If so, he’d take them once she left...
“I was supposed to, but I’ve been putting in so many hours that I got someone else to cover my shift. I thought maybe we could take Lourdes to San Francisco and show her around.”
No way did she just say that. “Are you kidding?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Lourdes doesn’t want to go to San Francisco, Noelle.”
“How can you be so sure? Have you asked her?”
“Because I know why she’s here—to write her next album uninterrupted.”
“Well, she can’t work all day and all night. We could leave late—like eight or nine. Most of the good clubs don’t get busy until after ten, anyway.”
He choked back the diatribe that was going through his mind—which began with the reminder that they were exes and not friends. She’d just say he was being mean.
Taking a deep breath to bolster his patience, he opted for a simple “No.”
“No, what?”
“We’re not going out with you.”
There was a long moment of silence. “So are you going without me?”
He pressed his palm to his forehead. The painkiller Lourdes had provided was no longer doing its job. “Lourdes has a boyfriend. We’re not going out at all. I’m her landlord. I’m letting her stay at my place only because the furnace at the farmhouse isn’t working. The moment that’s fixed, she’ll be moving in there.”
“You aren’t attracted to her?”
He wasn’t admitting to anything. “She’s too famous for me. I wouldn’t enjoy the attention.”
“And no one can replace Olivia.” Her voice had turned sour. “Believe me, I can guess what you’re thinking.”
Clutching his hair, he squeezed his eyes closed—until someone came up and touched his arm. “Kyle, are you okay?”
He opened his eyes to see Mrs. Higgins, an older widow who lived in town, looking at him curiously.
Curving his lips in a reassuring smile, he nodded. “Yes. Of course. I’m fine. How are you today?”
“Creaky. But I’m creaky most days. Comes with age,” she teased and left him to finish his phone conversation.
“Where are you?” Noelle asked.
“Picking up a few groceries.”
“Why don’t you stop over? We should talk. I feel as if the nicer I am, the meaner you get.”
Her words did nothing to help him relax but he worked a little harder to master his irritation. “I apologize,” he said curtly. “It isn’t intentional.”
“That’s better. So are you coming over?”
“No.”
“Because...”
“Because we don’t have anything to talk about! I gave you a water heater. You thanked me with a meal. And now I’m arranging a time to return your dishes. That’s a polite exchange, isn’t it?”
“Polite? It doesn’t matter to you that we were once married? You’re never going to get Olivia, Kyle. You might as well settle for me.”
He’d never be that desperate. “We’re divorced, Noelle. Divorced people do not continue to see each other.”
“That’s not true! A lot of them do. And some of them get back together.”
“I’m sorry, but we won’t be reconciling. Ever.”
“Why? You married me before. I must have something you like.”
Was she forgetting about the baby? Which she’d used to force his hand?
“I’ve changed,” she went on. “If you’d give me a chance, I could prove it to you. But you’re too busy holding grudges.”
“I’m not holding any grudges. I’m being as nice as I can.”
“You’re fighting what you feel because you don’t want to get hurt again. But I won’t hurt you. I’ll be a better wife this time around. I promise.”
Kyle dropped his head back, appealing to the sky. Was this really happening? At what point had he given her any hope? “I’m sorry. I’m not interested.”
“You won’t even consider it? Wait until you see what I’m wearing.” Her voice turned sultry. “You won’t be able to resist me.”