turn it into rampant speculation, so maybe Kenzie had sought treatment.
For what, though? Rehab didn’t fit, because she hadn’t hesitated to order a beer at the chicken place, and even told Chase about some of her favorite local beers. Okay, maybe it was possible she’d had a drug problem and still drank alcohol. That wasn’t unheard of, but it didn’t ring true to Chase. No, it had to be something else, but what?
What are you hiding from Kenzie? What did that jerk do to you? Chase continued searching, but came up blank. There was nothing else about a possible hospital stay or a medical issue. If something had happened, Kenzie and her representatives had done one heck of a job keeping it a secret.
***
Kenzie intended to get right to work on the song as soon as Chase left, but she was interrupted by a phone call. One glance at the Caller ID told her it was a good interruption. A smile tugged at her lips as she answered. “Hey, Aunt Audrey.”
“Hiya, Sugar.” A familiar Tennessee drawl greeted her. “How’s my favorite niece?”
“I’m your only niece,” Kenzie reminded her. And Audrey was her only aunt, but Kenzie thought of her more as a mother. After all, it was Audrey who’d raised Kenzie after her own mother’s death when she was only eight.
Audrey chuckled. “Which means less competition for you, not that it matters. You’d probably still be my favorite. You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m good. Better than I’ve been in a long time,” Kenzie said. “I’m working on a new project. I think it’s going to be great.”
“The duet with that rock star? What’s his name, Chance Something?”
“Chase,” Kenzie corrected. “Chase Radcliffe. And how did you know, anyway?” They’d barely made the decision a day ago. Had Carey started the promotion machine rolling already?
“Oh, honey, I have my sources,” Audrey said. “I may be retired and living in Florida now, but I still have friends there, and they have their ears to the ground.”
“Apparently.” Audrey Carlton was a former recording artist, and even if she’d never been a huge star, settling mostly for being the opening act rather than the headliner, Kenzie shouldn’t have doubted her aunt’s knack for being in the know. She also should have heeded her aunt’s warning about Jesse. “I’m excited about the project,” Kenzie said. “Chase is very nice and talented.”
“And sex on a stick, from what I’ve seen.” Audrey whistled. “Oh, my. I’ve looked at a few videos on You Tube. Hot.”
Kenzie laughed. Her aunt was something else, and it was easy to see why she’d been a popular figure in the Nashville scene in the late eighties and early nineties. Kenzie wished she had even a tenth of the brash confidence that Audrey did. “I haven’t watched any of his videos.”
“But surely you’ve noticed he’s sexy.”
Yeah, I’d have to be completely blind not to notice that. “Maybe a little,” Kenzie tried to sound nonchalant. “But we’re working together. That’s it. The last thing I need is another relationship.”
“It depends on the relationship,” Audrey countered with a huff. “You don’t need another toxic one, that’s for sure. But don’t tell me you couldn’t make room in your life for a man who’s good and honest and treats you right.”
“I don’t know,” Kenzie mused. “I haven’t met one yet.”
“You will,” her aunt predicted. “And when you do, I hope you’re brave enough to let him into your life and your heart.”
I hope so, too , Kenzie thought.
They talked for a few more minutes, catching up on everything from the weather to The Young and the Restless and Audrey’s upcoming trip to Vegas with Kenzie’s step uncle, Eddie, a trip they made every spring. Kenzie hung up with a smile. Her aunt was a hoot, and she always enjoyed their conversations.
It was time to get busy, though. She had a song to write, or at least an opening verse. Chase was
For what, though? Rehab didn’t fit, because she hadn’t hesitated to order a beer at the chicken place, and even told Chase about some of her favorite local beers. Okay, maybe it was possible she’d had a drug problem and still drank alcohol. That wasn’t unheard of, but it didn’t ring true to Chase. No, it had to be something else, but what?
What are you hiding from Kenzie? What did that jerk do to you? Chase continued searching, but came up blank. There was nothing else about a possible hospital stay or a medical issue. If something had happened, Kenzie and her representatives had done one heck of a job keeping it a secret.
***
Kenzie intended to get right to work on the song as soon as Chase left, but she was interrupted by a phone call. One glance at the Caller ID told her it was a good interruption. A smile tugged at her lips as she answered. “Hey, Aunt Audrey.”
“Hiya, Sugar.” A familiar Tennessee drawl greeted her. “How’s my favorite niece?”
“I’m your only niece,” Kenzie reminded her. And Audrey was her only aunt, but Kenzie thought of her more as a mother. After all, it was Audrey who’d raised Kenzie after her own mother’s death when she was only eight.
Audrey chuckled. “Which means less competition for you, not that it matters. You’d probably still be my favorite. You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m good. Better than I’ve been in a long time,” Kenzie said. “I’m working on a new project. I think it’s going to be great.”
“The duet with that rock star? What’s his name, Chance Something?”
“Chase,” Kenzie corrected. “Chase Radcliffe. And how did you know, anyway?” They’d barely made the decision a day ago. Had Carey started the promotion machine rolling already?
“Oh, honey, I have my sources,” Audrey said. “I may be retired and living in Florida now, but I still have friends there, and they have their ears to the ground.”
“Apparently.” Audrey Carlton was a former recording artist, and even if she’d never been a huge star, settling mostly for being the opening act rather than the headliner, Kenzie shouldn’t have doubted her aunt’s knack for being in the know. She also should have heeded her aunt’s warning about Jesse. “I’m excited about the project,” Kenzie said. “Chase is very nice and talented.”
“And sex on a stick, from what I’ve seen.” Audrey whistled. “Oh, my. I’ve looked at a few videos on You Tube. Hot.”
Kenzie laughed. Her aunt was something else, and it was easy to see why she’d been a popular figure in the Nashville scene in the late eighties and early nineties. Kenzie wished she had even a tenth of the brash confidence that Audrey did. “I haven’t watched any of his videos.”
“But surely you’ve noticed he’s sexy.”
Yeah, I’d have to be completely blind not to notice that. “Maybe a little,” Kenzie tried to sound nonchalant. “But we’re working together. That’s it. The last thing I need is another relationship.”
“It depends on the relationship,” Audrey countered with a huff. “You don’t need another toxic one, that’s for sure. But don’t tell me you couldn’t make room in your life for a man who’s good and honest and treats you right.”
“I don’t know,” Kenzie mused. “I haven’t met one yet.”
“You will,” her aunt predicted. “And when you do, I hope you’re brave enough to let him into your life and your heart.”
I hope so, too , Kenzie thought.
They talked for a few more minutes, catching up on everything from the weather to The Young and the Restless and Audrey’s upcoming trip to Vegas with Kenzie’s step uncle, Eddie, a trip they made every spring. Kenzie hung up with a smile. Her aunt was a hoot, and she always enjoyed their conversations.
It was time to get busy, though. She had a song to write, or at least an opening verse. Chase was
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