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“Beautiful as always. She was wearing a red dress.”
Mia nodded. “I saw bits of it on Instagram. The style is a departure for her and I think she was both excited and a little nervous about wearing it.”
Nate was slightly surprised she’d let him tuck her arm through his. Then he realized, given the way she was looking around at all the celebrities, she probably hadn’t even noticed the intimacy between them.
The same couldn’t be said for him. He was hyperaware of every little thing about her, from her muted squeal when Taylor Swift walked past to her soft gasp when Luke Bryan winked at her. Given how often she must have seen these people at other award shows, her starstruck behavior amused him. She was like a kid at Disneyland for the first t
ime.
“It’s different sitting in the audience among them,” she explained when she caught him grinning at her. “I don’t have to be professional.”
By professional he sensed what she meant was invisible. She’d learned how to bottle up all her emotions, good and bad. He’d realized this when they first met on tour. They’d hung out for almost three weeks before he realized she liked him the way he liked her.
Excitement hummed in her slim body. “I don’t think I could ever get used to this.”
“They’re all just people, like me and you.”
“You’re not just people. You’re Nate Tucker.” She stated his name as if that explained everything.
“I’m just a guy.”
She shook her head as if he could never understand. Her voice was soft as she spoke. “I still have a hard time believing you ever noticed me.”
Conscious of their surroundings, he resisted the urge to sweep her into his arms and kiss her soft lips. “Let’s go find a quiet corner and I’ll notice you plenty.”
Even now after everything they’d shared, she still blushed when he stared at her intently. That she’d somehow maintained such innocence while immersed in show business craziness continued to enthrall him.
“I’m glad you came tonight.”
“Me, too.” But there was a hint of hesitation in her answer.
She was still worried about Ivy. Nate was of two minds. Part of him was irritated at the hold her sister maintained over her. The other part sympathized with Mia. He knew firsthand the effect of being bullied by family. His father hadn’t treated his wife and child as though they mattered to him. On a good day he’d settled in front of the television with a whiskey and ignored them. On a bad day he’d led with his fists.
Music began to play, signaling that the show was getting under way. Mia relaxed and snuggled a bit closer. Had she been worried that her sister might stop by and make a scene? What was it going to take for Mia to get out from beneath Ivy’s thumb?
It was nice for a change to not have to worry about performing. The only time he needed to leave Mia alone was a little over an hour and a half into the program, when Free Fall presented the award for Favorite Male Country Artist. He stood to the side while Dan and Mike took turns reading off the nominees. While the winner thanked family and fans, Nate shared a smile with Mia. She looked so perfect sitting there, her eyes bright, her gaze all for him as she waited for him to come back to her.
All of a sudden he couldn’t wait for the show to be over so he could take her to the after-party and spend some time with her in his arms on the dance floor. Since she was officially his date, Mia couldn’t possibly use her sister’s presence as an excuse to keep him at bay the way she’d done on the tour.
But he’d underestimated Ivy.
When the pop star stepped onstage to perform, something was definitely off with her. Nate doubted most people would notice, but he’d watched her rehearse and perform for weeks while on tour. She was a beat behind the music and she was walking through her complicated choreography. Mia sat forward in her chair, her expression tightening with concern.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Mia shook her head, but he knew her well enough to know when she wasn’t telling the truth.
“Is she drunk?”
Mia’s gaze was glued to Ivy. Nate wasn’t sure if she’d even noticed his questions, until she shook her head again after a minute.
“Maybe high.” Mia set her fingertips against her mouth and blinked rapidly. The bright glint in her eyes was from tears. “I need to get backstage and be there for her.”
“Then we’ll both go.” He wasn’t letting Mia run off without him. She might never come back.
“You can’t leave in the middle of the ceremony.”
But she could. It was her way of highlighting the difference in their status. She was a lowly, anonymous assistant, while he was a celebrity. Nate was getting tired of it.
