Page 61 of The Maverick’s Legacy

But…how was she going to explain all of this to Jesse, in case the press did show up? She fought back the urge to cry.

“I have to admit,” Fletch said, “the press in Australia is not being too kind to you right now. They’re saying you’re flighty.”

Carly looked at him in absolute disgust as her anger started building inside her. “Let me get this straight. It’s well known that you cheated on me with multiple groupies—”

“You know that was all alleged.”

She ignored his remark. She knew what she’d seen in that hay bed. “And I move on with the man of my dreams, and I’m the flighty one?”

“Man of your dreams?” Fletch’s face twisted, and he didn’t look so handsome in that moment. He laughed dismissively. “I doubt that.”

“I’m in love with him,” Carly replied more firmly, even though she fully planned on giving Jesse a piece of her mind the next time she saw him. “I have every intention of spending the rest of my life with him.”

Fletch ran an impatient hand through his hair, his face full of disbelief. “You’re kidding me.”

She raised her chin proudly. “I’m not.”

Fletch began to pace. “You and I aren’t built like that, and you know it. That’s why we were so good together. I know you, Carly. You love the lights and people shouting your name. You’re addicted to the fame, just like I am.”

Carly was done with this conversation. She started walking back toward the door. “You don’t know me at all. I never loved the invasiveness of the press, the complete lack of privacy. I liked the money. I won’t deny that. But there are more important things to me now. Rodeo isn’t everything.”

Just like her mom said all those weeks ago.

Fletch stiffened. “What are you saying? You’re going to throw away your career on some hick from Montana?”

“He’s not a hick,” she said, whirling back to face him. Jesse was a man with integrity who fought for those he loved. He had grit and a heart of gold. He was everything she ever wanted and more.

“You can’t seriously be settling in some backwater place like Tenacity.” Fletch ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “You’re Carly Hawkins—rodeo-circuit darling. That life is in your blood. You can’t give up the career you love for this guy.”

“You’re not hearing me, which just proves some things never change,” she said, her chin lifting stubbornly. “There’s something else I love a lot more now—someone else.”

“But what about the European deal?”

Carly stiffened, and Fletch’s eyes went wide, as though realizing that he’d slipped for the first time in his life and made a mistake.

“How do you know about that?” she asked before she realized the truth. “You’re behind it, aren’t you? You and your dad’s entertainment company?”

Fletch met her eyes. “Dad’s letting me head up the tour in Europe as long as you sign on.”

Carly looked down at the floor, feeling stupid. They hadn’t wanted her for her. They’d wanted her because Carly Hawkins and Fletch Alistair made headlines, and their messy relationship sold seats. “Your dad’s business interests will survive without me.”

“But I won’t!” Fletch replied insistently. He gave her an imploring look. “After you left the Australian tour, sales dropped by forty percent. The only reason we’ve gotten any interest in Europe is because of rumors that you’d be a part of it. You know that together we’ll be unstoppable. I need you to be a part of this.”

Carly felt dirty. This had always been the heart of their relationship. Fletch never gave a damn about what her thoughts and needs were. He only cared about what she could do for him.

She continued to the front door and started to open it. “The answer is no.”

“You’re being ridiculous,” Fletch said, his face turning ugly as he started to lose his temper.

“I know this is going to come as a surprise to you, but for the first time in your life, someone is telling you no. You’re going to have to deal with that.” She opened the door fully but kept her eyes on Fletch. “I want you to leave, and don’t ever come back here again. We’re done.”

“Carly—” he started to say.

Another voice interrupted him. “You heard the lady.”

Carly swung around to see Jesse standing on her porch. Her emotions practically flew out of her chest at the sight of him—anger, relief that he was there, guilt over those pictures, worry about what he would say. But most of all, the all-consuming love that she felt for this man.

Jesse had on his cowboy hat, shadowing his eyes. It gave him a mysterious, menacing air. He gave her a brief once-over to make sure she wasn’t in any danger before he turned his attention back to Fletch, giving him a look that made Carly nervous.