Our Kind of Love by Kait Nolan

Chapter 16

“In breaking news, country music’s Captain America, Kyle Keenan is looking a lot less Steve Rogers. Allegations from his estranged mother suggest that he lied to send his parents to prison. When confronted by the press, Keenan ran, leaving his intended bride at the altar for their surprise courthouse wedding.”

Kyle banged his head back against the seat. “Fuuuuuck!”

Four hours. Abbey had had four hours to think this was the truth. And it sounded like, despite their attempt to lure all the paparazzi away, some had found her at the courthouse, anyway. What was she thinking? What was she feeling? Did she really believe he’d betrayed her? After what happened before, he wouldn’t blame her.

Griff switched off the radio. “You don’t need to keep listening to this shit.”

“I’ve got to do something. Abbey’s got to be going out of her mind.” Or maybe she was deciding he was more trouble than he was worth, and she was better off without him.

“Deanna will know what to do. Where is her office?”

“Is it safe to even go there?”

“We lost the last tail on that interchange at Briley Parkway.”

Kyle had been positive he’d roll the Land Cruiser in the process, but he kept that to himself. “She might not even be there.”

“Then hopefully someone else will be and will give you her number.”

Kyle gave him directions to the boutique PR firm. They made it across town without further incident, and Griff hustled him inside.

A security guard rose at their entrance. “Can I help you?”

“Kyle Keenan for Deanna James,” Griff barked, scanning all the nooks and crannies of the lobby as if ninjas with cameras would jump out at any moment.

The guy gave Kyle a look that said he’d heard the news, but he reached for the phone and called up. “Kyle Keenan is here to see you, Miss James.”

The shouted, “Send him up!” told him she was well aware of the situation and was losing her shit. Not a good sign. Deanna James was one of the most level-headed individuals Kyle knew.

Eyes wide, the guard gently replaced the handset in the cradle, as if that would keep from riling her any further. “Um... you can go up.”

The moment the elevator doors opened, Deanna latched onto his arm and dragged him off. “Where the hell have you been? Why haven’t you been answering your phone? This is a fucking shit show.”

“Phone broke in a scuffle with the paparazzi. Have you heard from Abbey?”

“No. Not that I expect she’d take a call from me if I tried right now. Come on. If we’re going to save your reputation, we’ve got to hurry.” Without waiting for a response, she hustled down the hall, high heels clicking on the tile.

That suggested there was a chance, which was more than he’d expected.

In the conference room, she snapped, “Sit.”

Kyle sat, noticing the older man at the other end of the table. Silver-white hair waved back from a craggy face that seemed vaguely familiar. One of the senior partners in the firm here for damage control? Or to decide whether they were going to cut him loose?

Deanna pressed her hands to the table, eyes flashing. “There’s no point in my berating you for all the things you should have done, so here’s where I tell you what you’re going to do.”

“If you’re going to tell me to sign the new contracts with Quicksilver for the protection of their brand, I’d rather walk away right now than go back to that life. My reputation may be trashed beyond repair, but I’d rather lose it all than give up Abbey. If she’ll even speak to me after today.” Kyle hadn’t fully realized that was in his head until it came out of his mouth, but he didn’t want to take it back.

Deanna stared at him. “You’d walk away from everything for her?”

“In a heartbeat.”

A flash of something that might’ve been pain crossed her features before her face blanked again. “They broke the mold when they made you.” She exchanged a look with the older dude. “Told you.”

The leather chair creaked as he leaned back. “That’d be a damned shame. You’re a gifted musician, with a lot to offer.”

“Not at the expense of the woman I love.”

The guy smiled, and that sense of the familiar grew more pronounced at the sight of that lopsided grin behind the silver beard. “Can’t say as I blame you. I like Abbey, and she’s very proud of you.”

Kyle tensed. “I’m sorry. Who the hell are you?”

“I’m your option for a different kind of life.” He offered a hand. “Harry Cafferty.”

Kyle’s mouth dropped open.

Harry Cafferty was a Nashville legend. A former singer/songwriter himself, he’d made a massive name for himself through the eighties and nineties. Everybody knew he’d been cherry picking talent for his new label. And he was interested in Kyle? But that wasn’t the most pressing question.

“You know Abbey?”

“Met her at Jam Night in Eden’s Ridge. I was staying at the inn. Caught your new song. I really dig the new direction, and I’d like to give you space at my label. It’s smaller and new but it won’t require the same tour commitments you’ve had up to now. I think we’d be a good fit. I was going to go through your manager, but I understand you’re between representatives at the moment. When today’s... unpleasantness hit, I contacted Deanna. I think I can help.”

“With respect, sir, I don’t see how the offer of a contract is going to fix this. Not that I’m not honored by the opportunity.”

“I’ve got a showcase of my new artists tonight. I’d love you to join it.”

“Even with the publicity nightmare?”

“It’s only a nightmare because you haven’t faced it. In the absence of an explanation from you, the press and public are free to make up whatever they want. The showcase will be a platform for you to take a stand and make a statement about the situation in a calm and rational way. And the focus will get pulled back to where it needs to be—on your music. You signing with me will help redirect things.” Harry flashed that crooked grin again. “I’m kind of a big deal.”

Kyle couldn’t quite believe this chance was falling into his lap. “Why would you do this for me? It seems like you’re the one taking all the risk.”

“Because I like your music. Because you remind me of me, and if I’d had more of that heart at your age, I’d still be married.”

Deanna arched a brow. “I didn’t know you’d been married.”

“It was a happened in Vegas thing. Didn’t last. Anyway, back to Kyle. Unlike the press, I took the time to look into the actual court case against your parents. They’d have been convicted without your testimony. The addition of it was just the neat bow on top. It might take a bit for that to trickle through, but in the end, it’ll all come out in the wash, and your mom’s interview will be just a flash in the pan.”

Abbey had said more or less the same thing. That the music would ultimately win out. Were they right?

“Do you think it’ll work?”

Deanna folded her arms. “It’ll do a hell of a lot. I’m no agent, but given what you’ve said the past few months, this seems like the perfect deal for you.”

“Do I have to sign right now to be part of the showcase?”

“We can consider the showcase a handshake agreement, pending a review of the contracts by you and your attorney, with the option to walk away if the terms don’t suit.”

Kyle couldn’t ask for more than that. “What do I need to do?”

As a team, they went over the details and the best way to handle the showcase. Deanna crafted a statement. Harry had several suggestions. Griff asked all the pertinent questions about security. They were all on his side, and by the time they solidified the plan, Kyle felt far less panicked.

“If you’re gonna make it to the venue on time, you’ve gotta hoof it.” Deanna made a shooing motion. “Get moving, Keenan.”

“Abbey—”

“I’ll try to reach her to let her know where you’ll be. Get to the showcase. Sort out your love life later.”

He’d just have to live with that for now and have faith that Abbey would trust him.

Trailing Griff, he headed downstairs and out to the parking lot.

The paparazzi swarmed the moment they passed the corner of the building. Of course they’d tracked him down here. Kyle’s first instinct, as always, was to run. But he remembered what Harry had said—that his silence was just an opportunity for more lies to proliferate. He had to face this head on.

Stopping, he pivoted toward the crowd of cameras and microphones, trying not to flinch at the barrage of flashes.

“I’d like to make a statement.”

* * *

The sidewalksoutside Kyle’s loft were swarming with people. Press. Fans. Paparazzi. Abbey didn’t know. But there was no getting near the place either way. She didn’t really think he’d be there. He still wasn’t answering the phone, so she’d given up on calling. If Kyle went to ground to hide from all this insanity, where would he go? She’d never been more aware of how much she hadn’t been a part of his life as she tried to find him in a city of three-quarters of a million people. And she couldn’t call anybody to ask for suggestions because her phone had died on the drive, and there was no charger in her car. Of course.

Leaving the crowd around the loft in her rearview, Abbey clenched the steering wheel until her knuckles went white. “I don’t know where else to look.”

“Buck up, Butter Bean. Think. Do you know any more of Joan’s kids who live in Nashville? Maybe one of them has heard from him.”

“I don’t... Wait. Caleb. He and his wife are in Hamilton, just outside the city proper. I saw them at the last family reunion. He and Kyle are still tight, even after all these years. I wasn’t at the wedding, but I sent a gift. Pin Oak Drive. I don’t remember the house number, but I’d recognize his truck.”

Of course, that was assuming Caleb wasn’t on duty at the fire station or that his house didn’t have a garage door. Abbey wasn’t above going door to door to ask, just to have something active to do.

Thankfully, it didn’t come to that. Caleb’s big truck was parked in the driveway, exactly as she’d hoped. As soon as she’d parked, Abbey scrambled out, helping Granddaddy up the walk. Sucking in a breath that did nothing to calm her racing heart, she rang the bell.

An unfamiliar teenager answered the door, and Abbey hesitated. Did she have the wrong house, after all?

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Caleb Romero.”

“Oh, sure. He’s here.” She called over her shoulder. “Caleb! People here for you!”

A brown-and-white pit bull mix nosed around the girl, tail wagging, before Caleb himself filled the doorway. “Abbey?”’

At the sight of a familiar face, her knees went weak. “Is Kyle here?”

Brows pulling together in concern, Caleb shook his head. “No. What’s going on?”

Tears of frustration formed a knot in her throat. This had been her only idea. If he wasn’t here, then where the hell was he?

Caleb pulled her in for a hug. “Hey. Whatever it is, it’ll be okay.”

Abbey hiccupped and squeezed him in gratitude. Since she’d removed herself from Kyle’s life, Caleb was probably his closest friend. He’d help her figure this out.

“Come on in, both of you.”

Caleb ushered them into the living room. “You remember my wife, Emerson. And that’s her daughter, Fiona, who met you at the door. And this is Abbey’s grandfather, Roy Whittaker.”

“Good memory.”

“It’s been a minute since I had that summer job in the orchards, but I never forget a friendly face.”

Abbey tried to stem the tears that wanted to flow as she lifted a hand to wave at the brunette perched in one of the chairs. “Hi. Sorry to barge in like this.”

Emerson hefted herself out of the chair, leading with her pregnant belly. “Nonsense. I don’t know what’s going on, but I can tell by the look on your face, it calls for tea. I’ll go make some.”

“Oh, don’t go to any trouble on my account.”

“It’s no trouble.” Emerson squeezed Abbey’s arm and strode into the kitchen.

“Go on and sit down,” Caleb ordered.

Abbey dropped onto one end of the sofa, wrapping both arms around her middle. “Have you talked to Kyle?”

“Not for a couple of weeks. He said he was staying at the farm with you.”

“He is. Was. I don’t actually know what he’s doing right now.”

Emerson came back and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Why don’t you start at the beginning?”

Granddaddy eased down onto the sofa himself. “No time for that. A summary will have to do. Kyle accidentally said he was engaged to Abbey in a TV interview and finally came home to warn her. I convinced him to convince her to fake it for the press, figuring that would finally make them talk and clear the air, which it did. They got engaged for real and were getting married this afternoon, but his mama opened up some can of lies, and he got mobbed by paparazzi while picking up his tux and up and disappeared with Griff. Now we can’t raise him on the phone, the press thinks he jilted my girl at the altar, and we’ve gotta find him.”

They all stared at him until Abbey waved a hand in his direction. “Basically, all that.”

“Wow. That’s... a lot. Maybe she needs whiskey instead,” Fiona suggested.

“That’s Kyle’s drink. After his mom’s interview I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s indulging, but I don’t know where.”

Caleb leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Wait, his mom’s out of prison?”

“Yeah. Straight to causing him trouble. You know how she treats him, how she can push his buttons. I have to talk to him. Do you have any idea where he’d go?”

He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. “If not here or home, I doubt he’s out in public anywhere. After everything that happened with the trial, he hates the press.”

“Have you checked the gossip blogs?” Fiona asked. “If the paparazzi are tailing him, it might give us some clue where he’s been or where he’s going.”

“I haven’t checked anything. My phone died a couple hours ago.”

Fiona retrieved a laptop and joined her on the couch. “There’s this one that has a community component. People can post about celebrity sightings, and it shows up on a map with a date and time stamp.”

“That’s creepy and invasive as hell.”

Fiona’s fingers flew over the keyboard. “But helpful in this case. He’s been all over Nashville.” She shifted the screen so Abbey could see. The dotted line on the map did indeed criss-cross the city.

“What are these little icons?”

“Pictures and video.” Scanning the map, she hovered over an entry. “There’s a video attached to this most recent one.”

Everyone gathered around the sofa as she clicked on the link. The video loaded. It began with Kyle, still in his tux, getting cornered outside an office building. He was still with Griff, thank God. The bigger man was shoving his way through the noisy crowd. Then Kyle stopped and faced the multitude of cameras, face grim. “I’d like to make a statement.”

The assembled people quieted down.

“Allegations have been made against me that have prompted folks to question my integrity and my honesty. With no substantiation, I’ve been accosted by paparazzi at a very sensitive time, putting me in a position where I hurt the person I care the most about.” He shifted his gaze from one camera to another, as if searching for something. “I want and deserve the chance to tell my story the right way. If you want to see the future of my career—the future of my everything—come to the Two Lane Records showcase tonight.” He named a venue.

Abbey loosed a trembling breath. “He’s banking that I see this. That was a message for me. It’s where he’s going to be. I have to get there.”

Caleb straightened. “I know exactly where that is. I’ll drive.”