Private Affair (The Private Series) (22 page)

She bursts out laughing, “It’s totally fine Tess! I am just shitting with you! I have taken a few to bed, but not as many as you probably think.”

“Are you interested in Tony? I saw you on the phone and it looked like a heated convo…”

She shrugs, “He is pretty damn sexy, but I don’t know. I think he is more the kind of guy that actually wants a girlfriend and not to fuck around, you know? I mean there are going to be lots and lots of women dropping their panties for him on a nightly bases, but I don’t think he will act on it. And no, I wasn’t on the phone with
him
.”

I let that settle in my head as we walk into another store.

“Yes Sir, everything is all set for you this evening.”

That’s what I like to hear. Does Tess really think that I am going to make her squeeze me into her bunk? That would be ridiculous.

I just wish this woman at the gate counter would call my zone to board the plane already. I am really eager to see her.

I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Towers had asked for Tess specifically. That is the part that worries me the most. She said he is harmless and that I should just relax, but how the fuck does any guy relax when his girl is one on one on a tour bus and together twenty-four seven?

The flight from Seattle to Salt Lake City isn’t long at all, gives me time to do some work. It’s a packed flight and when I am just about done with the column I over hear a couple of girls talking.

“Is it too crazy that we are hopping a plane to go see him in concert though?” A young platinum blond asks her friend.

“Nah, from what I have heard on the radio and seen of him online, it is going to be worth it.”

“Do you follow him on Facebook?” The blonde gushes.

I hear the friend giggle, “God, yes! Isn’t he gorgeous and he is always posting funny things and photos from the tour…too bad he is with that one girl.”

“Oh yeah, the girl with the pink hair? Yeah I heard they are high school sweet hearts and they now get to tour the world together. As cute as it all sounds, I would love to just have one night with the guy. I mean fucking A!”

Girl with the pink hair? I open up to the internet and get on Facebook. I type Tony Towers in the search and there he is. I see a black and white photo of him in a beanie and black eyeliner. Really dude?

I scroll down to find the same photo that Nicole had sent me on his page. The selfie of them together. There are over eight hundred likes and a couple hundred comments. Tess is tagged in the photo I see…

I am scrolling through the comments and these girls are bloody awful! Why would they say such horrible things about a woman they don’t know? And to assume that she is with Towers, romantically? I see that she commented on it too and I am relieved that she is standing up to them and informing these psycho girls that she is not seeing him.

But it seems that the topic of Tess and Towers is pretty vocal on the page. A lot of people posting and asking if he is with the cute pink haired girl and wanting details.

I close my laptop and rub my face with my palms. Are we there yet?

I rush to the car rental counter once I land. The guy at the counter offers me the option of an economy car, which was a small ass foreign thing, which is so small that I don’t even thing Tess; as small as she is would be comfortable in it. Or the option of a Dodge Challenger. Yeah, no fucking brainer there.

I am cruising down the highway and I look at the time and see that she should be heading into the venue at any time now and that I won’t get to see her until after the show.

Maybe. I hit the petal a little harder.

There is a line outside of the place already, but I just walk right past them and go to the door.

“Can I help you?” A shaved head and red beard man asks me.

“Yeah, I am here to see my fiancé, she is a reporting photographer for Tony Towers.” Fuck I shouldn’t have to use his name to get to her.

The guy crosses his arms over his bright yellow “security” golf tee. “Sorry, no ticket, no entry.”

“Look I am trying to surprise her, I work with
Tone’s
,” I reach for my wallet to pull out my employee badge. Hopefully this wanker fucking lets me in. I am pent up and needing to see Tess already and this guy is standing in my mother fucking way.

“Hey, it’s okay, he’s with me,” I hear a woman’s voice tell the bald leprechaun. I look up from my wallet to find Jennifer batting her eyes at the guy and it looks like he is being wrapped around her finger.

“Fine, but he needs a wrist band, since he doesn’t have a pass,” The guy eye’s me and smirks.

Jennifer puffs out a laugh, “Alright then, Ben get your band and I will see you inside.” She winks at me. We have never had a thing, but she likes to playfully flirt with me. Back when we first started working together, I thought she was pretty good looking, but I wasn’t her type apparently. Even though I have heard all the stories about her hooking up with band mates. Maybe that’s why I was never her type, because I wasn’t in a rock band. We are now just friends by association, we see each other at the office and make small talk.

“Alright man, you are all set,” the man informs me, he laughs and flicks my wrist.

What is so fucking funny? ... I look down and fucking, mother…

“The Tower of Power…Seriously?” I eye the security guard, he just grins and shakes his head.

As I am walking through the door I tuck the band under my sleeve. I will not have anyone think that I am here to see that punk, no wait that would be offensive to punks everywhere. I am walking through a hall way looking for where Tess could be, when I am yanked through a door. “What the hell are you doing?” I ask Jennifer who is now in front of the door, blocking me from exiting.

“Oh, come on Ben, we have known one another for a long time now and I have seen you take on countless women. I want a turn.” She licks her lips and starts to run her hand up her thigh.

“We will never happen. I am engaged to the love of my life and she is countless times sexier and classier than you.” I push by her and start down the hall.

“We will see.” She calls after me with a sing song in her voice.

As I round the corner I spot Tess squatting on the floor taking photos, it’s not until I get closer I see what her subject is. As much as I want to walk over and mess up his pretty boy face, I will back off and focus on Tess and only Tess.

Ben should have landed by now, but I haven’t heard anything from him. I thought for sure I would be able to see him before I had to get to work. We are waiting back stage, watching the headliners do their sound check. Tony already did his about an hour ago. I think he is getting better each time he performs.

I see a cool brick wall with some extra lighting equipment and get an idea. “Hey, Tony go over to that wall.”

He gives a confused little smirk, but is happy to oblige. “Okay, now what?” he asks me with a shrug and a look over his shoulder at the wall.

Holding up my camera, “A mini photo shoot!” The lighting is cool and we have a few minutes to play around, so why not? I have never really had the chance to just play around with a model or person before.

“Okay, what do you want me to do?” He asks holding his palms upward. And there’s the shy Tony that I have grown to be fond of.

I squat down and hold the camera to my eye and wave my hand at him, “Whatever feels natural.”

“This isn’t natural for me Tess, I don’t do photos well.”

“Well then you are in the wrong industry my friend,” I laugh at him. I notice that he is looking a little uncomfortable. “What’s wrong?”

He reaches across his chest and holds his opposite shoulder, “I was always an awkward kid and never felt great about my looks. I was the scrawny, bean pole as a kid.”

“I never would have guessed.”

Tony playfully makes a muscle, “This came during senior year. Then people started to back off, once I was gaining some mass. I know how cruel kids can be.”

“I know what that’s like. Believe me.” I snap a photo, not wanting to get into it with him right now. But knowing that his good looks and talent didn’t come too easily or make him a cocky douche bag is an added bonus to his personality.

He raises an eyebrow at my last comment, but caught on fast that I didn’t want to talk. He playfully strikes a pose, like a body builder. I laugh and he changes his position again. I am snapping away and he finally gets a little more serious, I was loving the fun pics, but I wanted to get some magazine worthy shots too. He leans against the wall and crosses his arm, snap. Squats down, faces me right on and gives me a smoldering gaze, snap. Wow, if girls think he’s hot now, wait till they see these photos.

I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn assuming it’s one of the stage crew or Jennifer, needing us to wrap it up. I am greeted with familiar black boots, I look up and see Ben. I squeal and jump to my feet and leap into his arms. My arms around his neck and I wrap my legs around his waist and kiss him hard.

His hands graze under my ass and I feel his finger knead in, forgetting we are surrounded by people, I let out a soft moan and I instinctively move my hips into his. His mouth is hot and he tastes like his usual honey. Sweet and urgent for me.