“Um, yes,” Kate stammered. “I just… I don’t know what to say.”

“Well, then how about I do the talking for a minute?” Buddy said.

“That’s one thing my Buddy’s good at—talking,” Taylor said with a grin.

He scowled playfully at his wife before he continued. “Here’s what I’m thinking. Every summer, Taylor and me, we take a new act on the road to open for us. We’ve been auditioning people for weeks, but we haven’t found anyone who speaks to us the way you did tonight. We’d like to take you along if you’d like to come. We’ll work with you and get you ready. We’re also real impressed with your songs, and we’d like to release ‘I Thought I Knew’ on our label to get you some buzz ahead of the tour.”

Kate’s head was spinning. Was this really happening? Or was she going to wake up to find she’d dreamed the whole thing?

“Buddy, honey, you’re overwhelming her. Kate, why don’t you think about it and come out to the house in the next week or two. We’ll hash it out when you’ve had a chance to process it.”

Taylor Jones was inviting her to come to her house? “That would be great. I just… I don’t know what to say. Thank you. I’m so honored you want to work with us.”

Taylor and Buddy exchanged glances.

“Sweetheart, we want to work with you,” Buddy said. “Not the band.”

“But I can’t do that to them,” Kate protested.

Taylor put her hand over Kate’s. “Honey, the band’s great. Y’all are fantastic together. But the reason Buddy and I are still sitting here right now rather than on our way home is because of you. We want to work with you. I want you to think really hard about this. I admire your loyalty to the band, but if one of them were being offered what we’re offering you, they’d take it and run. They’d never look back. That’s what you need to do.” Taylor turned to her husband. “Buddy, honey, give Kate your card, and put our home number on the back. I’m ready to go.”

“Give us a call, darlin’.” Buddy handed Kate his card and stood up.

Kate took the card and got up to shake their hands. “Thank you. Thank you both so much.”

“Think about what Taylor said, Kate. She’s right. We’ll take good care of you.”

They were whisked away by their huge bodyguard.

Billy came running up to her. “What the hell was that all about?” he asked, excitement dancing on his face.

“Nothing,” Kate said with a sinking sensation in her stomach. “They just wanted to say hello.”