As the group kicked into high gear to complete all of the details that were necessary for the tour, getting together with loved ones became an exercise in logistics, a task that Meredith excelled in and gladly taught the others. She and AJ had the easiest time since they lived together. At night, when they weren’t surrounded by family and friends, they cuddled together and just enjoyed the closeness.
Brian and Serenity had it fairly easy since she worked late, usually getting off about the time Brian would make it out of meetings for the tour. They continued to play, trying out new experiences as they fell more in love.
Kevin and Irene racked up huge phone bills. She flew down as much as she could, trying to make preparations for spending more time away from the gallery when the tour began. They both learned the joys and frustrations of phone sex.
Nick and Allyson managed to get together around meetings, classes, and student appointments. Several of her students asked about Nick, but she kept her comments to a minimum, and they eventually stopped asking.
Howie looked over at Lumien one morning while they were sitting in a security team meeting. Sunlight broke through the clouds and poured through the window, creating a halo behind her. The golden light made her dark hair glow. When she looked at him, he literally couldn’t breathe for a moment. She smiled at him, that shy, gentle smile of hers, and he felt his heart flip-flop. Smiling back, he looked down at his meeting agenda. Right then, he decided he was going to do whatever it took to get this woman to trust him and believe in love again.
*****Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****
Nick’s lessons since the end of the promo tour took place at odd hours of the day and night as the older man continued to teach him. One night, after a particularly strenuous sparring session, Nick was lying in the ring, propping his feet up on the ropes. As he laid on the mat, he let his mind drift. When Damien called for him to get up and get ready to go, Nick stretched his body to keep from becoming sore. While he stretched, he began to chuckle.
“What’s so funny, Nick?”
Nick looked up at his teacher. “We start dance rehearsals next week. I can’t wait to see Fatima’s face when she realizes that I haven’t been slacking off for the past few months.”
Damien looked at the young man and grinned. As Nick had progressed through the various movements, he had gained more confidence in himself. Damien had noticed the young man seemed somewhat sure of himself when they started, only succumbing to his fear of failure a few times. When that happened, Damien had listened to the young man then helped him work out his stress in a manner that kept him from hurting himself or others. Now, Nick was brimming with confidence and was looking forward to the upcoming tour.
“I’m sure she will be suitably impressed. Am I going to see you next week any time?” Damien packed up his bag.
“Maybe. The schedule is pretty crazy with rehearsals and more interviews. I really wish you could come with us, man. We all could use your help.” Nick picked up his bag and towel and set them on a bench while he pulled on a t-shirt.
“Perhaps another time.” The older man clicked off the lights in the gym as he escorted his young friend out the door.
“Enjoy your trip to LA. Let me know what Fatima says.”
“I will. Later, Damien.” Nick waved as he climbed into the Durango.
Damien waved goodbye as he climbed into his Mirage.
*****Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****
Bright and early on the first Tuesday morning in December, five men stood on a soundstage in Los Angeles and waited for their choreographer to arrive. Kevin was talking to Irene on his cell phone. Howie was sitting in a director’s chair, staring off into space. AJ was prowling around, picking through clothing and various accessories. Brian was typing an e-mail, engrossed in his thoughts. Nick was walking around the dance floor Fatima had constructed in the large building. She arrived in a flurry of hugs and excitement, sending her child and the nanny into her office.
“How have you guys been?” She walked around and hugged each one, looking at them to make sure they weren’t any the worse for wear.
They smiled and returned her hugs as they waited to see what she had in store for them. When she finished greeting the rest of the crew, she gathered the guys together in front of the mirrors and talked to them about what they had planned for the new tour. Fatima scribbled notes on a notepad so that she could work through some dance numbers when she was alone. When she finished, she looked up and smiled.
“Okay, let’s see how much work we’ve got cut out for us.” Fatima looked at Nick and Brian when she said it, and the two men groaned.
They danced for several hours, refamiliarizing themselves with the dances they would be refining for the new tour. Fatima smiled as she realized they weren’t doing too badly after their time off. She suspected the five weeks they had spent training with the Navy had helped in that respect.
A little after one, she called a lunch break, wiping her face with a towel. When she turned around, she automatically stepped back from the imposing sight in front of her. Meredith stood there, arms crossed over her chest as she watched the guys. The five bodyguards stood beside and behind her, making a formidable wall for anyone who might attempt anything.
“Whoa.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, Mom.” Nick pressed a kiss against Meredith’s cheek as he headed for the caterer, Leary following close behind him.
“Hi, Munchkin.” She patted his arm before he moved away.
“Hey, Merry.” Brian pressed a kiss against his friend’s cheek before following his best friend towards the lunch table. Sully fell into step behind him.
“Hey, Brian.” She smiled at the young man.
“Merry.” Howie kissed Meredith’s cheek and squeezed her hand.
She returned the squeeze. “Hi, D.”
He smiled one more time before he went off to get something to eat, Lumien walking next to him.
“Meredith.” Kevin’s deep voice rumbled in her ear, and she looked up to see him smile before he engulfed her in a hug. Ramos took up his usual spot behind Kevin’s right shoulder.
“Hey, Kevin. Irene said to tell you hello and sends her love.” She couldn’t help chuckling at the big grin that lit up his face. He and Ramos headed for the food table.
“Hey, love.”
Meredith turned around and found herself wrapped in AJ’s arms. Sighing with pleasure, she welcomed his kiss. “Hey, mine.”
“Get everything taken care of?” He kept her close with an arm around her waist.
“As much as I can before I go down there and kick someone’s ass in person.” She snuggled closer to him.
Feeling eyes upon her, Meredith turned slightly to find a young black woman watching them. AJ caught Fatima’s glance and smiled.
“Hey, Tima, this is Meredith Davenport. Meredith, this is Fatima Robinson, our choreographer.”
“It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard a great deal about you from the guys.” Meredith held out her hand, not backing down from the firm shake Fatima gave her.
“Hi. I’ll have to say, I haven’t heard anything about you.” The other woman looked back and forth between AJ and Meredith and replayed in her head the greetings from the other men.
“Meredith was our commanding officer during the Navy training.” He sensed the slight tension from the choreographer.
Fatima smiled broadly, feeling a little bit better about the woman in front of her. “So you’re the one who whipped them into shape.”
Meredith laughed. “Well, with the help of Leary and Ramos and the rest of a Seal team, yeah.” She gestured towards some of the bodyguards who were eating with the rest of the guys.
The four of them walked over to the table and began to prepare their plates. Fatima finished hers first and was introduced to the new bodyguards when she joined the guys. Meredith, AJ, and Marcus followed eventually, and everyone sat around and relaxed while they ate.
After a lunch break and a few more hours of dancing and discussing new songs, the guys left and headed back to the hotel. Dinner, swimming, and two movies later, they crashed in their rooms.
The next morning, Nick was up early and went to work out in the hotel gym. He had been delighted to find the punching bag in a far corner, and began to warm up before starting the routine Damien created for him. An hour later, he was back in his room, showering and getting ready to head back to Fatima’s for another day of dancing and discussion.
During the day, Fatima talked about some new moves she wanted the guys to try. Since some of their songs had a little harder edge on this album, she wanted to take advantage of that and incorporate some funkier dance steps into their routines. Brian groaned at the thought, AJ’s eyes lit up, Kevin and Howie shrugged, and Nick stayed quiet.
Fatima looked at him. “No comments from the peanut gallery?”
Nick shrugged and grinned. “Would it do any good?”
“No.” Fatima grinned back.
“Then why waste my energy arguing?” He opened his eyes wide then batted his lashes.
She just laughed. “Everybody, on your feet. Let’s run through All I Have to Give.”
They executed the dance steps without too many mistakes, and Fatima took the opportunity to correct little things. As she watched them, she noticed there was something different about them, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. They still cut up, but they seemed more focused on the task at hand. Even Nick and Brian gave her less trouble. She wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or not.
Again, that evening at the hotel was defined by an all too common schedule: dinner, some sort of physical activity, movies, then bed. Their security team wondered where the pods had been hidden because their boys were usually out tearing up the town by the second night. The bodyguards simply crossed their fingers and hoped nothing would blow up.
The third morning found Nick wide awake at six in the morning. They didn’t have to be at the soundstage until nine, but he could not sleep for some reason. Getting up, he went to the gym and worked out, drawing strange glances from Leary. Grabbing a bagel and some fruit from the breakfast bar, he went upstairs and changed. He decided that he would rather go ahead and do his form at the soundstage before too many people got there and asked Leary to get a car to take them over. They told the guard on hall duty where they were going so he could inform Meredith when she made her rounds.
When they arrived, very few people were in the building. Nick dropped his bag in the corner and pulled off his socks and shoes. He dropped his t-shirt on a chair and slowly began to stretch. As he moved through the fluid Tai Chi movements, he tuned out the rest of the world and focused on himself, releasing the stress and worries he had let build up.
Fatima was walking through the room and stopped short when she saw Nick. As she watched him move, she realized why he had been so different. He was comfortable in his body, knowing it would move how he wanted it to move. She admired his form, noting how his muscles flowed from one movement to the next. At that moment, she knew he had grown up.
Smiling, she continued on to her office to finish the choreography she had created. When the other guys arrived, she saw that Nick had replaced his t-shirt, socks, and shoes and looked like he always did. She was greatly looking forward to seeing how he danced to the new song.
When she showed them the dance she had choreographed for Get Another Boyfriend, AJ chortled gleefully while the others just looked at her. Fatima grinned, then urged them onto their feet so they could begin the process of learning another dance.
It was an arduous process that Brian hated every time they got ready to tour to promote another album. It seemed like only yesterday that he had learned the dance steps for their Into the Millennium tour, and now he had to learn new ones. After three hours, Fatima called for a longer break than just to grab water.
“Brian, don’t go anywhere.” Fatima didn’t even look up at him as she called out the command.
He sighed and hung his head as he waited for her to get finished with some backup dancers. When she finished, she sat down next to him. He looked up at her, sighing again.
“Am I that bad?”
She laughed and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Bri, you’ve just got this mental block, and you need to lose it. I know you can do these steps, you just don’t want to. Let’s try it again.”
Fatima pulled him off the floor and they worked through the dance steps again. He kept messing up the intricate footwork she had choreographed. Throwing up his hands in frustration, he walked away from her. The rest of the group filed into the room and looked at the two people separated by an expanse of mirrors.
“Problem?” Kevin looked back and forth at Brian and Fatima.
She shook her head. “Nothing a little practice won’t fix. How about we run through Larger Than Life?”
They finished the afternoon working on familiar routines, and Brian settled down. When they got ready to leave, Fatima called Nick over before he walked out the door.
“Can you help Brian with the footwork in Boyfriend? It’s just not connecting, and I know he’s getting frustrated.”
The young man nodded. “Sure. I’ll see if I can get it through his head what his feet are supposed to be doing.”
She patted him on the back. “Thanks, Nick.”
***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****
That night, after a long swim in the pool, Nick and Brian sat down on lounge chairs and stretched out.
“So when does it start?” Brian laced his fingers together and placed them behind his head.
“When does what start?” Nick turned his head to look at his friend.
“Whatever Fatima asked you to do.” The older man sat up and returned the look.
Nick smiled as he sat up, too. “She said you’re having trouble connecting with the steps and asked me to talk to you.”
Brian shook his head. “I can see them in my head, I just can’t get my feet to do them.”
Pursing his lips, the young man looked out over the pool and into the gym for a minute. He smiled and grabbed his friend’s arm. “Let’s go.”
Using his height as an advantage, he dragged the shorter man to a spot in the back of the gym and turned them away from the mirrors. Nick stood next to Brian and began to hum. They got through the first verse without too many problems, but when they shifted into the chorus, Brian’s brain short-circuited, and he lost the steps.
“Damnit.” He really wanted to punch something because it just wasn’t coming to him.
“Okay, okay, give me a minute.” Nick walked himself slowly through the steps, trying to figure out what Brian’s problem was.
Brian followed along until they got to the footwork, and then he lost it. Nick looked over to find the other man walking away.
“C’mon, Bri. What’s the problem?”
Brian looked up at the ceiling before looking over at his friend. “You know, I used to think it was so cool to get ready to go on tour, getting the chance to work on our show. Now, it’s just something I’ve got to struggle with. These dances are getting more and more complicated, and I just don’t think I can keep up.”
He dropped onto a bench and ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not a great dancer, and I just get so tense and nervous because I know I’m holding y’all up. I hate this.”
Nick sat down on the bench, resting his hand on his friend’s back. “I didn’t know you felt like this. I know you would just rather be up there singing, but you can do these moves; I know you can. Let’s just try it a couple more times, ‘kay?”
He dragged the shorter man off the bench and back into position, this time facing the mirrors. They started the routine again, and Brian did fine until they reached the tricky footwork. Nick stopped them then moved to crouch in front of the mirrors so he could just watch.
“What are you doing, Frack?”
Nick was heartened to hear the nickname, and he grinned. “I want you to start 8 counts before the footwork and go very slow. Maybe I can see what’s going wrong.”
Brian began the routine where Nick indicated, moving slowly. He felt as if he was running through quicksand, and he was starting to feel stupid.
Nick stared at the other man as he moved. “Stop.”
Brian froze in midstep.
“Go back and start it again.”
Brian started again. When he got tangled up in the steps, Nick smiled. “I got it.”
“Got what?”
“You’re adding an extra step after the pivot turn. When you try to add in that extra step, it throws you off.”
He got up and demonstrated the correct sequence. Then, the two of them walked through it slowly, and Brian finally understood what he had been doing wrong. They gradually increased the speed until both men completed the routine without stopping or stumbling. They high-fived each other as they accepted bottles of water and towels from a staff member.
“See, I knew you could do it, Frick. You can do anything you set your mind to.” Nick wiped his face off and swallowed half the bottle.
Brian patted his friend on the back as they walked back to their rooms. “I appreciate your help, Frack. Can we do this again in the morning before we go to the studio?”
The younger man smiled. “Sure. I’ll be down here around 7:00.”
Brian raised an eyebrow at the time, but nodded. “I’ll see you then.”
They parted ways in the hall outside their rooms.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***
Brian knocked on Nick’s door at 6:40 the next morning. When no one answered, he walked down to the gym, planning on going through the routine once by himself. He smiled at the young woman who checked his room card before admitting him, then walked towards the back of the room where they had been practicing. As he rounded one of the weight machines, he stopped abruptly.
Nick was moving through his form, concentrating on each movement to make them as deliberate as possible. He didn’t notice anyone watching him; his concentration narrowed to the way his body moved and the calmness of his mind. When he finished, he looked up to find Brian watching him with surprise and awe on his face.
“Morning, Frick. How’d you sleep?” He slowly stretched his body from side to side.
“I am awake, right?” Brian continued to stare at his friend.
“What’s wrong?” Nick looked around to see if someone was behind him.
“How long have you been doing this?”
“A few months. I got started after the interviews.” Nick picked up this t-shirt and slipped it on. “You ready to practice?”
Brian just nodded, and they ran through the routine several times. Nick grinned at Brian’s reflection.
“I think Fatima will be pleasantly surprised.”
The other ma nodded. “Don’t be surprised if I end up needing your help on the other songs.”
“Any time, brother. Any time.”
The two men grabbed some breakfast from the buffet and headed over to the studio with their bodyguards.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***
Fatima was surprised, delightfully so, and took several opportunities to praise Brian. He just smiled and nodded towards his friend, explaining Nick’s help. She smiled and winked at the younger man before starting them on another routine.
This time, Brian paid close attention to the counts and stayed behind Nick to use his friend as a guide.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***
Lumien knocked on Howie’s door. He had called and said that he wanted to go downstairs and work out, asking if she would go with him. Now, she stood in front of the door and waited for him to answer.
“Hey, come on in. I was interrupted by a phone call that I need to finish.” He left the door open for her, walking back towards the bed as he talked.
She followed him inside, closing the door behind her. Examining the room as she walked through, she smiled at the clothes piled everywhere. Turning to look at him, her breath caught in her throat. He had unbuttoned and pulled off his shirt, tossing it to the side. As he held the phone to his ear, he reached up with this other hand to run his fingers through the dark curls. It gave Lumien a perfect view of long muscles stretched from abdomen up to shoulder. Her eyes drank him in as he stood there, oblivious to her gaze.
Jerking her eyes away as he turned away from her, she closed her eyes for a moment and took a slow, deep breath.
How did I get to this place? How can I feel this? Why is this happening to me? Why?
“Lu?”
His voice was so close she jerked her head up. He stood in front of her, a t-shirt covering his beautiful chest.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?” His eyes studied her closely.
“Just lost in my thoughts. I’m fine.” She smiled gently, and he returned it with one of his own.
“I’ll be ready in ten minutes.” He disappeared into the bathroom with a pair of shorts.
Lumien leaned against the wall, breathing deeply. This could be bad. This could be very bad. What if he hurts me? What if I hurt him?
The door opened, and he walked out carrying his slacks, tossing them onto the shirt he had discarded earlier. He sat down on the bed and pulled on some socks then laced up his sneakers. Grabbing his room key, he tucked it into his pocket and gestured for Lumien to precede him out the door.
They got down to the gym and checked in with the attendant. Grabbing bottles of water and towels, Lumien followed Howie around the room, working out on adjoining machines. They were quiet, not feeling the need to fill the silence with unnecessary words.
She watched him, her eyes following the small trails of sweat that glistened on his skin as he pushed himself on his workout. He watched her, the way her tongue swept over her lips as she concentrated on each exercise. Before he was ready, they were finished, wiping off damp skin with fresh cotton towels and gulping their water.
As they made their way back up to their floor, they tried to ignore each other, but being forced to the back of the elevator by the group of businessmen that entered didn’t help matters. Their bodies were pressed side by side, and Howie groaned silently as he registered the smoothness of her arms and legs against his. Lumien looked everywhere but at Howie as the warmth of his body worked its way into hers.
They breathed identical sighs of relief as the elevator cleared and they were able to step away from each other. When they reached his room, Howie opened the door and stepped across the threshold, keeping the door open.
“Can we go out for lunch?” He looked down at her.
She shrugged. “I suppose. Where are we going, and how many other guards do we need?”
“There’s a nice restaurant upstairs. Shouldn’t have too many fans to worry about.”
Nodding, Lumien folded her hands behind her back. “I’ll be back in about thirty minutes.”
She turned away and headed down the hall before stopping abruptly. “Is there a dress code to this place?”
Howie chuckled. “Well, I wouldn’t wear your red shirt, but I think if you dress neatly, you’ll be fine.”
Lumien nodded once. “Thirty minutes.”
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****
Five minutes before she was supposed to pick up Howie, she knocked on AJ and Meredith’s door. AJ opened it, dressed in a pair of shorts and a wifebeater. He looked Lumien up and down, noticing the nice black khakis and the lavender blouse.
“Is Merry here?” The young woman offered a slight smile.
“Uh, yeah, hang on a minute.” AJ turned around. “Love!”
Meredith walked up behind AJ and laid her hand on his back. He kissed her cheek and walked away.
“What’s up, Lu?”
“Howie wants to go to lunch upstairs, and I just wanted to let you know where we’ll be.”
The redhead nodded. “Thank you. You two enjoy yourselves. They have a wonderful grilled chicken salad.”
Lumien smiled. “Thanks.”
She headed down the hall, her step light and happy.
Meredith closed the door and chuckled. AJ looked up as she sat down next to him on the bed.
“What was that all about?”
“Howie and Lu are going upstairs for lunch.”
“Really.” He smiled, sliding his eyes towards her as he kept half his attention on the television.
Meredith slid her hand up his back, burying her fingers in his curls. Nuzzling his neck, she breathed against his skin. “Yes, really.”
“Hmm.” AJ clicked the television off, turning quickly and pushing Meredith down on the bed.
Her response was lost in his kiss.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****
She knocked on the door, her face cheerful as she waited. The door opened, and the two of them stared at each other. Howie’s eyes roamed over the petite woman standing in front of him, sighing as he did. Lumien looked him up and down, admiring the black shirt and slacks he had pulled on.
“Ready?” She smiled at him.
“Yep.” He walked out, closing the door behind him.
They waved to Ramos, who had guard duty in the hall, missing the other man’s smirk as he watched them. Stepping into the elevator, he pressed the button for the restaurant on the top floor. The two of them were silent as the car lifted them higher and higher.
Howie held the door for her, following closely behind as they approached the podium.
“May I help you?” The lady standing there smiled at the couple in front of her.
“Reservations for Dorough.” Howie smiled back.
“This way, please.”
They followed, Howie’s hand resting on Lumien’s lower back as he guided her after the hostess. Lumien was aware of every step she took because his hand moved with her body. Sitting down in the chair he held for her, she regretted the loss of his touch.
Menus were placed in front of them, and they perused them silently as they waited for someone to approach the table.
“Good afternoon. My name is Liza, and I’ll be taking care of you today. May I go ahead and take your drink orders?” The young woman offered them each a smile as she waited for their answers.
Howie looked over at Lumien.
“Club soda, with a lime twist.”
He grinned at her before looking up at Liza. “I’ll have the house white wine, please.”
“Very good. I’ll return with your drinks momentarily. Would you care for an appetizer?”
“Let’s have the cheese plate, please.”
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
When she left, Howie and Lumien stared at each other before suddenly finding their silverware interesting. The chuckle that drifted towards her made her look up quickly.
“What’s so funny?”
“How long have we known each other?” He unfolded his napkin and draped it across his lap.
“About six weeks or so. Why?” She followed his action with the napkin.
“We’ve shared some pretty deep emotions, yet the idea of sitting here for lunch is freaking us both out.”
Liza returned with their drinks and set them down on the table. “Are you ready to order now or would you care for a few more minutes?”
“I’m ready.” Lumien looked over at Howie, who nodded for her to go first. “I’d like the grilled chicken salad, with Italian dressing.”
“And I’d like the grilled salmon, with new baby potatoes and broccoli.”
“Very good. Your appetizer should be ready shortly.” Liza took the menus and left them to their conversation.
“Are you really freaked out?” She took a sip of her drink, peeking at him from beneath her eyelashes.
“A little.” He swirled the wine in his glass after taking a sip.
“But why? It’s not like this is a date or anything.”
“What if I want it to be?”
Those words stopped her in mid-raise of her glass, and her eyes flew towards him in surprise. “Wh…what?”
“What I want it to be a date? The more time I spend with you, the more I want to know.” Howie set his glass back down on the table.
“But I work for you.”
“Technically, you work for Meredith.”
“Semantics. Why would you want to go out with me? I’m not some model type who jets around the world and knows lots of people.” Lumien returned her glass to the table, afraid she would spill it.
“No, you’re a real person, who’s been through some tough shit and still keeps on going. You understand what I went through in Sierra Ramon. The knowledge of what I did doesn’t change how you look at me. I like how you make me laugh. I like how you make me feel.” Howie stared at her as he spoke.
She couldn’t turn away from him as she listened to his words. No one had ever told her that she made them feel good. It was a strange feeling, the fluttering in her belly that arose every time he looked at her. She couldn’t say anything for a moment and was very grateful for Liza’s arrival with the cheese plate.
It was placed in the middle of the table, and the two of them stared at it for a moment. She watched as his elegant fingers reached out and picked up a piece of cheddar. Breaking it apart, he sampled it and groaned softly in pleasure. He held the other piece out, leaning forward to place the cheese against her lips. Her mouth opened, and he slid the piece inside, his fingers brushing against her lips as he pulled them away. Chewing automatically, Lumien tingled from the soft touch of his skin.
They finished nibbling on the cheese, although Howie didn’t touch Lumien again. Their entrees arrived, and they began to eat. Conversation slowly picked up as they talked about the preparations for the tour, about visits from Howie’s family, and the weather. They also talked a little bit about what they wanted in a relationship, skirting the real issues to keep the lunch from getting too involved.
Howie signed the bill when it arrived, and he pulled out Lumien’s chair. As they walked toward the exit, his hand settled on her back again, much to her delight and consternation. The elevator ride back down to their floor was accomplished in silence. Ramos watched them get off the elevator, noticing Howie’s closeness to Lumien. He nodded at the couple and watched as they approached Howie’s door.
“Can you come in for just a minute?” He held the door open with his foot.
“Sure.” She shrugged and followed him into the room.
When the door clicked shut, he took her hand and pulled her towards him. Lumien wasn’t sure if she was ready for what she thought would happen next. When his mouth settled on hers, she knew she definitely wasn’t ready for her whole body to be caught up in the sensations he created.
Amazingly gentle, incredibly passionate, his lips were warm and soft as he held her hands to his chest. Hers parted on a sigh as she was swept away. He didn’t force the kiss any deeper, choosing to simply brush his tongue against her lips before pulling back.
As he stood there, looking down into her face, Howie smiled. Her eyes were closed, her mouth still parted and rosy from the kiss. He released one hand and brushed his fingers across her cheek. Her eyes slowly opened to find him watching her with gentle eyes. His smile remained, and hers slowly formed. They stood there for several minutes—one of his hands cupping her cheek as one of hers rested over his heart. Their other hands were still joined.
The loud knocking surprised both of them, and Lumien quickly stepped away from him.
“Yeah?” Howie called out from where he stood.
“We’re going swimming, you coming?” Nick’s voice sounded faint through the door.
Howie stared at Lumien, who looked down at the floor. “Yeah. I’ll be ready in a few.”
Looking up at his answer, she moved towards the door. “I’ll go change and be back to get you.”
“Lu…” Before he could finish his thought, she had escaped.
Sighing, he dropped onto the bed and rubbed his face. After lying there for a few minutes, he finally stood up and changed into his trunks and pulled on a t-shirt. Slipping his feet into sandals, he grabbed a towel out of the bathroom.
Lumien escaped to her room, leaning against her door before she changed back into her red shirt and black jeans. Lacing up her boots, she thought about the kiss.
What am I going to do? I don’t know if I can do this…but I want to. Oh, how I want to.
Getting up, she tucked her pass and card key into her back pocket and walked out the door towards Howie’s room. He answered the door quickly, staring at her for a moment. She returned his gaze then smiled.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***
That night, after the guys were tucked safely in their rooms, Lumien took her turn on hall duty. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in the chair, thinking about the afternoon. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and glanced briefly to the side to see Meredith walking towards her.
“Seems quiet.” The older woman crouched on the floor next to the chair.
“It is.” Lumien nodded and went back to staring at the pattern on the wallpaper across from her.
“Wanna talk about it?”
The question made the young woman sit up and look down at her boss. “What?”
“You’ve been a little…off…since your lunch with D. I just wanted you to know that I’m willing to listen if you need an ear.” Meredith settled herself against the wall.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Read people so well. Half the time, I’m never sure how to take anyone.” Lumien sighed.
“Years of practice.” Meredith grinned briefly. “Are you unsure about Howie?”
The other woman chuckled. “Not really. I think he’s made himself perfectly clear.”
“I see.” The amused tone was the only indication that Meredith was less than serious.
“I’m the one who’s a little unclear at the moment.” Lumien sighed and rubbed her face. “I’m scared, Meredith. I’m scared of what I feel when I’m with him.”
“I know what you mean. I was scared when I realized I was falling for AJ.” Meredith rested her arms on her knees.
“You two are so right for each other. Why were you scared?” Turning to face her boss, she rested her elbow on her knee as she rested her chin on her fist.
“My marriage was wonderful. I loved Andy so much, and when I lost him, I lost the part of me that could love someone like that. I never expected to feel a love that powerful again. Then, this skinny, tattooed, slightly dangerous man entered my life. It took a little while, but one day I woke up, and my heart was singing. And the name of the tune was AJ.” Meredith chuckled.
“I was very surprised, even more so to discover he felt the same way. I had to let go of my fear of losing him, so that I could be free to love him.”
Lumien stared down at her, her eyes wide. “Damn, you are good.”
The redhead rose from the floor, patting the young woman’s shoulder. “Don’t let your fear keep you from finding true love. You work it out, and it will be more amazing than you ever dreamed possible.”
Nodding, unable to speak, she watched as Meredith walked back to her room. Turning around, she leaned back in the chair and nibbled on a thumbnail.
Table of Contents
Chapter Thirty-One