Dropping The Ball - A New Year’s Billionaire Romance - Weston Parker Page 0,84

soul, and being surrounded by them now was exactly what I needed to get me through the last couple of weeks before New Year’s. It didn’t escape my notice that I had Carter to thank for having Billy here, and for calling Jules for me.

My heart swelled until it felt like it might pop, then seemed to adjust before swelling even more. It was the sweetest pressure I’d ever felt, but it also let me know that I owed it to both of us to talk to him.

The sooner, the better. If, and that was a big if, he was willing to speak to me again at all.

Chapter 29

CARTER

The bookstore was jam-packed. People were lined up around the block for the signing, and the movie star turned urban fantasy author waved magnanimously as he made small talk with his fans. Copy after copy of his book was thrust underneath his nose, and the monotony of the day was getting to even me.

Bart had booked me on a short-term day job for the signing while Rylee and I “worked on patching things up.” The problem with that statement was that, in order to be working on patching things up, we had to be talking. Which we weren’t.

I still hadn’t heard a peep from her, and since she’d asked for space, I wasn’t about to go hounding her. Maybe that made me stubborn, but I preferred thinking of it as respecting her wishes. I also didn’t know if I could take being told it really was over.

A big part of my battered and bruised heart still hoped Billy could get through to her. At least he’d reached out to me, and in ten minutes when this signing was over, I’d get to see one of the Naples siblings again.

Bart had told me that Rylee had been discharged from the hospital and that she’d been given the all-clear. So why haven’t I heard from her?

Hopefully, Billy would have some answers for me soon. I glanced at my watch before signaling to Ryan, who was manning the door, that we had to start wrapping it up.

A few people had eyed me curiously throughout the day, but it was only when Andrew Parker, the movie star turned author, narrowed his eyes at me in suspicion once we got done that I realized why.

“Aren’t you Rylee Naples’s new fling?” he asked, a wistful look on his face as he gave his head a shake. “Man, she’s gorgeous. I wanted to look her up while I was in town until I saw that article. It’s a real shame she’s retired.”

“No, not him. You’ve got the wrong guy,” I replied curtly. “I wouldn’t believe everything you’ve read, though. I don’t think the world has seen the last of her.”

He shrugged, giving me one last look before shaking his head again. “I hope you’re right. For the record, if you are him, I understand better than most why you’d say no but don’t just let her quit, okay?”

My brows barely twitched upward, but he must have seen it. He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out a card, winking as he held it out to me. “If she’s ever interested in crossing over to Hollywood, have her give me a call. She’s got a lot of fans out there. I’d be happy to help her get settled in.”

I stared at the card, swiping it from him just before he moved to withdraw it. “Still not him, but if I happen to run into her, I’ll let her know.”

He smirked. “Sure. Thanks for today.”

The driver he’d hired opened the door for him at the back of the bookstore, and he disappeared with one last wave at me. I sighed, running my fingers through my hair after stashing the card into my own pocket.

Even I had underestimated how brightly Rylee’s star shone. Even after all this time. Maybe it was time to give up that hope I’d been clinging to.

My mood plummeted to new depths. There was a dark cloud hanging over me by the time I walked into the bar where I was meeting Billy.

He was already there, nursing a beer in the corner. I went to grab myself a drink, ignoring the bartender’s scrutiny before he handed it over. I get it, man. Big dudes in black suits tend to cause trouble.

I lifted my hands at him to show him I wasn’t there to stir his shit up, then left him a good tip before going to join