by Every, Donna
He called room service to order coffee and a dessert plate then made his way to the kitchen to pour himself a drink from the wet bar only to pour it down the drain. He didn’t feel like drinking alcohol right now. In any case, he needed his wits about him so that he didn’t give in to the desire to kiss and caress Shari until she forgot everything but the fulfillment he could give her. What did Shari say about that? Refocus. What could he refocus on? The thought of her touring the bathroom and bedroom only put thoughts in his head that made his jeans distinctly uncomfortable.
“This place is the bomb!” Shari enthused, finding him in the kitchen. “I love that beige and white marble in the bathroom. It’s so calming.” An image of her in the tub was anything but calming.
“And the bedroom is amazing!”
Nick smiled. ‘Amazing’ was obviously one of Shari’s favorite words. What could happen in the bedroom would be even more amazing if I had my way, he thought.
“Let’s do this interview. I know my phone will be ringing soon and it will be Lily telling me that it’s time to network.”
“Oh yes. Right. You need to get down to the party. Where do you want to do it?”
The bed would be great, but the couch could work or the tub… OK, refocus, Nick. He reined in his wayward thoughts with some effort.
“The living room is fine. Then I’ll do the party and then I’m officially on holiday. I can’t wait.”
“Do you still want me to go to Barbados with you?” she asked him.
“Absolutely!”
“Well, I got my holiday approved today, so I can come.”
Nick gave a loud whoop, grabbed her and swung her around.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in months! Barbados, here we come!”
Chapter 25
Finishing the coffee that had been delivered to the room, Shari dug around in her bag for her voice recorder. Nick’s voice had now become as familiar to her as if she’d known him for ages rather than a few weeks. She was glad that he had chosen to sit in the armchair rather than sharing the sofa. As it was, she was finding it annoyingly difficult to focus on the reason she was there rather than the fact that they were alone in his suite.
“So, how has this world tour been for you?” She began the interview. My goodness, she sounded like a new recruit. She couldn’t formulate a deep and meaningful question to save her life. Nick’s presence was definitely unsettling. Maybe it was some of the magic left over from the concert. He seemed larger than life. She had to remind herself that this was the same Nick who slept in her tiny guest room and helped her to make dinner in her equally tiny kitchen.
“It’s been amazing!” He used her favorite word deliberately and was rewarded with a smile as she connected with his description. “The last few weeks, though, have been a sort of epiphany for me.”
“In what way?” Her senses went on alert as she waited to hear his answer.
“I met someone who challenged me to take a look at my life and what I’m doing with it and I realize that, while I love the music and the business, I had become very shallow and self-focused. Not to mention somewhat ‘depraved’; I believe that is the term that was used to describe my lifestyle. Or was it ‘indecent’?” He smiled in a self-deprecating way.
Shari’s eyes connected with Nick’s and held. In them she saw a question that seemed to her to say ‘Will you trust me in spite of everything?’ She wondered what he saw in hers. Did he see the hope that he was not just saying what she wanted to hear but that he was really sincere? Did her eyes reveal that she was melting right in front of him? Maybe it was the moisture that caused them to glisten that would give her away.
“Ahm…” she fumbled for her next question. Then it came to her. “So, what now?”
“That’s the question. I’m rich, I’m famous, I can go anywhere in the world, do just about anything and I’m still not fulfilled. I still don’t know the answer to that question, but now I feel that I’m a lot closer to finding out and I’m beginning to realize that there’s not a single answer.”
Shari silently thanked God for how far Nick had come. “Thanks for being so open and honest, Nick. Not just tonight, but through the whole process. I know that you didn’t want to do the documentary at the beginning, but I’m glad you came around. This was exactly what I needed to finish it and it will be easy to slot in the parts that I’ll get at your parents’. I think you’ve also just given me the name of the documentary: What Now?”
“That just about sums up how I feel. What now?” he repeated the title, testing it. “I like it.”
“So do I,” she agreed.
“Glad I could be of service,” he teased, breaking up the serious mood. “I’d be happy to offer my services in other ways as well,” he added suggestively.
That earned him a missile aimed at his head, which he caught easily and returned to the sofa.
“You’re very violent, young lady. I think I’ll have to tame you.”
“Good luck,” she replied cheekily, packing up.
“Guess it’s time to go down and network. I’m sure that Brad and Lily have a lineup of all the right people for me to see. You know how important face time is in this industry.”
“So I’ve discovered. And it’s such a great face.”
“Why, Shari Goodwin, I do believe that’s the first compliment you’ve ever given me.”
“Your head doesn’t need to get any bigger.”
“That’s what I love about you. You keep me grounded.”
Shari packed away her voice recorder and got to her feet. Nick threw around the word “love” carelessly, but she couldn’t help but yearn for it. She wanted to be loved for her, so she could understand how he felt.
Her heart gave a little leap of excitement as Nick stood up as well, wondering if he would kiss her then, but she was disappointed when he turned to lead the way back to the door where his bodyguard was waiting to escort them downstairs.
“I’m not really in the party mood, Nick. Would you mind if I give this a miss?” Shari asked him as the bodyguard pressed the button to take them down.
“Are you kidding? This is the last party of the tour. I need you to be there to celebrate with me. Don’t leave me to the predators,” he joked.
“We can’t have that. OK, just for you.”
“Thank you, Shari. Although the predators are no longer a problem for me. The song tonight was for you. I wanted you to know that, because of you, I’m not the same.”
“I’m beginning to believe that, Nick.”
Thank God, Nick thought, smiling. He was getting somewhere.
New York Times
December 17, 2015
Nick Badley wowed the crowd at Madison Square Garden last night with a climactic finish to his world tour which included twenty countries plus another twenty cities at home. More than 20,000 people were treated to a rousing performance during which he performed many of his latest hits including the current number one on the Billboard Top 100 this week, “Moving On”. Just before the end of the show, he treated fans to a song which he said he had recently written called “I’m Not the Same”. Are we to believe that Nick Badley is no longer the wild, bad boy Nick Bad whom we’ve come to know and love? What would a new version of this Nick Badley look like? We wait expectantly to see.”
Tim clicked the X to close the webpage of the New York Times entertainment section that he’d been reading.
“No, he’s the same Nick Badley alright and I’m going to let the world know that he’s even worse than he was before,” he said aloud. From the time he had spoken to Nick and he’d refused to consider him coming back to the band, he’d been trying to think of what he could do to bring him down and he had come up with a genius of a plan. However, it would take a little time, not to mention money, to execute. It would be worth the investment just to see Nick Badley lose it all. He’d wait until after the Holidays to work on it. After all, he had nothing but time on his hands, thanks to Nick.
He h
ad told Sarah that he would check into rehab early next year and he intended to. Maybe that would help their marriage, but it would also give him the perfect alibi when the crap hit the fan so that no one would think he was involved, but he would have it all set up before that. He’d heard that Nick was planning to be in Barbados for New Year’s Eve so he would wait until he came back. Next year would not start so well for Nick Badley. He smiled in anticipation.
Shari searched the luggage carousel for her two matching suitcases. She really hoped they were not in some other city as she had barely made the plane on time. She was usually very organized, but trying to wrap up her work and clear her desk to be away not only for the Holidays but for the week in Barbados had completely thrown her schedule.
She was relieved to see the first one slide down the ramp and join the rest of circulating luggage. If that one made it, the other should be close behind, she thought, hefting the suitcase off the carousel. She’d packed for almost two weeks and, although her clothes were summer things and therefore didn’t take up much room individually, she’d had to pack quite a lot to last her the eleven days she’d be away.
She’d also splurged on an amazing dress for Nick’s New Year’s Eve party. Considering the ‘who’s who’ that Nick said he had invited, she didn’t want to look like a pauper. Not that she could afford Michael Kors or Adam Selman, but she’d found a dress that she loved in an exclusive boutique and she’d thrown caution to the wind and bought it.
The thought of Nick, who was never far from her mind, caused her to tap her foot impatiently as she waited for the other suitcase. As soon as it sailed down the ramp she grabbed it from the conveyor belt before it could go around the carousel. Nick was waiting for her outside the terminal and, if she knew him, it would be an impatient wait. She smiled at the thought and an old lady smiled back at her.
The sunlight temporarily blinded her as she looked around at the waiting people, trying to find Nick. She should have known it would be no hard task. All she had to do was look for the crowd. She found him in the midst of several young women and teenagers who were thrilled to spot him at the airport and were using the opportunity to get autographs signed and to take selfies with him. Nick tolerantly posed and smiled for several shots. The brief holiday had done wonders for him as he looked relaxed and in a good mood.
Shari paused, not sure if to approach him or wait for him to notice her. As if sensing her presence, he looked up and saw her waiting with her luggage. He said something to the women around him and started toward her with a huge smile on his face. How could he look so gorgeous in a plain white T-shirt and a pair of disreputable-looking black jeans?
He held open his arms and she couldn’t stop herself from walking into them with a feeling of homecoming. Seeing the fans who were still watching Nick eyeing her with curiosity and envy, she couldn’t help the thrill that Nick had chosen to be with her.
“I missed you!” Nick told her.
“I missed you too, even though it’s only been a week. How pathetic is that?”
“If you’re pathetic, then so am I. Let’s get out of here so that I can kiss you without an audience. I’ve thought about nothing but that on my way here.”
Shari laughed because she’d thought of nothing else for the last week.
Nick led her to a sleek, dark sports car which looked very much like the one they’d driven in Denver. As he manhandled her suitcases into the limited space behind the seats and opened the door for her, he realized that driving the new Porsche to pick up Shari had not been the smartest decision.
“Nick Badley, did you treat yourself to a new car?” she scolded as the smell of new leather teased her nose.
“Guilty! I couldn’t resist! Don’t you think I deserved it after that grueling world tour? After driving the one in Denver, I had to have this and it was the memory of driving with you that tipped me over the edge.”
“Please, Nick! It wasn’t the memory of me that tipped you over the edge. You planned to buy this anyway. Do you know how many microloans this little toy could finance?”
“I’m sure you’re going to tell me,” said Nick cheerfully. He wasn’t going to get into an argument with Shari. He was too glad to see her. “I’ll donate the equivalent to a cause of your choice. Does that make you happy?”
“Are you serious?”
“Anything for you, darling,” he promised, drawing her close. He paused just before his lips met hers to tell her again how much he’d missed her and then proceeded to demonstrate by taking time to rediscover the taste of her mouth. Shari’s hand circled his neck and sunk into his hair which was longer than she’d ever seen it.
Nick intensified the kiss and Shari was with him all the way. It was everything she’d remembered and more. Nick hands roamed her back restlessly and he impatiently pushed aside her jacket so that he could feel its contours. When one hand began to journey as he gave in to the desire to feel her softness, Shari’s alarm bell began to ring in her head and she reluctantly dragged her lips away from Nick’s.
“Nick…” she began.
“Shh,” he put a finger on her lips. “Sorry. I got carried away. I know the limits, so you don’t have to be afraid that I’ll push them. But can I confess that this is damn hard?”
“Confession is good for the soul,” Shari quoted breathlessly. “So I should confess that I didn’t want you to stop. This is hard for me too, Nick.”
That made him feel better knowing that he wasn’t the only one feeling that way.
“Tell me about it. I’ve been celibate for eighteen days!”
“That’s great, Nick! I’ve been celibate for four years!”
“So you said before, but I didn’t take you seriously. How can you even remember what you’re missing?”
“It wasn’t that memorable in the first place,” she admitted. She’d never shared that with anyone, feeling that it was somehow her fault that she’d been unable to reach fulfillment with Rob. Nick groaned.
“That only encourages me to want to give you something that you won’t forget.”
“Stop. We’d better go. I hope I can trust you to spend the night at your house.” And myself, she added silently.
“You can trust me, Shari.” Nick said seriously, starting the powerful engine. “And to prove it, I’ll stay within the speed limit,” he teased her, lightening the mood.
“You’ve probably used up all your favor here, anyway,” Shari said drily, “so you would definitely be short on finding a sympathetic officer like Officer Patton.”
Nick laughed as he remembered the altercation with the officer in Denver. That seemed so long ago, but it was only about a month. How could he have known Shari for such a short time and yet she had such a major impact on his life? What was going on? He’d begun to wonder if their meeting was divinely orchestrated. Could God have sent Shari to save him from himself?
Chapter 26
Shari could see why Nick was not as impressed as she was with all the upscale hotel rooms he’d stayed in. His house, and that term was used very loosely, was huge and lacked nothing that the luxury hotels had. There was not only a huge pool, but a fully-equipped gym and spa, not to mention an entertainment room which doubled as a music room, where he kept his guitar collection. That adjoined to a party room complete with surround sound and a bar. When they had strolled outside, enjoying the warm temperature, she had seen a gardener in the distance and someone else cleaning the pool. Nick had also introduced her to his housekeeper/cook and cleaner whom they’d come across on the tour of the house.
“My goodness! This is like something from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” she remarked, somewhat overwhelmed. She’d known that Nick was rich, but she’d never really quantified it, especially as he practically lived in jeans and T-shirts. She began to have serious reservations about their budding relationship.
As if Nick sensed where her thoughts were heading, he pulled her close and linked his hands just below her waist.
“Don’t ev
en think it. I’m the same Nick. My house doesn’t define me and it doesn’t change who I am. Don’t go pulling back from me now.” He said it jokingly, but he was almost pleading with her not to let who he was and what he had come between them. Other women would be running to cement themselves into his life, but Shari seemed to be retreating and that was what made her special. And he wanted her in his life.
“OK. I’ve heard that wealth doesn’t make people bad or good; it just makes them more of who they already were.”
“I’m not sure if that’s helping me or not,” Nick probed.
“Well, I’m here, so you must know that I see some good in you,” she joked.
“Yes! Progress is being made. How about a celebratory kiss?”
“Don’t push your luck, Nick Badley,” she advised, escaping from his arms.
“OK. Then what would you like to do today? Tomorrow we leave around ten to get to my parents’. It takes about five hours to get there and we’ll have to stop for lunch along the way.”
“Have you packed already?”
Nick looked surprisingly shamefaced as he confessed that his housekeeper would pack for him, but he had already given her input on what he wanted included. Shari shook her head in disbelief. She needed time to process this new information. It wasn’t that she was impressed by wealth and status, but she knew that she could definitely get used to this lifestyle; she’d already had a small taste. If she and Nick could have a relationship – and that would only happen if he recommitted his life – would living like this change her as it had changed Nick?
Shari clung to the side of her seat as Nick hit the CA-99N. The speed limit sign had said 70mph, but Nick was surely over that, although she was too terrified to glance at the dashboard. Thankfully, Nick had not folded down the top or the wind whistling through the car would have made it feel even faster.