Page 116 of Hideaway Heart

“Thanks, Mama.”

She came over and took my hands. “I’m so proud of you, Kelly Jo. You’re still my baby, but you’ve taught me so much about persistence and resilience and staying true to yourself.”

“Stop it, Mama.” I pulled a hand back and fanned my face. “Don’t make me cry right now.”

She laughed. “Okay, okay. You go and wow them. I’ll be watching.”

“Thanks.” I took a deep breath and one final look at my reflection. I might have been all done up, but beneath the hairspray and lipstick and gems, I knew who I was and what I was doing. I felt like me in my skin.

And I wasn’t afraid.

* * *

“You look ravishing,” Duke said for the tenth time in the back of the black SUV with tinted windows. “I can’t take my eyes off you.”

“Thank you.” I scooted a little closer to the door so his leg, which was lolling to one side, wouldn’t touch me.

“Are you ready for the reactions when we hit that carpet? It might be chaos.”

“I’m ready.”

The car slowed, and I kept my eyes straight ahead.

“You know, you look different somehow,” he said thoughtfully. “Gorgeous, but different.”

“Must be all the makeup.”

“No. It’s not that. There’s just something about you that’s different. I can’t put my finger on it.”

Good, I thought.

The car came to a stop. “Well, what do you say, Pixie girl? Are you ready to give them what they want?”

“Please don’t call me that. I’m Kelly Jo Sullivan tonight. And moving forward.”

“Has the label okay’d that?”

“They will,” I said, more confident than I had a right to be.

The door on Duke’s side opened. He got out, then offered me a hand. With some difficulty in the heavy silver dress, I slid across the seat and placed my palm in his, already aware of the screaming crowd outside the vehicle.

I took one last deep breath, pasted on a smile, and stepped out.

Duke’s arm immediately circled my waist.

Tight.

TWENTY-SIX

xander

“Dammit,”I muttered after getting the update on my phone. My flight was delayedagain.

We’d already been delayed twice. It was close to three p.m. now, which meant I’d been sitting at this fucking airport for more than five hours.

I was tired and cranky, Kelly hadn’t been in touch, and my stomach was tied in knots. Maybe I was hungry. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

Tossing my carry-on over my shoulder, I left the gate and walked around the terminal until I saw a restaurant that had a couple open seats at the bar. I went in and sat down, and when the bartender came over, I ordered a beer and a club sandwich.