A Brand New Ending (Page 24)

“Thanks! This one is a bit more mainstream than my other stuff,” he said. “I’m trying something different.”

“Psychological thriller? Sci-fi?” Harper asked.

His aura screamed unease, making Ophelia even more curious about the real subject of his screenplay.

“It’s a love story,” he finally said.

“Oh, like a funny chick flick?” Mia asked.

He looked up from his plate, his jaw clenched with resolution. “No, much deeper. Bigger.”

Harper nodded. “Like Nicholas Sparks? Where someone dies, or a great love is lost, and the audience files out in hysterics?”

“Sort of. But no one will die.”

“Good. I hate sad endings,” Harper said. “Will there be a dog or a horse in it as a best friend? Putting a rescue animal in a movie could be huge for the publicity of shelters.”

“I’ll think about it,” Kyle said with a smile.

“Why do you want to change genres?” Mia asked. “Do you feel like you need to do something different? Or is there a reason why you want to tell this particular story?”

Suddenly, his gaze swiveled and crashed into Ophelia’s. Heat blasted her veins, and her family faded to the background under the sheer intensity emanating from him.

His voice was a deep rumble of sound, but even as he answered Mia’s question, Ophelia knew the words were meant for her. “I’ve been dead blocked for almost a year. Each time I tried to write a new screenplay, I couldn’t deliver. I was unable to write anything until I sat up in bed one night and knew I had to write this particular story—a story stripped down to the bone. No villains or car crashes or plot twists. Just a movie about two people falling in love and losing each other, and how that type of loss can affect a person’s entire life.”

“Will they get together in the end?” Mia asked.

Kyle paused. “I don’t know yet. I have to follow the story to figure out the ending.”

Mia nodded. “Well, don’t forget one important thing that too many people overlook, especially with second chances.”

“What?” Kyle asked.

Mia gave them both a pointed look. “Forgiveness. Nothing can be truly resolved without it.”

Silence fell.

Ophelia tried to hide her shaky fingers by fiddling with her napkin.

Was Kyle writing a story about them? And how did she feel about him penning that particular tale from his own viewpoint?

Questions whirled in her mind, but she forced herself to pin a smile on her face and redirect the conversation.

“Well, that sounds interesting. Harper, how was the auction? Did you pick up any new horses?”

“No, thank God. All the horses got picked up and went to good owners. Anyone know when Chloe is coming for a visit? Chloe’s Pride misses her.”

“Who’s Chloe?” Kyle asked, adding a generous portion of seconds to his plate.

Mia broke into a joyous smile. “She’s the New York City mayor’s daughter. I was his PR representative. Over the summer, Chloe stayed here at the inn and helped with the horses. She’d gotten into some trouble at college and was mandated community service on the horse farm. I was her guardian.”

“That’s how Mia and I met,” Ethan said, giving her a wink. “She came to Gardiner in these sexy heels and stole my heart.”

Mia punched his arm. “Liar! He thought I was a spoiled, silly city girl who couldn’t cut it on the farm. Of course, I didn’t think very highly of him, either, so it was an epic battle.”

“But you fell in love with me, and we both won,” Ethan said.

Kyle made gagging noises. Harper cracked up.

Mia rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Chloe will be here in a few weeks. She can stay the night and have dinner with us on Sunday.”

“That’d be nice,” Ethan said. “She already texted me about her new boyfriend. Did you see his pic on Instagram? I want to meet him.”

Mia gasped. “I didn’t see it yet! I can’t believe she shared that with you first!”

Ethan shrugged. “We’re tight. Alternative music lovers unite.”

Kyle shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “Damn, dude, you’ve changed. Thank God it’s all for the good. Now, are we going to vote or not? What was your favorite dish?”

Ophelia groaned. “Is this really necessary?”

“You’re just afraid of losing.”

“Oh yeah? And what do I get if I win?”

He seemed to ponder her question with seriousness. “If you win, I’ll do all the cleanup tonight.”

“Good. I need a break.”

“But if I win, you take me to dinner this week. And no takeout, either. I want real napkins and fine china.”

Ethan whistled. “Be careful, Tink. Last time he made me pick up the bill, he ordered two bottles of pricey wine I couldn’t even pronounce. He’s gotten a bit pretentious.”

Kyle ignored him, his eyes probing hers. “Deal?”

She pursed her lips, refusing to back down even though she knew it was a trick. He thought he’d win and force her to spend time with him. But the odds were stacked against him. Her family went nuts over her cooking. It was an easy victory.

“Deal.”

“Harper, what dish did you like the most?” he asked.

Her sister didn’t even look sympathetic. “Potatoes. They rocked.”

Kyle smiled smugly. “One point for me. Mia?”

“The quiche. Simple perfection.”

“And that’s a point for me,” Ophelia said. “Ethan?”

Everyone stared at her brother. He surveyed the cluttered table. She sat back, relaxed. It’d be the biscuits. He had a weakness for her baked goods and any type of bread.

Thank God she wouldn’t have any cleanup and could retire early tonight.

“This is hard, but I have to be honest.” He shot Kyle a regretful look. “Sorry I have to say this, Kyle. It’s kind of embarrassing, but—”

“I guess I win,” she cut in.

“I love your meat.”

Her jaw dropped. Kyle gave a shout and did some type of high five with Ethan across the table. Mia murmured her condolences and swore she’d help her do the dishes. Ophelia burst into laughter at the whole ridiculous situation.

God, why did it feel so good to have him back?

And what the hell was she going to do about it?

Chapter Eleven

Ophelia finished piling in the groceries and shut the trunk of her lemon-colored SUV. Her guests were arriving tomorrow morning. By next weekend, she’d be at half capacity. She had a million things to do and needed to focus on work.

An image of last night’s dinner flashed in her mind. It was almost as if Kyle had slipped back into the family fold without a bump, even after all this time. He radiated a warm glow of ease and belonging that made her heart sigh. And after he’d won the silly contest, the promise of their dinner date hung heavily between them, causing her to shiver and stumble like a schoolgirl.

It was like she was becoming smitten with him all over again.

Ophelia groaned and headed back to the inn. She had to keep reminding herself that these next few months would be like a dream that would quickly end. They could all pretend they were united again as a family, but on April 1, Kyle intended to return to his real life. He would forget them like a blip on a screen. He’d spent too long carving out the career of his dreams to give it up. He lived in a fancy house with chefs and cleaners and had beautiful women hanging on him. He’d probably had dozens of lovers since her. Hundreds, maybe. The thought made her stomach twist with nausea, but she had to deal with the truth.