Page 69 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

And that answered it all.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Rory met withNolan in the drawing room. His morning had been spent fielding offers from three separate agents wanting to represent Endeavor Street. Kate admitted to reaching out to her contacts to set the stone rolling. One call from a record company had been quite the surprise. He knew his band members liked being in charge of their own albums, making their own decisions. A record company would have expectations that might interfere with personal lives and obligations, especially for Ven—and now for Dustin as well, since he’d started a family. But they could discuss it and all decide together. The agents’ offers, though, were an attractive option. Rory believed they would accept one of those, to gain access to more and better venues.

Rory motioned Nolan over to the two leather wingback chairs. He didn’t bother with the niceties but got right to the point. “So tell me. How is Sunny Briscoe connected to you?”

Nolan sat up straighter and met Rory’s gaze with a watchful, unblinking gaze of his own. He crossed his legs. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Rory nodded once. “Doesn’t matter. Because Sunny is talking. I just wanted to see if you would own up to it. The police already have the whole story from her. How she’s your cousin on your mother’s side, and how you put her up to stalking me.”

“Preposterous.” Nolan brushed at imaginary lint on his trousers.

“You knew she was ‘in love’ with me.” Rory put that in air quotes. “So you encouraged her. I guess you thought the publicity would help the band. Or maybe you were frustrated that I wouldn’t give you free rein with whatever you wanted to do in terms of promotion. You said on more than one occasion that more publicityof any kindwould land us a record deal.”

“I don’t know why you’re so opposed to my ideas. I’m the band’s manager.”

“Youwerethe band’s manager. As of today: You. Are. Fired. With cause, I might add. You endangered my life, the lives of every member of the band, and the life of Kate Mayfield.”

Nolan scoffed. “Sunny’s harmless. She’s just…”

“Deranged? Unpredictable? No one knows what she had planned. Or what she might do in her delusional state. The police have her for breaking and entering as well as trespassing. But the charges are mounting. She attacked the innkeeper and shoved her down the stairs. That’s battery. Miss Mayfield was injured in that fall.None of that equates with harmless.” Rory didn’t raise his voice, but the intensity in his tone had Nolan shifting awkwardly.

Rory wasn’t finished. “And while you never wanted to press charges when Sunny appeared at our venues, when she broke into our tour bus, or for any of the other bizarre behavior involved with stalking me, I can assure you that Kate Mayfield has no such compunction. Sunny Briscoe will be brought up on every possible charge for her actions. Who knows what she would have done if I hadn’t shown up when I did?”

“She’s…”

“Insane.”

“Yes, well, all that bit about a battle and swords…”

“She’s your family, Nolan. You knew she was nuts. Worse, you sicced her on me and the band.”

“I…”

But Rory waved away whatever he was about to say. “Get out. Don’t come back. The police are investigating. Local police are in contact with other agencies to determine the extent of the charges. They may well consider you an accessory.”

“You can’t…”

“Not up to me.” Rory shook his head.

“You wouldn’t press charges.”

“Kate is pressing charges. And let me add that you have upset all of us. Kyler isn’t happy. Marco is furious. Dustin is livid. And Ven, well, he’s calm and angry…and that is always a bad combination. So, Nolan, you need to leave right now. Because Kate invited them all over for tea, and they should be arriving any minute.”

Nolan blinked.

Rory made a shooing motion with his hands. “Your last check has been deposited into your bank account. We aretrulydone.”

Sounds at the front door and the voices of Rory’s bandmates had Nolan quickly rising. Rory pointed to the back entrance and watched his ex-employee make a mad dash out. He stumbled a little at the back door, and then flew down the steps.

Rory just barely made out the shadow of a cat on the wall. “Nice touch, Catspurr,” he said quietly. He rose and stepped into the foyer.

“Hey guys, come on in.” Kate greeted them with hugs and a collecting of coats, as all his bandmates and Dustin’s wife and daughter got settled in the dining room. A low arrangement of autumn sunflowers and lilies graced the large table as a centerpiece, and Kate had done herself proud with a little help from Ivy. Tea and pastries, both sweet and savory, awaited.

Conversation flowed effortlessly, and tea led to ordering in dinner from the diner. “You know, this is fun. I think I might host Thanksgiving here at the inn.”

“Will you cook a turkey?” asked Rory.

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