“Hold on.” I placed a hand on Holden’s chest. “This means nothing. He’s just saying what you want him to say.” I couldn’t listen to another insincere word. I stepped closer to Lorne and whispered, “You may not believe this, but there’s something freeing in righting your wrongs. Don’t you think the least you could do is muster some kind of regret for what you did?”
Lorne’s gaze lifted slowly, across my collarbone, up my throat, finally locking with mine. His eyes were hollow and dark and terrified.
I cocked my head to the side, eyes widening as if to saycan’t you do better than that?
“You were way too good for me, Charlie. I knew that the minute I met you. I’m sorry I hurt you.” There was so much shame in his expression. “I didn’t stay away because I didn’t care. I stayed away because I’m a coward. I couldn’t look you in the eye.” He sniffed and I was pretty sure it was taking all his effort not to cry. “I’m sorry for what they did. I know it was my fault. And I’m sorry I left you alone.”
Those words didn’t bring the satisfaction I thought they would. If anything, I pitied him. I wanted to tell him that I hoped he’d move on and find happiness again. Maybe even get remarried someday. But I couldn’t recommend him for marriage, even in my mind. To think another unsuspecting, good-hearted woman might end up Mrs. Lorne Greene made me sick to my stomach.
So instead, I said, “Fix yourself, Lorne. Get help.” But I knew he wouldn’t. I’d tried to get him help and he wouldn’t take it. “And Holden’s right. Don’t ever contact me again.” I turned to face Ford. “Can you get him a bus ticket home?” If Uncle Ford said no, I’d take it out of some of the money I’d earned.
“Char—” Holden started, frustration bursting in his voice.
“No,” I said firmly. “I won’t be like him. I don’t leave people high and dry. We brought him here against his will and he’s broke per usual. He may not deserve it butI’mgoing to be the kind of person I wish he was.”
Holden’s jaw relaxed, and his grip on the folder loosened. His gaze lingered on me, something thoughtful flickering behind his eyes—admiration and respect.
“I can do that,” Ford said with a nod.
I didn’t turn back to say goodbye to Lorne or even get a last look. I walked toward Cash, his ridiculous smolder burning hot as ever.
“Hey,” I said under my breath. “I’ll do the music video.”
I didn’t wait for his response. Just darted over the wood board fence. Then I took off at a jog and headed across the pasture. About the time I reached the footbridge that connected Dupree Ranch to Clean Slate, my eyes started swimming like the river beneath.
But I wouldn’t cry.
Not over Lorne Greene.
Never again.
fifteen
Cash
When Lorne walked away, tail tucked between his legs, I was on cloud nine. Charlie would be a free woman in ten days. Not months.Days. I couldn’t hear everything they said in the middle of the riding ring—and I still didn’t know exactly what went down between Charlie and Lorne—but the apology Uncle Holden made Lorne give her was the most vindicating thing I’d ever witnessed.
My excitement was short-lived though. When I got home, Charlie was in her room—and that’s where she’d spent every minute of downtime since. At least she was playing her guitar and singing. When she did leave her room, she was closed off.
I thought maybe she’d crawl out of her hole when Holden stopped by two weeks later to tell her she was no longer Mrs. Lorne Green. She was Charlotte Elise Dupree again. Nope.
“She just needs time,” Mom had said. “She’ll come around.” But I wasn’t so sure.
Even now, on the final day of filming the music video, she would hardly look at me. All week, everyone noticed. The director loved it. Said Charlie’s stiffness made it look like she was the inexperienced one, and I was the confident, worldly heartbreaker leading her into temptation. You know, ‘cause that’s the vibe I was going for.
I didn’t know how her standoffishness was going to translate today with the pool scene. Charlie and I had hardly touched so far. Nothing more than her trailing a fingertip down my forearm as she raced by to catch a ‘firefly.’ We wouldn’t be able to get away with that today though. The decision had come down from the top—meaning Dad and Bennett—and a kiss was happening.
“Hey, sweetie,” Mom said, shoving a loose piece of hair off my forehead and spraying it in place. My parents owning the production company meant they were jacks of all trades. And today, Mom was my hairstylist. “I think Charlie’s nervous. You might want to go talk to her before she’s forced to make out with you in front of the entire crew.”
She wasn’t the only one. Kissing Charlie? Heck yes. Doing it in front of cameras, knowing the entire world would see it? That was like winning the lottery but being forced to cash the check in my underwear on live TV.
I walked down the basement hall of Anna and Blue’s house to the guest room that the production crew had Charlie set up in. The Bishops had a sick black rock-lined, Olympic-sized swimming pool. Blue used it for his quarterback training business but it was also for the family. They were generous enough to let us use it today.
When I got to the end of the hall, I pushed the door open. “Hey, Charlie. Are you—” My mouth parted and I was paralyzed. At first, because she was topless, though I saw nothing but her back. But then, because there was a splash of angry red across her skin.
“Cash!” she shrieked, hugging a towel to her chest.
I automatically shut my eyes and pulled the door closed. Crap. “Sorry!” I called from the hall. “I didn’t see anything. No lady parts…” I let my forehead crack against the wooden door. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I didn’t knock. Can I talk to you?”
