Page 160 of My Merry Mistake
“Probably Boone’s fault.” Quent walks away from the window and refills his coffee. “He’s left a whole string of broken hearts in this town.”
“I can’t help it if I’m irresistible,” Boone says, wagging his eyebrows.
“You can help being a totaltool, though,” Rowe cracks.
I glance at Pop, who chuckles to himself but doesn’t look up from the newspaper.
“But I can safely—and sadly—say I’ve never met that woman in my life,” Boone says. “I could go now—” He tugs his pants up like he’s about to make an entrance, but it’s all bravado that quickly fades.
“The license plate says—” West squints out the window—“Pennsylvania. Is that a rental car?”
“Maybe you should just wait for Momma to come back in and tell you who it is,” I say, trying to figure out if I have time to go Christmas shopping before we head over to the community center for the party.
“Momma doesn’t look mad anymore, so I guess that’s something,” Boone says.
Quent walks back into the living room and sits down on the couch.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and see I’ve missed two calls and a text from Raya.
Raya
Hey, not to seem like a crazy stalker but . . . is this your house?
I check the timestamp and see that this text was sent fifteen minutes ago, right after I got home.
I jump up and look out the window. “Holy heck!” I rush over to the front closet, grab one of my dad’s old work coats, pull on a pair of boots that are at least one size too big and ignore all the questions being hurled my way.
Raya is here. In Montana. At the ranch.
And she’s talking to my mother.
Raya
“I’m so sorry to intrude, Mrs. Holbrook,” I say, my third apology since Finn’s mom walked out of the sprawling house at the end of the long driveway.
When Finn said he lived on a ranch, he failed to explain what that meant. This isn’t just a farm with a bunch of cattle. This is a whole operation. Acres and acres of open land, rolling plains against the most stunning backdrop I’ve ever seen. Now I understand why he doesn't like living in the city.
God vacations here. If I’d grown up on this ranch, I don’t think I ever would’ve left.
“Don’t be silly,” his mom says. “And call me Melinda. It’s nice to see you off the screen.” She smiles.
“It’s so nice to meet you in person.” I smile, awkwardly, becausewhat am I doing here?
“Does Finn know you’re coming?” Her brow knits, almost like she thinks he’s done something wrong. “I feel like he would’ve said something, but who knows with him.” Her smile is kind.
“He actuallydoesn’tknow,” I say. “It’s a—” the wordsgrand gesturerace through my mind—“surprise?”
A new smile crawls across her lips. “Well, we should get you in?—”
The door opens and Finn rushes out. His coat is half on, and judging by the way he’s clomping toward me, his boots are too big for his feet. It’s comical but endearing, and my heart swells at the sight of him.
The second I meet his eyes, I know I’m doing the right thing.
“Finn!” She lifts a hand and waves at him. “Raya’s here!”
I don’t take my eyes off him as he rambles up to us, practically skidding to a stop in front of me.
