Hometown Hope: A Small Town Romance Anthology

by Zoe York

  “I will take responsibility for her feeling the need to do this in the first place, but I place the blame for the rest squarely on you.”

  “The rest?”

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “What the hell is wrong with me?” Myles demanded. “Dad’s the one who backed me into a goddamned corner in the first place!”

  Gram ignored his rage and reached up to cup his cheek. “If you were that desperate, why didn’t you come to me?”

  Myles only stared at her, thrown by the uncharacteristically maternal gesture. Come to her? Why on earth would he have come to her?

  “Even if I couldn’t give you access to the trust, you could’ve made a case for a personal loan from me, against the trust.”

  Had he ever seen her like this, with the mask of family matriarch askew enough to suggest a softer side? Maybe when he’d been a child. But not in years. Bemused at the change, he almost smiled. “That’s…that never occurred to me.” He assumed his grandmother would take the same dismissive attitude toward his dreams as his father always had.

  “That’s because you’re a fool.” She gave his chin a none-too-gentle tweak.

  And we’re back.

  Myles rubbed a hand over his stubbly chin. “Would you have done it?”

  “Honestly, I don’t know. It’s in the past. Because even though you married to gain access to the trust, from the moment you said your I dos, the paper and all the financial strain that goes with it were no longer the important thing. Piper is the important thing. And she has no idea.”

  “How? How can she not know she’s the most important thing in my life?”

  “What did you expect, Myles? You spent all that effort and charm on her up through the wedding. What on earth did you do when you got back to make her think you don’t love her?”

  Because I haven’t told her. Because I’m a fucking dumbass.

  “That poor girl sat in the parlor barely holding it together, putting on a brave face and acting like it was just a business arrangement that was finished.”

  He jerked to a stop. “What did you say?”

  “She was upset—”

  “No, the other thing. Business arrangement. What were the exact words she used?”

  “She said that it was just business.”

  The blood drained out of his head. “Oh God. Patty said Piper was in the office yesterday morning, but I never saw her. She must have overheard me talking about Vanessa with Simone and thought I was talking about her.”

  “Who’s Vanessa?”

  “The new assistant editor I just hired so that I can stop working every waking hour of the day and spend time with my wife. The assistant editor I hadn’t told her about because it was meant to be a surprise.”

  “So you said not a word about any of that, and you came home and reverted to your workaholic ways in order to pull it off,” Gram surmised. “Leaving your new wife with nothing else to think but that you really were in it only for the paper.”

  If that’s what she believed, no wonder she’d left him.

  “I have to talk to her. I have to fix this.”

  “You have to prove to her that you’ve always been in this for her. Your father may have manipulated you into acting, but you’d never have gone through with the marriage if you didn’t love her. It’s not how you’re built. And she wouldn’t have suggested it if she didn’t love you.”

  There was still hope, if he could only get her to listen. But he couldn’t get through Tucker, so how was he going to even get in the same room with her? He considered the only thing that might pull her out of hiding. It was sneaky and manipulative in its own right, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

  Pulling out his phone, he dialed his sister-in-law. “Leah, it’s Myles. I need your help.”

  I am a coward, Piper thought as she pulled into Leah’s driveway.

  She should’ve gone home and waited for Myles. She’d promised Tucker she’d talk to him today. She’d even taken another day off work to wallow in her self-pity and psych herself up for the confrontation. Now that the worry had passed, how would he react? Anger? Frustration? Relief? He’d all but turned the town upside down looking for her last night, practically beating down the doors of all her friends to find her. Piper couldn’t reconcile that with what she’d overheard. But she was too afraid to hope she was wrong. And she was terrified of getting confirmation that she was right. So when her sister had texted in need of an emergency babysitter, she’d jumped at the chance. Having some quality one-on-one time with her nephew might be the lone bright spot to what would undoubtedly be a horrible day.

  Besides, if Myles was true to form, he wouldn’t even be off work yet.

  Piper let herself in, calling out over the recognizable sounds of Blues Clues, “Leah?”

  Preston, who’d been playing with trucks in front of the TV, leapt up, making a beeline for Piper with a screech of glee. “Pie!”

  She scooped him up, feeling her heart squeeze with gratitude for this tiny boy who never failed to lighten her mood. Pressing a smacking kiss to his sticky mouth, she said, “You know what the absolute best thing about you is, Pres?”

  He angled his head, waiting.

  “You love me for me, exactly as I am.” She cuddled him close, loving the feel of his little arms wrapped tight around her neck.

  Leah appeared in the hallway. “The rest of us love you for exactly who you are, too.”

  Piper bridled. She couldn’t help it. The reaction was so long ingrained, it rose up and spilled out before she could stop it. “You have to say that. You’re my sister.”

  But for once, Leah didn’t rise to the bait. “Sweetie, I know you think you’re the black sheep of the family, and maybe there’s some truth to that. You aren’t like the rest of us, and that means a lot of times we don’t understand you. But that’s never meant we don’t love you.”

  “I know you love me.”

  “Do you? Do you really know that?”

  “Sure. In an if I needed a kidney and one of you was a match, I know you wouldn’t hesitate to give it kind of way.”

  Her sister blew out a breath. “Come back and talk to me while I finish my makeup.”

  Piper really didn’t feel like discussing this, but she’d inadvertently opened this can of worms. She could deal with listening to why Leah thought she was wrong. Again.

  “You want to hang in here with Blue?” Piper asked Preston.

  “MyPie!”

  Piper closed her eyes, a part of her weeping for the fact that her nephew was just as in love with Myles as she was. How could she break his heart too?

  “No Uncle Myles tonight, buddy boy.”

  He wiggled to be let down and went racing down the hall to his room. “MyPie!”

  She’d go play with him once Leah was gone.

  Her sister stood at the bathroom vanity, smoothing foundation over her face. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot since that day we went dress shopping.”

  Piper had been trying to put that fight out of her mind. “Oh?”

  “I was really upset by what you said.”

  Ugh, not this again. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you—”

  “I know. You didn’t even know I was there, and that made you more candid than you might otherwise have been. Which is saying something. But I wasn’t hurt because you were angry—at least not much. I was hurt because you truly seem to believe that we expect you to change.”

  Because every sigh, every wince, every baffled shake of head says exactly that. But Leah seemed to legitimately be trying to say something here, so Piper kept that to herself.

  Leah swept blush along the high cheekbones that matched Piper’s own. “Do you know why Mom and I got so excited about your wedding?”

  “Because good Southern girls get married.”

  Leah rolled her eyes and proceeded to swipe on mascara. “Because it was finally something we both felt like we could relate to you about. We’ve spent al
l your life trying to find common ground and failing.”

  Of course, she’d managed to screw that up, too. What would they say when she turned up divorced and pregnant?

  Black sheep to the end.

  “You aren’t anything like us. And that’s fine. It doesn’t mean we love or appreciate you any less.”

  “I’m pretty sure Mom would appreciate it fine if I learned to hold my tongue and got my give-a-damn switch fixed.”

  Lips twitching, Leah met her eyes in the mirror. “That may be true. Mom’s old school. But the fact that you’re gutsy and don’t care what other people think? That’s one of the things I love most about you. I don’t know how to do that. I’ve got this gigantic filter between my brain and my mouth and I almost never get to say exactly what I think because I’m too worried about how somebody would take it, and what if they’re offended or don’t like me anymore.”

  “I find that kind of thinking exhausting. Which is why I don’t bother with it.”

  “I love that about you.” She flashed a rueful smile. “I don’t always like what you’re saying, but the fact that you’re fearless enough to say it? I admire the heck out of that. I always have. You’re brave.”

  Piper thought of the confrontation awaiting her. The one she’d keep avoiding if she could. “I’m not brave.”

  “But you are. You get out there and do things. You make a difference. You get up there on stage and put yourself out there in front of an actual audience, and you’re great at it. I could never do that. I’m terrified of even the idea of doing something in front of an audience.”

  “What do you call attending a Junior Auxiliary meeting?”

  Leah laughed. “Synchronized gossip.”

  “I call it hell.”

  “Fair enough. Though if you came, those meetings would be a lot more entertaining.”

  “They’d toss me out in five minutes and you know it.”

  “I’m pretty sure the scandalized look on Becky Palmer’s face would be worth it.” Leah’s mouth twitched into a wicked grin that had Piper’s own smile flickering.

  Leah turned from the mirror and gripped Piper by the arms. “We love you. And we’ve got your back, no matter what.”

  Was there something else behind that declaration? Did she know what was going on with Myles?

  No. She’d never be able to resist interfering if she knew.

  Still, Piper appreciated the show of support. She pulled Leah into a hug. “Thanks. I really needed to hear that today.”

  Leah pulled back and framed her face. “You’re looking a little peaked, sis. You feeling okay?”

  Not even a little bit. But that was a topic she didn’t have any intention of discussing with her sister. “Aren’t you going to be late?”

  She checked her watch. “Oh crap, you’re right. I’m not sure how long I’ll be. A couple hours at least. Elliott’s out of town for a work thing, so I really appreciate you pinch hitting for me.”

  “No problem.”

  “I’m sneaking out before Preston realizes I’m leaving. Thank you!”

  And then she was gone, leaving Piper alone with her thoughts and the two-year-old she was relying on to distract her.

  Preston was being way too quiet. Always an ominous sign with a toddler. He’d either fallen asleep or was getting into trouble. Heading back to his room, Piper heard him happily babbling to himself. Not asleep then.

  She pushed the door open. “Who you talking to, Pres?”

  His little face brightened and he clapped his hands. “MyPie!”

  A figure unfolded from the chair in the corner. “Piper.”

  Myles had crossed the room, tugging her roughly into his arms almost before she finished her eep of surprise. He held her tightly, his face buried in her hair, and all she wanted to do was burrow in and cry.

  “Don’t.” The word came out sharper than she intended, as much a reminder to herself as an order to him.

  He stiffened and let his arms drop.

  Because she didn’t trust herself, Piper scooted out of his reach, moving to scoop up Preston.

  Using the toddler as a shield. Real brave move there.

  But maybe with the child between them, it would keep the harsh words to a minimum. For now, at least.

  Myles stood where she’d left him beside the bedroom door. Now that she got a good look at him, she could see the two-day growth of beard and the shadows around his eyes. His cheeks stood out in sharp relief and the nurse in her couldn’t resist asking, “Are you feeling all right?”

  “I’m not ill, if that’s what you mean. I didn’t sleep last night. I was too busy wracking my brain, trying to figure out why you’ve reverted to the role of Betty Haynes.”

  “Excuse me?” Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that.

  “Did you think I wouldn’t recognize it after spending months watching you play it in White Christmas? I know you better than that.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “She found out something that upset her, and instead of staying and dealing with it, she ran all the way to the Carousel Club in New York. You did the same thing, except instead of me catching up with you at the train station and at least getting a half-as—” He shot a glance at Preston. “—half-baked explanation, you moved out. Without a word. I mean, I guess I’ve been playing Bob, the clueless schmuck, so maybe it fits. But you had me worried sick about you, Piper.”

  “Why?”

  He stared at her. “Why was I worried sick when I came home to find my wife had apparently left me? Why do you think?”

  To protect your investment. The words clogged in her throat. “I want to hear you say it.”

  “Why on Earth should I have to state the obvious? Haven’t I made it clear?” His voice was full of annoyed frustration.

  But he hadn’t made it clear. Not truly. And if she was going to walk away, she needed to know for certain, or she’d wonder for the rest of her life. “I need the words, Myles.”

  Chapter 17

  SHE DOESN’T KNOW.

  THE realization slammed into Myles as he took in sight of her clutching the child, shoulders hunched against an expected a blow, an expression of resignation and dread on her face. Gram had said as much, but he hadn’t believed her. After everything he’d done, he hadn’t thought it possible that Piper didn’t know that he loved her.

  She must’ve been squeezing Preston too tight. He began to squirm, little arms shoving at her to let him go. Piper’s face spasmed at that, as if that rejection was too much. But she set him on the floor, where he went back to his Duplo blocks.

  Myles stepped around the pile of blocks and reached for her, trying to ignore the whip of pain at her flinch. “Piper, I was worried because I love you.”

  Her gaze flew to his, the surprise there making him want to curse.

  “I love you,” he repeated, more forcefully, framing her face in his hands.

  But she didn’t relax, didn’t lean into him. Her eyes swam with unshed tears and her voice was a ragged whisper. “But not enough.”

  “What?”

  “You love the idea of me. The role. Some modern version of Betty Haynes or June Cleaver, who has a ready smile and a warm dinner waiting whenever you deign to come home from work, just like my mother said. I guess I can’t blame you for that. What guy wouldn’t want that? But I can’t maintain that. And you’d already figured that out. You said it yourself. I’m not who you thought I was, and you’ve got nothing more to give. I heard you talking to Simone. And I’m not going to fight you about cutting me loose. We had a business arrangement, and it’s not your fault I forgot that.”

  Disbelief was the only thing keeping him silent long enough for her to finish. If this was what she believed, no wonder she’d moved out. No wonder she looked like he’d kicked her. A part of him wanted to rage that she could think this of him, but that would accomplish nothing. The record had to be set straight.

  “Do you know what the first rule of jour
nalism is? Always verify the facts.”

  A guarded hope sprang into her eyes, but she said nothing.

  “Fact: Yes, I’m a guy, so coming home to a hot meal and a smile and a warm, willing wife is a pretty freaking awesome way to end the day. But I certainly don’t expect it of you if you don’t feel like it. You’re human. You have crappy days, like anybody else, and sometimes you’re the one who needs the hot meals and a smile and a blanket fort. I’ve fallen down on that the last few weeks, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know it. I don’t expect you to be June Cleaver. That’s not who you are. And I can only assume your mother gets credit for shoving that particular brand of BS in your head.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but Myles just shook his head. “I’m not finished yet. Fact: What you heard me talking to Simone about was the new assistant editor I just hired. Vanessa was playing hardball and had just sent back a counter offer I couldn’t meet. I had decided to rescind the offer rather than keep playing that game. She was the one I was planning to cut loose. That deal is part of what’s kept me so busy lately. I’ve been trying to find the right person to bring in so that I can legitimately hand off some responsibility of the paper. Because I don’t want to work sixteen-hour days when you’re there to come home to. And as it turns out, when I cut the crap and told Vanessa that, it was a decision she could respect. She starts next month.”

  “You...hired help to free up time...for me?”

  Myles curled his hands around her arms and shook her, just a little. “Yes. And here’s another fact: This was never a business arrangement. Getting access to the trust to save my business was a component, but I married you because I wanted to, because you’re fun and smart and sexy. I married you because I want a life with you, and when you were crazy enough to be willing to marry me, I wasn’t about to miss the chance. I want a future with you. Kids. A sloppy dog. Rocking chairs on the front porch when we’re eighty. The whole shebang. I want you, Piper. Exactly as you are. And I will fight tooth and nail to keep you because I love you more than I imagined possible. I don’t know how you didn’t know that.”