Missez

by Sherryl Hancock

  “Jesus…” Nicolette breathed, just now really seeing the mark. “She missed your eye by, like, a fraction on an inch.”

  “Tell me about it. I have a nice set on my chest too, since I hadn’t managed to put my shirt on before she did it. Anyway, I escorted her not so gently to the door then, and went to shove her out; that’s when the good old photo club got lots of great pictures.”

  Nicolette was shaking her head. “My God, Jerith. Where the hell was security? That woman could have been crazy. She could have been one of the deranged fans that actually kill the object of their obsession.”

  A slow grin started on Jerith’s face as he listened to her, and he shook his head. “Tell me something,” he said, breaking her stride.

  “What?” she said, looking taken aback by his change in mood.

  “How the hell did I get so lucky?”

  “Well, I told you before, Jerith—you’re good at what you do, you’re incredible-looking, you have so much talent—”

  “That’s not what I meant,” he said, holding up his hand to cut off her litany. “I meant, how did I get so lucky to hook up with a woman like you? Did it ever even occur to you to believe the story?” He knew the answer even as he asked.

  Nicolette shook her head. “Never.”

  “And that’s why I’m lucky,” Jerith said, his grin back. “Speaking of lucky… How long am I lucky enough to have you around for?”

  Nicolette shrugged. “For as long as you need me here.”

  Jerith was shocked. “What about work?”

  “The dirtbags in Sacramento can do without me for a little while. The man I love needs me, and I’m staying right here till all of this is over with.”

  “And I’m in jail,” Jerith said, leaning back against the couch. The strain of the last twenty-four hours was starting to show.

  “You aren’t going to jail.”

  “No, he’s not.” Alan Rothe put in from the divider wall. He was standing there looking very proud of himself.

  “What does that mean?” Jerith asked.

  “It means the DA refused to press charges, stating that while Miss Yates was quite convincing on camera, she had a rap sheet a mile long. She’s done shit like this before, and cried rape when the intended didn’t give in.”

  Jerith looked relieved, but was still disturbed about the woman’s behavior.

  “Hell, Kid, maybe you should press charges on her, for assault,” Alan said, sounding serious.

  Jerith shook his head. “I never want to see that woman again. What I do want is a retraction printed and stated about all of this crap; either that or I want the media to tell the other half of the story, or I will file a slander suit. The last thing this band needs right now is bad press.”

  By the following morning, Alan had gathered together a lot of people willing to state that Jerith “Kid” Michaels was the greatest humanitarian to ever walk the earth. Even Sherri Sophield made a statement to the press, saying that Mr. Michaels was the epitome of a gentleman and the media should be ashamed of themselves for latching on to such an outrageous lie. Apologies were made, retractions were printed. Quotes from Sherri’s story in Rolling Stone were run everywhere. Jerith’s good name was restored.

  Nicolette stayed on with him for a few days, but then reluctantly returned to Sacramento. Jerith promised to try and see her more. “Maybe for your birthday,” he said.

  “How do you know when my birthday is?”

  “You have a teenage son who likes to supply his mother’s rock star boyfriend with any information he needs,” Jerith said, grinning.

  Nicolette rolled her eyes. “Figures.”

  ****

  Nicolette’s birthday was a month later. Jerith called a couple of days before to tell her he didn’t think he was going to make it; something had come up last minute that required his presence. Nicolette told him not to worry about it, but privately she was disappointed. She was very surprised when a messenger showed up at the office that day with a large box wrapped in beautiful green parchment paper, with a huge green satin bow. She opened the box and inside was the most incredible hunter green silk dress she’d ever seen. It was cut to just above the knee, with a bodice made up of silk, lace, and velvet in a gypsy style. The skirt was a tumble of rich green silk. Also inside the box were knee-high boots in the same shade, made of leather that felt like butter. There was also a card. She recognized Jerith’s neat handwriting; it read: “Be outside your house at six sharp, wearing this dress.”

  Nicolette could barely stand to wait the two more hours until she went home. In the end she left a half hour early, convincing herself she needed two hours to get ready. When 6:00 finally came, she stood outside her house feeling like a fairy princess. Ryan watched from her bedroom window, knowing most of Jerith’s plan for the evening. A black stretch limousine glided to a stop at exactly 6:00, and when Jerith stepped out, Nicolette felt her breath catch in her throat. He was wearing a calf-length black jacket with a banded-collar blue shirt, black slacks, and black dress shoes, and Nicolette was sure he’d never looked so handsome. Jerith walked over to her and took her hand, leaning down to kiss her gently. “Happy birthday, Nick,” he said softly. Then he led her over to the limousine.

  Inside there were a dozen long-stemmed red roses for her, and a bottle of Dom Perignon, which Jerith opened as the limo left the curb. He toasted his beautiful girlfriend on her birthday and they drank for the few minutes that they were in the car. Nicolette noticed they were headed toward the airport, and looked over at Jerith quizzically. He simply grinned, shaking his head; he wasn’t about to tell her where he was taking her.

  “The dress is beautiful, Jerith,” she said, holding his hand and smiling up at him. “And it fits perfectly. How’d you manage that?”

  “Your mom likes to tell me things too,” Jerith replied, smiling.

  They arrived at the airport and the driver opened the door. Nicolette was surprised to find herself stepping out onto a red carpet, which led up to a Learjet. Jerith led her right up to the plane and followed her up the stairs. Inside they sat in leather-covered captain-style chairs, and the pilot radioed back that they’d be in San Francisco in twenty minutes.

  Nicolette looked surprised; she looked even more so a few minutes later, after they took off. Jerith pulled a box out of his pocket. It was about six inches long and three inches wide, and covered with green velvet. He handed it to Nicolette.

  “I didn’t trust the messenger with these,” he said, watching her eyes.

  Nicolette stared at him for a full minute and then opened the box. Inside, nestled in more green velvet, was a necklace of the most delicate gold filigree she’d ever seen, arranged in an interlocking teardrop style and accented by small emeralds. There were earrings that matched, with three more emeralds in each. Nicolette was so stunned by his gift, she couldn’t even find her voice to thank him. The tears in her eyes told him everything he needed to know. He leaned over and kissed her, and she returned his kiss with all the gratitude and happiness she was feeling.

  When they landed in San Francisco, another limousine picked them up and took them to a restaurant called Equinox. “It’s not super fancy, but the view is incredible,” Jerith said, and he was right. It was situated at the top of a hotel, and the restaurant itself revolved so that the diners could admire the view of San Francisco from all sides. They had dinner, and just when Nicolette was sure he couldn’t do any more for her, the limousine, instead of taking them back to the airport, took them to The Fillmore. There Jerith escorted her to the back door, where they were let in by a very tough-looking bouncer. Inside, they were escorted to seats in the front row. Nicolette noticed there was security posted at either end of the row. Looking around her, she noted the eclectic feel to the venue, and remembered that this was a venue used by a lot of artists looking to do a non-glamorous show.

  When the show began, Nicolette was thrilled when Rob Thomas, the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty, walked out on stage. He began singing on
e of his latest hits with only the accompaniment of a single acoustic guitar.

  Jerith noticed that Nicolette was squeezing his hand in excitement and smiled brightly; he knew he’d chosen wisely. After Rob Thomas, the band Three Doors Down came onto the stage and played an acoustic set. The last act was BJ Sparks himself, accompanied by the lead guitarist of his band, Sparks. Nicolette was sure she’d died and gone to heaven. BJ’s voice could reach almost operatic levels and had a rich, melodious tone to it that was rare in the rock business. It was, to say the least, an incredible show.

  Afterward, Jerith took her back stage and introduced her to Rob Thomas as well as the members of Three Doors Down. Nicolette was surprised at how down-to-earth they all were. Then Jerith led her over to BJ.

  “BJ,” Jerith said, smiling as he reached out and shook his hand. “Great show.”

  “Thanks,” BJ said, his famous engaging smirk in place.

  Jerith put his arm around Nicolette’s shoulders. “I want you to meet Nicolette Harris.”

  BJ’s eyes were both appraising and approving as he reached out, taking Nicolette’s hand in his.

  “I thought you said she was a cop, Michaels,” BJ said, his tone indicating his disbelief.

  “I assure you, I am,” Nicolette said, doing her best not to be charmed by this infamous flirt.

  “Got a badge to prove it?” BJ asked, his blue-green eyes sparkling.

  “I have a gun—does that count?” Nicolette countered smoothly.

  “Ohhh…” BJ murmured, smiling brilliantly and looking over at Jerith. “I like this one.”

  Jerith laughed, shaking his head.

  “So BJ is your boss?” Nicolette asked as they rode home on the plane.

  “More or less,” Jerith said. “He’s the owner of the label we signed a contract for.”

  “But he’s also a rock star?”

  “Yeah, that too.”

  “His voice is amazing.”

  “Yeah, he definitely has it where the talent is concerned, but he’s smart as hell and just as passionate about the band on his label.”

  “And how does he feel about Billy?”

  Jerith curled his lips in consternation, shaking his head. “He’s about fed up with her stunts. I’m praying he doesn’t just can all of us.”

  Nicolette nodded. She knew it was worrying Jerith more than he was indicating.

  They got back to Sacramento at about midnight. The limousine picked them up to take them back to Nicolette’s. Once outside her house, they sat talking for a little while, not wanting the magical night to end.

  “This was the most wonderful birthday I have ever had, Jerith. Thank you,” Nicolette said, her eyes shining with tears again.

  “I’m glad you had a good time,” he said, staring into her eyes.

  “How did you manage to work it so that that incredible show was in San Francisco on my birthday?” she asked, giving him a cynical look.

  Jerith laughed. “That was a coincidence. If it had been in Windfall, Montana, I would have taken you there.”

  “Windfall, Montana, huh?” Nicolette doubted there even was such a place. She grinned. “Wouldn’t have had the same impact, I think.”

  “No. You know,” Jerith said, looking perplexed for a moment, “there was one other thing…” He patted his pockets as if searching for something.

  Nicolette rolled her eyes. “Good lord, Jerith. You’ve probably already spent your first five royalty checks on this night. What else could there possibly be?”

  “This,” Jerith said, pulling out a small velvet-covered box from his jacket pocket and handing it to her.

  Nicolette looked at the box and then at him, not daring to hope. “This is too much, Jerith Michaels,” she said as she opened it. She was stunned into silence a moment later as she looked at the one-carat marquise-cut diamond ring. Her eyes went to Jerith as he knelt down on the carpet in front of her. He took her hand and held it, looking straight into her eyes.

  “Marry me, Nicolette Harris,” he said simply, his eyes telling her everything else.

  Nicolette couldn’t stop shaking, she was so touched by his words, his gifts, by him. Finally, she managed to nod, and Jerith grinned. “Is that a yes?”

  “Must I spell everything out for you?” Nicolette said, smiling now. “Yes, Jerith Michaels. I would be honored to be your wife. Is that better?”

  “Much,” he said as he took her in his arms and kissed her.

  ****

  The following month, when Nicolette met Jerith’s family, she was happily surprised. They were in Lake Tahoe for the wedding. Jerith’s mother fully approved of her son’s choice; she had long conversations with Nicolette and found her to be loving, giving, and fun. It had always been Nanette Michaels’ dream that her son would find a woman that would take care of him as he needed taking care of. Someone that wasn’t hung up on the fact that he was a star, but would give him the loving support he needed in the cutthroat music business. Nicolette seemed to meet those requirements perfectly.

  Three days before the wedding, Jerith had a serious allergy attack, reacting to the mountain air and the late summer pollens. He lay in bed the whole day with an enormous headache, and Nicolette refused to leave his side. Jerith’s sisters were equally pleased with their brother’s choice, although they were quite taken aback by the fact that she was a police officer.

  “I always thought you wanted a housewife type of woman,” Jerith’s older sister Tanya told him, one afternoon before the wedding. They were sitting on the balcony of the large cabin Jerith had rented for his family to stay in, looking down on beautiful Lake Tahoe.

  “You know,” Jerith said, pulling one jean-clad knee up to his chest as he looked down at the lake, his long blond hair blowing in the slight breeze. “That’s what I always thought I wanted too.” He looked over at his sister seriously. “But now, all I want is Nicky. She makes me happy, Tan.”

  Tanya, five years Jerith’s senior and much wiser in the ways of love, since she was very happily married, nodded. “That much is very obvious, little brother.”

  Jerith grinned, happy that his family liked Nicolette. They also seemed to have taken a liking to Ryan, who was totally blown away by the fact that his mother was actually marrying Jerith. He had approached Jerith the night before, looking a bit chagrined but intent on asking a question all the same.

  “What’s up, Ryan?” Jerith had asked, seeing that the young man definitely had something on his mind.

  “I was wondering…” Ryan began, continuing when Jerith nodded. “After you and Mom are married, where are we gonna live?”

  Jerith hesitated a few moments. He and Nicolette had discussed it, but he hadn’t realized that she obviously hadn’t talked to Ryan about it. “I, uh… Did you talk to your mom about this?” Jerith said, not wanting to tell Ryan something Nicolette was planning to say herself. Suddenly this “parental” thing had become part of his life too.

  Ryan made a face, rolling his eyes. “Jesus, that didn’t take long.”

  “What didn’t take long?”

  “For you to start that ‘Go ask your mother’ crap.”

  Jerith laughed, realizing that was what he had sounded like. “No, I didn’t mean it that way. I just didn’t want to step on your mom’s toes, that’s all. Thing is, Ry, I gotta finish the tour, and your mom wants you to finish up your junior year at Capital Christian. After that, we’ll work it out.” Ryan looked almost crestfallen then, and Jerith was surprised. “Why? Where did you want to live?” he asked belatedly.

  Ryan looked down at the hardwood floor, his teeth worrying his lip. “I was kinda hopin’ we’d get to live in Malibu, at your place.”

  “Well, hell, Ryan,” Jerith said, a wide grin on his face. “Then the problem is solved. Your mom wasn’t sure if you’d want to leave all your friends in your junior year, or how you’d feel about leaving your house and all…”

  “Are you kidding?” Ryan looked stunned. “Who wouldn’t want to live in a cool plac
e like Malibu? Besides, there’s Becky too…”

  Jerith nodded, understanding finally dawning. “Well then, I guess Malibu it is.”

  Jerith told Nicolette about the conversation that night, and she was surprised. She had also been pleased, because she had long since come to understand that there was no way she could continue to live in Sacramento. She knew that being with Jerith meant being near LA, where he worked. Nicolette had already planned to start looking for a new job when they got back after the wedding. They weren’t having a honeymoon just yet, for which Jerith had apologized profusely. Billy and the Kid was set to tour for two more months, and then he promised to take her wherever she wanted.

  The day of the wedding came, and Nicolette looked beautiful in an ivory lace gown that Jerith had bought for her. Her mother was her maid of honor, and Ryan was Jerith’s best man. When Nicolette walked down the aisle toward him, she couldn’t believe her eyes. He looked incredibly handsome in his dark gray tails. His blond hair was loose, his blue eyes shining at her.

  Jerith found his breath taken away. She looked so beautiful that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The ceremony went off without a hitch, and the reception was simple but elegant.

  Later, in a beautiful room in another cabin, Jerith and Nicolette lay together, looking out at the night sky. The bed was next to a full-length picture window, and they could see the stars twinkling and the full moon glowing just above.

  “Well, Mrs. Michaels,” Jerith said softly as his lips brushed her temple. “How do you feel?”

  “Oh, like I’m going to wake up any minute now,” she said, glancing up at him.

  He grinned. “Sorry, babe. This isn’t a dream, and you really are stuck with me now.”

  “Well, I guess I will just endure my sentence in dignified silence then,” she said, sighing.

  “You do that.” Jerith leaned down to kiss her lips. They once again melted together, making love till the wee hours of the morning then sleeping late into the day. When they woke they ordered food from a nearby café, and Jerith bribed the owner into having it delivered. The man was only too happy to deliver when Jerith explained that he and his new bride were absolutely famished. He even brought the food himself, smiling widely when Jerith tipped him handsomely.