Kent turned and guided Libby in front of him, handing her a plate. "After you, ma'am."
She had to learn to speak with her employer without blushing. "Thank you." She took the plate and perused the offerings, choosing a few things that looked interesting. When she was finished, she looked for a place to sit.
Kate was chatting to a group of roadies who were finishing their lunch. She spotted Libby and then leaned closer to one of the men and said something. He grinned and elbowed the man next to him. They both stood.
"Libby, Kent, you can sit over here," Kate called.
Libby saw Kent was as bemused as she was, but they both walked over to Kate. One of the roadies who'd stood directed Libby to sit. "Take my seat, ma'am."
Kate was still standing, balancing her plate with some difficulty as she tried to eat from it.
"Kate, why don't you have a seat?" Libby offered.
"No, no. I'm fine," Kate said in a hurry. She made sideways gestures with her head to one of the other men.
"Have my seat, Kate," he said and got to his feet.
Kate sat, leaving the two empty spaces next to each other for Kent and Libby.
Libby sat, not looking at Kent. Kent stayed standing.
"You should sit, boss. You've been on your feet all day." The roadie who had stood for Libby motioned for Kent to sit and winked at Kate.
"Yeah, Kent. You need to rest your legs for tonight," Kate added.
What was she up to?
Kent gave his niece a look that asked the same thing and sat next to Libby, the space so small his leg brushed against hers.
Her leg trembled and she shifted slightly but couldn't get further away from him. She concentrated on her food.
"What have you been up to this morning, Kate?" Kent asked, leaning out to look across Libby to where Kate sat.
"You tell him, Libby," Kate said and stuffed her mouth full of potato salad, making a big fuss about not being able to talk.
It was odd. Only a few days ago Kate had been worried Libby was there because she fancied Adrian and now she was pushing them together.
The penny clanked in Libby's head as it dropped.
Kate was trying to get them together. Why the sudden change? Had she spoken with Adrian and found out something?
Adrian was waiting for her to comment. "We've been to the science museum and did some experiments."
"Sounds like fun. You didn't blow anything up, did you?"
Kate shoved some pasta in her mouth and indicated Libby should respond.
Libby couldn't help but chuckle. "Nothing we weren't supposed to."
"And what are your plans for this afternoon?" he asked Libby, obviously giving up on getting an answer from Kate.
"Kate wants to do some more writing." He was too close but she couldn't move away. His shoulder brushed hers and she struggled to focus on what she was saying. "We're going to find somewhere overlooking the harbor to write if the weather stays nice."
"Sounds like fun." His tone said he meant it. How many other people would think spending a day writing would be fun? Not many who weren't writers themselves.
"How's the rehearsal going?" Libby asked. God, their conversation was so mundane.
"Really good. The venue is well organized and the acoustics are good."
Libby finished her food and rested the plate on her knees.
"Let me take that," Kate said, jumping up and taking the plate from Libby.
"Thanks."
"Do you want some dessert? Chocolate cake?" She took Kent's plate as well.
"That'd be great. I'll help you," Libby said.
"No, no. You both stay there and I'll get it. Frank will help me." The roadie next to her got to his feet.
Libby had to smile. Kate had the men wrapped around her little finger.
The other men quickly got to their feet as well. "Dessert sounds great," one of them said and they all left, leaving Kent and Libby alone.
Adrian laughed. "Do you get the feeling we're being set up?"
"Kate seems to have had a change in attitude."
"Mmm," Adrian agreed. "I wonder why."
Libby had to change the subject. "George mentioned you had a bad interview this morning."
The change in Adrian was instant. It was as though a shield went up. His eyes were guarded and his body tensed. She wished she hadn't said anything. "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked." She placed a hand on his thigh without thinking, and though he hesitated, he took hold of it.
The shield went down and some of the tension left him. "I need to talk to you about it. It's to do with Kate."
Concern filled Libby. "Did the interviewers know about her?"
"No." Adrian took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. "One of the interviewers thought my latest song was encouraging children to self-harm."
Libby gaped at him. "To Be Hurt?" she asked.
He nodded.
"But it's not. It's about yearning for love."
Adrian met her gaze and she saw all the way into his soul. He squeezed her hand. "Yes, it is."
Libby tried to focus on the conversation. "Then why?"
"The interviewer's nephew almost died last week because he cut himself. My song was on his stereo. He was ten." There was real pain in Adrian's voice. "No one had known anything was wrong."
Libby immediately thought of Kate. What kind of trauma had this boy experienced that would make him want to die? And if he could do it, what about Kate? She'd seen horrific things no one should have to see. Was she at risk? "You should talk with Kate," she said.
"That's what I was thinking." Adrian hesitated. "Maybe we should do it together. She listens to what you say and it might have more impact if we both talked to her."
"Of course." It meant a lot that he would ask her to help him. "Will you have time before tonight's concert?"
"I'll make time." He checked his watch. "If you can be back at the hotel at three."
"Absolutely." She patted his hand. "I'm sure she's fine."
"But I have to check."
"Kent! You ready to get started?" George called out from the stage.
"Geo-rge, don't interrupt!" Kate complained and Libby realized everyone was watching them and they were still holding hands.
Adrian jumped to his feet, letting go as he did so. "Sure am." He turned back to Libby and gave her a genuine smile. "We'll talk later." The Kent swagger as he walked away was so different from Adrian's walk – he really did seem like another person altogether.
Libby stood and moved over to Kate, near the buffet. "What happened to my chocolate cake?" she asked.
Kate scanned the area. "Um … "
Libby laughed. "Never mind. Go say goodbye to your uncle and give him his chocolate bar and then we'll go."
"Don't you want to come say goodbye too?" Kate asked, her eyes wide.
"Already have," Libby answered.
Scowling, Kate went and said her goodbyes.
Chapter 10
After leaving the entertainment complex, Libby and Kate decided it was too cold to go down to the harbor and instead headed back to the hotel room to do their writing. They had stopped to make a hot chocolate when Adrian returned. Libby put out another mug and prepared the drinks while Adrian cleaned up.
He came out with damp hair, wearing low-slung blue jeans and a red T-shirt. Libby ignored the double thud of her heart as he smiled at her, took the mug of hot chocolate she offered and went to sit on the sofa next to Kate, who was curled up tapping on her laptop.
"Can I interrupt you for a minute, kiddo?" he asked.
Kate didn't answer.
"Libby and I want to talk to you about something."
That got her attention. Kate's head whipped up and she looked at her uncle, then Libby, and grinned. "Sure." She put her laptop on the coffee table and picked up her mug.
Oh, Kate had the wrong idea. Hoping she wouldn't be too disappointed, Libby sat on the sofa on the other side of Kate.
Adrian glanced at Libby and then looked back at his niece and sighed. "We need to talk about something serious." His tone was gentle.
The smile fled Kate's face. "What's happened? Has Aunt Susan died?"
"No. Oh no, honey, no one's died," Libby said quickly.
Adrian took Kate's hand. "Something came up during one of my interviews today. There's been a lot of media attention and there'll probably be a bit more before it goes away. You need to be prepared for reporters outside the hotel."
"But they don't know who I am." Kate looked from one to the other.
"No, but they may want to ask children about my music."
"Why?" She had that wary look children get when they know they aren't being told the full story.