Not, of course, that there was any guarantee Eli would kiss her even if he did show up on time, but a girl could hope in the privacy of her own heart and mind.

Carly left the stage to take a breather before the evening’s big finale and crossed to where Brynne was sitting, feet dangling.

“Thank you,” the girl said. “For letting us perform tonight. It’s been great.”

Brynne reached out, took one of Carly’s hands and gave it a light squeeze. “Thank you,” she replied. “You and The GateCrashers always draw a crowd. Tonight was very profitable.” She’d paid the band earlier, during a break. “For all of us, I think.”

Carly smiled. “I only get to spend half of my share,” she confided, with mock regret. “Dad and Shallie insist I save a major chunk of everything I earn singing, even though I’ve made a boatload of money from my YouTube channel. It isn’t as if I can’t afford college with no help from anybody.”

Brynne laughed softly. “Not many young people can say that, Carly,” she said. “You should be very proud of yourself.”

The girl’s shoulders moved in a shrug-like gesture. “It’s been fun,” she replied, as though she’d had little or no part in her own success. “I’ve been lucky—found myself a dad and two fantastic uncles.”

She’d also lost her mother, Reba, to cancer, been left alone with a greedy stepfather and his girlfriend, and made her own way across country to arrive at the back door of Sully’s Bar and Grill not that long ago, looking for her biological father.

Brynne, though certainly not friends with Reba, had been the one to break the news of her death to Cord Hollister, who had passed the word to J.P. and Eli.

Despite the fact that Reba had virtually stolen Eli from her, back in high school, Brynne had secretly felt sorry for the other girl. Oh, she’d had plenty of resentment, too, but even in her teenage years, she’d known how lucky she was to have two loving parents, a good home and a lot of friends.

Reba, arriving alone, working at the Painted Pony Creek Motel, partying like the proverbial rock star, clearly hadn’t been blessed with a home and family, loving or otherwise.

“You have been lucky,” Brynne agreed. “And so have I.”

Carly smiled, nodded. Excused herself to return to the little stage occupied by the rest of the band.

A few more songs followed, each one drawing cheers from the dwindling but determined audience.

Brynne suspected she wasn’t the only one watching the clock, though her reason was probably different from theirs.

Once again, she sighed.

And then it happened. At two minutes before midnight, the restaurant door swung open and Eli entered, looking both weary and frazzled, both of which were unusual for him.

He was usually so self-possessed.