I smiled. "I've been seeing someone. He's an accountant." Not exactly a lie. I had been seeing him up until last week.
"Does he know about Mr. Bodyguard out there?" he asked.
I smiled and put my finger to my lips as I backed out of the kitchen.
We went through three bottles of champagne before dinner was served. But it was definitely worth the wait. It was so good that I was reconsidering Sean's offer. It might be nice to have a man who could cook, I mused.
Andre slid his hand around the back of my chair and lightly brushed his fingers over the back of my neck. "How're you doing?" he asked softly.
I glanced around the room. "This is completely surreal."
He shrugged. "Yeah, hanging around with Billy usually is."
"Is it like this all the time?" I asked.
"Yep, except when he goes home to Alabama. He's a completely different person around his family. His parents and sisters don't put up with any of the bullshit," he explained.
"So you go with him everywhere?" I asked.
"Pretty much. There are two of us, though. We trade off on the travel."
"Isn't it overkill?" I asked. I mean Billy had had several number one hits over the past year, but did he really need two bodyguards?
"Are you trying to put me outta work?" he asked with a laugh. "Being a rock star is dangerous. You should see the mail he gets. The world is full of wackos. He has one dude who mails him nail clippings every week."
I made a face. "That's disgusting."
"That's just one example," he replied. "And, of course, there are the problems Billy creates on his own. Pissed off husbands charging the stage have been a huge problem on this tour."
We both looked over at Ashley leaning against Billy. "Where's her husband?" Andre asked.
"Hopefully at home with the kids about an hour drive from here," I replied.
"Any chance of him showing up unannounced?"
I thought about it. My sister's husband, Dan, could barely find his way around Dover, and he'd lived there all his life. "Not likely, but you never know."
"What would happen if he did?" Andre asked.
"Well," I said, thinking about it, "he's big, dumb, and armed. Oh, and pretty much worships the ground Ashley walks on."
"Great," Andre sighed. "Just great."
CHAPTER SIX
Billy was on his feet and leaning heavily on Ashley. "Come on folks," he slurred. "Party's movin' to the farmhouse."
Sean had come out of the kitchen to survey the dining room. "Thanks, man," Billy said, patting Sean on the shoulder as he passed by. "Dude, you should have your own TV show. That steak was freakin' awesome." Everyone murmured in agreement.
"Roger, make sure you take care of Top Chef here on the tab. Dude, if you're ever lookin' for a new gig, ring me up."
Sean's glowering frown eased as he imagined all the women he would score as part of Billy's entourage. Now there was a match made in heaven.
I hung back with Andre as the group filed out to make the trek up to the farmhouse. I handed Sean his keys and thanked him for the great meal. He glanced over at Andre and said with a smile, "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
Andre took my hand as we walked slowly towards the farmhouse. The humid, warm air was already causing beads of sweat to break out on my neck under my long, heavy hair. "What are my chances of getting Ashley away from Billy?" I asked.
He just chuckled.
"That bad, huh?" I replied. "He looked pretty drunk. Maybe he'll just pass out," I said hopefully.
Andre glanced over at me. "He's twenty-two. I don't think it'll matter."
He had a point. It didn't lessen my sisterly obligation to save my sister from herself, though.
Andre stopped short of the front walk to the house. He turned towards me, slipping his arms around my waist, and said softly, "If you can't beat them…"
His lips touched mine and a surge of desire flowed through me. I leaned into him, feeling the hard contours of his body. A soft breeze off the water caught the hem of my short sundress and caressed my bare legs. I put my arms around his neck and opened my mouth fully to him. Our tongues touched, and I moaned. His hands found the straps on my dress and eased them down while his lips kissed a trail to my breasts. I weaved my fingers into his thick, black hair and pulled him in closer.
He groaned and pulled away long enough to maneuver us over to a chaise lounge. He sat down in the middle and pulled me down to my knees in front of him. The wind blew my long hair up and out, and the cool air sent a shiver down my spine. The moon flitted in and out between clouds.
"You look like a goddess," he said softly, tilting my chin up and kissing me. The kiss deepened, and I clawed at his shirt trying to get skin to skin with him. Over the blood pounding through my veins, I heard the faint noise of a car on the road and then the sound of a vehicle turning down the gravel driveway.
I felt Andre tense. The lights of the vehicle were like a spotlight hitting us. "Your sister's husband drive a big, stupid-looking, red truck?" he asked with a sigh.
"Yes," I said, trying to catch my breath and pull up my top.
We were blinded by the lights of the truck. As it screeched to a stop, Dan leapt out, yelling, "Git your hands off my wife!"
I stood up and held out my hands to stop him.
He stopped a few feet short of us. "What the hell, Sis! Where's Ashley?"
Andre was on his feet and ready to take Dan down if things got out of hand.
"Calm down, Dan," I said.
"Where is she!" he demanded.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to buy some time.
"I'm here to collect my wife!"
Aunt Pearl leaned out the window and hollered, "Someone get me out of this monster truck! I want in on the action."
Andre went over to help her down and turned out the lights. We were cast into the gloom of the night. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my pounding heart.
"Aunt Pearl," I admonished. "What do you think you're doing? It's the middle of the night."
"Don't blame her," Dan said. "I called your place lookin' for Ashley, and Pearl said Ashley was off with some hot, young rock-n-roll singer. What's goin' on, Diana?" His voice cracked with distress.
Yep. All that was absolutely true.
"Nothing's going on, Dan," I said. "Aunt Pearl's mind is just running wild again." I gave her a stern look, but she was having none of it.
"I saw what I saw," she said stubbornly. "Ashley belongs with her husband and kids. Not galavantin' around with some pretty boy singer."
An upstairs window opened, and Ashley peered out. Her hair looked a little mussed, but at least she had her shirt on, which was more than I could say a minute ago. "What are you doing here, Dan?" she yelled down.
"I've come to take you home," he shouted back.
"I'm not going," she said firmly. "I'm finally enjoying myself!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Billy coming around from the front of the house. He looked pretty sober for a guy who had been slurring his words not more than thirty minutes ago. He was shirtless, with his guitar strapped across his bare chest. "What's going on, folks?" he asked innocently through the cigarette hanging from his mouth.
"That's him," Aunt Pearl cried. "That's the one who's trying to steal your wife!"
Dan bristled and turned on Billy. Andre put himself between Billy and Dan.
"This ain't your concern, mister," Dan growled at Andre.
Billy tried to wave Andre off. "Diana's right," he said. "Nothing's going on here. We were just having a party after Diana's show."
"Then what's she doin' in that bedroom upstairs?" he pointed out. Sometimes I wondered if Dan's stupid act was actually just an act.
"I lay down because I had too much to drink, Dan. Not that it's any of your business!" Ashley yelled.
Roger and Phil appeared behind Billy, both perfectly coifed.
Roger said smoothly, "Billy was just running through some songs for u
s in the living room."
Dan looked from them up to Ashley.
"Satisfied?" she asked.
He thought about it for a minute. "Sorry to bust in here like this," he said to Billy, dropping his head. "I just got fired up thinkin' about her with some other guy." He paused to spit tobacco on the ground. "Then I saw Sis and Big Man here going to town on the lawn furniture, and I just 'bout lost my mind thinkin' it was Ashley. Thought we were gonna have a little throwdown." He chuckled with a glance at Andre. "I bet I could've taken you, Big Man."
Billy flicked his cigarette. "I'd like to see that."
I could feel Andre's annoyance. "It's Andre. And that wouldn't have been a smart bet."
Dan shrugged and spit again. "Ain't never said I was smart."
Dan turned to me. "What happened to the accountant, Sis?"
"We broke up," I replied.
"Shit fire, I was hopin' he'd do my taxes."
"Yeah, that's a bummer," I agreed and tugged my dress on straight.
"C'mon, Ashley," Dan yelled. "Don't make me come up there an' git you."
Aunt Pearl hobbled over to me. "I was hoping to see a brawl," she said with a sigh. "I love a good fist fight. It's not very exciting to watch your Granddaddy and Uncle Grover fight. It always ends up with Uncle Grover fainting and Granddaddy gettin' bit by Honey Bunny."
I glared at her. "This is all your fault," I scolded.
"That's what you two get for leavin' me home alone," she said without remorse. "Oh, and something's wrong with your computer. Must have a virus or something."
I gritted my teeth. What a way to end a beautiful evening!
* * *
Ashley and I watched Aunt Pearl and Dan drive off down the gravel road. Ashley would follow them after taking me back to my car. It was almost four in the morning. We said awkward good-byes to Billy and Andre. I think we all had an after-buzz hangover fueled by sexual tension and too much alcohol.
I exchanged numbers with Andre. "This was an amazing day," I said as he opened the van door for me. "I wish we had more time."
"Me, too," he said. "I feel ripped off. And not just because we were interrupted," he added, giving me a soft kiss. "But I had such a good time with you. I didn't want it to end."
"So we'll keep in touch," I said ineffectually.
He sighed. "Absolutely," he replied, knowing it would probably never happen.
"Tell you what," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck and bringing my lips to his. "When I'm a bigger rock star than Billy, I'm going to hire you away from him to be my bodyguard."
He smiled. "Deal," he said. "And you can pay me in sexual favors."
I giggled and kissed him again.
"Oh, Jesus," Ashley complained. "Just get in the freakin' van already."
I climbed in and put on my seatbelt. Andre closed my door and waved good-bye. As we pulled away, I glanced over at my sister and asked, "So what actually happened with Billy tonight?"
Ashley stared straight ahead, saying nothing.
"I thought so," I muttered.
"So what happened with you and Andre?" she retorted.
"Nothing. Thanks to your idiot husband," I barked back.
"Tell me about it," she replied.
"Ah-hah! I knew Miss Goody Two-Shoes had been trying to score with a celebrity."
"So I wanted a little excitement in my life. Geez! But this at least proves one thing to me," she said with resignation.
"What's that?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Dan and I are meant to be. I mean really. The one time I go a little astray, he shows up outside the window? Really? What're the odds?"
Made about as much sense as anything else my sister said. "So you're not upset?" I asked.
"Nah, not really. I don't think Billy is really my type. I was just kind of in awe over the whole celebrity thing. What about Andre?" she asked.
I flushed thinking back to the "chaise lounge incident," as I was now calling it in my mind. "He was definitely my type."
"That's too bad," she said sincerely. "I liked him way more than the accountant."
I nodded and stared out the window. The horizon was just starting to turn a faint pink. Life is funny—just when you think it's going to zig, it zags. And when you think something is over, it's often just the beginning. My phone buzzed—I didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?" I said.
"Diana?"
"Yes, who's this?" I asked.
"It's Phil," he said, and I could picture his uber-white teeth sparkling as he spoke. "Say, we've been looking over footage from filming today—"
"Man, don't you guys sleep?" I interrupted.
He laughed. "Not much while we're up against a deadline. Anyway, we love what we're seeing, and Billy is really hot to work with you some more. We'd like to bring you out to LA to record some of your originals. No guarantees, of course, but we'd like to try them out in the pilot. What's your schedule look like next week?" he asked.
I sucked in my breath. "I'll make it work. Thanks so much," I said, not quite believing what was happening. He promised to call with more details after Billy's show in Baltimore.
Ashley glanced over at me. "Let me guess," she said, looking like the cat that swallowed the canary. "They want to record your songs?"
I turned to her in surprise. "How'd you know?"
"You're a rock star," she said casually. "Things like this always happen to rock stars."
I narrowed my eyes. "Or maybe it was a little pillow talk," I replied.
"I'll never tell," she said with a smile.
* * * * *
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina A. Burke wrote her first novel, a time-travel romance, more than twenty years ago. Writing fell by the wayside as family and career obligations took over. She earned advanced degrees in business, taught for colleges, managed staffing agencies, and started several entrepreneurial ventures, until she found her way back to fiction writing through the unlikely avenue of metastatic breast cancer. She believes laughter is the best medicine and hopes her readers find a cure for what ails them following the wacky antics of the characters she creates. Christina, her husband, Jim, and their two children live in Dover, Delaware with the family sidekick, a shih tzu-poodle mix named Max.
To learn more about Christina, visit her online at:
http://caburke.com/
BOOKS BY CHRISTINA A. BURKE
Queenie Baby novels:
Queenie Baby: On Assignment
Queenie Baby: Out of Office
Queenie Baby: Pass the Eggnog (a holiday novella)
Queenie Baby: On Tour
Danger Cove Renovation Mysteries:
Secret of the Painted Lady
DONE IN THE SUN
by
Mary Jo Burke
* * * * *
CHAPTER ONE
Summer vacations were for people secure in their employment, able to relax, and who had money falling from the sky, into their pockets. I, Gretchen Strom, the receptionist at Chase & Associates law firm for the past three months, didn't fit into any of the above categories. For me, outdoor activity consisted of walking to my car from the office. The fiery sun heated the atmosphere and despised my red curly hair by making it frizz on one side and flatten on the other.
Humidity, make up your mind.
The angry yellow ball in the sky also scorched my fair skin, leaving freckles to prove its disdain. Insects of every wing loved to buzz in my ears, sting me, or suck my blood, leaving nasty red welts. I surrendered to the elements and stayed in air-conditioned bliss all summer.
A few weeks ago, under duress, I'd bought a twenty-dollar raffle ticket from my boss' wife's charity. My use of duress in a sentence showed I was picking up lawyer lingo. Hopefully, it would be useful in my next career.
Every year, Jane Baxter Chase sponsored a fashion show for her granddaughter's snooty prep school. Caitlin Chase, age fifteen, lived with her grandparents. Her father, Aubrey Everett Baxter Chase, was a poster child of
trust funds run amuck.
* * *
Friday morning, I opened my e-mail to find a message from Mrs. Chase.
Congratulations, hon, you're the big winner of the raffle!!! You get our lake house in Wisconsin for four whole days!!! A Monday till Thursday works best for us!!! I have an opening next week and will have Bea follow up with the deets!!! So happy for you!!! Jane Baxter Chase Please note: This is for you alone, no guests please!!! Have to set a good example for the office!!! No pets or smoking allowed either!!!
I currently flew solo, but it would have been nice to have more than two days to plan and been allowed to invite a few girlfriends from Minnesota to tag along. What would I do for four days by myself?
I reread the e-mail and tried to come up with a tactful way to decline it. I didn't want to sound ungrateful, but someone with a family would enjoy it more. In the afternoon, before I could rescind, I was buzzed by Mr. Chase's secretary, Battle-ax, excuse me, Beatrice McGuire. She preferred to summon her victims as opposed to an e-mail. Absolute power translated better in person. The woman I replaced warned me that I could offend anyone here, but never cross old Bea. She knew where the bodies were buried, friend and foe.
I set the phone console to voicemail and trudged back to the inner sanctum of doom, I mean, Bea's private office. I knocked on the door and waited for my verdict.
"Come in," a voice burnished by years of smoking unfiltered cigarettes beckoned.
On my first day, I was introduced to Bea and met with her disapproval. She informed me my shirt sleeve was frayed at the cuff and I wore too much makeup, and then she warned me not to hit on the attorneys, male or female. I'd avoided her ever since. I opened the door and steeled myself for the criticism to come.
"You wanted to see me, Miss McGuire." I plastered the smile on my face.
She peered over her bifocals, folded her tongue over her upper teeth, and scowled.
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