Authors: Cheryl Harper
Laura felt the flutter of anxious hope in her stomach as Mandy winked. She said, “I feel like, when it’s all said and done, when you weigh the pluses and minuses, you’ll still be glad you took your chance.”
Shane nodded reluctantly. “Just as long as you know that he’s moving on. This is just the latest exciting episode of KT’s life and he’s happy to share it with you, but . . .” Shane trailed off.
“But I’m not looking at happily ever after.” Laura knew how the rest of the sentence went. “I don’t think I really believe in that anyway.”
Shane patted her on the shoulder. “Happy right now is pretty damn good and with KT you’ve got a guarantee of that.” She smiled and went out into the hallway. “Show me where to set up my machine.”
And just like that, Laura felt lighter. Other women did this. They took chances on relationships. Sometimes they paid off. Sometimes they didn’t. But she wasn’t being irresponsible or stupid. She’d taken a look at the pros and cons and could make a sound decision about what she thought would make her happy. This had nothing to do with Holly or her safety. It had nothing to do with paying the bills. This was about what she wanted.
Now she only had to figure out how to go for it.
After she let Shane into the next room and she pronounced it adequate, Laura crossed the hall to the conference room. One of the huge tables was gone and the other was shoved in the center of the long wall. She walked slowly around the room to configure in her head the sea of chairs that had sprung up. And she also did her best to imagine what approaching KT Masters would look like. She could logically lay out a rational plan, a no-strings adventure, and make it very clear what she was looking for. The idea of examining it that closely in the stark light of day made her stomach flutter with nerves. Or she could just get swept up in KT’s hot glances and dumb come-ons. The idea of Laura Charles approaching KT Masters was hard to grasp but being pursued by the man boggled the mind.
“Need some help?” KT leaned against the doorway, looking casual and rugged and delectable and possibly even a bit wicked in a ratty T-shirt and jeans with a small hole in the knee.
She yanked her T-shirt down as far as it would go and then pointed at the table. “Help me swing this along the back wall.” He saluted and went to pick up one end while she pulled the other. “I’ll talk to Tony in the morning about water and cookies. I don’t know what the cost will be but it will be easier than bringing it in and I think Willodean will work with us.”
KT nodded and picked up two of the white leather chairs. “She’s been happy to work with us on everything so far. I was afraid of stepping on toes at first, but this year’s show is so much bigger that I think it’s like a different animal.”
Laura laughed. “Yeah, anything that makes the Rock’n’Rolla the star of a bigger show is all right in Willodean’s book.” They arranged all the seats hospital waiting room style, with small groupings of six or eight.
“I think Shane and Mandy are all set up,” KT said as he plopped down in one of the chairs. “They seemed about ready to go when I stopped in.” He patted the chair next to him and fluttered his eyelashes at her. “Come here.”
Maybe this was going to be easier than she thought. And she’d almost made up her mind completely. Nearly. But it looked like this was her shot.
Laura stepped carefully over to the seat and perched gingerly on the edge.
“I have to tell you again how much I appreciate how much you’ve helped me today. If you want to take a break tomorrow, I totally get it. As it is, with Mike’s help, I don’t see that there’s much we can do to alter the budget at this point. Tomorrow we’ll run through auditions. With as many contestants that have signed up, it’ll take all day so I’ve got plenty to do.”
Laura traced the seam on the outside of her leg with nervous fingers. “Great. I’ve got the dinner service tomorrow night but I’ve got something I have to take care of in the afternoon. So I’ll just see you at dinner?”
She had to drop off Holly at her best friend’s house. She’d be glad to have a break from the running list of all the wonders that Nashville held for a teenage girl. Holly had clearly done some research on the matter before she’d even mentioned it to Laura. After she’d called and shrieked that she was going into the phone, she’d run back into the living room to give Laura a hug and the itinerary planning had started. Money didn’t make the world go around but it sure made living with a teenager easier.
“For some reason, the idea of waiting a whole day to see you again seems . . . wrong.” One corner of his mouth tilted up. “That sounds like such bullshit, doesn’t it? It’s either a sign of my fatigue or infatuation that I went ahead with it.”
Laura shook her head sadly. “Do you have any good lines?”
He pretended to consider her question. “Apparently not. But, on the up side, at least I haven’t told you how much I like you in those jeans. That would probably just be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable.”
She tilted her head. “Right. Even better than the showgirl costume.”
He crossed his hands over his heart. “So much better than the showgirl costume.”
“And the funeral clothes?”
He grimaced. “The funeral clothes are bad. Too serious, like you’re a hundred years old.” He raised an eyebrow. “You aren’t, are you? Maybe I should have asked.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “No. Thirty-two.”
“Whew, that’s a relief. I like an older woman but not as old as those clothes say you are.”
She laughed. “I think I’m only that old on the inside.”
His smile faded. “I feel like I should demand answers about why and how and what could make you feel that way.”
“But you won’t.”
He sighed. “Not tonight.”
Relieved, she said, “Good choice.”
“Right. If I do that, there’s a chance you’ll yell at me again. And then you’ll storm off. And more than anything, I just want to kiss you.” He wrapped one arm over the back of her chair and gripped the armrest with the other, neatly trapping her. As he leaned forward, he whispered against her lips, “Unless you really, really, really don’t want me to. If that’s the case, tell me now.”
She couldn’t have spoken if her life depended on it. This was it. If she played it safe here, it would never be this easy again. To get what she wanted, she had to be brave. And right now, more than anything else, she wanted his kiss. Each breath she tried to take caught in her throat and the overwhelming heat of being this close to him was baking her brain. And he was still too far away. His arms around her were a strong comfort but she wanted to be pressed against him. KT Masters made her feel safe enough to be brave and so very feminine all at once. She’d never felt this way and she couldn’t give it up. Not yet.
When he hesitated too long, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his. This close she could smell his incredible mix of clean man and warm skin and his lips touched off sparks that landed in a hot pool low in her abdomen. KT wrapped his arm around her shoulders to pull her closer while the other landed on her thigh. Laura jumped but he tilted his head and invaded her mouth before she could catch her breath. When his tongue tangled with hers, she loosened her white-knuckled grip on the other armrest and twined her arms around his neck. Every tentative thrust of his tongue sent spikes of heat to her breasts and made her stomach flutter.
She returned his kiss with heat, touching his tongue with hers while she scratched her fingers lightly through the hair at the nape of his neck. When he groaned and pulled back, she peppered quick kisses on his lips and ran her hands down his arms. He tightened his hold on her for a minute and slowly released her shoulders. The hand on her thigh squeezed and shaped and she could feel the heat and strength of his fingers turning her center to mush.
Almost absentmindedly, he muttered, “Love these damn jeans” as he watched his hand squeeze and rub her thigh. His thumb slipped in to tease the inseam and Laura wrapped her fingers around his wrist. But she didn’t stop him. The twitches of that thumb were distracting. And he knew it. He smiled. “I have two lines. See if either one of these works for you.”
She moaned and rested her head against his shoulder. “They won’t. I know they won’t. Not tonight.”
She could feel his smile against her temple. “I say ‘I really like these jeans’ and then you say . . .”
“Why?” She hated that the word escaped on a long, drawn out moan but his hand on her thigh was making her crazy.
“Then I say ‘it looks like you’ll need help getting out of them and I’m happy to volunteer.’” When she didn’t answer, he leaned back to see her face. “You know, because they’re so damned tight in a very good way.”
She shook her head miserably and leaned back against his shoulder.
He cleared his throat. “All right. How about this? I don’t think I can wait a whole day to see you. Let’s have breakfast together. I’ll wake you when room service gets there.”
She grabbed the hand on her thigh to give it a hard squeeze. “I actually think that one’s worse.”
“Damn.” He leaned closer and rested his head on her shoulder. He gave the side of her neck a quick kiss before he straightened up. The hand was the last thing to retreat, possibly because she had the death grip of doom on it. She didn’t want to let it go. That single hand had given her more pleasure than any hand had in a long time. She was sad and so sorry to see him slide it back to his side of the armrest.
Laura covered her face with both hands. “God, I want to. You have no idea how I want to. I want to, I want to, I want to.” She stood and leaned over him to kiss him solidly on the lips. His hands came up to rest on her hips and she did it again, tilting her head to steal his breath.
“But I can’t. Not tonight.” She bit her lip. “But, God, I want to.”
He grinned. “I get it. You want to.”
She leaned her forehead against his. “It’s been so long since I wanted to. You have no idea how badly I want to. Right now.”
“But not tonight.”
She nodded. “I can’t tonight, but maybe, tomorrow, after the dress rehearsal, I don’t know, if you’re still interested in seeing some article of mine balled up beside your bed, we could give it a try. Just the one night.” She squeezed his shoulders with both hands. “Can you wait? Will you?”
He shot a look down at the bulge behind his zipper. “I’m not sure. I may die of unrequited lust.”
She smiled. “Oh, it’s requited. It is so requited right now.”
He laughed. “Good. A wise woman once lectured me on the importance of setting goals. A kiss was my goal for today. I’ve met and exceeded that, so good for me. And I didn’t even use a numbered to-do list to achieve it. At least I have that satisfaction.”
Laura kissed him again and straightened. As she looked down at him, healthy and strong and hot and so handsome, she felt sick with regret. But she was a mother first. Holly needed her. She was heading out for a weekend trip. There’d be plenty of time to act like . . . a woman her age after Holly was safely on her way. She could sleep alone for one more night. She’d done it for fourteen years. And she’d have a very nice reward waiting. The look in his eyes promised so.
She rubbed her forehead as she walked over to the door. He didn’t move.
“Are you coming?” She motioned at the hallway and put her hand on the light switch.
He grimaced. “Nope. I think I’ll sit here for a minute, enjoy the peace and quiet.”
She could feel the heat covering her face and felt awful and wonderful and sad and happy and so, so hot. When she opened her mouth to say something, maybe apologize, she wasn’t sure, he said, “Maybe I’ll calculate the minutes until this time tomorrow. Math is always a good distraction for me.”
Laura nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you then.” She forced one foot in front of the other and did her best not to laugh like a mental patient or melt into a puddle on the walk around the pool. She paused in front of her door, and took three calming breaths. Maybe she worked as a showgirl waitress in a crazy bar instead of as a respected assistant. And maybe she sacrificed a million things so her daughter would have a safe, happy home. And she had her doubts that anyone really had a happy ending anymore, but she had not a single concern about how her night with KT Masters would turn out.
A
FTER
L
AURA LEFT
the RCA room, KT leaned his head back to look up at the ceiling. It was going to be a long night of looking up at the ceiling. He wasn’t in a big hurry to head up to the tiki lounge with the solid gold bathroom to do so. He thought he could hear jingling change out in the hallway. Maybe Laura had changed her mind. Maybe she couldn’t wait either. Maybe she wanted to buy a Coke from the vending machine. He could go for some caffeine and sugar before he helped her out of those jeans. He trotted over to the door and stuck his head out to come face-to-face with Willodean and Misty. The hound looked like she’d been up for seven days straight, but Willodean looked like she was just starting her day. Her green slacks were wrinkle-free and the white jean jacket she wore had a nice crisp edge.
“Miss Willodean, are you headed out on the town?”
She laughed and rested a hand against Misty’s head. “Just headed over to the staff apartments to talk to Laura. Misty needs her evening constitutional.”
KT rubbed the back of his neck and thought pure thoughts. “She, uh, she just left, headed that direction.”
Willodean nodded and waited.
“She’s been a huge help. What a difference a day has made.”
Willodean smiled.
“I think we’re on track to make this Almost Famous fabulous, just right for the twentieth year.” Willodean tilted her head.
“If you’d like, you can sit in on the auditions. I think there are close to forty entertainers signed up. We’ll cut that down to twenty before the show.” KT cleared his throat. “But of course, you already know that since you’ve been running the competition for years. All by yourself.”
Willodean patted Misty’s head. “Am I making you nervous, KT? I can’t even imagine how that would be possible. You aren’t up to no good, are you?”
He was pretty sure that what he and Laura got up to would be really, really good. But that grandmotherly vibe that he picked up from Willodean made him want to convince her he was as pure as Ivory soap. “No, ma’am. It must be the hour. Late night.”