Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (7 page)

“I’m sorry that you’re inconvenienced.”

“It’s my job.”

“But you don’t often guard the client. You have people you hire.”

“Yes. I’m here. Under duress, so let’s stop talking about it.”

***

After a painfully silent ride into Manhattan, the limousine driver dropped them off in front of a high rise building. Tamra exited the vehicle first, looking round then motioning for Colin to follow her.

She hustled him into the building, not that anyone would have blinked if they’d seen him. This was New York City, home of those who were jaded. He’d walked down the street more than once in Manhattan without getting accosted.

He did dress differently than he did on stage. Maybe that helped.

Perfumery Solutions was located on the fifth floor of the building. A perky receptionist met them and offered them coffee.

Tamra sat next to him looking around.

“Roger already checked this place out.”

“Is he a professional bodyguard?”

“No.”

“Then I’m not completely comfortable here.”

“What do you think is going to happen? Do you think my stalker is going to force his way into a building in Manhattan at gunpoint?”

“You don’t know what this stalker will do. They usually are not stable and they assume a relationship with you that isn’t there. Doesn’t that bother you in the least?”

“Like I said, I’m not convinced this person is a threat.”

“Then why did you hold your breath until I agreed to take your case on personally?”

She had him there. Could he tell her? Would she run screaming from the building? “I may not believe it, but all of you do. Why not have the best?”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“I’m finding that out.”

Damn. She was one tough lady.

***

Tamra didn’t go into the meeting with the fragrance company. It lasted an hour and she sat doing work on her laptop until Colin came out of the meeting,  a smile on his face. He shook everyone’s hands while Tamra called for the driver.

She wondered what went on in the meeting but Colin was a chatty guy. She had no doubt he was going to tell her. During the whole trip back to New Jersey.

Lucky her.

The driver was there when the left the building. Colin slid in first then Tamra was in. The driver pulled back into traffic.

“That was a great meeting. I feel like they were listening to me,” Colin said.

Midtown traffic was at its usual crawl. They sat in a long line for the Holland Tunnel. Tamra was eager to get back across the Hudson. She’d spent enough time in her youth in a city. She preferred the quiet and clean air of the country.

She couldn’t breathe in the city.

“Listening to you?”

“Sometimes I feel like they want to pat me on my head and tell me to go play my guitar. I’ve had lawyers do that when I’ve sat in on negotiations. Larry has never treated me that way. One of the reasons he’s been my agent for so long.”

“You don’t think at this point you’d command respect?”

“Inside the industry, yes. Not outside. Too often stars use their fame as vehicles for other things such as political purposes. I don’t think that’s right and I’m not one to do that. I could get behind a charity but that’s it. Just because I can sing and play music doesn’t mean that my opinion matters more than anyone else’s.”

Interesting. Not really self-absorbed. Surprising. Or was he just handing her a line?

She didn’t want to make conversation. He clearly did. She sighed. “What did you talk about at the meeting?”

“I want to do a fragrance. Obviously I can’t create one so this company will. We talked about what kind I wanted. I hadn’t thought about it before I went into the meeting.”

“For instance?”

“Well, did I want it musky or woody? I smelled a few raw materials but they are going to set up a meeting to smell some more and then I can decide what direction for them to go in. Then they’ll have a few samples for me to smell and I’ll choose the final product.”

“A men’s cologne?”

“Well, both men’s and women’s. They’ll give them a cool name and my name will also be on the bottle.”

Tamra didn’t wear anything like that so she’d never thought about the process of making them. Colin seemed to be excited about the whole situation.

He chattered away as she nodded and looked out the window.

Then they arrived home.

***

“Stay in the car,” Tamra commanded.

“What?”

“Your front door is open. In fact, Sean, please drive him around the block. Call 911.”

“You’re not going in there alone,” Colin said.

She glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m paid to protect you. Chivalry is not needed in this situation.”

He put a hand on her arm. “Don’t. Stay in the car. There’s no threat to me right now.”

She seemed to chew on that. Then she closed the door. “Okay. Drive. I’ll call the cops.”

Colin’s heart pounded. He didn’t like the idea that his personal space had been invaded. It wasn’t his actual home but this was his temporary home. He thanked the stars above that Tamra had stayed in the limousine.

She didn’t need to be a hero. He needed her to be alive.

Maybe she and Larry were right. Maybe there was a threat to him. But who was the threat? Who near him wanted to terrorize him?

Sean drove them down the street and parked. The limousine had tinted windows so no one could see inside but Colin was a little antsy anyway.

At least Tamra was safe.

“You can calm down. You are safe here with me and Sean,” she said.

“I know. I’m just so careful about preserving my privacy that the thought of someone else in my place bothers me.”

“You were so eager for me to move in.”

That was different. “I considered your presence a necessity. Or at least I had been convinced of it.”

“And now?”

“Completely convinced.”

A cop car pulled into the driveway of the house Colin was renting.  He wanted to get out, but Tamra had told them where she was. “They will tell us when it’s safe.”

“I know. I just want to see what’s been done.”

“I know. I want to look at the tapes. You did lock the door right? Larry was here. Did he forget?”

“Holy crap. He was out after us. Maybe that’s it.”

“Call him.”

Colin did.

“No, Colin, I closed the door behind me,” Larry said. “Do you want to find another place to rent? It might take me a few days.”

“No, we’ll see what went on here first,” Colin said. He disconnected. “No, he insists he closed the door.”

For the first time, Colin actually felt unnerved. He was also glad that Tamra had been here. He might have stormed into the house. She had never looked so sexy.

“We’ll see what the recording says.”

***

The cops let them back in. Nothing had been moved as far as Colin knew. Tamra reviewed the recording while he led the cops around the house.

What she
saw
made her wonder what was going on. She played it three times to make sure she was seeing what she thought.

“Damn.”

“What?” Colin said, entering the kitchen.

“Oh, there’s nothing substantial on here.”

She didn’t want to lie to him, but she needed to sort this out first. Before she told him what she thought the problem was.

“The cops left. Nothing’s missing. Looks like maybe the door wasn’t locked.”

“You’re still spooked?”

“Yes, I am. And happy that you are here.”

He stepped closer to her. Closer than she wanted him to be. He touched her arm. “Thanks.”

“I’m really just doing my job.”

“No, it’s more than that to you. If it were a job you would have overridden my tantrum and assigned someone else.”

“So you do admit you had a tantrum.”

“Yes, I did. For a reason. Several. One of them is that I don’t like many people in my space so I’d rather have someone I know.”

“You don’t know me.”

“After this I probably will.”

He wasn’t wrong. They’d be working closely together until this was over. She’d know him pretty well, not that she wanted to.

Well, okay she wanted to see him naked, but that was different. She’d seen most of him, but she was too embarrassed at the time to enjoy the view. She’d never had this instant physical reaction to anyone. Never.

Why now? Why him? Some spoiled rock star that she wouldn’t have a future with. Or maybe that was why. He was inaccessible. Maybe a fling would be a good thing.

No, it would be a distraction.  Not if it’s just sex.

“You look like you’re trying to solve a major problem.”

He’d stepped even closer. Her eyes widened. What was he doing?

“Let me help with this dilemma.”

He leaned down and planted a sweet soft kiss on her lips.

CHAPTER 5

Colin was enjoying the sensation of Tamra’s lips on his when he felt a hand shove him away. Hard. He stepped back because he had no choice. She was stronger than she looked.

Her lips had been soft and sweet and he could have spent a day two with his against hers. Alas, that was not happening.

“What the hell was that?” she asked, her lips swollen from his assault. She stroked a hand across them.

Colin rubbed the spot she might as well have punched. He’d have a bruise for sure and he didn’t bruise easily. She’d been right to push him away. She had no idea what had been going on in his head. He’d needed to touch another human being to reaffirm he was alive. “I was just letting you know how I feel.”

That had been stupid.

Her eyes flashed at him. “Really? You think that was appropriate?”

Maybe humor was the answer. “Well, I think it was nice. A little short.”

“This isn’t funny.”

He knew that. He did, but he liked that he finally got a reaction out of her. He stepped farther away from her. Her eyes were on fire, her arms crossed, her lips pursed. She was pretty pissed at him.

And pretty when she was pissed, but he chose to keep that to himself. “I don’t think it’s funny. I just thought I was helping with whatever problem you were working through.”

She blinked. “And how would kissing me solve any problem?”

“Well if you were deciding to kiss me or not then I helped.”

“That wasn’t what I was deciding.”

She looked away for a moment and that gave him a spark of hope. She was lying. She was thinking about him. Maybe not kissing him, but something along those lines. He’d been in her thoughts and that’s where it all started.

He didn’t smile, didn’t gloat. He just took it all in. She would give in, eventually.

“What were you thinking about?”

“Maybe about this case? Maybe about how the stalker has now escalated things?”

He still thought she was lying. She didn’t look at him straight on. Instead she looked at her hands on her keyboard. She chewed her lip. He would bet she was having doubts about some things including her feelings for him.

“You saw something on the video?”

If he hadn’t been watching her so closely he wouldn’t have seen her hesitation. “No, I didn’t.”

She closed her laptop. “What’s next on your agenda?”

His head spun from the rapid change of subject. “Lunch.”

He turned away from her and he thought he heard her let out a breath. Was he that scary or was she that unsure about him? He was a good guy. She didn’t know that yet. She would.

He set about making lunch, meatball parmesan sandwiches. He gave Tamra her space while he did it. She didn’t open up her laptop. He assumed she watched him. Being on stage, he was used to people watching him.

The front door opened and Tamra was out of her chair as if she’d been shot from a cannon.

“It’s probably Roger. He’s here’s to help me with the clothing line.”

“Someone else will be here?” Tamra said from the door.

“Yes, a freelance designer who is helping me with a line of clothing.”

Her gaze roved over him and he knew what she was thinking. She’d only seen him in jeans and a t-shirt. He laughed. “It’ll be based on what I wear on stage.”

“You have a distinctive look?”

Her eyes never met his, but she stood in the doorway looking down the hallway.

“I do. I’m often on the best dressed lists,” he said which he found amusing since offstage he was a slob.

She crossed her arms. “You never gave me your schedule for the week.”

Roger entered the kitchen. “Just in time for lunch, huh?”

“Good thing I made one for you,” Colin said. “Roger, this is Tamra. Until this stalker is caught she’s my shadow.”

He thought over his words. Then he realized how that sounded. She was black. He was white, but she didn’t react to his so he let it go.

Roger clasped Tamra’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Tamra.”

“I need Colin’s schedule for the next few days,” she said.

All business of course. Hopefully their conversation from earlier was forgotten. He didn’t want her to be uncomfortable. He just wanted her.

***

Larry finished his business and then called Kelly. She didn’t answer right away and he feared that she was having second thoughts. Then she answered.

Her husky voice came through the phone. “Hello.”

“It’s Larry. Are you still free for lunch?”

“Uh, yes I am. Where are you? I can meet you.”

“I’m not far from you.” He held up his crossed fingers. Despite not liking to be out of Manhattan, he was willing to take a longer trip to see Kelly. “Do you know any restaurants near you?”

“Yes, there’s one along the river in Duketown.  I’ll give you the address for your GPS.”

“That sounds great.” He typed in the address. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

“You aren’t that close to me. I could meet you halfway.”

“No, this place sounds nice. See you in half an hour.”

He disconnected the call before she could protest. He whistled while he drove, not minding that he was in New Jersey and completely out of his element. Well, romancing a woman was in his element.

Hopefully, she wasn’t interested in a serious relationship. He didn’t think he could handle that. Kelly wouldn’t be a one-night stand. That would be bad for business, but he wasn’t going to marry her, either.

The restaurant she’d directed him to was indeed along the Delaware River. Geese floated by as did a few people on rafts. What a way to spend a lazy day.

Kelly sat on a wall overlooking the river. He watched her for a moment and even her stillness spoke of movement. She’d be a hellcat in bed and he’d enjoy keeping up with her.

“Hi.”

She didn’t startle, just turned to him. “Hi.”

He indicated the people on rafts. “Nice way to spend an afternoon.”

“I was thinking that, but I’m not sure I could fit it in. Or sit still for that long.”

“Oh? All work and no play?”

She laughed. “Tamra said you work all the time, too.”

“Maybe I need to change that. Or will want to,” he said, then stood up.

“Hm. The right person. That’s an interesting concept. Shall we find a table?”

He put a hand on her lower back which she glanced at. He took it off, but his mother had taught him always to be a gentleman. All of his lovers knew he wasn’t in it for the long haul. He never lied because he’d found that if the first woman didn’t want him, another one would. Might have been his job and who he rubbed elbows with. Colin’s name had gotten him a lot of tail.

As the hostess led them to a table on an outside patio, Larry knew that Kelly would be unimpressed. He’d actually have to use his charm on her. He hadn’t had to do that in a long time and was probably rusty.

Then again, he was always up for challenge.

***

Tamra bit into the sandwich and might have missed how good it was. Gooey and spicy with the roll toasted, she couldn’t remember enjoying a sandwich so much. Colin had insisted on serving them in the dining room which she thought was over the top.

He’d insisted and Roger had backed him up.

She put down the sandwich, happy to be talking business again. The conversation earlier with Colin had unnerved her. As if he’d been inside of her head when she was thinking about him. She wasn’t one to do sex for its own sake, but the idea appealed to her.

Then again, she’d probably lose focus if she slept with Colin. She couldn’t afford to do that especially because she didn’t really know what was going on. The person on the video had put some doubts in her mind about this case.

“Roger, I need Colin’s schedule for the next few days,” she said.

“No business talk,” Colin said.

“What?”

“We are not talking about business. We are having a lunch and we can talk about anything else.”

Tamra was at a loss for words. What was she going to say to him? They had nothing in common. She took another bite of her sandwich as she thought about it.

Colin spoke first. To Roger. “How’s Lenny doing?”

Roger lit up. “His restaurant is doing well. He’s working his ass off, but he’s really happy.”

Colin turned to Tamra. “Lenny opened a new restaurant in Philadelphia last year. A Tapas bar. Pretty good, too.”

“Colin made an appearance on opening night and I think he filled the place,” Roger said.

“I may have filled it then, but the customers keep returning because of the good food,” Colin said

Roger beamed. The exchange warmed her heart. Which was the last thing she wanted to feel. She liked Roger and she wanted him to be Colin’s “yes” man, but he wasn’t. And Colin, damn him, clearly had affection for his assistant.

Colin turned to Tamra. “So Tamra, tell us something about you.”

Tamra’s mind went blank then she regained her composure. “You’re a client. You don’t need to know about me.”

“I’m not asking for your deepest, darkest secret. Something simple that you’d say in casual conversation at a party.”

This was why she didn’t go to parties.

                                                                     ***

Kelly’s phone rang. She glanced at the display.  “I have to take this. It’s my daughter.”

Larry nodded. Kelly rose from the table then walked outside. “Sophie?”

Her daughter usually didn’t call her in the middle of the day. In fact, she should be in school.

“Mom, can I go to the mall with friends after school.”

“What friends?”

“Stacy and Evan.”

Kelly liked Stacy. She wasn’t so sure that Evan didn’t have designs on her daughter. “Is Stacy’s mother driving you?”

“Yeah. She’s staying and then driving us home.”

Those were the right words and Kelly had no reason to doubt her daughter, but her gut told her something else. She couldn’t think of a valid reason not to let her daughter go.

“Okay, Sophie. Be home by five thirty for dinner.”

“I will, Mom. Thanks. You’re the best. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

Kelly pondered what her daughter could be up to as she returned to her business lunch. Thought it didn’t feel that business like. They were laughing too much.

“You look concerned. Is everything all right?” Larry said when she sat down.

“Just my daughter. I might be overreacting, but I think she’d up to something.”

“How old is she?”

“Eleven going on thirty. My ex moved farther away from us and got remarried and I think she’s having a tough time of it. She doesn’t get to see him as much.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“Ad nauseum, but she isn’t telling me. She’s certainly blackmailing her father because he stood in line for a new iPhone for her.”

“Ah, the money appeasement. What does your ex think?”

Kelly shrugged. “His ego likes that his daughter misses him.”

“What father wouldn’t?”

“You have kids?”

“Never married.”

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Well, no kids that anyone has claimed are mine, so I guess not. My parents were divorced and I remember their guilt. I probably used it against them also.”

“The thing is, I don’t feel guilty. We were unhappy and I think her life is better with us apart. He feels guilty because he cheated on me.” She waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter. That’s personal.”

“I don’t mind. Do you have location services turned on? You could see where she’s going.”

Kelly smiled. “Yep, and you can bet I will.”