Harts of Arizona Series

by Yahrah St. John

  “You hush, now, Caleb,” Madelyn replied, “or I’ll give you something to laugh about.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Caleb was quiet after the admonishment and began removing his clothes like his father and brother.

  Chynna noticed that Noah remained quiet throughout the exchange and did as his mother asked. She tried to hide her curiosity by focusing on boxing up the decorations, but her eyes couldn’t resist wandering over to Noah as he removed his tuxedo jacket and shirt, followed by his trousers. She swallowed when she saw him standing in nothing but his boxers and undershirt.

  She quickly glanced away but not before she caught Rylee smiling mischievously at her.

  “Go on up the backstairs.” Madelyn nodded her head in the direction of the staircase. “I wouldn’t want you to give the staff a surprise. I’ll have your clothes laundered.” She walked over and put the soiled clothes in a basket from the mud room.

  The men did as they were told until eventually it was just Madelyn, Rylee and Chynna in the room. When they’d completed putting all the food and decorations away, Madelyn turned to Chynna and asked, “So you’re a singer. Who would have ever guessed?”

  “I was trying my best to hide it,” Chynna responded.

  “Sounds like there’s a story to tell.”

  Chynna nodded.

  “Well, I’m dying to hear it.”

  “We all are,” Caleb said, sauntering into the room. His father was right behind him, followed by Noah. They’d each showered and changed. Isaac was wearing pajamas and a robe while Caleb and Noah had changed into T-shirts and sweats.

  Chynna wasn’t ready to tell her story to the entire family, especially not before she and Noah had time to talk. But she’d been put on the spot, so she had no choice. “I’m sorry for lying to you all,” she began, glancing around the room. “Really, I am. And I’ll be leaving tomorrow and be on my way.”

  “Well, I doubt you’re going anywhere tomorrow, sweetheart,” Caleb replied with a slight twang as he took a seat at the kitchen island where the women stood. “The roads are washed out. We heard on the radio that the highway patrol was out closing the roads because rain is expected the next couple of days. Flash flooding is expected, so you might be here a few more days.”

  “Are you saying I’m stuck here?”

  “Looks like it,” Caleb said, chuckling. He looked over at his brother, who was standing quietly by the doorway with his hands folded across his chest. Caleb didn’t understand why Noah didn’t just forget the lies and take the woman in his arms and damn it all to hell. He supposed that’s why he and Noah were so different. He was a man of action. A bull rider. An adventure seeker. Not Noah.

  “Well then, it’s settled,” Madelyn said, giving her a friendly smile. “Chynna will be our houseguest for a while longer.” Madelyn looked at Noah and said, “Isn’t that great?” Noah didn’t answer. Instead he turned on his heel and walked out of the room.

  “Excuse me,” Chynna said, rushing after Noah. She caught him in the foyer and grabbed his arm. He glanced down at her hand on his arm, and she instantly moved it away.

  “Can we talk?” she implored.

  “It’s late, Chynna,” Noah said. It was well after one a.m., and he was exhausted, not only physically but mentally. He’d been on such a high tonight having her as his date; he’d thought nothing could touch him, but then came the lies.

  “But ...” Chynna paused. “But, we haven’t finished talking. You asked me why I lied. And—”

  He cut her off. “Does it really matter?” While helping friends and guests to safety, taking down the anniversary party decorations and buttoning down the ranch, Noah realized he didn’t really know anything about Chynna. He’d just been caught up in the moment of meeting this beautiful woman who’d been unlike any other woman he’d encountered. And now he knew why. She was so out of his league and his stratosphere. Better that he distance himself now before he fell harder for this beguiling woman.

  “Yes, it does. At least to me,” Chynna replied to Noah’s question, but she noticed his nose wrinkle. “But not to you anymore? Is it so easy to turn your feelings on and off, Noah Hart? If so, you’re a lot colder than any man I’ve ever met in LA. You have a good night.” She pushed past him, her full breasts lightly touching his arm as she stomped up the stairs.

  Noah watched Chynna run upstairs, wanting to go after her, but for some reason he was paralyzed with fear. Fear of what? The unknown? He wasn’t sure. But he did know that his heart ached watching her go.

  “Wow, you really handled that one well, bro,” a masculine voice said from behind him.

  Noah spun around to find Caleb leaning against the doorway with a beer in his hand.

  “What do you know?” Noah snatched the beer from him, took a swig and handed it back before walking across the hall to the living room.

  Caleb followed him as he had done a million times before when they were kids. “I know that I haven’t seen that look in your eye in a long time.”

  Noah glared at him. “What look?”

  “The look I saw when I first got here. The starry-eyed look you used to have with Maya.”

  Noah rolled his eyes and stormed over to the French doors to watch the rain come down.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Caleb.”

  “Oh, yes I do,” Caleb said, rushing over to Noah and spinning him around. “That woman,” he said, pointing upward to the ceiling with his beer bottle, “is the first woman to pierce,” he poked Noah’s chest with his index finger, “that heart of yours in a long time, and it’s got you running scared.”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Like hell I don’t!” Caleb swigged his beer. “She’s got fire and spirit and is easy on the eyes too.”

  Noah’s eyes narrowed into harsh glints at his younger brother. “Watch it.”

  Caleb smiled. “And you’re jealous. Why? Because you want her for yourself, Noah. Well, guess what, bro? You can have her. All you have to do is go up there and take her. Make her yours. You know you want to.”

  “You’ve fallen off those bulls one too many times, and your head isn’t screwed on straight, Caleb.”

  “Are you seriously going to deny that you weren’t going to take her to bed tonight?” Caleb laughed. “In that hot dress?”

  Noah took a dangerous step toward him, but Caleb side-stepped his brother and moved farther away in the room. “You’re in denial, my friend. And I am going to enjoy having a first class seat seeing you eat crow.” Caleb bowed his head and then seconds later he was gone, leaving Noah in the living room alone. Alone with his thoughts. Alone to wonder why he hadn’t taken Caleb’s advice and gone upstairs and made Chynna his like he’d wanted to do earlier. Am I using the lie Chynna told me to keep her at arm’s length and avoid letting go of the past?

  Chynna awoke the next morning feeling surly. She’d tossed and turned the night before, all in a feeble attempt to forget the betrayed look on Noah’s face last night. The look that told her that her lie could have cost her the one man she’d cared for in years—the one man who wasn’t using her as a meal ticket to get ahead in his career.

  She’d finally awoken, showered and changed into a velour jumpsuit and twisted her hair into an impromptu updo. She wasn’t eager to face the Hart family, but there was no avoiding them seeing that she was stuck on the ranch for the next few days. The rain was still pelting the windows even now. How was she going to deal with being cooped up with Noah without an escape?

  Several minutes later, she found the Hart family was already seated in the formal dining room, eating breakfast. Isaac and Madelyn sat at opposite heads of the table. Noah must have done his best to ensure he was not seated beside her, because the only seat remaining was next to Caleb.

  “Good morning, Chynna,” Madelyn said, speaking first. It was odd to hear her
real name being used, but also comforting. She could be herself now. No more lies.

  When Chynna hadn’t moved from the doorway, Caleb patted the seat beside him. “Come sit.”

  “Good morning, everyone.” She gave a half-smile at Rylee before walking over to Caleb, who made a production out of jumping up out of his seat and pulling her chair out for her.

  “Thank you,” Chynna said, glancing across the table at Noah. She could feel the tension coming off Noah, even though he hadn’t looked up at her. He seemed intent on cutting his pancakes into small bites.

  Once she was seated, Caleb wasted no time with pleasantries and took the liberty of pouring her a glass of coffee from the carafe. “So, what’s it like being a superstar and all?”

  “Caleb,” Rylee sighed. As much as she loved him, sometimes her younger brother had no tact; he didn’t know when not to rile things up. No, instead, he just jumped in, head first as always. She’d hoped they could table the matter of Chynna’s celebrity and have a normal breakfast at least until dinner. No such luck.

  “It’s okay,” Chynna said, nodding in Rylee’s direction. Chynna took a quick sip of her coffee, which she drank black. This part she didn’t mind. She knew people were curious about what it was like to walk a day in her shoes. And now her twin was doing just that, yet Chynna suspected Kenya was finding out that all that glitters isn’t gold. “Usually, it’s kind of fun,” she said, answering Caleb’s question. “There’s the adoration, the glory, the awards.”

  “And I’m sure lots of money,” Caleb said.

  “Yes, Caleb, the money is great.” She smiled as she reached for a carton of yogurt from the center of the table. “And the perks aren’t bad either. I get free clothes and handbags and the best tables at restaurants and clubs.” She sunk her spoon into the creamy mixture and ate.

  “But then?” Madelyn asked the question that not many people would think to ask. “What comes after the money and fame?”

  “Then there’s the paparazzi,” Chynna said, rolling her eyes. “And up until now, I hadn’t given them anything to chew about.”

  Rylee shot Chynna an incredulous look, which prompted Chynna to clarify, “Okay, they may have played me up as a party girl, but that’s nothing compared to the last few weeks. The vultures smell fresh meat, and it’s been horrific since that picture was taken with my movie co-star. They follow me everywhere. They stalk me outside of my house waiting in their dark SUVs and chase my car down the street. They are trying to catch me when I’m unaware or looking distraught so they can sell the photo and have a big payday. I’d always wanted to be famous, but never infamous.”

  “That’s terrible,” Rylee said, sympathizing. “It makes sense why you used your sister’s identity.”

  “So the press has no idea where you are?” Isaac asked, sipping his coffee.

  Chynna nodded as she finished her yogurt and put down her spoon. Again, she looked at Noah. He was finally taking an interest in her account of what had transpired.

  “Wait a sec,” Caleb said. “The press said you’ve been back in LA for weeks, been spotted with your new man, a Lucas somebody, even had a concert. So, if the press thinks you’re in LA ...” His voice trailed off as he tried to put the pieces together.

  Chynna pointed her finger. “You got it. My twin and I traded places.”

  “Traded places?” Madelyn put her fork down. “How?”

  “We’re identical,” Chynna explained. “Most people forget, which in this instance played to our advantage. When Kenya and I met up at Canyon Ranch for some R&R a couple of weeks ago, she reminded me that I’d forgotten who I was and why it was that I enjoyed singing and creating music to begin with.” Chynna paused and took a sip of coffee. “You see, I started out wanting to be unique ... you know, different from the other R&B singers.”

  “Your first album was amazing.” Rylee couldn’t help gushing as she tore into her Western omelet. “I played it all the time.”

  “Sure did,” Caleb snorted. “Drove us all mad.”

  “But the more successful I became, the more stress and pressure I received to conform to the masses. And after Mama died ...,” Chynna’s voice choked and she stopped mid-sentence. Even now after three years had passed, talking about her mother still hurt.

  “When did she pass?” Madelyn asked softly. “It must have been hard for you to lose your mother, especially so young.”

  Chynna nodded, fighting back tears. “It was a few years ago, and I took it pretty hard. I distanced myself from Kenya and allowed myself to get carried away by the partying and carousing. Pretty soon I started doing what people told me to do to keep up with the ever-changing music scene rather than be the artist I wanted to be.”

  “And now you’re trying to find yourself?” Noah asked for the first time, acknowledging her presence.

  Chynna glanced up at him through heavy eyelids. His eyes were unfathomable, and she couldn’t read them. “Something like that,” she said, shrugging. “I guess I’m trying to remember the Chynna I used to be ... before Mama died ... before I let all the fame and money suck me in.”

  “Sounds like a smart plan if you ask me,” Isaac replied and looked at his son. “Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to reflect on the past before you can move forward with your future.”

  Chynna understood exactly what he meant. “Kenya and I talked for hours at the spa, and that’s when it came to me. Kenya is such a great actress and a phenomenal singer—always has been, and she could easily imitate me.” She shrugged. “So I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if I just took a little break and she went off for a week to be me?’”

  “And she agreed to leave her life and go in your place?” Rylee asked.

  Chynna smiled. “I think Kenya has always wondered what it would be like to be me. And now she’s had a chance to see the glitz and the glamour.”

  “In the midst of this media whirlwind?” Madelyn asked. “You are giving her some pretty big shoes to fill.”

  “She can do it,” Chynna said, smiling broadly. “Kenya is an amazing actress and a gifted singer herself. She’s been in dozens of Broadway shows like RENT and MEMPHIS.”

  Rylee giggled. “I loved those shows.”

  “Are you addicted to pop culture?” Caleb ragged on his big sister. “Sounds like we need to get you some other hobbies.”

  Rylee rolled her eyes at him.

  “I knew Kenya could handle herself for a couple of weeks. Plus, she gets to walk a mile in my shoes.”

  “Wonder how she’ll feel after a couple of weeks,” Caleb muttered under his breath, “with the press nipping at her heels?”

  “I’ve wondered that myself and thanks to Mother Nature, I’ll have to wait and see.”

  Tension coursed through Noah’s veins. Being this close to Chynna was driving him crazy. Everywhere he went, she was there. If he went to the kitchen, she was in there with his mother trying to be helpful with lunch or dinner, even though she’d probably never used a skillet a day in her life. If he went to the study, she was with his father, Isaac, playing gin rummy as they listened to jazz on vinyl, his dad’s favorite pastime.

  He’d finally ventured out in the rain to the stables to check on the animals just to get away from her. Apparently, he wasn’t the only person seeking the attention of the animals. Rylee too was in the stables wearing a rain slicker.

  “What are you doing out here?” she asked when he came through the stable doors. She’d delivered a new filly in the wee hours of the morning and had come by to check in on her. She’d found her nursing under her mare.

  “Just needed some air,” he said, standing in the doorway and watching the rain come down.

  “You mean you needed to get away from Chynna?”

  Noah turned around. “You can tell?”

  “Uh, yeah,” Rylee said, laughing. “We all can. Whenever the two of you are in
the room together, you can cut the tension in the air with a knife. Don’t you think you need to talk to her?”

  “I already did.”

  “Liar.”

  Noah shrugged. “I’ve heard enough. She wanted to get away from her life and how does she go about it? She puts her sister, her twin for Christ’s sake, in harm’s way, all in an effort not to deal with her own issues.”

  “Really?” Rylee put her hands on her hips and stared at Noah incredulously. “You of all people are going to stand there and judge her, when you yourself have been hiding behind Maya’s death for the last two years? You’re one to talk, Noah Hart.”

  “I lost my wife! That’s not the same thing.”

  “And she lost her mother,” Rylee countered. “Didn’t you hear her story? She spiraled after her mother’s death too. Maybe she lost her way for a bit. Does that sound familiar? Perhaps you could show her some of the compassion that we’ve shown you instead of judging her so harshly.”

  “It’s easy for you to say, Rylee. She didn’t lie to you. You knew the truth. She confided in you. You’re not so innocent here, little sis.” Rylee lowered her head at his accusation. “While she keeps me, the man she supposedly ‘has feelings for,’” he said, using his fingers to make air quotation marks, “in the dark. So how about you give me some time to process the truth you already knew.” Seconds later, Noah was walking out of the stables.

  Chynna emerged from the stall with a rack in her hands. She’d been helping Rylee check on the foal in an effort to get out of the house too. Her eyes were wistful as she watched Noah’s retreating form through the sheets of pouring rain. “He really hates me, doesn’t he?”

  “He doesn’t hate you.” Rylee turned around to face her. “He’s just angry with the circumstances, but I know my brother.” She walked toward Chynna and grasped both her hands. “He’s a good man; he’ll come around, just give him time.”

  That’s what Chynna was afraid of. Because time was something she had a short quantity of. Kenya would want her life back, which meant Chynna was going to have to go back home and face the music.