Free Escaping Reality (Hart Ranch Book 1) by Rachel Skatvold Page A

show up two days ago they cancelled my reservation.” In truth, she’d panicked and hightailed out of town when the paparazzi ambushed her at the resort. Someone must have tipped them off, but who?
    Logan furrowed his brow. “Well that’s too bad. What are you going to do?”
    Addison shrugged. “Well, I’d hate to cut my vacation short. Are there any cabins available here for about three weeks?”
    Logan’s eyes widened. “Three weeks? I thought you couldn’t wait to get away from here.”
    A smile played on her lips. “What can I say? I guess the ranch has grown on me.”
    Belle came out of the barn and her face lit up. “Addie!” She rushed over and enveloped her in a hug. “What are you doing back here?”
    She chuckled, genuinely happy to see her friend again. “Well, it turns out I might need to stay here for a little bit longer than I planned, if you have the space.”
    “ Three weeks longer,” Logan added.
    “Really?” Belle squeaked and released her.
    Addison nodded with a smile.
    “Oh, I’m sure your cabin is still open.” She clasped her hands together. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I’ll go make your reservation right away.” With a flip of her brown curls, she darted inside the ranch store.
    Addison caught Logan’s eye roll after his exuberant sister left but noticed he sported an amused grin on his face. “Well I think you just made someone’s day.”
    She nodded. “Yeah, I can see that.”
    Logan motioned toward her car. “Can I help you with your bag?”
    Addison agreed and watched him lift her suitcase out of the trunk. He wasn’t wearing his usual flannel overshirt today and his white t-shirt showed off his muscular arms.
    She blushed and looked away. Addison must have gone crazy to come back—even crazier to be attracted to a rugged cowboy she’d just met two days ago. However, at the moment, crazy seemed to make her happy. Now she had three weeks to figure out why.

Chapter Thirteen
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    S oft knocking on the door woke Addison from a dead sleep. She groaned and rolled out of bed. “Who is it?”
    “It’s Belle. Sorry, I know it’s early.”
    She padded to the door and opened it, still rubbing sleep out of her eyes. “Is everything all right?”
    Belle nodded and entered the cabin holding a tray with scrambled eggs, toast and coffee. She sat it down on the bed. “Yes. Sorry, I woke you up. I’m heading into town this morning. Would you like to come with me?”
    “Sure. Sounds like fun.” Addison sat on the bed and noticed her friend’s fancied up wardrobe for the first time. “What’s the special occasion?”
    Belle fiddled with the collar of her violet blouse. “I’m interviewing someone today. If all goes well, they’ll be taking over for me at the diner.”
    Addison’s eyes widened. “Are you thinking of moving away?”
    Her friend nibbled on her lip and then a look of pride glowed over her face. “No. Actually the exact opposite. I want to take over the ranch some day.”
    “Wow, that’s a big responsibility.”
    “I know. I just feel in my heart that it’s what I’m supposed to do though. It’s been my dream since I was a little girl.”
    Addison ate her breakfast while Belle filled her in on the plan that Logan had come up with. Her friend’s excitement was contagious, but she hoped Belle knew what she was getting herself into. Sure, dreaming about the future seemed exciting but Addison had learned firsthand that things don’t always pan out in the end. Not too long ago she’d been naïve and starry-eyed like Belle. Addison had it all—fame, a promising career and a handsome rich fiancé. Then Jared humiliated her and all her dreams of a happy future came to a screeching halt.
    Addison kept her reservations hidden as Belle stood with the breakfast tray. “Well I’ll take this back to the kitchen. When you’re ready, go ahead and meet me outside.”
     
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    An hour later they arrived in a