What Goes on Tour(6)

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?"