Real Time (13 page)

Sam poured a cup of coffee and sat down across from Kate, watching her play. She stopped after a few hands and looked him over. “Something bothering you, Sam?” she asked.

“What’s going on with you and Nick?”

“Going on with what?” she asked, trying not to give anything away.

“Kate,” he said, pointedly looking at her. “I know Nick better than anyone, next to Mickey. He has been a different person these past few months and the only thing which changed was you.” Sam took a sip of his coffee, the cup seeming tiny in his hand. “Well, except for the tour we did last year.
It
was difficult because Marcus’s wife kept harassing Marcus, saying she needed him at home. Nick does not deal well with strife. This is different.”

“Is that why Marcus quit?” she asked, trying to divert him.

“Yes. Nick gave him a job as a studio musician so he could be home with his family more. They had one of those ‘oops’ babies, when theirs were almost grown, and his wife couldn’t handle it. Nick doesn’t use hired studio people – all of his people record and tour with him, so this spot was opened. But you’re trying to change the subject.”

No wonder Nick liked this security company so well. They had the same bulldog attitude Nick did about stuff. It wouldn’t surprise her if Nick owned their company as part of the studio. “Maybe you should ask Nick.”

“I thought I would start with you,” Sam said. “At first, I thought you and Brock had started something. I’d never seen him be so protective before and I was a little worried - he has a solid marriage with a couple of kids. But it became apparent it wasn’t what was happening so I started to watch in a different direction, especially after the events in London. Come on, spill it.”

Kate didn’t know whether she should just tell him. She didn’t think that he would be indiscreet, but this was something she and Nick hadn’t made a decision on. “Brock’s a good guy. His lessons in self-defense were invaluable.”

Kate paused for a moment, putting her words together. “Nick and I were supposed to get married during the break. Unfortunately the whole episode with Jamie Garwood kept Nick too busy.”

“Married?” Sam asked, with an incredulous tone. “Nick proposed marriage?”

“You sound surprised.”

“I don’t know surprised even covers it,” Sam answered. “Stunned is more like it. Nick has been saying for years he had no intention of
ever
getting married again.”

“We fought it,” Kate admitted. “It started after the fiasco with my ex in New York. You know, stolen moments, an occasional kiss when no one was around. We knew for sure when he got back from London, emotionally all torn up.”

“Yeah, those few days were bad,” Sam concurred. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so messed up. I had to drag him back to the airport; he was so out of it.”

“I’m glad you were there, Sam.”

“You and me both. What escalated this,” he motioned, waving his hand through the air between them, “to where he would even consider marriage?”

“I was sick when we finished the first tour. I passed out in the studio when we were recording the movie track and he took me back to his place to take care of me. He and his housekeeper were my lifeline for two full days I still don’t remember much of. And, well, it just happened – we finally jumped the hurdle of he was my boss and we ended up in bed together. More information than you were probably looking for... I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone else that.”

“I won’t,” he said. “But now I’m going to ask the big question. Why aren’t you guys sleeping together now?”

Kate had the grace to blush. “Nick’s concerned about what the rest of the band would think. He sees it as no different as a boss bedding his secretary. It’s frustrating, I’ll admit. And if Nick has been more terse lately, it’s probably why.”

Sam started to smile. “Now,
that
sounds like Nick. And Kate –sorry if I was being too nosy.”

“It’s okay, Sam. I know you’re out to protect him.”

“It’s not a bad thing,” he assured her. “Nick has grown hard, distant, over the years and it’s nice to see him starting to relax some. Don’t worry, Kate. I won’t say anything.”

* * *

S
am smiled as he got up and left the room. He wanted to dance in the hall because Nick wanting to get married was like something out of a fairy tale. And he wasn’t about to let this get away because of a lack of time. He had a wild idea of something to do when they got to Rome but he had to confirm what Kate had been saying. Sam knew Nick was in his room on the phone with the studio, so he thought he would go relieve Mike and wait for the opportunity to talk to him. Mike was happy to be free to eat, and maybe see some sights, so he was out the door in a flash. Sam picked up a magazine on the end table to occupy his time until Nick got off the phone.

Sam coming in and relieving Mike didn’t disturb Nick. He never looked up. Security went in and out of rooms with him all the time. Sam was beginning to think Nick was glued to the phone more than he used to be. He knew that Nick made a lot of changes since buying into the studio, but the excessive amount of phone calls he was having to absorb had to be messing with his patience.

Once off the phone, Nick stood up, stretching his muscles. Sam saw he was finished and set the magazine back on the table. He got up and stood in the doorway. “Hey, Nick?”

“Yeah, Sam?”

“Can I ask you a straight question?”

“Sure, mate,” he said. “What’s on your mind?”

“Do you and Kate have something going on?”

Nick was harder to read than Kate, but he saw the flicker in his eyes. “What makes you think we have something going on?”

Slouching against the door frame, Sam started to laugh. “Nick, I’ve known you almost twenty years. I can
smell
when something is different. And the only change has been Kate.”

“It’s a mess, Sam,” Nick admitted. “I told myself when I hired her, I wouldn’t touch her. But I just can’t help myself.”

“How does she feel about you?”

“What are you, my therapist?” Nick asked. Sam kept smiling at him, his gaze never wavering, not at all affected by Nick’s cynical tone. “I want to marry her, Sam. And I would have during the break, if that bloody Jamie Garwood had kept it in his pants.”

“I have an idea how to fix this tomorrow - let me make some phone calls. By the way,” he asked curiously, “do you have a ring?”

Nick started to laugh. “Yes, I have a ring. But what makes you think anything needs fixing?”

“I have been watching you both and it’s obvious neither of you are happy,” Sam stated. “Oh, and make sure you bring the ring with you tomorrow night. You’ll need it.”

* * *

S
am left the room, apparently to go make his ‘calls.’ Nick shook his head as the phone rang yet again and, sitting back down in the chair, he answered it. It was the studio, of course, but this time it was just a couple of the PR folks in London with some questions. Those kinds of calls tended to take much less time. Once off that call, he started thinking about what Sam had been saying. He had no idea what he was planning, but it didn’t surprise him Sam had seen straight through the façade he and Kate had tried to build. And, if he had a way to expedite his marriage to Kate, Nick was all for it. He pulled the ring out of his pocket, looking at the way the diamond in the middle sparkled. He had brought it for no other reason than he liked what it represented.

His nerves had settled down since London. Suicide wasn’t exactly what he had been hoping for as a resolution for Kate’s ex, but he was glad that page in her history was done. And somehow they had managed to keep it low key in the press, because, after the initial morning of tabloid headlines, the story died down quickly. Also, the whole boss-employee thing had disintegrated but Kate had remained steadfast – she could have accepted his offer that night but had flat turned him down with no change in the six weeks which followed. Nick had mixed feelings about it – so he was glad Sam was going to put something together.

* * *

D
uring break in the show in Rome, Sam found Kate as she was coming back from the ladies room. “When this is done tonight, make sure you get in the front car with Nick.”

Kate had no idea why he was so adamant but nodded her agreement anyway and got ready for the next half of the show. Nick did all his ballads in the first half so the second was hard rock and roll music and it was a lot more demanding. Nick usually did one encore – two if he was feeling really good, and as soon as they were done, Sam whisked Kate and Nick into the front car along with himself and the driver. The four of them drove off into the Italian landscape. And this was making Kate nervous - she had no idea what was going on. She had originally thought Nick’s security was trying to defuse some issue and wanted them out of the way quickly. The thought disappeared as they drove quietly through the countryside until they reached what looked like an old church. It was set upon a mountain top and in the daylight, Kate was sure you could see down into the city of Rome. At night though, it was dark with very little light in the courtyard. Sam opened the door for Kate and led the couple into the church proper. 

“What’s going on Sam?” Kate asked.

“Well, I am here to fix what didn’t happen before we left LA,” Sam said, with a smile. “This is where I married my wife ten years ago.”

That was news to Kate; she had no idea Sam even had a wife. “And?”

There was a priest at the end of the pews toward the altar. “Father Giovanni is here to marry you two.”

“Marry us?” Kate sputtered. “Sam, this is craziness. I’m not Catholic.”

“Neither is he, “Sam said smiling. “This is a Greek Orthodox church.”

Nick started to laugh. ‘You’re something, mate,” he said. “I’d no idea this is what you were planning.”

“This is only the first part,” Sam answered mysteriously. “So let’s do this before you guys get cold feet.”

Sam herded them into the church and marched them down the aisle together. As Father Giovanni started his blessing, in English no less, Kate started to realize that this was truly happening. Nick hadn’t said much but had a tight hold of her hand.

The whole thing felt like a dream, with the priest going through the ceremony. She repeated her vows with a steady voice and was surprised when Nick pulled a diamond band out of his pocket. It had an upraised diamond in the center with smaller diamonds going down each side; the ring was small, dainty, and not bulky. Nick slid it on Kate’s finger, fitting perfectly, and the priest finished his blessing. As soon as he was done, Nick kissed Kate. They thanked the priest and Sam hurried them back into the car.

“What’s the rush, mate,” Nick asked. “You act like you are on a deadline.”

“It’s already past midnight so you don’t have much time before morning.”

* * *

T
hey drove only a few minutes before pulling up in front of a gorgeous house. There was a sign stating it was a bed and breakfast, and Nick quickly figured out the second part of Sam’s plan. It touched him Sam had gone to so much effort. The evening had been surreal – Nick could hardly believe they had gotten married. It was not something he had been actively working on. He and Kate had discussed maybe going to Las Vegas after this tour finished, but it had been purely speculation. Based on the rules Nick had set in place, they didn’t get much face time together and Kate was still holding to his edict, even though it was no longer an issue. When the car stopped, Sam got out and went inside. He was back with a room key in mere moments.

“Okay, guys. Top floor, room seven,” he said. “I’ll be back to get you in the morning, say around eleven?”

Nick took the key and held his hand out to Sam. Sam took it and Nick pulled him into a quick hug. “I owe you, mate,” he said, releasing him.

“Hey, not a problem. I figured I better act while the irons were hot. Didn’t want either of you changing your mind.”

Sam got into the car and it drove off into the night. Nick was surprised Sam left them there, no security lagging behind, but he had seemed to know the place well. He took Kate’s hand and led her inside. The staircase was to the right and they walked the two flights up to a door with the number seven on it. Nick unlocked the door, standing to the side to allow Kate to enter first. The room was decorated in white lace and there was a king sized bed in the middle. Nick smiled, locking the door behind them. It was dimly lit but there was more than enough light to see by.

“Come here,” Nick said, as Kate moved into his arms. “This has been so incredible.”

“Not what I expected when Sam told me to make sure I got into the front car. I thought there was something going on.”

“Well there was, love,” he answered, teasing her. “Just not what you were thinking.”

“No, not what I was thinking. And you even had a ring – makes me wonder if you weren’t behind it.”

“Hey, this was all Sam,” he said, hugging her tighter. “I bought the ring in LA, before the whole Garwood fiasco. I brought it with me because I liked what it meant - even kept it in my pocket for good luck. “

“Are you sure this is what you really want, Nick?” Kate asked, in a serious tone. “I know you haven’t been a big fan of marriage and how binding it is. It’s not too late to undo this.”

“I have never been more certain of anything in my life,” Nick said softly, his lips touching hers. “But the big question is whether or not you are, Kate. You know being married to me is going to be difficult. I’m not a romantic, in any sense of the word, and I don’t know much about sharing. I only know I love you.”

“And I love you enough to want to make it work,” Kate answered, pulling his head down to hers, deepening the kiss. Nick made a noise in his throat before scooping her up in his arms and placing her on the bed, lying down beside her.

* * *

S
am was back at exactly eleven the next morning. He and the driver pulled in front of the house to find Nick and Kate waiting for him, sitting on the front steps. Sam took a minute to look them over; he was sure he hadn’t seen Nick so relaxed in ages. Nick had his arm wrapped around Kate’s knee, holding her to him and his head was bent, listening to what she was saying. His hair fell between them like a light cloud, as he had left it loose. That, more than anything, told Sam he was relaxed - the only time he ever left it down was on stage or as he was going to bed. Nick stood up as Sam got out of the car and he reached down to help pull Kate to her feet. Kate was smiling too and it made Sam feel good that he had made the right decision.