Page 10 of Finding Her Leading Man

He swallowed and shot an accusing look at Addie. His sister turned on her heel and walked away. Chicken. “Yes. I play a little.”

Becky shifted her eyes to Samantha. “And everyone in the world knows what an amazing singer you are.”

“Thank you?” Samantha had every right to be nervous.

“You’re welcome. I want you to do a duet when Addie walks down the aisle.”

“No.” He’d find Addie another musician first thing tomorrow. Pay them double to drive in for the day. He was not performing in public. That’s what Addie had meant a moment ago. “I’m not playing. I think it’d be great for Samantha to sing, though.”

Trevor watched panic slide across Samantha’s face. Odd. Why would a Tony Award-winning actress look so frightened at the prospect of singing?

Becky cocked her hip out. “What’s wrong?”

Samantha didn’t answer. Her hands clasped together, her knuckles turning white.

“Will you excuse us, Becky?” he asked, needing to give Samantha a moment to get it together. The pale color to her pink lips worried him.

Becky arched an eyebrow but left. Samantha looked everywhere except at Trevor. She’d performed before thousands, how could a crowd of fifty in a backyard wedding bother her?

“What’s wrong?” He squeezed her shoulder.

Her eyes lifted to his. “I don’t want to sing a duet.”

“Then sing solo. I can find someone to play whatever song you wanted. I know it’d mean something to my sister to have someone so talented sing.” He winked. “It’ll be easy compared to performing on Broadway.”

“No. That’s not easy. Not at all. The last duet, my last performance, it ended poorly. I burst into tears at the end ofA Whole New Worldand tried to shove Aladdin off the carpet.” She sighed and shook her head. “I’m a mess, Trevor. Everyone has to realize that by now.”

Why did this woman drive him insane? Would she sing if he played? “Look, I don’t want to play the guitar, but I will if you’ll consider it. We can both do something we don’t want to do.”

“I don’t want to ruin your sister’s wedding if things go wrong like they did the last time I performed with someone.” She pulled a pack of something from her back pocket, popping one in her mouth and crunching down. Breath mint?

He leaned down, enjoying the way her eyes widened as her jaw continued to work whatever smelled overly sweet but medicinal. “The last time you sang, it was with your ex.” He traced the outside of her cheek, from her temple to her jaw, with one finger. “I canpromiseyou that you won’t mistake me for Jasper.”

A long, slow exhale left her parted lips. “I don’t guess I could,” she whispered.

He’d pushed her, but it hadn’t backfired. She didn’t shove him away or jerk back. Good. That was good. The small daze in her eyes gave his ego a bump.

“Trevor!” Addie rushed forward and threw her arms around his neck as he stepped away from Samantha.Perfecttiming from his little sister. “Becky just told me that you’re going to play when I walk down the aisle. That’s wonderful! I’d mentioned it to her when the other guy backed out, but I never thought it’d happen. I figured I’d have to beg you.”

“Funny how my refusal has turned into acceptance in Becky’s mind.” He patted her back, watching Samantha over her shoulder. “But anything for the bride.” He didn’t want to play. He’d never actually played for an audience. But, for Addie, he’d try. “Give me some songs. I’ll learn them.” He looked down at his sister as she pulled away and wiped away a tear. Damn, he hadn’t expected it to mean that much to her. “And I’ll try my best not to screw it up.”

Samantha stepped forward. “You better not if I’m singing. That is if you want me to, Addie?”

“Absolutely!” Addie hugged her, too. “Thank you. Both of you. And I want you to pick out the song.” She pulled away and looked back at Trevor. “The two of you can decide. Trevor knows me well enough to know what I like. It will be one less detail to figure out.”

“We’ll handle it.” Samantha’s smile looked fake, forced, and he hated it. “Don’t worry.”

Addie bounced on her toes, kissed Trevor’s cheek, and left. He waited for a second and then turned back to Samantha. “Why did you agree to do that? You don’t want to.”

“I do.”

“No, you don’t. It’s written all over your face.”

The smile wavered and then disappeared. The confidence she’d presented for Addie melted away. “You’re right. I don’t want to do it, but I need to. My wedding day was the Saturday before your sister’s. Maybe if I do something, focus on something aside from my disastrous attempt at a relationship, it will help me move on. So, I’ll sing at the wedding.” She took a deep breath. “And I’ll do great.”

If it was possible, she looked gorgeous with a simple, determined look. “Yes, you will.”

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