Page 27 of Sandbar Summer (Summer Cottage #3)

Since the utter disappointment of her relationship with Drake, she hadn’t been interested in anyone. Nor did she “put herself out there” for dating. Besides, most people used apps these days, and she barely knew how to update her phone.

Wow, though. That was some kiss.

She looked down at her phone.

That’s it. That’s what she could do to act like kissing Joe Cassidy wasn’t the only thing on her mind all of a sudden. She’d call someone and act like she had Hollywood business to take care of.

After all, soon she should start hearing from all the country stars she’d invited to Irish Hills.

She’d spent the morning reaching out. They were literally just up the road. She’d invited them all to come to have the best meal of their lives at Hope’s Table.

She was an A-list actress, and people responded to her texts. They answered her calls.

There was a smattering of responses. But all from personal assistants. Could Goldie Hayes not even get a return message these days?

Was this fallout from the VSU thing?

Or were they just too busy?

That was possible. Goldie was going to have to go further out on a limb to help Irish Hills.

She walked back into Two Lakes.

She did not want to do this, but she was going to.

“Joe?”

“Yeah, in here.”

She walked into the tight space that was the ancient laundry room. Joe was handsome. That was just a fact. It distracted her for a beat.

“You come back here to slap me retroactively?”

She shook her head. “No, two things. One, I need a ride to North of Nash. I’m going to help Irish Hills my way, and that means I’m going to have to call in a favor.”

“Okay, sure, we can go there. The traffic’s a bear, but I know a guy who might be able to get us through a back way.”

“Great.”

“And the second thing?”

Goldie took a step toward Joe. Pulled him down to her level by his neck. She kissed him. He smelled good. Not like cologne, just good.

She stepped back, and they locked eyes.

“Wow.”

“Now, I’m going to get changed. I have to look like Goldie Hayes for this next bit.”

“Who do you look like now?”

“Elizabeth Gould.”

“Ah, I see. Well, I’ll get the truck ready and call my friend.”

They drove back roads, some she recognized and remembered.

Others she didn’t. If Goldie thought she was staying here more permanently, she’d have to get a driver’s license again.

But for now, it was a novelty for her to ride in the passenger seat instead of the back, with a screen between her and her driver.

“There’s Greg.”

A man was standing next to an SUV. He didn’t have a uniform on, but he looked official. Joe slowed down and opened his window.

“Hey Greg, thank you for doing this. She walks through the main entrance, and there’s sure to be a scene.”

“No problem, a friend of Hope’s is a friend of mine.”

Goldie had heard Hope was a little more than neighborly with her neighbor. This must be him.

“You’re Hope’s neighbor?”

“That I am, and a big fan of your movies. Honored to help.” He nodded as he said it.

The men around here could be so old-fashioned. It was charming and unexpected.

“Just follow me. I’ll get you backstage. There’s a drop-off area and a service truck area. I think with this, you’re best in the service truck area.”

“Lead the way.”

Joe followed Greg past a drive with a sign marking the main entrance. Instead, they entered a different drive with a gate. There was also a man checking I.D. Greg said something to him, and then the security guard looked back toward Joe and Goldie. He waved them through.

“Okay, looks like we’re all clear,” Joe said.

Goldie tried to get a good look at the setup for North of Nash.

It was a mass of people on the infield of the track, rocking out to the act on the main stage.

The stage had a long runway, so the performers could walk out amongst the crowds but not be swallowed by them. Which looked like a real possibility.

The track was surrounded by stadium-style seating, but no one was in those seats. They were all on that infield. In the distance, Goldie spied hundreds of campers and RVs.

“It’s NASCAR here, right, normally?”

“That it is, ma’am. You a fan?”

“I was up for the role of a young Martha Earnhardt, Dale’s mother, a while back. Did my research.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah, didn’t get it. They went with Frances McDormand.”

North of Nash was an enormous event. That much was clear. Throngs were crowded around the stage where Luke Brush was performing, currently.

“Wow, it’s nuts.”

“Yeah, it’s like a country music Woodstock but every year. Last year they clocked forty thousand attendees.”

The crowd scared Goldie a little. It was massive. She was happy when Joe’s truck was fully obscured by the backstage area. This was just as chaotic, but it wasn’t the press of humanity on the other side of the stage.

“Well, I don’t think Irish Hills can handle an influx of four thousand, much less forty, but if my plan works, we’ll get some buzz going.”

“Okay, so edify me here. We were disguising you before, making sure everyone didn’t know you were in town. And now, well, you look like a movie star, and we are very squarely in Lenawee County, Michigan. Anyone sees you, aren’t you in the same boat as the other day?”

“Here’s the thing, I’m not a country star.

These fans are going to be looking for Dolly, not Goldie.

Those fanboys were stalking me specifically.

Here, hopefully, no one’s looking. And I have to look like I belong backstage, right?

I mean, security has to believe I’m Goldie Hayes. Do I look like Goldie Hayes?”

“Spitting image.”

Joe parked in a section where his truck looked like half a dozen others. There were food trucks, electrical equipment trucks, satellite trucks, and others. There were dozens of service vehicles needed to put on this kind of event without a hitch.

There were also tents and trailers for the performers. Goldie was zoning in on a specific tour bus. She’d never traveled in it. But she did know it when she saw it.

“I think you’re going to want to hang here by your truck.”

“I agree, not keen on letting you wander off, but if someone realizes I don’t have credentials, I think they’ll tow me.”

“Back in a flash. I hope.”

Goldie left Joe and headed for the deep red tour bus.

She’d help select the logo. It looked great emblazoned on the side of the enormous bus.

Sometimes the band traveled in it, sometimes it was a diversion, but for this event, she hoped they’d be in there.

At least while they waited until their time on stage.

She’d checked the schedule. They were performing on the main stage tonight and then again, midday Sunday.

She fixed her best movie star haughty, entitled, let me in without checking, attitude.

She knocked on the Burgundy Four tour bus door.

Drake’s tour manager answered. She’d met him multiple times, but it took a second for him to register who she was.

Casey Long’s job was to get Drake where he was supposed to be, on time, and to be sure whatever Drake needed was at the venue.

Whether it was food or female companionship.

She never caught Drake cheating when they were together, but then again, she never tried to.

“I, uh, Ms. Hayes, what are you, uh.” He looked confused, and for a second, panicked.

“I’m in the neighborhood, here to see Drake.”

Goldie put her hand out for him to help her up the high steps. He did, as she expected, without thinking.

“GREAT TO SEE YOU, GOLDIE,” Casey Long said, announcing her presence as loud as he could.

Goldie was one hundred percent clear on what Casey was doing.

His boss, Drake, was likely canoodling with someone.

Something that Goldie did not care one lick about.

But that was another one of the jobs the tour manager had on his plate.

He was charged with making sure the boss didn’t get caught with his leather pants down.

She smiled as Casey walked toward the back of the bus and knocked loudly.

“Drake, hate to disturb your Zoom call, but you have a visitor.”

“Zoom call?” Goldie tried not to roll her eyes but failed.

He knocked again, and midway through, Drake opened the door.

“What the?” He was shirtless, and his pants were on, but barely.

“I see you’ve got some fresh ink there, Drake.”

“Goldie.” He moved forward and appeared genuinely happy to see her, and then looked back, realizing that his Zoom call had come to life and followed him out of the bedroom.

The Zoom call was a beautiful young thing. Goldie thought she recognized her from somewhere.

“Hello, I’m Goldie Hayes,” she said to the young lady.

“No way, no WAY!”

“Way. Listen, I’m so sorry to just drop in, but I’m taking a little break here in Michigan. And saw you were on the North of Nash schedule, and well, I wanted to invite you to a get-together just up the road. You and the band, and—”

Though the woman was familiar, Goldie couldn’t quite place her name.

“River Ann Flowers,” she offered brightly.

“Yes, I voted for you on The Voice!” She hadn’t, but she’d seen the show, and it snapped back into place, just in time.

“I’m dying, no way. No WAY!”

“Way. Drake, I know it’s sort of short notice, but this would be my treat. I’d love to host you at this great local restaurant. I guarantee it’ll be the best meal you’re ever going to have, trust me. Plus, you could be away from the melee for a bit.”

“Thanks, but I don’t think—”

He was totally off balance. They hadn’t seen each other in years, and here she was on his tour bus in Michigan.

“Chef Venerable is amazing. She’s like the next big thing. You’d be able to charge your batteries.”

“She won The World’s Best Dishes Food Competition!”

“You’re a foodie?” Goldie directed her attention to River Ann.