Page 65 of The Magical Bed & Breakfast

Did he? Rory had to stop and think. Nolan hadn’t been ruffled by any of the stalker appearances. He had advised Rory not to report the nutty letters she’d sent, had said he would deal with it. Nolan had been the one to usher Sunny off the bus, speaking quietly to her, putting his hand on her back to guide her out. And Sunny hadn’t acted upset when she was led away by Nolan.

There had been a familiarity.

Rory knew that the report from QHM about the background check they’d done on his band manager and his connection to Sunny Briscoe had come through, but he hadn’t had time to review it, what with everything going on today. But right now, they needed to clear out of the stage area. The program would be starting any minute. Rory knew he’d need to talk later with his band. He’d have some explaining to do. It was way past time to be transparent with his friends.

Just then, Rory spotted Kate coming through the entrance. His friends kept talking, but he couldn’t focus on that. She took his breath away. Kate was a vision.

He moved toward her.

“You look…”

“So do you.” She pressed a hand to her waist, and Rory’s eyes were drawn there. She looked amazing.

“Are we ready?” He heard the hesitation in her voice. Time to reassure.

“We are.” He spoke with confidence. “We’ve practiced and played it perfectly before. Are you nervous?” He gave her a half smile.

“Just a lot. It’s been a long time since I was out front before an audience. I’m used to…”

“Working from the shadows.”

Kate nodded. “Even when I played with the high school orchestra, I was off to the side. I was never in the spotlight.”

“Well, as the keyboardist, I know I don’t usually place myself in the limelight either.” He took her hands, surprised at how chilled they were. He held them between his own to warm them. The arriving hoards, settling into chairs, threw them curious glances. Rory pulled Kate into a hallway where they could be out of sight until it was time to perform. He certainly didn’t want to have to chat about their unusual attire to inquisitive townspeople.

The lights dimmed once and then twice, and the murmur of the crowd quieted. He could hear Whitney emceeing the event, asking the crowd to put cell phones on silent. Then he heard the sweet high voices of the children’s choir began to sing.

They waited in the wings as the dancers came on. At intermission, he left Kate to set up with his band.

Before he knew it, the comedy act was over and it was their turn. Kate grabbed hold of his arm.

He gave her a gentle smile. “You can do this.”

To the slight rustling of the audience, Kate and Rory eased their way to the harpsichord and seated themselves on the bench. They were angled so the crowd could see them play. The light came up, a spotlight only on the two of them, and the crowd fell silent.

“Wecan do this,” Kate murmured.

They began to play, notes rising and falling. When they came to the first stanza, the words of the blessing flowed through her mind. She reveled in the bright, crisp sounds of the harpsichord. At the second stanza, the lyrics she had found just that afternoon ran through her head with the music. She murmured them under her breath.Thou who dwelleth.That was her, dwelling in the inn.Find home amongst us.She had found her home here, a home Rory had left, but seemed to so belong in.

With heartbestoweth

Thy song.

This was their song. Her awareness of him beside her, his warmth, his strength, his steady presence, all of it centered her. She didn’t miss a note. When the stanzas repeated, she spoke the words under her breath like the blessing they were.

At the complicated section, they crossed hands and reached around, and, with a little twist on her part and Rory’s, it all came together. They didn’t have to stretch or strain; they were completely entwined for the final notes. She looked up to meet his eyes and found herself safe in his arms as if that had ever been the intent of the composer.

The crowd applauded wildly, rising to their feet. Kate could see it from her peripheral vision, but she couldn’t look away from Rory and the love she found in his eyes.

He leaned in, and with the briefest brush of his lips across her own, smiled against her mouth. Heart pounding, Kate kissed him back lightly. She felt a shift in the air. A breeze kicked up and swirled around them, ruffling the lace on her gown. Skin tingling with awareness, Kate felt the caress of wind. The chandelier in the large auditorium tinkled in the stirring air, then jangled harder, crystals chiming, until it merged with the applause. Kate’s heart raced with Rory’s.

“Our success,” he told her on a breath.

Wordless, Kate nodded. For a long moment, they gazed at each other before they rose to take a bow.

*

Afterward she fidgetedin the wings, wishing she could return to the inn, but the surprise performance of Endeavor Street had the audience enthralled. The band played two of their more subdued songs. It was Hazard, after all. Kate made her way to the edge of the auditorium. Her emotions still high from performing, she needed the distance.

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