Xo (Kathryn Dance 3)

The show had been written up in one of the tiny local papers. He must've read about it there.

Edwin followed her inside.

"We're thinking of filming a concert here."

"A video. Cool! Excellent. When?"

"We don't know yet."

"Like re-creating your first concert? That'd be so neat. You'll have to do 'Walking After Midnight.' Like you opened with back then."

Jesus. He knew that too?

Edwin studied her again. "Wow, you're looking spec-tacular today. Your hair ... it's so beautiful. After your voice, your hair's probably my favorite part about you."

Kayleigh struggled to remain placid as she recalled his request to send him a lock of her hair. From her pillow would have been best. Oh, Lord ...

"I don't have much time," she said.

"I know. They're always watching you."

They?

He put his hands on his hips and smiled. His jeans were tight. She thought about the incident outside her house, tapping out the music, or doing something else? He peered down at her adoringly from under those overhanging brows.

Kayleigh Towne wondered if she was going to be sick.

"Oh, my God," he whispered. "Hearing your voice on the phone? It just made my whole day. My whole year! I was sitting at Earl and Marge's having dinner and feeling kind of bad. Then to hear you. After all these months, finally hearing you."

"That's a good diner."

"The pies looked nice. I like cherry pie, if there's milk with it. But I cut all that out." He patted his belly. "Staying trim, you know. Mr. Today. That's such a great song. I hope it becomes an anthem for women. Don't settle for abuse, don't settle for less than you deserve. You know what I mean?"

Of course she did. She'd written the song. It was odd, though, how many fans didn't get the meaning, as obvious as it was.

"Look at that. An old percolator." He nodded toward an ancient coffeemaker. "That's what my mother'd use."

Her eyes stayed on the canister as she said, "Listen, Edwin, what I wanted to talk to you about. I was pretty upset you picked up my sister and niece." She'd decided she couldn't make it sound like he was her new best friend. He'd be suspicious if she was too nice. She looked at him now sternly.

"Oh, that. Sorry. I didn't know what else to do. I was worried."

"Worried?"

"About

Ritchie."

"Who's that?"

"Ritchie Hampton, the guy your father was going to send to pick up Suellyn and Mary-Gordon. You don't know about his record?"

Record? What was he talking about? "Well ... no."

"Okay, what happened was, I was in a cafe. Your father and Sheri happened to be there--"

"Happened?" Kayleigh asked suspiciously.

The smile seemed to deepen slightly. "Okay, I'll admit. I followed them there. I thought they were going to meet you for breakfast. It's been hard to park out in front of your house. I keep getting hassled by the deputies."