Free Taming the Country Star: A Hometown Heroes Novella (Entangled Bliss) by Margo Bond Collins Page A

delivered it to the room had been appropriately bland and noncommittal when Cole answered the door in only a pair of jeans.
    The elevator doors opened and they stepped inside.
    “It’s going to be fine,” he said, as much to reassure himself as to make her feel better. It had to be fine. He had been working on pulling the next two days together since he’d left her at the doorstep of Cowbelles after dinner at Azteca—though honestly, Billie was the one to thank for making everything come together so quickly.
    “Billie says there probably won’t be photographers outside the hotel, so we’ll be able to get into the limo easily. Once we get to the reception, I’ll get out first. Most of the attention will be on me. Smile and keep walking.”
    “Will there be photographers inside?”
    “In the main room, yes. But Joey said he’s going to try to have security keep them out of the private party. Billie’s going to be late, so we’ll meet up at the reception.”
    She shivered, shaking a little next to him, so he moved his arm up to her waist and snugged her in close to him. “It’ll be okay,” he said.
    “How do you ever get used to it?” she asked.
    “Masks.” His smile was edged in sadness.
    “Seriously, Cole.”
    “Seriously? A lot of them are okay—most of the ones who will show up tonight have been invited to photograph the event.”
    “And what about the ones who aren’t okay?”
    An image of his least favorite tabloid reporter, Stuart Jeffries, flashed through Cole’s mind and he shook it off. He slipped his arm from around her waist and ran it down her arm to clasp her hand again. The elevator door opened, and they stepped out together.
    “We learn to ignore those.”
    “Like the one who took pictures of us in Cozumel?”
    So much for ignoring the thought of Jeffries.
    He tugged her to a stop in the lobby. The limo waited outside the revolving door, but he needed to deal with this now, before Kylie got any more anxious.
    “Kylie,” he said, gazing deeply into her eyes. “I’m sorry. I should have done a better job last time of keeping you safe—I didn’t know how much the photographers would bother you. But now that I do, I promise that I will protect you from them. Can you trust me?”
    “Yes,” she breathed, and he tightened his arms around her possessively.
    If they could make it through this first night in public as a couple, as themselves, even with the press around, he could figure the rest of it out—and then he could keep Kylie with him. Forever.

Chapter Nine
    The reception was lovely, even if Kylie didn’t know anyone. The longer they were there, the more her anxiety faded, allowing her to finally luxuriate in simply being with Cole. He smiled, and spoke, and introduced Kylie to people who streamed by, but she would never remember all their names. She recognized a couple of faces—other musicians, maybe? People she should probably know—but it all blurred together in a haze of happiness.
    “Want a drink?” Cole asked, leaning in close.
    “More champagne?”
    His smile was blinding. “Absolutely.” He leaned over to speak to the server behind the temporary bar. Kylie surreptitiously admired his ass as he bent forward. He was certainly hot in formal wear, but she preferred the jeans he’d had on that afternoon.
    Cole caught the direction of her gaze as he passed her the flute. “Keep looking at me like that and we’ll leave early.”
    Her whole body tightened at the heat in his voice. “Okay,” she said simply.
    “I have one thing to do first. I’ll be right back.” Cole’s ragged breath whispered against her ear and she shivered, then trembled again when the heat of his touch disappeared from the small of her back. She instantly missed the comfort of the contact.
    Bubbles tickled Kylie’s nose as she sipped her champagne. Turning from the bar, she scanned the small crowd for Cole, but he had already disappeared. She moved along the wall, watching the