Unexpected Encounter (Singleton) (7 page)

“Not happening.” Lila shook her head. “My business is my business and no interference from you. So do whatever you do for Driscoll but not me. Hell, we’ve only just started dating.”

“No worries. I’ll get the information from your assistant.” Irene shrugged. “Come with me, Driscoll wants to see you before he goes on stage to perform.”

Lila made a mental note to tell her assistant not to give information to Irene. “My friends—”

“Will be waiting for you in the seating area backstage where you can watch the show.” Irene turned. “Come with me.”

Lila glanced at her friends, who waved as they were led away by some other people. She followed Irene through the backstage area. It was filled with people moving around getting ready for the show. Although it seemed like chaos, Lila figured it was like the ME’s office when they had a busy day. They worked together well to get things done and knew what was going on. Finally, Irene stopped before a closed door and knocked before opening the door. Lila went in and Irene came behind her.

Lila paused, staring at the man who had become so familiar to her on a personal level in such a short time. He wasn’t the Driscoll she was used to. This was
Driscoll
the performer. His flowing shirt reached mid-thigh over his skin-tight slacks. The blond locks of his hair were wild and untamed hanging around his face. The hairdresser fluffed his hair once more then walked past them, leaving. Lila glanced at the person left behind, the ebony-skinned woman straddling the arm of couch. The lady returned her look with a small smile on her lips. The woman studied her with a shrewd green gaze and her smile widened, making her even lovelier.

“Aida, this is Lila,” Irene said behind her.

“Does Dris only have employees that are beautiful women?” Lila asked.

“You’re right, Dris. She is refreshingly blunt,” Aida said in a surprisingly raspy voice. “And to answer your question, it might seem so but not really. He finds talent that fits him and he just happened to find the two of us and couldn’t live without us.”

“I run his personal and professional things and Aida is in charge of anything related to his house and grounds and, when we travel, wherever he resides.”

“That’s a nice way of saying they control my life,” Driscoll said dryly. “Get lost, let me have some time with Lila.”

“Don’t be snippy because Irene went to get Lila instead of some random roadie.” Aida rose and went to Driscoll. She tweaked his ear. “We showed she is valued by making sure she met us.”

“Meddling women,” Driscoll said fondly.

“You know it,” the women said together. They all laughed.

Aida came toward Lila and stopped before her. “Give me a list of what things you like so I can stock them when you come by.”

“I’m gonna tell you as I told Irene ‘Do whatever you do for Driscoll but not me’.” Lila frowned. “Why are you all acting like we are already a couple?”

“We know Dris,” the women said simultaneously.

“Get lost, meddling women.” Driscoll flicked his hand.

They laughed and left. Lila watched the door close then turned to him. She gasped to find him standing right before her. She hadn’t heard him move. Driscoll lifted his hand and touched her hair, stroking the hair comb before moving to the rest of her hair.

“This is proof you are trying to drive me out of my mind.” He slid his hand into her loose hair.

“I did tell you I took it down for special occasions.” Lila grinned. “Seeing you perform and knowing you is a special occasion.”

“Dating me,” Driscoll whispered. He went behind her, sliding his hands around her and putting his hands palm flat on her belly.

Lila stifled a moan. She watched them in the mirror. Her off-the-shoulder gold dress displayed her skin and she’d taken special care to use lotion that made it glisten. Her waist-length, kinky curls framed her, giving her the effect of mysteriousness she had been going for. She placed her hand over his and leaned her head back against his shoulder. His smoldering gaze caused a delicious tingle to go through her.

“About dating me. There will be press around here and at an after party the mayor is having. It’s exclusive for some deep pockets he’s trying to hit up for even more donations. So he wants the band there to grease the wheels, so to speak. But it won’t be all work.” Driscoll stared at her. “You’re coming with me. I wondered if you minded me not introducing you around as my date?”

“No.” She vigorously shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. I don’t want to be in the media spotlight.” Lila glanced back at him. “And thanks for so graciously inviting me to this after party.”

“You’re my date so it’s a foregone conclusion you will be with me until our date is over.” Driscoll tugged her closer to him then lowered his head. “Until I say our date is done, you’re mine.”

She had to remember how to breathe, hearing the possessiveness in his tone as well as seeing the look in his eye. Instinctively Lila knew this was yet another side of Driscoll. He put on the persona of an easy-going laughable guy as easily as he did the intense man. No matter which he was, Driscoll knew what he wanted and for now, it seemed to be her. Lila would enjoy being with him while it lasted. She already knew it would end since they lived in different worlds. She was used to normal while he lived in a world of the fantastical, like having concerts like this one or having a building that housed a basketball court and football field in his backyard. Lila stared into his eyes and wondered which layer he would show her next, and if she would ever get him figured out.

“Also, next weekend a few of us are having a dune buggy race on Burrows Beach, which is close to where the Lockes live. There will be prizes. We’ll have a picnic and bonfire later.” Driscoll lowered his head and rubbed his nose against hers. “Do you want to come?”

“Sure.” Lila looked forward to it. She and her friends had also been known to rent dune buggies and take them for a ride. For Driscoll and his friends, there was probably more to it than what he’d stated.

“Good. If I recall correctly, Storm was invited already by Bella and Kennan asked Colby to come. So if you like, you can bring Aja.” Driscoll shook his head. “Don’t mention it to her, I want to ask her myself.”

“Okay.” Lila had no idea why he wanted to do it personally but decided not to ask.

A loud knock on the door came followed by, “Driscoll, your lazy ass better have clothing on.”

She recognized Stuart’s voice. The door opened and he came in. He winked at Lila then strode over. He pulled her from Driscoll then kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. Surprised, Lila returned the hug.

“Nice to see you, Lila.” Stuart handed her off to someone else.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” A man who looked like a Viking grinned, holding her loosely in his arms.

Lila blinked at one of the band’s sax players. “You too.”

He kissed her cheek then passed her on to another person. The man who played trumpet was next, followed by the bassist. Lila was greeted with similar words from each and a kiss on the cheek. Last was the ravishing, dark-honey-skinned sax player who hugged her then winked before she let Lila go. Lila was overwhelmed being so close to some of the original surviving members of Driscoll’s band. They hadn’t officially replaced the eight deceased members of the band and instead when they had rare performances, they used specific musicians to fill in. Driscoll had explained that although he and those on stage were the faces of the group, there were so many more members beyond them. They had roadies who had also been killed as well as lighting folks. The news report at the time had shown how large the rest of their crew was. Those that hadn’t been in the vehicle had been brought into the limelight as media had swarmed asking about what they felt.

“Why are you all here?” Driscoll’s words made her look at him, and he pulled her close, slinging an arm over her shoulder.

“No need to be so rude.” Lila pinched him in the side.

Driscoll rolled his eyes. “I’m rude because knowing Aida and Irene, being the meddling woman they are, they told them you were in here. Then Stuart rallied them to come check you out.”

Lila glanced at Stuart, surprised. He smirked and inclined his head.

“Why?”

“Because he is an ass,” Driscoll said dryly.

“Because Stuart wanted to show these”—Stuart said pointing to himself before gesturing to the rest of the band—“jerk-offs that I didn’t imagine you. Driscoll rarely dates and they thought I was imagining it.”

“Seeing as you always tell tall tales, it’s no wonder,” a woman said from the doorway.

Lila recognized another living member of the band who appeared on stage as well as the sister of the sax player who played the synthesizer for the group. She strolled in then greeted her as her sister had, but paused and stared at her. Lila returned the look with one of her own.

The woman grinned then chuckled. “Welcome to Eccentricville.”

The group echoed her sentiment. Then they started talking about the show and what they would be doing. Lila wasn’t sure what had happened but just leaned against Driscoll and absently listened.

“There is a party going on and I wasn’t invited.” Bella breezed in and put her hands on her hips. Behind her, Lila recognized Morgan James who worked as a fire investigator at Delko Street Firehouse. They waved at each other.

The sound increased as more of Bella’s band members came in, as well as crew for Driscoll’s and Bella’s bands. Driscoll introduced her and the whole time he kept his arm over her shoulder and her close.

“Time to go on stage, folks,” someone she couldn’t see called.

The crew and others started to disperse. The bands headed to the door.

Bella, with Morgan standing behind her on Driscoll’s other side, strolled with them as they went into the hall. The space was crowded and people milled around talking. Lila wondered what they were waiting for. Stuart put his fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle. The din quieted and Driscoll squeezed Lila before he released her and went into the center of the group, followed by Bella. The duo stopped then linked hands.

“It’s been a while since we had a full concert like this with Bella’s crew.” Driscoll glanced around at everyone. “The last time it was everyone with us. I’m saddened that we’re missing many of our own.”

The crew nodded and some wiped their eyes.

Driscoll cleared his throat. “But I know they are up there and will be grooving with us and doing what they do beside us. Bella will lead us in our usual ritual of prayer then I’ll pick a song to get us started.” He bowed his head.

Lila lowered hers. Bella said a prayer then when Lila lifted her head she was in time to see Driscoll raise his head then belt out the opening words for
Amazing Grace
.

Lila’s breath caught at the beauty of his voice. She’d heard it many times but this close, she was overwhelmed. Bella joined in then slowly the rest of the band and crew. Lila added her voice and she fought not to cry as she watched them all. Soon the song was done and the people went on to do their duties.

Driscoll came to her and kissed her gently before rubbing her cheek. “Come on.”

He led her to the stage wings and Lila could hear the crowd chanting his name as well as Bella’s. Driscoll turned her to him. “Irene will take you to your seat. Gotta go to work.” He kissed her again then stepped away.

“This way,” Irene said.

Lila followed her, glancing back at Driscoll. His band was crowded around him and he was talking with them.

“He’s hyping them up. Not that they need it,” Irene said.

She stepped back and Lila sat in an empty chair in the front row beside Aja. Lila looked back and waved at the group there, knowing many of them through Spencer. Her eyes widened as she spotted the mayor. He inclined his head and smiled. She’d never met him one-on-one and had no idea if he knew who she was, but she returned the greeting. She focused on the front and noticed they were just off stage with a curtain open, but they were shaded from view of the audience. The light dimmed a few times and the audience noise subsided. Finally the stage went dark and no sound could be heard.

“Give yourself to my keeping.”
Driscoll’s voice rose in the darkness.
“No one can fulfill”
— The lights flashed on, illuminating him. He moved across the stage with the light following him— “
Your urges like I can.”

He rolled his hips in a move that made Lila’s pulse race. He was sexual temptation personified.

“Fill me and make me yours.”
Bella added her voice as the lights included her. She slid her hand into Driscoll’s and he pulled her into him. Bella lifted her leg and the spilt of her dress showcased her calf as she placed it around Driscoll’s upper thigh. They swayed in place, looking into each other’s eyes and singing.

Lila sat forward, captured by their chemistry and the familiarity as they moved together like lovers.

“I wonder if they were ever actually lovers,” Aja whispered.

“No,” Lila said as a man with a deep voice did the same behind her. She looked to her left at Morgan who had a smile on his lips.

“How’d you know they weren’t? Did Driscoll tell you?”

Bella and Driscoll continued to perform and she absently listened to them as she talked with Morgan.

“No he didn’t. He as well as she has denied it in the media.” Lila shrugged. “They would have lost nothing to admit it if they had. People love the idea of them together and if they had said they did, it might have increased their sales. So why deny it? I think they did because it was not true.”

“Yes. You thought about it different than I did.” He smiled wryly. “I believed what the media and fans said.”

“Can’t believe everything you read in the media.”

“I know that now,” Morgan said.

“How long have you and Bella been dating?” Lila leaned closer to ask.

“A few months until I was an ass.” He smiled again, but there was regret in it. “But she took me back. How about you and Driscoll?”

“We only had one official date.”

“Really,” Morgan muttered. “I better get that other T-shirt made up.”

“What other T-shirt?”