Page 118 of Hideaway Heart

Fuck!

Following the signs for luggage claim, I ran as fast as I could for an exit. Waiting in line for a cab seemed to take fucking years. While I was standing there, I tried to connect everything. Duke had paid her dipshit security guys to tip off photographers, but how washegetting the information? Was someone in her inner circle feeding it to him? Was it her shithead dad? Would Wags betray her like that? Would her assistant? I found it hard to believe either Jess or Wags would do that to her. Maybe someone else at the record label, a PR person or something, had caught wind of her whereabouts and thought it would be good publicity.

And Duke. When I thought about him, I saw red. If that asshole thought he could continue to fuck with her now that I was in the picture, he had another thing coming. Every time I thought about him at her side today, the way she was trusting him to be a decent fucking human being, I wanted to kick his ass.

“Motherfucker,” I seethed, causing the guy in front of me to cast a wary eye over his shoulder.

Ten minutes later, I was in a cab heading for the theater. Unfortunately, it was rush hour, and the traffic around the city was gridlocked. Closing my eyes, I cursed myself for ignoring that gut feeling that told me not to leave her.

Never again.

TWENTY-SEVEN

kelly

Despite holdingme a little too close on the red carpet, Duke generally behaved as promised.

“Just friends,” he’d shout out when reporters or photographers asked if we were back together. But I could hear the insincerity in his voice, like his answer was a joke that everyone was in on.

We did a live television interview right before we entered the Milton. The reporter asked the usual questions about who we were wearing and what made this night so special. Duke kept that arm around me, and I tried not to squirm uncomfortably in his grasp.

“So, of course, I have to ask, are the rumors true?” The reporter smiled at us with big red lips and shiny white teeth. “Are you two back together?”

“You shouldn’t listen to rumors, Carrie,” Duke teased. “Pixie and I are just good friends.”

“Is this true?” Carrie asked, putting the microphone in my face.

Angry that he’d called me Pixie when I’d specifically asked him to refer to me as Kelly today, I managed a smile. “It’s true. We’re just friends. I’m actually dating someone else.”

Carrie’s eyes about popped from their sockets. “Who is he?”

“Keeping it secret for now,” I said, sensing Duke going stiff with fury beside me.

“Ooooh, a mystery man!” Carrie laughed and spoke to the camera. “You heard it here first. Back to you, James.”

Duke marched me into the Milton and pulled me aside. “What was that all about?”

“What?” I said innocently. Marius was standing nearby, so I wasn’t scared.

“You’re dating someone? Who?”

“None of your business.”

He pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose. “I don’t appreciate being ambushed, Pixie.”

“It’s Kelly,” I said. “My name is Kelly Jo Sullivan. Remember that, please.”

“Duke?” His publicist tapped his shoulder. “We need to get backstage.” She glanced around. “And this is very public.”

“Give us a minute,” he snapped. He held up his palms. “Look, I’m sorry. Tension is running high today. We can talk later. Let’s just give them all a good show.”

“Fine,” I said, although I had no desire to talk with him later.

I missed Xander already. I was sorry I’d told him to go.

* * *

Backstage, Duke went one way, and I was ushered in the other.