Chapter 3
Just like that,Lorelei was yanked back to reality. The cold seeped through the layers of her robe, and she settled back under the covers.
Wide awake, she could only wonder what she was supposed to do about this situation. One of them had to leave and, now that the shock had worn off, she could see it had to be her.
Clearly, he owned the cabin. When she’d come here, she’d been frantic. She’d been on the run, thinking the paparazzi had discovered that her family lived in Calamity. Her dad was such a good man, and he’d finally found happiness with his girlfriend—the last thing she wanted was to sic the press on him. So, she’d called her manager and asked her to book a safe place for her to stay.
She was supposed to use a code to unlock the door, but it didn’t have a box like that. It was a keyed entry. Worse, when the first delivery arrived, the driver was confused about the address. She’d had the same guy the whole three months, so he knew to bring things here now.
But if she was living in the wrong cabin, that meant the owner of the rental was simply collecting her rent. Of course, they lived in Florida, but shouldn’t they be checking to make sure she wasn’t destroying the place?
As soon as she had Wi-Fi, she’d talk to her manager. They’d figure it all out.
Of course, if he owned the place…was it really fair for him to be on the couch? She thought about his exhaustion, his long day of travel, his desperation for sleep…come on. He should take the bed.
Oh, brother.
Grabbing the flashlight, she threw off the covers and slid her feet back into her slippers. As she headed into the living room, a sound hit her ears—oh, God. His teeth were chattering. What had she been thinking, making him sleep out here with no heat? He could die.
This place didn’t have extra bedding, so really, neither of them could sleep out here. They just couldn’t.
She approached the far end of the couch. “Hey.” Why was she whispering? The whole point was to wake him. She flicked on the flashlight and shined it in his face. “Hey.”
He groaned in misery, shielding his eyes with a hand. “Look, I get that you’re worried. I don’t blame you, but I don’t know what else I can do to assure you I’m harmless.”
Well, that was unexpected. She’d figured he’d yell at her, tell her to leave him alone. Instead, he understood her fears.
She nudged his feet, covered in wool socks. “Get up.”
“Why?” He looked around. “What’s wrong?”
Good Lord, this man was gorgeous. Those high cheekbones and strong jaw, and that mouth…did men even have sensuous mouths like that? And that growly, rough voice?
Hot.
She was positive he was good in bed. She could just tell.
With Landon, sex had been easy. They’d learned everything together, and he didn’t take what he wanted like she was certain this man did.
She’d never been manhandled. She’d never been used. And she hadn’t known she wanted that until this moment. Not in a demeaning way, of course. But a man who craved her, who had to have her. Someone desperate for her.
Sensation coursed through her. An awakening.
A revelation.
She’d thought Landon balanced out her ambitious, driven nature with his go-with-the-flow attitude, but her body’s reaction to this stranger told her she needed something entirely different. She needed more than her ex could offer.
A shiver racked her body that had nothing to do with the freezing temperatures.
Flustered, she rolled her eyes. “I can’t sleep when you’re making all this noise out here.”
“What noise?” He looked around as if an entire counsel of judges was watching him. “I’m sleeping.”
“Yeah, well, your teeth are chattering, and it’s keeping me up.” She flounced back into the bedroom. “I need my beauty sleep, so you better get in here.”
“In the bedroom?” He sounded confused, bordering on alarmed.
“The only way to shut you up is to get you under the duvet.” She kicked off her slippers and crawled into bed. Lying on her back in her robe, she drew the thick blanket up to her chin. She’d keep the flashlight in her hand, just in case he made a move.
His body filled the door frame. “You want me in the bed with you?”
“It’s the second-to-last thing I want in the world.”
He ran his hand through his hair. “What’s the last thing?”
“Waking up to a frozen cadaver on the couch.”
“Fine. But remember, this was your idea.”
“Yeah, well, don’t get too excited. I’m building a pillow wall between us so there’s no excuse for one single part of your body to touch mine.”
“That’s real nice of you,” he said dryly. “Considering you’re squatting in my house.” Pushing off the frame, he moved to the bed. He stood there a moment, studying her. “Are you sure?”
“It’s inhumane to leave you out there.”
“I’m not arguing.” He sat on the edge of the mattress, his back to her. “Thank you.”
She liked the sincerity in his tone. “Of course. I mean, it is your house.”
He swiveled around. “So, you admit it?” Shifting his legs under the comforter, he nestled his head on the pillow. “Fuck, it’s cold.”
“I know.”
“How long has the heat been out?” he asked in his deep, rumbly voice.
“Since this afternoon.”
“Good thing I’ve got a generator. I’ll fire it up in the morning.”
“Oh, thank God.” She tried to settle in. Did a few breathing exercises. But nothing was going to get her past the fact that she was sharing a bed with a strange man.
Think about something else.
She thought about the last text she’d gotten from her mom before she’d lost Wi-Fi. It was a selfie she’d posted on Splashagram with her latest boyfriend, suggesting Lorelei join them for Christmas in Positano.
She’d ignored it because her mom didn’t care about seeing her daughter. It was an attempt to not only cover up the horrible press she’d gotten for the lawsuits against her—and replace them with a handsome lover and luxury travel—but also to let Lorelei know she was flourishing. Look at me living my best life, traveling with a gorgeous lover.
Instead of apologizing for the horrible things she’d done, she was letting Lorelei know how grand life was without her.
Her brother and sister had cut off their mom. They said their lives were healthier without a toxic parent. Lorelei was coming to understand that.
She missed them. She missed her dad. He texted regularly, asking how she was and when she was coming home. He didn’t think Lorelei needed to hide from the paparazzi. She was creating more speculation and keeping herself in the news by not making a statement or returning to the spotlight.
But she couldn’t do that. She just wasn’t ready to go back to the world.
What would she do? Where would she live?
All she’d done her entire life was build a platform of happy, fun pop music. But she wasn’t that happy, na?ve woman anymore. Landon, Cissy, and her mom had sucked the joy right out of life with their lies and deception.
So, what could she write about now? Did anyone think she could actually get on stage and smile and do her choreographed dance moves like her world hadn’t come crashing down around her?
Every memory, every song she’d ever written—everything was attached to the three people who’d hurt her. They were such an integral part of her life, her success…they’d all been inseparable.
Landon and Cissy had replaced her dad and siblings.
And there you have it.
The absolute truth.
They’d been family to her.
While she’d been nothing more than a paycheck to them.
Mr. Slick rolled onto his back. “You’re not going to sleep, are you?”
“No.”
“Look, I could tell you I’m not going to hurt you, but that isn’t going to make things better.”
“It might make it a little better.”
After a moment, he said, “I swear to God, I’m not going to hurt you.”
He said it with such sincerity she found her body relaxing just the slightest bit.
“So, you’ve been here three months.” He punched the pillow to give his head a lift. “Do you work remotely?”
She appreciated his attempt at conversation. It helped that he cared enough to try and reassure her, but she didn’t want to give him even a hint of who she was. She’d keep it vague. “I’ve taken a leave of absence.”
“You got fired?” He asked it plainly, simply. Not a hint of judgment.
“No, nothing like that. I just needed a break. I’m not sure if I’m in the right…profession.”
“Ah, okay. A midlife crisis.”
“Awesome. I’m not your type, and I look middle-aged. You’re great for a woman’s ego.”
“I’m a total stranger. What do you care what I think?”
While he made a good point, her entire career was based on people liking her. And once they did, she had to turn fans into fanatics. That’s a lot of work.
Since paparazzi stalked her and fans recorded her in restaurant bathrooms, she had to keep fit and look her best. The one time she’d gone to the beach with friends thinking no one would recognize her, a photograph had gone viral of her with stringy hair, chapped lips, and red eyes. It was only because she’d gone swimming in the ocean, but the tabloids made up some ridiculous story about Landon leaving her for an older movie star.
“Sadly, I’m not built that way. And knowing I’m not your type makes me want to put on makeup and blow out my hair and strut around like a peacock.”
He chuckled. “I think males are the peacocks. We strut to get the attention of the sexiest hens.”
“Are you a veterinarian?”
“No.”
“A zookeeper?” she asked.
“In some ways, but no. I don’t work with four-legged animals.”
“Okay, Slick. What do you do?”
“Slick?” he asked.
“I noticed that fancy watch, the Moncler snow boots. You probably get your hair trimmed every two weeks.”
“I can stretch it to three.”
She couldn’t see his grin, obviously, but she could hear it in his voice. “A little particular, are we?”
“It grows out funny.”
“Cowlick?” she teased.
“No, I don’t have a cowlick. Look, I travel a lot, and the last thing I want to think about is my hair.”
“So, you’re a pilot?”
He chuckled. “No.”
“I don’t even want to know what you do for a living.” Because I don’t want to tell you about me.
“What do you want to know?” he asked.
“What your alter ego’s doing in his parallel life.”
“His parallel life?”
“Yes. It says so much more about you.”
“Okay. I’m the center forward for the Los Angeles Chargers. What about you?”
“Well, you’ve got the body for it, but think about what those cleats would do to your pedicures.”
He burst out laughing. “The Chargers are a hockey team, and I don’t get pedicures. Now, it’s your turn. What’s your alter ego doing?”
She’d had three months to dream about her next move. Without financial restraints, she could do anything she wanted. Which made it that much sadder there was nothing she’d rather do than write songs. “I think she’s living on a farm.”
“A farm? You mean with pigs and chickens and shit? Do you have any idea how hard that life is?”
“Fine.” He was probably right. “It’s a flower farm. Do you know the band Blue Fire?”
“Of course. I’ve seen them in concert.”
“Did you know they have a studio on a flower farm?” She’d recorded her fifth album there. The band spent most of their time in Montana, where they were raising their kids, so they rented out their Long Island property to recording artists. It was a beautiful retreat.
“So, you run a flower farm? Do you have a dozen children? Make your own bread?”
Warmth spread through her at the canvas he’d just painted for her. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
“And what do you do in this life? Must be the total opposite.”
Well, he was certainly sharp. She’d give him that. “You know, since we’re only going to know each other for a few hours, do you think we could gloss right over the details of each other’s real lives?” She hoped he didn’t try to press for more information.
“You got it.”
“I’m sorry, I just…” How did she explain it?
“We’re good, Hellcat.”
Relief swept through her. She didn’t have to worry about him selling a story about his crazy encounter with Lorelei Calloway.
She nudged him with an elbow. “And I’m only twenty-six.”
“Okay.” He made it sound like he was humoring her.
“Oh, you’re just awful. Am I that unattractive?”
“You realize I can’t see a damn thing, right? I have no idea what you look like.”
Good point. “So, then it’s just my voice that makes me sound like an old lady?”
“I’m six seconds away from a coma. I can’t hear anything but my body screaming for sleep.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll stop talking. But you know what? You’ve just given me something to add to my list.”
“List?” he asked.
“You know, for the end of the year.” She’d been thinking about hers for a while now. “What’re you leaving behind, and what’re you taking into next year?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You know how people come up with a power word for the year?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well, it’s similar except you think about what you do that’s not working and commit to leaving it behind, and you think about something that is working and decide to focus on it going forward.”
“Give me an example.”
Maybe she’d spent too much time alone, but she loved his deep, rough voice. Actually, it wasn’t rough at all. It was sexy. It was the kind of voice that told a woman to meet him in the bathroom and drop her panties. Or that said, “Yeah, just like that,” when a woman went down on him.
“You haven’t figured it out yet?” he asked, making her realize she hadn’t answered.
She’d gotten lost in her fantasies. “No, I have.” Something about this man awakened a part of her she’d long neglected. It was good. Really good. “I’ve worked too much, and it cost me important relationships, so I’m leaving behind the pressure I put on myself to succeed, and I’m taking with me the ability to pay more attention to the details of my life.”
“I like that.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“I’d have to give it some thought.”
“That’s fair. What about your power word? Do you have that?”
“No,” he said. “How about you start? It’ll get me thinking.”
The first word that sprang to mind, she crushed, but only because it would make her look bad. Then again, she could say whatever she wanted. She’d never see this guy again. “Revenge.”
“Uh, you know, maybe I will sleep on the couch. Take my chances with hypothermia.”
She laughed. “No, don’t worry. You’re not the target.” Did she really want her life to hinge on what three shitty people had done to her though? “I don’t want to take negativity into the new year, so I’m going to change it to Reinvention. Your turn.”
“I have no idea.”
“Well, you should think about it. Did you know people with goals are ten times more likely to succeed?”
“Not that exact statistic, but sure. It’s something I talk about to the people I work with. Not sure I’ve done it for myself in a long time.”
People he works with?Was he a therapist? “Well, there you go. Now’s your chance.”
“If I answer your question, will you trust me enough to fall asleep?”
She smiled. “You know, I just might.”
“Fine. My power word is…Shift. No. Advance. No, wait.”
Maybe she could help him. “What’re you trying to get at?”
“I want to advance my business, but in a way I can live with.”
“What about Boundaries?”
“That’s good.” He sounded genuinely pleased. “I like that.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t get into the part about growing your business. Hm. Let me think.”
“No, it’s fine. Boundaries is good.”
“Yeah, I don’t really go for half-assed. We have to nail it. What about Balance instead? Balance making a profit and staying true to your values.”
He didn’t respond.
Ugh. Why was she pushing this total stranger? He wanted to sleep, not play word games.
But then, he said, “Yes. That’s exactly it.”
Despite being in a freezing cabin with a total stranger, pleasure spread through her. She’d helped him in some way, and that felt good. “Okay, now, what’re you leaving behind?”
“The weak security of my cabin.”
She laughed. “I mean, I did have to smash a window.”
“That aside, I’ll leave behind my gullibility and take with me a total focus on growing my business my own way.”
That was a slightly different take than her situation, but close enough to make her feel a stitch of connection to this serious stranger. “I get that.”
“Good. Does this mean you’re comfortable enough to set that flashlight down now? Because the last thing I need is for you to brain me with it because my leg accidentally touched yours.”
“How do I know that’s not your plan? Get me to set it down so you can make your move?”
“Well, that answers that question. All right. So, of all the places in the world, why did you rent a cabin in Calamity?”
She set the flashlight on the nightstand. He might come off all brusque and gruff, but he was a good guy. As badly as he needed to sleep, he wasn’t willing to leave her wide awake and full of fear.
Yeah. Good guy.
“I was visiting some people here when my life fell apart. I just needed a break, and my friend found this place.” She’d leave it at that. That was enough of an answer without enabling him to connect the dots. “What about you? Do you always come here for Christmas?”
“Never.”
“So why this time?”
He shifted. “I have some decisions to make.”
“Well, look at that. We’ve got something in common.”
“Too bad it’s the wrong place to come.”
She got a whiff of his scent—expensive shampoo, clean clothes, but also something she couldn’t identify. “What does that mean?” Something deliciously masculine.
“You’ve been here three months. Clearly, it’s a shit place for decision-making.”
“Excellent point. You should totally leave first thing in the morning. In fact, why wait? Go now.” She couldn’t suppress her grin.
“That’s one take. Here’s another. You’ve had three months, and you haven’t gotten anywhere. Sounds like it’s time to move on to a new location.”
Here’s a fun fact: I never bantered with Landon. “Given the blizzard out there, I don’t think either of us is going anywhere. So, I’ve got a great idea. How about I solve your problem, and you solve mine?”
“Don’t take this the wrong way, but your track record at problem-solving isn’t all that good.”
“First of all, Slick, I’m not here to solve a problem. I’m here to…” She was going to say heal, but that wasn’t the core issue, was it? She was trying to figure out her next move. Who am I once I go back out into the world? Just thinking about it got her muscles tensing up. “Okay, fine. You’re not wrong. I suck at solving my own issues, but I’m probably great at solving them for other people. Isn’t that how it works?”
“Okay. Let’s give it a go. Me first. What did you hate about your job?”
“Nothing.” The word hurtled out of her mouth. And she sat with it for a moment.
She’d been torn up over her identity, thinking she needed to change what she did.
But she was the one who’d built this career. It was her talent. If anyone needed to leave the music industry, it was her ex and her former best friend.
And if she really did love her job, what was she accomplishing by hiding out? She wasn’t healing. She was punishing herself.
Maybe even more than her ex, it was the press that kept her in the cabin. The barrage of questions they’d ask. The humiliation. The people she’d trusted and loved most had made a fool of her.
But she hadn’t done anything wrong. They had. She could hold her head high.
She thought about her dad’s advice. Maybe she couldn’t write happy, lovey-dovey songs anymore, but her fans loved her because she was honest and real. Because she had the gift of articulating a universal experience through lyrics.
Maybe—just maybe—once she healed, a new voice would emerge. A new narrative would take form in her lyrics. Maybe she just needed to wait for the wounds to scar over.
“So, why are you taking a leave?” he asked.
“Because I worked too much. It was so all-consuming I lost sight of all the other things that matter.”
“You didn’t pay attention to the details. So, you need balance?”
“And I need to redefine myself. Because…” She hated to say it. It made her look weak. Stupid. Two years ago, she was Time’s Person of the Year. She had more number-one songs than any other pop or country artist in the world.
And yet, she was so sheltered she’d lived her life in a bubble.
Which had popped.
Leaving her exposed, lonely, and very, very afraid.
When she didn’t immediately respond, he said, “I can’t solve your problems if I don’t know what they are.”
There was such authority in that voice. Such confidence. It made her want to tell him everything. “Because the people I loved most in the world betrayed me.”