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She’s back and she’s mine. We were always meant to be— I knew it then and I know it now.
Chapter
Two
SCARLETT
“How does it feel being back?”
This is the third or fourth time Gillian has asked me the question since I made the move from Las Vegas back to my hometown. I always tell her it feels fine or great, but the truth is it feels weird as hell. It’s like I have to constantly be looking over my shoulder so that I don’t run into any of the St. James family and they are a big family. Plus, they are so loved in this town.
I’m sure when everything went down, and I left town I was considered the bad guy and everyone hates me for hurting Knox.
Gillian tries to tell me that isn’t true, but she’s my friend. One of my best friends. Her relationship with my boss, Archer, was the stuff of a romance novel. When he introduced us, it seemed kismet that we had grown up in the same town. Then Archer dropped the bomb that he wanted to move his business office to Star Mountain. I had to make a decision.
I could’ve stayed in Vegas and worked with his brother Liam, but I really wanted to come home. I missed everything about this town and its people. And deep down I want to see Knox.
Gillian’s staring at me, I guess she really expected an answer to her question this time.
“I’m fine, Gillian. I even went out in public today.”
“Run into anyone interesting?” Gillian is a hoping for some epic reunion between Knox and me.
“I saw Janie from high school. She’s my age, so she graduated before you. I just ran to the hospital and back to the office.”
Gillian and I might come from the same place, and everyone knows everyone here. But she’s about ten years younger than me and the age difference means we ran in different crowds. She was in the same class with Knox’s youngest sibling, Clara.
“I’m surprised you didn’t run into at least one St. James then. The hospital is probably crawling with them since the baby was born.” Gillian’s look is dreamy and faraway. She has a serious case of baby fever.
Me on the other hand, my heart skips a beat. A baby? Which sibling? I purposefully have ignored all gossip and news about the St. James family. Did Knox get married and I’m too late?
“Who had a baby?” I ask with my heart in my throat.
“Wilder and his wife, Ivy. They had a little girl yesterday.”
My shoulders visibly fall from beside my ears.
“Oh, my God, did you think it was Knox? I’ve told you a million times that you need to explain to me what happened, and I’ll give you the rundown on the last fifteen years with the family, but you won’t.” She sits next to me, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “It obviously matters to you, Scarlett. The way you reacted just now shows that there is still something whether it is just unfinished business or a relationship that needs to be mended.”
The burn of tears gathering in my eyes is almost painful. It’s so stupid when I think back to what happened and why everything is the way it is now.
Pride, stubbornness, insecurities, and just plain jealousy.
Why can’t I get past it? Past him.
I haven’t seriously dated anyone else. I’ve tried. I joined all the dating apps, and I’ve done the bar scene. It isn’t hard to meet people in Sin City, but other than a few hook ups and maybe a second or third date I haven’t gone any further. I’ve never connected with anyone.
“Just tell me what happened and then we can fix it. I promise it can’t be as bad as you think.” Gillian says as she pulls a tissue out of the box on my desk.
I dab at my eyes and take a deep breath. “Okay, I’ve never really said everything out loud. I didn’t even tell Knox the reason I was leaving, but I promise it was my fault.”
At that moment, the door to my office swings open and the man I’ve been avoiding saunters in like he owns the place.
“I don’t give a fuck why you left, Scarlett. I’m just so fucking happy you’re back.”
Chapter
Three
