Mandy couldn’t meet Matt’s gaze. She’d been wondering the same thing.
Matt answered smoothly. “It doesn’t change a thing.” He waited for Mandy to look at him and gave her a look that curled her toes. “It looks like we’re going to be working together, so we’ll have lots of time to get reacquainted.” He checked his watch. “I should take you back out to the bowl to get ready, and I have some apologizing to do. My agent is going to be disappointed that he didn’t get to introduce us.” He rose, walked round the table and offered Mandy his hand. “Speaking of which, let’s exchange cell phone numbers.” She rose and he gave her a meaningful look. “Call me after the concert if you need a ride.”
*
Mandy arrived to pandemonium. Clustered around Clete, the band members didn’t realize she was standing behind them.
“What’s going on?” If the guitar player’s expression was any indication, he was in a lot of pain. He was clutching his left arm.
Yankee Bob straightened up and turned to Mandy. “I think his arm is broken.” He raked his fingers through his long hair. “The guys were playing touch football. Clete lost his footing and fell.”
Mandy remained calm. “Let’s get him taken into the hospital then.” She gave Clete what she hoped was an encouraging smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.”
“I’m sorry, Mandy.” The drummer looked miserable.
Mandy held up a hand. “Don’t go there. We agreed, remember?” They normally carried two guitar players on tour, but RJ’s wife was due to give birth any day, and they’d given him time off. She lowered her voice. “What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know.” He gave a short, desperate laugh. “Can you pull a spare guitar player out of your bag of tricks?” Mandy carried a kit containing everything from buttons and thread to crazy glue and aspirins. The crew loved to tease her about it.
She grinned. “As a matter of fact, I do.” She pulled out her cell phone.
“Come on, Mandy. I was kidding. We can’t let just anybody up there on the stage.”
“This isn’t just anybody.” She held up a finger.
“Mandy?” His voice sounded like liquid velvet.
“Matt. Do you have your guitar with you?”
He chuckled. “I’m never without it. Why?”
“Well, we need you. Our guitar player broke his arm. How would you like to play tonight?”
“Bad luck. Is he going to be okay?”
“Yes, he’s already on his way to the hospital.”
“I’m all yours. Tell the security guys to let me in, okay?”
“Will do.”
She turned to Yankee Bob. “There. All taken care of.”
“Jeez, Mandy. What are you doing?”
“Trust me, Bob. You’re going to love this guy.” She decided she’d better put him out of his misery. “His name is Matt Williamson, and he’s a guitar player in a band in Vancouver.”
“Well, that’s something, anyway.”
“And he’s the one who wrote every hit song I’ve ever had.”
The drummer’s mouth fell open. “Are you shittin’ me?”
“No.” She tipped up his chin to close his mouth. “Good enough for you?”
“How did you – oh, never mind.” He gave her a quick, fierce hug. “I’ll go over the playlist with him while you change.” He grinned. “Simon’s going to freak.”
*
Mandy emerged from her dressing room to find Matt going over the playlist with Yankee Bob. They were chatting together like old friends.
The door opened and Simon strode into the room, his face flushed. He looked disappointed to see everyone calmly going about their pre-show routine.
“Who the hell is that?” He launched himself across the room and prodded Matt in the chest. “You. Out.”
Matt gave him a withering look. “I don’t think so.”
Simon looked from the playlist to Yankee Bob. “What gives?”
Matt stuck out his hand. “Matt Williamson. Mandy asked me to take Clete’s place tonight.”
“She had no right to do that.” Simon ignored Matt’s outstretched hand, and searched for Mandy. “What do you think you’re doing?”
She looked at him as though seeing him for the first time. “Saving the show, Simon.” She gestured toward Matt. “Matt is a professional guitar player. He also happens to be my songwriter.”
The expression on Simon’s face was priceless.
“Oh, and Simon?”
“Yes?”
“You’re fired.”
Cheering erupted from the band and the backup singers. Mandy hadn’t realized the depth of their dislike for the manager. A stagehand knocked on the door, announcing that it was time for the band to take their places.
“Let’s do this,” said the drummer, and they filed out. Matt gave her a long, heated look, then followed.
*
Mandy shouldn’t have been surprised by Matt’s proficiency on the guitar, but she was. By the end of the first song, the band members were following his astonishing riffs with an amazing performance of their own. They played as if they’d been together all their lives.
After ninety minutes, she stepped to the edge of the stage and spoke to the crowd. “And now,” she said, eyes shining with pride in her crew. “We’d like to debut our new single, just for you.” She stepped back and took a breath while Matt played the intro. “It’s called Always,” she said, and started to sing.