by Lane, Soraya
MONTANA HOMECOMING
SORAYA LANE
MONTANA HOMECOMING
SORAYA LANE
Copyright © Soraya Lane 2013
Edited by Laura Bradford of Bradford Literary Agency
Cover by Mixing Ink Design
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form is forbidden without the prior written permission of the copyright owner of this book.
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Soraya is represented by Bradford Literary Agency.
To contact Soraya, visit her website www.sorayalane.com, on twitter @Soraya_Lane or email her: [email protected]
Also by Soraya Lane
Montana Christmas
Montana Reunion
The War Bride Club
The Navy SEAL’s Promise
Rescued by the Rancher
The Soldier’s Sweetheart
Patchwork Family in the Outback
Mission: Soldier to Daddy
The Navy SEAL’s Bride
Back in the Soldier’s Arms
Rodeo Daddy
The Army Ranger’s Return
Soldier on Her Doorstep
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
CHAPTER ONE
AMANDA Jones stared at the leather-clad motorcycle rider as he pulled up at the curb outside the airport in Billings. It was a sleek black machine, and it stopped way closer to her than she was comfortable with.
She looked at her wristwatch. Her plane had landed twenty minutes ago and she'd expected her sister to be waiting for her.
The motorcycle rider caught her attention again even though she'd moved a few steps away, and she watched as he stretched, legs slung casually on either side of his ride. He wore sturdy black boots, his legs were long and lean, and she was curious to see what his face looked like beneath the helmet. She could just make out some dark hair brushing against his jacket, tanned skin peeking out at her.
It wasn't often she was up close and personal with a guy who…
Oh my god. She glared at the dark eyes that had locked on hers. Un-bloody-believable.
"Hey Amanda."
"You've got to be kidding me," she muttered, clutching the handle of her suitcase.
Scott Gregory propped up his bike, left the helmet on the seat and crossed the distance between them. How the hell had she ended up stranded at the airport and face to face with the one guy she did not need to see right now? Last she’d heard he was still living in Australia.
"Is that any way to welcome an old friend?"
Amanda fought off a childish scowl. They were all grown up now and it was stupid to hold a childhood grudge.
"From what I recall you were my brother's friend," she said, fixing a smile. "But it's nice to see you."
Scott walked right up to her and wrapped her in a hug, pulling her hard against his chest. He smelled of leather and aftershave, and his jacket was warm from the sun. She limply hugged him back, hating that being pressed up against the one guy who'd teased her mercilessly as a kid felt so damn nice.
"How are you?" he asked.
Amanda tried to push away and found herself locked in Scott's embrace still. His fingers were firm against her arms, catching her, and she ended up staring up at him instead.
Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked at him, knowing that no matter what had happened when they were kids, right now he actually gave a crap about how she felt. Everyone else lately had tried to be nice, tried to understand, but Scott? She knew that he actually got what she was going through, and right now there was no teasing in his gaze, no arrogance, just genuine concern.
"Like my heart has been ripped from my body," she said, squeezing her fists into tight balls to push the emotion back. "I wish I could see him again, even just for one more day." She would do anything to even have the chance to say goodbye to her dad.
Amanda tried to blink away her tears, but not before Scott noticed. He pulled her back against him, arms tight around her body, his chin to the top of her head. Scott didn't say anything, and neither did she. Instead she focused on holding on to him like she'd never let go, breathing deep and refusing to let her tears spill down the front of his jacket.
Scott was the idiot boy who'd teased her, taunted her and played pranks on her until she'd wanted to kill him, and yet here she was wrapped in his arms like there was nowhere else in the world she wanted to be.
Amanda cleared her throat and stepped back, wiping at her eyes. "What are you doing here, anyway? I don't think there are any more flights arriving in."
Scott laughed and gave her a wink. Her heart had that sinking feeling, the one she'd experienced constantly as a child when she'd known she'd been fooled. More often that not by him.
"I'm here for you," he said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Amanda laughed. Loudly. And then she glowered at him when she realized that the smug look on his face meant he was serious.
"You're kidding, right?" He had to be kidding.
"'Fraid not," he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Maddison is still with your mom finalizing the funeral arrangements, and Charlotte is stuck at the ranch."
"So you're proposing to do what exactly with my things?" She had two suitcases and a bag, and from the look of his motorcycle there wasn't even room for her purse. Not to mention the fact that she'd never ridden a deathtrap before in her life and wasn't intending on changing that fact any time soon.
"Maddie's going to pick up your things as soon as they're done. I’m going to get a locker for you, and then I can either take you home or to meet with them at the funeral home."
Screw this. "Could you not have at least brought your truck?"
Scott flashed her his way too handsome smile again. "And what kind of fun would that have been?"
She took a deep breath. "You do realize that my dad's just died, right? I'm not in the mood for playing games." So much for him being genuinely concerned about her.
Scott reached for her, ran his fingers down her bare arm and stared into her eyes. "That's exactly why I'm going to take you for a ride," he said, voice low. "When you're on the back of a Harley, you can forget everything. It's only for a little while, but it sure as hell helps with the pain. Trust me, I know."
Amanda swallowed, hard. "I don't want to forget him," she whispered.
"But you want to forget the pain, right?"
When she nodded he unzipped his leather jacked and slung it around her shoulders, before reaching for her bags and lugging them back into the terminal.
Amanda watched him go before turning around to eye his beast of a motorcycle. She shrugged her way into his jacket, knowing how ridiculous she must look but deciding that she didn't care. If Scott thought this would help her pain, then she wasn't going to say no. Because the fact she hadn't made it home to see her dad before he died would haunt her forever, and even a moment's reprieve from that
sounded like exactly what she needed. Even if she was going to be pressed against the back of a man she'd sworn never to waste time thinking about or crying over ever again.
Scott gripped the handlebars of his Harley and leaned into the bend, trying to remember all the reasons why his childhood best friend had warned him off Amanda. He hadn't seen Blake in a long while, but he was guessing he'd still receive a black eye if he so much as looked at his sister the wrong way. His brother had managed to marry Maddison, but little sister Amanda had always been strictly forbidden. Which was precisely why Scott had always found her so damn hard to stay away from.
He tried to ignore the hands wrapped tight around his waist, or the fact that her body was shoved hard up against his. This Amanda was nothing like the sweet, pretty girl who’d made his teenage self desperate to get her in his bed. Grown up Amanda was sophisticated, polished and damn fine to look at. Her hair was long, at least half way down her back, and it was blonder than it had been back then. She was taller now, though still a good few inches shorter than him, and she'd filled out in all the kind of places he appreciated.
He accelerated as they hit a straight stretch of highway and grinned as she held on to him tighter. If he had it his way, he'd have driven all day with her hanging on like that.
Scott reluctantly slowed when they turned onto the street where the funeral home was located, stopping just outside. He propped the motorcycle with his foot before pushing down the stand and waiting for Amanda to step off. When she didn't move, or even let go of his waist, he turned around to see what the problem was.
"You change your mind about wanting me to take you home instead?"
Amanda slowly shook her head. "That was…"
He laughed at the frozen expression on her face. "Amazing? Exhilarating?"
"Terrifying but freaking incredible at the same time."
Scott got off and held his hand out to help her. She didn't take his hand, just passed him the helmet, like she was still frozen in place.
"Thanks for the lift."
"Anytime," he said, propping the helmet under his arm and watching her. She was flustered, but she also looked more alive than she had back at the airport. "Do you want me to hang around until you're finished?"
She laughed. "I think I'll decline,” she said. “No offense, but I think I just used up one of my nine lives riding with you on that thing.”
Amanda touched her palm to his shoulder as she stepped past him, before running her fingers through her hair, clearly trying to smooth out the knots from wearing his helmet, and then shrugging out of his jacket.
"Thanks, Scott."
He didn't take his eyes from her, stared straight at her. "I was right, wasn't I?"
She smiled. "About forgetting the pain?"
He nodded.
"Yeah, but being here's going to kill that buzz pretty damn fast."
She was right. There was nothing he could do or say to change how she was going to feel when she walked through those doors and saw her mom and sister, but at least he'd put a smile on her face for part of the day.
"See you around, Mandy."
She glared at him and he winked in reply. She'd always hated that nickname, which was exactly why he couldn't resist using it.
Amanda took a deep breath and pushed open the door. She didn't look over her shoulder when she heard Scott's motorcycle fire to life, looking around for her family instead. Nothing could have prepared her for the gut-deep pain she'd felt ever since her sister had called, since she'd known that she'd never see her dad again. But right now she needed to be strong for her mom, and that meant putting on a brave face and dealing with the funeral arrangements. Once it was all over she could cry until her body couldn't produce another tear.
"Amanda?"
She turned, sucking in a big breath to remind herself of just how strong she needed to be. "Hey mom."
Amanda put her arms around her mother eyes squeezed tight shut as she held her, trying to ignore how small the most important woman in her life suddenly felt.
"Mom, I'm so sorry I didn't come home sooner. I…"
Her mom stood back, arms extended, eyes filled with tears but a smile on her face. "Do you remember the look on your father's face when we came to your exhibition? Did you see how proud he was of you?"
Amanda nodded because she didn't trust her voice.
"He spent every day of his life knowing how loved he was, so the fact that you didn't come home to see him? That's not something he would ever hold against you, not for a moment."
So much for not crying. Amanda was powerless to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks.
"I did love him, mom," she said, trying not to sob. "I loved him so much it hurts."
Amanda let her mom hold her, and she held a hand out to her sister, too.
"Hey Maddison," she murmured.
Her sister squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek. "It's so good to have you home."
Amanda blinked her tears away and stood up straight, eyes on Maddison's stomach. The sight put a smile on her face.
"That's a big belly you have there, sis."
Maddison laughed and pulled her in for a hug, squishing her against her bump.
"This baby is killing me. He kicks all night and then sleeps during the day."
She didn't say what they were both thinking. That their dad would never meet his grandson.
"I take it Scott dropped you off."
Amanda linked one arm through Maddison's and the other through her mom's as they walked along. "Whoever decided it was okay to let him collect me on his motorcycle is in big trouble."
Maddie burst out laughing. "He didn't! Please tell me he didn't."
"Oh, he did," she said, loving that she was back with her family, that she could just relax and be herself. "And don't tell him I said this, but I kind of liked riding on that sleek black machine of his."
CHAPTER TWO
AMANDA walked into the kitchen and leaned on the counter.
"Mom, why don't you let us cook dinner tonight?" she asked.
"Sweetheart, if I don't cook then I'll only end up crying again, and I just want to enjoy having you all here."
She didn't go and give her mom a hug, because she knew it would only make them both burst into tears. Her emotions were close to the surface after getting back from finalizing the funeral arrangements and she knew her mom had to be feeling just as fragile. One touch and they'd probably both just fall to pieces.
"You know he'd be telling us not to make a fuss and just get on with things, right?"
That made her mom smile. "That's exactly why I'm cooking. Having the boys over will take our minds off everything."
Amanda stifled her groan. "You mean Scott's coming, too?"
"I was hardly going to ask Jack and your sister without Scott."
It wasn't that she didn't want to see him again, it was just… what? They were adults now. Thinking about how he'd been when they were kids was stupid, because it had nothing to do with the people they were now. She hadn't even seen him in at least eight years, maybe longer, so maybe it was time she gave him a chance.
"What do you want me to do?"
Her mom put her arm around her as Amanda moved beside her, both staring out the window as her little sister Charley drove a quad bike behind a herd of cattle.
"You do realize that you're the only one of my daughters I can trust in the kitchen alongside me, don't you?"
"Yeah, they were both too busy playing ranch hands to learn anything about being in here," Amanda replied with a laugh.
It had been the reason she'd left - her sisters loved the ranch. Even Maddison, who'd made a career in the city, had always loved riding and helping out. Amanda couldn't think of anything worse that working on the land, but she did still love coming home.
"Is Charley doing okay?"
Her sister had worked beside their dad since the day she'd been allowed to leave school, learning everything until she was capable of running the ranch on
her own. Only now she was managing the ranch on her own for real.
"We'll all miss your father in our own way, but I think it'll hit Charlotte the worst," her mom said, passing her onions and garlic to peel. "They worked side by side for years, so it must hit her like a ton of bricks sometimes.”
Amanda's eyes started to sting and she blinked the onion-induced tears away.
"What are you making?"
"Mediterranean lamb," her mom said. "Just like I used to make when you all lived here."
"Are you sure you don't want to go sit down? Put your feet up?"
She received a smile in response, her mom dropping her head to her shoulder for a moment. They both had messy hands, and they laughed as they held them up at the same time.
"I have you, Amanda. Right now, that's all I need."
She laughed. It had been way too long since she'd been home, and she might never forgive herself for not coming back to see her dad, but being here right now was the best she'd felt in a long time.
"So tell me about Maddie. Married life seems to be working out pretty well for her, huh?"
Amanda continued to peel while her mom rubbed down the two lamb legs with olive oil and added canned tomatoes and wine to the massive oven tray.
"I've never seen her so happy. Jack's, well, he's the best thing that ever happened to her. It's a shame it took them so long to find one another."
"I leave you two for an hour and already you're gossiping about me?"
Maddison came into the kitchen, leaning against the counter to watch them.
"I was just telling mom how radiant I thought you looked."
Maddison grinned. "And you think that's Jack's doing and not the baby's?"
"I just think it's nice that one of us has actually settled down and met a man," she replied.
Amanda loved being home with her sisters, just chatting about anything and everything, and it often wasn’t until she came back that she realized how much she missed it.
"You could always doll yourself up and make a play for Scott. He's been whining lately about needing some female company that doesn't include his pregnant sister-in-law."