"What was it like having your life flash before your eyes?"
"Did anyone you know get caught up in the hostage situation?"
"Were any of you held hostage?"
"How did this happen?"
Question after question was fired.  I sat back and rolled my eyes, giving only about ten percent of all the media personalities credit for interesting and decent questions.
"Mr. Carter you denied at a press conference a week ago that you were dating a media personality, but according to our sources you are in fact dating her and she was the one held hostage," a tall blonde that looked similar to Kaylee asked, a smirk forming on her face.
Nick cleared his throat.
"Yes I am dating a very wonderful writer and unfortunetly she got caught up in today's situation, but I am pleased to report she is fine now," Nick answered.
"Is it Kate McBride from the New York Times?"  A gentlemen asked in the back.  Nick looked at me nervously.
"Her name won't be disclosed," Nick replied, glaring at him.  A few eyes looked at me, some of them I recognized from NBC Studios in New York.  They knew me well because our paper always conversed with NBC.
The reporters looked disappointed, but the ones that knew me looked at me with a smile as they scribbled on their notepads.
"Great," I muttered.
"Now before the Boys take off Kevin has a statement he'd like to make for the whole band and please don't leave anything out.  Kevin?"  One of the directors said turning to Kevin.  All cameras and eyes were on the tall, dark and handsome young man.
"We'd like to say to all of our fans that we're doing okay, that we have maximum security around us until the end of this small tour and to rest easy because we'll be okay.  None of us were hurt, just a little shaken.  Thank you to everyone who has called our hotel and to all of you watching around the nation.  Your support keeps us going through events like this," he kindly said as he moved his head up and down.
The Boys stood up to leave as security surrounded them.  I rushed to Nick's side as the reporters followed us out into the hall. Nick grabbed onto me as flashes went off all around us.
"Ms. McBride is it true that Mr. Carter got a gun put to his head because he was trying to save you?"  One lady yelled as she shoved the microphone in my face.
"Mr. Carter why did you lie to the press and your fans and tell us you were not dating a reporter?"  Another man shouted.
We kept on until we were safely put into our limo; yet again shoved and pushed and all on top of one another.
"You guys should let me do a press release or a statement.  I know what I'm doing here," I muttered as we headed back to the hotel.
"Kate, I said the night off and I mean it," Bob from management shouted back at me.

~BACK AT THE HOTEL~

Nick insisted we didn't need security for our night out with Bob and Jane, but they told him he couldn't go unless he took two bodyguards with him.  Nick, as his usual self, threw a hissy fit, but gave in when I reassured him it was okay.
I showered and wrapped a towel around my body as I applied my makeup in the steamy bathroom.
"I'm gonna shower, be ready in 30 minutes, okay?"  He asked as he placed his hand on my hip and kissed my cheek.  I rubbed the foundation into my skin.
"Okay," I smiled at him as I watched him undress in the mirror.
He looked back at me as he stepped into the shower.
"Yessss?"  He asked smiling.
"Nothing," I innocently replied.
He grinned before turning on the water and shutting the door.

~THAT NIGHT~

We were accompanied to the restaurant with two bodyguards.  When we were seated they stood off to the side with their earpieces and walkie-talky's in place.
Jane and Bob approached the table.  Jane wearing a black short dress that had a square neck with small diamonds lining it.  She had a necklace and earrings to match; the black almost matching her hair. Bob was wearing just a plain black suit and tie as he held her hand all the way to our table.
"Mom, dad," Nick said as he kissed them both.
"Hello Kate," Jane said coldly.  I smiled at her as Bob kissed me on the cheek.
"Are you doing okay honey?"  Jane asked as she put her hand on Nick's.  Yeah, he was fine, *I* was the one with the fucking gun to my throat for a half hour.  I cleared my throat.
"Yes, we're fine mom," he replied.
Silence came over the table as we all held up our menus.
"So Kate, what brings you to Canada, aren't you a busy reporter?"  Jane asked, smiling.
Nick glared at her.
"I took some time off to do PR for the boys the next few weeks.  That way Nick and I can be together," I said as I placed my hand on Nick's.  Bob studied my red sequence dress and my brown hair that was pulled up on my head.
"Kate, I really love your dress.  Honey this would look great on you," Bob commented.
Jane snickered at the thought of wearing the same clothes as I did.  It seems her dislike towards me grew into pure hatred since our trip to Florida a while back.

~TWENTY MINUTES LATER~

The waiter had long since taken our orders and brought us our drinks.  Bob was telling Nick about their plans for Aaron this coming week.  Jane and I sat sipping on our wine and staring at each other.
"Would you excuse me, I need to use the ladies' room," Jane politely stood up and walked away.
"I'm gonna go call your brother at the hotel room, make sure he's okay, I'll be right back," Bob excused himself as he stood up, cell phone in hand and walked away.
"Nick she hates me," I spat as he looked at me gently.
"No she doesn't hate you, she just doesn't KNOW you," he persisted.
"Yeah and no matter what you tell her she's never going to think I'm a decent person," I retorted, rolling my eyes and sipping on my wine.
"So we'll tell her again," he simply replied with a shrug.
"No please, save me the humiliation," I sighed.
"He's doing fine, he said to tell you hi," Bob said kindly as he sat back down.
Jane soon seated herself back with the rest of us.
"So Kate, what ever happened to that tape?"  She asked, batting her eyelashes.  I guess we didn't have time to avoid the subject - cause she went straight in for the kill.  "I hope you did dispose of it."
"It wasn't my tape and yes it was ‘disposed,'" I mocked.
"Well I do hope you don't pull something like that again.  You're lucky my son took you back," she fired.
"No mom, I'm lucky she took me back after the way I acted.  It wasn't her fault, I already explained it to you," Nick whined.  We all sat staring at each other.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

Kaylee smirked as she plopped down on her leather couch and watched the evening news.  There was Kate admist all the reporters, again under Nick's wing.
"Kate, Kate, Kate, when are you going to learn you have to fight your own battles?" she muttered as she sipped on her wine.  Suddenly the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Kaylee," the voice slowly replied. "God where the hell have you been, I've been trying to reach you?"  She spit her Chardonnay into the phone.
"Yeah well you're not my boss you stupid bitch," the voice hissed.
"I'm not stupid, but I am a bitch," she laughed with a hint of evil.
"Yeah well I'm having difficulty with our problem.  She keeps hanging up on me and I can't get in.  She's firing obstacles at me left and right Kaylee." "So fight fire with fire!"  She yelled.
"But there's security everywhere."
"I don't care, get her!"  Kaylee yelled before she slammed down the receiver.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

Our dinner plates were set on the table as I uncomfortably shifted in my seat.  I picked at my food, my eyes burning holes into Jane.  What was her problem, why was she the only one that didn't believe me?
Throughout dinner no one talked accept for an occasional "how is everything?" from our waiter. When the check came Nick swooped it up, mumbling to Jane that he didn't have to pay for me since he knew she wouldn't like it.
"Bye Kate it was nice seeing you again," Bob sweetly said as he hugged me.
"Jane."
"Kate."
And then they were gone.  I felt like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders and disappeared into thin air.

~BACK AT THE HOTEL~

He was watching as they went up to their room, hand in hand, disgusted by the chemistry between them.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

It was nearing ten and I was pretty tired.  I went into the bathroom and washed my face and took off my dress.  There was a knock on the door just as I was going to put on my pajamas.
"Something for Ms. McBride," Nick said as he peeked his head in.  He handed me a large gold box with a red ribbon and rose attached to it.  My eyes lit up as I opened the door further and took it from him.  I unwrapped it to find the most elegant rose-red lingerie I'd ever seen.  I changed into it quickly after pushing him out the door.  I stared at myself in the mirror.  It was silk with spaghetti straps and hung just around my inner thigh.  It was simple and plain which he knew I liked.  None of that fancy lace stuff.  I sprayed some perfume on my neck and walked out.  He had the lights dimmed and was sitting on the bed in just pajama bottoms.  A small black velvet box lay on his lap.
I sat down on the bed next to him and looked into his eyes.  They were full of kindness and love.
"This is for you too," he whispered as he handed me the small square box.
"Nick you already got me this, you shouldn't -"
He put his finger on my lips as I opened the box slowly.  In it lay a dainty gold chain with a simple circular diamond laying at the bottom of it.  Simple; just what I liked.
My eyes teared up as I threw my arms around his neck and then kissed him gently.
"I want the world to know how much I love you.  I should have done this today, in front of the television cameras.  I'm sorry I chickened out.  I want everyone to know that you're mine and you'll forever be mine," he whispered as he took the necklace from the box and draped it around my neck.  My face was glowing with love as tears streamed down my cheeks.  I turned back to face him as he placed his hand against my cheek.
"Thank you...so much," I said, barely able to get the words out.
"Shhh..." he said as his fingers slowly ran down my neck.  They were soft and barely touching my skin, seducing me with their elegance.  He slowly pulled the straps of my nightgown down and ran his lips gently down my neck.  I could feel his breath on me while his hands roamed about my body.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

"Yeah excuse me, where is the nearest bathroom?"
The desk clerk looked up suspiciously.
"Down that corridor and to the right," she replied, her eyes studying the person before her.
He went down the corridor like she had said, but took an unexpected right.  Before he realized it he was standing right in front of the answer he'd been looking for.
He looked around to see no one in sight.  Then he slowly reached in his pocket and pulled out the gun he had been carrying and busted through the glass.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

His hands moved up and down quicker now, pulling me into him, causing me to fall into my world of ecstasy.  His lips smothered my neckline and my chest as I tilted my head back and whispered his name.

~AT THE SAME TIME~

"Looks like they are a little too HOT, I'll have to cool it down," he snickered as he reached through the broken glass and pulled down on the lever.  "Fight fire with fire."

~AT THE SAME TIME~

Suddenly there was a loud ringing in our room.  Nick removed his lips from my neck and looked up just as water started spraying all over us both.
"What the fuck?"  He yelled as he grabbed the comforter off the bed and quickly wrapped it around me.  Water was pouring from the ceiling as we ran out into the hall.  The others came out in their pajamas, water dripping from A.J.'s new purple Armani as we all scrambled about.  A.J. cursed the sprinklers through the mass of water that was coming down on us.  Security was yelling, trying to keep us all together as we took the stairs down to the bottom floor.  Once in the lobby - where the water was not flooding in from the ceiling - I looked around.  There were people everywhere.  I huddled in close to Nick, shivering from the water that soaked through my clothes and the comforter.
That's when I saw him.  He looked up at me through his dark black sunglasses, those evil eyes burning into mine.

Next

Contents