“So that Meade guy took the place? The farmhouse has been leased?”
He hesitated at her assumption. His tenant wasn’t the man he’d mentioned to her earlier. But Lourdes didn’t want to be bothered while she was in Whiskey Creek. And if he told Noelle they had a famous country singer in their midst, she’d spread the word all over town. She might even show up at the farmhouse, claiming she was his ex and therefore had some right to the property.
He couldn’t allow that to happen. “Yeah. It’s a done deal,” he said.
“That was fast!”
“He was serious. He had me furnish it, remember?”
She didn’t seem to mind that A.J. was tying down the water heater without her help. “I remember,” she said. “But what does someone from Nashville want with a house on a remote piece of land outside Whiskey Creek? This isn’t exactly Tahoe. If it was, maybe I’d have a shot at being discovered,” she added wryly.
If only she would move to Lake Tahoe or LA. Or New York. The farther, the better. But her lack of resources precluded it.
“He’s looking for some solitude,” he said. “An escape from the demands of his usual life.”
“How long’s he staying?”
“For a few months, like I told you.”
“That sucks. You should’ve rented to me.”
Kyle felt his eye-twitch coming back. “The duplex you’re living in is fine. What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s a dump compared to the farmhouse.”
“Maybe you can find something you’re happier with after Christmas,” he said, but for once, placating her didn’t seem to be necessary. He could tell by her expression that she’d already switched gears.
“How old is he?” she asked.
“About our age.”
“Is he handsome?”
Apparently, she and A.J. didn’t have anything going on romantically, or she wouldn’t be asking such obvious questions with her helper in hearing distance. “I couldn’t tell you,” Kyle said. “I’m not used to judging other guys in that way. But it doesn’t matter. He’s with someone.”
“He’s married?” she asked.
“It might not be that official, but he’s been with the same woman for a few years. So enough with the nosy questions. My renter isn’t an option for you.”
“You’ve gotten ornery,” she complained.
“What are you talking about? I just solved your hot water problem.” And he was standing outside, freezing his ass off because of her when it was about to snow.
“You comin’?” A.J. called as he jumped to the ground and circled around to the driver’s side.
“Yeah, I’m comin’,” Noelle said. Then she surprised Kyle with a hug. “You look good, you know that? You look real good. God, I miss you.”
Before he could react, she released him and turned away. But as she got in with A.J., she called over her shoulder, “Think about what I said before. You’ve got to be lonely. Now even Riley’s getting married. Who will you hang out with when he’s as * whipped as your other friends?”
“Baxter’s moving home,” he said. He’d been consoling himself with that news for several weeks...
“Baxter’s gay, Kyle.”
“You think I’m not aware of that?”
“You’re not being realistic. I doubt he’ll be interested in going places where you can meet girls.”
He frowned as he gazed at the wind-tossed branches of the trees. “Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m just saying I’d be happy to be your buddy if you want me to.” With a wink, she shut the door.
He could never be that desperate. If only he hadn’t been stupid enough to get involved with her in the first place, he’d be married to Olivia. Instead, Olivia was married to Brandon.
He waited until Noelle and her bartender friend drove off before taking out his phone to respond to Lourdes’s message.
I’m on my way, he wrote back.