Page 118 of Heartbreaker
“Okay! Can we have apples too?”
“With peanut butter?”
She nods so vigorously she resembles a bobblehead. “Yup.”
“Then definitely.”
It’s not until a half hour later, when we’re chowing down on carrots, apples and peanut butter, and those required dino nuggets smothered with plenty of ranch, that I get my first big break in my quest to get close to Jade.
And I can’t help but think that the universe is rewarding me for finally pulling my head out of my ass.
“Are you going with Auntie Jade to the Opera show?” Frankie asks, licking ranch off one finger.
I frown, ignore the pulse of pain at Jade’s name, and try to decipher that.
“What show, Tater Tot?” I ask.
“The Opera one,” she repeats, screwing up her face in concentration. “Mommy and Auntie Aspen were talking about aGrand Opera show that Auntie Jade has soon.” Her eyes come back to mine.
Grand Opera.
Grand…
The pieces slide into place.
The GrandOle Opry.
Jade has a show there? Holy shit, that’s big. That’samazing.
That’s…
Whereshe will be.
“Are you going?” Frankie presses.
I reach for my phone, text the operator of the private jet service I use, and then I meet Frankie’s eyes.
“Yeah, Tater Tot. I’m going.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Jade
“You’re lookin’a little peaked there, sugarplum.” My longtime makeup artist, Fannie Mason, meets my gaze in the mirror.
“It’s been a rough week,” I admit.
“Yeah, sex tapes will do that to you.” She shakes her head but it’s not with censure. “The media just loves that type of crap. But don’t worry—someone else will do something a lot worse any minute now, and they’ll forget all about you. I mean, that Tony Blackthorn’s wedding is all anybody’s talking about now…”
Ew.
Tony Blackthorn.
The guy Amber is marrying.
The one replacing Royal in his band.
Yuck. I don’t want to think about them so I tune out Fannie’s rambling, talking about who got Botox, who wants a facelift, and who’s rumored to be here tonight.
