Can't believe we only have a week until season 4. I was hoping to have this story level with the end of season 3 before the new season, but it doesn't look like that will happen. Oh well! Thanks for all the lovely reviews, I appreciate it. It's good to know people are not only reading my story but enjoying it.

Candy slouched down further into the driver's seat as she glanced over at the office of Highway 65. She had been sitting here now for about an hour and other than a few delivery people coming and going, not much was happening. Neither Rayna nor Deacon had entered or left the building. She knew Rayna was in the office as she had seen her car parked. Sighing to herself, she picked up the notebook she had used during her interview with Luke early this morning. As predicted by Jeff, Luke didn't comment directly on why the wedding was called off, other than to sprout off the official line. Raising her eyebrow at the memory, Luke had certainly had let his feelings known on the subject.

When she had arrived at the restaurant, Candy was surprised to see Bucky Dawson sitting down at the table with Luke. It made sense that they knew each other, but she would have assumed after the break up that Bucky wouldn't have had much to do with Luke. Candy made her way over to the table and introduced herself. They both looked up startled. Smiling at her, Luke asked for a couple extra minutes to finish up with Bucky.

Sipping her drink at the nearby bar, she had swung around so that she was facing towards the table. She watched them both engrossed in the conversation. She was near enough that she could catch snippets of what they were saying. She had pieced together that Luke was telling Bucky about a new artist he had acquired and was asking Bucky for his advice. She frowned as she heard him ask Bucky if he was free to come into the recording studio next week to give his opinion on a potential artist. She didn't catch the name of the singer, but she heard Bucky agree. He said that he had also mentioned the singer to Rayna but she didn't think it was the right fit for Highway 65. Luke laughed bitterly at this before downing the scotch in front of him. Pointing a finger at Bucky he stated that he knew from first-hand experience that Rayna certainly knew what she wanted and no amount of persuasion would get her to change her mind. Poor Bucky looked so uncomfortable. Pushing his chair back he stood stating that he will call Luke to set up a time to view the singer. Before leaving he exclaimed his sorrow at the cancelled wedding.

Luke signaled for another drink and in the process caught Candy's eye, motioning her over. It had gone downhill rapidly from there. He continued drinking through the interview and surprisingly still managed to avoid giving away anything related to the real reason why the engagement ended. Candy could feel her frustration growing with every deflection. The only time she got a reaction out of him was when she mentioned Deacon. She had credited Luke with giving Deacon a large platform to launch his solo career. It was like waving a red flag at a bull. He locked his blue eyes on her and angrily stated,

"That was the worse decision I ever made. That man has been a thorn in my side for longer than l care to remember. Should have kicked him to the kerb when I had the chance."

Candy was shocked by the venom in his voice. Though if Deacon was the real reason, as Candy suspected, why Rayna broke off the wedding she could understand this reaction from Luke. She knew from researching Rayna's past, that they all had history together. That they had been friends as they struggled to get a foothold in the music industry.

"Look, let's just say that Deacon won't be joining me on tour anytime in the future."

"Why? Does it have something to do with reason why you fought with him after cancelling the wedding?"

A look of fury engulfed Luke's face as he spat out, "I'm not going to talk about that. I wish the man all the best with his music but I won't be working with him again."

Candy was taken back by the level of loathing Luke had towards Deacon. Stammering to gain her footing again she decided she may as well try to get him to drop his guard while he was agitated.

"I really like the direction your music is going. The latest single, 'I can't help my heart', is deeply personal and a change from previous Luke Wheeler songs. Is that the result of what has happened in over the last 6 months? I mean, clearly it is about your continuing feelings for Rayna."

Candy could see the slow rise of anger creeping up his face. His lips were pulled into an angry thin line while his ears were turning red as he struggled to control his fury.

"I understand you were there for her Opry anniversary, how did it feel seeing her and Deacon performing not only together, but one of their signature duets. I imagine that would have been hard to watch."

Candy jumped in her chair as Luke violently pushed his own back, causing the glasses on the table to fall and shatter on the floor. He stormed out of the restaurant, leaving Candy speechless.

While disappointed that Luke didn't actually reveal the real reason why Rayna and he broke up, his reaction to talk of Deacon was close enough to a confession for Candy. Flicking her eyes back towards the Highway 65 office, she could see Rayna leaving. Slouching down in the seat, she tried to become invisible while at the same time tracking her movements. She watched as Rayna climbed into her SUV. Startled into action, Candy pulled out into traffic as she followed discretely from a distance.