Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance (24 page)

“Thanks for being flexible, Sophie.”

“No problem, Mom. It’s been a day like that.”

The ambulance parked in front of the building. Kelly tugged at Larry’s arm. “I have a strange request. I need to text a picture of you to Sophie so she knows who you are.”

“Is she ready to be picked up?”

“The train’s at Newark. I’ll take Colin to the hospital,” Kelly said.

“You’ll have to get a zip car or something like that,” Larry said.” Colin doesn’t keep a car here  and his driver is probably in New Jersey.”

“Right.”

“The doorman can help you.”

Her heart raced. This was all happening too fast and she was deeply concerned about Tamra who hadn’t woken up yet. Colin was holding her hand, talking to her, his eyes wet from his tears. He really loved her.

Now Kelly had to protect him, knowing this. No pressure at all. And her daughter was on her way into town. “Okay, thanks.”

The men on the ambulance took vital signs, inserted an IV into Tamra, and then put her in the ambulance. One of them quickly interviewed the doorman before they left.

Colin tried to get into the ambulance but was stopped. Kelly put her hand on his arm. “I’ll take you to the hospital.”

He nodded, but didn’t take his gaze off of Tamra until they closed the ambulance doors. The ambulance left with lights and siren on.

***

Colin thought his heart was broken when Tamra left. It was even more fractured when he saw her on the ground, not moving. And this was his fault. This could have been a random attack, but he doubted it.

The doorman had procured a car for Kelly and she drove him to the hospital. He stared out the window, hoping that Tamra would be okay. Then he would have to stay away from her. People were clearly in danger around him.

“I’m going to have to make some phone calls while I’m there. I’ll alert security also. You aren’t even going to go to the bathroom alone.  Whoever is doing this, just shot across our bow.”

“Seems like a direct hit to me,” he said.

“Well, that may be, but I think I need to step up security.”

“Make sure Tamra has security in her room. I’ll pay whatever it costs.”

He would not let her get hurt again. His heart ached. Was this what love really felt like? He’d been in lust before, but never felt this deeply about anyone. Part of him went with her in the ambulance.

Not one to be afraid of emotions, he took it all in, but he understood why people shied away from loving someone else. This was devastating to him. And if this was his fault, a direct result of his stalker, then he wasn’t sure how he’d ever make this up to Tamra.

Kelly parked, then put a hand on his arm. “I’m sure no one followed us, but let me just take a quick look around the lot before you get out. We really have no idea about this attack. It could have nothing to do with your situation.”

“It’s too coincidental to be anything else.”

“Let’s just be safe, either way.”

He waited until she said it was okay. They entered the hospital and asked about Tamra’s condition.

“I also need to speak to security,” Kelly said to the woman behind the desk. “Can you send someone into the waiting room?”

“Sure.”

Kelly guided Colin to the waiting room. There was no news yet of Tamra’s condition. Colin paced while Kelly watched him. The television blared some women’s talk show and the noise irritated him.

He’d been on one of those shows and told Larry he’d never do it again. They all talked at once and no one listened to any of the guests. He found the remote and turned off the show.

No one else was in the room so he figured that would be okay. Kelly sat with her legs tucked under her. Colin felt that she must be upset too, so he sat down next to her.

“I’ve made this all about me, but she’s your best friend. You must be nuts over this.”

She nodded then, her eyes blinded by tears. “She is my best friend. She’s always been the stronger one. The more driven one. I can’t imagine life without her.”

“I understand that.”

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a hug. He needed one back as much as she probably did.

“Thanks, Colin.”

“I’m sorry. I can be boneheaded. I just saw her laying there and I was sure she was dead.”

He let go, then stood, pacing away.

“You really love her.”

He spun back to Kelly, a sardonic grin on his face. “I told her.”

“That would explain some things.”

“Yeah?”

“Tamra needs to be dealt with like a skittish horse. You can’t rush at her. You need to move slowly.”

“And slow is not part of my vocabulary,” he said with a frown.

***

Larry successfully found Sophie at Penn Station. Or she found him. He could see her resemblance to Kelly the instant she said hello to him.

Where Kelly had deep brown eyes, Sophie’s were just a shade or two lighter.

“You must be Larry. Or Mr. Byrne as I’m supposed to call you,” Sophie said then rolled her eyes. “Where are we going?”

“To Colin Brennan’s penthouse. Your mother had to go to the hospital. Her business partner was injured.”

The girls’ eyes grew big. “Is Aunt Tamra okay?”             

Larry really had no idea how much to tell her. “As far as we know.”

He figured that would be fine.

They were in the car driving to Colin’s place when Sophie spoke up. She was going to go down a road that Kelly didn’t even want her on.  “So you’re a talent agent?”

“Yes, I am and I’ve been given strict instructions to tell you that I’m not interested.”

Sophie turned away from him, her arms crossed. “Of course Mom would tell you that.”

“She’s protecting you from a very harsh industry.”

“Whatever.”

Sophie remained silent for a few blocks. “My mother doesn’t know how good I am. You would be a much better judge of that with all of your experience.”

Larry wanted to smile, but he didn’t want to be condescending. If he stayed with Kelly and it developed into something more, he didn’t want to make an enemy of Sophie. “Your mother was pretty clear about her directions. And pretty clear about what you would say to me.”

“Really? And you’re going to potentially miss out on the next big thing?”

“Sophie, no offense. I’m sure you’re talented, but everyone thinks they are the next big thing. A very small percentage actually is.”

She crossed her arms and humphed. “Maybe Colin Brennan will think differently.”

“You won’t bother him. He had a lot going on in his life and you will respect that you are in his house.”

Sophie frowned, then clamped her mouth shut. He hoped he hadn’t been too harsh, but the last thing Colin needed was to have a teenage girl singing at him.

***

After what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, a nurse came in. “Mrs. Lambert?”

“That’s me,” Kelly said standing.

Colin realized that she was probably Tamra’s emergency contact. The nurse looked at him and he knew when she recognized him because she smiled. Then her professional demeanor took over and her face was a mask again.

“Tamra is awake. The police are talking to her right now. You can see her in a few minutes, but we’re keeping her overnight. She has a concussion, but nothing is broken.”

“Thank you.”

The nurse told them the room number then left after giving Colin the once over. He didn’t often dislike his fame, but right now he did. He’d rather be an anonymous person in the hospital.

While they waited a few minutes to see Tamra he paced again. That’s when he spotted the new issue of Inkspot. He picked it up and found his spread with Tamra.

“Wow, you guys really scorched up those pages,” Kelly said, looking over his arm at the pictures.

“We did. These are even better than I thought they’d be. I knew we had something, but not this hot.”

“I’m amazed the pages aren’t on fire.” She scratched her chin. “You guys really have a chemistry.”

“We’re good together, Kelly, and now I’m torn between wanting to make her understand that and staying away from her because it’s dangerous.”

“Whoever it was must have gotten the jump on Tamra. She never lets her guard down. I bet that person is sporting a few injuries also.”

“They
’re
  probably not in the hospital.”

“Maybe not.”

Before they left, a security guard came in. “You wanted to speak to me?”

“Yes, I’m Kelly Lambert. I’m here on official capacity as Colin Brennan’s bodyguard. I wanted to alert you to the fact that someone has been stalking him and Tamra Johnson was possibly injured by this person. I’d like a guard on her room until I can get one of my own men here.”

“We can do that. Just keep my boss up to date on what’s going on.”

He gave Kelly the extension of his boss and she stood at the other end of the waiting room talking to him on her cell. Colin stared at the pictures of him and Tamra. He could see the chemistry. He could almost feel it come off the page.

Damn. He loved her.

***

Many parts of Tamra’s body hurt, but she knew she got in a few good kicks before the person dropped her. That was the only reason, she’d gone unconscious. The person had dropped her on the floor of the lobby and she was unable to brace herself with her hands.

The detectives had just left to find Kelly. The nurse had said she had to stay overnight.  She didn’t want to, but her injuries made her not want to argue. She just wanted to sleep and as the minutes ticked by she was sure that the
painkillers
they gave her would take her on an express train to sleepyville.

At least she’d been able to give the cops some information. Kelly could fill in the rest. The door opened and Colin and Kelly came into her room. Both had grim looks on their faces.

“I’m not dead guys,” she said.

Then she cringed as her head pounded.  She wanted to sit up more, but the room spun when she tried.

“Just sit still,” Colin said. “The nurse said you have a concussion. They are not fun.”

He took Tamra’s hand.

“How did you get a concussion?”

He gave her a goofy grin. “I tripped coming off stage. I wasn’t drunk, just really tired. I was coming down with the flu.”

“That’s not that good a story.”

“I know. My bandmates at the time wanted me to come up with something more interesting like an overzealous fan,” Colin said.

Tamra had to admit that she was glad to see him. His hand was warm holding hers and he was a friendly face.

“Did the cops talk to you?” she said to Kelly.

“Yes and security has been alerted to keep someone at your door.”

“Why me?”

“You don’t think this attack had something to do with this case?” Colin said.

“It could, but could just as easily not.” Then she remembered something. “The attacker said something. I forgot and didn’t tell the cops.”

“What did the attacker say?” Kelly asked.

“She said that he was hers, not mine. That would mean this was Colin’s stalker.”

He frowned. He felt responsible. She could tell.

“Colin, this isn’t your fault,” Kelly said.

“How is it not my fault? You were leaving because of me and you’re here because of me,” he said.

Tamra squeezed his hand. “Stop it.”

He slumped down on the chair, letting go of her hand. “This is awful.”

“No, it’s not. I’m just banged up. We may have managed to flush out this person. They will make a mistake and then we’ll figure out who it is,” Tamra said.

“Was it a woman or a man?”

“It was a woman. A big woman,” Tamra said. “I think. The person had a disguise on.”

The nurse entered the room stifling the conversation. “It’s time to take you up to your room.”

“I guess there’s no talking you out of keeping me here?” Tamra said.

The nurse, Colin and Kelly all said, “No,” at the same time.

She was outvoted.

CHAPTER 18

Sophie wandered around Colin’s apartment while Larry talked on the phone. He had some things to arrange for a few of his clients. He hung up after having done them.

“You work on a Sunday?” Sophie said, having settled on the living room couch.

“I work every day. You need some food, kid?”

“Yeah, actually I’m starving.”

“Pizza?” Larry asked. He could call for pizza. He wasn’t sure a teen would like some of the meal she might cook.

“Of course. Meat lovers’”

“My favorite also”

He ordered the pizza as Sophie studied him. When he hung up, she said, “You really like my mom?”

“I do, but I think that’s really between your mother and me.”

Sophie nodded. “Probably, but I’m going to ask anyway.” She smiled at her phone. “I just tweeted that I’m sitting in Colin Brennan’s penthouse. No one believes me.”

Larry wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but no one could get into this building. “They probably want proof.”

“You got any? Or do you think Colin will let me take a selfie with him?”

“I don’t know if he’s coming home or not. I need to call your mother and see what’s up.”

He dialed Kelly’s phone. She answered right away. “Hi.”

“Hi, I have Sophie. We’re at Colin’s. I figured you’d have to come back here at some point.”

“Yes, I will. I have two of our guys on their way. One will stay with Tamra and another with Colin. We should all be back to his place within the hour.”

“I ordered some pizzas so that can be our dinner,” Larry said. “How’s Tamra.”

“Bruised and she has a concussion. They
’re
  keeping her overnight.”

“Okay. Where will she go when she’s out?” Larry said.

“I don’t know.  I don’t think she should go to a hotel.”

“No, I’m sure Colin will want to take care of her.”

“Probably. How’s Sophie doing? She driving you nuts?” Kelly asked.

“No, we’ve found a mutual love of meat lovers’ pizza,” Larry said.

Kelly laughed and the sound warmed him. This woman had already wormed her way into his heart. “Okay. You just need to hold out for an hour.”

***

Colin reluctantly let Tamra get some sleep. A guard was posted outside her door and Kelly convinced him that it was better for both of them if he didn’t stay. She drove him back to his penthouse.

He sulked the whole time. He really didn’t know what to do in this instance. Never one to see obstacles, this setback was major for him. He wanted to take care of her, but he also wanted her safe.

Maybe the house that Docta Hop found would work. Or she could stay in his penthouse. That would be safer if she didn’t go out on the street alone.

“You’re deep in thought,” Kelly said as they rode the elevator to his apartment.

“Things are usually black and white for me. This situation isn
’t
  and I’m in a quandary.”

“About what?”

“Tamra needs a place to stay and frankly, I’d like her to stay with me for her recovery. I can get whatever she needs. On the other hand, if she was attacked because she’s with me, then it’s safer for her not to be with me.”

“I think you need to leave that choice up to Tamra. Seems she’d made a choice already.”

“She made that choice before she knew she was in danger.”

“True. I wouldn’t make any decision for her. She’ll be pissed. She’s pretty independent.”

“I know. I have to make her think that she’s decided to stay with me,” he said.

The doors dinged then opened. Sophie at the piano, while Larry sat at the kitchen island, eating pizza. Colin stopped just outside the doors and listened to Kelly’s daughter. The girl could play piano for sure.

The she opened her mouth and sang softly. Even from across the room, Colin could hear her talent.

“Sophie,” Kelly said, a sternness to her voice.

Sophie stopped, looking guilty. “I was just singing to myself. Not for Larry. I swear.”

Kelly frowned. “He just happened to be within earshot?”

“Well, this piano has been calling to me all afternoon.”

The she looked past her mother right at Colin. Her eyes grew big and she got up from the piano like a kid with her hand caught in the cookie jar before dinner. He laughed.

“It’s okay for you to play my piano.” He strode over to her and held out his hand. “You must be Sophie.”

She took his hand. “Uh, yeah. I’m Sophie.”

Then her teenage aloofness kicked and she stopped making eye contact. She dropped his hand.

“How old you are Sophie?”

“Fifteen.”

“Your mother says you want to be a star.”

“I do.”

“You should wait until you’re out of school. That’s what I did. I wasn’t mature enough before then to really handle the work that went into my career.”

“Oh?”

“No, not just because it’s a lot of work. Mr. Byrne will tell you how I hustled to get where I am. No one handed it to me, but I have no regrets.”

Part way through his speech, she’d looked at him again.

“So what should I do until then?” Sophie asked.

“Sing. Sing in talent shows at school. Sing in the shower. Just sing and get good grades.”

“Why do I need good grades?”

“Because you always want the option to go to college.”

***

Kelly could have kissed Colin at that moment. She knew Sophie was hanging on his every word. And she was taking it all and probably would listen to him. What a great guy.

Now she really understood what Tamra saw in him. As Colin was talking, she grabbed a slice of pizza, sat down next to Larry.

“He’s a good guy,” Larry said.

“Yes, he is.”

“Fame has not changed him at all. Looks like Sophie is pretty enamored with him,” Larry said.

“Yes. And she’ll probably listen to what he has to say.”

“He has some credibility,” Larry said.

Kelly chuckled. Colin came over and grabbed a slice of pizza. “Thank you.”

Colin shrugged. “This business can eat people for lunch and spit them out at dinner. She needs to be prepared for that. Very few are at fifteen.”

“Still, I appreciate you talking to her.”

“So what’s the game plan?” Larry said.

“I have a guy on his way here. He should arrive soon. He’ll stay here tonight and then follow you to wherever you’re going tomorrow. Sophie and I will go home.”

“I can drive you,” Larry said.

“That’s out of your way,” Kelly said.

“I’m not sending you home on the train. I can take you.”

“Okay. I’ll take the ride then,” Kelly said.

She smiled at Larry knowing how much he hated to be out of Manhattan. He must like her a lot.

“So who is going to pick up Tamra?” Colin asked “I can send a car to get her and bring her to wherever I am. If she agrees.”

Kelly exchanged a look with Larry. “I don’t know. How about I contact her in the morning and let her decide? I’m not making those decisions for her.”

“Can you try to convince her that this is a good idea? What are her alternatives? Staying in a hotel? Sleeping on your couch?”

Kelly agreed that Colin’s arguments were valid, but she wasn’t going to second guess what Tamra wanted. Everyone seemed to be forgetting that Tamra was attacked on her way to leave Colin. She didn’t think Tamra’s reasons for doing that had changed.

“I’ll see what I can do. I can’t make any promises.”

Colin seemed to be satisfied with that.

Kelly’s employee arrived and she left Colin and the man in the penthouse.

***

Tamra woke the next morning, just as sore as she’d been the night before. She shifted and her head pounded, but the room didn’t spin. Her phone rang.

She greeted Kelly.

“Hey girl. Are they springing you today?”

“As far as I know,” Tamra said.

“Have you thought about where you are going to go?”

“Where is my suitcase?”

“Still at Colin’s. He’s offered to send a car for you and bring you to where he’s staying.”

Tamra sighed. She shouldn’t go back there. Not with his feelings like they were, but she had no other choice. “I guess I’d better do that until I’m on my feet.”

“Are you sure?”

“No, but my head aches too much to make any complicated decisions.”

“Okay, then let Colin know when you’re getting out.”

“As soon as I know I will,” Tamra said.

She disconnected. The nurse came in to take her vitals. “The physician’s assistant will be in here in a minute. If she likes what she sees, she’ll let you loose. Then I’ll be back with discharge papers and instructions.”

“Sounds good.”

The PA declared her fit to leave. Tamra called Colin, though she was nervous to talk to him.

“Hi, sweetie,” he said.

“They are letting me go this morning. Kelly said you’d get a car to me?”

“Yes. I have your suitcase and your new wardrobe is being delivered today. The driver will bring you into New Jersey where I am.”

“You’re okay with this?”

“Yes.”

“Let me make this clear. I’m coming back because I have no options. I can’t come back as your girlfriend,” Tamra said.

“Fair enough, but be warned that I’m going to romance you. I’m going to spend my time off taking care of you so well that you won’t want to do without me.”

“That’s not a good idea.”

“Just let me take care of you, Tamra. I really want to. I’ve never taken care of anyone in my life.”

She knew she’d regret this, but she really didn’t have any options until she found a new place. She couldn’t drive for a few days so she was stuck. “Okay, Colin. You can take care of me.”

***

Colin disconnected, then did a happy dance. In the studio. In front of Docta Hop. The man smiled.

“That must have been a woman,” Docta said.

“Can you tell?” Colin said.

The day was going very well. He and the Docta had gotten a lot done in a short time. They’d connected easily and were going to make a great album. They were combining Colin’s soulful lyrics with the other artist’s hip hop sound.

Colin could not have been happier about it.

“Yes, I can tell. No man gets that happy about anything, but a woman.”

“I hope you don’t mind.  I’ve invited the woman I love to stay with us. She’s recovering from an attack and I want her close by. Besides, this place is like Fort Knox. We’ll all be safe.”

“I heard about your stalker.”

“Not fun. We have no idea who this is,” Colin said.

“That’s rough, man.”

“It is especially since I think Tamra was attacked because of my stalker. Our photo shoot in Inkspot came out right before it. You can tell there’s something between Tamra and I.”

“Crazed fans. They ruin it for all the good ones.”

“Yes, they do.”

“I’m ready for a break. You want some coffee?”

“No, I’m a Diet Coke guy.”

The Docta chuckled as he left to get their drinks. Colin could not want to be anywhere else in his life right now. Tamra was on her way. He was expanding his musical horizons.

The tour was only a few weeks away.

Roger poked his head into the studio. “Hey boss. Got a minute?”

“Sure. You outlining my schedule?”

“Yes, and I gave a copy to Kelly, Tamra and Bruce.”

Bruce was Colin’s new bodyguard. He was a quiet man and Colin was almost intimidated by him. “Good. Now I just need to know where I’m going to be and when.”

“I’ve lined up several interviews on this coast so you don’t have to travel. There will be more at different stops along the way.”

“Make sure you accommodate for Tamra coming on the tour,” Colin said.

“You think she will?”

“I’m hoping I can convince her. I don’t really want to leave her for that long. I’ll miss her too much.”

Roger raised an eyebrow at him. “I’ve never heard you utter those words.”

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”