“It might not even matter.” Her eyes filled with new tears. “He was so pissed off last night that I may never hear from him again.”

“Why was he pissed?”

“Things got kind of intense, and he freaked.”

“Intense how?”

“He finally kissed me—really kissed me. It was unbelievable.” She shivered, remembering how it had felt to be in his arms.

“I don’t know what to say except be careful, Kate. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“You won’t tell Dad?”

“No, but I want you to keep talking to me about this. Will you do that?”

“Yeah. Thanks for listening. I was having a total meltdown, but I feel better just telling someone about it.”

“Be careful who you tell. This is not something most people would understand.”

“I’m not going to tell anyone else.”

“When are you coming home?”

“Christmas Eve, but I have to come back on the twenty-sixth. We have a gig on the twenty-seventh.”

“I’ll see you then. Be careful, Kate.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

Kate waited all day for Reid to call. By five o’clock, she was weepy again. By six she was despondent, and by seven, she had convinced herself she would never see him again. Yet she refused to give into the urge to call him. The next move had to be his. She just wished he would call. I guess we’re not going to Graceland.

When the doorbell rang at seven thirty, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. She ran down the short flight of stairs and flung open the front door to find Ashton on her front steps holding a pizza.

“I come bearing gifts,” he said with a cheerful smile on his handsome face.

Kate ran a self-conscious hand through her hair and forced a smile. “Hi. Come on in.”

“Hey.” He took her chin and tilted her face up to his. “What’s all this? Have you been crying?”

She rubbed her nose. “No. I have a cold.”

“Now, darlin’, I wasn’t born yesterday. I can tell when a girl’s been crying. Come on up here and tell old Ashton what’s going on.” He took her by the hand and led her up the stairs to the living room. Putting the pizza on the coffee table, he sat down next to her on the sofa. “Who made you sad, and where can I find him?”

Kate swallowed hard. “How did you know it’s a him?”

“Because all men are scum. Don’t you know that by now?”

She grinned weakly. “Except for you, right?”

“That goes without saying. What happened?”

“It’s no big deal. Just this guy I met at Mabel’s. It’s not going to work out between us. End of story.”

“Anyone I know?” he asked with genuine concern.