From the doorway, Conner watched her cross the yard and climb into her Toyota. An icy wind had sprung up, blowing the first powdery flakes of a storm. The snow thickened, swirling around the car as Megan drove out of the yard and down the lane. He stood watching until she disappeared from sight.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Megan turned on the windshield wipers to clear the blowing snow. But there was little she could do about the tears that blurred her vision. She had pinned her hopes and dreams on Conner. Under his spell, she had cast common sense aside and given him her foolish, love-hungry heart.

But she should have listened to the warning voice in her head. She should have known that Lacy would win again.

He’d wanted Lacy all along, even before they’d met, Megan reminded herself. She’d discovered that truth going into the relationship. It should’ve been a red flag the size of a football field. But she’d been so taken in by the charming cowboy that she’d ignored the danger signs. Now it was time to pay the price.

A few blocks from home, she pulled off the road to splash her face with water from a bottle in the car and to get her reeling emotions under control.

What next? she asked herself. She could go back to Nashville. She still had her apartment, and there should be a few midyear teaching jobs open, even though getting a reference from Derek might be an issue. He was just mean-spirited enough to cause her problems.

And what about her singing career? What if last night’s opener had gotten her noticed at last? Could she afford to walk away from that chance?

Until today, she had all but made the decision to move to Branding Iron. But the hope of a future with Conner had been a big part of that decision. Could she stay, now that their relationship was over? Branding Iron was a small town. She was bound to run into Conner and the next female in his parade of girlfriends. How would she handle it?

She was beginning to sympathize with Ronda May.

With a sigh, Megan pulled away from the curb and headed for home. She had some soul-searching decisions to make.

By the time she reached home, the snow was coming down in vast white sheets. Her father’s van was sheltered by the carport, but Megan had no place to park except alongside the driveway, where her car would soon be buried in snow.