| Brian drove his BMW to a small intimate restaurant he knew of. They knew who he was and afforded him the privacy of a secluded table any time he visited there. He was sure they would welcome his visit tonight, for more reasons than just because they hadn't seen him in a while. He inwardly cringed at the thought of their teasing. "Brian!" came a loud voice booming out from the kitchen area. All Brian had done was walk in the front door and Roderick had noticed him. "Come back here," he motioned to him and dragged the two of them into the area Brian had known about. Sue looked at Brian and he winked at her. He whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Roderick has this special place for me when I come here. It is a little more private and I am not seen by fans." Sue nodded in understanding. "Brian, how have you been? And who is this pretty lady at your side. It has been so long since we have seen you with a pretty lady." This made Sue smile to herself. She sighed, liking that fact. Brian rolled his eyes. He knew this was coming. "Hi Roderick, I'd like you to meet Sue. Sue, this is Roderick, a very dear friend of mine." "Cut out the Roderick stuff Brian. I will put pepper and chilli in your food." He said, knowing how much Brian disliked spicy food. "Sue, very nice to meet you. I am Rod. This clown here is being funny as usual." Brian had the grace to look remorseful, but somehow Sue thought even that was an act. When she saw the corners of his mouth twitch, she knew she was right. "So how long have you known Brian?" "Rod? Do you have to interrogate?" Brian groaned. "Yes," he laughed. He seemed to take great delight in teasing Brian. "We met yesterday Rod," Sue told him quietly, feeling a little overwhelmed at the bantering between these two men. They were obviously good friends and she felt a little out of place. "Oh, so a first date? We shall have to make this very special then." Rod announced. "Here, take a seat Sue. I will bring you our menu and leave the two of you in peace. Expect a visit from Sharon though won't you?" Brian looked at a confused Sue. "His wife." She nodded at that piece of information. "I already know what I am having." Brian called out to a departing Rod. He stuck his head back around the corner. "Don't tell me. I already know. But Sue will like to take a look. I'll be right back," he said dashing away this time. Things became quiet between Brian and Sue. She didn't know what to say after that exchange, feeling a little out of her depth for some reason. She gazed around at the décor of the quaint little restaurant, liking what she saw. It was obvious Rod took great pride in it. But she felt as if she should break the silence. It was too awkward. "So, what will you be having?" She asked Brian suddenly. Brian smiled. "The same as I always have when I come here. The Chicken Caesar salad." "Ooooh, I like the sound of that. Do you think he would be offended if I have the same?" Brian shrugged. "Who knows? He is a great friend, but a very dedicated chef who takes a great amount of pride in his work." "Umm, okay, I think I will at least look at the menu." Sue laughed. Brian smiled. "Just give back to him as much as you get. He is full of talk. I have known Rod and Sharon since I moved to Orlando." Sue nodded in understanding. She had a feeling she would like these people, even though she hadn't met Sharon yet. As if on queue a woman came bustling out from the direction Rod had left. She was straight by Brian's side as he stood up and wrapped him in a big bearhug. Sue could see Brian struggling but he returned the hug, throwing his arms around her ample waist. He was only a little man, and she made him look even smaller. "Brian. How are you?" she asked as she moved away, still holding his hands. "Being on the road still doesn't help put any beef on them skinny bones of yours does it?" she chided. "I always want to feed you up when I see you." Brian laughed. "Sharon, it's a never ending battle with the schedule we keep. But I make sure I eat properly. Sharon," Brian said turning her in Sue's direction, "I'd like you to meet Sue. Sue, this is Sharon, a dear friend of mine. Rod's wife." "Hi Sharon," Sue said to her, feeling instantly that she would like this woman. "Hello Sue. Nice to meet you. It's been so long since Brian has brought a pretty lady to meet us. You must be very special to him," Sharon said to Sue and she noticed Brian blush. "He only brings the special girls here. And never before a date." Sharon smiled triumphantly. She looked slyly at Brian and grinned. "Now sit you two. Has Rod brought you the menu?" "I have them right here," Rod said coming around the corner. He handed Sue a fancy looking menu. With her trained computer eye she noticed this was a computer-generated menu and was impressed with the work. She smiled to herself, wondering who the computer whiz was. She browsed the menu while the other three talked, liking the sound of a few items on the menu. In the end she had to agree with Brian's choice. "Well, I think I would really like the same as Brian." Sue announced. She really hoped Rod wasn't offended. But he smiled. "Best Chicken Caesar Salad in Orlando," he announced. "Excellent choice. See Sharon, they even like the same foods." He winked at Sue. "Now come, we will leave these two alone to talk, get to know one another." Sue felt herself blush at their obvious desire to see her and Brian alone together. "Sorry about that," Brian said. "It's okay Brian. It's obvious they love you. They care for you. They must be like another mom and dad to you, having had to leave yours so suddenly back when you moved here. That must have been hard." "Yeah, it was at the time. It was very exciting, and something I had never really given a lot of thought. Then suddenly Kevin rings me out of the blue and asks me to join the group. I had hardly ever travelled away from Kentucky at the time. It was really scary. I missed my family a lot I was very homesick. But everyone made me feel so welcome, and we all got on so well. We still do." He relived the account to Sue. "And at least I still had family here, with Kevin. I mean we grew up together." "Kevin's a great guy. I am glad he has Jac. They seem so happy together." "Oh they are. They are inseparable. She comes everywhere with Kevin, but that is a good thing. They are perfect for one another. Drive each other crazy. On the surface they seem so different. But if you delve deeper they have a lot in common. It can be a fiery pairing though. Many times we have stood by to let them sort things out on their own, none of us game to get involved." He chuckled. "Then when they make up, don't expect to see them any time soon." Brian blushed and Sue laughed aloud. He waited for her to stop before adding, "but besides being lover's they are the best of friends and despite their heated moments they love one another deeply." "You can see that when they are together. Kevin needs someone like Jac to keep him on his toes." "How long have you known Kevin?" "Oh gosh, I can't remember. It's been a while. Before he was a Backstreet Boy. We both knew Jason, and saw each other often when he was in town. He isn't here so much now. It was really nice to see him again the other day, the day he asked me to join you all at Tabu yesterday. It had been a while since I had seen him. I hadn't even met Jac." "That has been a while. They've been engaged for several months now." "Yeah, that was good news," Sue smiled. "Yeah," Brian looked wistfully away. Kevin had what Brian wanted. It was something he always wanted, and he wished he could find the right girl. He looked at Sue. Maybe she was the one. He liked to think she might be, because he knew he was falling for her in a big way. "So, what are you up to this week in New York?" Sue asked him bringing the subject back to him. She wanted to know more about him. "TV shows mainly. And a few meetings with record execs. That's boring, but meeting the fans is rewarding. They are the ones who make us who we are, so it's nice to meet as many as we can." Sue smiled. He showed being as famous as he was he was still very grounded. She guessed he would be, but this proved it. It's not something she expected from many famous people. She knew Kevin was the same. He had never treated her any differently than before. "So, will I get to see you on TV then? When you are there?" "Yeah, if you watch. We will be on the Morning show on Wednesday, and also Jay Leno. I can't remember the rest, it all blurs into one after a while. We're taping a few shows too, and doing radio." "Doesn't sound like there is any time for rest." He chuckled. "There's not. It can get exhausting, but I always make sure I get enough. I have to……." He trailed off, realising Sue would likely not know about his heart surgery. "You have to?" He grimaced. She didn't know. He didn't like bringing it up. Most people knew about it, most fans. But Sue wasn't a fan in the true sense of the word. "I had heart surgery back in 1998. I know I have to take things easy when I get tired. Being run down isn't good for me." Sue's eyes widened. "Heart surgery?" Brian sighed. He didn't want to get into it with Sue right now. He wanted to get to know her, not talk about himself. "Yeah, corrective surgery. It's all fine now. I am just careful now, look after me better." "Understandable. Wow, I bet it was a scary time for you." She sensed he didn't want to dwell on the subject. "Yeah, it was. I'm glad it's over." "Must have been tough touring then. Tell me about life on the road. I would think it would be fascinating." "It has it's ups and downs." Brian was thankful the subject was changed, but he wanted to get to know her too. He was saved by the arrival of their salads. Sharon brought them out in a grand entrance, laying each plate in front of them professionally and then proceeded to lay their napkins on their laps for them. Sue chuckled at the gesture, feeling as if she was in a 5 star restaurant. Sharon disappeared as quickly as she arrived and Brian seized the moment to change the direction of their conversation. He took a sip of his drink and looked at her. "So, how did you get into computers?" "Sort of just happened. They have always fascinated me. I loved tinkering with programs and making graphics. So it was natural for me to study it further. When I graduated, I found this freelance work and it has kept me busy ever since. Some days I feel I spend my whole life there." "You don't get out?" "Oh I get out, yeah, doing all the normal things, but with work, and also the friends I have online, some days I seem to sit there a lot. Work I always need to do, and I have a timetable I set myself. Then I find I chat with my friends too." "You chat?" "Oh yes! I have some very dear friends online. We have never met, but they are like family to me." "Sounds a little lonely to me." Brian said, hoping he wasn't offending her with the comment. "Far from it Brian. Some of these friends are closer than real friends. Just because I don't see them face to face, doesn't make them less of a friend. They are always there for me when I need them. We are there for each other. Sometimes the so called real friends aren't as caring." "Yeah, I understand that." He felt he needed to lighten the mood. It sounded like someone close to her had hurt her. He didn't want to pry. "So, no online romances?" Sue laughed. "No Brian. No online romances. They happen, I know, I have seen a few myself, but they usually don't work out. I definitely steer clear of them. That is the one thing that is better in person." She answered him, smiling mischievously at him. Brian looked away knowing what she meant. He looked back and smiled at her. "I agree." They had finished their salad by then and Sharon had brought out a dessert for them. They both grinned when they saw the chocolate creation they hadn't ordered in the shape of a heart. Sharon and Rod were incurable romantics and loved to play cupid. The rest of the evening continued on in the same manner, both of them learning new things about the other. Brian wanted to take Sue for a quiet walk along the lake, but he thought it was too soon. A romantic walk hand in hand was inviting, but he just wasn't sure. After all, he only met Sue yesterday, and the southern gentleman in him didn't think it was appropriate just yet. He liked to take his time. After fond farewells to Sharon and Rod, with promised to return soon, Brian drove Sue back to her place. As they drove up he knew he would walk her to the door, but up until the moment he was actually standing in front of the door, he didn't know if he would kiss her. Now, realising he wouldn't see her for a week, he knew he had to. There was no question about it. "I really enjoyed today Sue." He said nervously. Sue smiled. She could sense he was nervous and wanted to help him as much as she could by somehow letting him know she wanted the kiss she hoped he would give her. "It was a great day Brian. Best I have had for a while. I enjoyed getting to know you better." "Yeah, me too." He looked down scuffing his feet on the concrete. "Sue?" He looked back up into her eyes and he was lost. His whole body and mind were suddenly taken over with a need to kiss the beautiful woman standing in front of him. Sue waited. When he looked back up at her, she knew what he was going to do and she waited. He moved closer and she looked up at him, still waiting. When she felt his breath on her lips her eyes automatically closed and she waited. He pressed his warm lips against hers and slid them along hers for a soft kiss that felt to Sue like the most romantic she had ever experienced. His hesitation could still be felt, but it was that hesitation that started the hum of desire buzzing through her. He pulled away, but her eyes remained shut. She wanted to keep reliving the short kiss over and over in her mind even when they were apart. Her breathing was coming in short gasps and her body felt electrified. She wanted him to do that again. "Sue?" Still she kept her eyes closed, reliving the short, sensual kiss in her mind, intensifying the feelings. "Sue, are you okay?" Brian asked her. He was not unaffected by the kiss they had shared either. These were new feelings that scared him and he wanted to run. But Sue standing there with her eyes shut scared him. Didn't she like the kiss? Finally she opened her eyes and he saw her answer. It was written in her eyes. She liked the kiss and Brian took a deep breath to steady himself from the effects the realisation had on him. "Brian," Sue whispered. "Do that again." He didn't hesitate and lowered his mouth to hers. Their lips clung to each other neither one of them wanting to part. His arms gently pulled her closer to him, and his body filled with instant desire. He wanted this woman and it scared him. He had to get away. He needed to think. He moved away from Sue, feeling slightly dazed. He looked at her equally dazed features and knew he had to escape. She was turning his mind inside out and he had to sort himself out. "I'll see you when I get back Sue. I'll ring you." He said backing away. He took one last long look at her then turned and jogged to his car quickly. He climbed in and with a wave he was gone. Sue stood on the step wondering what had gone wrong. She blinked and her fingers came up to lightly touch her lips. Heat coiled in her belly, radiating up to her chest to leave a warm glow around her heart. Again she relived the kiss, almost feeling the way his whiskers had tickled her. She loved that beard on him. She knew it was only new, she had seen a recent TV interview of them and he was just starting to grow it then. She liked it the way it was now. And she loved the way it felt. Why had he run away so suddenly? Was it something she had done? Was it because she had asked him to kiss her again? Didn't he like kissing her? She frowned. She sure liked kissing him. She walked inside and relived the kiss in her mind over and over again. Every little detail of the kiss and couldn't find a single clue as to why he would run away. He seemed to like it, he held her tight, he looked at her like she was the most special thing on this earth to him. All she could possibly come up with was it scared him to get so close so quickly, and she had to agree with that. What she was feeling for him was overwhelming. Okay, it was no need to panic and worry that he was never going to contact her again. And if that was what had happened, then she would chalk it up to another bad experience. This one would hurt more though because she liked him more and she thought he liked her. No, that wouldn't happen. Their entire day had been perfect. Ahhh, she had to stop or she would go insane. She broke out of her analysis of the day and the reason behind the sudden ending to it when the phone began ringing loudly. Nobody rings at this time of the night unless it's trouble or….. She smiled to herself and hurried to the phone. "Hello." Sue said quietly into the receiver. "Hi Sue. It's Brian. I just want to…" He paused. "I'm…." he stopped again. "Sue I'm sorry I ran out on you the way I did just before." Sue didn't know what to say and chewed on her bottom lip. The silence was deafening. "Sue? You still there?" "Yeah Brian, I'm here. Ummm, why did you go so suddenly?" She had to know. He sighed into the phone and she shivered at the thought of that breath really caressing her ear. "I don't know. I just… The kiss, it felt so good." "Hmm hmmm, it was." "You thought so too?" "Hmm hmmm," she repeated. "Perfect end to the day. Sue, I just wasn't sure. I guess Kevin told you I get nervous around girls I like, and I really like you." "Brian." She waited for his 'yes.' "I really like you too." "You do?" "Yes I do. And next time you see me, you owe me another kiss." "You got it. As soon as I am back." He stopped for a moment. "I have to be going now. I'll never get any sleep before the trip tomorrow. I better get some at least." "Yeah, have a good trip." "I'll be thinking of you. I'll ring you." "I'd like that. Bye Brian." "Bye Sue." She hung up the phone smiling to herself. He said he really liked her. This was going to work out this time, she was sure. |