Czytaj książkę: «Second Chance At The Ranch»

Chapter 1

‘Yes! Just like that! More! More!’ Hero Scott turned her head this way and that, lifted her arms up, then down, the movements almost automatic now as the photographer prompted her unnecessarily. Her long dark hair swayed like a glossy curtain as she tilted her chin down further, maintaining the serious look the photographer had demanded for the shoot.

The studio was lit, almost over-lit, in accordance with the style wanted for the designer’s advertising campaign. Loud music by the hottest current DJ blasted from speakers. Hero closed her eyes briefly from the glare, trying to halt the progression of a headache that had been rumbling in her skull for the last half an hour. Her throat was dry and she turned to one of the assistants hovering around the set and made a quick mime of drinking. The assistant grabbed a bottle of water, undid it and stuck a straw in the top. Just as she stepped towards Hero, the photographer roared.

‘What are you doing?’

The assistant froze, colour immediately flooding her face as she stood, half on, half off the background roll.

‘I … erm …’

‘You’ve ruined the perfect shot! Ruined it! Where do we find these people, for God’s sake?’ he asked, turning on one of the others hovering around the shoot.

‘I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,’ came the reply from a short but perfectly dressed woman, as a vicious glance was sent towards the assistant whose eyes were now brimming with tears.

‘I cannot work with such—’

‘It’s my fault, Armand.’ Hero’s educated tones rose above the noise, interrupting the photographer’s rant mid-flow.

Everyone turned to look at the supermodel. She casually tucked one hand behind her, the pose confident yet aloof. Behind her back, her other hand balled into a tight fist.

‘I was thirsty and asked her to get me a drink. I’m sorry if it upset your process but I thought you were taking a break for a moment. So, the fault is completely mine, not hers.’ Hero gave the briefest of smiles as she turned back to the young woman and took the bottle from her, placed the straw between glossy, deep-plum-coloured lips and took a brief sip. It wasn’t enough, but Hero knew better than to test this particular photographer. He was well known for his diva-type tantrums and had the ability to end a budding career with just one vicious text. Hero had known him for over fifteen years now, both of their careers blooming at a similar time. Unfortunately, as Armand’s career had blossomed so had his ego – something which hadn’t been all that small to begin with.

No one spoke. No one moved. All were waiting for the explosion they knew was to come.

Instead, Armand let out a dramatic sigh and made a Gallic ‘pfff’ sort of noise. Hero met his eyes, the short nails on the hidden hand biting in to the soft skin of her palm.

‘Fine. Let her keep her job. This time!’ He held up his finger, highlighting the magnanimity of his decision. Hero nodded, and beside her the young assistant let out a strangled sob of relief.

‘OK. Now! Can we get on?’

Hero dropped back into action as the shutter continued on and on, the music still pounding, her throat still dry and the headache now full blown. Armand had returned to the shoot with even more drama than it had already been infused with. Hero had been there since 5 a.m., having make-up applied, touched up, and completely changed as fashion editors assigned assistants to curate outfits for the shoot. Hero stood patiently, being handed various clothes to try. Belts put on, belts taken off, her body moved this way and that as if she were no more than a shop mannequin. Which, in some ways, she supposed she was.

The incessant shutter finally ceased as Armand scrolled through a few of the last frames, his thin face becoming even more pinched as he frowned at the back of the camera. Hero took the opportunity to stretch her body, trying to ease the tension in her back and neck as she did so. Glancing across the studio, she smiled as she saw her best friend, Anya, a blonde, willowy Swede, talking to the assistant from earlier. Anya gave her a hug and bent to say something private to her. Whatever it was, Hero was glad of the smile it brought to the young woman. There were days she hated this world. But she knew she couldn’t leave. Not yet.

Anya glanced up and over at Hero, her beautiful smile and funny double thumbs up making her friend grin and giggle.

‘What are you doing?’ Armand’s attention, and ire, was now directed at Hero. She’d protected someone else, but Armand had to be seen to win. She knew the game.

‘What is this?’ he yelled, pulling a sarcastic version of the supermodel’s wide smile. ‘I do not want this! I want serious. Sultry! Mysterious! I do not want Coco the Clown! If I want to photograph clowns, I will go to the circus! Yet today I am wondering if the circus has not been brought to me!’

The photographer blustered on through his tirade. Hero knew Anya was trying to catch her eye again, but this time she refused to meet it. Instead, she blanked her expression, applying the metaphorical mask of disinterest she wore in these, and many other, situations now. They wouldn’t get to her, she told herself. At least they wouldn’t see, even if they had.

‘Hey!’ Anya hurried over to her friend once the photo shoot finally ended, and gave her a hug. ‘You OK?’

Hero nodded. ‘Yes, fine, thanks. You know what he’s like.’

Anya rolled her eyes in agreement.

‘Is that assistant all right?’ Hero asked as Anya waited for her to change back into her own clothes.

‘She’s fine. I know her boss pretty well and had a gentle word.’

Hero flicked a glance up as she sat and tied the lace on her designer boots. ‘Gentle?’

Anya shrugged, then grinned. ‘The poor thing. Armand can be so awful sometimes. He thinks far too much of himself.’

Hero stood and pulled her hair into a low ponytail before pulling a baseball cap on. They had dinner reservations at a restaurant’s opening night and, now that the photo shoot had run on far longer than it was supposed to, she didn’t have time to go home and change. The make-up was much heavier than she would normally wear for something like this, but it would have to do now. The cap lent an air of casualness to her look and she knew, like so much in this world, if she acted like she was confident about it, no one would know the truth.

***

‘How’s your head?’ Anya asked as they stepped out from the Tube carriage and into the mass of life that was a London Underground station at rush hour.

‘It’s going off, thanks.’ Hero smiled.

The women exited the station within a swarm of others before managing to disentangle themselves from the crowd to walk the short distance to the restaurant. Anya tugged on her friend’s sleeve to slow her.

‘What’s the matter?’

Anya looked at her. ‘You.’

Hero frowned.

‘You still have a pounding headache, don’t you?’

Anya was one of only three people who could read Hero. Everyone else was kept away from knowing what she really thought, or felt.

‘No.’

Anya raised one fair and perfectly shaped brow.

‘OK, fine.’ Hero laughed. ‘Yes, I still have it, but it is less now, I promise. Probably half of it is just dehydration.’

‘Let’s just go back home then,’ Anya said, her voice soft and kind.

To Hero, that sounded like the perfect suggestion, but she knew Anya had been looking forward to this restaurant thing for ages now. Cooking and baking was sort of her thing. Not an ideal hobby when you were trying to keep your weight to a number decreed by the modelling agency. Hero had started running for longer since she and Anya had bought this flat together, and her friend demanded she be her guinea pig for each recipe she trialled in the gleaming steel and granite kitchen of their Kensington home.

‘No, honestly.’ Hero reached out for Anya’s hand and gave it a brief squeeze. ‘It really is going off now. I just need some water and some food and I’m sure that will take care of the rest of it. Come on.’ She moved and linked Anya’s arm through her own before tugging her along.

‘OK. But if it gets worse again, just let me know and we can leave.’

Hero nodded in agreement. ‘Promise.’

***

When Hero had begun modelling full-time, the world she had entered scared her and wore her down. She would sit at the castings, knowing that everyone there was analysing her, judging her, comparing her. She hated it. Finally, on a summer afternoon, she got up in the middle of one such go-see and walked out.

Hero sat on the wall of the ornate fountain in the gardens of the location and let out a huge sigh. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Another replaced it almost immediately. If she wasn’t going to model, she had to find a job. The summer breeze blew the fountain into a mist and the fine spray was cool as it landed on her face. She closed her eyes to enjoy its soothing touch.

‘Hello.’

Hero’s eyes flew open and she found herself looking up into the face of a beautiful blonde. She was of a similar age to Hero, and looked vaguely familiar.

‘Hello.’

‘Are you coming back in?’

Hero looked warily at the door, then back at the blonde, then back at the door again.

She shook her head. ‘I don’t think so.’

The blonde took a seat next to Hero and held out her hand.

‘I’m Anya.’

‘Hero. It’s nice to meet you.’ Hero’s etiquette switch engaged automatically.

‘What a lovely name.’

‘Thanks. My parents really liked Shakespeare.’ She smiled awkwardly.

‘It’s very romantic.’ The blonde smiled warmly again. There was an accent there, something Scandinavian, and she was the epitome of the stereotype with long, shiny, natural platinum hair, pale blue eyes and porcelain skin. Hero now remembered that she had seen her at other go-sees. That was why she looked familiar. Anya had a fantastic figure, a little curvier than Hero’s. She wore no make-up, as per the preference for castings, allowing the clients to see bone structure and skin tone. Her long legs were clad in tight jeans and a white T-shirt clung to her upper curves. Anya dug in the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a fresh pack of chewing gum. She unwrapped the outer packaging then offered the pack to Hero.

‘Thanks,’ Hero said and began to pull a stick out of the casing. Halfway through, she stopped. ‘You bite your nails!’ she blurted, before looking up at Anya, suddenly realising her comment had sounded like a criticism, which it hadn’t been. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—’

Anya laughed. ‘It’s OK! I do! Terrible habit. They have to keep sticking on false ones if there’s any chance my hands are going to show in a shot. Or I have to place them where they won’t see them. It’s a bad habit but I can’t stop. I just tell myself there are worse habits to have!’ She laughed but both of them knew that the statement was true. Drug habits were rife within their world so, as a vice, nail biting was pretty damn tame.

Hero quickly stuck out her hands in front of her, showing her own bitten nails – a connection of imperfection with her new friend in a world of false flawlessness. She laughed properly, easily, for what seemed like the first time in ages.

Anya persuaded Hero to return to the studio, which had resulted in bookings for both of them. The encounter marked the beginning of a strong bond of friendship between the two young women. They travelled to go-sees together and eventually shared a flat, both dismissing the financially available option of each girl purchasing one separately. Anya came from a close family in Sweden and missed the company. Hero had almost no family and also missed the company. Anya kept Hero’s spirits from sinking and Hero returned the favour.

‘Hello, gorgeous!’ Rupert Thorne-Smith wrapped his arms around Hero from behind and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. The physical contact made a difference from all the air kisses she had received this evening. ‘You look bored as hell,’ he said, sliding into the empty seat opposite her.

Hero smiled. ‘Of course I’m not.’

Rupert screwed up his nose and made a loud ‘oink oink’ noise, startling the group of older, clearly loaded, women sitting next to them.

‘Stop it!’ Hero laughed, batting her friend on the arm.

Rupert gave one more oink for good measure before lifting his champagne glass to his lips, a devilish grin on his face. ‘That’s what happens when you tell porkies to Uncle Rupert.’

Hero shook her head. ‘Uncle Rupert’ was seven years older than her and the only man she trusted.

‘You on your own?’ he asked.

‘No, Anya’s here … somewhere,’ she replied, looking around the now packed restaurant. ‘I think she went off to try and talk to the chef. You know what she’s like.’

‘I also know what the chef is like. Real penchant for blondes. You should have brought a man. It’s unlikely you’ll see Anya again for some time yet.’

Hero shrugged.

‘So?’

‘So what?’ She frowned.

‘I wondered if there had been any change in the Ben Gale/Hero Scott situation.’

Hero fixed him with a look. ‘No. And there won’t be.’

Rupert’s face became more serious – the joker dispensed with for the moment. ‘You two seemed really happy. Is it not worth trying again?’

‘No. We were. Mostly. But between my career and his, it just wasn’t working out.’

‘But couldn’t you—’

‘No, Rupert. We couldn’t. Besides, he’s with someone else now, and so am I.’

‘If you’re referring to that sugar daddy, Jonathan Von Dries, then you already know my opinion of him, and your “relationship”.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need a sugar daddy!’

‘And yet you have one.’

Hero blew out a sigh. ‘I don’t. And anyway, you’re hardly one to talk. I’m not sure there’s a lot of meeting of the minds in your current “relationship”.’ She made air quotes just as he had done, purposefully letting her gaze drift over to the peroxide blonde perched on the edge of a chair. His date was now on her fourth champagne and getting louder by the minute. Rupert followed his friend’s eye line before looking back at her, unrepentant.

‘That’s completely different.’

‘Of course it is. And how is that?’

‘Because neither of us are wishing there was more to it than there is.’

‘So, exactly the same then.’

Rupert looked at her and Hero did her best to hold his gaze. She couldn’t.

‘You deserve more than that, Hero.’

Her throat felt tight, and she looked away, out of the window at the passing foot traffic. Crowds of people hurried in all directions. A horn beeped and the wailing siren of an ambulance became louder as the blue lights flashed, competing with the huge neon signs for dominance. Sometimes she just wanted to get away. She didn’t know where exactly but somewhere that was the direct opposite of all the noise, lights, crowds – all the constant demands on her senses. Sometimes she just wanted to sit and hear nothing but silence.

Rupert’s hand caught hers across the table. ‘You know it’s just because I care about you.’

Hero nodded, her gaze still fixed on a point outside the window. ‘I know.’ And she did. Unlike most of the people she spent time with, she knew where she was with Rupert. He didn’t take shit from anyone, including her, and she loved him for it.

Rupert Thorne-Smith’s relationship with the model Hero Scott had always been cause for gossip. He was wealthy, good-looking, and successful with a reputation that was best described as gentleman playboy. Rupert adored Hero, but she was closer to being a younger sister to him than anything that the papers could dream up.

They had met at a party early on in Hero’s career when he had found her sitting outside in the garden, away from the house and the noise and the beautiful people. She was extremely shy but something about her had made Rupert persevere – a new experience for Rupert and women – and it wasn’t just her beauty. There was no doubt that the girl was stunning, but there was something else. She had looked lonely, and when he began to talk to her and ask her opinion on subjects, Rupert had never seen a person look so surprised at the interest. That night, a deep, enduring friendship was formed. Rupert took Hero to see a close friend of his, a financial whizz kid, who owned one of the top investment firms in London, and together they went over the best path for Hero to choose when it came to taking care of her earnings, which were rapidly becoming substantial. Thanks to Rupert, and Thorne-Smith Holdings, Hero’s financial future was secure. She was already a very wealthy woman.

Rupert knew how the darker side of the glamorous career sometimes got to his friend. This was the side people didn’t want the public to see. And to a certain extent, that wish was mutual. People didn’t want to hear about the humiliation models sometimes felt, the lack of support from those who should have their backs. They didn’t want to know about the drugs, the eating disorders, the ever-present knowledge that you could be the brightest star today and completely ignored tomorrow when a new star ascended. All that most people wanted to see were the highs. The glamour and glitz. The beautiful people living their beautiful lives, wearing the beautiful clothes. On days Rupert saw Hero or Anya looking exhausted, he urged them both to think about leaving modelling. Thankfully, Anya had already been thinking the same thing and was now making plans to return to Sweden and train as a chef. Having been lucky enough to sample some of her recipes, Rupert had absolutely no doubt of her success in her second career. It was Hero that held his concern.

He knew she was aware that, through savvy investments and careful control, she never had to work again. But whenever Rupert broached the subject, she would just smile and tell him not to worry. He knew that somewhere there was a reason she pushed on through, but neither he nor Anya had ever been able to find out what it was.

Hero stretched her long legs out in the hushed atmosphere of the first-class cabin. She’d come to enjoy long-haul flights, delighting in the fact that she was unobtainable for those hours. Her phone stayed switched off and in her bag – something Anya, who had completely embraced the whole Insta-life thing, teased her about relentlessly. It wasn’t like Hero was stuck in the Dark Ages, although according to some of those within her circle, the fact that her phone wasn’t glued to her hand and kept under her pillow meant she might as well have been. Hero smiled at their comments, but privately thought that neither of those actions seemed the healthiest and carried on doing her own thing.

And now, she had no one to answer to or anywhere else she needed to be except right here. Snuggling down under the duvet, she felt the stress leaving her body as she opened the new novel she’d bought at the airport and began reading.

When her sister, Juliet, had rung her a few weeks ago to say she had become engaged to a man she’d met on her holiday in Australia, Hero wasn’t terribly surprised. Juliet had always been the most impulsive of the two sisters, and as Juliet had recounted the story of how she and her new fiancé, Pete, had met, Hero could hear the difference in her voice. Juliet was almost giddy with happiness as she told her about the sheep station that he owned and ran with the help of his younger brother, Nick, and the warmth of his mum and dad when they’d met her. A warm, welcoming family unit was something both Juliet and Hero knew very little about.

‘He’s a what?’

‘A sheep farmer. His family own a sheep station outside Adelaide. They farm sheep. Merino sheep. Organically too,’ she added, knowing how much of an animal lover her little sister was.

‘Jules, I know models have a dumb reputation, but I think even I can work out what sheep farmers farm.’ Hero’s voice was teasing.

‘I just thought you might appreciate knowing where your favourite sweater might have begun its life.’

‘I’m pretty sure I knew it started off on a sheep, Jules, but thanks.’

Hero smiled under her lashes at her older sister. Despite the temptations having been scouted by a model agency when she was fifteen, Hero had continued her education, achieving good grades and fitting in modelling assignments around her academics until she was in a position to model full-time. Her looks, added to the fact that she was easy to work with, if a little distant, meant she hadn’t stopped working since.

‘Are you ready to be a bridesmaid for your big sister?’

‘Ready and waiting.’

They had decided to marry in Australia as Pete had a large family and Juliet had almost none, only Hero. Her sister had been back in the UK finalising details on the sale of her flat, and was about to return back to Australia, and Pete. The wedding was in a month’s time. Apparently, Pete’s mum had been a godsend when it came to the arrangements, and Juliet was loving spending time with her and Jack, Pete’s father. They in turn had loved her immediately.

‘Are you really sure you’ll be able to make it?’ Juliet asked again.

Juliet was desperate for Hero to be with her on such a special day, but she also knew that her sister’s job took her all over the world. As they said their goodbyes at Heathrow, she couldn’t help checking one more time.

Hero waggled her phone. ‘I have the date here and I’ll book the time off with the agency first thing tomorrow. No problem. If someone wants me that bad during those weeks, they’ll just have to wait. And if they don’t want to wait, then that’s their problem.’

Juliet looked concerned.

Hero laughed. ‘Oh, stop worrying. I love you. You’re more important than any shoot. I wouldn’t miss this for anything! And I can’t wait to meet Pete either. He sounds wonderful.’

‘He is.’

‘Jules?’

‘Yes?’

‘I’m going to miss you.’

Juliet pulled her little sister into her arms. ‘I’m going to miss you too,’ she said, holding Hero close, not wanting to let go.

‘Call me when you get home.’ Hero paused for a moment and looked at her sister. ‘I love you.’

‘Don’t! I’ll cry!’

‘I know. You always do, you big blubberpuss.’ Hero giggled and gave her sister a huge squeeze.

‘I know. I’m a wimp! And I don’t care.’

Hero grinned, her own eyes dry. ‘I’ll be there in a month.’

Hero nodded at the dedicated first-class security area in front of them. ‘You’d better go. Don’t want to keep him waiting.’

Juliet reached up to hug her baby sister again. At five foot eleven, Hero was three inches taller than her elder sibling and today she wore boots with heels that took her to over six feet. Juliet’s feet were snug in trainers. Hero had upgraded her sister, despite Juliet’s protests, but she still had a long flight ahead, and then another hop to Adelaide. Comfort was a priority.

‘I hope you’re not wearing those on the day?’ Hero nodded down at her sister’s footwear. Juliet followed her gaze, then laughed.

‘No. Definitely not! With the groom and best man at six foot three and six foot four, I’m definitely wearing heels!’

‘Good. Then if I wear flats, I won’t tower over you.’

‘You can be quite sweet when you want to, can’t you?’

Hero pulled a face. ‘Don’t tell anyone!’ she whispered, and then winked. ‘Go on. Get on the plane, and I’ll see you in a month.’

Four weeks later, Pete was back at the airport, waiting with his fiancée to meet her sister. Excited to see her, Juliet was incapable of standing still, constantly checking the screens and looking around.

Pete was intrigued. Juliet had told him all about Hero, her jet-set lifestyle, and her personality. From what he knew, it seemed that the sisters were a little like him and Nick, different in their make-up but close and reliant on each other. Even more so as a result of their parents’ relative disinterest in them.

Hero stepped through the doors to Arrivals, a wheeled Louis Vuitton suitcase trailing behind her. Pete saw the difference immediately. He’d seen photos obviously, but it wasn’t quite the same thing. The sisters might be similar in heart, but they didn’t share such similarity in their looks as Nick and Pete did.

Pete watched as his sister-in-law-to-be glided through the crowds to meet them. Hero’s brunette, waist-length hair fell in a shimmering sheet of rich brown as she crossed the space, her walk conveying absolute confidence. Her shoulders were strong and straight, with no hint of the roundness some tall people gain as they attempt to blend into the crowd. Hero certainly didn’t blend. Couldn’t blend. She was stunning. Completely, undeniably stunning.

Whereas Juliet’s beauty was soft and crept over you, Hero’s hit you straight away, right between the eyes. Pete watched the people around her and nudged Juliet as one poor guy, whose eyes were glued to Hero, got a whack from his girlfriend. Juliet pulled a sympathetic face.

‘Oh dear! She can have that effect.’

Pete shrugged. ‘She’s very beautiful,’ he said truthfully, ‘but she’s not you.’ Juliet reached up and kissed him.

‘You just remember that.’

‘I hope that’s Pete.’ Hero appeared in front of them, a wide smile playing on perfectly painted lips. Juliet hugged her and introduced her fiancé.

‘Pleased to meet you, Hero.’ He leant down a placed a kiss on her cheek. It struck Hero that few men she met had to bend to do that. It felt rather nice.

Pete took control of the luggage and led the way back to the car. They loaded themselves into the off-roader and started on the long drive back to the station. Juliet filled Hero in on the wedding arrangements and their plans for after the wedding.