The Hottest Ticket in Town

by Kimberly Van Meter

  Was that bad? A few more days with Kane?

  Yeah, that was probably worse than she realized. She shouldn’t stay here at the ranch with him here. A hotel room would’ve been safer. Kane had offered to stay in the pump house but they both knew that wasn’t going to happen. He was going to sleep beside her every night until she chose to leave. They’d already crossed the line—no sense in trying to put that genie back in its bottle. They were so good together, it was a mystery how they’d ever broken apart.

  Well, not entirely a mystery. Kane had stomped on her heart and then walked away. If there was anything she hated more, it was reliving that day because it still had the power to double her over.

  “What do you mean you joined the Marines?” she’d asked, stricken. “I don’t understand. You know I’m going to Nashville this month. You said you were coming with me.” Kane had never looked at her with such distance in his eyes, but that day he was a million miles away and she was as insignificant as a fly buzzing around his head, more of an annoyance than anything truly distressing. She reached out to him, trying to grasp his hand, but he pulled away. “Kane?” Her voice broke as tears started to stream down her face. “What’s going on?”

  He turned his gaze away from her, away from her tears, with a shrug. “Listen, I don’t want to hurt your feelings but your dream was never mine. I just told you what you wanted to hear at the time, but I’ve got to start thinking about what’s right for me, too.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she cried, shaking her head. “You said I had what it took to go places and you’d be there with me every step of the way. What changed?”

  “Yeah, I did say that, but that got me to thinking. What’s in it for me? What am I supposed to do, Laci? Follow you around the globe while you’re off being famous? Am I supposed to carry your bags and trail a few steps behind you while the world gets the best of you? I gotta be honest with you...that’s not my gig. It never was and I never should’ve pretended that it could be. I’m sorry.”

  “You said you loved me,” she said bitterly. “I guess that was a lie, too?”

  Something passed over Kane’s features that almost gave her hope but then it was gone, replaced by the hard light in his eyes skewering her with his decision. “Whatever we had was kid stuff, Laci. You’re practically a baby. What do you know about life and what you want out of it?”

  “You’re only a year older than me so don’t act like you’re some wise old man,” she retorted, her temper returning. “You’re just a coward. That’s all you are, Kane Dalton—a scared little boy who’d rather run than deal with the possibility that things are going to change. I never asked you to be the guy who walked ten steps behind me—I asked you to be the man who walks beside me. There’s a difference.”

  “Not to me,” he maintained stubbornly. “Not in the lifestyle you’re choosing. I’m not cut out for that shit. As for being only a year older—maybe so—but I’ve lived more in my years, suffered more than you can imagine, and sometimes I feel hundreds of years older than you.”

  She drew back, stung. “You’re holding against me the fact that my father isn’t a drunk asshole who beat me?”

  “No. But our experiences are different and sometimes I get tired of your naive way of thinking when it comes to life in general.”

  “Oh! Is that so? Well, screw you, then, Kane. Screw you!”

  He exhaled, shoving a hand through his hair, as if searching for a better way to drop a bomb on someone but realized there was no easy way to destroy someone’s life, and simply said, “Sorry. I did what was best for me. For what it’s worth, I do think you’re talented and I know you’re going to be a star someday. You’re just not going to be the star in my universe. Good luck, Laci.”

  “Don’t you dare tell me good luck like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you care.”

  He made a noise of exasperation as he hooked his thumbs into his belt loops. “I do care, Laci. I just can’t do what you’re wanting me to and I figured it was best to end it now before it got real messy.”

  “You could’ve been honest with me from the start,” she said, wiping her eyes. “You never should’ve encouraged me or told me that I could sing when you never planned to support me all the way. You’re bailing on me when I need you the most.”

  “I’m not bailing on you,” he said, quietly disagreeing, which baffled her. He shocked her by pulling her to him and brushing the sweetest of goodbye kisses across her lips. She softened a little automatically because Kane always had that effect on her, but her heart was breaking. He was really doing this—leaving her. “That voice of yours...it’s the real deal,” he murmured. “Just like you are. Take care, Laci.”

  And then he released her, walking away. When he drove away that day, he’d actually been packed and ready to report for boot camp. From what she’d learned from the Bradfords, he’d been shipped out the next day. She’d cried for days. If it hadn’t been for her daddy keeping her on track, she never would’ve made it to that audition in Nashville nor attracted the attention of the right people at the right time.

  The rest, as they say, was history.

  But now that Kane was back in her life—if even temporarily—all sorts of unresolved feelings were bubbling to the surface and she didn’t know whether it was wise to give them a closer look or put a lid on them.

  She didn’t quite know what to do, actually. Her heart desperately wanted to spend as much time as possible with Kane, to pretend that the outside world didn’t exist beyond the property lines of the Bradford ranch. Being here made it possible to daydream about the life she hadn’t chosen—a simpler life with family and the mundane stress of most people. Closing her eyes, a half smile lifted her mouth as she pretended for a minute that she and Kane had been graced with their fairy-tale ending and that they lived on a ranch like this one, their kids running in and out of the house making a huge racket while Kane did his thing outside and she tended to the kitchen details. Yeah, it was Mayberry, USA in her mind and that’s exactly how she liked it, even if it was a total fantasy. Life wasn’t that rosy. Sighing, she opened her eyes and knew it was time to figure out lunch. Kane would be home soon with the appliances.

  Home.

  If only.

  * * *

  KANE FOUND LACI out on the back porch, strumming her guitar and testing out a new tune. He stopped, transfixed by the sight of her sitting there, feet tucked under her in the old wicker chair, her guitar across her chest, her hair tied up in a messy knot by a red bandanna. The sunlight bathed Laci in a warm yellow glow, lighting up the highlights in her hair like something out of a shampoo commercial, and he could do nothing but stare with hungry eyes.

  God, was there ever a more beautiful woman on this planet than Laci McCall? Not in his world. Laci had won the genetic lottery, blessed with looks and talent, and brains, too.

  And, hot damn!, that girl was sexy. As if sensing he was there, she looked up and smiled, brightening his day with that guileless sweetness that was inherently Laci. Within that one look, he forgot all about everything that rubbed him the wrong way and he returned the smile.

  “What you working on?” he asked, climbing the porch to join her.

  “Just something that keeps popping into my head,” she answered, adding bashfully, “It’s not done yet. Not even a little.”

  “Can I hear it?”

  “You want to?”

  “Of course,” he said, settling into the opposite wicker chair.

  “What about the appliances?”

  “They aren’t going nowhere. They can wait a minute while I listen to your song. Unless you don’t want to...”

  “No, no,” she rushed to assure him with a quick smile, bending to pluck at the strings to get her bearings. She settled and then began, strumming her guitar as her sweet voice brought the
lyrics to life.

  “Someday time will belong to me, someday you’ll come to me but someday ain’t here just yet so I wait by that place we always knew...that place where we were true.”

  She finished the chord and Kane had to work to swallow the sudden lump in his throat. Was she talking about their past? Did she feel that way about him still? So much water under that bridge.

  She peered at him almost shyly. “Well? Did you like it?”

  “It’s good,” he admitted, clearing his throat of the emotion stuck in it. “Sounds like another hit.”

  “Maybe if I could finish it,” she retorted, setting her guitar beside the chair. “It’s been stuck in my head for weeks. I can’t seem to find the rest of the song. Just when I think I’ve got it, it jumps out of reach.”

  “You’ll get it.”

  “You think so?”

  “I do,” he answered with a solemn nod. Laci was the real deal, not a flash in the pan, a one-hit wonder. He may not be sure of many things but he was sure of that one fact. “Just keep trying.” He wanted to ask if the song was about them but the words wouldn’t come. Maybe he was afraid to find out that she was singing about someone else. Or maybe he was equally afraid that the song was about them. He popped from the chair with a forced smile. “You ready to help me get these appliances in?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she said, grabbing the neck of her guitar. “Let me just put this away first. I’ll meet you at the truck.”

  He nodded and strode away, his thoughts warring with the sudden ache in his heart. They never should’ve had sex. Now his head was a jumbled mess and he didn’t know which end was up anymore. Before he’d left Los Angeles, he’d known his purpose, his mind and his heart. Now? He didn’t have a clue. All he wanted was Laci. Laci—all day, every day. It was as if there was a Laci channel in his brain and his remote was broken.

  And that was bad news—for him.

  Because the bottom line was...Laci was a superstar and there was no room in her life for someone like him.

  Just as there’d been no room for him all those years ago.

  Remember that.

  Yeah, yeah, how could he ever forget? It was the day his heart broke—and never recovered.

  11

  “I NEED A FAVOR,” Trent said to his friend Wes Borchard as he toyed with the sodden napkin beneath his sweating glass. He hated asking for these types of favors, but he was never one to shirk from unpleasant tasks. “A favor that only someone with your connections can provide, if you catch my meaning.”

  Wes barked a laugh, eyeing him with speculation. “Such as?”

  “It’s nothing too terribly invasive...you might’ve heard of my client Laci McCall?”

  “The hot singer, the blonde?”

  “That’s the one. She’s burning up the charts and selling out concerts. Have you ever been to one of her shows?”

  “Can’t say that I have.”

  “You’re missing out, friend,” Trent said amiably, but he could see that Wes wasn’t impressed by his celebrity client and returned to the point. “Here’s the thing, Wes...she’s missing.”

  That made Wes pay more attention. “Have you reported her missing? Why are you telling me instead of the authorities?”

  “Calm down, Wes, I doubt she’s been abducted or anything like that. The fact is, I’ve been pushing her pretty hard and I think she just needed a little breathing room, which honestly, if we didn’t have a sold-out gig scheduled for this Friday, I wouldn’t care. But that’s not the case—I need her back. And that’s where you come in.”

  “You want me to trace her credit card transactions,” he surmised, relaxing a little, but keeping his gaze sharp. “That’s illegal, Trent. You know that. American citizens have rights.”

  “Yeah, and I have cold, hard cash. Name your price and it’s a done deal.”

  Wes shook his head, smiling. “You’ve got some iron balls, Trent. Iron balls. I could lose my job for something like this. What then?”

  “Only if you get caught and it’s really such a small thing.”

  “Too risky.”

  “Since when?” Trent had used Wes’s talents in the past, but suddenly now he gets cold feet? Great timing to grow a conscience. He tried a different approach. “I hear you. How about this...maybe she’s in danger...maybe I’m wrong and I should’ve reported her disappearance to the authorities, but given her celebrity status...I really don’t want the media to get a hold of this if it’s not necessary, you understand?”

  “I suppose if you thought there might be a threat, I could do some checking around...”

  “See? Exactly. You’d really just be checking on the safety of a young woman who has had more than a few death threats. That’s the truth,” he told Wes with a shrug. “I mean, I had them checked out and the threats were baseless, but you never know where the true crazies are hiding.”

  “Sometimes in plain sight,” Wes supplied with a faintly mocking smile. “Why’d she run away from you?”

  “She’s a spoiled princess who doesn’t want to finish the job she started,” Trent said, waving away Wes’s insinuation. “She’s talented enough and nice enough to look at, but she’s a handful. It’s a full-time job keeping her on track.”

  Wes exhaled and lifted his hands. “I can’t take a bribe.” Trent nearly swore at the stupid game Wes was insisting on playing—as if the man had such a straight moral compass! “I’d like to help but...”

  “Of course not. I completely understand.” Trent smiled briefly, cutting his gaze around the small outdoor café. “So what’s new with you? Anything you’re working on?”

  “Actually, yes, thanks for asking. The wife and I are building an addition to our home, but man, those contractors...greedy bastards. Every time I turn around, a new bill higher than the last lands on my desk. I wish I could do something about that.”

  Ah, there’s your currency. Trent brightened. “You’re in luck. I happen to know a really good contractor...one who might be able to help you with your situation. Would you like his number?”

  “Would you mind? That would be great.”

  “Sure, sure. Here, let me write down his number for you.” He jotted down Laci’s personal information and slid it to Wes. “You give him a call and let him know that I sent you. He’ll see that you’re done up right and if you have any problems, don’t hesitate to give me a call and I’ll take care of it.” As in, I’ll pay the bill. Good grief, this information was going to cost him. His mouth curved in a short-lived smile. “That work for you?”

  “Absolutely.” He pocketed the card with Laci’s information. “You’re a good friend. I’ll be in touch.”

  Trent jerked a nod and then he rose. “I look forward to your call.”

  Wes did a mock salute and laughed as Trent, sliding on his Wayfarers, walked out of the café.

  * * *

  LACI WATCHED WITH a half smile on her lips as Kane finished rubbing down the horses and then tossed them some hay. He hadn’t seen her yet. It was hot in the barn. The air smelled of hay, summer sun and horses—frankly, the intoxicating scent was more of an aphrodisiac than any oyster on the half shell could hope to be. The day had gone by quickly. They’d managed to get the new appliances installed and going and Kane was planning to take the old ones to Goodwill the following morning. She had a roast in the Crock-Pot and she’d come out to tell him it was time to eat, but she’d caught him talking to Jasper, one of the oldest horses in the stable, one that Kane himself had learned how to ride from. His touch was gentle, his voice low...and Laci was moved by the amount of love that still remained between man and horse even after so much time had passed. You shouldn’t be horning in on a private moment—it has nothing to do with you, a voice chastised her, and she reluctantly cleared her throat. Kane glanced up and even though that sensual mout
h didn’t lift in a smile, she saw the way his eyes lit up when he realized it was her. A funny tremor tickled her belly and she entered the barn. “Dinner is almost ready. I thought you might want to get washed up.”

  “I’m just about finished here,” he said, returning to Jasper and rubbing him affectionately on the nose. “Can’t believe the old man is still around.”

  “Horses live to be pretty old,” she said, smiling as she rubbed Jasper’s neck while he crunched the alfalfa. “He’s still beautiful as ever.”

  “He’s a good-looking boy,” Kane agreed, stepping away from the stall and going to check on the other two horses, Amelia and Dancer. “You go on ahead, I’ll be in, in just a minute.”

  “I don’t mind waiting,” she murmured. The truth was, the memories of their time in this barn were something of a powerful force. It was too easy to remember what they’d done to each other in the hayloft, too easy to crave doing it again. She probably shouldn’t but... “You remember the last time we were in here together?”

  He paused and cut her a quick look. “Laci...”

  “You remember.”

  Kane fell silent before agreeing quietly, “Of course I remember. That’s not something a man forgets.”

  “Good.” And then she made an impulsive decision, suddenly pulling her sundress up and over her head, standing there in her bra and panties with a bold smile. What do you think about that, Kane Dalton? His groan told her exactly what he thought and it tickled her pink. Or more specifically, it tickled her pink parts. She giggled and beckoned as she climbed up into the hayloft. “Come and get it, baby. Let’s re-create history.”