Page 108 of Hideaway Heart

“With who?” I grabbed his arm again, although we’d reached the corner, and the intersection at Broadway was busy. “Goddamn it, with who?”

“Look, I like Kelly, okay? She’s always been good to me. She should be careful who she trusts.” Yanking his arm free, he melted into the crowd, disappearing in a sea of denim and cowboy hats.

I stood there for a moment, then pulled out my phone and shot a message to Zach Barrett.

Hey, I changed my mind. Could you get that flight information to me?

He replied quickly.

On it.

I wasn’t sure what I’d learn from it. Maybe nothing. Maybe the trouble Hooper had been referring to was his sick kid or his habit of trespassing or maybe his wife had thrown him out—troublecould mean anything. But the warning at the end that Kelly should be careful who she trusts? That had me on edge.

I didn’t want to leave her.

TWENTY-THREE

kelly

“Kelly.You okay?”The seamstress looked up at me from where she knelt, pinning the hem of my awards show dress.

“I’m fine,” I said. “Sorry, I zoned out. Did you need me to turn?”

“Yes. I just want to look at the back in the mirror.”

Dutifully, I rotated ninety degrees and let her do her thing. I wasn’t sure what was the matter with me. Everything for the awards performance was going well. After apologizing for his rudeness during our last phone call, Duke was treating me with polite friendliness. Rehearsals were running smoothly, we sounded great together, and the label and producers were thrilled.

Wags, my agent, my parents, and the rest of my team were all proud of me and excited to watch the show. Jess was back in town, and it felt great to have a buddy again. I told her all about Xander, and she almost choked, she laughed so hard. She thought it was hilarious that the bodyguard I’d tried so hard to fire turned out to be the best sex of my life.

The divorce scandal had run its course, so paparazzi were interested in me again, and there was a lot of are-they-or-aren’t-they speculation about Duke and me since we were being heavily promoted as the opening act, but with Xander by my side whenever I was in public, I always felt protected.

I loved my dress—a long, glittering silver gown with a high slit—and I was eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and despite my late nights with Xander, doing my best to get enough sleep so I’d look and feel my best on Thursday night.

And yet, with just two days to go before the show, I felt like I was constantly on the verge of tears.

“Okay,” the seamstress said, rising to her feet. “Face the mirror one last time.”

I did as she asked just as Jess and my stylist, Kayla, entered the room. Both of them ooh’d and ahh’d.

“It’s so perfect,” Jess gushed.

“I’m so glad we went with the silver,” said Kayla. “It’s so sophisticated.”

“I think it’s perfect for introducing Kelly Jo Sullivan to the world,” said Jess.

“Thanks,” I said. Then without warning, I burst into tears.

“Oh honey, what’s wrong?” asked the seamstress. “Is it too tight?”

Blubbering, I shook my head. “It’s not the dress.”

Jess and Kayla came forward and helped me off the pedestal. “You’re overwhelmed,” Jess soothed. “This is a lot all at once. Let’s get that dress off and then we can talk.”

They helped me out of the heavy, sequined gown, which Kayla carefully took back to the seamstress. Once I was dressed in my jeans and top again, we walked up the street and ducked into a coffee shop. Jess and I grabbed a table at the back, and Kayla put in our orders at the counter.

A few minutes later, cold brew in hand, I tried to find words for what was wrong. “This is dumb, you guys,” I said, dabbing at the corners of my eyes. “I have nothing to be upset about. Everything is going fine.”

“Is it Duke?” Jess asked, ever suspicious of my ex.