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“Who was that?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Caleb replied, waving over the waitress.
“Sure you do. You were talking with her for a good five minutes.”
Caleb gave his friend a pointed look. “I seriously have no clue who she is. We bumped into each other; she dropped her glasses. That was it.”
“And you didn’t bother to get her name?” Roman leaned over the table. “I didn’t get to see her very well, but based on what I could see from behind?—”
He scowled at Roman. “There was nothing to see. Doesn’t seem like she’s a local. She probably isn’t even going to stay here long. I wouldn’t bother yourselves with trying to figure her out, because the second you do, she’ll be gone.”
Mateo nudged him in the side with his elbow. “Something tells me you’re more curious than we are.”
Caleb shook his head. “I have zero interest in meeting anyone new. I’ve crossed the line getting closer to your family as it is. I would rather not put my faith in someone who is only going to disappoint me.”
His friend laughed. “You hear that, Roman? Caleb thinks we’re good enough for him to befriend. We should count ourselves lucky.”
Roman chuckled along with his brother just as their food was delivered to their table. Caleb didn’t mind them poking fun at him. He knew what he was doing, and if anyone else wanted to take risks, that was their choice. For him, he’d stick with what was smart and safe.
3
Emma
Emma pressed her sunglasses up on her nose as she wandered along one of the busier streets in town. She soaked up every single cute storefront and every old-timey building. This place was so different from anywhere else she’d visited over the years. It wasn’t big enough for a show, and there would be no way her manager would agree to try to book one here, but that didn’t stop her from imagining the possibility.
So far, no one had recognized her. She’d nearly blown her cover her second night here, but the man she’d bumped into hadn’t seemed to realize just who he was talking to. At first Emma had thought she should feel offended, but the relief of being treated like a regular person for the first time she could remember outweighed everything. That relief had stuck with her over the next couple of days, making it incredibly difficult for her to forget him.
The man’s face filled her thoughts and lingered in her dreams. With how small this town was, she’d been surprised that she hadn’t bumped into him again since that night.
There were several other people she recognized—regulars at the restaurant, employees at the businesses, and people who seemed to enjoy wandering through town much like she was doing at this moment. She could have seen herself living in a place like this if she wasn’t a country music star. Copper Creek would be the perfect place to start a family.
But those thoughts were ridiculous. She couldn’t stay here forever. Eventually, Rachel would find her, then she’d be back on her way to LA. Her responsibilities would catch up with her.
For now, the music star, Emma Hart, could disappear and return to a time when life was simpler—when she was Emily Hartford. All she had to do was be vigilant and make sure no one else got a good look at her. She’d been lucky that cowboy didn’t seem to know who she was. Next time, she might not be.
Emma couldn’t help smiling as she observed people going about their normal lives. They seemed so much happier than the people she interacted with in the city. They didn’t need to hustle to get to a job that only weighed on them. These folks appeared genuinely at peace with who they were and the life they led. That was something anyone could value.
She slowed as she came to a shop that had several cowboy hats on display. The one she owned had left with her suitcase on the private plane. All she had in terms of keeping her identity secret was the ball cap she wore.
Tracing the glass, she contemplated whether she could afford one of these hats with the meager funds she had in a private account. Rachel handled a lot of her finances, too—or she’d hired someone to do it. Emma had no doubt that her main account was being watched for activity. The second she used the cardassociated with it or one of her usual credit cards, Rachel would materialize.
Knowing Rachel, she probably already had the police looking into her phone’s location. It would be better for Emma to spend her money only on the necessities. She needed a phone so she could call her sister and tell her she was fine. She’d need money to pay for the motel, along with food and any other supplies she’d need while here.
“You don’t want one of those.”
Emma jumped and spun to find a woman with dark hair cut short around her jawline. She had a streak of red that peaked out from under her own cowboy hat. She was staring at the hats in the window with her head tilted slightly. Then she shook it before dragging her eyes to Emma.
“This store is mostly for tourists. Those hats are great if you’re going to put them on a shelf when you go home, but if you want to wear it on the daily, you’ll want something more conventional.” She gestured past Emma down the street. “There’s a better store that way. It’s a little hidden, but you’re going to want to check out the options over there before making your decision.”
“Thank you,” Emma murmured.
“How long are you staying?”
Emma shifted, not only unsure about how to answer the question but about whether she should be speaking to this woman at all. She was one slip-up away from her identity being revealed. What would happen if this woman found out who she really was?
“You don’t have to tell me,” she offered. “I just figured I’d ask because you look like you could use some down-to-earth kind of fun. None of this tourist nonsense.”
That caught Emma’s attention, and she peered at the woman with more curiosity. “I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. I haven’t made any official plans.”
