*Shannon*
I had no clue who this blonde guy was. He was adorable, that was for sure. And when I’d barreled into him at top speed, I hadn’t missed how great he smelled. And now he was leading me somewhere. I hadn’t been able to stop the automatic flinch when he’d touched me, and now I regretted it. He’d dropped his hand pretty quick, much to my dismay.
“Where are we going?” I asked, for he was leading me away from the bar. He had said he’d buy me a drink, right? Then why—
“To the lounge. My friends are there.”
How would Cassie find me there? “Okay,” I said softly, and when he gently touched my arm to turn me towards a door I didn’t flinch. His thumb grazed my elbow, and I shivered involuntarily.
The lounge, as he called it, was sparse compared to the main part of the club. There were a few sofas, a couple of tables. I glanced around, saw a guy behind the bar mixing a drink. From here you could still hear the music, but it was quieter. He led me to the corner, where two guys sat sipping beers. They looked vaguely familiar...come to think of it, so did Blondie.
“Shit, I didn’t even ask what your name is,” he said, and I smiled slightly.
“Shannon.”
“Cool. I’m Nick.”
“Whatcha up to, little man?” a raspy voice asked. Glancing at the two, I saw one of them was eyeing me over his shades.
“Oh, man,” Nick muttered next to me. “Shannon, this is Howie and AJ. Guys, this is Shannon. Have a seat,” he told me. “I’ll go get that drink for you now.”
“Sprite,” I requested, and he nodded as he headed away. I released a gentle sigh, settling into a chair across from the guy with the shades. Who was who?
“Nice to meet you,” the one to my left said, raising his beer with a smile.
“Same here,” the other one said. One brow was raised, and when I lifted my eyes to his he looked away.
O-kay. “So, um, you’re friends of Nick’s?” I asked casually.
Shades Guy chuckled. “Yeah.”
“We work together,” Smiley supplied.
“Cool.”
*Nick*
I glanced over my shoulder as I waited for our drinks. She looked uncomfortable. Nodding my thanks when the bartender slid our glasses over, I picked them up and headed back. When I set her Sprite in front of her she glanced up with a smile.
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“So, how did you two meet?” Howie asked casually.
Shit. Just like D to start a conversation. “We, uh, ran into each other,” I said with a shrug.
“Literally,” Shannon muttered, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. When she looked at me and I saw the humor in her eyes, I felt that warmth inside me again.
I realized I was staring at her a few moments later, when Howie kicked me under the chair. “What the fu—“ Rubbing my throbbing knee, I sent him a glare.
“The lady asked you a question.”
Shit. “Sorry. My mind was wondering,” I said, flashing her a smile.
She rolled her eyes. “Did it get back okay?” she asked.
Huh? AJ and Howie laughed, clapping their hands on the table. Shit. She’d just insulted me. But jokingly. Running a hand through my hair, I gave her a smile again.
“I was asking what you did. Howie said you work together,” she said, and when she touched my hand it was as though lightning had struck me.
“Oh. Um, we’re in a group,” I said with a shrug. Was she playing with me or something? She had to know who we were.
“I see.” Something flickered in her eyes, and then a slight flush crept up her cheeks. “Holy shitballs,” she breathed. “You’re the guys everyone was talking about?”
“What were they saying?” AJ asked, motioning for another beer.
“I just overheard someone say the Backstreet Boys were here. Sorry, I wouldn’t be able to pick you guys out of a crowd.”
“You’re not a fan?” I asked. Damn, did I sound as hurt as I thought I did?
“Some of your songs are okay, but I wouldn’t say I’m crazy about you. No offense,” she added quickly, and she was blushing again. “I’m just more into classical and opera. But Cassie has a couple of your albums, and I’ve heard them a few times.”
“That’s cool,” Howie said with a wave of his hand. “At least you’re not attacking us.”
“Yeah,” I said with a smile.
*Shannon*
Okay. Why did they have to tell me who they were? I would have been much more relaxed thinking they were three guys who were friends, who had connections and could get in the VIP lounge. Sipping my Sprite, I listened politely as Howie talked about the recording they were doing. Well whoop-dee-do. No offense, but I wasn’t about to go running out and buy their albums.
No, that was a lie. I probably would, I decided as Howie excused himself. First thing in the morning, I’d run down to Wal-Mart and get one. Looking over at Nick, I released a soft sigh. Of course. He was gorgeous—why wouldn’t he be famous? He probably had women throwing themselves at him on a daily basis.
“So, Shannon, what do you do?” he asked me, and when I looked into his eyes I was taken aback by how clear they were.
“I’m a pianist with the Symphony,” I told him.
“Whoa. Really?” he asked. He sounded impressed.
I nodded, smiling slightly. “I’ve only been there for a year now. Next week we start rehearsals for Phantom of the Opera. It opens in a couple weeks,” I said.
“Hey, now that’s cool,” AJ said from across me. He’d been so quiet I’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Do you want to come?” I asked suddenly. Oh, damn. “I can see if they have an empty box.”
Nick didn’t look too enthusiastic, but AJ was practically grinning. “That’d be great,” he said before Nick could reply.
Smiling, I finished my soda and fiddled with my straw for a moment. “I better go see if I can find Cassie.”
“No, don’t leave,” Nick said, and I felt his hand on my arm again.
“I’ll be back in a few,” AJ announced, getting to his feet. His hand brushed against my arm when he stepped past, and I trembled slightly. There was something so...mysterious about him.
“So, tell me, Nick,” I said, turning to face him. “What’s it like being the fantasy of adolescent girls all over the world?”
He rolled his eyes, and reached for his drink. “It’s pretty good,” he said with a smirk.
Sure it was. He probably never had to wonder if he’d have a date on an important night. Undoubtedly he had a little black book thicker than the yellow pages. Who wouldn’t want to give him their number? I thought, glancing at his body as he looked past me to the bar. He was tall and lean, with muscled arms and just the hint of an I’m-too-sexy-for-all-this attitude. Damn. He was a hottie.
He waved his hand at me, and I realized he’d said something. Shit. I gotta stop doing that.
”Sorry. I was pondering,” I said softly as AJ flopped into the seat across from me. I glanced up at him, and realized Howie had rejoined us as well. When had that happened?
“Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” he asked with a smile.
I couldn’t resist. I had seen one too many episodes of Animaniacs in the last two weeks. “Well I think so, Brain. But, if Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?”
I thought AJ was going to pee on himself, he started laughing so hard. Howie was laughing as well, and after a quick glance at Nick to make sure he wasn’t pissed I joined in. Nick rolled his eyes, and joined us.
“Oh, damn,” AJ wheezed, shaking his head. “Where’d you get your sense of humor from?” he asked.
I shrugged, rattling the ice in my glass. “Hopefully not the same place Nick here got his hair dye,” I said, lifting my glass.
That cracked them up again. Smiling, I shook some ice out of my glass and crunched it. This was too easy.
“Come on,” Nick said, reaching for my hand as his friends chuckled. “Let’s go dance.”
Holy crap in a hand basket. He wanted to dance with me?
She likes me for me
Not because I sing like Pavarotti
Or because I’m such a hottie
There must be something there that I don’t see
I don’t see...