Incidental Happenstance (5 page)

            “Yeah, I get that, but why not ‘Sue,’ or ‘Mary’—something more common?” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “And please don’t tell me that I look like a Francine,” she joked, “I don’t think I could take it.”

            Dylan smiled with one half of his mouth, a look that made him appear mischievous and sexy at the same time and one that had often appeared on the covers of  magazines. “I’ll have you know,” he smirked, “that Francine just happened to be the prettiest girl from the wrong side of the tracks when I was growing up. I had it something bad for her when I was fourteen. No offense, but you seemed like you were sitting on the wrong side of the tracks tonight.” He shook his head and smirked again. “Besides, it’s better than Chester! Where did that come from? You knew my real name.”

            “Did I?” Tia asked slyly. “I thought you said I was mistaken.”

            Dylan half-smiled again and looked at her from dropped lids. “I didn’t think you believed it.”

            “I didn’t. Not for a second. And, just to clear the air, I never had it bad for a guy named Chester. He was the janitor at my elementary school. The smell of that guy Bud made me think of him—he was all grease, gas, and moonshine.”

            “Your elementary school janitor smelled like moonshine?” he joked.

            “Only on Tuesdays and Fridays,” she joked back.

            They were almost a block away from the bar now, nearly to where she’d parked her car, and they stopped on the sidewalk.

            “Listen,” she said, her voice getting serious. “I really can’t thank you enough. I was way out of my league in there, and I was more than a little freaked out.”

            “I could telle said. “What in the world were you doing in a place like that, anyway? There are some rough characters in those kinds of places, and you don’t exactly look rough around the edges.”

            “Thanks, I think,” she said shyly. “You’re right though, that is definitely not my usual kind of hangout. I was just looking for some solitude, some noise, some…well, anyway,” she said, sure he wasn’t interested in her life story, “now you have personally had an impact on my life, aside from your music.” She put her left hand over her heart, bowing her head slightly, and held out her right. He reached out and shook it. “I appreciate it so much. Thank you again.”

            “Don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do. You’re a fan, after all. Plus, you bought me a drink, and I was feeling bad about the way I treated you.”

            “Oh,” she added sadly, “but now I feel bad that I ruined your evening. You were obviously looking for some solitude yourself, and now you can’t go back in there.”

            “No, I’m definitely not going back in there,” he chuckled.

            “It’s still pretty early for a Friday night though,” she said glancing at her watch, “and I imagine you don’t get too many chances to be alone, and I just would feel horrible if I ruined your night out. So, if you’re still looking to have some fun—well, I wouldn’t have called that place fun, but whatever—if you go down this road about five miles to Central Avenue,” she pointed, “and hang a right, there’re a few places there where you could disappear into a crowd, especially this time on a long weekend. There’s a
Dick’s Sports Page
, a karaoke bar—called, of all things,
Sing-Along-Cassidy’s
—a kind of a biker bar called
Crowbar
, and a very nice Irish Pub called
Paddy’s
.”

            “OK, well thanks,” he said, bowing his head appreciatively. “It is early yet. Maybe I’ll try that—Central Avenue, you said?”

            “Yep. Turn right. The bars start about a mile and a half down the road, and they’re all kind of bunched together so you can’t miss them.”

            “Appreciate the advice,” he said with another polite bow.

            “It’s definitely the least
I
can do,” she gushed. “I’m so sorry I messed up your evening, but I’m also so glad you were there. You’re my hero, Chester.” She grinned at him then and shook her head. “Damn, no one’ll ever believe this story! I don’t know if I even believe it!”             Although she thought it would be really amazing to stand around and have a conversation with Dylan Miller, she didn’t want to push her luck hanging around
Last Stop
and didn’t want to sound like a blathering idiot. She was painfully out of practice when it came to talking to men, and this was not the kind of guy you practiced on. She felt a blush rise in her face, and decided it was time to go and let him have his peace. He’d already done more than he needed to do, and she of all people understood the need for solitude. “Listen, it was…really amazing to meet you. And I meant what I said inside—your music has done more for me than you can ever know. Thanks for that, too. Now I’ve taken up entirely too much of your time and I should…” She turned and motioned toward the other side of the street.

            Hzinched out impulsively and put his hand on her arm. She felt her pulse quicken just at the light touch. This was Dylan Miller! He’d just saved her from who knows what, and they were standing out here on a deserted street having a real conversation—Lexi would freak! She’d have to call her as soon as she put this awful place behind her—she’d been so adamant that Tia avoid
Last Stop
, but once she heard about this chance encounter, she was going to be positively green with envy. Right now though, she should really just get out of here and let him be. He was probably sick of people constantly wanting to be around him, hence the disguise.

            “At least let me walk you to your car. I wouldn’t want Bud to pop his head out to see if you’re still around.”

            “Actually, it’s right there,” she said, motioning across the street to her Mini, “so you already have.” She made it to the curb and then turned back. “Hey—thanks again, I’m sorry again, and I’ll see you tomorrow!”

            Dylan stopped. “What’s that?”

            “I said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’” Dylan looked confused, so Tia continued. “At your concert? I’ve had my ticket for weeks. I’m really looking forward to it. You guys always put on an excellent show—I go see you every time you’re in town.”

            He smiled. “Really? Well, I appreciate that too.”

            “I’ll wave to you,” she laughed.

            This woman had personality, he thought, taking the bait. “And where will you be,” he asked, “so I can be sure to wave back?”

            “Second pavilion, section 209, row 14.”

            “Pretty crappy seats.”

            Tia put her hands on her hips and nodded. “I thought so too. I would have thought that being a member of the fan club would warrant me better. I’ve been a member since it started, and have never once gotten any really good seats. You should really look into that—the lottery system sucks.”

            He did this thing where he raised just one eyebrow—it made him look inquisitive and incredibly sexy at the same time and it drove the girls wild. “I’ll have to look into that. You’re right, loyal fans like you should do much better.”

            “How about this, if I could be so bold?” she suggested. “Maybe, say at the beginning of the third song, you could give me some kind of signal, like a peace sign, or two fingers pointed in my direction, and I’ll know it’s for me.”

            “A peace sign?” he smirked, that one eyebrow rising again. “I think maybe I can do a little better than that. How about I dedicate the third song to you? Then everyone’ll know it’s for you. I’ll play it for Francine.”

            “I like that even better. It’ll certainly make my story about tonight a little more believable, although I’m still not sure I even believe it. What a crazy night! It couldn’t be more different than I expected.”

            She skipped across the street, opened her car door and turned back.  “Listen, Dylan Miller,never thank you enough for what you did for me tonight, but I’ll never have another chance so I’m going to say it one more time. Thanks.” She put her hands together below her chin as if in prayer and bowed slightly. “And have a good rest of the evening. Try to keep that tattoo covered so you don’t get mugged by girls at the next bar.”

            Dylan watched as the light from the car illuminated her. She really was a pretty girl. Away from the shadows of the bar he could see her high cheekbones, her creamy skin, her pouty lips. As she slipped into the car he stood there for a moment, amazed and confused. After the crazy experience they’d just shared, she’d really just been thankful. She didn’t ask for an autograph, or a picture, and didn’t whip out a cell phone to get a picture of the two of them together. She didn’t ask to join him, and didn’t ask for front row seats or backstage passes for her and her friends. It was kind of unheard of in his world, and it caught him off guard. It always seemed like everyone wanted something from him; it was the nature of the beast. He stood there, surprised as she closed her car door and started the engine. She really was going to just drive away. Suddenly, impulsively, he didn’t want that to happen. He didn’t meet real people very often, and the bizarre conversation he’d just had with her was the most normal one he’d had with a stranger in a very long time. 

            He sprinted across the street and knocked on her window just as she was pulling away. She jumped in her seat and put her hand to her chest; not an unexpected reaction after the chaos in the bar. She hit the brake, threw the car in park, and rolled down the window, a question on her face.

            He leaned casually against the roof of the car and slouched in front of the window. “Hey. I still didn’t get your name.”

            She looked up from her seat at his carelessly easy pose. He emanated manliness, she thought, and her stomach turned a little flip. She smiled up at him. “Tia,” she said. She stuck her hand out the window and he shook it again.

            “Nice to meet you, Tia.”

            “Really nice to meet you too, Dylan,” her smile literally seemed to brighten. “Really nice.”

            He held on to her hand, and hesitated only for a second before extending the invitation. “So, I was thinking. No sense both of us having our evenings cut short or being alone on such a beautiful night. What do you say we continue the evening, together but anonymous, at a different location?”

            She hesitated for a second, and he saw the brief flash of doubt in her eyes. Again, she surprised him—he couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a woman not instantly jump at the chance to be with him, and he was sure that a good number of them only wanted to be able to tell their friends that they had been with Dylan Miller. Instead of irritating him, however, her indecision intrigued him more.

            “Wow,” she breathed. “Wow.” She’d never have a chance like this again, she thought, spending time with a guy like Dylan Miller. But more than that, she thought, how many chances would she have to just talk with a man who probably wouldn’t remember her after tonight, even if she made a total mess of things with her complete lack of practice in dealing with the opposite sex?  God knew she needed the practice, but certainly an international superstar was not what she epected to use to brush up on her flirting skills. Still, how could she pass up a chance like this? She was petrified and excited at the same time and once again, thoughts of Nick flashed in her mind. She could almost physically feel him pushing her, and knew that he’d be absolutely furious with her if she passed up the chance to spend time with one of their shared idols.

            She hesitated before she spoke, and her words faltered. “There’s a big part of me that wants to take you up on your offer, and another part that says that I’ve already had more than my share of excitement for the evening.”

            Her answer knocked him back, made him more determined. “But the part that wants to come out with me is bigger, right?” He smiled the smile that made him famous, another one that graced the covers of many a magazine. It lit up his entire face and made his blue eyes flash like deep water.

            She smiled back and lowered her eyes. “Yeah, that part’s bigger,” she admitted shyly.

            Dylan’s mind reeled. He couldn’t believe he’d have to convince her, and he kind of liked doing it. In his world, he never knew if people were being straight with him. Most people just tended to agree with every word he said so as not to fall out of his good graces, and it drove him absolutely mad. He welcomed the opportunity to have a real conversation with a good-looking woman who didn’t seem to want anything from him except his company—and only part of her even wanted that. His manhood had been challenged for the first time in a long time, and he rose to meet it.

            “What could happen?” he shrugged. “I’m your fearless protector, remember? And since I’ve already saved you from one evil cowboy tonight, you should feel completely safe. Besides, I owe you a drink, and I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t pay my debts. Especially to damsels in distress.”

            “Believe me,” she said, “it’s not about feeling safe. I’d feel perfectly safe with you.” She pondered for just a moment longer. What the hell?  How could she pass up this opportunity? “And I guess I can’t be responsible for giving you a guilt trip.” She smiled up at him and nodded her head. “OK, let’s go. Hop in.”

            “Great!”

            He grinned at her again, and she could see the superstar in his smile. Even with the horrible hair, he was an incredible looking man—tall, sexy, confident—and the hint of British accent in his smoky voice was smooth enough to spread on bread. She smiled to herself as he ran around the front of the car and jumped into the passenger seat.