Page 72 of Hometown Hottie

“Ryan,” I said on a loud groan. “He got into her head and then things snowballed from there. I’ve set her straight, but I’m still not sure if she’s going to let it go. She seemed so completely convinced that it’d meant nothing to me that I don’t actually know how to change her mind.”

“You don’t think that maybe it’s time for you to let it go?” he asked cautiously. “Ever since we’ve been back, you’ve been fighting for this girl and I know you said you want more with her, but it’s starting to feel like you’re trying to force the issue. When does fighting for her become forcing something into being that just can’t work?”

“I don’t know, but I feel like I’m still fighting,” I said honestly. “I have to keep fighting, Vance. I’d love to be able to let it go and pursue any of the women who’ve shown interest since we got home, but I just can’t do it. I haven’t been able to rustle up even a touch of interest in anyone else.”

“So it’s Nova, huh?” He grinned as he lifted his eyebrows at me. “Better you than me, bro. Even if you win her over, you’ve still got to work on Ryan, and that’s not going to be easy.”

“I know, but it’ll be worth it.” There was no doubt in my mind about that. I wasn’t usually the type to sit around talking about my feelings, but with her, I couldn’t seem to stop. “She’s it for me, Vance. I don’t know how I know it, but I just do. That knowledge has haunted me for ten fucking years and I’ve tried to get away from it. I’ve tried to bury it in football, and money, and sex, and alcohol, but nothing has worked, so I’m ready to fight now.”

“To keep fighting, you mean.” He picked up another chicken wing. “I don’t have any more sage advice for you, but I’m here if you need me for anything, okay? I’ll even go in on the ranch with you if you think it might help.”

“Thanks, but having both of us involved will just piss them off. It’s bad enough that I’m trying to help, but I’m afraid it’ll send us back to square one if you offer them your money too.”

He chuckled. “Do you think they know how much we made?”

“No,” I said honestly. “Neither of us have said a word about it. Ever. I don’t know about you, but I never even told my mom how much my first offer was, let alone the amount I ended on.”

“Same here.” He tore into his chicken wing and spoke around it. “It felt wrong to be throwing out those numbers when we knew that so many people around here have always been struggling.”

“Exactly.” I nodded and finally picked up a wing of my own.

I ate in silence, devouring my basket, and Vance did the same. Once we were finished eating, we both went back to our drinks and he looked at me again.

“I can practically see the wheels turning in your head. You’ve got a plan. What is it?”

“I’m going over to her place tonight,” I told him, my tone brooking no argument. “I’m going to tell her that I’m doing this, whether she and Ryan like it or not and whether she and I are a thing now or not. Frank said that George had approved whatever offer he made him in principle, which means that I need to sit down with George and Mara to hash out the details.”

“Well, at least you’ve already made that deal with Ryan.”

“Yep. As long as we keep Frank out of it, he’s still happy. As far as I know.”

Vance grimaced. “He might not be so happy about it anymore, once he finds out about you and Nova.”

“Again, this has nothing to do with that. That’s personal and this is business.”

“For them, those two things aren’t entirely separate. Not when it comes to you, and that ranch, and you buying the ranch, and also visiting his sister on it. It’s all tangled up in each other.”

“That may be true, but that’s why I need to speak to George and Mara about it. I’ve been going through Nova and Ryan because I felt like I owed it to them, but I need to get this done before Frank brings George an offer from someone else.”

“What happens if you do it and Nova never wants to speak to you again because of it?”

I drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know. I’m hoping I never have to find out.”

“Okay, man. You’ve got my support, but be careful. There’s a chance this girl might shoot you down and you’re wasting your time with her.”

“Just another risk I’m willing to take,” I said decisively, and it was true. I was going to help her family regardless, but when it came to having Nova in my life, there was nothing I wouldn’t do.

No risk that wouldn’t be worth taking.

Now if only I could make her and her stubborn brother see it that way, maybe things could finally get on track for all of us.