The guard checked his list. “Sorry, I don’t see her.” His pen trailed down the sheet of paper. “Oh, wait. Here she is. Last minute addition.”
“Great. And she might bring one more friend. Can you make a note of that?” Sandy’s boyfriend was trying to make it to Gold Creek for her performance, but he wasn’t sure if he could get away.
“Sure thing. Have a good one, Miss Malone.”
“Thanks, Cory.”
The guard glanced self-consciously at his nametag, then offered a brief salute as they pulled through the gate.
“Okay,” she said, scanning the stage with a practised eye. “Let’s get this done.”
*
The sound check went flawlessly. This was Mandy’s fourth year performing at the Sage Bowl Music Festival, and it always amazed her that they could set up such a large venue out in the middle of nowhere.
British Columbia was becoming known for its successful festivals, and this one had grown over the twelve years it had been running. The promoters had turned it into a three-day weekend of performances. This was her second year as headliner, and she didn’t think she’d ever get used to the excitement of performance day.
“Sounds great, everyone.” Yankee Bob, her drummer, had expressed an interest in taking on the secondary job of Stage Manager, and she was glad she’d agreed. He was respected by the other musicians, as well as the back-up singers, and he knew his way around a stage. “What do you think, Mandy?”
“Sounded good to me.”
“All right, everyone,” her drummer turned to the band and the back-up singers. “Be back here at seven thirty for eight.”
As he spoke, Mandy noticed Sunny sitting off to the side in a rare patch of shade thrown by a Ponderosa Pine. She was with a man, and they were deep in conversation.
Prickles of anticipation crept down Mandy’s neck. The man looked vaguely familiar, but something told her this wasn’t Sunny’s boyfriend. She crossed the stage, ran down the side stairs and started walking toward her friend.
“Mandy!” Sunny opened her arms. “Get over here and give your best friend a hug.”
Engulfed in Sunny’s embrace, Mandy glanced over her friend’s shoulder toward the man. He was watching the reunion with a gentle smile.
“Look who I found!” Sunny pulled away and reached for the man’s arm. “Matthew!” She turned back to Mandy. “You remember Matthew Williamson from school.”
His gaze flickered to Sunny, then returned to Mandy’s upturned face. “Hello, Mandy. Great to see you again.” He extended his hand.
This was Matt Williamson? She couldn’t believe her eyes. Her hand disappeared into his, and heat bloomed in parts of her body that had seen little action in the past couple of years. The tall, un-coordinated youth had morphed into a well-muscled, well-dressed man. But the eyes were the same; dark brown with intriguing hints of gold.
“Matt.” She pulled her hand away, hoping he hadn’t noticed the way her pulse ratcheted up at his touch. “What are you doing here?” She regretted the words the moment she uttered them. “Not that I mind, but I was wondering...” She looked to Sunny for help.
“I found him sitting in the schoolyard.” Sunny made a disgusted face. “Just sitting there, on the old stone fence.”
Mandy laughed. “You’re kidding.”
“Noooo.” Sunny drew the word out.
Mandy waved a hand in front of her face. “I’m laughing because I did the same thing on the way out here.” She smiled up into Matt’s eyes. “I was remembering that day.” She could tell from his smile that she didn’t need to explain which day.
“Me, too.” His voice had turned husky. “You still owe me a kiss, you know.”
Sunny watched them, her gaze moving back and forth. “I told him I was coming out here, and we decided to drive out together.”
Mandy tore her gaze away from Matthew and acknowledged her friend. “So did you hear my new song? What did you think?”
“Always?” Matt spoke before Sunny could respond. “It was amazing, but then I knew it would be.”
“What do you mean?”
He flushed. “I mean, I’ve never heard you sing a bad song.”
Now it was Mandy’s turn to blush. “You know my work?”
“Oh, yeah.” His gaze held hers. “I know every song you’ve ever done.”
His intensity unnerved her. “My songwriter gets credit for that.” She scanned the area. “I was supposed to meet him today, but now I don’t see Simon.”
“You’re finally going to get to meet him?” Sunny knew of her quest to find the elusive songwriter. “Where?”
Mandy threw up her hands. “I’m not sure. Simon can be frustrating, but this time I don’t think he’s jerking me around. I think he really doesn’t know.” She checked her cell phone. “He said he’ll contact me when he hears from the guy’s agent.”
Matthew was beginning to look uncomfortable. “Listen, if you’d like me to vamoose, I can.”
“No.” Mandy realized she didn’t want him to leave. “He’ll probably be here tonight.” She checked her watch. “What I’d like to do is get something to eat. If you guys aren’t busy, we could pick something up at the drive-thru and eat in the park.”
Matthew looked at Sunny and she nodded. “I’d like that too,” he said, “but won’t people bother you?”
Mandy shook her head. She’d willingly put up with a few autograph seekers to have a hamburger in the park. “Not really. People around here usually leave me alone. If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll tell my driver where I’m going.” She checked the line of cars parked up against the security fence and turned to Sunny. “Which one is yours?”
“We used mine.” Matthew pointed out a dark green Land Rover.
“Okay, I’ll be right there.”
Chapter Four
They chose a picnic table under the trees. The sound of seniors playing horseshoes in the adjoining pitches provided the soundtrack to their meal.
“So, Matthew. Tell me what you’re up to these days.”
He wiped his mouth before answering. “I play guitar in a band in Vancouver.” He smiled easily. “Down in Gastown.”