Free A Valentine for Kayla by Kimberly Rose Johnson

duck into the back before the paparazzi spotted him through the window. He’d thought for sure after a week they’d have given up, but apparently Estelle was getting what she wanted—publicity that didn’t involve her movie. He pushed through the swinging doors and stopped.
    Jill stood by the back door in the arms of a dark-haired man the size of an NFL linebacker. He cleared his throat and she whipped her head toward him.
    â€œWhat are you doing in here?”
    â€œHiding. What are you doing?”
    She stepped out of the man’s arms. “This is Charlie. He delivers the flowers. Charlie, Derek is our resident celebrity.”
    Charlie held out a beefy hand. “The whole town’s been talking about you.”
    Derek suppressed a groan. “Maybe going back to LA isn’t such a bad idea after all.”
    â€œDon’t you dare leave.” Jill scowled. “My business partner would be impossible if you disappeared from her life.”
    He stood a little taller. Kayla would miss him? And here he’d thought he’d ruined everything.
    Jill glanced toward the closed door leading to the front of the store. “About what you saw when you walked in—do you think you could keep that between the three of us? Kayla doesn’t know about Charlie and me yet, and I don’t think now is a good time to tell her.”
    â€œI don’t know. She’s already unhappy with me.”
    Jill frowned. “Good point. I like you, Derek, and you’re good for my friend. Don’t lie—just don’t offer the information. Deal?”
    â€œI suppose. But you won’t be able to keep this from her for long. What if she’d been the one who walked in and saw the two of you?”
    Charlie wrapped his hand around Jill’s. “He’s right. There’s really no point in keeping us a secret any longer now that—”
    â€œOkay.” Jill whirled around, disengaged her hand from his and pushed him toward the back door. “Those flowers need to be delivered. You better get a move on.”
    â€œOkey-dokey.” He nodded to Derek, then slipped out the back door.
    Derek wondered what the man had been about to say, but Kayla pushed through the door. She looked ravishing. Her hair was piled atop her head with a few wisps dangling beside her smooth cheeks. Her lips stretched into a polite smile.
    â€œI see you’ve made yourself at home.”
    â€œSorry about that. I didn’t want the paparazzi to see me and cause a ruckus, so I thought I’d dart back here.”
    Jill sidled up to him. “It’s no big deal, Kayla. How about I take over in front for a bit, while the two of you talk float designs?” She rushed toward the door and looked over her shoulder.
    He mouthed a thank-you.
    Jill grinned and left.
    He pulled out three sheets of folded paper he’d stuffed into his back jeans pocket and handed them to Kayla. “They’re rough, but I think you’ll get the idea.” He rocked back on his heels as she unfolded and studied the designs he’d spent hours on.
    â€œThey’re amazing, but they’re not simple.” She shook her head. “I don’t think we could pull any of these off. Even if we had the man-hours, we don’t have the money.”
    â€œThen let the float be my treat.”
    â€œNo way.”
    â€œWhy? You have something against a philanthropic former singer?”
    â€œOf course not. Wait—former singer? What are you talking about?”
    â€œI left the business.”
    â€œDoes the business know that? Because from what I’ve seen on TV, you’re as hot as ever.”
    She watched gossip shows? He’d pictured her listening to music and reading books in her off time, not planted in front of the television screen. “I’d like to explain all of that, if you’d give me a chance.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. And since there aren’t any