| Chapter Twelve Later that afternoon, Nick and Heidi met with Billy and explained what had happened the day before and they also told him of Heidi’s gut level feelings. Billy agreed that the comment was to random and out of place in context to Aaron not to be a clue. The validation made Heidi feel better. She had been worried that she was getting too close to see things objectively. The fact that Billy agreed solidified her reasoning and assured her that she could still be objective. She had begun to doubt herself when she woke in Nick’s arms after making love, and she had been worried. Even though up until then, she’d taken care to hide her feelings, the fact that she had given in to them, had gone as far as to ‘threaten’ Nick, had left her wondering just how close she’d become. Was she too close? Were her instincts her own or were they the wishing of a woman grasping at straws? “What I don’t get is why, if this guy was on the inside, why would he send the first letters in care of The Firm? Why not just send them straight to me?” Nick asked. “Maybe he was trying to throw suspicion off of himself,” Billy answered. It was a possibility. One they had no way of discounting. “Or maybe, its like Heidi said. He’s a computer hacker and knows his way around different systems. Well enough to not get caught,” Billy added. “Isn’t there some way we could find out if any of the hotels we’ve stayed at have had their computers hacked into? Or what about The Firm? If they’ve been hacked into, wouldn’t they know?” Nick asked, his eyes bright with hope. “It’s a possibility. I’ll see what can be found out. In the meantime, stay close and don’t go off by yourself. Okay?” Billy asked his tone telling Nick that there would be no more disappearing acts. Nick nodded and promised he’d take a bodyguard if he went anywhere. Heidi and Nick left Billy to make his inquiries. Nick intended to head straight back to their room and talk to Heidi about what had happened between them. He wanted to make sure she didn’t regret making love with him and he wanted to know where they stood. Unfortunately, they were stopped in the hallway by Kevin. “Hey, I was just coming to get you two. We’re hanging out in my room until we have to leave for the arena. Come on,” he said as he turned around and headed back to his room fully expecting them to follow. Nick sighed heavily and followed Kevin. Heidi could tell Nick wasn’t happy about going to Kevin’s and wondered about it. She shrugged it off and decided to ask him about it later. When they stepped into Kevin’s room they noticed that a buffet had been laid out and Brian, Howie and AJ were digging in. “Help yourself. We were just about to start a movie,” Kevin announced as he began loading his plate with food. Heidi and Nick shared a glance before filling up their own plates. Nick sat down on the floor and when Heidi tried to step past him, he put his hand on her calf and ran it up and down, his eyes asking her to sit with him. Heidi smiled shyly down on him and in a graceful move, folded her legs under her and lowered herself down beside him. Brian watched covertly from his side of the room and inside he was jumping for joy. ‘I knew it’ he thought as he watched the slight blush color Heidi’s cheeks. He hadn’t missed that intimate touching of her leg either. If he didn’t miss his guess, things had or were about to change between Nick and Heidi. He couldn’t be happier. They had both fought their feelings for so long, that he had begun to wonder if they’d ever see reason. Then when Nick had admitted that he liked Heidi a few days ago, Brian began to wonder how long it would take for Heidi’s will to crumble under Nick’s persistence. By the looks of things Nick was wearing Heidi down and she seemed to be enjoying it. She was laughing up at him at something he said, and a sense of ease lay between them. Yes sir, things were looking good. Now if only the stalker could be caught, the two of them would have a chance at the happiness he shared with his wife. Realizing that he was starring, Brian turned his attention to the movie. Heidi watched as Nick gathered their plates and stood to put them on the service cart. Her heart was beating so fast and loud she was sure the whole room could hear it. She couldn’t help but think that the guys might not approve of her being involved with Nick. After all she still had her own reservations. Things could become very complicated if she wasn’t careful. Her thoughts were interrupted as Nick took his seat and put his arm over her shoulders. He smiled down at her, his eyes holding a challenge. The man was daring her to move his arm. Heidi smirked and moved closer. Nick’s eyes widened and his breath hitched in his chest. Deciding to enjoy her willingness to be close to him, he bent his head and placed a chaste kiss on her hair, breathing in the smell of honeysuckle. “Taking that pretend girlfriend stuff just a little too seriously there aren’t you?” AJ teased. “We’re practicing,” Nick returned his eyes never leaving Heidi’s. AJ’s eyebrows rose and he tilted his shades down his nose, looking at the both of them over the top. He opened his mouth to say something, but a kick from Brian had him shutting his mouth. He swung his gaze from Nick and Heidi to Brian and back again. Brian’s eyes told him to let it be and he set back against his chair and relaxed. Whatever was going on, he was sure to find out soon enough. Nothing ever stayed a secret long with the five of them. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ At the venue, the guys were scrambling around getting ready for their concert. Even though Heidi had been around for a while now, she still couldn’t get over the amount of chaos that went on backstage. Stagehands were running and yelling directions to each other, the guys ran from dressing room to make up and hair, and the techies were moving quickly, doing all the pre-show checks on the pyrotechnics and lighting. Then there were the meet and greets, the fans often in tears or stunned speechless at being in reaching distance of their idols. Just watching the production come together, made Heidi feel tired. She didn’t know where the guys got their energy from to do this night after night. “What’cha thinking about?” Nick asked as he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “How chaotic it is back here,” she answered as she leaned her head back against his broad chest. “It takes some getting used to,” he whispered as he kissed along her jaw. Heidi smiled. This was one advantage of being Nick’s undercover girlfriend. She had a part to play. So what if on a personal level she enjoyed it? She turned in his arms and encircled his waist with her arms, her head tilting back to receive his kiss. It started out innocent enough, but the longer they stood there locked in the embrace, the hotter the fires of desire burned. Nick’s tongue sought and gained entrance to her mouth and his tongue swept the inside. Not to be outdone, Heidi stroked his tongue, gently sucking on it, wringing a moan from Nick. “That’s some kiss,” Kevin said as he passed by. Heidi blushed and pulled away. So okay, maybe they got carried away, but it was worth it. She didn’t know where things were going to lead, but she was determined to enjoy it while she could. “Ten minutes to show time,” the stage manager called. The guys, the dancers and Heidi moved to the circle, each taking the hand of their neighbor as their chant began. “Go Backstreet,” they ended the chant with a loud shout. “See you later,” Nick said as he kissed her softly, before turning away to get in place. Heidi watched with pride as the guys were lifted up on the platforms and then the platforms raised to stage level and the screams from the arena raised to epic proportions. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Billy said, his face lowered to her ear so she could hear over the sounds of the music, explosions and screams. She turned her head and looked at Billy, a denial on her lips. The denial died as her eyes met his and she quickly looked away. He knew, oh God he knew. “I hope so too,” she replied when she found her voice. Billy watched her and shook his head. On one hand, he was happy. Nick deserved a good woman, and Heidi deserved a good man. He didn’t know of anyone else more suited for each of them. But on the other, he worried Heidi would lose her objectivity. He knew she was the consummate professional, and that if she had let herself get involved with Nick, it was because the feelings she had were strong; to strong to resist. “Just be careful,” he warned before moving away to watch over the backstage. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Tonight went well don’t you think?” Nick asked as he plopped down beside Heidi. It was after the concert, and they were on the bus riding to the next city. The others had long ago turned in, leaving just the two of them alone. “It went very well,” she answered as she turned in her seat to face him. She wanted to be in his arms, feel his heartbeat beneath her cheek, seal her lips to his and drowned in the sensations that were sure to follow. But she had to remind herself, they weren’t in their room and anyone could walk through at any moment. So much had changed in the last twenty-four hours and she wasn’t sure how to take them all. Her head demanded that she back away, put some distance between them, but her heart wouldn’t hear of it. Her heart wanted what ran between them, the closeness, the heat and most of all the love. Nick hadn’t spoken the words, and the one time she had, Nick had been asleep, but it was there all the same. Nick watched as different emotions chased across her face, the longing, the self-denial and the confusion. “Come here,” he whispered as he reached out to her. Heidi moved into his arms and sighed happily. Nick shifted his legs along the length of the couch and settled her between his legs. Her head rested on his chest and her arms framed his, draping her waist. This, this is what she wanted, what she needed; this closeness, the feeling of oneness with another person. Momentarily forgetting where they were, Heidi lifted her head and leaned in for a kiss. Nick met her half way and their lips met softly, tenderly. The kiss wasn’t demanding, but more of a give and take, a sharing of new feelings coming to life. Nick pulled away, the need to hear her say that she welcomed the changes in their relationship bearing down on him. “Tell me you mean this. Tell me you aren’t going to change your mind. Tell me you feel the same as I do,” he demanded, his voice a fierce whisper, filled with longing. “I do mean this Nick. I’m not changing my mind and I can only hope you feel the way I do,” she said as she kissed him softly before snuggling down into his embrace. Nick’s heart tripped a beat. She wasn’t changing her mind, she meant it, all of it, and she felt the same way he did. “Do you regret this morning?” he asked as his hands began to caress her bare arms. “No. It was beautiful Nick,” she answered, a tinge of blush working its way up her throat and onto her cheeks. Nick smiled and tightened his hold on her. His heart felt like it was going to burst wide open. He inhaled and kissed the top of her head, content to just hold her. Unbeknown to either of them, AJ stood in the shadows, his mouth hanging open. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but he had been thirsty and wanted a drink. He had stopped just outside of the room, stunned to hear them talking about their feelings. He couldn’t believe he’d missed all the signs. Looking back on it now, he could clearly see them. Heidi’s subtle blushes and her vehement denial of her feelings. Nick constantly watching her, him shifting his body to hide his arousal. All those signs and many more flitted through his mind. ‘Blind! I must be absolutely blind,’ he thought as he turned quietly and made his way back to his bunk. He knew he’d eventually find out what was going on, but he never dreamed he’d find out like this. Now he knew why Brian had been adamant about him keeping quiet earlier. Hard to believe that Nick and Heidi were the same two people whom just a few weeks ago were at each other’s throats. ‘Ah amore!’ he thought with a smile. SNC Index Chapter 13 Main Page |