What Goes on Tour(10)

       
           



       

He'd trusted George with Kate and George had left her because some problem had come up.

"Libby was with her the whole time."

Libby was a whole other problem Adrian didn't want to think about right  now. He'd forgotten she would be there and his initial reaction after  the surprise had been a very unwanted spear of lust. It was just his  body's reaction from coming off the stage high, but he resented it all  the same. It wasn't the time or the place. "How much do you know about  Libby? She could be anyone." He kept his voice low so he didn't wake  Kate.

"I googled her before the concert. She's got four books out, works  short-term contracts in administration, is twenty-eight years old and  there are no nasty rumors. Every social media site made her seem like  she was a nice person." George paused. "Plus she was helping Kate write a  book when I left."

That stopped him. "What?"

"Kate wants to write a book with a superhero in it and Libby was helping her develop her character."

Darn it. It was a nice thing for her to do. And it gave Kate something  to keep her occupied, but it didn't mean George should have left. "What  was so urgent?"

"A fan." George said it as if it was a swear word. "Eight months  pregnant and swearing it was your baby. God knows how she got in, but  she was threatening to go to the press if she didn't get to see you."

It was then Adrian noticed the exhaustion in his friend's eyes. He  gestured for George to sit on one of the stools near the mirror and took  the one opposite. "What happened?"

"I told her who I was and said what she claimed could easily be proven  with a paternity test. I took her contact details and told her I'd be in  touch." He slumped down. "I don't need to ask the question, do I?"

"No." He hadn't slept with anyone in over a year. He'd been too busy caring for Kate and figuring out how to be a parent.

"Good."

Kate was sleeping peacefully on the couch, her red curls covering part  of her face. She shouldn't be here. What if the fan had made it to his  dressing-room?

Adrian didn't even want to consider it.

"I need to replace Emily."

"I've asked Libby if she knows of anyone," George said.

Adrian opened his mouth to protest.

George held up a hand. "She lives here. She may know of someone reliable. If she doesn't, no harm."

Adrian didn't know what it was about the writer that irritated him. No,  irritation was the wrong word. She made him uncomfortable because she'd  slipped into his inner circle without so much as a ripple. He had been  himself while playing Clue before the show and it made him edgy. It  usually took him ages before he was comfortable with someone new. Few  people could be trusted.

Besides, he had Kate to think about now, not just himself. "Let me have a shower and get changed. Then we can talk about it."

He needed to get back to being Adrian.

***

Twenty minutes later Adrian was clean, refreshed and had shed the last of the high from being on stage. Damn, he was hungry.

He walked into the dressing-room. Kate was still asleep on the couch and George was working on his laptop.

"You all right?" George asked.

"Yeah."

"I'll go and scope the crowd outside. Do you want me to send Libby back in?"

Adrian didn't really want to face her, but he'd been rude and he  couldn't leave her out in the corridor. "Sure." As George left, Adrian  sat down and loaded up a plate from the platter.

At the quiet knock on the door, he put down his plate and stood up to  answer it. Libby stood straight, perhaps slightly defiantly, but smiled  at him. It was the smile that unnerved him. It was so friendly, so kind,  and it made him want to smile back, made him want to drop his defenses,  made him want. He didn't know if her smile could be trusted and he  didn't need the complication.

He waved her inside.

Kate was still asleep on the couch. Libby kept her voice low. "I'm sorry  if you're not happy that George left Kate with me. I can assure you I  didn't leave her for a moment."

"It was unexpected," he said. Damn, he needed to apologize. "I was still  hyped from the concert and wasn't thinking clearly. I'm glad you were  here for her."

She softened. "I hope George was able to solve the problem."

"Yeah." They couldn't keep standing like this. He gestured her to a seat. "Do you want something to eat?" He sat back down.

"No, thank you. Kate and I ate earlier."                       
       
           



       

"George tells me you were helping her write a book." He dipped a carrot stick into some dip and took a bite.

Libby smiled and Adrian almost choked. He'd thought her other smile was  good but this one was something else. Her grin was wide, showing a row  of even white teeth, and her eyes sparkled. It socked him in the gut  like a well-pitched baseball. He took a deep breath in.

"Yes." Libby said. "She wants to write about a superhero her age." She  paused. "I hope you don't mind, but I gave her my email address so she  could email me if she had any questions."

He put down his plate. "You would do that?" Libby barely knew Kate. What did she want in return?

"Of course. For as long as the interest is there. Tomorrow she might wake up and decide she wants to do something else."

"She's tenacious," Adrian warned.

"It's fine. I'm happy to pass on what I've learned to others. Writing is often a lonely and difficult road."

Was there sadness to her tone? "You've managed it all right."

"I've been lucky."

Luck might be a portion of it but he doubted that was all. If getting a  book deal was anything like getting a record deal, she would have put in  a great deal of effort to get where she was.

George returned. "The crowd's beginning to thin. By the time you've finished eating we should be good to go."

Adrian turned to Libby to explain.

"Fans wait outside the back entrance hoping to catch a glimpse of Kent  leaving. Most nights I get straight off the stage and into a car, but  there're always people waiting. I didn't want to expose Kate. It  wouldn't be good to have her associated with Kent." Some of his fans  were fairly intense, which was another reason he needed to be careful.  He glanced at his niece. "She doesn't need to be part of that."

"I imagine it could be a little scary."

"They can get a little wild." Between them and the mothers who thought  he was a bad influence, it could get quite messy. It was Adrian's job to  protect Kate. She'd seen enough in her short life and he was determined  to make the rest of her life as trouble free as possible.

He finished his food as Kate stirred.

"I'll check what's happening," George said and left the room.

Adrian got up and knelt down by the couch. "Hey there, sleepyhead."

"Uncle Ade?" Kate's voice was raspy from sleep.

"Yep. We're almost ready to go, kiddo. Do you want me to carry you out to the car?"

She swiped at her eyes and sat up. "I can walk." She focused behind him. "Hey, Libby."

"Did you have a nice nap?" Libby asked.

Kate nodded. "Did you have a nice write?"

"Yes."

They shared a smile and Adrian felt a pang in his chest. Despite what  Kate had been through, she did what he struggled to do  –  make friends  and trust people.

George walked back in. "It's clear."

Adrian packed up Kate's laptop and put it in her bag before slinging it  over his shoulder. "You ready to go?" he asked his niece.

"Yeah."

Libby and George waited by the door.

Adrian took hold of Kate's hand and walked through the venue to where  his car was waiting. By the time they reached it, Kate had fully woken  up.

As they drove out, Kate asked, "Libby, can you help me with my story tomorrow?"

Adrian froze. No. This wasn't good. Kate was getting attached to Libby,  which would only lead to more heartbreak when they moved to the next  city in a couple of days. "Libby might have plans," he said. It would be  better if they didn't see her again after tonight. He hoped she didn't  feel obligated.

"I've got a meeting with my publisher in the morning, Kate, but I should be free by three. Will you be busy then?"

Kate looked to Adrian.

Adrian looked at George.

"Nothing's scheduled for the afternoon."

A whole afternoon free. Adrian wanted to get out and show Kate some of  the sights around Melbourne. "Don't you want to go sightseeing?" he  asked Kate.

Kate twisted her hands together.

He hated putting her on the spot.

"I tell you what," Libby said. "Why don't you go sightseeing with your  uncle and you can give me a call when you get back? I'm staying another  night in the hotel, so you can call my room if you want to do some  writing."