“New Year’s, I reckon,” Clayton offered with a wry chuckle. “Truth be told, I hardly remember doing it.” He sat up and rubbed his left elbow—it hurt something fierce from sleeping on it. “Last night was one big blur.”
“No kidding,” his brother said, sounding unimpressed. “I took your boots off.”
“Shoot, I’m sorry for that,” Clayton said.
“Well, you’ll be sorry if Tammy finds out.”
Clayton reached for his mug. “She doesn’t want me, but she sure as hell doesn’t want me with someone else. What am I supposed to do?”
“You did everything you could, Clay.”
“Yeah, I did.” He blew out a long breath. “Where are the girls?”
“Out riding with Momma and Daddy.”
“Thanks for watching them last night.”
“My pleasure.” Nolan nodded. “They’re growing up so fast.”
“Ten this year . . . double digits.” He glanced at the picture of Jamie and smiled, recalling last night. “Did I ever mention I tried bringing her on tour as my opener?” He set his phone down and remembered why that idea was tossed. “It just wasn’t going to fly with Tammy.”
“Yeah, you told me.”
“Lord have mercy. If you can believe it, she’s even prettier now.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” Nolan said firmly. “She’s got a boyfriend, remember?”
Clayton closed his eyes and winced, recalling his foolish words. “I made fun of Derrick last night,” he admitted through gritted teeth. “I thought she was joking when she said they’d split up.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that. But Clay, you still have to apologize for kissing her, even if itwasmidnight.”
“I know,” Clayton sighed. He unbuttoned his shirt and stripped down to his boxers. “Do me a favor and send some flowers to her hotel. Shorty knows where she’s staying. I need to sleep this off.” He climbed back into bed, pulling up the sheets. “And remind me not to mix beer with vodka.”
“That’s a good use of my medical degree.” Nolan smirked. “What do you want the card to say?”
“Sorry I was drunk.”
CHAPTER 3
JAMIE
“James?” Ruth opened the door to their adjoining hotel rooms. An enormous bouquet of red roses obscured her assistant’s face. “Happy new year!”
Jamie lifted her head from her pillow. “Derrick must be feeling bad about last night.” She placed her Starbucks cup on the nightstand and picked up the bouquet with both hands.
“Read the card!” Ruth sounded giddy as she sat at the edge of the bed. She weighed hardly anything so the mattress barely shifted.
Jamie pulled a tiny envelope from the flower arrangement and looked at Ruth, confused. “Sorry I was drunk . . . CL?” She reread it, trying to focus her eyes. “Derrick doesn’t drink. Who is CL?”
Ruth grabbed her boss’s phone from the nightstand. “I don’t think they’re from Derrick.”
“What?” Jamie tapped her forehead with the card and closed her eyes, trying to jog her memory. “CL . . . CL . . .”
“I think they’re from Clayton Langley.”
Jamie burst out laughing. “Yeah, right.” She took a sip of coffee and set the cup back down. “My head feels a little fuzzy and my ears are ringing like crazy.”
“Well, you were pretty drunk,” Ruth said, not sounding judgmental.
