Harts of Arizona Series

by Yahrah St. John

  “Then let’s go boot scooting,” Caleb said, rising from the table and nearly knocking down his chair. “We’ll go into town to the saloon.”

  “I’m game,” Rylee said, standing and turning to Chynna and Noah, still sitting at the table. “Don’t be spoilsports. Come on, you two.”

  “Are you sure I should??” Chynna asked. “What if someone recognizes me?”

  “In this town?” Caleb asked. “I sincerely doubt it. Most folks here listen to country. The only reason I recognized you is because Rylee plays your music all the dang time.”

  Rylee huffed and folded her arms across her chest. “I do not!”

  Chynna was hesitant. “I don’t know ...”

  “It’ll be fine,” Rylee said. “C’mon, we have to get out of this place.”

  “I agree.” Noah jumped to his feet and turned to Chynna. “How about it? You ready to line dance?”

  Chynna knew when she was outnumbered. She let go of her misgivings, rose to her feet and said, “Have you seen my videos? I’m an excellent dancer.”

  “Oh, baby,” Noah said. “Line dancing is nothing like booty shaking.” Everyone laughed as they, Caleb and Rylee left the room.

  A half-hour later, Rylee and Chynna had changed clothes and shoes, the men preferring to keep on the jeans and button-down shirts they’d been wearing. Rylee wore boyfriend jeans, an embellished T-shirt and a princess blue cropped jacket with red leather boots that reached her knees, while Chynna had shimmied her way into skinny silver jeans and a cutout sweater top with a slashed black.

  Noah gave Chynna a once-over in the skintight shiny jeans she wore, but didn’t comment as she and Rylee slid into Noah’s pickup truck and headed into town for a night of fun. It was a short drive to the nearby saloon on the outskirts of town. The place was quite crowded, and Chynna was surprised given that it was a Thursday night.

  “Ladies night,” Rylee said as they walked into the room and saw tons of women walking around in jeans with cowboy boots and hats.

  “Just how I like it!” Caleb said. “Excuse me while I go have some fun.” Seconds later, he was gone.

  “Wow!” Rylee exclaimed as she looked at his retreating figure. “I thought I would have a dance partner.”

  “Did you really?” Noah gave her a knowing look.

  Rylee laughed. “Okay, wishful thinking,”

  “How about some drinks, ladies?” Noah asked.

  “Love one,” they said in unison. Chynna glanced wistfully at Noah as he walked away—a look that Rylee caught.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, why do you ask?” Chynna said, staring at Noah. She noticed several women leaning against the bar, giving him their best come-hither looks. The great part was she didn’t have to wonder about Noah’s loyalty. He was a man who would never cheat on her unlike many of the other men she’d dated in Hollywood.

  “I dunno. You looked a little sad when Noah walked away.”

  “Maybe just a little,” Chynna admitted.

  “Why? Has he done something wrong?”

  Chynna shook her head. “No, things actually couldn’t be better between us.”

  “Then what gives?” Rylee asked, peering up at her.

  “I’m just worried about what happens next.”

  “You mean when you have to leave?”

  Chynna nodded. “Noah and I haven’t discussed what happens later or whether he would even be open to a long-distance relationship.”

  “My brother is not the casual relationship type.”

  “True,” Chynna conceded, “but I doubt he’s ready to be Mr. Chynna James and follow me on the road either. His life is here.”

  “You have a point, which is why you need to talk to him rather than brood. Get it out in the open, clear the air.”

  “I know you’re right,” Chynna said, “but I’m scared about what happens after we’ve had the talk. It’ll change everything.”

  “Isn’t it worse not knowing?”

  Chynna laughed. “Sometimes ignorance is bliss.”

  Noah returned to the table they’d procured with three beer bottles in his hand. Chynna wasn’t much of a beer drinker, but the saloon struck her as the type that wouldn’t make martinis.

  “Thank you,” she said, accepting the beer bottle and taking a nervous swig.

  “So what were you two talking about when I came over?” Noah asked, glancing back and forth between the two women. “From across the room it looked intense.”

  “You, you dope.” Rylee punched him in the arm.

  “Well, then that’s an acceptable topic,” he said, laughing and taking a large swig of his beer, though Noah suspected there was more to the story than Rylee was telling him. After they’d made love near the lake, Chynna had been unusually quiet. He suspected she was thinking about what would come next, just as he was, but they both were too scared to broach the subject.

  “I, for one, didn’t come here to stand on the sidelines,” Rylee said, putting down her bottle of beer and taking a step toward the dance floor, where a crowd had already formed to start the next line dance. “I’m going to dance. Y’all coming?” she asked, turning to glance at them.

  “You go ahead,” Noah said. “We’ll be right behind you.”

  “Alright,” Rylee said and sashayed her way onto the dance floor. It didn’t take long for his not-so-shy sister to disappear into the crowd.

  “So, do you want to talk about what’s on your mind?” Noah asked, chartering into dangerous territory.

  Chynna glanced at him and took another swig of beer. “Do you?”

  Noah shrugged. “Not really, but I know we need to talk.”

  “And we’ll talk later.” Chynna chugged more of her beer before placing it on the table. “For now, let’s dance!” She grabbed Noah by the hand, barely giving him time to set his beer down before leading him to the dance floor.

  Chynna had a great time dancing with Noah and attempting to learn all the line dances that went with each song. She was great at choreography and pretty soon was picking up most of the moves while Noah struggled with two left feet.

  “How do you pick it up so fast?” Noah asked, out of breath when they finally paused to take a break. Rylee was still on the dance floor, and Caleb was sidled up next to a six-foot tall, big-breasted brunette wearing a miniskirt with a tube top and red cowboy boots.

  Chynna shrugged. “It’s a gift, I suppose. I’ve always been good with dancing. When we were younger in tap and jazz, I would catch on quickly while Kenya, on the other hand, always had to practice, practice, practice.”

  “Well, I’m much better at slow dancing anyway,” Noah whispered seductively in her ear as he pulled her closer to his frame.

  “Is that a fact?” Chynna teased, glancing up at him through flirty lashes.

  “Oh, just wait to you see my moves.”

  Noah showed her not only his slow dance moves at the saloon, but he showed her just how gentle and loving he could be when they got back to the ranch, and he made achingly slow love to her until her toes curled with satisfaction. Chynna didn’t want the night to end because in the pit of her stomach, she felt the world shifting on its axis, and her world was about to change and this time it would be out of her control.

  Chapter 6

  Kenya was having a hard time picking up the new dance routine, as usual. Given they were in Vegas, the choreographer had added a new element to the opening sequence, and she was having a hard time remembering it. She supposed her lack of focus could be from the fact that she and Lucas had stayed up nearly all night making love.

  “Give me a minute, okay?” Kenya said, leaving the stage at Caesars Palace where they were practicing for Chynna’s show later that evening. Kenya smiled as she passed her bodyguards and hotel security and headed toward her dressing room. Once there, she closed the door
with a sigh. Her mind wasn’t on dancing, it was on Lucas.

  Showing up at the Boys and Girls Club had been a breakthrough for her and Lucas. Lucas had been shocked that she’d come there looking for him and not to walk away but to embrace their relationship. He didn’t know that the reason Kenya had been so bold was because she knew this would be the last day they would be spending together.

  She wasn’t Chynna, and she could no longer keep living her sister’s life. She had to reclaim her own life. Coming here, she’d learned that the old adage that all that glitters isn’t gold was true. With all the glitz and glamour, Chynna’s life was no better than her life in New York. Chynna had run away from her own life because it was suffocating and she’d lost her identity.

  And for a moment, Kenya had allowed herself to get caught up in Chynna’s world, in her drama, and as a result, she’d fallen for Lucas. He was the one real thing she’d found in LA, but even that was built on a lie. He thought she was her sister for Christ’s sake. He thought he’d fallen for the spoiled diva that’d had a sudden transformation.

  And why? Because she’d deceived him. Once Lucas learned the truth, he would never forgive the lies, the betrayal and the deception. New York wouldn’t be far enough away to escape the wrath she knew was sure to follow. She had to get out now.

  She walked over to Chynna’s Louis Vuitton purse, reached inside and pulled out her cell phone.

  “Kenya,” Chynna answered on the first ring. “I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  “Good, because I have an answer for you.”

  “You’re ready to switch places,” Chynna said.

  “Yes.” Kenya nodded and stared at her reflection in the mirror. With the honey-blond highlights, cropped top and tight leggings, she could hardly recognize herself anymore.

  There was silence on the other end of the line, and Kenya wondered if her twin had hung up on her until Chynna asked, “When?”

  “Tomorrow,” Kenya said. “I’ll tell everyone that I’m staying in Vegas for another day. That’ll give you enough time to make flight arrangements and get here so we can switch places.”

  “Alright,” Chynna said. “I will call you once I’ve booked a flight, and we’ll talk strategy.”

  “Good,” Kenya said, letting out an audible sigh. “I’m sorry I couldn’t give you more time, but even you must see that this is for the best. We are getting in too deep, and this will blow up in our faces.”

  “I understand,” Chynna replied softly. “I’ve asked a lot of you, twinie, and I won’t ask for anymore. We’ll talk soon.”

  Seconds later, Kenya heard a dial tone. She ended the call and stared into the mirror. Time for one more performance and then she would finally hang her stilettos on the shelf.

  Eli stared at the investigator standing in front of him. He’d told the man as soon as he got cold hard facts to track him down, no matter the place or time of day. Eli had no idea just how juicy the information would be that the investigator had retrieved.

  “So you mean to tell me that Chynna has been staying at this Golden Oaks Ranch for the last month, incognito?” Eli asked.

  The investigator nodded. “I had to do a lot of convincing to get one of the maids who’d cleaned her villa at Canyon Ranch to give up the goods, because the manager sure wasn’t going to talk. Apparently your girl checked out a few weeks ago. She came back with some rancher girl dressed in jeans and a cowboy hat to retrieve her things. Luckily, the maid who’d been cleaning the villa overheard them talking about the ranch.”

  “And the manager wasn’t surprised by Chynna checking out?”

  The investigator shook his head. “Apparently Golden Oaks has a stellar reputation as one of the best dude ranches in Arizona, if you like that sort of thing.”

  “And Chynna does?” Eli was amazed. Chynna had always struck him as a city girl and he couldn’t picture her enjoying the outdoor life and choosing to stay on a dude ranch. It didn’t make sense. “Why would she stay?”

  “Well,” the investigator said, “local gossip in the town has her cozying up to Noah Hart, the son of the ranch’s owner. He’s been a grieving widower for some time.”

  “And in comes Chynna to heal the pain.” Eli rubbed his chin. “I couldn’t have asked for a better story if I’d written it myself.”

  “She’s been staying on the ranch with the Hart family, and folks even saw them kissing on the dance floor at the ranch’s thirty-fifth anniversary party this past week and dancing at the local saloon.”

  Eli turned to stare at him. “Any pictures?” His mind was already whirling with how he could best use Chynna’s charade to his advantage. And if he couldn’t, he would ensure it blew up in her face. In this day in and age, bad publicity was good publicity and would put Chynna back in the spotlight where he liked her. And it would teach her a lesson about playing games with him. Who does she think she is anyway to think she can get away with pulling off such an elaborate scheme?

  But she had. She’d outfoxed him. And Lucas. Poor schmuck. Eli chuckled to himself. His boy thought he’d fallen for Chynna James, and instead he’d gotten bamboozled by the runner-up, her twin, Kenya. He felt bad for him, but not enough to tell him what was coming. He’d tried to tell Lucas that something hadn’t been right with “Chynna” since her return from Arizona, and he’d blown him off. Now Lucas would have to find out like the rest of America—on the front page of the tabloids.

  Kenya gave her performance that night her all. It was her swan song, so to speak, the last night she’d be onstage imitating her sister, and Kenya savored it like a fine wine. She sang her sister’s most popular songs with the screams of her adoring fans in her ears. She danced her heart out with Chynna’s fabulous dancers as if her life depended on it. She ensured the band and her backup singers got multiple rounds of applause for their efforts. And when it was all over and she sang Chynna’s signature song, Kenya took a long bow.

  Kenya was sure everyone thought she was being dramatic for effect, but the emotions in the moment were real. This marked the end of a journey for her, and she hoped it was a new beginning. She’d found herself in LA and stopped being jealous of her younger sister. Kenya had gained a newfound confidence that she hadn’t had before. And for the first time since she could remember, she’d felt beautiful and sexy. Lucas had done that for her. He’d made her feel more alive than any man had, and she would always be grateful to him for that, though she doubted Lucas would feel the same.

  Afterward, as she walked offstage, picking up the train of her gunmetal gray custom-Armani gown, slinky with an off-center cut along the bustline, Lucas was waiting for her as were Deacon, Fiona and Penelope. On cue, Penelope handed her an Evian.

  Despite all their hovering, Kenya would miss these people that had flitted like flies every day in her orbit. She broke open the cap of the water bottle and drank generously.

  “Great show!” Deacon gave her a high-five.

  “You were magnificent, as always,” Fiona beamed.

  “Thank you,” Kenya said, nodding.

  Lucas approached and kissed her cheek. “Hey, beautiful.”

  Kenya smiled at him, but didn’t miss the look of disapproval from Deacon. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, but she was powerless to resist the pull whenever she was around Lucas. “Hey yourself,” she said as she continued to walk toward her dressing room.

  “You were amazing,” Lucas said. “We should go out to celebrate.”

  Kenya stopped when she made it to her dressing room. “Not tonight, babe. I’m exhausted.” She feigned tiredness.

  “We’re in Vegas!” Lucas said. “You can’t go to bed,” he added, glancing at his Rolex watch, “before midnight.”

  “Who says?”

  “I say,” Lucas said. “And I’m not taking no for an answer, so go change your clothes, and I’ll be waiting out here for you.” He patted her on
the behind as she entered her dressing room.

  “Fine,” she said, and closed the door behind her.

  Lucas stared at the door. Something was off. He’d sensed it from the moment they’d arrived in Vegas. Even though they’d shared an amazing night in bed, he could feel Chynna pulling away from him, pulling away from everyone. She’d been quiet, pensive even. During the show, she’d given a stellar performance, but in his opinion, it had almost been like it was her last. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but that last bow on stage had felt eerie. Perhaps he was imagining things. He had to be. Chynna had a long tour ahead of her and, he hoped, a long stretch of sharing his bed.

  He was hooked and couldn’t get enough of her. So much so that he’d tossed aside the comments Eli had made about Chynna acting different since her return from Arizona, though he had to admit her coming to the Boys and Girls Club had rattled him. He hadn’t seen that one coming. Perhaps something profound had happened to her while in Arizona, causing her to reevaluate her life and how she was living it. It was certainly plausible. Lucas couldn’t wrap his mind around another reason for Chynna’s sudden change in behavior, but the truth of the matter was he liked the new Chynna. She was not only talented—he’d always known that—but she was more real, down to earth and approachable than she’d ever been. He wouldn’t want her to go back to the closed-off superficial woman he’d known before she left. This new Chynna was a woman he could love—a woman he might very well have fallen for now.

  Eli licked his lips and rubbed his hands in anticipation of the fallout that was about to come. Chynna had underestimated him. She thought she could get away with tricking him by sending her sister back in her place. Well, she was in for a rude awakening. He was going to teach her a lesson that he ruled her. She couldn’t just go off on her own and hook up with some rancher unless it was beneficial to her brand and thereby his pocketbook.

  He’d ensured her rise to fame by carefully crafting her image as the next Beyoncé or Rihanna, and he wasn’t about to let her tank it because she’d had a change of heart. He needed her out on the road, on stage doing what she did best—belting out songs he’d selected from the album and gyrating a body he’d made sure she kept fit.