Page 127 of Just Trouble

“Not yet.”

He frowns and looks away. I recall that he hasn’t performed for over a year and the build-up to this concert is huge. Is he worried about the show?

“Something wrong?”

“Maybe something’s right,” he says in an undertone, then impales me with a glance. He’s conjured a slip of paper from somewhere—no, it’s a ticket. “I was hoping you might be planning to attend the tribute.”

“You know I am. Even though it sold out in minutes, Cameron got us all tickets together.”

He presents the ticket. “I was hoping that you’d sit here.”

“But I have a ticket.”

His eyes narrow. “You don’t have this one.”

I tilt my head to read the seat assignment. Row A. “I have to think that’s in the front row.”

“Front and center.”

“I’ll see you wherever I am. The Odeon isn’t that big.”

“But I won’t be able to seeyou. Not with the lights.” This is important to him, though I’m not sure why. I know I’m missing something.

“Why…”

I don’t get to finish the question. He moves his thumb, revealing that there’s a second ticket behind the first one. “Abbie’s coming,” he says and I can’t hide my excitement. “I thought you two could sit front and center and cheer me on.”

“Abbie! That’s fabulous!” I throw myself at him and he swings me around, smiling at my enthusiasm. There’s still some part of the puzzle I’ve missed, but I guess that he’s not going to tell me. There’s a serious glint in his eyes which is worrisome. It feeds all my anxieties about the future, even though I’ve told myself a million times to be cool, that it was worth the ride however things shake out. “But how did you convince her?”

“I said she’d be sitting with you. I worked it out so she wouldn’t have to go to the house, so she agreed. She’s going to stay with Mackenzie.”

“She is not. She’s staying here.”

“Fight it out with Mackenzie,” he says amiably.

I kiss him, amazed by how much magic one man can make when he sets his mind to it. “But we don’t have to sit in the front row. Save those seats for your super-fans.”

“Daph! I’m crushed that you don’t count yourself in that company.” He’s teasing so I swat him then I realize the potential problem with Abbie in my spare bedroom.

“You don’t mind if she’s here when you’re here?”

Luke looks discomfited and I brace myself for something I suspect I won’t like. “I actually won’t be here.” Oh, I don’t like that one bit. “I’ll be staying on the bus. We always do that before a performance, so everyone knows the team is in place.”

“Starting when?”

“Starting now.” He offers my house key and when I don’t take it, he reaches past me to put it on the table by the door.

I feel a little bit sick.

Maybe this is the beginning of the end.

“Be there?” he asks, his voice husky. There’s a plea in his eyes, as if he’s afraid I’ll kick up a fuss. I won’t do that to him, not now, not when he’s preparing for Taylor’s tribute.

I take the tickets. “Of course. Thank you for persuading Abbie to come.”

His eyes light and he catches me up to give me the sweetest kiss in the world. “Thank you,” he murmurs against my mouth, his gaze searching mine, then those lashes sweep down and he angles his mouth across mine, giving me the kiss I want with all my heart and soul.

I’m ready to ask him to come in, but he steps back when he breaks the kiss and gives me a thin smile. He looks tired, I realize, and a bit stressed. “One last rehearsal and sound check. No rest for the wicked and all that. Oh, and I’ll need my guitar.”

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