Page 21 of Hold Still

“At least your story has a happy ending.”

She beams at me. “It’s all because of you, you know.”

I quirk my eyebrow. “Come again?”

“One night in Vegas a year or so ago, you had finished up your concert where Cole jumped on stage and previewed ‘No One to Hold.’ I was in your suite for an afterparty and went into your bedroom to, ah, to look for the bathroom.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, Rose was in there, crying her eyes out. That’s when we got reacquainted.”

I remember Rose coming to my room, her luggage trailing behind her, looking like a wet cat. “And the rest is history.”

“Yeah.”

Silence descends.

“Well, I sincerely doubt I’m going to end up at a party with Luis.” No. Fucking. Way.

“You could call him.”

“No.” More like no-fucking-way-am-I-ever-going-to-talk-to-that-asshole-ever-again. But “no” will suffice.

She sighs. “Alright. If what you did before isn’t an option now, what ideas do you have to get your writing back on track?”

I laugh. “If I knew that, I wouldn’t be in this situation, would I?” I start to drop the word “babes,” but stop myself. Somehow the nickname I always use with women is starting to ring hollow when applied to McKenna.

She smiles. “No, I guess not.”

While she takes another sip of the prosecco, my alarm goes off. “It’s dinnertime. Want to join me?”

“Dinner?” She checks her watch. “It’s barely even afternoon.”

“With my performing schedule, I prefer to eat my big meal midday. Gives time for digestion before I get up on stage. Plus, I’m over at the Jade around normal dinnertime anyway, practicing and getting ready.”

She stands. “I don’t want to intrude.”

I snort. “Says the woman who broke into my backyard.”

Shrugging, she says, “I was motivated.”

“Speaking of which, who do I have to fire for giving out my home address?”

She raises her hand and makes a zipping motion across her mouth. “I’m no tattletale.”

“I’ll get the info out of you one way or another. C’mon.” I stand. “I’m making dinner and you’re helping.”

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