See You at the Show (11 page)

CHAPTER TEN

It wasn’t a place Daniel usually hung out, birthday parties of teenage girls.
 
But Audra Marshall was his Goddaughter, the child of his very close friend.
 
So it went without saying that he should be at her eighteenth birthday party.
 
Even if it was becoming obvious that the noise levels were going to become almost excruciating once this band arrived.
 

The party wasn’t due to kick off until much later that evening but things had already started happening.
 
A truck containing speakers, amps, and assorted other equipment needed for tonight’s concert had turned up and people were now running about setting up the stage for the band’s performance.
 
The place was a hive of activity as t-shirt clad technicians ran backwards and forwards, testing microphones and guitars and checking sound levels.
 
It was quite fascinating to watch.
 
And Daniel was watching it all from the window of the Country Club.
 

He’d arrived early to help George with some financial advice.
 
It was an emergency, something George would have preferred to have dealt with on a day other than this in a place more suited to a business meeting but sometimes business stopped for no-one.
 
Today was one of those days.

Daniel checked his watch.
 
Samantha was with George’s wife Annabelle and Audra having their hair done, and whatever else women needed doing before a big party, so he was in no rush to get home really.
 
It had been a strangely calm and quiet day for Daniel.
 
The leadership campaign was now up and running and, like Andrew Mitchell had hoped, it looked certain to be a quick process, sorted out within the next couple of months.
 
In a few days time the closing date for candidates would be here and then he’d know exactly who he was up against, although he already had a fair idea who his opponents were going to be.
 
He wasn’t worried.

“Are you still here?” George smiled, standing next to Daniel, following his gaze.

“I got drawn into what’s happening out there.
 
It’s quite mesmerizing.
 
It’s not something I’ve ever witnessed before.”

“No, well, I never really had you down as the rock and roll type, Daniel.”

Daniel couldn’t help but smile.
 
George was right.
 
This was so far out of his comfort zone it wasn’t true.
 
It wasn’t that he didn’t like music, he did, he’d just never spent a lot of time watching it live.
 
And rock music was an absolute mystery to him.
 
He was more of an easy listening, classical kind of guy, although he did have a soft spot for Michael Buble.

“I’ve just had Audra on the ‘phone,” George went on, continuing to look out of the window.
 
“She wants me to see if I can arrange a meeting with this bloody band’s lead singer now.
 
As if this party and a private concert weren’t enough for her she wants dinner with some tattooed rock star too.”

Daniel looked at his friend and smiled.
 
“Dinner?”

George laughed.
 
“Well, that’s what she’s imagining in that teenage head of hers.
 
What she’s more likely to get is an autograph and a snorted hello.
 
I’ve seen these types, and this one looks no different.”

Daniel looked back out of the window, still smiling.
 
“Have you been doing some research then, George?”

“I wanted to know who I was letting near my more-than-easily-led daughter.
 
The lot of them look like they haven’t washed in a decade, tattoos all over the place...”
 
George sighed.
 
“Where did I go wrong, old chap?”

Daniel laughed.
 
“The joys of fatherhood.”

“See what you and Samantha have missed?”
 
George looked at his watch.
 
“Right.
 
I’d better get out there.
 
I’m supposed to be meeting their manager to discuss payment and if I don’t sort that out nobody will be playing anywhere tonight.
 
Not that that would bother me but I’m not sure I’d survive the onslaught of Audra and her clan.
 
I’ll see you tonight, Daniel.”

“Yes.
 
I’ll see you later, George.”

Daniel checked the time himself.
 
He should really be making a move.
 
He’d just be getting in the way if he hung around here any longer.
 

He walked outside, the warm afternoon sunshine hitting his face.
 
They certainly had a lovely day for this party.
 
It just seemed a pity that a beautiful evening was going to be punctuated by the sounds of heavy rock music, but it was Audra’s party after all.
 
It was her night.
 
Daniel was just looking forward to some decent wine, wonderful food and the chance to catch up with some old friends.

“Jesus Christ!
 
Can you watch where you’re going?”

Daniel had been lost in his thoughts, staring up at the bright blue sky so he hadn’t seen someone coming towards him carrying a pile of leads and cables that were now strewn all over the ground.

“Oh, God, look, I’m sorry.
 
I was miles away.”

“Evidently.”

It was a female voice, which surprised Daniel slightly.
 

“I’ll help you pick them up.
 
Here...”

He crouched down to start helping her but she’d gathered them all up before he’d had a chance.

“Don’t bother.
 
It’s fine.
 
I can manage.”

She started winding the cables up around her shoulder and elbow with the speed of someone who obviously did this every day of her life, standing up as she did so.
 
Daniel stood up too, taking a look at her properly for the first time.
 

In front of him was a young woman, probably in her late twenties, early thirties he guessed, someone who could only be described as striking.
 
He assumed she had short hair because he couldn’t see much sticking out from underneath the black scarf tied round her head, but what he could see was white blonde in colour.
 
She was wearing denim shorts, what looked like biker boots, and a black vest with the words
‘Black Rock Diamond’
emblazoned across her chest.
 
He assumed that was the name of the band playing tonight.
 
Was she part of this set-up team?
 

But what struck him the most were her incredible blue eyes that seemed to look right through you.
 
And her tattoos.
 
All of her left arm, from shoulder to wrist, was covered in the most elaborate design, almost like a sleeve of tattoos, and he couldn’t take his eyes off it.
 
He’d never seen anyone like her before in his life.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.
 
“You never seen a woman with tattoos before?”

He hadn’t, actually.
 
And that accent.
 
Where was she from?
 
Her English was perfect but that slight accent didn’t hail from this country.

“I’m...sorry, I’m sorry.
 
I just...your accent...?”

“Swedish.
 
I’m Swedish.”

“Oh, of course.
 
Yes.
 
I should have known.
 
I’ve visited
Stockholm
many times.”

She looked at him.
 
“I’m very happy for you.
 
Now, if you don’t mind...”

“Of course.
 
I...I’d better get going myself.”

She pushed past him and he watched as she shouted over to a group of men standing by the now fully assembled stage, running over to them and jumping up onto the platform with almost athletic ease.
 
Daniel couldn’t stop watching her.
 
She was obviously part of the team setting things up for tonight, he could see that now.
 
He really couldn’t take his eyes off her.
 
She was so different to any woman he’d ever seen before, certainly different to any of the women he worked or mixed with.
 
She was so far removed from his own world but, as he watched her on that stage, laying cables across it, knowing exactly where everything went, laughing with the men around her, Daniel could see that she was very comfortable in hers.

The sound of his mobile ‘phone ringing made him look away from the stage and he pulled it out of his pocket, looking at the screen to see who it was.
 
Samantha.
 
He really should be heading home.
 
He still had a few calls to make before he even thought about getting ready for tonight.

“Samantha.
 
I’m on my way home now.”

“Can you stop off at Alan Walker’s on your way, darling?
 
He’s got a few bottles of the most fabulous Spanish Rioja for us to pick up to take with us this evening.”

He started to walk towards his car, but something made him stop and turn around, curious to catch just one more glimpse of the young woman he’d bumped into.

“Daniel...are you alright?
 
You seem a little distracted.”

Samantha’s voice cut into his thoughts.

“No, no.
 
I’m fine.”

She was sitting cross-legged on the edge of the stage now, playing around with an electric guitar.

“I’ll be home in about half an hour.
 
Is that ok?”

“Of course that’s ok, darling.
 
How are things going over there?
 
Audra’s so excited about this band, she can hardly contain herself.
 
Are they there yet?”

“No.
 
I don’t think so.”

Daniel watched as a tall, tattooed, bearded man approached the young woman and she smiled up at him as he sat down next to her.

“They’re busy setting up the stage,” Daniel went on.

“Oh!
 
How exciting!” Samantha squealed.
 
“I’m almost looking forward to it myself.
 
They’re apparently extremely famous you know.”

“Who are?”

“This band playing tonight.
 
Are you sure you’re ok, Daniel?”

He was trying not to stare as the woman on stage stretched her long, tanned legs out in front of her, handing the guitar to the man beside her.

“I’m fine.
 
Really.”

“Don’t forget the wine.
 
Alan’s expecting you.”

“I’m on my way.
 
I’ll see you soon, Samantha.”

He put the ‘phone back in his jacket pocket, taking one last look over at the stage.
 
And it was then that those piercing blue eyes of hers met his for a brief second.
 
A second so brief it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
 
But it was a second that was to change Daniel Madison’s life.
 
Forever.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Who’s that?” Johnny asked, noticing Stevie taking a quick look at a very well dressed man in a dark suit.
 
He also noticed that this man’s gaze stayed on Stevie a lot longer than hers did on him.

“Just some posh guy.
 
I’m assuming he’s something to do with this party tonight.
 
Everyone around here’s bloody posh.”
 
She stood up and jumped off the stage.
 
“Where’s Mark?”

Johnny followed her.
 
“Still at the hotel.
 
And don’t worry, he’s alone.”

She looked at him.
 
“Do I
look
worried?”

“You two seem to be going through one of your calmer periods.
 
Am I right?”

She ran up the ramp of one of the trucks parked round the back of the stage.

“Yeah.
 
You’re right.
 
And if you want to hang around here you can give me a hand ‘cos I haven’t got time to stand around chatting.”

He jumped up into the back of the truck with her.
 
“Sit down for a second, Stevie.”

“Did you not hear what I said?”

“Just sit down will you?”

“No, Johnny.
 
You’ve been acting weird ever since we got back from
Ibiza
, what’s the matter with you?”

“
You
.
 
You’re
the matter with me.”

“Me?” she laughed.
 
“What the hell have
I
done?”