A Brand New Ending (Stay Book 2) Read online

  PRAISE FOR JENNIFER PROBST

  “For a sexy, fun-filled, warmhearted read, look no further than Jennifer Probst!”

  —Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author

  “Jennifer Probst is an absolute auto-buy author for me.”

  —J. Kenner, New York Times bestselling author

  “Jennifer Probst knows how to bring the swoons and the sexy.”

  —Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake

  “Jennifer Probst never fails to deliver romance that sizzles and has a way of tugging those emotional heartstrings.”

  —Four Chicks Flipping Pages

  “Jennifer Probst’s books remind me of delicious chocolate cake. Bursting with flavor, decadently rich . . . very satisfying.”

  —Love Affair with an e-Reader

  OTHER BOOKS BY JENNIFER PROBST

  Nonfiction

  Write Naked: A Bestseller’s Secrets to Writing Romance & Navigating the Path to Success

  The Billionaire Builders Series

  Everywhere and Every Way

  Any Time, Any Place

  Somehow, Some Way

  All or Nothing at All

  The Searching for . . . Series

  Searching for Someday

  Searching for Perfect

  Searching for Beautiful

  Searching for Always

  Searching for You

  Searching for Mine

  Searching for Disaster

  The Billionaire Marriage Series

  The Marriage Bargain

  The Marriage Trap

  The Marriage Mistake

  The Marriage Merger

  The Book of Spells

  The Marriage Arrangement

  The Steele Brothers Series

  Catch Me

  Play Me

  Dare Me

  Beg Me

  Reveal Me

  Sex on the Beach Series

  Beyond Me

  Chasing Me

  The Hot in the Hamptons Series

  Summer Sins

  The Stay Series

  A Brand New Ending

  The Start of Something Good

  Stand-Alone Novels

  Dante’s Fire

  Executive Seduction

  All the Way

  The Holiday Hoax

  The Grinch of Starlight Bend

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  Text copyright © 2018 by Triple J Publishing Inc. / Jennifer Probst

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  Published by Montlake Romance, Seattle

  www.apub.com

  Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Montlake Romance are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.

  ISBN-13: 9781503904873

  ISBN-10: 1503904873

  Cover design by Letitia Hasser

  Cover photography by Lauren Perry

  To all of my beloved readers who struggle with addiction and believe there is no hope.

  You can change your path any day, anytime, any moment—it is simply never too late.

  You just have to take the first step.

  CONTENTS

  Start Reading

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Epilogue

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

  —Mahatma Gandhi

  The Victory of Surrender: “We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.”

  —Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

  Prologue

  The crickets screeched a symphony she ached to sing along with, but Ophelia kept quiet as she crept through the thicket of woods and searched for the pinprick of light. Her sneakers were soundless over the pine needles, and the full moon guided her way to the edge of the path.

  Already, her heart pounded rapidly in her chest, and her palms were sweating.

  Why did he always incite such a strong reaction? When had a tight childhood friendship turned so rapidly into something so exciting and lustful and . . . forbidden?

  A beam of light swerved in a full circle, then flashed twice.

  There.

  She headed over. In moments, he was pulling her into his arms.

  Her soul sighed. The clean scent of washed cotton and hay surrounded her. Kyle held her tight: chest to chest, legs tangled together, his breath warm against her cheek. Seconds dragged without either of them speaking. They shared a rare form of communication—the years spent together as children and then teenagers created an extra foundation allowing them to be comfortable with silence.

  Finally, she lifted her chin and looked into his forest-green eyes that held the power to stun her with their intensity. “Did you tell your father about our plan?”

  His face set to stone. “No. I tried, but he didn’t want to listen. I don’t care anymore, Ophelia. I don’t owe him shit.”

  “You’re right. You don’t.” The relationship between Kyle and his father ripped at her heart, but she knew the emotional abuse Kyle had dealt with over the years had taken its toll.

  “What about you?”

  “I wish I could tell Ethan, but my brother’s been so pissed since he found out about us. I’m afraid he’ll tell Mom and Harper. They expect me to start college, and I know if they find out our plan they’ll try to stop me from going.”

  Kyle and she had just graduated high school and experienced the most idyllic summer together. But things were about to explode. Instead of getting a college degree, helping her mother run the inn, and doing the stable thing, she’d be ditching college, leaving her entire family behind, and jumping into the unknown.

  “They’ll understand. When we get there, we’ll call your family and explain that we made some important contacts in California and had to move out there for a while. It won’t be a lie because we’re going to make this happen. Once they see our success, they’ll forgive us.”

  “What about Ethan?” she said, her fingers interlacing with his in a quest for strength.

  God, she hated sounding so unsure.

  She was eighteen years old and knew exactly who and what she wanted, but her older brother was Kyle’s best friend. He’d lost his mind when he found out they’d been secretly seeing each other in a romantic way. They’d been the three musketeers for so long, it’d never occurred to any of them there could be anything m
ore than friendship.

  Until it had.

  Kyle stroked her hair back. “Ethan will forgive us, too. He’ll barely be able to breathe the next three months in basic training. By the time we’re married and settled in our careers, it won’t matter anymore. We’ve been working toward this forever, Ophelia, and we’re going to get it all. Between your singing and my writing, we’re both going to be famous. But none of it can happen if we stay here or suffer through four years of college for a meaningless degree. We have to make our opportunities—not wait.”

  Excitement shivered down her spine.

  Yes.

  Everyone knew Kyle was meant to be a famous writer. He’d been writing forever, and even placed first in a national writing contest.

  And hadn’t she been told by every music teacher that her voice was special?

  Now that her sister, Harper, was helping out with the horse farm and her brother was entering the military, it was finally her time to focus on Kyle and their careers. She couldn’t imagine a world outside of their small town; though she was nervous, Kyle would be with her. And Kyle was meant for bigger things than working a farm with a father who despised him.

  “You’re right.” She smiled up at his beloved face. She never got tired of studying him. From his shaggy, white-blond hair that covered his slightly crooked brows to his sharp blade of a nose and those lush lashes that should have been bestowed on a girl, he had always been good-looking—and the most sought-after boy in high school. His square chin and dimples were the knockout punch.

  But he’d never been interested in anyone else. Just her. A buzz of satisfaction and joy shot through her veins like the fizz from a newly opened soda can. She had nothing to worry about. She just needed him.

  He smiled back, lowered his head, and kissed her.

  The sweet thrust of his tongue against hers weakened her knees in the biggest cliché of all. His lips moved over hers with a familiarity and expertise that had been practiced for endless months in secret—the thrill of getting caught only adding to the pleasure.

  “I love you,” he whispered against her mouth.

  Excitement shot through her at the raw emotion of his voice, the glint of savage intensity in his eyes.

  “I love you, too.”

  “We leave in the morning. I have enough money saved to hold us over for a while.”

  His words spun around her and created a warm web of protection. She refused to show any doubt. Besides, he hadn’t convinced her to do anything she didn’t want. They were strong and they’d make it—together. She tilted her chin up.

  “I can’t wait.”

  He flashed a grin. “This road trip will be our first adventure together, with many more to come. Just you and me.”

  His second kiss drove the promise home—a kiss filled with a burning lust that made her feel all woman. “Kyle . . .” she breathed, his name a symphony on her tongue.

  “I can’t wait till you’re my wife,” he murmured, licking her lower lip, then biting it gently. “Can’t wait till you’re truly mine.”

  “I already am.”

  “Not in all ways. Not yet.”

  Kyle wanted to wait until they were married in Vegas before making love. She’d begged him to change his mind, but he had a core honor about her first time and wouldn’t budge. The idea of finally not having to stop shot tingles down her spine. Soon. Very, very soon, she’d have everything she ever dreamed of.

  They both would.

  If only she’d known the road ahead that looked so bright and promising was really choked with weeds, thorns, and poison ivy. That it led not to happily ever after, but to a cliff dive over shallows filled with rocks.

  If only she’d known how quickly the love of her life and new husband would betray her.

  If only she’d known her dreams would shatter and leave her to return home with nothing but emptiness and regrets.

  If only she’d known.

  Ophelia kissed him back and believed.

  Chapter One

  Ten Years Later

  Kyle Kimpton drove up the familiar curving driveway of the Robin’s Nest B & B. The trees swayed almost in welcome, branches bent under a thick coating of ice. But with every foot gained, his breath squeezed a bit tighter in his lungs.

  He was back.

  His gaze swept over the inn, noting the extensive renovations and the care taken with each detail. The bright-blue trim of the Victorian farmhouse shone clearly even in the January gloominess. Mounds of snow covered the landscaping, but he had a feeling come spring the flowers and plants would be as impeccably groomed as their owner. The wraparound porch was brand new, sporting an array of wicker furniture with bright cushions and plush afghans set around a mobile fireplace. Silvery lights wrapped around the porch railing, twinkling merrily. Beyond the inn, the endless blanket of white broke open to reveal the thrust of the mighty mountains in the distance, sitting arrogantly between the fat wisps of misty clouds. A perfect winter wonderland. A peek into what he’d always believed Narnia could be.

  He parked the car and cut the engine.

  Ten years.

  Ten years since he’d come home to the small upstate New York town of Gardiner and gazed upon the staggering Shawangunk Mountains. Ten years since he’d touched snow. Ten years since he’d been surrounded by the eerie beauty of nature’s silence.

  And too many years since he’d seen the only woman he’d ever loved.

  They’d been the three musketeers—Ethan, Ophelia, and him—caught in a world of their own making. Memories assaulted him. Of running through the woods when they were young and racing horses barefoot as the green meadow flashed below. Of moonlight walks and late nights at Bea’s Diner, squeezed into the cracked red-vinyl booths as they spun dreams of the future and feasted on greasy burgers. Of his first kiss with Ophelia. The taste of innocence and passion mixed with Juicy Fruit chewing gum.

  He closed his eyes, staggering under the raw emotions the images brought. Some of those dreams had come true for him, but the price had been brutal.

  It was time to make things right.

  It was time to reclaim what he’d lost.

  Kyle glanced at the passenger seat, his fingers already reaching to stroke the leather laptop case. He’d left a fancy mansion behind, along with rooms filled with expensive trinkets meant to amuse, entertain, and distract the masses. He’d walked away from a gourmet chef, housekeeper, and personal trainer. His garage still held the laser-blue Lamborghini and the sleek black Hummer. He’d left the tuxedoes and designer clothes in his closet; the cedar wine cellar still filled with rare, expensive wine; and the four-poster mahogany bed that had seen too many lonely nights.

  Now all he had to his name was one battered suitcase, his laptop, and a Ford Fusion rental car.

  And for the first time in way too long, he felt the beginning of a creative spark—the sexy wink of his muse beckoning him closer to his childhood home, where he’d sworn he’d never return.

  He grabbed his phone and tapped out a text to Ethan.

  I’m here. How bad is she going to take it?

  He waited a bit, until the familiar gray bubble with ellipsis popped up.

  Don’t know—depends on how pathetic you look. Still have no clue why she’s mad at you.

  Kyle winced as guilt punched through him. Falling in love with your best friend’s younger sister was a no-no. Running away with her was even worse. But eloping and not telling his friend about it?

  There was no making amends for that one.

  He cursed, then tapped his fingers again.

  Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

  Don’t be stupid—it’s a great idea! The inn isn’t booked up and she’s just being stubborn. Go inside, make nice, and I’ll be there in an hour.

  He groaned and resisted the urge to bang his head against the steering wheel. When he’d asked about staying at the inn for three months to work on a new project, he’d worried Ophelia would refuse. When Ethan told him to book hi
s ticket, he’d been relieved.

  Until he found out on the plane ride that Ophelia had actually said no. Ethan had conveniently left that part out, citing in true guy code it would all be fine.

  Her refusal to see him hurt more than he’d imagined it would, but now he had no choice. Everything was set in motion, and he wasn’t about to return to LA. Not only had he committed to writing this screenplay surrounded by his memories, he’d sworn to fight for a second chance with Ophelia. It was time they both faced the past, put some ghosts behind them, and figure things out. After all, it had been eight years.

  She had no idea he was about to walk through her door with the intention of staying for the next three months—in the dead of winter.

  That’d be bad enough, but when she heard his other piece of news?

  Things were gonna get a hell of a lot worse.

  He stayed in the car a few more minutes, trying to psych himself up. Maybe she’d surprise him and be open to talking things through. Maybe she wouldn’t be horrified when he told her about what he’d discovered a few months ago. Maybe it would all work out fine, just like Ethan said.

  Even better?

  Maybe he’d find himself again.

  Grasping at all those positive possibilities, he gritted his teeth, grabbed his bag, and got out of the car.

  Chapter Two

  Ophelia Bishop floated through the rooms singing “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha in full-blast mode while she attacked each wooden surface with lemon-scented polish. The first week after New Year’s was always dead at the inn, and as of today, she had exactly zero guests.

  So it was party time.

  Not caring that her love of old musicals was geeky and embarrassing, she belted out Broadway tunes and got rid of her mortal enemy: dust. So many people sank into the winter blues after the holidays, but Ophelia loved every moment of the winter. The way the snow piled up and weaved a web of sensuality and coziness around her home. The luxury of ignoring the usual rush of productivity nipping at her conscience to get things done. The comfort of indulging in lasagna and hot chocolate under a fleece blanket. Today she’d slept late, had a light breakfast all by herself, and didn’t have to make anyone fancy French toast or omelets or scones. She hadn’t even brushed her teeth till noon! Her big plans after cleaning consisted of lounging around in her yoga pants with messy hair and binge-watching Hallmark Channel Christmas movies with a big bowl of popcorn.