Chapter 24
NOLAN
24
“What are you thinking about?”
At the sound of my voice, Inez turns her face in my direction. “Huh?”
“You’re quiet. What’s going through that pretty head of yours right now?”
I won’t lie. Today was unexpectedly fun. I never imagined that appliance shopping could be anything other than a bore. But with Inez and Stella along for the ride, I found myself in the best mood all day.
This isn’t like me—spending the day dropping a couple grand on new kitchen appliances, instead of cutting corners and saving pennies anywhere I can. But seeing my two girls bonding and having fun made it absolutely worth every single dime.
On the way out of Honey Hill, we grabbed takeout from some fast food place called Hot Dog Almighty. Then I bribed Stella into eating an apple so I could feel better about that decision. Now, we’re making the drive back home.
The rain has cleared up and now the sun beams through the light clouds. A news talk station plays on the radio. Apparently, a contract for the school repairs has been awarded to a construction company from the neighboring town of Copper Heights. No one knows just how long the renovations will continue.
Stella’s buckled up in the back seat, covered in ketchup and relish, sleeping with a contented little smile on her face. Inez sits beside me, my cap pulled over her windblown hair and a faraway look on her gorgeous face. Something’s bugging her and I want to know what it is. So I can make it better.
She puts on a fake little smile. “I’m thinking I like your new haircut. Lookin’ cute, Boss Man.” She winks at me.
Raking my fingers through my hair, I feel heat race up my neck. Yesterday, I took my grandma’s advice and made a long overdue visit to my barber to get my hair and beard under control. Just a little trim. Tapered sides. Shaggy top. Nothing too fancy.
Won’t lie, though—I feel like a new man. And hearing Inez say she likes my new look makes my chest fill up with confidence.
But the woman isn’t fooling me with her flirty little comment. I know something’s bothering her.
“Nice try, Machado. Stop trying to deflect. Tell me what’s wrong.”
She glances back out the window and releases a big sigh. “I…I want to do the interview…” she says quietly.
Her words land like a punch. I feel my neck rear back. “The interview with the television studio?”
She nods.
A few days ago, Inez told me that the reality show producers have been harassing her to give an interview. I told her to tell them to go fuck themselves. She didn’t take my advice. She rolled her eyes and said something about not wanting to get sued into bankruptcy.
Anyway, now she’s agreed to let these assholes cross-examine her on camera for all of America to see? I don’t like that idea one bit.
I’m vigorously shaking my head. “Nah. No. That’s a terrible idea.”
In response, she gives me an adorable stink-eye, complete with aggressively flaring nostrils. The facial expression says Do you really think I’m gonna let you tell me what to do?
“Inez—you don’t need to put yourself through that. You don’t owe anybody an explanation,” I say, feeling defensive. I’m ready to defend her against the whole damn world if I have to.
She twists toward me in her seat. “But what if this interview is what it’ll take to make everything better? To make the legal threats go away, to make the tabloid guy lose interest, to allow my life to go back to normal? Right now, I’m just this big mystery to all of America. Maybe if I give an interview, everyone will just back off and leave me alone. At least, that’s what Nicky seems to think.”
I grip my steering wheel tighter, pulling off of the highway and cruising into Starlight Falls. “This feels risky. What if people are only more interested in you after the interview?”
Inez contemplates my words for a moment, chewing on the edge of her fingernail. “I don’t know. I don’t see any other choice. I feel like I’ve been living under a microscope. I just don’t want to go on like this anymore.”
I pull up at a red traffic light, hating that she might have a valid point. The pain on her face breaks me. I reach out, running my knuckle along the edge of her jaw.
“I just want to be free of this. So I can move on with my life,” Inez says softly.
I hear myself release a heavy breath. “I understand. I’m in your corner. No matter what you decide to do.”
“Thank you…” she says in a whisper.
I lean across the console and brush my lips over her cheek. She smells like heaven and her skin is so soft.
I lose all awareness of our surroundings. I get so lost in her blue eyes. I just want to swim in those crystalline pools. She stares back, looking just as caught up as I feel.
Staring at her across the console of my car, I’m pretty sure I know exactly how my grandpa felt all those years ago when he fell in love with my grandmother. Inez is so far out of my league. And yet, I might be dumb enough to fall for her anyway.
Fuck it. I’m going in for the kiss.
Right then, the sound of a car horn rips through the air, jolting us from our haze.
I throw up an arm in apology to the driver behind me as I hit the gas. “All right, all right. Sorry,” I grumble.
Meanwhile, Inez is in her seat, fanning herself with her hands and mumbling to herself. “Sheesh! How’d it get so hot in here all of a sudden?”
She reaches forward to turn on the air conditioning. The knob pops off in her hand.
I look at her. She looks at me.
And we burst out laughing.