There was something unusual about the man standing in front of her. It wasn't just that he was so unlike Kent Downer of last night. No, there was something about him that had Libby's story sense tingling.
"Throw in some painkillers and you have a deal," she said as she stood and placed her bag over her shoulder.
"There's bound to be a drugstore around here." His smile was uncertain as he gazed over his shoulder – it wasn't the easy grin that had made his fans crazy in the studio last night, but Libby's heart still sped up a little.
"There is," she said. "I just need to say goodbye to the owner."
"I'd better check how many books we're coming home with. I really need to buy her an e-reader."
"And miss the fun of lugging tons of books around?" Libby laughed. "I'll see you at the counter."
She walked over to the owner, who was standing with his arms crossed watching her. "Thank you for your hospitality today," she said as she held out her hand.
"You're welcome." He shook her hand.
He was one of those men with an overly firm handshake and Libby winced. She extracted her hand as Adrian and Kate came over carrying a pile of books.
"You sure you can carry all of those, kiddo?" Adrian asked.
"Absolutely." Kate dumped them with relish on the counter.
The owner's demeanor softened slightly as he rang up the total. Adrian paid and gave Kate the bag of books. "Come on, I'll buy you a cup of hot chocolate."
As Libby fell in step beside them, Kate asked, "Is Libby coming too?"
"Sure. I owe her a cup of coffee."
"Yes!" Kate whooped.
***
The coffee shop was relatively quiet and Adrian was glad. He didn't know what had possessed him to ask Libby out for coffee. Yes, he was grateful she'd helped him last night, but he didn't do coffee dates, especially not as Adrian. He never knew what to say.
Kate led them to a table at the back and took the seat by the wall. He sat next to her with Libby opposite. Seeing her hand, the guilt washed over him again. He'd been so caught up in his own fears he hadn't realized how tightly he'd gripped her hand. He'd hurt her without thought and hadn't even thanked her. He didn't know how he could be so oblivious.
Perhaps hurting people was part of his genetic make-up.
Before he could examine the idea a waitress came over to take their order. Libby ordered a slice of pecan pie to go with her coffee.
After the waitress left they sat in silence for a moment. Adrian glanced at Libby, then at Kate. What did he say now? Sorry I was such a jerk last night. Sorry I didn't notice your pain.
"Do you have a concert tonight?" she asked.
"Yes." He checked his watch. "I've got a couple of hours before I have to be back at the venue."
"Are you going, Kate?"
"Yep. George is going to look after me now Emily's gone."
"George, the grump?"
Adrian drew his brows together and then remembered Kate had called George a grump in the bookstore earlier. George had not been happy about Emily quitting. He and Kate shared a smile.
"George is my manager. He's looking after Kate at the concert tonight, as Kate's nanny had to leave us and I haven't had a chance to find a new one." He shouldn't be telling her this. Usually when he met a woman he would stick to basic information, but then again, he didn't often meet a woman as Adrian who also knew he was Kent Downer.
"It must be exciting to see the concert from backstage. I've always wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes," Libby commented.
"Nuh-uh," Kate said. "It gets boring after a while, which is why Emily used to look after me in the hotel while Uncle Ade worked."
His anger at Emily surfaced. She'd really left them in the lurch. He couldn't keep taking Kate to his concerts. Susan was right about that.
Suddenly Kate sat up straighter and grinned. "You could come tonight. Can't she, Uncle Ade?" Kate looked up at her uncle, pleading. "It would make it more fun."
"Oh, no, I couldn't." Libby shook one hand in a no motion.
"Libby might have other plans," Adrian said to Kate. He regarded Libby. Though he didn't often invite people backstage, perhaps this was a way he could make up for his rudeness the night before. "You're welcome to come if you want. It's not very exciting." He didn't want to get her expectations up. Watching from backstage was different from being part of the audience.
"Please." Kate drew out the word as if it had four syllables.
Libby blinked. Then she smiled, warm and genuine. "I'd love to."
Kate clapped her hands. "Yay! I can show you backstage and then you can watch Uncle Ade perform. Then we can go to his dressing-room and play games. We have computer games, or board games or cards. And there's lots of food. I never have dinner before a concert."
Adrian chuckled. "Slow down there, Kate. You're going to overwhelm her." Kate was so much like her mother, Penny. Always positive and eager, ready for an adventure. He understood why Daniel had married Penny.
"Sorry." Kate's eyes flittered down, contrite, and then she looked up and grinned. "We'll have so much fun."
He hoped he wasn't making a mistake inviting this woman he didn't know backstage. But she already knew his secret – when he wasn't in costume he was a plain, ordinary man with anxieties.
And it would make Kate happy.
That was the main thing.
It was too late to worry about it now.
Maybe Kate was right. Maybe it would be fun.
***
Libby was ready when Adrian and Kate picked her up just after six. They were staying in the same hotel, though Libby's room was several floors lower than theirs. Libby had checked in with her publicist, confirmed the details for her meeting tomorrow and taken a short nap before she had to get ready.
She hadn't fussed with her appearance, not that she had many options from her suitcase – jeans, shirt and jacket. As she was going to spend the evening playing games with Kate, she only swiped on some lip gloss and mascara.
She couldn't help the buzz of excitement at the thought of going to the concert, though. It had been years since she'd been to one – her budget didn't run to such extravagant events.
Kate was positively bouncing with energy as they walked out to the car. She carried a backpack, which Libby assumed was filled with books and assorted games. Adrian was still dressed as himself, and none of Kent Downer's fans waiting impatiently outside the hotel for a glimpse of their hero recognized him as they walked past.
Libby was amazed. No wonder he needed an alter ego.
Inside the waiting car she met George. She'd obviously been watching too many movies, because he was not what she was expecting. Instead of being older, slightly overweight, long-haired, chain-smoking and on the verge of a heart attack, he was young, tall, broad-shouldered, short-haired and wearing a suit. In fact he looked like he'd stepped out of one of the high-rise buildings next door. The one expectation he did meet was that he looked harassed.
His greeting to Libby was perfunctory. As he pulled out of the hotel, he said to Adrian, "After you left this afternoon, the shit hit the fan."
Kate giggled.
"Shoot, ah, things stopped working," George amended.
"What kind of things?"
"Fuse blew, lighting crashed to the ground and the damn – " He stopped himself and his gaze skimmed to Kate. "The support band came down with gastro."
"Lucky I wasn't there," Adrian said.
George snorted.
"Is it all sorted?"
"Of course."
Adrian gave him a lazy smile. "That's why you're the details man. You feel any better?"
The stiffness faded from George's shoulders. "Yeah."
Libby listened to the interchange in fascination. They were obviously close and it seemed Adrian knew George needed to vent.
"George, you can play the shooting game with me and Libby if you like," Kate said. "It helps to let off steam."
"Thanks, Shorty."
They pulled up at the backstage entrance of the venue and piled out. The fans yelled and then decided there was no one interesting in the car and went back to their waiting.
Adrian, Kate and George hustled into the building with Libby hurrying to keep up. Once safely inside George turned to Libby. "So you're the writer."
"Yes. And you would be George the grump."
George lifted an eyebrow as Kate giggled. "You'll keep." He turned back to Adrian. "Do you want to give them the tour or shall I?"