Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (3 page)

Everyone.

Even that bitch Tamra.

***

Colin brought them back to the kitchen. The women had been all business and no matter what he’d said to Tamra, she didn’t take the bait. Tough lady.

Larry was sitting at the counter and had helped himself to a bag of potato chips. He offered some to Kelly and Tamra who both declined. “So what do you think?”

“Securing the place is the easy part,” Tamra said. “When Colin is on the move it will be tougher. We’ll need your schedule on a weekly basis.”

He picked up his soda again. “Not much to report. I’m recording here every day for the next three weeks.”

“No doctor appointments? Haircuts?”

“Haircuts? I’m a rock star. No one cares what my hair looks like.”

“So no emergency runs for hair gel?” Tamra said.

Was she goading him back?

Colin laughed. “That’s what I have an assistant for.”

“That goes back to the list of everyone who is going to be in this house,” Tamra said.

“Right, so you can background check them,” Colin said.

He didn’t like that idea.

“They are just doing a thorough job,” Larry said.

He’d been quiet and then Colin noticed him eyeing Kelly.  The horn dog already had his sights on the woman. Should he warn her?

He could probably say something if he could get her alone. Larry was not the long term commitment type. Maybe Kelly wasn’t either. Maybe he should stay out of it.

“Okay, when do you need it by?”

“Yesterday.”

Colin frowned, then sipped his soda. “I’ll do it tonight.”

Tamra pulled a business card out of her back pocket. “Here’s my contact info
,
s
hoot me an
email
with this list attached.”

“Sure, right.”

He fingered the card then put it on the counter. “Anything else you need to see?”

“Where do you keep your car?”

“In the garage.”

“Can we see that?”

“You go ahead, Tam. I want to look at the front door again,” Kelly said.

Tamra walked beside Colin as he showed her the garage. “Is there a code for the door or is it by remote?”

“Remote. Does it matter?”

“Remote is harder to overcome.”

As she walked past him back into the house, he caught the scent of strawberries. That was his favorite fruit.

“Anything else?”

“Not at the moment. I’m sending someone to stay here for the night. His name is Jeff Gold and he’s a professional. I don’t want anything to happen before we can get security installed.”

“Whatever you say.”

***

Tamra met Kelly outside at her car.

“Holy crap,” Kelly said.

“What?”

“If that man could have undressed you right then and there he would have. I’ve never felt more like a third wheel.”

“Who?”

“Colin Brennan. I’ve never seen someone flirt so hard. With anyone, let alone you.”

Had she been in the same meeting? “I don’t see what you mean.”

He’d been trying to get a rise out of her, but she didn’t think that was flirting. Maybe she was out of practice. Didn’t matter. He was a client.

“You are so oblivious. He is so hot for you, he might as well have been on fire.”

Tamra blinked. She hadn’t notice. She was in work mode. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not interested.”

“Well, maybe you should reconsider. I hear he’s hung like a stallion.”

Tamra laughed. “Then you go for him.”

“Nope. No men for me remember? Though I did get a vibe from Larry.”

Tamra sighed. “Larry isn’t a really great relationship guy. I’d tread lightly.”

“I’m not treading anywhere.” Kelly patted her friend on the back. “I’ll have my report in about an hour.”

“Good. I’m sure you can install the stuff as soon as you are able.”

“Colin doesn’t seem worried.”

“I don’t think he’s taking this seriously,” Tamra said.

Maybe he should. If all went well, they would find the stalker before anyone got hurt.

“That makes our job harder. He might run out for a midnight snack without a bodyguard.”

“We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

“You really didn’t see that he was flirting with you” Kelly said incredulously.

“Even if he was, I’m not good at flirting. Not my thing. It’s all just games.”

“Flirting is fun. Loosen up.”

“Like you have room to talk,” Tamra jabbed back.

“Okay fine. Let me get back to the office and get my report done.”

***

Kelly entered the office and realized her phone battery had died. She plugged it in and it indicated she had a voicemail. Her tween daughter from her marriage. “Why would she be calling?”

As far as she knew, her daughter was spending a few days with her husband. With an uneasy feeling in her gut, Kelly called her daughter Sophie. The phone went to voicemail.

“Hi, Sophie. Returning your call. Call back when you can. Love you.”

Probably
s
ome crisis that had already passed. That was the way of girls at that age. She’d been pregnant with Sophie when she married Mark. Too bad he really wasn’t a great husband. A pretty good father but not good at being faithful.

And he thought he’d get away with it. That’s the funniest part. As if he didn’t realize that she was in law enforcement at the time.

He acted as if he had no respect for what she did for a living. Catch bad guys and cheaters and stalkers.

Both she and Tamra had come to this company with baggage. It was that baggage that made them good at their jobs.

On impulse, Tamra called her ex-husband. His phone went to voicemail, too.

Maybe they were just having fun and there was no need to worry.

Jeff Gold knocked on her office door. “Hey, got a minute?”

“Of course. You need some last minute advice?”

“No, I can handle tonight, but not sure about later in the week.”

“Why?”

“The wife’s about to pop out kid number two and I see the nesting behavior starting. I think it’s soon. Will you be able to have someone relieve me?”

Kelly tapped her manicured finger on her desk. “Hm. Wish I’d known that. I might have put someone else on.”

“From what Tamra said, there was no one else. At least not for tonight. You have some many cases right now.”

“Okay, Jeff. It’s fine. We’ll work it out.”

“Sorry to leave you like this.”

She put a hand up. “No problem. We’ll work around it. We’d hate to lose you.”

“Anything I should know before I go?”

“The person you’re protecting doesn’t think they need it.”

“That’s common,” Jeff said. “Is he going to give me a hard time?”

“No, he seems pretty easy-going. He’s a little intense and he’s got a thing for Tamra.”

“Really?”

“It was so funny watching this hot rock star try to get her attention. She was so oblivious.”

Jeff laughed. “Well she can be serious about her job. Not that you can’t, but she takes it to a new level.”

“You are not wrong on that. Check in with me when you get there.”

***

Colin was in the basement studio when the doorbell rang. Someone had wired it to ring down there. He saw on the video feed that it was his assistant Roger. If he could have, he would have pushed a button and let the man in.

Sadly, he’d have to wander upstairs to actually answer the door.

He did, and snagged himself a new Diet Coke before he went to the door. He didn’t drink alcohol or do drugs so the soda was his one vice.

“Took you long enough,” Roger said as he entered the house.

He was younger than Colin, but only by a year. They’d been fast friends since high school. Colin trusted Roger with his life. That was when he realized that when Tamra did a background check, Roger’s time in prison would come up.

“You got another one of those lying around?” Roger asked as they settled in the living room.

“Yeah. In the fridge.”

“Nice host.”

“You practically live here, too. Why would I wait on you? Get it yourself.”

Roger laughed as he left the room. Colin would have to broach the subject with him. He didn’t want to say anything without Roger’s permission. Roger returned with his soda.

“So what’s the good news?” Colin asked.

Roger had been scouting out fragrance companies for Colin. He had his hand in so many things he’d decided to have a signature fragrance done also.

“I think I’ve found the one. They did several fragrances for stars,” Roger said.

He opened his laptop.

“Any of the perfumers hot?”

Roger laughed. “Well from my standpoint yes, but you
’
re into women and I didn’t meet any of them.”

Colin laughed. “Yeah, what was I thinking asking you that question?”

“Right. Anyway, I’ve narrowed it down to a company called Perfumery Solutions. You have a meeting with them in two days.”

“I’ve got Docta Hop coming to record then.”

“Okay, I’ll reschedule it.”

“What else do I have coming up? Larry had hired security for me and I need to let them know my schedule. That brings me to another question.”

“What?”

“They are going to do background checks on everyone I employ. Can I give them a heads up beforehand about your prison stint?”

“I guess you better. They might suspect me of these letters.”

“Okay. That’s good.  Now what am I doing for the next week?”

CHAPTER 2

As usual, Tamra brought work home. She planned on doing the background checks of the employees of Colin. He’d emailed the
m
to her earlier.

Jeff had checked in with Kelly. He was set for the night watch. Kelly would install the electronics tomorrow. Then the case would be all set.

She’d also brought home all of the letters that Colin had received. Well, copies really. The originals had gone to the cops. Thankfully to someone in the detective division of the state police of New Jersey.

She had his cell and dialed it.

“Kellogg.”

“Hey, it’s Tamra.”

“How is the prettiest girl I know?”

Kellogg was her uncle and a charmer at that. “Hello Uncle Craig. I was wondering if you could help me with something.”

“I can try.”

“I’ve been hired to protect Colin Brennan.”

“The stalker case.”

“Did you have any leads? I don’t want to duplicate what you’ve done.”

“It’s still an open case lovey. Not sure what I can tell you.”

“Did you zero in on anyone?”

“No, we haven’t. It could all be a publicity stunt.”

“Do you think that?”

“Not sure, but some of the elements just don’t fit properly,” he said.

She trusted her uncle’s instincts. He’d been a cop for a long time. “How so?”

“I’m a little rusty on the details, but there just seemed to be no way to trace anything.”

“No emails. Right.”

“Exactly. All paper and no prints or any distinguishing markings.”

“You think it was an inside job?”

“Of course. Who else would have something to gain by this?”

“Was his career failing?”

“No, not at all. That’s the part I really don’t understand,” he said. “There’s been nothing wrong with his career. Why would someone try to get him more press with a stalker?”

“Seems odd,  maybe that points to a real stalker,
but
someone inside his organization.”

“He’s known all of them but his agent for years.”

“This is really a brain teaser,” Tamra said.

“If you figure it out let me know.”

***

Rock star Colin Brennan actually liked to be alone. Especially at night. Contrary to the hound dog reputation he had, he rarely brought women back to his house or his hotel when on tour. You can have sex during the day.

At night he wanted to be alone. In his bed and certainly his house. So having some guy roaming around was unnerving. The man, Jeff he’d said his name was, had left to check the perimeter of the property.

He said he’d walk along the fence and check that nothing was amiss.

That left Colin to pace in the kitchen waiting for the guy to get back. He didn’t feel any safer with him here. In fact, his presence was a disruption and Colin didn’t need that when he was recording. He’d have a new set of musicians to replace the ones he’d fired yesterday.

All of this made it hard for him to concentrate.

He wasn’t writing now but he wanted to be able to help the sound guy mix the tracks. Colin was a hands-on kind of guy who liked to make decisions about every part of his brand.

He would pick his own fragrance. He wrote his own songs and music. He even was about to start a new line of clothing. He would have a designer in to help him with that.

He sighed. If he could stop sleeping, he’d get it all done.

Where was that guy?

The back door opened and the man stepped in. “All clear. You can feel free to go to bed.”

“You clearly have no idea of the life of a musician.”

“No, I don’t.”

“I’m hours away from sleeping.”

“What will you do?”

“I have to listen to what was recorded today and decide if I like it or not. Then I need to look over designs for the album cover and then get ready for Docta Hop’s arrival because we’re doing a duet on this album.”

Jeff shrugged. “Have no idea who he is.”

“I’m trying to expand my audience.”

“Okay. Well don’t let me get in your way. Just give me some idea where you’ll be.”

“In the basement. There’s a recording studio down there.”

“Guess that’s why you rented this house.”

“Yes it is
,
I usually live in Manhattan.”

“Okay. Probably good security in your building. Why be out here where it’s tougher to keep track of things?”

“Because even if my agent thinks I’m in danger, I still have to get a new album out.”

Jeff’s phone rang. He looked at the screen. “Damn.”

“Problem.”

“That’s my wife. She might have gone into labor.”

***

Tamra was in the middle of a wild dream where she was being chased when her phone rang. It took her a few second to shake off the odd dream before she could answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“Tamra, its Jeff. I can’t seem to get a hold of Kelly and my wife has gone into labor.”

Jeff. Wife in labor. “Oh, you need someone to relieve you. Okay, I can be there in half an hour.”

“Thanks Tamra. So sorry to bail.”

“Not a problem.”

She disconnected and shook herself awake.  She hadn’t done any night watch in years, but she’d be fine. After sending a text to Kelly, she pulled on black pants and a black t-shirt. Jamming her feet into black sneakers, she was out the door in a few minutes.

Taking a breath in the car, she thought about what else she might need. Then remembered her gun she left in her safe. She retrieved it and was on the road not too long a time later. There were still lights on at Colin’s house when she pulled in.

Was he still awake at three in the morning?

She knocked on the front door then entered without waiting for anyone to answer. Colin was in the hallway, looking rumpled as if he’d been asleep. “You can go back to bed.”

“I wasn’t in bed. I was about to go into the studio when your man’s phone rang.”

“Okay. Then you can go back there. I’ll do a perimeter then I’ll be back in.”

“Your man did that.”

“I still need to do another one.”

Jeff appeared in the hallway. “I’m so sorry, Tamra.”

“Not a problem. I hope all goes well for you and your wife. Let us know what you have.” Jeff left. Colin was still standing in the hallway, his hands in his pockets. “I’m going out. I’ll be back.”

“Let me give you my cell number.”

“Why?”

“In case something happens. I can help.”

She drew herself up as tall she could at her lack of height. “I’m perfectly capable of handling myself. I don’t need a skinny boy rock star to come save me.”

She strode out of the house, her ire up. She probably shouldn’t have insulted him but he’d insulted her first. She had grown up on the streets and was trained in martial arts. She could do what needed to be done.

She didn’t need a pretty boy to save her ass.

***

Colin blinked and flinched after Tamra slammed the front door. “Guess I insulted her.”

Damn. That’s no way to win her over. Get her in his bed.

He wandered into the kitchen. If he’d been unnerved about a man in his house, he was twice as bothered by Tamra in his house. The woman he wanted to bed. She was even hotter dressed down in black. All curvy and tough.

How would she be in bed? Would she dominate or would she let him take the lead?

How was he ever going to sleep with her here? This was a nightmare. He paced in the kitchen until she returned. Which she did a half an hour later.

She didn’t sit. Instead she checked all of the windows. Colin followed her around, silently. Finally when she finished, he said, “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For insulting you.”

She waved a hand. “Already forgotten.”

Okay, that hurt. He’d said something not nice and she’d already moved on from it. Guess he wasn’t that significant in her life. Just a client. Just a customer. His ego didn’t like that.

“Good. We can move on from here.”

She glanced back at him, as she entered the kitchen. That seemed to be her base of operations as she slid a laptop out of its case. “Sure. Whatever. Do I need a password for the Wi-Fi?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know it?”

“No, I had the landlord type it in when I picked up the keys.”

“You picked up the keys?”

She sat on a stool while her laptop booted up.

“Why do you ask?”

“I figured you’d have minions to do stuff like that.”

“Minions?” He laughed “I’m a singer, not an evil genius poised to take over the world.”

She blinked but didn’t smile. He wished she would. Show that she was human. It made him want to poke at her more, to see if he could crack the façade. Childish? Probably, but he could do what he wanted.

“Assistants then.”

“I have one assistant.”

Who did everything.

“Only one?”

“Only one. I also have an agent and a publicist.”

“Then who are all the others on this list?”

“Band members, roadies, people like that.”

“I have few people in my employ.”

“Well, you don’t have to put on a production in ten cities in three weeks.”

“Guess not.”

***

Why was he bothering her? Tamra didn’t believe that he was interested in her. He could have anyone he wanted. Why would he want a black girl from the projects in Newark? “No need to babysit me. I have work to do.”

“Oh, I see. I guess I have work to do also.”

He didn’t leave. He stood, like always, with his hands in his pockets. She could see part of
a
snake tattoo that looked to be wrapped around his left arm. Part of her wanted to see more of it. Ink was fascinating, not that she’d had any notion of getting one herself.

No, her dark skin would obscure it. Why pay the money?

She went back to her screen. He could stand there all he wanted. She had background checks to do. She could use her phone as a hotspot until she received the password from the landlord.

He still hadn’t moved a minute later.

“Can I help you with something?”

“What made you so hard?”

“Hard?”

What was he talking about? She wasn’t hard. Serious
,
maybe
.
She liked to have fun, but right now she was on the job.

“Yes, hard. You don’t laugh. You don’t smile.”

“My business is serious. I’ve seen what stalkers can do to their victims so I’m taking your threats very seriously. Should I think they are funny?”

“No, but does Tamra ever let down her hair?”

She thought of that for a moment. This wasn’t any of his business. “What does it matter what I do on my off days?”

“Just curious. You’re learning so much about me I’m just hoping for something in return.”

“What you are getting in return is security. Peace of mind. I’m your employee in a sense. Not your friend.”

“I see.”

“Do you?”

She shifted to look at him. He hadn’t move, his dark blue eyes piercing into her. His hair was dark and rumpled as if he’d been asleep.

“I’m beginning to.”

“I’m sure you are used to women throwing themselves at your feet but I’m not one of those.”

“That may make you more attractive.”

She cleared her throat. Time to nip this in the bud. “That charm won’t work on me.”

He put a hand to his well-muscled chest. Well, it looked nicely muscled through his t-shirt.  “Ouch. I guess I’ll go pound sand.”

“Whatever you want. I have work to do here.”

“You want popcorn?”

Her head spun at the sudden change of subject. “I’m not hungry. Thank you.”

*

Colin didn’t move, but Tamra turned back to her laptop. He pushed off the wall he’d been leaning against and moved to the refrigerator. “You sure? I’m making some. Hard to resist once you smell that butter.”

“I’m sure I can.”

Her fingers clicked over the keys faster than Colin had ever seen anyone’s move. He could dance his fingers across a piano or the strings of guitar, but the computer keyboard was tougher for him.

His studio called to him. He had to listen and decide if he was going to keep what he’d recorded today. The musicians had been fired but they’d been paid for the time. They may not get credit on the song, but they wouldn’t for sure if he threw out the audio. But that would put him at least a day behind.