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I nodded. “Friends still?”
“Of course. Plus, you’ve still got three more books in my series to record! You’re the perfect James.”
“Thank you, Amelia. Listen, I’m sorry I acted like a jealous ass with this Wade character.”
She shrugged. “No worries. So, what’s really going on with you and Nancy?” she asked while sipping her coffee.
My hand pushed through my hair. “Hell if I know. She’s driving me crazy. I do love her. A part of me will always love her.” I took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “But she’s manipulative. I don’t think that is a relationship I can honestly go back to.”
Amelia leaned back in her chair. “What are you going to do?”
“I think I’m going to go home for a few weeks.”
Her eyes widened. “Really? What about the new role you landed?”
I shrugged. “My eyes have been opened this morning. Maybe this isn’t the life I wanted after all.”
Amelia reached for my hand. “Follow your heart, Liam. Sometimes our dreams have been staring us right in the face, and we’ve chosen to ignore them for whatever reason. Your heart will never lead you the wrong way.”
“Spoken like someone who has found her path.”
Amelia’s smile faded some. “No. But hopefully someday I’ll stumble upon it. I’ve come to realize that it’s easier to write words about happiness than it is to make your own.”
I reached for her other hand, and we sat there smiling at one another. “You’re an amazing woman, Amelia Parker. You’re worth more than some asshole begging you for phone sex. Someday you’re going to meet a man who will treat you the way you deserve. Don’t settle for anything less. Promise me that.”
She blushed. “Thank you, Liam. And I promise I won’t. I’m not so sure love is in the cards for me, but I won’t give up.”
“He’s out there, and he’s not one of your fictional characters. Follow your own advice, sweetheart. He’s probably right in front of you, and you just haven’t opened your heart to him.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and she cleared her throat. “I’m stealing that and putting it in a book!”
Kissing both her hands, I replied, “Do it. But please remember it, okay?”
Nodding, she added, “You do the same. You’re a great guy, Liam. Any girl would be lucky to capture your heart.” Amelia stood. “I guess I should probably head out to the airport.”
I followed her lead, guiding her out of the coffee shop with a hand on her lower back. “See ya around?”
Reaching up on her toes, she kissed me gently on the lips. “See ya around.”
With a wave, I got a taxi to pull over for her. “I’m sorry you came all this way.”
She slid into the back seat and looked up at me. Those big, bright blue eyes sparkled. “I’m not.”
“Bye, Amelia Parker.”
Sinking her teeth into that lower lip, she smiled big. “Bye, Liam Jones.”
As the taxi drove off, I lifted my hand again. I would never forget Amelia Parker. Those blue eyes and red hair would forever be ingrained in my memory. She was the woman who showed me it was okay to want more out of love and life.
I brought my horse to a stop and gazed over the hill country. Storm clouds slowly covered the sky. Thunder rumbled closer as I waited for heaven to rain down on me.
“You do know a storm is coming, right?”
The sound of her voice did something to me. I hadn’t really put my finger on it yet, because I refused to go there. First off, she had a boyfriend. Second, she was Trevor’s baby sister.
“I do.”
“You always leave yourself open for lightning to strike you?”
I glanced to my right and smiled at Amelia. She was on her precious horse, Stanley. “I could say the same thing about you. Why are you out here?”
She took in a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Something about a storm clears my head. Besides, it’s still miles away.”
“Lightning can strike up to ten miles, ya know.”
Amelia turned in her saddle to look at me. “I’d say that storm was at least thirty, forty miles away.”
I lifted my brow. “You think?”
“Yep. I’m an expert when it comes to storm clouds.”
A hint of sadness was evident in her voice. I looked away. “Yeah, me too. I’d say it’s closer to thirty.”
“Just enough time for us to get back.”
Drawing Rio back by the reins, I turned around. “What are you doing here? I thought you went to New York to visit your boyfriend.”
Amelia let out a curt laugh. “Liam wasn’t my boyfriend. We had a bit of fun together, but that was all it was ever going to be.”
I kept my expression tight. There was no way I would let myself celebrate the fact that she let that asshole go. I’d save it for later when she wasn’t around.
