“Been telling you for years—Derrick Anderson’s an asshole.”
“I thought they were broken up.”
“They are.” Clayton exhaled. He wanted to explain, wanted Nolan to understand why Jamie was so hurt, but it wasn’t his story to tell. Their relationship had always been a mess, stuck in some limbo between real and convenient, and he wasn’t about to betray her trust. “It’s complicated.”
“I’m not following.”
“Neither am I.” Frustration simmered beneath his skin. “But if he was seeing someone else he should’ve told her before announcing it to the world.” Just saying it made his blood boil. The audacity of that guy.
Nolan hesitated. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”
“Anyway, we’re on our way home.”
“We?”
“Jamie, Ruth, and me.” He paused, knowing how the next part would sound. “Jamie’s staying at the ranch for a while. Can you pick us up?”
“Is Ruth staying too?” Nolan sounded hopeful.
“No. Jamie’s pissed at her for keeping Derrick’s news a secret. The kid was just doing her job.”
“So just you and Jamie at the ranch?”
“Don’t be an idiot,” he muttered. “I’m staying at the main house.”
“That’s convenient.”
Clayton clenched his teeth. He knew exactly what Nolan was getting at. The ranch would give Jamie space, privacy. But if he were honest, it was also an excuse, a way to be close to her without crossing the line.
“I think having her nearby will make you happy,” Nolan said, his voice quieter now.
Clayton let out a breath. “Look, I know what it’s like to have your relationship explode in public. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”
Tammy had made damn sure the world saw him as the bad guy when she left. The truth was she’d been the one stepping out. And now Jamie was getting dragged through the mud by a man who didn’t even have the decency to break things off properly before moving on.
And Clayton hated that it bothered him so much.
CHAPTER 13
JAMIE
When they landed in Nashville only a few photographers lingered near the arrivals gate—nothing the rock star couldn’t handle. Jamie pulled her hat lower, sunglasses in place, and walked through the flashing cameras without breaking her stride.
Nolan dropped off Ruth downtown, barely slowing as she slipped out with a casual wave, then headed south to Franklin. The city lights faded in the rearview mirror, replaced by rolling hills and sprawling farms. The further they drove, the quieter it got—just the hum of the tires and the weight of whatever was about to come.
“You sure you’re not being a little hard on Ruth?” Clayton asked.
Jamie barely looked up from her phone. The screen was flooded with photos of Derrick and his “new girlfriend” getting cozy on set—his hand on her waist, his mouth close to her ear, a look she knew too well. A look that made her doubt everything all at once.
“Hard on Ruth?” She let out a faint laugh. “She should’ve told me the second she found out.”
“She was just doing her job.”
“Her job is to be my assistant, not Shorty’s lackey.” The words came out sharp, a defense she’d mastered. Because if she let herself think about it too long, it wasn’t just Ruth. It was Derrick. It was every damn person who swore they had her back only to prove they didn’t.
Nolan drove his truck up to Clayton’s house and kept the engine running.
Clayton hopped out of the passenger side with Duke close behind. “I’m going to pack a few things then head on out.”
