Page 29
Mel
My pulse fluttered as Ethan’s truck bounced down the final stretch of dirt road leading to his parents’ house. I tugged at my sweater sleeves, suddenly wishing I’d brought something nicer than jeans and a simple top.
Meeting parents. I was actually meeting parents. This had not been on my bingo card for this week.
These last two days at Ethan’s ranch had been like living in one of my paintings—the peace, the space, the mountains that seemed to cradle us in their ancient embrace. I’d slept through the night for the first time since finding that horrific package, my dreams untroubled by dead raccoons or threatening notes.
Ethan had taken me riding, although clinging desperately to Rusty while praying not to fall off was probably a better description than actually horseback riding. We’d also gone hiking, stargazing from his porch, and made love more times than I could keep track of .
With every hour away from Nova’s chaos and close to Ethan, I’d felt more like myself.
But now, meeting his parents? My stomach twisted into knots that would impress an Eagle Scout.
“You okay over there?” Ethan reached across the console to squeeze my hand. “You’ve been quiet since we left the house.”
I turned my hand over, lacing my fingers through his. “I’m terrified,” I admitted, watching dust plume behind us in the rearview mirror. “I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what?”
“Met a boyfriend’s parents.” The word caught in my throat, sounding all wrong. “Is that even the right word? Boyfriend? It seems so…juvenile for what this is.”
Too insignificant for the way my heart raced when he looked at me. Too casual for the way he’d seen through all my carefully constructed walls.
Ethan pulled the truck to the side of the road, shifting to face me. The intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.
“You’re right,” he said, his gaze holding mine. “It doesn’t feel right to me either.”
My heart plummeted. Had I misread everything? “Oh.”
“No, not like that.” He caught my chin with his fingers, tilting my face up. “Boyfriend sounds like someone you might stop seeing next week. What’s between us feels…more significant.”
“And what is it, exactly?” I whispered, almost afraid to hear the answer. We’d known each other such a short time, yet it felt like years.
“I don’t know yet.” His thumb traced my jawline, sending warmth cascading through me. “All I know is that I want you in my life, Mel. Everything else, we’ll figure out together.”
He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips, and I leaned into it, drawing strength from his certainty. When we parted, I saw the question in his eyes .
“Yes, we’ll figure it out,” I said, meaning it. After years of managing Nova’s life, being on a journey without a detailed road map felt strangely freeing.
“Good.” He put the truck back in drive. “Because we’re almost there, and I’m starving.”
The house appeared around the bend—a sprawling ranch-style home with a wide front porch and flower beds bursting with color. Nothing like the sleek, modern homes Nova preferred, with their glass walls and stark white furniture. This house looked lived-in, loved.
My palms dampened as an older couple emerged onto the porch—the man tall and broad-shouldered like Ethan, the woman petite with silver-streaked dark hair.
“Deep breath,” Ethan said, killing the engine.
We approached the porch, Ethan’s hand at the small of my back, his touch both reassuring and electrifying. I straightened my shoulders, plastering on my best “Nova’s manager meeting important people” smile.
“Ethan!” His mother’s face lit up, but her eyes widened when she spotted me, surprise flickering across her features. “Oh! You brought a friend!”
My smile froze. He hadn’t told them I was coming? I shot Ethan a quick, panicked glance, but his expression remained relaxed.
Ethan’s father looked equally surprised, though his weathered face crinkled into a warm smile. “Well, this is a pleasant surprise.”
The emphasis on “surprise” confirmed my suspicion. I wanted to melt into the floorboards. Who shows up unannounced at someone’s home for dinner?
“Mom, Dad, this is Mel Rivers.” Ethan’s voice held a hint of pride that made my cheeks burn despite my mortification. “Mel, my parents, Doug and Margaret Cross. ”
I extended my hand, trying to maintain my composure. “It’s so nice to meet you both. I’m so sorry to drop in unannounced.”
Margaret bypassed my hand completely and pulled me into a hug that smelled of cinnamon and sunshine. “Nonsense! Any friend of Ethan’s is welcome here.”
“Mel’s sister is Nova Rivers, the pop star,” Ethan explained. “Citadel Solutions is providing security for her tour, which is how Mel and I met. Mel manages Nova’s career and has been coordinating with us on security protocols.”
Understanding dawned on Doug’s face. “Ah, so you’re in the music business! That must be interesting work—dealing with venues, contracts, security concerns.” He shook my hand with a firm grip. “Much more exciting than ranching.”
“Different kinds of challenges,” I said diplomatically, relief washing through me as the awkwardness eased. “But trust me, after weeks on tour, ranching looks pretty appealing.”
Margaret ushered us inside, the house even more welcoming than it appeared from outside—comfortable furniture, bookshelves overflowing, and family photos covering the walls. My eyes were drawn to them immediately—Ethan as a serious-eyed boy, with his sister, then as a teenager on horseback, in his military uniform. A whole life I was just beginning to understand.
While Margaret disappeared into the kitchen, I turned to Ethan, keeping my voice low. “You didn’t tell them I was coming?”
He shrugged, completely unconcerned. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal?” Heat crept up my neck. “They were completely surprised! What if they had plans? What if they don’t have enough food?”
After years of coordinating Nova’s schedule down to the minute, the idea of showing up unannounced anywhere made my stomach churn.
“They always want company. Especially mine.” He pressed a kiss to my temple, his lips lingering against my skin. “And especially yours, once they get to know you.”
Doug reappeared from the kitchen. “I’m going to grab some extra steaks from the fridge in the garage.”
“See?” I hissed after Doug left, anxiety spiking. “Now your dad has to get more food.”
“Trust me, there’s always extra.” Ethan’s hands settled on my shoulders, his eyes searching mine. “You really are nervous, aren’t you?”
“You have no idea.” My voice trembled slightly. “I coordinate million-dollar tour schedules and deal with Nova’s meltdowns daily, but this terrifies me.”
“Nothing to be nervous about,” Doug announced, returning with a package wrapped in butcher paper. “Margaret’s been hoping Ethan would bring someone special home for years.”
“Dad,” Ethan warned, but the relaxed set of his shoulders told me he wasn’t really bothered. Was that how normal families teased each other? My experience was limited to Nova’s dramatic outbursts and manipulations.
“I’m just stating facts, son.” Doug winked at me. “Come on, Ethan. Help me get the grill going.”
When the men disappeared outside, I found my way to the kitchen, where Margaret was chopping vegetables. The familiar rhythm of kitchen prep calmed me slightly—this, at least, I understood from years of overseeing caterers on tour.
“Can I help with anything?” I asked, hovering in the doorway.
“Of course.” She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners just like Ethan’s. “You can finish the salad if you’d like. I’m just getting the potatoes ready to roast.”
I washed my hands and took over chopping tomatoes, the repetitive motion soothing my frayed nerves. “I’m really sorry for showing up unannounced. If there’s not enough food?— ”
“Oh, honey, there’s always more than enough around here.” She laughed, a warm sound that reminded me of Ethan’s rare chuckles. “That’s ranch life for you. You never know when someone might drop by.”
We worked in companionable silence for a moment before Margaret spoke again.
“How have you been liking it here?”
“It’s wonderful,” I admitted, thoughts of the last two days washing over me—the space, the quiet, the simplicity. “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
“Some find it too…rural. Too domestic.” Her voice held a hint of concern. “Especially someone who’s used to a more exciting lifestyle. Not to mention, traditional. Here I am working in the kitchen. Must seem so silly to you.”
I nearly laughed at the irony. If only she knew what Ethan and I had discussed on our hike—my secret dream of a simple life, a home, a family.
“Actually, I love it. This kind of life is what I’ve always wanted for myself.” The confession came easily here, in this warm kitchen with Ethan’s mother. “Did you ever work outside the home? Besides the ranch, I mean.”
Margaret smiled, sliding potatoes into the oven. “On a ranch, everyone works—that’s just how it is. But no, I never had a separate career. I was lucky enough to be here when the kids got home from school, to attend every game and recital. The community children knew our door was always open.”
I pictured her welcoming Ethan home after school, listening to his day, feeding his friends—the exact life I’d always painted in my daydreams. “That sounds perfect,” I said softly.
She studied me, her head tilted. “You know, you’re nothing like I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
“I’m not sure, really. Ethan’s work puts him in contact with all sorts of people. Celebrities, politicians…” She shrugged. “But you seem grounded.”
“I try to be. Although I have to admit, it doesn’t always work.” I finished the salad, setting down the knife. “What was Ethan like as a child?”
Margaret’s face softened with memory. “So serious, even then. Protective. If kids were picking on his sister or anyone smaller, Ethan was right there, standing between them and trouble.” She chuckled. “Nobody was surprised when he joined the military, or when he started Citadel. It’s who he’s always been.”
The image of little Ethan standing up for others made my heart swell. I thought about how he’d come back for me at the club when everyone else had left me behind. How he’d broken down that dressing room door when I was trapped with that grotesque package. How he’d brought me here to heal when he saw I was falling apart.
“Now, Samantha… We met her, but not here. She had no interest in coming here.” Margaret’s expression grew thoughtful. “We thought he might settle down with her. She was very driven, very ambitious.”
“And that wasn’t good?” I asked, thinking of my own career managing Nova. Did they see me the same way?
“Oh, ambition is fine. It was that she seemed to view Ethan as an accessory to her success, not a partner.” Margaret wiped her hands on a towel. “Doug and I were relieved when they broke up. She wasn’t a good fit.”
My stomach knotted. “I’m worried I might not be a good fit either. I’m in such a transition time in my life. I don’t know what’s next for me.”
“Honey,” Margaret said gently, her eyes kind, “Ethan can handle transition. What he can’t handle is pretense. What matters is that you’re authentic about caring for him. Are you?”
“Yes.” The word came without hesitation, surprising me with its certainty. Whatever confusion I felt about my future, my feelings for Ethan were the clearest thing in my life. “Absolutely.”
“Then that’s what matters.” She handed me a bowl of rolls. “Now, let’s feed these hungry men before they get cranky.”
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
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- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
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- Page 9
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- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
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- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29 (Reading here)
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38