If the Boot Fits Read online

  “I don’t want to get kicked in the face. And as you can see, I am very beautiful. We can’t let anything happen to my beautiful face,” Amanda added, deadpan.

  Evie burst out laughing. “No, you’re gorgeous and your head belongs on your shoulders. Let’s see. I would say it’s good to start with getting comfortable around horses. Babe, maybe Steve can come say hi.”

  Zach pursed his lips and let out two high, quick whistles. Steve lifted his head from whatever he was investigating in the grass and made his way over to the fence. Majesty followed.

  “Come here,” Zach said to Amanda. “Come step up right here.” Sam watched as she made her way over to him and stepped up on the bottom railing of the fence. “Okay. When he comes over here, just hold still. He’ll take care of the rest.”

  “He’s not gonna kick me in the face, is he?” Amanda asked.

  “You betcha. It’s the first trick I taught him. Find the nearest guest and kick them right in the fucking face. Come here, boy. Give Amanda a kiss.” Zach gave Steve the cue, a light tap on Amanda’s cheek. Sure enough Steve came over and brushed his big horsey lips across her cheek and then gave her a light peck on the forehead. He took a few steps back and waited for his next cue.

  Sam reached over and lightly touched her elbow. “You can open your eyes.”

  She pried them open and smiled. “Can I pet him?”

  “Sure. Come here, boy.” Steve stepped back over the fence and waited patiently while Amanda stroked the side of his large head.

  “Hey, sweet boy. Aren’t you the sweetest?” she said quietly, like she only meant for Steve to hear.

  “Oh, watch out. Here she comes,” Evie said as Majesty nudged her way into the party. Steve backed up, giving her room to shove her face under Amanda’s hand.

  “I—” Sam started to . . . he didn’t know what. Maybe he was trying to save Amanda from Majesty’s proven track record of being somewhat of an asshole. But to everyone’s surprise all Majesty seemed to want was Amanda’s attention.

  “Well hello, pretty girl.” Amanda lightly stroked her mane. Sam looked over at Evie, who was also watching this exchange in silent awe. Zach just looked confused as hell, his left eyebrow almost touching the brim of his Stetson. The three of them stopped breathing as Majesty came closer and rested her chin on Amanda’s shoulder. Amanda leaned into the whole wild spectacle, stroking Majesty’s face while she whispered in her ear. After a few long moments, she leaned back and gave Majesty a nod, like whatever business they had with each other was now concluded. Majesty turned and went to sniff around the pasture. Amanda hopped off the fence railing and wiped her hands on her jeans.

  “What in hell was that?” Zach laughed.

  “Animals just like me,” she said with a shrug.

  “What did you say to her?” Evie asked.

  “I told her that you guys don’t appreciate her beauty and see her for what she really is.”

  “And what’s that?” Sam said.

  “America’s next top model. This horse is all ego. You’re a Hollywood man. You should know. You just gotta make her feel appreciated instead of like a problem. Then she’ll come around.”

  “I mean, she has a point,” Evie added.

  “Maybe I don’t need to ride a horse. Maybe I just needed to befriend one and I think Majesty and I are working on something good.”

  “Well then,” Sam said with a chuckle. His laughter died though as soon as Amanda came back to his side and took his hand. The warmth of her fingers sent a tingle up his arms and across his chest. He knew things were fresher than fresh between them, but he also knew how easy it would be for him to be with her like this.

  Evie glanced down at their hands, then smiled at Sam. “Are you joining us for brunch? I’ve put together a pretty bomb-ass menu.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Am I?” Amanda asked Sam cautiously.

  “You’re more than welcome to.”

  “Oh no, I mean, if you’re cooking I don’t want to just—”

  “I’m already cooking for, like, fifteen if you include what I have to make to get Jesse to four thirty this afternoon,” Evie said. “You’ve met Jesse?”

  “I have. And I saw him eat a whole tub of cheeseballs by himself last night.”

  “See? One more mouth won’t matter. Trust me. Plus, Sam gave me his version of how you two got together. I want the deets from you, the legit horse whisperer. ’Cause I think you might have literally bewitched him and he just doesn’t know it.”

  “Evie, please,” Amanda hissed. “You’re spilling all my secrets.”

  “Oh yeah, you’re coming. Let’s go.” Evie grabbed Zach and they started back toward the lodge. Sam turned to follow but Amanda held him back.

  “Are you sure it’s okay? I just came down here to sleep mostly. Check out the spa. I do not want to intrude on family time again.”

  “I promise. It’s fine. And Vega will be there too. My grandmother loves a full house,” Sam said.

  “Right, your grandmother. Thee Leona Lovell. You want me to just walk up into her house, last minute, for a family brunch.”

  Sam reached down and took both her hands. “I am not saying this as some corny bullshit to convince you to come along just because I want you there. My grandmother is going to love you. There is a chance by the end of the day she may love you more than me.”

  “Are you the favorite?” she asked with that megawatt smile.

  “Depends. I’m my mom’s favorite for sure. My grandmother sometimes favors Jesse, but then Lilah moved in, took everyone’s fucking shine.”

  “Poor baby.”

  “Come on.”

  “Wait. You also didn’t mention that Evie freaking Buchanan was your sister-in-law.”

  “Soon-to-be, though most everyone here acts like they are already married. I didn’t know to mention it.”

  “Are you related to any other super famous, amazing Black women?”

  “My mom is a former Miss California, but she won’t be at brunch. That’s all I got.”

  Sam laughed as soon as Amanda sucked her teeth. “Let’s head back to the house.”

  She glanced over her shoulder, back toward the pasture. “Wait one sec.”

  “Sure, what—” He looked over as Bam Bam came over to the fence. Amanda dropped his hand and went back over to greet the young colt.

  “Hey, bud. I saw you over there, but I wanted to give you your space. You’re special, aren’t you? A little shy maybe, but everyone loves you ’cause you’re so handsome.”

  “You should take Bam Bam out on the trails, Amanda. He’s been great to ride,” Evie called back. Amanda gave him a parting stroke of his nose, then jogged back to catch up with them.

  “Maybe if I come back again. Still a little nervous about the whole getting-on-the-horse part.”

  “After what I just witnessed that makes not a lick of sense, but whatever you want,” Evie laughed.

  They made their way back to Zach’s truck, hand in hand. As they walked Sam wondered whether he should broach the subject of Valentine’s Day and see if Amanda wanted to make something official happen between them that night. Like another romp between the sheets or a proper date. Before he could convince himself, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

  He pulled it out and frowned at the notification on the screen.

  Dru Anastasia’s assistant just tracked me down and asked me for your number.

  Sam stopped and read the text more closely, just to see if he had read it wrong.

  “Everything okay?” Amanda asked.

  “Yeah, just a text from my assistant. One second. I just wanna—just wanna handle this so I don’t have to think about it for the rest of the weekend.” Or ever.

  What did you say?

  He knew Walls wouldn’t give out his number, but whatever was going on with Dru was starting to look a little suspect.

  Walls sent back a screenshot of the conversation.

  Hi, Chris. This is Mandy, Dru’s assistant.


  She was hoping she could get Sam’s number so they could link up.

  Hi Mandy. The best way to reach Sam

  for professional inquiries would be

  through his agent. John Coffey is with

  TCA and I’m sure he’d love to chat

  with Dru’s agent.

  I should have been more clear.

  I’m so silly.

  I meant link up, privately.

  What do you want me to say?

  Sam did not need this shit right now. He’d just started on a good path with Amanda again and he didn’t need someone, frankly, as unprofessional as Dru Anastasia messing that up.

  Tell her thanks, but no thanks.

  Cha-Cha came out and we’re gonna give

  things a try.

  Walls texted back one more time.

  “Sam would be flattered, but he’s focusing on his family and career at the time. Best to Dru with any future love connections.” Good? And tell Cha-Cha I said sup.

  Yes, perfect. Hit send. And fuck no.

  A laughing smiley and thumbs-up emoji was his final reply.

  It was the right thing to say to Dru, but now Sam felt a little off about her even having his assistant’s information. How the hell did she get Walls’s number? Sam shook it off and looked over at Amanda. Her eyebrows lifted and a small smile filled with concern touched the corner of her full lips.

  “Okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry. Just someone trying to nudge for something they aren’t going to get from me. Nothing serious. Let’s go.” She rubbed the back of his hand as they continued walking, trying to soothe the tension that had suddenly settled on him. Dru shooting her shot shouldn’t have bothered him so much. It shouldn’t have bothered him at all. Still, it took nearly the length of the property to shake the tone of those texts off so he could focus all his attention back on the ray of sunshine by his side.

  Chapter 13

  Amanda was doing her best not to sweat or to wallow in the stupid decision not to go back to her room to change. She didn’t bring many A-list options, but she should have swapped out her zip-up hoodie for a nicer sweater. Or she should have asked Sam if she had time to run into town to see if she could pick a prom dress to wear to brunch with thee freaking Leona Lovell. The woman was Hollywood royalty. If Amanda’s mom knew she was about to set foot in the woman’s home she’d have a stroke, resurrect herself, then ask Amanda to ask her for an autograph. Yes, Amanda had been under the same tent with her the week before, but family brunch was different. Family brunch was way different.

  On the ride back to Pleasant Lane, she sat in the back seat of Zach’s extended crew cab listening to him and Evie tease each other about something funny that had happened with Bam Bam on their ride. Sam showed her the pictures of Evie’s horse stopping to befriend a black-tailed jackrabbit. The whole thing was absolutely adorable, but all Amanda could think about was how she was minutes away from being face-to-face with a true goddess of the stage and screen. Not that Sam wasn’t impressive all on his own, but Amanda wasn’t starstruck by him. She was just overwhelmed by how bad she wanted to kiss him. Kissing would have to come later. Much later, after she survived her encounter with one of the greatest actors the world had ever known.

  They pulled through the grates of the private property and this time, in the clear morning sunlight, Amanda got a better view of the stretch of land that Sam and his family called home. The three Spanish-style houses around the expansive cul-de-sac and a few outbuildings up the side of the lane were way more impressive than the small, two-story Cape Cod she’d grown up in. Though she still missed the tiny attic bedroom she’d made her own.

  “First stop. Chez Leona,” Zach announced. He pulled his truck to a stop at the center of it all, then glanced over the seat at her and Sam. Sam took her hand just as she caught a glimpse of Euca jumping out of the flatbed behind them.

  “Grandma’s a little old-school. So I’ll walk you in with Evie and introduce—”

  “Time out. Is this a thing thing?” Evie said, motioning between them.

  “Uh, yes? But a fresh thing,” Amanda replied, unsure of what Sam had told his brother and future sister-in-law. “A new thing.”

  Evie waved Amanda off and unbuckled her seat belt. “I’ll handle it. Amanda, come in with me and you guys go get cleaned up.”

  “You sure?” Sam asked, giving Amanda’s hand a light squeeze. She appreciated the warm reassurance, but Evie might have been onto something. She responded before Amanda could make up her mind.

  “Yes. Your mom raised absolute gentlemen. Don’t worry, but if you come in and make it a thing, Miss Leona is gonna make it a thing and you know Corie is gonna make it a thing.”

  “True,” Sam said.

  “And I think Amanda would feel more comfortable if it wasn’t a thing.”

  “Say ‘thing’ again,” Zach teased.

  Evie rolled her eyes and turned her full attention back to Amanda. “Miss Leona is the best, but I’m just saying if you give her something, she’s going to run with it. It’s your call.”

  Amanda glanced between the three of them, then gave Sam’s hand a squeeze of her own. “I’ll go with Evie. Hopefully, this isn’t a total setup.”

  “You’re in good hands,” Sam laughed. Amanda kissed him on his scruff-covered cheek, then hopped out of the truck and followed Evie to the front door where Euca was waiting for them.

  “Miss Leona is seriously the best. Cool as hell, especially for eighty-two, but Sam is right. She’s old-school. Just keep that in mind.”

  “Got it.”

  Evie opened the door and let Euca run in ahead of them. As they stepped inside Amanda followed Evie’s lead and took off her Converse as Evie toed out of an extremely expensive-looking pair of boots. The entryway had the same style as the entryway of Jesse’s house, but this was on a grander scale. A foyer, if you will. Amanda took in the archways and the Spanish tile and she glanced down the hallways that seemingly led to different wings of the house. Off to the right she could hear some Luther Vandross playing.

  “Come on this way,” Evie said with a bright smile. Amanda let out a deep breath and followed her down the hallway. They stepped into an enormous kitchen, where thee Leona Lovell was swaying in front of a six-burner Viking range singing along to “Never Too Much.” Sam’s cousin Lilah was sitting at the island with her laptop, wiggling her shoulders along to the beat. She looked up and smiled like she was about to say hello when Evie cut her off.

  “Miss Leona! I told you I was cooking!”

  The elderly woman didn’t even flip her beach-waved blond bob wig in their direction when she replied. “Baby girl, I know you are not yelling at me in my own house. In my own kitchen.” She turned to them then, checking in the most hilariously sweet way if Evie had decided to change her tone. Right on cue, Evie’s shoulders dropped and she tried again.

  “Good morning, Miss Leona. You look so lovely today.”

  “Much better. Come give me a kiss.” Evie did what she was told, crossing the beautiful tile floor before kissing the elderly woman on her cheek.

  “I thought I was cooking today. When I suggested a family brunch I didn’t mean for you to lift a finger.”

  “It’s my fault,” Lilah spoke up. “I mentioned this lemon blueberry crepe tart recipe and before I could stop her, she was gliding outside to get some eggs.”

  “Glide I did, Miss Lilah,” she said, as she swayed a little more, the fabric of her seafoam green tunic swirling around her hips. Amanda wasn’t sure what she expected, but she definitely didn’t expect Miss Leona Lovell to be so light and fun.

  “Did you just get off a horse?” she asked Evie suddenly.

  “Yes, ma’am, I did and I am going to shower right now.”

  “Good. Now who is this?” She waved her spatula in Amanda’s direction. She instantly felt her cheeks warm. Please let this woman like me, she thought.

  “Geez, I’m so sorry. Miss Leona, this is Sam’s friend Amanda. She’s visiti
ng the ranch for the weekend. I thought she could join us since we have enough to feed Jesse—”

  “Oh, we have enough to feed a small city. Of course you can join us for brunch.” She looked over at Amanda before she focused back on the crepe slowly browning in the pan. “We met last week at that lovely wedding.”

  “Briefly, ma’am. Yes. Yes we did.”

  “And she watched the worst movie ever with us last night,” Lilah added with that same kind smile she’d greeted her with. Amanda already liked her.

  “Well, it’s nice to see you again. Yvonne, where are my grandsons?”

  “They are over at Zach’s, showering. Which I am going to do right now. I’ll be back in a minute . . . to help you finish preparing this delicious meal.” Evie winked at Amanda, then ducked back down the hallway. Amanda knew she was in perfectly good hands, but that didn’t help her back away from the edge of a possible freak-out. She was in Leona Lovell’s kitchen. In her actual home. How was she supposed to handle that? She realized there was only one thing to do. Get the freak-out out of her system.

  “Um, I hope this isn’t too much, but I am a huge fan of your work. My mother is even a bigger fan. I had a horrible case of the flu in fifth grade and she let me watch Glory in the Night and just—”

  Miss Leona glanced over at her. Just the corner of her lip tipped up in the slightest grin, trapping Amanda’s voice in her throat. She was not going to cry in the middle of this woman’s kitchen. Miss Leona carefully slid the finished crepe on top of the small stack she’d started, then set the pan back on the stove. She turned toward Amanda and, as if in the most magical slow motion, held open her arms. With a gracious flick of her wrists and careful nod of “get your ass over here,” she beckoned Amanda into her warm embrace.