Taste of Love

by Nicole, Stephanie

  Cameron nodded and turned back to the garden as she left, leaning on the balcony railing. He inhaled deeply, then sighed, wishing things could be different for once. It was the first time he wasn't excited about getting out on the road and touring, but it was his job, and it's what had made him so successful.

  Madison located Sasha and Bunny when she went back inside, and true to Thomas's word, she was introduced to many friends that had enjoyed her appetizers immensely.

  By the end of the night, Madison was tired and tipsy. All she could think about was getting home and crawling between the covers. When Thomas suggested they go somewhere for coffee, she regretfully declined.

  "I'm sorry, I'm wiped out. But I do appreciate the offer," she told him, feeling bad, since he had been nice to her all night.

  "I understand." He gave her a half smile. "But we're still on for Bunny's party next week, right?"

  "You bet." She smiled as he let her off at the door to her apartment. "I had a great time tonight. Thanks for everything." She fished through her evening bag, trying to find her keys. Once she had them in hand, she looked up triumphantly, only to have her lips taken in a soft, chaste kiss.

  "Good night sweet Madison," Thomas whispered, then left before she could even respond.

  The next day the restaurant was busier than ever and Madison was glad, for it kept her mind off Thomas and Cameron. It was clear that some of the people Sasha and Bunny had introduced the night before had come to the restaurant to try it out. The dining room was at capacity, and had been for hours. People were milling about in the lobby, hoping to get a table before the restaurant closed. It was fabulous for Madison, though she disliked seeing people waiting for so long. She sent a few rounds of appetizers out to the lobby so that people wouldn't get too upset about the wait.

  She barely had time to make her hourly rounds of the restaurant before she had to run back in the kitchen and help out. But she felt it was important to get out, and let her customers know she appreciated them.

  The kitchen stayed open an hour later than normal, to accommodate all those who were waiting to get a table. Madison hated turning people away, even if it was late. Her staff all understood and agreed.

  By the time they finally left the restaurant, they were all exhausted. Madison checked the reservations and saw that the restaurant was fully booked for the next three weeks. Booked absolutely solid. Proud of everything she had accomplished, and thankful for Sasha and Bunny's introductions, she shut off all the lights and locked the doors.

  Over the next few days, Madison and Austin realized a few changes were needed. They decided to open up the banquet room to the nightly diners, and not host any large parties there, unless the price was right. That would free up another twenty tables, something they sorely needed.

  They also decided to hire five more people to help out in the kitchen, and three more servers. It was a big step for Madison to take, but she realized that if she didn't do it, the staff would start to complain. Another idea in the works was a separate location, just for catering, but that would come sometime down the road. For now, the catering requests that had increased since Sasha's party would be handled through the restaurant.

  "Austin, I hate to leave you like this when we've been so busy lately, but I can't disappoint Bunny."

  Madison was torn. She stood in the kitchen of her restaurant, wearing the luxurious red ball gown, watching her employees packing up the Shrimp Bruschetta rounds that Bunny had asked for.

  "We can handle it. Besides, I'm sure that some of our new customers will be at Bunny's party too, so it might not be as busy tonight," Austin reminded her, rushing around her and packing the food up.

  "Remind me tomorrow to talk to you about a big, fat raise," she told him with a huge smile, as she watched him transfer the covered trays of food to the catering van waiting outside the back door. She noted how late it was, and realized she needed to get back home to wait for Thomas.

  "I'm not kidding about that raise either!" She yelled, so that Austin heard her. He smiled and told her to have fun, but she had already disappeared around the corner.

  She arrived home only a few minutes before Thomas knocked on her door. It was just enough time to touch up her makeup and hair, and not appear out of breath.

  When she opened the door Thomas stood there, looking just as handsome as she remembered. He leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

  "Are you ready?" he asked.

  "Sure am. Let's go." She grabbed her evening bag and locked the door to her apartment. She noticed that Thomas didn't ogle her, even though her dress dropped dangerously low, and for that, she was grateful. He never failed to look her in the eyes, and she was glad that he wasn't all about staring at her chest.

  As they pulled up to Bunny's house, Madison's breath hitched. She had thought Sasha's house was nice, but it was a shack compared to the miracle that stood before her. She tried not to let her awe show too much, as she didn't want to offend Thomas, but this house was a masterpiece that put Sasha's mansion to shame.

  She took his arm as he helped her out of the car, and followed him up the steps to the massive double antique wooden doors. The carvings on the door were so intricate, she could have stood there for hours marveling over them. Instead, the doors were promptly opened by a butler, and she and Thomas were ushered in to the reception area.

  Bunny noticed them immediately and went up to give Madison an air kiss on each cheek. "Darling, you look gorgeous! And the appetizers are wonderful. Thank you so much for the extras. I was so surprised!"

  Madison laughed. "You're welcome. It was the least I could do after all the help you've given me."

  Bunny waved off her thanks, as if it was no trouble at all. "You kids go on into the ballroom and get something to eat and drink."

  But before they could walk away, Bunny took Madison's arm and whispered in her ear, "Cameron's in there, and I know he wants to see you." Seeing her eye brows raise and her cheeks blush, Bunny smiled with satisfaction. So there was something going on between Madison and her son! She knew it!

  The mere mention of Cameron's name sent a shiver through Madison, but she knew that it was foolish to feel that way. He was a rock star, after all, and women came and went all the time. Besides, now that her restaurant had taken off like a rocket, there was no way she'd have time to date anyway.

  If the mention of his name sent a shiver through her, she should have known that seeing him would do something more. The moment she walked into the ballroom, her eyes immediately found his. There was some kind of pull there, something that she couldn't explain.

  She felt the hand on her arm tighten, snapping her out of her thoughts. She looked to her left and realized that Thomas had caught her staring and was now casting Cameron a look of his own, and there was no infatuation involved there.

  "Thomas, how about we head to the bar for some drinks?" Madison asked with a smile, trying to ease the tension that had just appeared.

  "Fine," he said, tight-lipped, then headed towards the bar, guiding her with a possessive hand to the small of her back.

  "Here's to tonight," she toasted, clinking her champagne glass against Thomas's, and draining the bubbly in one swallow.

  Here's to tonight, she thought again, as her eyes found Cameron once more. And what an interesting night it'll be.

  Chapter Nine

  Bunny's party was interesting for Madison, to say the least. She was having a great time meeting people and dancing with Thomas, but one small thing bothered her. Any time that Cameron got close to them, Thomas would pull Madison in the opposite direction, saying he saw someone she had to meet. And of course, there would always be someone to introduce her to, but Madison saw the truth behind his efforts to keep her and Cameron apart.

  After a few too many glasses of champagne, Madison went in the direction of the powder room, with a promise to Thomas that she would be fine on her own, and that she would be right back. The line at the rest room was a mile long, and Madison did
n't think she could wait that long. Luckily, Bunny and Cameron were standing nearby.

  Walking over, she gave Cameron a shy smile before talking to Bunny. "I really hate to ask this, but do you have another restroom I could use? I don't think I can wait it out through that line," she asked, almost timidly.

  "Of course dear. Just go down that hall right there, and up the stairs. There is a bathroom at the end of the hall." Bunny counted mentally. "Fourth door on the right."

  "Excuse me, please" Cameron interrupted. "I see someone that needs my assistance."

  Bunny smiled at him, then turned her attention back to Madison. "Do you need an escort there, or do you think you can find it?"

  "I think I'll be all right. Thank you so much." She air-kissed Bunny's cheeks, then set off in search of the other bathroom.

  At the top of the stairs, she slowed, entranced by all the paintings adorning the walls. She'd never have the money to have a collection as nice as this. One looked like a Van Gogh, and knowing Bunny, it was the real thing. She was so lost in her admiration of the piece, she was caught off guard when a door opened, and she was pulled into a dark room.

  Before she could scream, a hand covered her mouth, and a dim light came on. Cameron stood there, grinning at the shock on Madison's face. When her hand lashed out and smacked him on the arm, he started to laugh. "Calm down, it's just me."

  "You ass! You scared the shit out of me."

  Cameron chuckled. "Sorry, but I figured it was the only way we'd get to talk. Thomas seems to have tightened his leash on you."

  Madison was about to protest, telling him that leashes were for dogs, but then she realized that Cameron was right. "It is getting a little annoying," she agreed.

  "I have something important to tell you," he said.

  "Oh?"

  "I wanted to tell you that tomorrow will be my last night in town, and I was hoping you'd come to my concert. I've got two front row tickets and back stage passes for you, but there's a catch," he told her.

  Her eyebrow rose, wondering what the catch was.

  He grinned. "My only condition is that you don't bring Thomas."

  Madison laughed. "I think I can handle that. I do have other friends, you know."

  Cameron removed the tickets from the inner pocket of his jacket and handed them to her. "I hope you enjoy it. I don't even know what music you listen to."

  "I like a little of everything," she told him, putting the tickets in her evening bag. "Thank you, I'm sure it'll be great."

  There was a question she needed to ask. She didn't want to seem overly eager, but at the same time, she knew she would miss him. "How long does the tour last?"

  "I'll be gone for at least two months, maybe more if it goes over well and we have to add more dates. There's also talk of an international tour, but I'd prefer to wait on that, not that my opinion matters much," he told her.

  "Wow, two whole months." She gave a quick chuckle. "I've kind of gotten used to you being around. It'll be weird not seeing or hearing from you for so long."

  He smiled. "I do have a phone, you know."

  "Yeah, but you'll be so busy being Mr. Rock Star that us little folk will long be forgotten," she teased.

  His eyes grew serious. "I could never forget you." He leaned in to place a kiss on her cheek, but she turned her head to ask what he was doing. Instead, his lips landed on hers. Before either knew what was happening, the kiss deepened, and hands started to roam.

  "Madison?" A deep voice called out from down the hall, breaking the two apart.

  Her hand flew to her mouth, touching her lips, which had just been sealed to Cameron's in such a divine kiss. "Oh, shit," she whispered.

  Cameron laughed quietly. "It's okay, just tell him you were lost and went into the wrong room." Madison nodded, leaving so much unsaid between the two of them. "I'll see you at the concert tomorrow night."

  Madison stood still and watched him disappear through a door on the other side of the room. She was torn; follow after Cameron, or return to Thomas? In the end, instinct took over and she went to Thomas.

  "There you are! I've been looking all over for you. Bunny said you went to the bathroom and was worried that you'd gotten lost," Thomas said, reaching out for her.

  "I did. I thought she said second door on the right, but she must have said fourth door." She continued down the hall towards the fourth door. "Excuse me," she said, slipping inside.

  Thomas waited outside the bathroom for her to finish, then escorted her back to the party. And for the rest of the night, he didn't leave her side or let her anywhere near Cameron. But although Thomas may have kept her from him physically, after that kiss, Madison's mind was on Cameron the rest of the night.

  Madison called Chase as soon as she woke up the next morning. "Hey bitch, you have plans for tonight?"

  "No, but I'm not helping you clean your bathrooms. That's what tonight is, isn't it? I know it's not laundry night or kitchen night," he said, somewhat distracted.

  "Well, you're right, it is bathroom night," she admitted. "But actually I'm calling to ask you to go to a concert with me. But if that's how you're going to be..."

  "Concert? What concert? Is it that stud you're constantly drooling over now? And how much will it cost me?" he asked, now fully interested.

  "It's Cameron's concert, and I haven't been drooling over him. We're friends now, that's it. He gave me two free tickets, and who better to take than my best friend?"

  "What about Tommy Boy? You two have been rather cozy lately," he pointed out. He still fully believed Thomas was a 'closet queen'.

  "Um, no, I'd rather have you there with me. Are you going to say yes, or are you going to make me beg?" she asked, starting to lose her patience.

  "As much as I love hearing you beg, I love seeing hot, sweaty guys up on stage even more. So, I'll go," he told her. She could hear the big smile on the other end of the line.

  "Great. I'll pick you up at seven o'clock then. Be ready and waiting," she warned, before hanging up.

  She looked at her watch. Maybe she could squeeze in a quick bathroom cleaning before getting ready for work, but then she'd have to leave early as well, to prepare for the concert.

  She sighed. Another crazy day.

  Madison and Chase made their way into the huge auditorium, which was already packed with thousands of screaming fans. As they made their way to the very front row, she noticed a lot of attractive women giving them dirty looks, envious of their better seats.

  She just smiled. If only they knew.

  Chase scanned the crowd, looking to see if anyone piqued his interest. His eyes locked on a man, and immediately he tapped Madison's shoulder.

  "What's up?" she asked.

  "I'm going to go talk to him. He's going to be my new boyfriend," Chase told her, pointing to a man, who in Madison's eyes looked very straight.

  "Chase, what makes you think he's even gay?" she asked, not wanting her friend to make an ass of himself, or get pummeled if the guy wasn't gay.

  "Look at his hat. It has a rainbow on it. Hello!" He gave a wink, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

  Madison looked more closely at the guy's hat and nearly died laughing. "Chase, have you ever heard of Pink Floyd?"

  "They're a band, right?" he asked, and when Madison only nodded her head, he continued, not enjoying any of her laughter.

  "What the hell do they have to do with this?"

  "Oh, honey." Madison tried to get herself under control. "That may be a rainbow, but it's not a 'gay rainbow'. That was a symbol on the cover of one of their albums. It means the guy likes Pink Floyd, not that he's gay."

  Chase narrowed his eyes, not really understanding, then his brows shot up in surprise when he finally comprehended. "No shit! Really?"

  "Really."

  Chase looked at the man with longing. "I'm glad you notice details like that."

  Madison nodded and laughed again, just as the lights dimmed and the opening group bounded onto the stage
to play. They were pretty good, no one she had ever heard of before, but they had promise. She was starting to get antsy by the end of their set, impatient for Cameron to get started. She'd never seen him perform before, but had heard his songs and couldn't wait to hear him live.

  Finally, he took the stage. The man she thought she knew had been replaced by this other Cameron, a man filled with swagger and seduction. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. He was always full of energy and confidence, but when he was on stage, he was raw and intense. He created magnetism when he performed. She watched as he strutted up to the microphone and belted out a line from one of his most popular songs. It was no wonder he was so popular and successful.

  Madison looked around the crowd and noticed that most of the women were singing along, and many were crying. Some were reaching toward him with everything they had, trying to touch his hand, his boot, his leg. The guys were jumping around to the music, pumping their fists and singing too. Everyone looked like they were enjoying the show, and it was no mystery why. She turned her attention back to the stage, and let herself be captivated by Cameron's showmanship.

  After the encore, Madison and Chase showed their VIP passes to the security guards and were led back to a large room with a bar and buffet set up. The room was already crowded, and more filtered through after Madison and Chase arrived.

  The party was full of half-naked women and a lot of questionable -looking men. It was a completely different crowd than Madison was used to, and she was beginning to feel uncomfortable. She had known there would be a lot of groupies, but she hadn't expected a scene like this.

  Making their way further into the room, Madison finally found the one she was looking for. He was the center of attention. He was laughing at something that a woman had said, looking truly happy. He had a beer in one hand, and what looked like a cigarette or joint in the other.