Page 147 of The Oscar Escape
She turned to Landon. “That’s live. It’s certainly not the recorded house music we blast before the concert. But I don’t have an opening act.”
A wide grin split her uncle’s face. “You do tonight, kiddo.”
Chapter28
ARIA
Goose bumps peppered Aria’s skin as she listened to a captivating melody. It lingered in the night air. This song wasn’t new to her—not at all. She’d heard it being composed when she was a kid. “What’s Aunt Harper doing? That’s her performing on stage, isn’t it?”
“I told you. She’s helping. She’s buying you some time. We figured you might be cutting it close,” her uncle replied, tapping the steering wheel in time with the beat.
First Erasmus with the police escort, and now her aunt was playing a set?
She’d grown up with the nanny love match gang and could recognize when they were cooking up a scheme.
She studied her uncle. “What’s happening here?”
He tossed her a wink. “Love match magic.”
Before she could press the man for more information, the car door swung open.
She peered at her manager, but she couldn’t get out of the car—not yet. She had one last thing to say to her uncle before she took the stage. “I need a second, Dom.”
He stepped away from the sports car.
She blinked back tears and turned to the man who raised her. “I don’t want you thinking I’m trying to buy the inn on Havenmatch Island to put distance between us. I love you and Aunt Harper so much. I—”
“You don’t have to explain,” he interrupted. “Your aunt and I know how you feel, kiddo. And you’ll always have a home in Denver. But it’s time for you to spread your wings,” the man said with a catch to his breath. He gazed at her, then brushed a tear from his cheek. “You’ve grown up to be a truly remarkable woman, Aria. Your parents would be so proud. Your aunt and I certainly are.”
She unbuckled her seat belt, cast aside her notebook, and flung her arms around the man. “I have the feeling I owe you everything, Uncle Landy.”
He tightened his embrace. “I was about to say the same thing to you. Go get ’em, kid. Show them what you’ve got.”
She eased into her seat and held her notebook to her chest. “Do you think Oscar will be watching?”
Landon gestured with his chin toward the amphitheater. “There’s only one way to find out.”
This was where her uncle had won back her aunt after they’d had a falling out. Would that same love-match magic be present tonight? Her uncle believed it. Could she do the same?
“I’ll take care of her from here, Landon,” Dom said. Her manager helped her out of the car and pulled a sandwich from the white paper bag. He thrust it into her hand. “Eat this. We can’t have youhangryon stage.”
She was not a woman to turn down food. Especially something that smelled like cheesy, zesty heaven. She took a bite. “Oh my God,” she moaned as she chewed. “What is this savory creation?”
Creamy, spicy, and with a hint of dark chocolate, this was the definition of a food orgasm.
Dom bit back a grin. “I’m told it was a special order for you.”
“Who ordered it?” she asked, munching away like a guinea pig.
“Just eat it, girl! Sweet Jesus, I’ll have to start calling you Miss Twenty Questions.”
She took a monster bite as her manager ushered her inside.
“Since I know what you’re about to ask. I’ll give you the rundown,” he continued as she scarfed down the rest of the scrumptious sandwich. “The crew understands their assignment. The musicians are seated on the stage behind the drop screen. Everyone knows tonight’s show will be different. We’ve warned the audience and the folks livestreaming from across the globe they’re in for a surprise. Your aunt Harper took care of that. By the way, she’s killing it as your warmup act. I forgot that woman can rock.”
Aria tucked her notebook under her arm as they snaked through the underbelly of the amphitheater. “Harper Presley-Paige is, and will always be, a total badass. And one more thing.”
“Name it.”
