Private Affair (The Private Series) (16 page)

His hands find my hips and he grips, “I know that Punky, I do. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

I kiss him softly on the mouth then pull back, “Besides you can come to the nearby shows. It can be our practice honeymoon.”

Ben arches his hips into mine and smiles, “Oh, now I really like that idea. I will get an advance schedule from Fuller and we will just make a plan.”

Its two days before I leave on the tour and Erin somehow managed to get me away from Ben, who has been my shadow since the meeting. It’s been nice, okay amazing! He has arranged a different romantic evening each night. The sex has been unreal and it makes us even more intertwined in every way imaginable. He has been sweet and even with his Alpha maleness it’s a great mix honestly. I like that he has planned every day to the fullest. We did a single small show the other night and it just felt like a date.

“Where are we going?” I ask Erin who is driving us.

“We are having a girl’s day and getting you all refreshed and relaxed before you are stuck on a small RV with a sexy rocker!” She gushes.

I roll my eyes, “Erin, I have told you we are just friends and I don’t see Tony like that. He is a cool guy and a kick ass tattoo artist…”

“Who personally asked for you to go on tour with him,” She gives me a shit eatin’ grin.

I try to hide a flattered smile, but who am I kidding? It is pretty cool. “Still he is a cool guy and a great musician. Just going to enjoy the job and have fun with it.”

“That’s my girl! Have fun, but not too much without me. It’s bad enough your about to get a new bestie.” She fake pouts.

“Oh puh-leez!” I yell at her. “Like that would ever happen!”

With a serious face, “Hey you never know how cool and amazing this Jennifer might be. You will be spending a lot of time with her right?” She parks the car outside of the shopping center.

I bumps her shoulder with mine, “Hey, knock it off. It’s only a month and I will be calling you and FaceTiming you. You’ll have to be my Seattle girl and keep me up to date.”

She smiles big genuine Erin smile and we both release a held breath. “Okay, let’s get you some cool tour gear and a rock and roll manicure!”

“Don’t I already have good rocker clothes?” I ask playfully insulted. “Besides, I have been living the rocker life for years.”

“True. But we need an excuse to shop right?”

I open the door for her and pull her into a hug, “Never need an excuse to shop or hang out.”

We are in and out of a few store sooner than we thought, just one look at their racks and we knew it wasn’t rock enough. We both knew it instantly, because we would look at one another and laugh. Turn of the heel and we were onto the next store. At one store Erin kept trying to get me in these mile high stiletto heels, “Erin! I am going to be running around and probably dodging crowed surfers. These…” I hold up a pair of not only heeled shoes but ones with a huge platform and they are candy apple red with black polka dots, granted yes they are cute as hell, not for this. “Will only get me killed!”

Erin puffs out a gust of air, “Okay, okay, I got it. Guess I haven’t been to many rock shows. So what will you wear for shoes?” She asks.

I take a little walk down a row of assorted shoes and I stop. “Now these…” This time I pick up a pair of black platform shoes, which have no actual heel, but gives a little height and they buckle at the ankle. “Are the kind of cute and hard rock shoes I could work in.”

Erin takes the shoe from me and examines the shoe with an expert eye and a look that’s all too serious for shoe purchasing. God I love my Erin! “Excuse me…” she grabs a young woman’s attention that works at the shop, “Can I get these in a six please?”

“Sure thing,” the girls answers with a polite smile.

“I guess I am trying them on?” I laugh at my own question.

Erin starts to walk to the counter, “Yeah, hold on one sec.”

I give her a questioning look and I do as I am told. I look at these crazy heels in front of me, who can really walk in these things? I feel my phone buzz from inside of my purse. I retrieve it and see a text from Caroline.

What do you think about a dress like this?

She has sent a photo of a layered wedding dress with tulle and it’s very girly and flirty. I love it! It’s not too dramatic which is a great thing. I text her back.

I love that! You have an amazing eye!

Thanks Tess! That means a ton coming from you.

Then it hits me. With the tour being planned as fast as it has I didn’t even think to tell Caroline, Jack, Gwen or my Mom. Crap! I call Ben, “Hey baby everything alright?” He answers.

“Yeah, I am having a good day with Erin, doing some preparation shopping. I just thought, we didn’t tell anyone about the tour yet. And how this is going to impact the wedding.” I feel sick to my stomach. I want to marry Ben right away, but now with this I can’t.

I hear him sigh on the other end, “It’s okay baby, I will tell them. We decided on May anyways. You will be back in April, I think we will be fine and on schedule.”

“You always know what to do and say don’t you?” I sigh back.

“I am always looking out for you…for us. You are my permanent, remember that.”

I feel a tear start to trickle down my cheek, “Always. I love you Ben. Thank you for being okay with all of this, even if you aren’t one hundred percent.”

“Anything for you Punky.”

I see Erin approaching with a bag in hand, what the? “Hey hun, I have to get going, Erin is up to something,” I laugh.

“See you when you get home. I love you.”

“Love you more.”

“I’m older, I win this one.”

I laugh and roll my eyes, “yeah okay…”

“Did you just roll your eyes?” His voice dark.

I straighten my back as if he is in front of me and I am about to show how tough I am. “Yes. Yes I did.”

“Just wait till you get home.”

Warm tinglys hit me below my waist, “I’m hanging up now. I love you.”

“Let’s go!” Erin tells me with a big smile on her face.

I stitch my eyebrows together, “But I wanted to try those uber cute shoes on,” I protest.

She holds out the bag in her hand to me, “Good luck on your tour!” She bounces.

“You bought them for me?”

“Sure did! My going away present to you!”

I grab her in a huge hug once we are out of the store, “You really didn’t have to, but thank you! I love them!”

We head to grab some lunch before going to get our nails done. The restaurant is a cool modern bistro and the menu looks amazing with lots of yummy options. We order cocktails and as soon as the waitress walks away with our order we look up to find Nicole at the edge of our table.

I nearly spit my drink out, but I think I’d rather throw it in her face. Erin beats me to the punch and stands right up face to face, which is good, because I am five inches shorter than Nicole. I wouldn’t be that intimidating.

“Go.” Is all Erin says and her tone give me the chills.

Nicole has a cocky grin on her face, one that I’d really like to smack off. “I heard your going out of town for some time.” She is looking right at me, even though Erin is nearly chest to chest.

“What’s it to you?” Erin chimes in.

I put my hand on Erin’s arm and signal her to have a seat. Her face is red with anger. So happy she is on my side in this world. “I got this,” I assure her. “Yes, I am for work. Why?”

Nicole crosses her legs as she stands and I take notice of her mega heels, like the ones in the store we were just at, I see that bimbo’s wear those kind of shoes. I snicker to myself.

“Well I figure while you’re gone, Ben will be here all alone.”

“When will you get it that he doesn’t want you? We have been over this again and again Nicole. Just let it go.”

She applies more lip gloss, “He deserves better than a hood rat.”

“Better than a snobby spoiled adulteress. I can keep it classy, even though I don’t have as much money as you, but I will always have the one thing you won’t. Ben.” I give her the finger, my ring finger.

Her eyes widen as she sees the additions to the ring Ben’s mother used to wear. I can see the heat on her face. She huffs and walks away.

“What the fuck is her problem? When will she give up?” Erin asks the one question that I really have no answer for.

“I really don’t know and now I will be worrying about her when I am gone in a couple days.” My bright mood now darkened.

Erin takes my hand, “You know Ben won’t do anything, right?”

I nod. I do know that, but that doesn’t mean that she won’t try.

Erin perks up, “And I’ll keep an eye on Miss Bitch.” We laugh and I thank her yet again today.

We enjoy our lunch and I try my best to forget about my rendezvous with Nicole. We make our way to the nail salon and Erin tells me that she wants to tell the girl what to do with my nails and that I can’t look until they are done. I agree, man she is bossy and amusing at the same time. When the woman is done I look at my manicure hand.

“I effing love them!” I squeal. They are dark gray except the middle fingers which ate matte black with tiny silver pyramid studs lining the tips.

“Fierce right?” Erin asks, obviously proud of herself.

“Perfection!”

I am sitting on the edge of the bed watching her finish packing her bags to leave. I can’t get myself to help her, because I don’t want to see her go. I know it’s only a month, but that’s a real fucking long time to be away from my love. She is going back and forth from the bathroom with her toiletries and hairdryer and styling tools. I don’t like seeing her stuff leave either. My chest aches where my heart resides. But I can’t tell her how sad I am about this, because this is her dream. I won’t be responsible for any regrets.

I look at the bedside alarm clock and it’s almost time to go to the lot where the RV will be. I really don’t like the idea of seeing her leave in a vehicle with beds with another guy. My fists clench at the thought.

Last night we made long, slow passionate love. I hope she could feel all that I have for her in not only my words but through my body. I am going to ache for her the whole time. I was able to get my advanced schedule from Fuller, so I can plan on flying out to some shows to be with her, but it’s not the same. We won’t be in our home in our bed.

She notices my look and steps between my knees. I wrap my arms around her waist and press my head to her belly. God, I am going to miss this.

“Hey,” She looks at me. Even though I am seated and she’s standing we are about the same height, I chuckles at the thought. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I won’t go, if you’re not.”

I put on a happy face and assure her that I am fine and that everything here will be fine. I close my eyes and pull her closer into me. My hands traveling up and down her back. She lets out a content moan and that’s all it takes for my cock to twitch. Any little noise she makes can bring me to attention. I fucking love that.

Her head goes back as I reach the front of her and graze her breast. She has a thin bra on today and I can feel her nipple harden under my touch. “How much time do we have?” She asks with her eyes closed.