What Goes on Tour(9)

Kate straightened and leaned forward. "Yes."

Libby reached into her bag and drew out her notebook and pen. "I carry  this everywhere I go so I can write down ideas, or descriptions.  Sometimes I jot down a sentence or two and sometimes I write pages." She  handed it over so Kate could flick through it. "Tonight I've been  itching to write down some of the ideas I've had for stories, but I  haven't because I know it would be rude."

Kate's eyes squinted as she read some of the entries in the notebook. She nodded in understanding.

"So we could make a deal. If you lie down and have a nap, I can write  down my ideas while you sleep. That way we cancel out each other's  rudeness and it's not rude at all."

Kate handed back the notebook. "So I'd be doing you a favor if I had a nap?"

Libby nodded. "But only if you're tired. I don't want you to feel you  have to have a nap, because I'm happy to keep working on your story if  you want," she added in a rush.

"It has been a long day." Kate paused. "And I can really email you if I have any questions?"

"Of course."

"All right, I'll have a rest." She shut down the computer, got up and fetched a pillow and blanket from a corner of the room.

Libby took the blanket from Kate and waited for her to lie down on the  couch. Libby then tucked the blanket around Kate and smoothed back her  hair, remembering how Piper's mother used to do that when Libby slept  over. "Enjoy your nap."

Kate grinned. "Enjoy your writing." She closed her eyes and snuggled down.

Libby sat on the sofa opposite and settled her notebook in her lap. She  hoped Adrian wouldn't think she'd made Kate go to sleep so she could  write.

Kate's quiet, steady breathing showed she had already fallen asleep. Libby had done the right thing. The poor girl was tired.

Relieved, she started writing.

***

The door opened, allowing the noise of the audience to flood in. Libby  expected George to walk in, but instead Kent stood there, sweaty and  hyped.

Their eyes met, drawn like magnets for a split second, and Libby saw his  confusion. He'd forgotten she'd be there. He looked to where Kate still  slept on the couch, his entrance not noisy enough to wake her.

Kent closed the door quietly behind him and shook his arms and legs, as  if shaking off the adrenaline still pumping through him. "Where's  George?" He spoke softly.

"There was some problem he had to fix."

"He left Kate alone?"

Libby arched her brows. "I've been with her the whole time. She was tired, so I suggested she have a nap."

"While you wrote down what you observed tonight so you can go to the media?" he asked, pointing at her notebook.

He was still coming off his performance high, Libby told herself. Still,  it stung. She closed the notebook and held it out to him. "I don't like  to be idle. Would you like to have a look at what I've written?"

He took it and browsed through the last few pages. His lips quirked upward. "Like a cheetah?" he asked as he handed it back.

Mortified, Libby felt heat flood her cheeks. He was referring to her  description of him. She ignored his question, tucked her notebook back  in her bag and stood up. "You'll want to get changed. Do you want me to  wake Kate and take her with me?"

Kent was still smiling as he said, "Let her sleep. I'll use the bathroom."

"I'll wait outside then." She didn't wait for his response, wanting to get out as quickly as possible.

She should have thought about what she'd written before offering him her  notebook, but it galled to have him think so poorly of her. As if she'd  go to the media. She wasn't that desperate for publicity.

She should have expected that kind of reaction. It had happened before.  Accuse first, without asking for an explanation. Were all men the same?  Or did most of them have secrets they wanted to hide?

She sighed. She was used to it. What did it matter? He didn't know her and they wouldn't see each other again after tonight.

George strode over to her. "He's back, isn't he?"

"Yes."

"Darn it. I was hoping I'd be done before he finished." He grimaced. "How mad was he?"

Libby considered it. Kent hadn't yelled but there had definitely been a  thread of anger in his words. "Not furious, but I'd definitely say  annoyed."                       
       
           



       

"All right." He let out a breath. "I need to find a new nanny for Kate  so this doesn't happen again." He paused and then studied Libby. "You're  from Australia. Do you know of anyone who'd want the job?"

She needed a job. "What does it entail?"

"Australia's the last leg of the tour. We're here a month. Basically we  need someone to care for Kate when Adrian's working. It would be every  concert night, plus when he's got publicity. When he's not working,  Adrian spends his time with Kate, so the nanny would be free to do what  she wants. I've got a schedule."

The idea crept into Libby's mind. She tried to shake it away, but it was sticky.

"The pay is a grand a week, plus all meals, hotel accommodation and  travel expenses." He paused. "And she has to sign a confidentiality  agreement."

"I'll think about it. I might know someone." This could solve her financial problems.

"I'll send you the schedule, so you have an idea of the hours." He  exhaled a deep breath. "I'd better go face the music. There's a seat  down the hall if you want to wait there." He tapped on the door and  entered without waiting for a response.

Libby wandered down the corridor to the seat and sank slowly into it.  Would the schedule allow her enough writing time? She had been planning  to use the month between temp jobs to finish her manuscript, but that  was before her car had died and she had used all her savings fixing it.  Now she was flat broke and there was no guarantee she'd get another job  quickly when she returned home to Western Australia. All she had to eat  was a small stock of instant noodle meals, a few frozen dinners and her  vegetable patch. And if her fridge finally died, as it had been  threatening to do for the last six months, she'd really be in trouble.

The pay George was offering was more than she'd ever earned and would  mean she could save a little for emergencies. And she'd probably have  time to write when Adrian wasn't working. Surely she'd have enough time  to finish her manuscript.

It couldn't just be about the money, though. Kate deserved better than that.

No. It was foolish to think about offering to care for Kate. She'd never  cared for a child before, unless she counted the occasional time she'd  helped to look after Piper's younger brother when Piper's parents went  out. She had very little experience with children at all.

But Kate was a fantastic kid; she was smart, keen and fun to be around.  And it wasn't healthy for her to be dragged around after Adrian every  night.

Libby looked at it from another angle. It would be great to spend some  time travelling around Australia. She hadn't had the opportunity during  her book tour to see any of the sights; it had been bookstore after  bookstore, with the occasional library talk thrown in. If she was Kate's  nanny, they could explore the cities together, fill her writer's well.

She tapped her fingers on her thigh and took a deep breath.

Then there was Adrian.

Or Kent.

She wasn't entirely sure who was the real man, but she suspected it was  Adrian. If she was being honest with herself, he intrigued her far too  much. He was good-looking, sure, and an amazing singer, but there was  that shyness she'd seen when they'd had coffee that was appealing. Was  that why he went to such measures to protect his identity? Libby was  itching to know more. He'd make an interesting character study. But  that's all it was  –  a professional interest. What kind of person  willingly faced their phobia every single night? She was curious to find  out more about Adrian  –  if she could manage to put up with Kent, who  just rubbed her the wrong way.

She tucked her hair behind her ears and thought about Kate.

How long would Kate's interest in writing a book last? It had been more  fun than Libby had expected, taking her through the different phases of  developing a character. If Libby became Kate's nanny, she could continue  helping her with her story and potentially have time to write herself.  She would definitely have time on the days when Adrian wasn't working,  and she was used to working part time.

What was she thinking?

Adrian wouldn't be interested in hiring her. She had no experience.

Dare she risk the rejection?

***

Adrian turned from the sink as the door to the dressing-room opened. He  wiped the last of the mascara off and tossed the wipe in the trash as he  walked out to see George taking stock of the sleeping Kate.

"You left her alone." Adrian couldn't believe it. Though Kate didn't  show it, she was still vulnerable, still scared about losing people she  loved.