A Winter Wedding

Suddenly, everything seemed to be turning around. Keeping Derrick as her manager and recording a song as great as “Crossroads” could put her back on top. She also liked what she’d written so far and had begun to feel she’d have some great material of her own to follow up the new song.

“Thank you,” she told Crystal. “I appreciate that you’ve made what had to be a difficult call.” She took a deep breath. “I also respect it,” she admitted. “It’s not often you run into that kind of thing these days.” Especially in the entertainment industry...

“Thank you for allowing me to apologize. I don’t want to destroy anyone’s life or career or anything else. My motto is ‘Do no harm.’”

After she disconnected, Lourdes sprang to her feet and began to pace. Her hopes and dreams had been revived! She’d been offered a second chance!

Then why did she feel so depressed at the thought of leaving Whiskey Creek? Sure, she cared about Kyle, but he was really in love with Olivia. He’d made no secret of that. He’d let her know, from the very beginning, that he’d never get over his stepbrother’s wife.

She should buy a ticket and head home as soon as possible. And she shouldn’t worry about anything else.

Except she knew in her heart that Kyle’s feelings for Olivia had changed—and so had her feelings for Derrick.

*

Kyle took a shower, then dropped onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He could no longer hear the hum of Lourdes’s voice, so she was off the phone. He thought she might come to him. Lord knew he wanted her to. But as the minutes ticked away, he guessed she wouldn’t. She was going back to Nashville. Whatever song Derrick had sent her had tempted her beyond her ability to refuse.

It was almost one when his phone indicated a text message. He was half-asleep by then and didn’t want to wake up enough to check it. But after the fire and what had happened with Noelle tonight, he didn’t dare ignore it.

“What have you done now?” he grumbled, but the text wasn’t from her. It was from Brandon.

Tell me you did not have sex with Lourdes in the alley behind Callie’s studio tonight.

“Damn Noelle,” he muttered and wrote his brother back.

No.

Liar. Noelle’s over here sobbing to Olivia about it. I can hear her.

Noelle needs to keep her mouth shut.

She says you hate her and want to see her go to prison.

As harsh as that accusation was, Kyle didn’t have it in him to deny it.

Does that surprise you?

Not especially. But I’m almost convinced she didn’t set the fire.

Don’t listen to her. No one’s a better liar.

Agreed. Still. She’s sounding sort of believable.

She had both motive and opportunity. And she has no alibi.

You don’t think it could’ve been Genevieve, like she claims?

Genevieve wasn’t the one whose car pulled in and then took off like a bat out of hell.

Good point. So let’s talk about Lourdes. Things are heating up with her, huh?

As Kyle stared at those words, it felt as if he had a thousand pounds of sand crushing his chest.

No. Not really. She’s had something come up—an opportunity of some kind. I’m pretty sure she’ll be going back to Nashville early.

When? Not before the wedding, I hope. Riley and Phoenix were hoping she’d sing one song—the one for the first dance.

I doubt she’ll be here to do that.

Too bad. Are you at least bringing her to the rehearsal dinner tomorrow night?

If she wants to come, he wrote back. He was just leaning over to set his phone on the nightstand when he heard a soft knock.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Lourdes stepped inside. “I...um...I hate to have to tell you this, but...I’ll be leaving on Tuesday,” she said.

It didn’t matter that he’d expected as much—Kyle’s stomach muscles tensed. “You’re going back to Derrick.”

“I’m going back to Nashville, not Derrick,” she clarified.

At least the fact that she wouldn’t be around long hadn’t come out of nowhere. He’d known it from the start, even if this was a lot sooner than they’d planned. “That’s what I figured. Derrick can give you what you want.”

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