Page 16 of One Last Shot

He looked at her. “And before you say that’s a super selfish thing to say—I know it is. For the record, I care more for Mike than for my career. In fact, maybe I should just keep walking.”

“Down the highway?”

“Away from my career.”

“Oh.” She drew in a breath. “Actually, that’s what I meant about what happened. Why should we ‘kiss fresh music goodbye’?” She finger quoted the phrase.

“You don’t pull your punches, do you?”

“Life is short.”

“Right. So I’m contracted to write some songsfor an upcoming Western, but I can’t seem to wrap my brain around the music, or lyrics.”

“I didn’t know you were a songwriter too.”

“Yep. Wrote all the songs on my first album.”

“Dedicated to Hollie.”

“You know my debut album?”

“Two for one at the concert.” She still didn’t smile. “Not sure I get it, though. Who is Hollie?”

“Hollie Montgomery? She was a singer.”

A pause, and he waited for the recognition to click in.

Softly, “Girlfriend?”

He looked at her. “She was ten years older than me, so no. She was my sister.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Yep. Thanks. But it was a long time ago.”

Another beat. Then, “Fox is a stage name?”

“My dad’s name. Mom was Montgomery.”

“I’ll bet your dad is proud.”

“Dunno. We haven’t talked for a while.”

She nodded, her arms folded. “I get that.”

He sighed. Looked at her again. Yeah, those brown eyes, the heart-shaped face, the solemn look. Something—“Boo?”

“Yeah?”

“So thatisyour name. Why Boo?”

“Because it’s Boo, that’s why.” Her eyebrow lifted. And it was such a distinctive action, along with her words, it triggered something inside him. “IknowI’ve seen you somewhere before. Have you ever been on TV?”

Her eyes widened. “Listen?—”

“Oh, wait. You’re with Air One Rescue.” He pointed at the logo on her jacket. “I must have seen you when I got on the chopper in Anchorage. Or maybe a picture on the wall of the offices?”

“Yep, that’s probably it.” She flasheda thin smile.