Free Moonlight Kiss by Luann McLane Page A

after all,” she grumbled, and felt the sting of tears threatening. God, she knew she had so many blessings in her life, but she just needed something exciting to happen.
    And she would kill for a hot, steamy kiss.
    “Not likely to happen,” she grumbled again, and then decided she just might head over to Sully’s and buy Mia and Addison a martini. Not only would she be networking and could write it off, but it would get her out for the evening. Maggie snapped her fingers. “Yeah, that’s the ticket,” she said, and tried to pump herself up. Just when she’d talked herself into it, her phone rang on her business line.
    “Maggie McMillan,” she answered in her best business voice.
    “Hello, Maggie. This is, um, Rick. I mean, Richard . . . Rule. I’m interested in renting a vacation home for a week or so. Do you have anything available?”

7
    Rules of the Game
    “W ELL, I HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS,” RESPONDED THE pleasant voice of Maggie McMillan. “Several bed-and-breakfasts, a newly remodeled lodge located near the marina, or I have a very nice secluded log cabin down by the river. I also have some furnished condos that we usually rent by the month, but I happen to know at least one is available by the week. It’s within walking distance to the baseball stadium and has a river view.”
    “Interesting,” Rick said. The sound of her low-pitched, sultry tone was somehow soothing—a good thing, since he was in a helluva bad mood. “Can you tell me some details about the cabin?”
    “Sure, just give me a minute to get to my desk and pull up the information.”
    Finding out that his own publicist had started a rumor that Rick had been having an affair with his son’s fiancée would put anybody in a foul mood. When he’d confronted his now former publicist, the jackass had said that Rick needed to ramp up his bad-boy image if he wanted to have a shot at another world tour. To make matters worse, Garret refused to deny the accusations, since he’d landed a role on a
Big Brother–
knockoff reality show and wanted to boost the ratings.
    Rick had been fond of Addison Monroe and wanted to assure her that he wasn’t a part of this fiasco. But Garret refused to give him Addison’s phone number, so Rick had decided he would track Addison down and personally apologize for whatever damage he’d done to her reputation—if she wanted, he could even make a public statement denying everything. The tabloids were going to have a field day with this sordid lie. Rick couldn’t believe that Garret wouldn’t do the right thing and squash the rumors and it made Rick furious. Unfortunately, firing his publicist led to the man spitefully mouthing off to the media that rock star Rick Ruleman was going off the deep end.
    Screw the world tour, and shame on Garret.
    Unfortunately, Addison had disappeared a week ago and no one seemed to know where she was hiding out, not that Rick could blame her. Rick had his manager do some serious digging and he’d turned up a Facebook post by Addison’s cousin Mia Monroe saying that she was superthrilled to have her cousin in town for a visit. Mia lived in Cricket Creek, Kentucky. Bingo.
    “Mr. Rule?” asked the pleasant voice.
    “Yes?”
    “You’re in luck! The log cabin is indeed available weekly. It’s spacious, with cathedral ceilings, a stone fireplace, and lovely furnishings. The wraparound porch has a river view and there’s a hot tub to relax in. In a word, it’s gorgeous.”
    “Sounds like it.”
    “Oh yes, and you have the privacy of the wooded location, but the drive up into Cricket Creek is fairly short, so you have the best of both worlds. I can send you the information along with pictures. If you like it, I can hold it for you. I’d just need a credit-card deposit and some information.”
    Damn . . . he didn’t want her to know his real identity. If word got out he was heading to Cricket Creek, he’d blow Addison’s cover and have paparazzi crawling all over