Homecoming Queen: A Second Chance Romance (Carlisle Cellars Book 2) Read online

  “Hey, June,” I look at her over his shoulder.

  “Hi, Madison. How was your trip?”

  “Good.”

  “You still have this blonde bullshit going on, I see. We don’t even look like twins.” Miles’s face twists in disapproval. He’s always hated the blonde dye.

  “Whatever, anyone who sees us side by side knows we’re twins. Right?” I turn to June.

  “It’s hard not to notice,” she smiles.

  “Hi, Ms. Sullivan.” I wave at her from across the kitchen.

  “How are you, sweetie?” Her kind smile fills her face. She was always there for us growing up, cooking our favorite meals, cleaning up scrapes before our parents found out we got injured climbing trees, and offering advice.

  “I’m good. Tired. What time is it? I can’t believe I slept so much.” I look at the time on the microwave.

  “You needed it,” Miles says.

  I nod and look around the kitchen until my eyes land on the coffee maker. I move around, making a cup while Miles and June chat about the new bookstore they’re remodeling. They look happy together, and I see what my mom meant when she said they love each other. It’s clear as day.

  I sip my coffee, leaning against the counter, and listen to the changes they’ve made. Miles has sent me pictures of the progress, and their idea sounds interesting—a wine bar bookstore.

  “You should come see it today,” Mile tells me.

  “Maybe. I told Dad I’d go to the winery with him, check it out.” Miles shivers. He’s worked through the emotional pain he experienced from being in that fire, but I know the memories and fear linger.

  “Your father told me to let you rest. He said you could go with him tomorrow,” Ms. Sullivan shares.

  “He left?”

  “He didn’t want to disturb you. You need rest, especially after that long drive alone yesterday.” She lifts her brows.

  I roll my eyes. They all said I should fly from Nashville instead of drive. I was set on bringing my car down, and no one could change my mind.

  “I see the eye-roll is still perfected,” Ms. Sullivan teases.

  I chuckle. “What can I say? It’s my trademark.” I drink the rest of my coffee and look at my brother and future sister-in-law. “So, what’s your plan for the day?”

  “I’m running some errands,” June says.

  “I was thinking that I could show you the bookstore, and we could grab lunch while June’s doing a few things,” Miles smiles.

  “You’re not going to the winery?” I lift my brows. Despite opening a new bookstore with June, my brother still works at the winery overseeing the restaurant and tasting room that burned down.

  “Not today. So what do you say? Want to spend the day with your twin brother even if you do insist on being a blonde?” He smirks.

  “Yeah. Let me shower, and I’ll be ready to go.” I head up the stairs, rushing to get ready and excited to spend the day with Miles. Some nerves flutter in my stomach at the thought of him getting into details of my life and career, but I need this time. I need my family more than they need me. And that’s saying a lot.

  By the time I make it back downstairs, baseball cap and big sunglasses to cover my face and my black wig in my bag, June is gone, and Ms. Sullivan is somewhere else. Miles is waiting for me in the kitchen, looking at something on his phone.

  “Ready,” I announce.

  “Sweet. I can’t wait for you to see how this is turning out and tell you all the ideas we have.” My brother wraps an arm around my shoulder and leads us out of the house.

  “So Dimples, tell me what’s goin’ on.” I tense.

  Miles looks at me with a raised eyebrow. While he searches my face, I look at him, noticing the scar from the burn for the first time. When I touch it, he flinches.

  “Does it still hurt?” He shakes his head, the expression on his face changed. I touch it again, carefully, the skin from his jaw down his neck rougher than the rest of it and the pigmentation a shade darker.

  “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.” I wrap my arms around him, this time unable to hold back tears.

  “Hey, it’s okay.” He smooths a hand down my back. “I know you’re busy and dealing with work. It’s not like you can exactly call in sick or take a personal day like the rest of us.”

  I nod against his chest. “But I should’ve. Family comes first, always.” I wipe under my eyes, my lips trembling.

  “You’re here now.” I nod and take a deep breath.

  “Sorry.” I shake my head. “I’m a mess. I was so scared you were going to die.”

  “Nah, I’m A-okay,” he grins.

  “I bet June has a lot to do with that.”

  Miles’s smile transforms to this bright light, and he nods. “Yeah, I really love her.” He puts his hands in his pockets and kicks an imaginary rock.

  “Awww…” I hook my arm with his. “I approve.” I beam at him. I’m so glad one of us can have their life together, be happy.

  “Good. I was thinking you could come over for dinner tonight. You could spend time with June. It’s been a while since y’all saw each other.”

  “That sounds great, but I do need to be here around three when the girls get out of school. Apparently, Charlie and Chloe are excited to see me.”

  Miles laughs. “They’ve been talking about it nonstop. I’ll make sure you’re back by then.”

  I thank him and hop in his car, watching my hometown rush by through the window. So many familiar places and faces. I adjust my glasses and cap, so no one recognizes me. I’m sure my attempts to keep my identity hidden in Willow Creek won’t last long, but I’m willing to do as much as I can to keep my location quiet. The paparazzi is the least of my worries.

  Miles parks near the bookstore that he bought. The name is already up on the wall above the door. I smile as I read it, Beauty and the Books. Mrs. Collins, one of our neighbors, used to own it, but the name was The Book Nook. When Miles and June acquired it, they changed the name, and I think it’s a perfect fit for their new adventure.

  “This is it.” He smiles nervously, opening the door. I can tell he’s anxious to get a real opinion from me. He’s always prepared to work at the winery, so taking this step breaks the plan he had. However, I think this would be great for him. It’ll be a combination of both things he and June love. Besides, he’ll still be working in the family business.

  I slip through the door with a small smile and look around.

  “It’s still a bit of a mess. We’re only a couple of months into this new venture, but we painted, and June’s placed the shelves in a way that opens the space up more. I walk into the store, looking around the lilac walls. Shelves are lined along the walls, most filled with books.

  “The bar is going here.” Miles drops the keys on the check-out counter and leads the way. “It won’t be a long bar, but enough for a couple people to sit. We’ll also have some couches to create a lounge feel where people can enjoy a glass with friends.”

  “It looks great. Are you still waiting on the license to serve wine?” I turn to look at him.

  “Yeah, they said it could take up to two months, so we hope we’ll have it by next month. We needed to sort other paperwork before applying for that one.” He stacks some papers that sit on the bar.

  “So much work goes into it, huh?” I scan the area.

  “It does.” He shifts on his feet and runs a hand through his hair. “It’ll be worth it, though.”

  “It will. How are things at the winery? Are they making progress in rebuilding the structure?” I sit on one of the armchairs, and Miles takes a seat on the other one.

  “Honestly, it’s a bit of a shit show. We need to keep production going to meet our demand, and the insurance is taking longer than it should.” He shakes his head. “I’m not sure when we’ll be able to reopen that part of the winery, and we counted on the tours and restaurant for thirty percent of our income.” He rests his elbows on his knees and clasps his hands together.
<
br />   “It’ll work out,” I reassure him. “How’s Dad really doing?”

  Miles’s eyes lift to mine. “I think he’s doing better than Brett.”

  “Really?” My eyes widen.

  “Dad’s taking it day by day, knowing we have to overcome certain steps. Brett is angry and wants the insurance to act now.” He shakes his head. “And the girls… They need him, Madison.”

  I frown. I don’t like hearing this about Brett. He’s always put the girls first.

  “Anyway,” Miles changes the subject. “What do you really think about the place?” He looks around the bookstore as if trying to see it through my eyes.

  “I love it. I think it has a lot of potential and people in town will love the idea. You can cross-promote with the winery since the wine will come from there, and having exclusive wines for the store will be a perk and incentive for people to come here instead of just the winery. Especially while the rebuild happens.”

  Miles nods. “I think so, too. I mean, it’ll be a bit before we have exclusive wines here since we’ll have to harvest and try different recipes before settling on a few. It’ll be cool to get my hands in there and create something outside of the box.”

  “I agree. I’ll be a taste tester,” I offer with a smile.

  Miles chuckles. “Of course you will. You and June could probably perfect the recipes with how much y’all both love wine.”

  “What can I say? I’m a wineisseur. It runs in my blood, apparently. At least, in my family heritage.”

  Miles laughs and nods. “I guess you’re right. Everything’s okay? You’re good?” He looks at me meaningfully.

  “I’m okay.” My voice drops a bit, but I stay strong.

  “Really? Because you’ve been a little distant in the past few months.” His eyebrows lift.

  “I haven’t. I’ve just been busy,” I defend, crossing my arms.

  “Yeah, busy…I know.” He narrows his eyes. “You’d tell me if there was something wrong, right?”

  I nod and swallow thickly. “Of course,” I lie to him—something that seems to have become a habit recently.

  Chapter 3

  Madison

  I thought I’d last a week before people noticed I was in town. It was a stupid thing to believe. As soon as Miles and I stepped out to pick up lunch, someone recognized me. After all, who else would Miles be with if not June? The obvious answer is his twin sister—or as people in town have called me ever since I left to chase my dream, Country Music’s Queen. It’s an exaggeration, but in Willow Creek, my family is admired and held in high regard.

  But the girl who left all those years ago is a shadow of who I am now. I wouldn’t tell the town that. I wouldn’t ruin their fantasy of me, of my dream-chasing reality. I threw away a lot to get where I am, and I’m wondering if it was worth it.

  Working in the music business isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s more like hell red and rolling thunder. And I’m stuck in that hell.

  “Sorry they recognized you,” Miles says as we walk back to the bookstore with our lunch.

  “It’s okay,” I shake my head. “It was bound to happen. I wish I could hide, but that’s a choice I made when I pursued a career in the spotlight.”

  “Is it annoying?” He looks over at me.

  Shrugging, I look straight ahead. “You get used to it. Usually, fans just want a picture and to meet you, feel special for having a conversation with a celebrity. It’s not that bad in the grand scheme of things. I’m not Brad Pitt famous,” I chuckle.

  The truth is, people who don’t follow country music probably won’t know who I am. It helps to keep it that way. But there are some fans that go way crazy when they see their favorite singer. It’s both humbling and cringe-worthy when you’re on the receiving end of rapid-fire questioning.

  However, just because I’m not in Hollywood doesn’t mean I don’t have to deal with dirty workings in the industry. No career that deals with money, fame, and power is free of that.

  “Brad Pitt or not, you’re still famous.” I nod at my brother’s words.

  “I just hope people in town talk about my homecoming amongst themselves and not announce it to everyone. I’d like to avoid people coming to town and cornering me.” I can deal with our neighbors.

  “I’m sure they’ll keep it to themselves.” Miles wraps an arm around my shoulder and squeezes my arm. “I can imagine you’d want some time after the tour to decompress and not deal with the madness.”

  I nod silently.

  Miles’s voice grows quieter and more serious when he speaks. “I don’t know if you’ll be able to avoid Tate.”

  I pat his hand on my shoulder. “He’ll be avoiding me.” I don’t bother looking at my brother’s eyes. Instead, I open the door to the bookstore and slide in, eating in silence.

  ***

  As soon as Miles and I walk into my parents’ house, I hear the giggles that bring a smile to my face. We follow the noise and find my nieces wearing my mom’s high heels in the living room. As soon as they hear Miles clear his throat, they scream and run toward us.

  “Uncle Miles! Aunt Madison!” They wrap their arms around Miles first and then me. I’m amazed at how their little hearts could feel so much love, especially when they don’t see me as often.

  “How are you, girls?” I pick them both up, causing another fit of giggles.

  “Good.” Charlie hugs my neck tightly. “We miss you.”

  Chloe nods, agreeing with her older sister. Charlie, being older, has always been the voice for the two of them. Some people confuse that for Chloe’s lack of personality, but don’t let that little four-year-old fool you. She’s got the same amount of spunk, but she’s definitely shyer.

  “I miss you both, too.” I place them on the floor. “Show me what you were tryin’ on.” I tilt my head toward the shoes. They rush back to the pile, slipping their feet into way-too-big shoes while Miles and I laugh at them.

  “How was your day?” My mom walks up to us, tipping her head against mine and wrapping her arm around my waist.

  “It was good. The bookstore looks great, but people in town recognized me immediately.” I roll my eyes.

  My mom shakes her head with a low chuckle. “Of course they did.”

  “Aunt Madison, wanna try on these shoes?” Charlie holds up a pair of black pumps and a hopeful smile.

  “Of course.” I walk toward them and slip on the heels, turning around to get their approval.

  “So pretty…” Charlie whispers.

  I laugh and squat, tickling her and then Chloe. They try to double team me, but I win out in the end. I sit on the floor with them, sorting through the different shoes and asking them to try on the pairs. We laugh until our bellies hurt, and the weight I’ve been carrying subsides a bit. At some point, my mom and Miles walked away, giving me alone time with the girls.

  Chloe sits on my lap and smiles up at me. “Are you gonna move ‘ere?”

  I take a deep breath and smile. “No, sweetie. My job is in Nashville, so I’ll have to go back.”

  “When?” Her eyebrows crinkle.

  “I’m not sure yet. I want to spend time with you.”

  “Yessss!” Charlie hisses. “We can go for ice cream.”

  I laugh and kiss her cheek. “We sure can.”

  “And you can sing for us?” Chloe looks up at me with doe eyes.

  “Of course.” I hug them both tightly, soaking up their innocence and allowing it to settle in the dusty parts of my soul.

  “How about we start with ice cream?” I ask, looking between them.

  They scream in excitement and hop to their feet. From what everyone told me, the girls weren’t doing well after the fire, but they seem okay to me. Brushing it off, I grab their hands and look for my mom.

  “Hey,” I stop at the kitchen. “Is it okay if I take the girls for ice cream?”

  My mom looks at me with a smile. “Are you sure you want to go alone?”

  I shrug. “Yeah, I don’t t
hink anyone will ambush me, maybe ask a few questions, but I’ve got these two buffers.” I lift Charlie and Chloe’s arms and spin them around, their giggles resounding around the kitchen.

  Ms. Sullivan laughs as she looks at the three of us.

  “Are you sure?” Miles asks.

  “Positive. What’s the point of being here if I can’t spoil the girls?” I wink at them.

  “Please, Grandma,” Charlie begs, clutching her hands together.

  “Yes, but you have to eat your dinner. I don’t want to hear you’re too full from ice cream.”

  “Promise,” she nods her head vigorously.

  “I’ll eat dinner, too,” Chloe adds.

  “If you need anything, call me,” my mom looks at me.

  “I will.”

  “You’re still coming for dinner, right?” Miles raises his eyebrows.

  “Yeah,” I smile at him.

  “Good.”

  “Take my car since their seats are already there,” my mom calls out.

  I wave them off and guide the girls to the car, buckling them in. As we drive to the ice cream shop, they sing the songs on the radio. When one of mine comes on, they belt out the words. I smile proudly and sing along.

  When we walk into the shop, all eyes turn to us, and people begin murmuring. Charlie and Chloe are oblivious to it and pull me toward the counter. People’s gazes follow us, most smiling and assessing me. I put on a polite smile and let the girls lead me. I wasn’t exaggerating when I told my mom the girls would be my buffer.

  “Heya, Madison. Or should I say, Rose?” The woman at the counter leans in and whispers the last part. I keep my smile in place.

  “Madison is perfect.” I look at Charlie and Chloe. “I have two ice cream lovers here to spoil.”

  “Hey, girls,” the woman bends slightly and looks at them.

  “Hi, Jane,” the girls say together.

  “What can I get ya?” She stands and smiles at me.

  We take turns ordering. Charlie gets a cone with chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce, which is bound to be a mess. Chloe gets a cup of vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles and whipped cream. It’s amazing to see their differences even in their ice cream orders. I pay and grab my small mint chocolate chip cup and sit at a nearby table.