Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

“Megan—” Shock turned his face pale.

“No, listen to me. I came up with the name and the costume to help me get singing gigs. I was Lacy Leatherwood onstage, and it was fun at first. But then Lacy started taking over my love life. Guys would ask me out, and before I knew it, they were begging me to show up as Lacy. Maybe that’s why I stuck with Derek, the man I just dumped. He was a controlling jerk in some ways, but at least it was me he wanted, not her.”

Still talking, she picked up the suitcase, opened it on the bed, and began tossing Lacy’s things into it. “I thought maybe you were different, Conner—a man who wanted me for myself. But you’re like the others—maybe worse. You strung me along to test my honesty—or so you say. But the whole time, you were lying, too.”

Megan snapped the suitcase shut, grabbed it by the handle, and stalked out of the room. “No need to see me out. I can manage by myself.”

“Can’t we at least talk about this?” Conner didn’t try to stop her except with words.

“We’re done, Conner. Don’t try to call me.” She strode down the hall, out the front door, and across the porch.

By the time she got to the bottom step, tears were blurring her eyes, but she kept walking, all the way to her car.

* * *

From the doorway, Conner watched her cross the yard and climb into her Toyota. An icy wind had sprung up, blowing the first powdery flakes of a storm. The snow thickened, swirling around the car as Megan drove out of the yard and down the lane. He stood watching until she disappeared from sight.

Chapter 14

Megan turned on the windshield wipers to clear the blowing snow. But there was little she could do about the tears that blurred her vision. She had pinned her hopes and dreams on Conner. Under his spell, she had cast common sense aside and given him her foolish, love-hungry heart.

But she should have listened to the warning voice in her head. She should have known that Lacy would win again.

He’d wanted Lacy all along, even before they’d met, Megan reminded herself. She’d discovered that truth going into the relationship. It should’ve been a red flag the size of a football field. But she’d been so taken in by the charming cowboy that she’d ignored the danger signs. Now it was time to pay the price.

A few blocks from home, she pulled off the road to splash her face with water from a bottle in the car and to get her reeling emotions under control.

What next? she asked herself. She could go back to Nashville. She still had her apartment, and there should be a few midyear teaching jobs open, even though getting a reference from Derek might be an issue. He was just mean-spirited enough to cause her problems.

And what about her singing career? What if last night’s opener had gotten her noticed at last? Could she afford to walk away from that chance?

Until today, she had all but made the decision to move to Branding Iron. But the hope of a future with Conner had been a big part of that decision. Could she stay, now that their relationship was over? Branding Iron was a small town. She was bound to run into Conner and the next female in his parade of girlfriends. How would she handle it?

She was beginning to sympathize with Ronda May.

With a sigh, Megan pulled away from the curb and headed for home. She had some soul-searching decisions to make.

By the time she reached home, the snow was coming down in vast white sheets. Her father’s van was sheltered by the carport, but Megan had no place to park except alongside the driveway, where her car would soon be buried in snow.

She came in through the front door, brushing snow off her coat. The aromas of slow-cooker pot roast and fresh oatmeal cookies welcomed her home. Her father was in the kitchen, cooking. He greeted her with a smile. “Since your mother’s just finishing her pictures, I thought I’d play chef,” he said. “Sorry we didn’t have time to talk when you popped in an hour ago. How was your trip to Nashville?”

Megan gave him a hug. He hugged her back, a bit awkwardly. Ed had never been an affectionate man, but he always put his family’s needs ahead of his own. Megan knew he loved them.

“It was a productive trip,” she said. “The performance went fine, no stumbles. While I was there, I

broke up with Derek once and for all, and quit my teaching job.”

“My goodness.” He lifted a sheet of cookies from the oven and set them out to cool. “It sounds like you’re burning your bridges there. Any plans? What about Conner? Your mother said you went to find him.”

“It seems I’m on a roll,” Megan said. “I broke up with Conner today, too.” She smiled as she said it, hiding the pain of a broken heart.

“Oh? Too bad. I never said so, but I rather liked him. More than Derek, if you want to know the truth. So, what’s next?”

Megan picked up a warm cookie and let a bite melt on her tongue. “I don’t know. Right now, I have my feet firmly planted in thin air.”

“Well, let me know if you need any help. I hope at least you’ll follow up on that teaching-job application I gave you.”

“I will. I promise. Right now, I’m keeping all my options open.” Excusing herself, Megan went to her room and sat down at her computer to check her e-mail.