside and began searching for his cell phone when he realized it wasn’t clipped to his belt. After several tense minutes and a few choice four letter words he finally found it stuffed between the seat and the console and to his horror he had a half dozen missed calls. He checked it over as quickly as he could even as he steered himself to the shoulder, knowing the distraction of the phone while he was driving was dangerous. The damn thing was on silent for some reason. He never put it on silent. But then he remembered that he’d let Rosie play a game on it yesterday but the noise had been annoying so he’d muted it for her. He must have never turned it back on.