A Winter Wedding(70)

“We could drive over to Jackson,” he said before she could refuse. “You could wear a hat and glasses, if you like. Other than our server, there really wouldn’t be anyone to make a fuss. If anything like that starts to develop, I’ll put a quick stop to it and get you out of there, I promise.”

Had she trusted him any less, she might not have agreed to go. But she knew he’d do his best to look out for her.

“We can drive around and see the Christmas lights afterward,” he said.

The thought of putting on some makeup and heading into the cool December air was invigorating. Going out allowed her to escape her computer, which seemed ominous sitting there on the table. Maybe she could just be a woman having dinner with a nice man and not the has-been artist, dumped-for-someone-else girlfriend of her fickle manager. “Okay. Where will we eat?”

“There’s a dimly lit steak house with excellent food that I like. I suggest we go there.”

She started down the hall. “I’ll be ready in twenty minutes.”





19

Kyle hadn’t heard from Noelle since he’d put her on notice that he wouldn’t pay her anymore if she continued to insert herself in his life—and he was feeling like a new man. He wished he’d insisted years ago that she not contact him. He hadn’t even realized how smothered he’d felt until he no longer had to worry about her. In fact, he’d decided that once Lourdes left for Nashville, he wasn’t going to feel any regret about remaining single. He planned to embrace his bachelorhood, make the most of it. Ever since he was young, he’d wanted a family, but people didn’t always get what they wanted. And now that he was escaping those old feelings for Olivia, and the long reach of his ex-wife, he figured there were other ways to be happy.

The freedom he felt right now was making him happy, wasn’t it?

So maybe searching for a partner wasn’t worth the risk, not when being with the wrong person could ruin his life. Think of the potential arguments and heartbreak he could avoid, he told himself. Sure, his friends were satisfied with their marriages. But he had no guarantee that the next woman he dated would be any better than Noelle—and that was a terrifying thought.

Anyway, he could think about marriage and children later, if he changed his mind. Maybe in five years or so he’d be willing to try again.

“You seem to be in a good mood,” Lourdes said, appraising him from the passenger seat.

They were stopped at one of only two lights in town, so he didn’t have to keep his eye on the road. But he barely glanced over at her. He didn’t want to acknowledge how attractive she was. She hadn’t worn the sunglasses and hat he’d suggested to camouflage her appearance. She’d put on a little black dress and come out of the bathroom looking as beautiful as if she was ready to step onstage.

But it wasn’t just her appearance he found pleasing. He enjoyed her company. Each day he left work a few minutes earlier.

Still, his excitement at being able to relegate Olivia and Noelle to the past was tempered by a fair bit of caution. If he wasn’t careful, he could end up in a situation that wasn’t any more fulfilling than the one he’d gotten out of.

He had to guard against that, and he knew it. “How can you tell?”

“You were smiling a second ago.”

“I was thinking about something.”

“What?”

“I haven’t heard from Noelle. I wish I’d threatened to turn off the money before. I could’ve saved myself a lot of grief.”

“I’m surprised.”

“That I’d be so relieved?” he said drily.

“No. That she’d back off. When you told me you’d called her, I was worried. You’re clearly the best thing she’s ever had. I was afraid she wouldn’t let you go that easily.”

“What can she do? Nothing, if she wants my money.”

“Your money may not be as important to her as you are.”

That idea brought a sense of claustrophobia. “Don’t say that. She sleeps with other guys and she’s had various relationships. It’s not as if she truly cares about me.”

“What if all those relationships have only showed her how good she had it with you? They might be what keeps bringing her back.”

“But we weren’t happy together. Even she has to acknowledge that.”

“Not necessarily. Some people believe what they want to believe—and she might believe that her life would be perfect if she could get you back. Anyway, you’ll still run into her here and there. You’d have to move away to avoid seeing her entirely.”

“I don’t mind the occasional random sighting. As long as it’s from a distance and she doesn’t try to approach me.”

“She can’t even talk to you?” she said with a laugh.

“No. I’m done. I’ve hit my limit. I don’t know how I’ve put up with her for so long.”

Lourdes adjusted her seat belt. “So this is a celebration. You’ve finally managed to rid yourself of your stalker.”

“With all the crap you were reading about yourself on the internet, I realize it’s not a celebration for you. But you’re going to be fine. I have no doubt, because there’s no questioning your talent.” He’d heard what she could do, had become a real fan listening to her albums as well as the partial songs she played for him every night. “You’ll find a good manager, a new label that’ll really get behind you, and you’ll soon be back on top.”