The song’s pace picks up, and the stage lights blaze, changing color and brilliance with the music. Mason smiles in that heart-wrenching way of his, and he somehow finds me in the audience.I don’t know how he sees anything with the bright lights, not unless he already knew where I was sitting—which of course, he probably did.
After a long, rather intense moment that sends a riot of butterflies in my stomach, Mason breaks eye contact with me and sings to the rest of his adoring fans, as he must. However, his gaze returns to my spot in the audience every so often, and every time it does, my heart nearly stops.
He’s amazing, so talented. No wonder they love him.
The song is over far too soon, and half the audience—again, the female half—leaps to their feet as soon as the music ebbs.
Granger walks out on the stage, laughing in a good-humored way at the crowd’s response. The country star is huge, and he’s doing a good job of taking it in stride that Mason’s basically stolen his show.
“You’re going to have to host next year,” Granger jokes. He holds his hand out, acknowledging the audience. “What do you think? Can he sing?”
I find myself clapping like a fool right along with the rest of the starry-eyed women.
“So, tell me, Mason,” Granger says, and the hall quiets so we can hear him. “You sang that like you had a particular girl in mind. Do you have someone special you’d like to spend Christmas with this year?”
Mason laughs in a boy-next-door sort of way. “Maybe I do.”
I hope breathing is overrated because I can’t seem to remember how to.
“Anyone we know?” Granger asks, and he raises his eyebrows at the audience as if they’re all in on some secret joke. “Someone who bakes by any chance?”
Again, the crowd cheers, and I am positively stunned.
Mason grins, and I’m close enough I can see a hint of the dimples in his cheeks. He gives Granger and the audience a noncommittal shrug that’s neither an affirmation or a denial.
After several more minutes of banter, Mason waves to the screaming crowd as he walks off the stage, making way for Granger’s last performance of the night. As soon as the main lights come up, Yvonne appears at the end of my row.
I murmurexcuse mesas I slide past the people in the row to join her. I follow her through the growing crowd. “Are we going backstage?”
She turns back so she doesn’t have to yell. “We’re going to the apartment above. Mason’s already waiting for you.”
I look up. “There’s an apartment above us?”
Yvonne flashes me a smirk and escorts me into the back walkways of the historic music hall. The entire building has an art deco feel—very Old Hollywood luxurious. A man stands outside the door we’re headed toward, and he opens it as soon as he sees Yvonne.
“Ladies,” he says.
I’m not sure what to expect, but it’s not half the musicians who performed this evening. I freeze next to Yvonne, star struck. Mason crosses the room, ready to save me.
His eyebrows shoot up as he takes in my outfit. Stepping close, he quietly says, “Harper, you look amazing.”
Before I can answer, blond and beautiful Peyton Barnes joins us, eying me with a catlike smile. “Well, look at this. Mason actually has a date.”
“Peyton, this is Harper.” Mason steps next to me, smoothly sliding my arm into his. “Harper, Peyton.”
The girl offers her hand, and I accept it, my muscles working on memory alone because my brain keeps repeatingPeyton Barnes, Peyton Barnes, Peyton Barnes.
“Pleasure,” she says, her voice husky like her songs. Then she turns her attention to Mason, asking him questions about the technical aspects of his performance. Apparently, her earpiece wasn’t working.
As they talk shop, I look around, basically gawking. Granger chats with a trio in the corner, and several members of the various bands wander about.
“Are you going to the after party?” Peyton asks, drawing me back to the conversation.
Mason shakes his head. “We have to fly back to Denver tonight.”
“Clark’s going to let you miss such a prominent photo op?” she asks, incredulous. “You know we’ll be all over the papers tomorrow.”
“Even Clark acknowledges I can’t be in two places at once, and Harper is expected to be at the lodge for the pre-episode interviews at nine.”
