Second Chance At The Ranch. Maxine Morrey

      ‘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