Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance

by Susan Westwood

“Well I’m sure I can resist him.”

  Roger laughed. “You go on thinking that.”

  ***

  Colin spent a few minutes making arrangements for the evening. He wanted a nice romantic spread for Tamra, but not one that was over the top. He’d bet that she wasn’t one for girly stuff. Considering she could probably take him down, he didn’t want to piss her off.

  No, this would be subtle. Candles and a lovely view of Manhattan. Along with take-out.

  He wouldn’t have time to cook tonight, but her favorite chef would.

  Next time he’d invite the chef to make the meal. He liked having money. Life was easier in some ways.

  He listened with one ear as Tamra and Roger compared schedules. He’d have to get one from Roger also. He had no idea what he was doing after tomorrow. He would need to know so he could reschedule Docta Hop.

  This album was not going to record itself and he really wanted this to be good. This was his product. He’d never put out a bad one so his collaboration with the Docta was crucial. Otherwise he’d have no credibility in the hip hop world as a white kid from Ireland.

  With the details set, he wandered back to the kitchen. “Well leave in half an hour. Is that enough time?”

  Tamra nodded, but her attention was on Roger. “So, the shoot is here?”

  “Yes, we decided since this wasn’t really his home it would be okay. Colin doesn’t like strangers in his house.”

  “He was eager for me to be here.”

  Then she put a hand over her mouth as if she wished she hadn’t said that. He would bet that if she could, she’d be blushing..

  “I think I covered that part earlier,” Colin said. “You staying here tonight, Roger? Want me to send the car out for you?”

  “Of course. I love riding in style. You know, I would have dropped you as a friend a long time ago if you hadn’t been this successful.”

  “Right, otherwise you’d be riding in someone else’s limo,” Colin said.

  “You bet.”

  Tamra looked from one to the other, then smiled reluctantly. “So that’s it for the week? Oh, wow. You do a lot in seven days.”

  “I have a career to keep afloat. It’s actually worse when I am touring.”

  “That’s not for three months?”

  Roger cut in. “That might be sooner. Some of the early venues might add a few dates. Or he might circle back to a few cities. He’ll fill the venue if given the chance. They aren’t going to turn him down.”

  “How is it worse when touring?”

  “My days are not mine at all. The press knows I’m in town so there’s no sightseeing. I just have to stay in the hotel until the sound check. Or if there is a meet and greet I get to the venue then.”

  “Meet and greet?”

  “Fans pay to mingle with me.”

  “You charge them?”

  Colin shook his head. “They are charged, but the money goes to charity. I can’t take that from them. It wouldn’t be right.”

  A rock star with a conscience. That’s what some magazines call him. His mama just taught him right.

  CHAPTER 6

  After lunch with Larry in which he kissed her hand before they parted, Kelly looked up the location of Sophie’s phone. She was at the mall, but something wasn’t right. Her gut was telling her to go check it out.

  So she drove to the mall closest to their house. In New Jersey, there was a mall every few miles, but this was the one Sophie preferred.

  Kelly didn’t really think she’d find her daughter, but when she entered the mall, she knew right away why her daughter had wanted to come here.

  Sophie was on a quest for fame. At her age, Kelly didn’t want her anywhere near performing. She’d promised to revisit the issue when her daughter reached high school age.

  Right now the mall was holding auditions for a local talent contest. Of course her daughter would want to try out.

  Who had signed the permission slip? They wouldn’t have let her audition without that. Kelly strode up to the crowd, hoping she was wrong, but her when she saw her daughter as next in line she stopped short.

  Sophie was wearing makeup and though it was understated, Kelly still didn’t like it. Had her ex signed the slip? Yes, she bet he did. So as not to make a scene, Kelly waited until Sophie was done.

  Then she wended her way through the crowd and found her daughter.

  “Sophie Lambert.”

  Her daughter jumped at the sound of her name. She turned slowly to face Kelly, her expression telling Kelly that she knew she was caught.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  So she was going to play this cool. “I wondered why you wanted to come to the mall today.”

  “Are you mad?”

  “Yes I am.”

  “Can I stay to find out if I’m in?” Sophie said, a hopeful look on her face.

  “No.”

  “Mom?”

  “No. I didn’t give permission for this.”

  “Dad did.”

  “Then he should have been here for the competition. He shouldn’t have let you go alone. End of discussion.”

  “You are the worst mother ever.”

  Her daughter wouldn’t walk near her.

  “Probably,” was all Kelly said before her phone rang.

  ***

  The only part of his schedule that sounded strange to Tamra and the only one she had an issue with, was the photo shoot. A magazine was coming to do a spread and she had to contact them to know who was coming.

  What a nightmare. As she threw clothes into an overnight bag, she had her cell tucked under her chin.

  “This is Tamra Johnson. I do security for Colin Brennan. I need a list of the names of those who will be here for the shoot in two days.”

  “That list has not been finalized,” the young girl said.

  She was probably an assistant to an assistant. “When will it be finalized?”

  “Probably tomorrow.”

  “Can I please get a copy of the list sent to my e-mail? I need to know who will be here on the property to insure Mr. Brennan’s safety.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  She gave the girl her e-mail then disconnected the call. She dropped the phone on the bed, then realized she needed to update Kelly. She picked up her phone, hit the speed dial and then closed her suitcase.

  She held the phone in one hand as she flipped the bag over her shoulder with the other.

  Kelly’s voicemail picked up. Odd.

  “Hey, Kel. Colin wants to sleep in his penthouse in New York tonight. I’ll talk to building security on my way there, but I think the place is locked up tight. Not really concerned about it. You can call me back or I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

  Colin met her at the top of the steps and reached for her bag. “I can do it.”

  “I know. You can probably kick my ass, but I was raised a gentleman. I’ll carry your bag.”

  She looked at him, his hand outstretched. “I can do this.”

  Brushing past him, she walked down the steps.

  “Do you ever ask for help?”

  “In my job.”

  “But not in your personal life. What is it like to go through life not needing anyone?”

  She didn’t answer him because her phone rang. “Hi, Kelly.”

  “Sorry I didn’t answer. I was in a noisy mall.”

  “Mall?”

  “Long story. I’ll fill you in when I’m calmer.”

  “Sophie?”

  “Of course. Let me know the name of the building and I’ll check it out on the internet. I’ll be home in five minutes.”

  “What’s the name of the building you live in?” she asked Colin who was now standing next to her.

  “I’ll give you the name if you give me your bag.”

  She huffed, then frowned before handing him her overnight bag. He told her the name. She told Kelly and they disconnected.

  “Now, let’s go,” Colin said leading her out of the door.
<
br />   ***

  Colin settled into the limousine excited about his dinner with Tamra. For him it was a date.

  He drummed his fingers on his knee, a song forming in his head. He began to hum.

  Tamra glanced at him.

  “Do you have a piece of paper and a pen?”

  She blinked, then dug into her laptop case. She’d insisted on bringing it, but he wanted this night for fun. No sex, just fun and getting to know Tamra. She handed him the requested items.

  “Thanks.”

  He leaned against his knee, scribbling the words onto the paper that were flowing out of his brain. The song was clearly about Tamra. He could hear the music in his head, but he didn’t have anything to play it on.

  He wished he’d brought his iPad. He had a keyboard app on it.

  When he finally looked up, they were in the Holland Tunnel. All that time had passed and he had a song with the melody all set. He glanced at Tamra who stared at him.

  “You looked like you were in a trance,” she said.

  “Hopefully, you didn’t try to talk to me.”

  “No. You were humming, too.”

  “I didn’t mean to ignore you, but when a song hits me I have to get it out.”

  She shrugged. “Fine.”

  “I know this was supposed to be just us, but sometimes the song comes to me at an inopportune moment.”

  “Not a big deal. This whole romance thing is your idea.”

  He folded the paper he’d been writing, then tucked it into his pants pocket. “Have you never had romance in your life?”

  She took a deep breath and let it out noisily. That breath said so much.

  “Yes and it became a nuisance.”

  “Or did he become a nuisance?”

  “Something like that.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Not your fault.”

  She looked out the window as if to end the conversation. He let her be alone with her thoughts. The melody of the song still rang in his head.

  ***

  Tamra realized in that conversation that Colin really wanted to know about her. Her. Personally. This wasn’t a game to him. That scared her. She figured he’d get bored and leave her alone to do her job of protecting him.

  Though given his schedule, she didn’t know if he’d have time to romance her. He had a meeting in the morning with the fragrance company. In the afternoon he had a radio interview. The next day he had an all afternoon photo shoot at the house.

  She was tired just thinking about it all.

  She pulled out her phone when it rang, Kelly again.

  “Hey, Kelly.”

  “I checked out the building. Security is tight. Some big names live in that building. I also called security and told them you were coming. Colin has his own elevator.”

  “His own elevator?”

  Yes, the top three penthouses, each a whole floor, have designated elevators with their own keys.”

  “Well, that makes it easy to secure.”

  “Yep.”

  “Thanks.”

  She disconnected.

  “Did I forget to mention the elevator?” Colin said.

  “Might have been important to know that. I might have felt better about this whole situation.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Do you want to get hurt? Do you not take this threat as real?”

  “Look, I’m sorry. I forgot a detail, but I don’t think that’s what you’re mad at. I think I’m getting to you and you don’t like it. I’m scaling this giant wall you’ve erected or at least I’m trying harder than anyone else to get over it. You don’t like it at all.”

  Her mouth moved, but no words came out. “You are not scaling some wall. I’m supposed to keep you safe. I don’t want to fail at my job.”

  He laughed, a twinkle in his eyes. “You keep thinking that’s why you’re mad.”

  “You are cocky, aren’t you?”

  “I’m confident. There’s a difference.”

  *

  Tamra looked away and lapsed into silence. The melody of that song was still in his head. He’d have to play it when he got to the penthouse. Then it would be cemented in his mind enough to hold until he could write down the notes or record a track.

  Wait, he could record on his phone. That would do it.

  He relaxed into the seat of the stretch limousine that was currently driving him to his home. Well, one of his homes. He had one in California, too.

  Tamra was on the other side of the vehicle. She clearly didn’t want to talk to him or even breathe the same air. Not a good start to his romancing her.

  Still, he’d written two songs since she’d been around. Was she his muse? Would she want that role in his life? Probably shouldn’t tell her yet.

  Finally, his driver Sean pulled up in front of his building. Tamra got out and looked around. She motioned for him to follow.

  Then the flashes went off. He smiled and waved at the people taking pictures. He didn’t want to have a reputation as a douchebag so he gave them some face for a picture.

  A hand on his arm tugged at him.

  “Come on,” Tamra said.

  “No one’s going to shoot me on the streets of New York.”

  “Tell that to John Lennon,” she said.

  He let himself be tugged into the building. The doorman stopped anyone else from going in the entry. The glass was tinted so anyone on the street could not see him.

  “Okay, I’m safe,” he said.

  He led her to his elevator and pulled out a key card.

  “Hello, Mr. Brennan. Sorry about those paparazzi,” the doorman said from a few feet away.

  “Not a problem. I think they camp out.”

  “I’ve shooed them away. I don’t know where they were hiding.”

  “Not a problem, Gus. Thanks. There will be a delivery in about an hour, so please let them up. From my favorite restaurant.”

  “Okay, Mr. Brennan.”

  The doors to the elevator opened and he nudged Tamra into the car. “All is okay now.” She let out a breath. “Do photographers follow you everywhere?”

  “Yes, they do.”

  ***

  Tamra shuddered at the intrusion into his life. She could not imagine people following her or taking pictures, or any of that stuff that happened when you were famous. She’d be happy to be known in her industry, but that was it.

  Nothing more.

  She’d be glad when this gig was over. Hopefully, her company would gain in their reputation from protecting such a highly visible client. She had to remember that.

  If she had to put up with Colin and his antics, she had to keep in mind that it was business. She’d never have to see him again after this.

  He leaned against the side of the elevator, his legs crossed at the ankles. He didn’t seem to be uncomfortable any place where he was. She bet that any day she could drop him in her own neighborhood and he’d figure out how to make a friend.

  Not a bad quality to have, just annoying to her at the moment.

  “We forgot our bags,” she said.

  He shook his head. “Sean will unload them in the back and Gus will bring them up.”

  What would it be like? Getting used to people catering to you? She thought it would fit her like an itchy sweater. She liked her privacy and her alone time. And that alone time is what she missed most during this case.

  Suck it up, buttercup. This was business. She had to keep reminding herself.

  “You look unhappy.”

  She shrugged. “No. I’m fine.”

  “You look like you are going to your execution. That doesn’t do much for my ego.”

  “Am I supposed to fawn over you?”

  “No, but I’d like to think that being in my presence isn’t horrible.”

  “It’s unnerving. Okay? Flashbulbs when you get out of the car. Things like that are not part of my everyday existence.”

  “Thanks for being honest. What are you going to do
if you get more high profile clients?”

  “Someone else will be protecting them. They probably won’t have a tantrum if it isn’t me on the job.”

  “Good point.”