Luann McLane - Moonlight Kiss

She sank her fingers into the leather sofa. Maybe she should just do the damned show!

“No, I’m insisting.” Her dad looked at her for a moment and then, as if knowing where her thoughts were going, said, “And I want you to get out of town. Away from the paparazzi and away from Garret Ruleman.”

“Out of town? But where would I go?”

After frowning for a minute her father snapped his fingers. “You know what? I was just talking to your uncle Mitch this morning. I asked how he liked living in Cricket Creek, and he went on and on about how both he and your cousin Mia love it there. They need a Chicago fix once in a while, but he said he doesn’t regret the laid-back way of life there one bit.”

Addison could see where this was going. “Dad . . .”

“No. You should go there for an extended visit. You and Mia are close, and Mitch said that Mia’s fiancé is on the road a lot, playing baseball.”

“Oh yeah. Isn’t he in the minor leagues?”

“Yes, and Mia can’t go see him play too often because she’s the promotions manager for the local baseball team. I just bet sweet little Mia would welcome your company.”

“Seriously, you think I should head to a small town in . . . where is it?”

“Kentucky. Cricket Creek, Kentucky.”

Addison leaned back against the leather. “Oh, I don’t know. Where would I stay? I wouldn’t want to impose on them.”

“Mia lives in a condo overlooking the baseball complex and the Ohio River. I just bet there are some for short-term lease.”

“And what will I do for money?” Addison tilted her head in question at her father. This was crazy . . . and yet it held a certain appeal.

“The last time I looked you had two weeks’ paid vacation coming,” he said, and when Addison still hesitated, he continued. “Look, I’ll miss your pretty face and your mother will too, but getting away from LA just might be the ticket you need right now.”

“I would probably fly under the radar there,” Addison admitted, warming up slightly to the suggestion.

“And Uncle Mitch’s wife owns a jewelry store in a lovely little mall called Wedding Row—I think Mitch called it. Maybe she needs some help in the shop?”

“I think I need to stay away from anything to do with weddings,” Addison answered flatly.

“Hey, don’t let either of these guys make you jaded. The right man will come along. You wait and see.”

“Well, I’m not holding my breath.” Addison rolled her eyes. “I’m taking a long break from men.”

“So, are you going to do it?”

Addison pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, and then nodded. “A change in atmosphere for a while would probably do me some good.” And, in truth, doing something on her own held a great deal of appeal as well. “But you have to promise me that you and Mom will come to visit if I stay longer than a couple of weeks.”

“We wouldn’t last that long before missing you too much not to visit. And I’d love to see Mitch and Mia. According to him Cricket Creek is a small town but has a lot to offer in the way of theater and local cuisine. You know how Uncle Mitch is.”

Addison grinned. “Yeah, you’re the hippie, and he’s the suit and tie. You’d never know you guys were brothers.”

“So, is it a deal?”

Addison thought about it for another moment, weighing whether another shake-up in her life was what she really needed. She suddenly felt a little surge of panic. This was going too fast and felt surreal. “No, wait. This is insane. Who would do my job?”

“You do a tremendous job and work hard, Addison, but there are lots of qualified people out of work. I can get by for a month or so and hold your position until you get back. The worst part is going to be missing you . . . well, and dealing with your mother not liking this without her input, but I feel it in my gut that this would do you a world of good, or I wouldn’t suggest it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And, hey, if you don’t like it there you can come back after a couple of weeks. But give it a shot. And having you gone will be a good way to get your mother to take a much-needed break and come to visit.”

“All right, then.” Addison leaned over and hugged her father. When she pulled back she said, “Cancel everything but the trip to Hawaii. You and Mom need to take a second honeymoon for your thirtieth anniversary.”

He arched an eyebrow. “I’ll see what I can do to pull her away from work. But listen. You head home and start packing. I’ll call Mitch and get this ball rolling. He and Mia are going to be thrilled. Do you want to fly?”

Addison frowned. “No, I’ll want my car. I’ll take my time driving, and that will give you a few days to get things set up.”

“Perfect.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. “You need to do what you want and not what others want or expect of you. You do that way too much. And as much as I hate to admit it, that includes working at Beauty and the Beat. Keep that in mind, okay?”

“I will.” Addison gave her father a kiss on the cheek. “Oh, Dad. I love you so much. And I’m so sorry about this stupid mess I’ve created. I feel like I’m running away.”

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about. It’s called life, and we all live and learn every single day. Your mom and I just want you to be happy. And you’re not running away . . . just taking a break. Unless you want to do Dancing with the Stars? When your mother turned it down, it was offered to you.”

Addison laughed. “You know my answer to that.” She smiled. “You always make me feel better.”

“That’s what you do for people you love. If someone is bringing you down, they don’t deserve to be in your life. Seriously, sometimes you’re just too damned . . . nice. The next time someone treats you poorly, kick them right out of your life. Remember that, okay?”

“I will.”

“Hey, try to unwind and get a good night’s sleep before you start your adventure.”

When Addison returned to her condo to pack, she wasn’t quite sure what kind of adventure she’d find in a small town in Kentucky, a state she hadn’t visited unless you count going to the Kentucky Derby a few times. But, seriously, at this point maybe she should think about having an un-adventure.

She smiled softly. She’d witnessed strength from her mother and compassion from her father and only hoped that she had absorbed a little from each parent. They loved her unconditionally, and for that she would be forever grateful. After a determined lift of her chin Addison squared her shoulders. “No more whining,” she announced sternly. “Ah . . . and speaking of wine . . .” She searched her cabinet and found a bottle of merlot.

A few minutes later Addison sat down on the sofa and sipped the rich wine. Her mood was an odd combination of excitement and sadness mixed with a little bit of fear. It was an emotional cocktail that made her feel a bit off-kilter. She sipped and pondered about her life.

Her cell phone was sitting on the glass coffee table . . . silent. Addison stared at it for a moment and couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed that Garret hadn’t called and tried to smooth things over. Not that it would change her mind at this point, but it stung a bit that she was so easily dismissed without a real fight. Was Garret at a bar right this minute, hitting on women, or home alone, missing her? But when Addison envisioned his sad face she leaned forward, set her glass down, and almost picked up the phone with the intention of calling him just to see if he was okay.

“Stop!” Addison said so loudly that her voice seemed to bounce off the walls and echo in the silence. “Garret’s well-being is no longer my concern!” Glaring at the phone as if it were somehow to blame, she sat back against the sofa so fast that she bounced against the cushion. Addison wished she had a girlfriend to confide in, but she’d lost contact with her high school friends after the move to LA and her college friends were now scattered all over the country, many of them married with a child or two.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, she had the suspicion that laughter would dissolve into tears and so she simply sat there, looked around her condo, and frowned. While she paid rent, the building actually belonged to her mother and father. The furnishings were gorgeous but courtesy of an interior designer friend of her mother’s and not a reflection of Addison’s taste. But the decorating had been a birthday surprise, and her mother, who loved bold colors, gushed over the results while she tugged Addison in and out of every room. Addison didn’t have the heart to tell her mother that she would have preferred something lighter, softer, with a few antiques scattered here and there.

After another sip of wine, Addison picked up a jewel-toned pillow, hugged the silky material to her chest, and thought about, well . . . just about everything. She knew that in spite of the breakup she had a nice life. Loving parents, no financial worries, excellent health, and a solid education, and she really did enjoy working at Beauty and the Beat. On a daily basis life went smoothly. In fact, the broken engagements were the only traumas she really suffered and, like her father said, in truth were for the best. She had an even, easygoing temperament and avoided confrontation. She rarely cursed, drank socially but moderately, and her political views were pretty much middle-of-the-road. She just simply went with the flow. . . .

“Oh my God!” Addison suddenly tossed the pillow aside and put a hand to her chest. “I’m not nice. . . . I’m boring!” Oh, she listened, she laughed, and was entertained by others, but who did she entertain? No wonder Garret liked being with her: He wanted an audience and she was perfect. No one felt passionate about her because she wasn’t . . . exciting. And then another thought hit her: “Oh my God. I bet I suck in bed!” When Garret wanted to role-play one night Addison had simply laughed, but now she wished she had put on the maid’s outfit or whatever it was he had suggested. She didn’t even remember because she hadn’t considered his request and he’d never brought it up again.

I’d likely fit right in in a sleepy little river town like Cricket Creek, Kentucky, she thought with a snort before polishing off the rest of the wine in her glass. Seriously, what kind of excitement happened in a town named after water and an insect? Uncle Mitch said it was lovely, but she suddenly had her doubts. She pictured people sitting on front porches, rocking in big rockers, drinking sweet tea, and watching grass grow. She envisioned potbellied men wearing overalls and boots while spitting tobacco and sipping on moonshine.

“I’m sure not going to find Prince Charming in Cricket Creek, Kentucky,” she insisted, and decided she needed one more glass of merlot. Raising her glass she said, “Perfect. I’m done with men, anyway. Un-adventure, here I come.”

AFTER WIPING SWEAT FROM HIS BROW, REID REACHED FOR another bale of hay and tossed it onto the flatbed trailer. Back in Lexington he’d gone to the gym on a regular basis, but this farmwork was kicking his butt. He flicked a glance at his sister, Sara, who stood there with her hands on her hips, staring at him. Then again, maybe it was frustration that was making him overheat.

“Stop ignoring me.” Sara flipped her long brown braid over her shoulder and took a step closer to him.

Reid threw the next bale onto the trailer with more force than necessary. It landed with a thud, sending straw flying. Sopping up more sweat with his sleeve, he turned to face her. “Weddings, Sara? Are you kidding me? First you turn the family farm into Old MacDonald’s for schoolkids, and now you want to host barn weddings? What’s next? A circus?”

“You have a lot of nerve.” Sara stepped closer and poked Reid in the chest. She was one of two people on earth who could get away with it. His mother was the other one. Reid braced himself for what was coming. “After back-to-back years of drought on top of the recession, we nearly lost everything. But you were off in Lexington, sitting in your fancy office.”

“I have a degree in finance. I thought it was important to use it, just like you used your degree in teaching.”

“Yeah, it was, until I was needed here!” Sara swung her arm in an arc. “Jeff put his music career on hold when times got tough. Braden came home from college, and I came back when the stress of it all gave Dad a heart attack and turned Mom into a worrywart. But oh no, you? You stayed in your . . . your ivory tower.”