“I do, but sometimes I’m a buffer for others from him. He can be a lot of person sometimes.”
He grabbed her suitcase and led her up the staircase. She had to catch her breath at the top of the stairs. “Wow, I’m tired.”
“No problem.”
He led her into a room that had a four-poster bed and its own bathroom. The tub looked luxurious but she was too tired for that now.
“I’m just going to crawl into bed,” Tamra said.
“I’ll keep him away from you as long as I can, but he is going to want to see you and make sure you’re okay.”
“I know. Where’s Bruce?”
“He’s walking around the perimeter of the property. That’s a lot of handsome man there.”
“You’re taken. And so is he. By a woman.”
“The good ones are all straight,” Roger said.
Tamra laughed. He left her alone and she climbed under the covers. Sleep was not long in coming.
***
Colin and Docta Hop broke for lunch and Colin set about making them something. He hummed as he worked, making grilled cheese sandwiches with slices of tomatoes. Roger came into the kitchen and Bruce stood in the doorway. The man lurked. A lot.
“Anyone not eat grilled cheese?” Colin asked.
All the men assented.
Roger cleared his throat. “Tamra arrived. She’s napping.”
“What bedroom did you put her in?”
“The paisley one.”
“That’s far away from mine. I wanted her next to me,” Colin said as he flipped the sandwiches on the flat top. He had to get one of these for his place. He enjoyed cooking on it.
“I figured she might want some privacy and to be alone,” Roger said.
Colin glanced at him over his shoulder. “I’ll go up and check on her after lunch.”
“Why not just let her sleep?”
“Are you trying to keep me from her?” Colin said.
“Maybe,” Roger said.
Had she asked him to do that? “Don’t I pay your salary?”
“Yes, but I really like Tamra and I don’t want you to chase her away. She’s good for you, but she needs some space.”
Whose side was Roger on? Colin frowned as he dished up the sandwiches. “Really? She did agree to come here.”
“And you didn’t bulldoze her into it?”
Colin had to think about that. Did he? She didn’t have a choice and he thought he was offering her options. “No, I don’t think I did. I gave her a place to stay.”
“And what is the payment for it?”
Docta Hop whistled. “Well, this is getting heated. I’m going to eat in the dining room.”
Bruce followed him in there, but, of course, didn’t say a word. Then again, they were talking about his boss.
“What is that supposed to mean? I haven’t asked her for anything.”
“Just give her some space. Let her come to you. Okay? You’re like a big puppy and she’s not used to you.”
“She knows what I’m like.”
“Yes and she puts up with you anyway. Give her some time.”
Colin frowned again. “But I love her, Roger.”
“I know, but she isn’t at that place. Yet. I’m sure in time she’ll feel the same way. Just give her some space to realize that.”
Colin slumped in his chair, feeling petulant. He’d been reprimanded by his assistant. That hadn’t happened in a long time. “Okay.”
***
Kelly confirmed with Bruce that Tamra had arrived safely. Her phone rang next and it was a detective from New York City.
“This is Detective Gino. I just wanted to update you on the investigation on the attack of Tamra Johnson.”
Kelly hadn’t expected a New York detective to call her about this, but she was glad. “Go ahead.”
“We’ve reviewed the tapes and cannot get a firm I.D. on the perpetrator. I doubt we will.”
She sighed. “That’s what I figured. This person really covered their tracks. I’m wondering, where was the doorman was during this attack?”
“He said he was in the bathroom. Just bad timing, I guess. We’ve checked him out and his background doesn’t give us any reason to question him further. I’m sorry we couldn’t give you better news.”
“No problem. I’m hoping this person will do something again and we’ll be ready for them. We’ll get them.”
“I hope you do,” he said.
She disconnected and leaned back in her desk chair. The place was quiet. Tamra wasn’t noisy, but they often bounced stuff off of each other and right now she could use her friend. Her phone rang again.
“Hi, Larry.”
She smiled into the phone. It had been a great weekend. She hadn’t expected to hear from him so soon.
“Hi. Was just checking to see if you’re free for lunch?”
“You out of the city?”
“I’m going to stop by to see Colin and Docta Hop. I want to see what they’re doing. I could swing by and pick you up afterwards.”
“I actually need to stay in the office. I have a client meeting in an hour then I have some of my guys coming in to be briefed about Colin’s case. I’m going to make sure I have them on twelve hour shifts so that everyone gets sleep.”
“I’ll warn Colin.”
“Yeah. Please do. I’m sure he isn’t happy about the intrusion.”
“Now that he realizes the danger he isn’t so resistant. Tamra’s attack upset him.”
“This job is going to get more complicated next week as Colin begins his publicity for his tour. Then his tour. I was hoping to have this wrapped up by then. Wish we could do something to speed this up.”
“What do you think about baiting the person?”
“Not sounding good, but I’ll listen.”
“I’ll tell you when I bring lunch too you,” he said. “I want to talk to Tamra and Colin first.”
***
Tamra woke as refreshed as she thought she’d ever been. Roger needed a bonus for keeping Colin out of her hair. She wandered down to the kitchen in sweats, hoping no one was home.
Well, no one other than Colin. He’d seen her naked so sweats didn’t matter. She wasn’t worried about Roger either. When she turned the corner and finally found the kitchen, a large, black man stood in front of the sink, washing his hands.
He had more bling around his neck then her apartment had been worth. She blinked and tried to step back quietly. The man turned before she could escape. She still wasn’t moving so fast.
“You must be Tamra,” the man said.
He came toward her with his hand outstretched. She shook it. “Yes, I’m Tamra. How do you know my name?”
“Colin told me you’d be here. I’m Docta Hop. Most people just called me Doc.”
“Nice to meet you, Doc.”
“Colin described you, but he didn’t say how fine you were,” said Docta Hop
Tamra blinked. Was he just being polite or was he coming onto her. “Uh, thanks?”
“I mean it. You’ll be a great addition to things when this album comes out.”
She crossed her arms. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, that if he’s dating a black girl, that will give Colin more street cred. That will make this album sell better in the target market.”
“Dating a black girl? Why should that matter?”
“It does. It shows some acceptance from other blacks,” Docta Hop said.
Tamra had spent most of her life not being a black woman. She was a just a woman and no matter how much racism she encountered, she refused to see any obstacles. She didn’t think of herself as anything other than a woman. Her color shouldn’t matter.
“That’s probably the most racist thing anyone has said to me,” Tamra said.
“I’m seeing it as an advantage.”
“You’re seeing me as black and I don’t care what color I am.”
Docta Hop took a step back. “I’m just saying that your
presence won’t hurt.”
“Not sure my presence will be anywhere near this situation.”
He threw up his hands. “You should reconsider for his career.”
“His career doesn’t need me in it.”
Colin entered the room and the conversation stopped. Tamra wasn’t sure she’d be able to put up with Docta Hop for very long. Where else was she going to go?
***
Colin sensed the tension between Tamra and Docta Hop immediately. He wondered what had happened. Tamra had her arms crossed and Doc seemed to be backing away from her.
“You’re up,” Colin said to Tamra, choosing to ignore the bad air.
She turned to him and gave him a small smile. “Yes. I really needed that nap.”
“You feel better?” he asked.
“I still have a headache and am sore, but I’ll live.”
“I guess you’ve met Docta Hop.”
She glanced at the other man in the room for a moment. “Yes, we’ve met.”
The sound of her voice told him that she wasn’t happy about something. Not one to hide from confrontation, he said, “So what’s wrong.”
Docta Hop cleared his throat. “I have unintentionally insulted your girlfriend.”
“Oh?”
“He said that my presence in your life would help with your street cred with this new album.”
“Uh, I don’t know really. I hadn’t thought about it. I’m just happy you’re here.”
Good answer, Colin thought. Tamra’s expression softened.
“I’m sorry I said anything,” Docta Hop said.
“Apology accepted,” Tamra said.
Crisis averted.
“I’ll go back down and listen to those tracks we just laid down and see if we can tweak them,” Docta Hop said.
He left and Colin just wanted to take Tamra in his arms. He strode over to her, but stopped less than a foot away. “Hi.”
“You said that.”
“But I want to really say hello to you,” Colin said.
“Huh?”
“I want to kiss you. Really, I want to drag you upstairs and spend the rest of the day in bed, but my collaborator is waiting for me.”
“Then maybe you should go back into the studio. I just need a snack,” she said.
“No kiss?” He cocked his head and gave her his best puppy dog look. “Not even a quick one?”
She shook her head then winced as if that hurt. “One.”
He leaned toward her and planted what he hoped was a sweet kiss on her lips. He wanted more. He wanted so much more, but Roger’s voice was in his head. He had to give her space.
“We’ll be back up at dinner time, I think. Think about what you might want,” Colin said.
“Anything is fine as long as I don’t have to cook it.”
CHAPTER 20
Larry knocked then entered the house where he encountered a wall of man.
“Who are you?” the wall said.
He put his hands up. Larry was a big man, but he felt small next to this guy. “I’m Larry Byrne, Colin’s agent. You need I.D?”
“He’s okay, Bruce,” Tamra said from down the hallway.
Bruce, as Larry now knew his name was, stepped aside.
Larry kissed Tamra on the cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I was run over, but I’ll live.”
“Have you heard anything from the cops?” Larry said.
“No, they called Kelly. She said that they haven’t been able to identify the person.”
“That’s awful. Kelly seems pretty sure this is related to Colin.”
“It might be. Doesn’t really matter,” Tamra said. “You here to see Colin?”
“Yes, I want to hear what they’ve accomplished so far.”
“The studio is in the small building behind the house,” she said.
He left her in the living room, clicking through channels on the television.
He found Colin and a large man in the studio.
“You must be Docta Hop,” Larry said.
The two men shook hands.
“I am and your boy here is pretty talented. I think we have some good stuff.”
“I came to listen,” Larry said.
“We haven’t refined anything yet,” Colin said.
Larry knew he didn’t like showing anyone anything until it was done, but Larry was curious. He had no idea how this venture would go. “Still I’d love to hear the rough stuff.”
Colin frowned and shook his head. “You know my rules. Besides, how would you know if it sucks?”
“I do have some hip hop artists.”
Colin laughed. “Uh, no you don’t.”
“Well, I’ve tried to get some hip hop artists,” Larry said. It was clear to him that Colin was not budging. He wasn’t going to let Larry hear anything. “Fine. I’m going to have lunch with a beautiful woman.”
He left the two men in the studio, found Tamra. He had put off talking to her about his idea.
She turned off the television, her feet resting on the coffee table. He could tell she was getting tired and her poor face looked battered. Who would have done something like that? He hoped they found him or her soon.
“I have an idea that I want to bounce off of you.”
***
Tamra listened as Larry outlined his idea for using her as bait.
“I like the idea. Not sure if Colin will go for it.”
“Can you convince him? This will flush out the person.”
“So where are we going to accomplish this?”
“Remember Carie? She had a benefit concert she wanted Colin to attend. We could trot you out there. Not on stage, but make your presence known. There will be press and paparazzi there I’m sure.”
“My only problem with that is the overall security for everyone. Will we be inviting a dangerous person to a high school?”
“I doubt the person will do much there. Too many people. They aren’t going to risk hurting Colin.”
“True. Or so we hope.”
“We have no reason to think this person feels any ill will toward Colin. Only the person with Colin.”
“Yes, I know. I’m achy from it all.”
Larry smirked. “Not to laugh, but I’m happy that you’re on board with this, given what you went through.”
She shrugged. “I’ll be ready this time.”
“Right. You had no reason to think anyone would attack you in Manhattan. Now we’d be putting you into the Lion’s Den.”
“Yeah, I get it. Do you know when the benefit concert is? I’d like to be a little more healed than I am now.”
“A week. Do you think you’ll be okay by then?”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll rest until then,” Tamra said.
Colin would be a tougher sell than she was being. He would feel protective, but she had to convince him. She wanted this job done and solved.
She had to get past this relationship with him. He would forget about her when she was gone.
Too bad circumstances had conspired to keep her in his life.
“Good. I’m going to see Kelly after this. I’ll run it by her and then you guys can work out the details?”
“Yes, we can do that. I have a few guys we can call in to help with the logistics on the actual day.”
“I knew you could do this.”
“Yeah, we can. Hopefully, it works.”
***
Kelly smiled when Larry brought her sushi. She couldn’t help it. They’d had a great weekend. Larry made her happy and she hadn’t even been looking for anything like this. Protecting Colin Brennan had turned into a complete win situation.
Tamra had Colin. She had Larry, and the company was going to have a great reputation.
“Thank you, Larry. How did you know I like sushi?”
“Tamra suggested it. She said you rarely buy it for yourself.”
“I will have to put a child through college in a few years,” Kelly said.
“Right. How is Sophie? Did she recover from her encounter with Colin?”
“She’s still talking about it. And that selfie she took with him is her wallpaper on her phone. She’s got some street cred for her friends.”
“Good. I talked to Tamra about being bait and she’s onboard.”
“Is she up to it?”
“She said she would be. I think we should do this at that benefit concert that Colin turned down.”
“At the high school?”
“Yes. I’ll reach out to Carie and tell her that Colin can do it now. She’ll be happy. We’ll have Tamra there and the press will be there also. We can make it a circus and not a circus at the same time.”
“Are we going to be putting anyone else in danger?”
“I don’t think so. There’s no reason to believe they are willing to hurt anyone other than Tamra. And she will be ready.”
“Did Colin agree?”
“Tamra is talking to him about it. Hopefully, tonight. I’d like to get this over with.”
“I agree, though there have been some nice fringe benefits of this case.”
He smiled. “Yes, there have been. I met you. And I’m going to tell you right now that I’m going to keep in touch after this case is over.”
“I’m not a fling?”
He took her hand in his. “No Kelly Lambert, you are not a fling. I’m not sure what this is, but it is not a fling.”
“Good, because I was hoping it wasn’t fling. Tamra warned me about you.”
“And she should have, but this is different. No one has made me feel the way you make me feel.”
She liked the sound of that. “Good. I’m not done with you yet either.”
“So how about another date?”
“How about you come for dinner tonight. You’ve already met Sophie so there’s no reason to keep you away from her.”
“A home-cooked meal?”
“I’m not a gourmet.”
“That’s okay. I’ll take you up on your offer. Can I stay the night?”
“Not with Sophie there,” Kelly said.
“Understood.”
***
Tamra broached the subject over dinner, knowing Colin wouldn’t like it so she just said it. “We want to use me as bait to flush out your stalker.”
Colin’s hand stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth. He blinked a few times. With more calm than she expected from him, he put down his fork. Docta Hop’s gaze went from her to Colin’s, then back again.
Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance Page 24