Chapter 3

Two seconds later - Ellie

My phone lit up and the theme song to Gilmore Girls started playing. Meg was calling. We'd watched the show as girls, and it was our favorite. I almost didn't answer the call, however. Almost. I was sure Meg wanted her answer about Luke. I might as well get it over with. The answer remained no.

"Hello?"

"Good morning, Ellie-phant. How's it going?"

Admittedly, most people wouldn't want to be called Elephant, but it was Meggie's nickname for me, and she'd been calling me that since we were six years old and was still doing it now that we were thirty-two. "I know why you're calling, and the answer is?—"

"Luke's on the line, and he wants to talk to you." Her voice was a hurried rush.

Damn her. She knew I'd been about to say no. I ground my teeth. Oh, no, she did not call me with her ass of a brother on the line. So unfair. Before I had a chance to decline, a deep voice rumbled, "Hi, Ellie. It's Luke."

I swallowed hard and settled back against the periwinkle pillows on my already-made bed, determined to be completely calm and collected because Luke's voice always did a little something to me that I didn't want to examine too closely. It was rough and deep and slightly—oh, it didn't matter. The man was a professional singer. Of course he had a nice voice. Fine. If the Knightley siblings were going to play this game, I'd just tell Luke no to his face. Or his ear. Whatever.

"Hey, Luke," I said in as strong and confident a voice as I could muster.

"Hey, listen. I…have a big favor to ask of you. I know…I know in the past I've been an ass, and I'm sorry about that. Truly. I really need your help now. I'm in trouble here."

Oh, God. Why did he have to sound so vulnerable? And sincere? Normally, when we spoke, he called me Nurse Ratched or some other name I hated, and he teased me unmercifully. I'd never heard him like this. He'd called me Ellie, for heaven's sake. Unprecedented.

"I guess you've had some big changes since we last spoke," I replied, bobbing my head as I waited for his reply. I'd always hated small talk, but ugh. Necessary in this case.

"Yeah, yeah. Some great and some…not so great."

Damn it. I'd been hoping he'd say something egotistical so I could find my anger again.

"Look, Meg told me you're not really into helping me out, but…would you just come down and talk to me about it?"

My throat went dry. "Come down? To Nashville?" Whaa? He was inviting me to his mansion? That was unexpected. And I knew it was a mansion because, in addition to Meg describing it in detail, I'd stalked his new house via an article on a celebrity website. It was undeniably gorgeous, all white-washed brick and lovely overlapping rooflines. I'd been grudgingly forced to admit Luke actually had taste…when it came to houses.

"Yeah. I'd love to talk to you in person about this, Ellie. I'll pay you for your time and all expenses are on me, of course. And if you decide you don't want to do it after you visit, no harm, no foul. Free trip to Nashville?"

Well, damn it. He sounded like a real grown-up. He hadn't given me an ounce of shit. And he'd even apologized. Was it possible becoming famous and rich had made Luke grow up? Now I felt like if I said no to a free trip to Nashville, I was being surly. This was my best friend's brother after all. I'd known him since I was a kid. And I had to admit I really wanted to see how a rich person lived. Like a real-life rich person, with a freakin' security team (which Meg had also told me about). I mean, we'd all grown up in a trailer park. It was beyond tempting. And all expenses paid? I had a break in my schedule at the moment, which was one of the reasons Meg had begged me to take the job. She knew I was available. And if I went over the weekend, I would be back by Thursday for my weekly visit with Mindy at the hospital.

"All right, Luke," I found myself saying. "I'll come visit, but no promises!"

"That's all I'm asking for."

I could hear the smile in his voice. Shit.