The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(65)

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.”

“Really? Have I heard of it?”


He gave her an indulgent smile. “No, I don’t think so.” He shook the ice in his cup and drained the remaining soda. “At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I’d like to hear about your work.”

She sensed that he was embarrassed by his band’s low profile. She shrugged. “Not much to tell, really.” In spite of her fame, she’d never been comfortable talking about herself. She looked directly at him and wondered if he knew how handsome he was. “Is there anything in particular you were wondering about?”

He ran his finger down the condensation on the sides of the cup. “When I heard you sing this afternoon, I was thinking that with your voice maturing the way it is, you might try some crossover stuff. Lots of country artists are doing that now.”

She tried to hide her surprise. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to talk to the songwriter.”

He nodded. “There are always other songwriters.”

“Easy for you to say.”

He gave her an odd look, and she gave her head a quick shake. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound snippy.” She glanced over at Sunny, who was watching them with interest.

She fell silent. “I don’t know how to say this,” she said after a few moments.

“Try.” He drew the straw out of his cup and sucked off the droplets of moisture. His lips were full and sensuous; she regretted not having kissed him all those years ago.

“It’s just...” She paused to collect her thoughts. “He seems to understand me. There are times when I’m singing his songs and it’s as though he’s invaded my body. As though he knows everything about me.” She gave a short, self-conscious laugh. “Does that sound crazy?”

“No, not at all.” There was something in his voice. “I get it.”

Neither of them noticed when Sunny got up and headed for the restroom.

Mandy exhaled slowly. “Thank goodness. When I’ve tried to explain it to Simon, he says I’m delusional.”

His eyes flashed angrily. “Why do you put up with that? He sounds like an ass.”

Tears pooled in her eyes; it felt good to have someone stand up for her. “Thank you.”

He gave his head an angry shake and reached for her hands. “I’m serious. You deserve better.” His thumb caressed the back of her hand.

She looked at their hands linked on the table, then raised her eyes. “Too bad you had to move away when we were young.” Her mouth curved in a lop-sided smile.

He released her hands and she wondered what she’d said to offend him. “Funny you should say that,” he said after a moment. “I had such a crush on you on high school.”

“You did?” Her words came out high-pitched and breathless. “Then I have a confession. I wish you’d kissed me that day. Something tells me we would have been good together.”