Page 90 of Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars (Rock Canyon, Idaho 2)

“Mrs. Collier!” Gemma almost yelled, but geez, the woman didn’t even breathe from one sentence to the next.

Gemma’s sharp tone didn’t faze her. “Am I talking too much? Nelson always says I talk too much. My brain just goes a mile a minute, and I can’t seem to get my mouth to stay shut.”

Gemma coughed to cover a laugh. “So I see. You mind telling me why you’re trying to steal my groceries?”

“Huh? Oh dear, it seems I forgot to ask where you were parked. I swear, I would lose my head if it wasn’t glued on, and wouldn’t that be a sight?”

Gemma was caught between exasperation and admiration. The woman sure could disarm her victims, like a spider disorienting a fly. Gemma had no doubt in her mind that the woman was a reporter, but the question was, why hadn’t Gemma sent her packing yet?

’Cause I can’t get a word in edgewise?

“Okay, Mrs. Collier, I think I know why you’re here, and I’m sorry, but I’m not giving any interviews,” Gemma said as nicely as she could.

“Believe me, honey, I understand. I just got to the party today. I was covering another scoop involving an up-and-coming country singer and her married manager, but I ended up not going through with it, because I actually know the cheating bastard’s wife. I ask you, why is it no one believes in the sanctity of marriage anymore?”

“I couldn’t tell you. My parents were fully committed and married for thirty years until my father’s death five years ago,” Gemma said, forgetting for a minute that Mrs. Collier was the enemy.

“Well, bless your poor mama’s heart, I wouldn’t know what to do without my Nelly. He hates when I call him that, but I love it. So, I find it surprising that your parents had such a long, happy marriage and you ran off to Vegas to get married . . .” Mrs. Collier said.

“On that note, it was nice talking to you and good luck with your story,” Gemma said, trying to take the cart from her.

“Please, Mrs. Bowers, you’ve seen the headlines. They’re saying whatever they want because you’re sitting back and not setting the record straight. Don’t you want people to know the whole story?” Mrs. Collier asked.

Gemma paused, considering what she was saying. Travis had said the only way to squash a story was to give a no-holds-barred exclusive. Was he right? If she told her side of everything, would the vultures find other bones to pick? “Okay, say I give you an exclusive. How do I know you won’t screw me over and twist my words?”

“I can give you my word, plus three references from past interviewees who will vouch for my integrity. You won’t regret sitting down with me, Mrs. Bowers,” Mrs. Collier said, handing her a business card. “I’m staying in town through tomorrow.”

Gemma took the card and blinked. “Music City News? The TV show?”

“Yes, sorry, did I forget to mention that? It’s a great program, and we’re all about the truth, unlike some ‘news’ shows,” Mrs. Collier said with a sniff of disdain.

If I tell them everything, maybe they’ll lose interest and leave Charlie alone.

And maybe it would give her just the opportunity she needed to make things up to Travis and Charlie.

Gemma put the card in her pocket. “I’ll think about it.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

* * *

“ARE YOU CRAZY, Travis? You’re at the top of your game! Why would you want to take a step back now?” Big George asked as he paced the room.

“Because I want to be there for my kid, George. What part of that don’t you understand?” Travis could understand George’s concern that if he slowed his momentum now, when he was barely past thirty, he might not have a large enough fanbase to start his own label later on, but he was determined. It was about time he got a life other than his career, and spending time with Charlie was suddenly his biggest priority.

“People don’t slow down until they’re getting ready to retire!” George argued, his voice rising with each word.

“I’m not ready to retire. I’m just going to take the next year off, buy myself a house in my hometown, and be with my family,” Travis said patiently.

“What family? I thought Gemma kicked you out,” George said, his face flushed. He lowered his voice slightly, “Are you sure the kid is even yours? It wouldn’t be the first time—”

“He’s mine, no doubt about it. And I never said Gemma kicked me out,” Travis said, not wanting to discuss his marriage with George. He liked the man, had been with him for ten years, but George was a money man, and anything else in life came second.

“All right, he’s yours, fine. But it doesn’t mean you have to go off the grid. We could hire a tutor and the kid could come on the road with you,” George said.

“No. I want my son to have stability and security. I want him to have a home, school, friends . . . not drifting around like a vagabond,” Travis said. He smiled as he added, “Besides, Gemma wouldn’t like it.”

“I don’t know why you care what that woman likes; she kept your son a secret for ten years and then married you without mentioning it. If I were you, I’d sue her ass for full custody and forget her,” George said.

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