Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (15 page)

Roger glanced at Tamra, then Colin, before turning back to his creation.

“I could get used to men cooking for me,” Tamra said.

“Tamra isn’t a foodie. I’m trying to convert her,” Colin said as he set the table.

“He’ll do it, Tamra. He loves food,” Roger said.

She sat at the counter, not sure what to say. She felt the elephant in the room and wondered if Roger disapproved. Wasn’t his problem. Wasn’t his concern.

“
Oh, Docta Hop’s agent called while you were, uh, away. He’s free to see you tomorrow. He’ll
come out here.”

“
What time?” Colin said.

“Hey, I need to make a phone call. Do I have time before dinner?” Tamra said.

She wanted to get this over with. It would change things for her and Colin. He didn’t need her to be around anymore. Would he stay in her life anyway?

“Go ahead,” Roger said.

Tamra left them talking about cooking and entered the living room which had been put back together as if no photo shoot had happened. She sat on the same chair she’d been photographed in front of. Pressing speed dial for Larry’s cell, her heart was beating quickly.

“Byrne.”

“Larry, it’s Tamra.”

“Oh, hi. I never looked at the screen.”

“It could have been a robo call.”

“Yep, what’s up? How’s our boy Colin?”

Amazing in bed, but she doubted that Larry wanted to know that. “He’s fine. In fact, I don’t think there is a threat.”

“What?”

“The last one was left on the doorstep and we have a video of the person who did it.”

“Oh?”

She paused, letting his sweat for a moment. “I know it was you.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you changed your clothes, but not your Italian shoes.”

Silence.

“Okay. There is  threat.”

“Then why?”

“Because it was good publicity for him.”

“Not like his career is flagging.”

“No, but he’s tilting at this windmill of changing his music. I was hoping I’d get him to change his mind. I think it’s career suicide.”

“My services didn’t come cheap. Why?”

“He’s paying for it and he has gobs of money.”

“Are you going to tell him? Or should I?”

Larry sighed. “I’ll tell him. You pissed at me?”

“A little, but I’ll get past it,” she said.

If nothing else, she had some great sex.

“I’ll call him now.”

CHAPTER 11

Colin’s phone rang and Tamra, who had returned to the kitchen, jumped a little.

They’d eaten Roger’s dinner and Tamra and Roger were discussing the merits of different vegetables. Well, Roger was filling Tamra in. She was politely listening.

He wondered what Roger would say when he left the room.

“Hello Larry.”

“Hey, you got a minute?”

“Sure. Let me get to another room.”

Colin settled into a chair in the living room. “Go ahead.”

“You’re probably going to be pissed.”

“Okay.”

“There is no threat against you. I manufactured your stalker for publicity purposes.”

Colin didn’t breathe for a moment. “You created this?”

“Yes, I’m sorry, Colin. I thought it would be a good idea. I guess it backfired because Tamra figured it out.”

“She figured it out? She didn’t say anything.”

“She wanted me to tell you. You don’t need her to guard you.”

She’d move out. She’d go home. Would he see her again? He had to convince her to stay. He wasn’t ready to be done with this. They could be so good together. He was sure of it.

“I don’t even know where to start being pissed at you, Larry. You’ve done some boneheaded things, but this is the worst. I need some time to think. You need to apologize to both Tamra and Kelly.”

“I know. I’m sorry, buddy.”

“I’m hanging up before I fire you on the spot.”

He disconnected and dropped the phone into his lap.

“He told you?”

Tamra stood in the doorway. She leaned against the doorjamb, her arms crossed. He blinked at her. “When did you figure it out?”

“When I saw the video. Well, not until I looked at it again today. I wasn’t sure what to do with the information.”

“So that’s why you knew there was no threat.”

She looked at the floor. “Yes, I should have told you sooner. I’m sorry.”

He stood and strode to her. Taking her hands into his, he looked into her eyes. “You have no need to apologize.”

“You sure?”

“Nope. I just want you to stay tonight.”

“You do?”

“That sex was not just a one time thing,  I want that again and again.”

Her eyes met his finally. “Really?”

“Yes. Please stay. The whole night. In my bed.”

She glanced over her shoulder. “Shh. Roger’s in the kitchen.”

Colin laughed. “He knows what we did.”

“No doubt, but could we at least pretend to be discreet?”

***

Larry knocked on Kelly’s door. A teenage girl answered. “Hi. You must be Larry. Mom says you’re an agent.”

“Yes.”

She twirled a hair around her finger as she stepped back to let him in. He knew she wanted to charm him. Most young girls either wanted to meet one of his clients or be one of his clients. He would see what Kelly’s feeling was on all of this before he said anything.

“You’re Colin Brennan’s agent?”

“Yes.”

“Sophie, stop grilling the man. Don’t you have homework to finish?”

The girl frowned. “Nice to meet you.”

She stomped away.

“Sorry about that. She’s at that age,” Kelly said.

She wore a black dress that revealed just enough to make him curious to see more. Too bad he had to come clean.

“Can we go for a walk? I have something to tell you and I want you to have the option not to come out with me.”

“Sounds serious.”

“It is.”

She closed the front door and walked beside him.

“Uh, I hired you ladies under false pretenses.”

“Oh?”

“There is no threat to Colin. I made it all up. I wanted some publicity for him.”

“Okay. Why you coming clean?”

“I’d like to say it was my conscience, but Tamra figured it out. I know you’ll be mad. I understand if you don’t want to go out tonight, but know that I’m going to do what I can to get you to forgive me.”

Kelly chewed her lip as she stared at him. They’d made it to the end of her walk. Larry crossed his fingers behind his back. He didn’t want to screw this up, but he had of course. He always did.

He didn’t know why, but he thought this thing with Kelly could be something.  And something good. Had he already messed it up?

“I need to talk to Tamra.”

***

Kelly didn’t want to be mad at Larry. He was kind of charming and sweet, but she could see why he did it. He stared at her, looking like a kid who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

She wanted to kiss him. Wanted to forgive him.

She turned away and pulled out her phone. Tamra answered right away.

“Kelly? I have something to tell you.”

“I already know.”

“How?” Tamra said.

“Larry’s here. He told me.”

“Larry’s there?”

“Uh, yeah, we’re going on a date. I don’t have the same feelings as you do about dating a client.

So tell me what you feel about all this.”

“Not thrilled with Larry, but I don’t see a lot of harm. We made some money.”

“And our reputation has grown.” She glanced over her shoulder at Larry. “And maybe I got a date or two out of it.”

Tamra laughed. A hearty, belly one. “Yeah, well I do okay on that end also.”

“What?” Then it hit Kelly. “You slept with Colin?”

“After I knew there wasn’t a threat.”

Kelly laughed. “Hot damn. Then maybe this is a win and win.”

“I think we should look at it that way. How about you call the company and have them remove the cameras.”

“Tomorrow. I’m off duty tonight.”

“Agreed.”

Kelly hung up. A grin split her face. Larry’s face matched hers. “So we good?”

“Yes we’re good. She’ll forgive you.”

“Why do I feel like that went too easily?”

“I think because we’ve both gained something from this.”

“Oh? Tamra and Colin?”

“Yep. Now let’s go to dinner.”

***

Roger left them finally. He seemed to know that they wanted to be alone. Colin walked him to the door.

Before he left, Roger stopped on the doorstep. “Be careful.”

“What do you mean?”

“You always lose your heart to someone and they stomp on it,” Roger said.

Roger wasn’t wrong. “That’s probably true, but I think this is different.”

“You come from different worlds and not that it can’t work, just see the obstacles. You always think the best.”

“Is that such a bad quality?”

“No, it isn’t, but it gets you hurt. Your fans don’t want any more Phil Collins type sad songs.”

Colin laughed. “Yeah, I know. Hip hop is next, so no sad ballads.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow for your meeting with Docta Hop.”

Colin closed the door behind his friend and assistant and thought about what he said. Was he going to lose his heart again? To Tamra?

He wasn’t sure if she would even see him after tonight. Might be a long road ahead, but that didn’t make the journey any less worthwhile. He returned to the kitchen where Tamra was finishing up the dinner dishes.

He came up behind her and put her arms around her. “Alone at last.”

“Did Roger have words of wisdom for you?”

“Why would he?”

“Well he made it clear that I was not allowed to hurt you.”

“Roger’s been a friend for a long time. He’s just looking out for me.”

He rested his head on her shoulder.

“That’s a nice friend. Did you know about Larry and Kelly?”

“What about them.”

“They are on a date tonight. I guess he’s been pursuing her,” Tamra said.

“Does she knew he isn’t the long term kind of guy? He’ll die a bachelor.”

“Kelly isn’t interested in anything long term either. She has no plans on getting married again.”

She wiped her hands on a dishtowel.

“What about you, Tamra? What’s in your future?”

“I’m hoping some more sex.”

He laughed. “That’s not what I was asking, but I’ll let it slide. What happens tomorrow?”

“Why not worry about that tomorrow?”

*

Tamra could not believe those words came out of her mouth. She was a planner. A list maker. How was she going to just let this go? Just go with the flow, but she didn’t know if there was a flow. This could be a long one-night-stand. Oh well. She was going to enjoy it.

“I like that attitude.”

He spun her around and then hugged her close. “Let’s go get naked.”

“I like that idea.”

He grabbed her hand and led her to his bedroom.  And into his bathroom. Which had a tub bigger than the guest bathroom in his penthouse. “A bath for m’lady.”

He turned on the faucets and poured some bubble bath in. Then he kissed  her and took off his shirt.

“A bath?”

“Shower sex is much more complicated.”

She laughed. She didn’t know. She’d never had sex in the shower. Most men couldn’t hold her up like that, not being a waif. With a shrug of her shoulders, she began to strip down.

“Champagne?”

“I had enough wine with dinner. Besides, it isn’t as much fun unless you’re having some.”

“Not a drinker.”

“That’s fine,” she said.

She wondered if there was a story behind that. She didn’t think it was his parents. He seemed to speak of them affectionately. Was it a friend? Now was not the time to ask.

Minutes later, the tub filled up and he held her hand while she stepped into it. The warm water surrounded her. She could get used to this lifestyle, but cautioned herself not to.

He might be done with her tomorrow. Or the next day. Even so, tomorrow she’d go back to her apartment and move onto another client. That’s the way this worked. He was safe. No threat.

Her heart was a little heavy because after all her misconceptions, Colin Brennan was really a nice guy.