Christmas in Pine Ridge: Clean Contemporary Romance (A Pine Ridge Romance) Page 14

  Sandra pursed her lips, giving a quick nod before uncrossing her arms. “So, I guess that’s it, then.” She looked away, but not before he saw the hurt.

  Man, he hated this. But there was no other way. “I guess so.” He touched her arm. “You’re a special girl, Sandra. You deserve someone who can give you their whole heart.”

  She blinked rapidly and nodded. “Yeah, I do.” They both chuckled, and she sniffed before giving him a watery smile. “You take care of yourself, okay?”

  “I will. And you too.”

  She reached in and gave him a tight hug before abruptly pulling back. “I’ll see myself to my car.”

  Owen put his hands at his sides, not sure what to do with them. “You sure?”

  She nodded. “It’s better that way. See you around, Private Davis.”

  “See you, Sandy.”

  She gave him one final wave before turning to walk away. Owen watched her go, grateful he’d already had time to process the end of this relationship. He meant every word he’d said and wished Sandra all the best. But now his heart and thoughts were elsewhere.

  He pulled out his phone. Hope still hadn’t called. He tried dialing her again but got the same voicemail recording. He didn’t leave a message this time, shoving the phone back into his pocket in frustration. It killed him knowing she was somewhere in his state—maybe even in his city—and he couldn’t reach her.

  An hour later, Owen was mucking out stalls in the barn, raking through the hay with a vengeance to keep his mind occupied. He was so involved in the work that he didn’t notice when Cody came up behind him.

  “What’s up?” Cody asked, leaning on the stall door. “Was that Sandra’s car I saw leaving a while ago?”

  Owen gave a bitter laugh. “Yeah. It’s been a busy morning.”

  Cody twisted a piece of straw in his hands. “Did you talk to her?”

  Owen nodded once. “I don’t think she’ll be coming around anymore.” He leaned his elbow on his rake. “I only wish I’d talked to her sooner, and then this whole mess could have been avoided.”

  “What mess?”

  Owen sighed, deciding he might as well tell the whole story about Hope. If he didn’t, his mom would, and Cody would pester him for more details. He filled him in on the week in Colorado and finished with the disaster that had happened that morning.

  Cody gave a low whistle. “And she won’t answer your calls?”

  Owen shook his head. “I can’t blame her. Sandra was draped all over me when she showed up. If Hope had any feelings for me, she doesn’t now.”

  “She’ll understand once you explain the situation. I’ll back you up.”

  Owen gave him a half smile. “Thanks. But I don’t think she’ll give me the opportunity.”

  Cody shrugged. “The ball’s in her court. It’s not in your control anymore. All you can do is wait to see if she’ll call back.” His eyes tightened and he looked at his hands. “And now that I know you’re interested in Hope, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

  Owen caught the change in his tone. “Okay,” he said slowly.

  Cody continued to stare at his hands. “When you were gone to Colorado and Ava came to visit, she and I sort of—hit it off.”

  Owen’s jaw went slack. “You’re dating her?”

  Cody flushed. “I don’t know if we’re officially dating yet, but we’ve sort of been seeing each other since she came.”

  Owen reeled with this new information. Cody and Ava? He shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Cody shrugged. “I was afraid you might have feelings for her. I know she texted and called you a few times after you got home. Plus, she was Eli’s girl, and I didn’t know if you’d be okay with it.”

  Owen’s heart lifted like it had finally escaped fifty pounds of rubble. He clapped Cody on the back. “You have no idea how happy this makes me.”

  His eyes widened. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’m relieved to know that she’s open to finding love again. Eli would want that.”

  Cody blew out a long breath and his shoulders relaxed. “Good. Because we’re not through getting visitors for the day.”

  Owen leaned his head back as realization dawned. “Ava’s here? Now?”

  Cody nodded. “She’s waiting in the house for me to give the all clear.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and sent a text.

  Owen shifted his hands on his rake, not sure how to act. He’d meant what he said about being happy for them, but the last time he’d seen Ava had been a few months after Eli’s death. She’d been a wreck and her emotions had gutted him. He wasn’t sure he could handle it if she fell apart again. Especially since yesterday was the anniversary of Eli’s death.

  Ava walked through the open door of the stable, taking a tentative step forward. She was a pretty brunette, with a petite frame that made her look even younger than her twenty-four years. She smiled and gave a shy wave to Owen as she stood beside Cody. “Hi, Owen.”

  “Ava.” He stepped forward and was about to give her a hug, but stopped himself at the last second. “I’ve been cleaning the stalls, so I’d better keep my distance.”

  She shook her head and stepped forward, throwing her arms around him in a tight squeeze. “I don’t care about that. It’s good to see you.”

  Cody smiled at Owen over her shoulder. He relaxed and smiled back, pulling away and shaking his head as she went back to Cody’s side.

  “I don’t know what you see in a brute like him,” Owen said, gesturing to his brother.

  “Hey!” Cody protested. Ava laughed, gazing up at him with stars in her eyes.

  “But you won’t find any better,” Owen finished. “I’m happy for you, Ava. This is what Eli would have wanted.”

  Her forehead creased. “Thank you. That’s exactly what I needed to hear. Yesterday was a hard day.” Her eyes grew misty and Cody rubbed circles on her back.

  “I know,” Owen said, staring at the ground. His heart ached thinking what might have been. What should have been.

  “But you know what?” she continued, breaking through his thoughts. “I’m going to be okay. And so are you.”

  His eyes flicked to hers, and she smiled, taking a step closer to put her hand on his arm.

  “Eli would want you to be happy too, Owen. It’s time to forgive yourself and move on. You came home from Afghanistan for a reason. Your life is a gift. Don’t waste it.”

  He was speechless, her words hitting him square in the chest. He couldn’t explain the sensation that washed over him in that moment. It was almost as if Eli was standing there, saying it to him—and suddenly, like sunshine pouring over his soul, he was able to believe it.

  Cody nodded. “Don’t let the past ruin the future you’ve been blessed to have. You deserve love just as much as anyone.”

  Owen leaned back and bit the inside of his cheek, remembering the look on Hope’s face when she’d seen him with Sandra. “I’m afraid it might be too late.”

  Cody shook his head. “She’ll call back. Just give it some time.”

  Ava glanced between them, confusion evident in her eyes. “Who will call back?”

  Cody’s mouth lifted in the corners. “His future.” He gave Owen a look and then reached for Ava’s hand. “Come on. One of the perks of Mom’s Christmas prep rampage is all the food she tests out before Christmas dinner. Let’s go see what she’s got cooking.”

  Ava laughed. “That must be why the house smelled so amazing.” She turned to Owen. “Are you coming?”

  He shook his head. “I’ll finish up out here.”

  Cody nodded and began leading Ava from the barn. “It’s safer out here anyway. Maybe I can get Mom to do some of that yoga Hope teaches to calm her down.”

  “Good idea.” Owen chuckled and began raking again, thinking over what Cody and Ava had said. Maybe it was time to forgive himself and allow for happiness again. To let go of the past, like Hope suggested during meditation.

  Hope. S
he was the happiness he wanted. He compulsively glanced at his phone, but she still hadn’t called. And she wouldn’t; he knew it in his bones. He needed to talk to her and see if she still had feelings for him. Cody had said the ball was in her court now, but Owen couldn’t just wait around. There was a time to be still and a time to take action—and he preferred the latter.

  He unlocked his phone and began searching for flights to California.

  Chapter 36

  “Okay, who’s ready for another serving of pie?” Hope stepped into the dining room of her dad’s house, where he, Max, and Emily sat playing cards. Christmas music played in the background and the lights glowed from the small tree in the corner. Everything was perfect. So why couldn’t she feel the usual Christmas Eve cheer? She swallowed back the answer that was glaringly obvious. Thoughts of Owen plagued her like a bruise on her heart that throbbed with every heartbeat. She tucked the pain away and lifted the plates of pie in her hands, looking for takers.

  “None for me, thanks,” her dad said, patting his stomach. “One serving was enough. You girls outdid yourselves with dinner this year.”

  “I’ll take another slice.” Max stood from his chair to accept a plate from her. “Thanks.”

  “Me too,” Emily chimed in. She took the plate from Hope and nodded toward the cards on the table. “It’s your turn. I made sure Max didn’t peek at your hand while you were in the kitchen.”

  Max rolled his eyes. “That was one time ... and you’re the one who told me to do it.”

  Hope’s mouth opened as she spun on her sister. “Emily!”

  Emily gave a guilty shrug. “You kept winning. We just wanted to make sure you weren’t cheating.”

  Hope wagged a finger at both of them, biting back a smile. “That’s the last time I’m getting pie for either of you.”

  They all laughed, and she picked up her cards, trying to get back into the game, when “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” began to play on the radio. Hope felt the blood rush from her face and lowered her hand, the memory of Owen saying goodbye coming back with a fresh wave of heartache.

  “Are you alright, sweetheart?” her dad asked.

  “Yes.” She nodded and then pressed her lips together before slowly shaking her head. “No. I need to get some air. You guys go ahead. I’ll join you for the next round.”

  The other three exchanged glances, and Emily gave her a sympathetic smile. “Take all the time you need.”

  Hope walked to the front door, desperate to get outside and away from that song. She stepped out into the cool night air and hugged her arms across herself. It had only been a few days since she’d flown to Texas. She’d been tempted to listen to Owen’s voice message, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. Hearing his voice would only make it harder to get over him. It was better to make a clean cut and move on. She sat on the porch swing, slowly rocking back and forth to the sound of the nearby ocean waves.

  A pair of headlights approached from down the street, and she wondered which one of her dad’s neighbors it was. He lived in a cul-de-sac, and since it was the house she’d grown up in she knew all of his neighbors well. The car slowed and came to a stop in front of her dad’s house. Hope tilted her head in surprise and stood from the swing.

  The driver stepped out. He was tall and muscular, and Hope’s stomach leaped as her hands flew to her mouth. It was Owen.

  Chapter 37

  “Hello, Hope,” Owen said, his pulse unsteady at seeing her again. It was hard to believe she was real. She looked like an angel standing on the porch, with her golden hair illuminated by the Christmas lights on the railing. He walked slowly toward her.

  “Owen.” She sounded somewhat breathless as she stood rooted to the spot. “What are you doing here?”

  A slow smile worked across his face as he moved closer, his heart hammering. “You wouldn’t answer my call, and I needed to talk to you. So, I figured this was the only way.”

  She blinked, her brown eyes even more captivating than he remembered. “You came all this way to talk to me? On Christmas Eve?”

  He nodded, climbing the porch steps until he stood beside her. “I did.” He took her hands in his. Her touch was warm and smooth, just as he’d remembered.

  A small crease formed between her brows. “What about your girlfriend?”

  He shook his head. “She isn’t my girlfriend. That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

  She frowned and pulled her hands away, her eyes narrowing. “Really? Because you two looked awfully cozy. Is that how you treat all the girls you know? String them along and toy with their emotions? Make them fall in love with you, but never commit to dating them?” She crossed her arms. “Is that why you said you were coming to visit me and then changed your mind? Was it getting too serious between us?”

  He reared back, feeling like he’d been slapped. She was angry, and she had a right to be. He held her gaze. “No. That’s not why. That girl you saw was Sandra, my ex-girlfriend, and she came unannounced. I was right on the verge of telling her things were over when you showed up. It was all a misunderstanding.”

  Her face clouded in confusion and she put her hands on her hips. “Sandra? I thought her name was Ava.”

  “Ava?” He furrowed his brow before remembering the text during their sleigh ride. “Ava is—” He winced, correcting himself. “—was Eli’s girlfriend. She texted me that night because she was having a hard time.” He reached for her hands again, and this time she didn’t pull away. He searched her eyes. “That was the moment I realized I couldn’t drag you down and ruin your life, the way I ruined hers.”

  Hope’s face softened. “That’s why you put up a wall? Because you thought you would drag me down?”

  He rubbed his thumbs across her knuckles, encouraged to see her anger fading. “Hope, you’re the most amazing girl I’ve ever known. You light up the room wherever you go, and people gravitate to your optimism. How could I feel worthy of you?” He swallowed and looked away. “Especially with a past like mine?” He shook his head. “I tried to forget about you—for your sake. But I couldn’t.” His eyes found hers again. “And then, when I saw you the other day, I knew it was no use.” His pulse hammered in his ears as he took a breath and held her gaze. “I love you, Hope.”

  Her mouth opened and she let out a small exhale. There were a few beats of silence as they stared at each other. Owen’s heart drummed against his rib cage. He’d laid it all on the line, holding nothing back. He wanted to keep talking to fill the silence—to keep from embarrassing himself further and to protect his heart—but instead he allowed for the stillness.

  Hope bit her lip and looked down. For one paralyzing moment, Owen was afraid he’d failed. When she looked up again, she wore a radiant smile and tears trailed down her cheeks. She threw her arms around him. “I love you too.”

  Owen’s heart broke open. His entire body flooded with joy and relief as he picked her up and crushed his lips to hers, tasting the salt of her tears. She fit in his arms as if she’d been created from the same mold he was—his perfect match. She pulled him closer, her body warm and firm against his.

  After a moment, he set her down, pulling back to stare into her eyes. “I can’t believe you’d pick me,” he said, unable to keep the awe from his voice.

  She tilted her head to the side, smiling. “Why? Because of your past?”

  His eyes tightened. “There are still times when I struggle, but I’m doing my best to work through it. And you’ve helped me with that.”

  “Me? How?”

  He raised one shoulder. “I’ve been following your videos and practicing yoga. It’s taking me a while to get the hang of things—and will take longer until I feel confident enough to practice it in front of people,” he added, “but I’m feeling more at peace now than I have since coming home. And that’s all you.”

  “No, that’s all you.” She tapped his chest. “You’re the one who was brave enough to follow your own advice and go out of your comfort zone to try
something new. I’m glad to hear it’s helping.”

  “It is.” He shifted his weight. “But I still struggle with anxiety from time to time. I still have those parts of me that are broken. I want you to know what you’re getting into before committing to a relationship with me.”

  She shook her head, holding his gaze. “We’re all broken, Owen. What matters is how we choose to heal.”

  He stared, amazed by this incredible woman standing before him. If Hope believed he could heal, he would believe it too. If a woman like her could fall for a guy like him, anything was possible. She smiled and he was mesmerized by the curve of her mouth.

  “I promise to be patient and help you, if you’ll promise to do the same for me,” she said, leaning closer until their foreheads touched. “Deal?”

  His heart caught at the warmth in her brown eyes. She wanted him—broken and all. He slowly shook his head, tracing the back of his finger down her cheek. He felt her shiver and his mouth tugged up into a slow smile. “Deal.”

  Her eyes glistened, shining with the love she carried for him. He couldn’t resist anymore, he cupped the sides of her face and leaned in to capture her mouth in another kiss.

  Chapter 38

  The front door opened and Hope pulled away from Owen, both of them turning to see Emily standing in the doorway.

  Hope grinned. “Guess who showed up to surprise me?”

  Emily raised her eyebrows and stepped onto the porch, folding her arms. “Well, it’s about time. You two belong together.” She beamed and stepped forward. “How are you doing, Owen? Was your flight okay?”

  He released Hope to give Emily a quick hug. “Never been better. And the flight was fine. Thanks again for giving me the address.”

  Hope glanced between them. “Wait ... you knew he was coming tonight? And you didn’t tell me?”