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Now we know
where we stand, there’s something you can help me with.” He got to his feet.
“We need to find the rest of my stash and pour it away.”
    She looked at him with wary eyes. “I thought you might have had more
stuff hidden away.” Close contact with bottles of liquor wasn’t something she
felt too comfortable about, but it would be better to get it out of the way.
    “Come on, we can start in the shed. We can keep each other on the
straight and narrow.”
    That wasn’t such a bad idea. Neither of them would be likely to give
in to temptation with the other one watching.

CHAPTER 5
    ––––––––
    T he next day, after a shared breakfast of porridge with fresh
berries from the garden, Angelique left Noah to his guitar and went to meet
with John. Now she’d cleared the air with Noah, she was sure things would go
smoothly. At least until the tour started.
    “Morning, Miss Jones—”
    “Angelique.”
    “Angelique. You look well rested.”
    Was that meant to imply she’d been neglecting her duties? His
expression didn’t give much away. “I had a talk with Noah last night. We came
to an understanding.”
    John gave a politician’s smile. “Good, good. Glad to hear you’re
getting along. Do you think he’ll make it through the tour in one piece.”
    “As long as he stays focused, yes. He’s already started writing
tracks for the album.”
    His eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. “Really? He hasn’t touched
his guitar since he came back from The Cloister.”
    “Well, he picked it up yesterday and he’s making real progress.
Actually, that’s what he’s doing now. He’s in the conservatory if you want to
say hello.”
    “This is fantastic. See? I knew I was right to hire you.”
    The doorbell rang as they were walking through to see Noah.
“Expecting anyone?”
    She shook her head. Noah bowled out into the hall, nodded hello to
his manager and opened the front door.
    “Dave!” He spread his arms wide and a stocky, bearded rocker lifted
him off his feet.
    “Noah. It’s been too long, man.” He set him down and stepped back to
look him over. “I was hoping the booze had fattened you up, but I see I’m out
of luck.”
    Angelique winced. Whoever Dave was, she didn’t like him already.
    “Dave.” John waved.
    “Hey.”
    “Dave, this is Angie – my assistant.”
    She kept her distance. “Angelique.” It would be more than she could
bear to have both of them calling her Angie.
    “You two aren’t...?” He raised his eyebrows and looked from Noah to
Angelique and back again.
    She was too shocked to reply.
    “No,” Noah called over. “Nothing like that.” Behind Dave’s back, he
rolled his eyes.
    “Good.” He pouted at her before going back to throw his arm around
Noah’s shoulders.
    “Come and hear the new stuff I’ve been writing.” They disappeared
back off to the conservatory.
    “I think I’ll leave them to it.” John headed for the door.
    “Who the hell was that?” She had a feeling she wouldn’t enjoy
finding out for herself.
    “He was Noah’s bassist back when he had a regular band.”
    “What happened?”
    John opened the door. “The usual – drink, drugs and fights over
women. I’d keep an eye on him if I were you. I doubt he’ll do much for Noah’s
recovery.”
    That’s about what she’d thought. “Don’t worry. I will.” Noah had
shown too much potential for her to let some old band-mate turn up and ruin
everything. It would be better to show some tolerance and let them have their
fun, but if she had to put her foot down and throw him out, so be it.
    ***
    “M an, I’d forgotten how huge this place is.” Dave followed Noah into
the conservatory and flopped down in an armchair.
    “You could have bought a place like this if you’d wanted to. What
happened to the money from the last tour we did?” He hoped this wasn’t the run
up to a loan request. At least he wouldn’t be lying when he said he couldn’t do
it.
    “Wine, women and