by Lori Ryan
Sophie felt the prick of tears but swallowed them down as she nodded. She didn’t want to become emotional, not here in the theater. “I’d be lost without you, Jackie.” She leaned her head on her sister’s shoulder.
“Yeah, you would.” Jackie kissed the top of her head, laughing. “Nothing’s perfect you know.”
“I know.”
Jackie’s next words shocked the crap out of Sophie. “Dad left Mom once.”
“What,” Sophie practically shrieked. “When?”
“When I was really small. Grandma said something about it when I was a teenager. I don’t think she meant for me to hear.”
“But they stayed together?”
“Yeah. I guess so. I asked Mom about it one day.”
Sophie turned to stare at her sister. “What did she say?”
“She never really said they separated. She called it ‘breathing room.’”
“Breathing room,” Sophie repeated.
“We all need breathing room,” Jackie said, taking her sister’s hand in hers. “Mom said that you just have to make sure the room never gets too big.”
Sophie felt her ‘breathing room’ had become a stadium. Grant seemed to be an ocean away from her…or more like a mountain.
“Whatever you decide, I’ll be here, Soph.”
Sophie smiled, knowing at least one thing was a constant in her life. Her sister. And part of her still wondered why Jackie had had a change of heart when it came to Grant Sumner.
As the lights dimmed, she sat back in her chair, pondering Jackie’s story. Breathing room.
Grant’s film began to play and as always, she was lost. He was mesmerizing on the screen, bringing the audience right into the movie as if you were there experiencing it alongside the characters.
In this movie, he played a young man, moving to Hollywood from a small town to become a star—a story much like his own. Yet in this movie, the character struggled and eventually turned to prostitution to survive. Even in those dark scenes, Grant was riveting.
In the past, Grant had always worried about his roles, wondering what his fans would think of every scene, every line. But in this movie, it was clear, for him this was a labor of love, filmed solely for him. His character eventually made it big in movies and achieved the accolades he always dreamed of, only to realize the life wasn’t as glamorous as he thought, and it had come at a price that left him battling demons he didn’t know if he could defeat.
Sophie watched the film with rapt fascination as Grant’s character was hounded by the media once they’d discovered his past life as a prostitute. Scorned by the industry that had catapulted him to fame, the man returned to his hometown only to discover that his family still supported him, past and all. And in the end, he was right where he truly wanted to be.
As the credits rolled, someone shoved a tissue into Sophie’s hand and she turned to thank her sister, not realizing she’d been crying. She sucked in a breath as beautiful green eyes met hers. Grant.
“Where’s Jackie?” she asked,
He lifted the tissue and wiped her cheeks. “She just left. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry, beautiful,” he whispered in her ear.
“The film was breathtaking, Grant.”
They sat in silence as the lights flickered on.
“I know you’re afraid, Sophie,” he whispered. “I am too. But I’m more afraid of losing you than I am of not trying.”
Her heart swelled and hammered in her chest. He didn’t want to lose her.
“We want different things,” she said.
“I want you.” He leaned in close, taking her hand in his. “That’s all. Whatever you want, I want to give it to you. I wasn’t ready before, but I was an idiot.”
She pulled back, afraid if she got too close she’d be lost forever, never find her own voice.
Staring at his gorgeous face, his strong jaw shadowed by just the perfect amount of stubble, she was once again drawn to him. She studied his dark hair, wavy and untamed.
But mostly she watched his eyes, the Sumner eyes as he called them, hazel that was really a mix of moss green with hints of caramel if you looked carefully—which she had. The green always deepened with his mood. Those eyes had the potential to slay her.
“Nothing’s changed for me, Grant.” That wasn’t the whole truth, but enough to keep her safe. “You know what I want.”
Grant tugged her up from her seat and quietly led her down the stairs before the audience exited their seats. He walked them down a small, deserted hallway and into an alcove. Pressing her against the wall, his large frame hovered over her, yet she didn’t feel trapped, she felt…protected. Grant had always given her that, a sense of safety.
“I know what you want, Sophie. I want it too. I wasn’t ready before, and I know it’s hard for you to believe, hearing nothing more than my words that maybe sound like empty promises, but I do want a family with you. Let me show you.”
His confession hurt because they both knew finding a way to have that family wouldn’t be easy. It wasn’t a matter of them simply deciding they wanted to do it. Three miscarriages weren’t something they could ignore.
Still, she searched his face, wanting to convince herself he was telling the truth. But with this movie she knew he would be back on top again and probably seeking the ever-elusive mirage of fame and stardom.
“I want you more,” he said as if reading her mind. “The fame and stardom always drew me, it drove me, but I know now that it’s not real, it’s not me. You know that better than anyone.”
“But you’ve always needed it, Grant.”
His expression was unreadable, and sometimes she couldn’t help but wonder if their entire marriage hadn’t been one big acting job. If he didn’t wear that mask on purpose.
Grant pressed into her closer.
She swallowed hard, her hands sweaty, her mouth growing dry. God, he smelled so good, and he looked so delicious. She fought the urge to slide her fingers into his thick hair.
His hands slid around the column of her neck, his thumbs tracing the underside of her jaw as he lifted her head so her eyes met his. “It took me too damned long to realize that all of that other stuff means nothing. The only thing I need is you. Is this.”
Before she could stop him, Grant’s mouth found hers, his lips so soft and warm as they came together. God, she loved kissing him. Without thought, her arms slipped around his waist and she pulled him closer, hungry for his warmth, his touch.
Grant tilted her head and took the kiss even deeper, parting her lips with his tongue.
Unable to resist him, she opened herself to him, more than just physically, and prayed her heart wouldn’t completely shatter when he was through.
Sophie was embarrassed to find herself falling into him when he pulled away, slowly ending the kiss
Grant stared down at her and smiled.
God help her, he smiled. How could any woman resist the world’s sexiest man alive?
“Thirty days,” he said. “Give me thirty days. Please, Soph.”
She hesitated but only for a moment. “Okay,” she said, because, really, what else was there to say when Grant Sumner wanted you?
Chapter Thirteen
Grant stood inside the barn, leaning on the back wall as he listened to Jasper Farrow giving the closing remarks at the festival’s final event. They’d organized a mixer for industry professionals and others wanting to attend.
The weekend had been long and arduous for Grant, and others in Canyon Creek, but so rewarding on many levels. The familiar tingle of excitement he’d been missing for so long had finally started to emerge.
He listened to Jasper’s easy voice ring through the barn. Even though he’d helped organize and facilitate the festival—and directed one of the featured films—Grant felt Jasper was a better candidate to give the closing remarks. He held a wealth of knowledge in the industry.
Jasper stood at the lectern and motioned toward Grant. “I would like to thank the t
own of Canyon Creek and all those who helped organize this festival, including Grant Sumner and his family, and other business owners.” A round of applause rang through the air. “I know this festival was a labor of love for many of you. I hope it will become an annual event.”
“Yes,” many of those in attendance said, and Grant smiled. He would love to see the festival return to Canyon Creek every year.
Jasper cleared his throat. “People often ask me what the key to my success is. I believe it comes down to one word. Heart. Well, two actually. Head and heart.
“I’ve been blessed in this life, able live my passion and fulfill my dreams. It’s been a lot of hard work, I won’t lie, but I credit those smarter and braver than me for my success. I listened to their words, followed the paths they’d forged and heeded the lessons they taught me.”
Grant leaned in, instinctively knowing Jasper was about to impart words of wisdom he needed to hear.
“One of my favorite quotes that’s driven me all these years still remains in my journal to this day,” Jasper went on. “It’s from Nelson Mandela. ‘A good head and a good heart are a formidable combination.’”
Grant pondered the quote. Had his head and his heart every been good? At the same time?
“I’ve been able to pursue my passions and live my dreams by always making sure, every day, that my head and my heart are not only good but they’re in sync,” Jasper said. “Hard work means nothing if you’re headed down the wrong path.
“If your head and your heart aren’t in sync, if they’re not headed in the same direction, you’ll never know real peace, and thus you’ll never know true success.” Jasper’s gaze caught his and held for several moments. “You’ll never truly be happy.”
Grant pondered the idea of whether or not his head and heart were on the same path. When he first met Sophie he thought so, but now he wasn’t so sure.
His career had always mattered most. Being successful and accumulating accolades from critics and fans had driven him to work harder. But now he realized his motives hadn’t been pure and so the work had finally worn him out.
What he needed was Sophie. She held his heart. It was her he craved more than anything. His head and his heart were on a path to win her back. Nothing had ever felt more right.
Jasper’s eyes moved from Grant’s as he stared out over the crowd. “Be prepared for hard work and a lot of rejection. A lot,” he added with a laugh. “But if your head and your heart are in the right place, if they’re on the same page, you’ll always find a way to live your dreams.” He paused and everyone stood silent. “Thanks for joining us this weekend. Please feel free to stick around and mingle.”
Applause erupted throughout the barn as the audience jumped to their feet.
Grant kept to the back of the barn, not ready to talk to others just yet as Jasper’s words burrowed deep in his mind.
“You did a great job here.”
Grant shook his head, turning toward the voice beside him.
Warner Noble stood next to him. Warner’s family owned the ski lodge on the other side of the mountain. His daughter Elle was engaged to Emmett, and Warner and Grant’s Aunt Sally had started dating over the last year.
“Thanks,” he said, his mind still thinking of Jasper’s words.
If your head and your heart aren’t on the same path you’ll never know real peace.
“It looks like the festival was a huge success,” Warner said.
“You and Maggie were a part of that success. I couldn’t have done any of this without your help here.”
“It was actually kind of fun,” Warner said, sounding surprised.
“What, hobnobbing with industry pros and fans?”
“That, too.”
“What else?”
“Well, attending a Sophie Day concert had to be one of the highlights of the weekend.” He smiled.
“For you and lots of others, I’ve heard.”
“For you as well?” he asked.
Definitely, he thought.
Grant wasn’t sure how much of his and Sophie’s history his aunt had shared with Warner but it was really silly to think he wouldn’t know about some of it. Their break-up had made international news. People’s fascination with the humiliation of public figures always bewildered him. He wondered how others would fare in the spotlight if all their dirty laundry were aired for the world to see.
“Grant?” Warner asked.
“Yeah?”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Of course it wasn’t, but he didn’t want to disclose that bit of information.
“I’m sorry,” Warner said, “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t,” Grant said, trying to appease Warner. “It’s hard sometimes, talking about Sophie since we split up.”
“It’s been a while hasn’t it, since you’ve been separated, I mean?”
Grant nodded.
Warner sighed and leaned against the back wall of the barn. “The heart wants what the heart wants.”
Grant turned to stare at him.
“What did you say?” Grant asked.
“The heart wants what the heart wants. That’s what your aunt said about us. You know Sally and I were separated for almost forty years before we finally got together earlier this year.”
Grant did know that. His Aunt Sally and Warner had been high school sweethearts but due to misunderstandings and family loyalties, they’d broken up and married other people, creating lives apart from one another.
The thought of Sophie moving on without Grant, of loving another man and creating a family with that person, made Grant physically nauseous.
“What do you think finally brought you back together again?” Grant asked.
“I was afraid to go after what I wanted. My head and my heart weren’t on the same page, as Jasper would say.”
“For my aunt?” Grant chuckled.
Warner smiled and nodded. “Yeah, surprise, right?” His Aunt Sally was no one to trifle with.
Grant laughed but he knew how much Warner loved his aunt, and how much his aunt loved Warner. It had been strong enough to last for decades.
“I made a choice,” Warner said.
“What choice?”
“I was tired of living without her. I decided to suck up any humility I had left and tell her how I felt. I told her I wanted her back in my life.”
“What if she doesn’t agree?”
“Sophie?”
Grant nodded, unable to say the words out loud. What if Sophie didn’t miss him as much as he’d been missing her, what if she really did want to end their marriage?
“You can’t force her, you know that. But life is too short not to try, Grant.”
If anyone knew about life ending too soon, Warner Noble did. He’d lost his wife over thirty years ago giving birth to his daughter, Elle. And six years ago, Elle had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She was now past her five-year cancer-free mark but Grant knew their entire family still lived in fear of recurrence.
“Sometimes it’s about timing,” Warner went on. “I think Sally and I may not have made it if we’d married as teenagers. We both had a lot of growing up to do. But I wasted a lot of time not trying.”
“I think I’ve convinced Sophie to stay with me for a month.”
“Then I’d say you need to make the most of it.” Warner smiled. “Do you still want the cabin?”
Grant had talked to Warner a while ago when the idea of asking Sophie to stay with him for a month had entered his mind. Warner had a small, secluded cabin on his land and Grant couldn’t think of a better place to escape the media circus that surrounded him and Sophie. They needed to get away, spend time together, just the two of them.
“Does the offer still stand?” Grant asked.
Warner slapped him on the back. “Always. I just want to warn you.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s where I talked Sally into giving me anoth
er chance.”
“Let’s hope the cabin works it’s magic for me too then.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.” He smiled.
Yeah it did. And his heart wanted Sophie. He just hoped she felt the same way.
Chapter Fourteen
Sophie sat in the passenger’s seat of Grant’s weather-worn Jeep as he barreled down the highway. The thing had to be twenty years old at least, although it was in relatively good shape. She had no idea where they were headed but their destination was the least of her worries. What had she been thinking, agreeing to thirty days with this man? Her husband, she reminded herself.
“You okay over there?” Grant glanced at her from the corner of his eye. It was dark outside, the only light reflecting from the dashboard.
“Just wondering how I’m going to survive an entire month with only one suitcase of clothes and shoes.”
Grant chuckled and she felt the vibrations low in her gut. “Hey,” he said, placing his hand on her thigh, “it will be okay. The town’s not far away. You can get anything you need there.”
She stared down at his hand in the dim light of the cab. His touch burned through her jeans, sending sparks up and down her body. Searching the interior of the car to avoid his gaze, her eyes focused on the thick carpeting on the floorboard. “Just how old is this car?”
“First,” he lifted his hand and raised a finger in the air, “it’s not a car, it’s a Jeep.”
“Oh,” she said, nodding her head, “sorry. So how old is this Jeep?” She used air quotes.
He ran his hand affectionately over the dash. “This beauty is thirty-two years old.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open and she leaned against the passenger-side door. The handle of the window crank pressed into her back, indicating that Grant was telling the truth. She’d known it was an older car when he’d come to pick her up earlier, but she had no idea it was older than they were.
“Grant, this car,” she paused, “sorry, this Jeep can’t be safe. This is Colorado. You need a dependable car, with good wheels and stuff. Right?”