Rock Your Body: A BWWM Romance

by Susan Westwood

  “What do you do when you’re in Manhattan?” Tamra asked.

  “Well, I actually can walk around freely. Sometimes a tourist will stop me, but New Yorkers see people all the time. They are not impressed.”

  “That must be nice for a change.”

  “Odd, the first time I realized that, but then I found it refreshing,” Colin said.

  His cousin was driving them again and she’d found in her encounters with him that he was a man of few words. She respected that, but part of her wanted to ask questions. It was in her nature.

  He dropped them off at the front door of Colin’s building. The noise was what got to Tamra. So much noise, though she didn’t hear it from his penthouse the last time. She liked to be able to open a window.

  There stood Carie. As if she’d been waiting for them. At least for Colin. She ignored Tamra.

  What did Colin know about Carie? Tamra hadn’t found much out. Her record was clean, but how did she know that Colin would be here? Only Roger, Kelly and Larry knew. Tamra trusted all of them.

  Maybe it was just coincidence?

  “Hey, Carie.”

  “Hi Colin.”

  The girl twirled some of her hair between her fingers. Tamra wanted to roll her eyes. She wanted Colin off the street.

  Now.

  Colin stopped in front of his fan. “What’s the good word, Carie?”

  “Well, your fans are looking forward to another album and your tour.”

  “Good to know.”

  “I have a favor to ask.”

  “Okay.”

  Tamra stood behind him, looking at all the passersby, wishing they could move this along.

  “There’s this kid in my school who has cancer and we want to do a benefit for him. Do you think you’d be able to perform?”

  Was this girl asking him that? That took balls.

  “Do you have a date? I’ll have to clear it with a few people, but I think I can make an appearance,” Colin said.

  Colin should not have agreed to it. Tamra would need time to secure the area. “How about we have Colin’s assistant get in touch with you.”

  Carie glared at Tamra. Colin glanced back at her, but his expression was unreadable. “Tamra’s got a point. Roger has a way to contact you, right?”

  Carie frowned. “Yes, he does. Hopefully we can work something out.”

  Tamra knew that if Carie could have smacked her she would have.

  ***

  The door closed on the elevator before Colin spoke. “I need to keep a good relationship with Carie. She is a conduit to my fans.”

  “I don’t trust her.”

  “Carie?”

  “Yes, I don’t trust her. Bad vibe and you can tell she doesn’t like me.”

  “Why?”

  “You didn’t see the look she gave me when your back was turned.”

  “I’m sure you did a search on her.”

  “I did and came up with nothing.”

  “Then let it go. She’s harmless,” Colin said.

  “Not so sure, but don’t listen to me. I’m just your bodyguard.”

  He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “You are way more than a bodyguard. I’ll be careful.”

  “And that benefit? I’ll need time to secure the venue.”

  “It’s probably a high school. What could go wrong?”

  “Everything.”

  The elevator doors opened. Roger waited for them.

  “Sometimes, Roger, I think you have magical powers to be so many places we need you,” Tamra said.

  “Oh, I do, honey.”

  Tamra laughed. She left.

  “Let’s go into my Office,” said Colin.

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  Colin settled behind his desk. His mind was still on his encounter with Carie. Was Tamra just being jealous? She had no reason to be. Carie was not a threat. To any part of Colin’s life. “I ran into Carie.”

  “Oh?”

  “She wants to do a benefit concert for a kid at the school where she teaches. Can you contact her for more information?”

  “Sure.”

  He tapped that into his phone.

  “Then make sure all my stuff gets packed from that house,” Colin said.

  “Have you found a new place?”

  “Not yet and I’m itching to get recording. I’ve been writing like mad for the album after that.”

  “I’m sure you are.”

  “Why?”

  “Whenever you fall in love you are your most creative. If we could just keep you in that state all the time you’d never run out of songs.”

  Colin chuckled. “Really? I never noticed.”

  “Seriously? Look at the timing of all of your albums”

  He’d never thought about it. “Okay if you say so, but I feel more creative than usual, like I need another outlet for my creativity.”

  “You might need another assistant.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I can barely juggle your schedule now. You have the final meeting with the fragrance company Monday. The launch won’t be for six months, but there’s the publicity leading up to it. Then your new album. The tour that goes with it. Plus your clothing line.”

  “That reminds me. Tamra’s clothes. They might be delivered to the house instead of here.”

  “See what I mean? Even you can’t keep track.”

  ***

  Tamra stood outside Colin’s office. She didn’t mean to eavesdrop so she knocked on the doorframe. “Sounds like a full schedule.”

  “I gave you most of the next week already.”

  “Do you have the tour dates?”

  “Yes, and the venues,” Roger said. “You don’t think this will be resolved by then?”

  “Not sure,” she said.

  She wasn’t. She was just keeping her head above water protecting him. She needed to find out who this person was.

  “No?” Roger said.

  “No, I’m no closer to figuring it out. I’m wondering if now that we’re here, the person will show themselves more. I don’t want to risk Colin, but we need to flush out this person. I’m feeling helpless waiting for them to make a move.”

  “Do you even understand their motivation?” Colin said.

  “No. That bothers me. If I could figure out what the person’s trigger is I could flaunt it and bring them out into the light.”

  “Then you’d be able to deal with them,” Roger said.

  “Yes, I’m confident that once I know who they are, that I can take care of them,” she said.

  “So let’s go walk around New York,” Colin said.

  “Not a good idea.”

  “I agree with Tamra.”

  “I’m not being held hostage by a coward. You need to shop for some things, let’s go.”

  He stood as if they could just go right now. As if it was all that easy.

  “I don’t like this.”

  “Come on, Tamra. What can happen on the streets of New York?”

  Tamra laughed sardonically. “Anything.”

  ***

  “You want to walk some more? The next stop is a few blocks away at Columbia University,” Larry said.

  “Let’s walk. It’s a nice day,” Kelly said.

  She was enjoying Larry’s company. He was more relaxed when he wasn’t working. He’d turned off his phone for her and she admired that. She couldn’t, not with Tamra in Manhattan.

  Her phone buzzed. She looked at it.

  “Who is it?”

  “Tamra. They are going to be out and about in Manhattan today.” She scratched her chin. “I may have to call her. Not sure I like that idea, but they want to know if we want to come for dinner to Colin’s penthouse.”

  “I didn’t have anything specific planned, so why not?”

  “Okay. I’ll text her back. She’s going to text me their locations.”

  “I can’t imagine Colin wants to stay locked in his penthouse. He’s go too much energy for that.”

>   She tucked her phone back into her pocket after sending Tamra a text. “I wonder if she’s trying to flush this stalker out.”

  “Is that a good idea?”

  “Not without backup, but I trust Tamra. She knows what she’s doing.”

  They finished the rest of the trip in a companionable silence. Then Larry showed her some tunnels underneath the campus of Columbia University.

  “Wow. Those are pretty cool. Probably nice on a wintry day to take these from building to building.”

  “Yes because the wind whips its way between the buildings in the winter,” Larry said.

  “This is fun,” Kelly said.

  “The next walk is longer, so we could get a cab if you want?”

  “How long a walk?”

  “Thirty minutes or more.”

  “Let’s walk. I’m really enjoying this day. And no calls from my daughter.”

  “Amazing. I’m sure your ex can handle whatever comes up.”

  “I hope so. We had a great talk the other day and we agreed to always communicate about Sophie.”

  He held out his arm again and she took it as they walked. They chatted some more and Larry asked a lot of questions about her daughter. “Will I get to spend any time with her?”

  “It’s takes a while before I let anyone into that part of my life.”

  “Fair enough. Do I have to pass muster with your ex?”

  “No, we rely on each other to make those decisions. When the time comes you’ll meet her. I’m just really cautious. And she’s got the whole wanting to be a star thing.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, she wants to sing for you,” Kelly said.

  “I see. She wouldn’t be the first.”

  “I know, but let’s stave that off for now” ***

  Tamra had never gone shopping with a man in her life. She certainly had never gone bra shopping with a man before. Nor had she ever shopped in Victoria’s Secret.

  To say she was out of her comfort zone would be an understatement. They were in a private room in the back. If she were a betting woman, she’d bet that the average customer never saw this room. It had a chair for Colin and a dressing room for her to put on the bras.

  Colin had insisted that she model them. The first one was a deep purple and she had to admit that it was comfortable. She just didn’t feel comfortable showing Colin.

  She knew it all made no sense. He’d seen her naked and had his face in some of her most intimate parts, but in the light of day with someone else there, it all seemed so odd. She took a deep breath and strode out of the dressing room.

  Colin’s whistle should have put her at ease. She looked at herself in the mirror and she liked what she saw. She’d never considered herself vain, but she did like what she saw.

  “That looks great on you,” Colin said.

  His smile was appreciative. As if he enjoyed the female form. Well he’d clearly enjoyed her female form. She was having more sex than she’d ever had in any relationship.

  He had boundless energy. Even more stamina at times.

  “I’ll take it,” she said.

  “It comes in three colors, blue, purple and black,” the saleswoman said.

  “Okay, I’ll take them all. That should be enough to get me started,” she said.

  Colin was going to take out his credit card and she didn’t want him to pay for this. She was a big girl who could pay her own way. By the time she’d dressed, he’d paid for them. He had the bag and was ready to go.

  “I have Roger tracking down those clothes you ordered. He said they should be delivered to the penthouse later today.”

  “All of them?”

  “Yes. The woman had your size in stock. Nothing had to be ordered.”

  He put a hand on her back as he guided her out of the store, then took her hand once they were out on the sidewalk. “Kelly and Larry can come for dinner. What time should I tell them?”

  “Seven.”

  “Okay.”

  She texted that to Kelly then looked up to see someone stop in front of Colin. Must have been a tourist.

  “Oh, my God. It’s Colin Brennan.”

  Tamra looked around to see if this fan was drawing anyone’s attention. No one seemed to notice and she thanked the aloofness of New Yorkers.

  “Hi,” Colin said, charming as ever.

  “Can we take a selfie? I can’t believe this.”

  Colin put his arm around her and she took their picture with her phone.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Kendra.”

  “Nice to meet you, Kendra.”

  Tamra’s eyes darted around, but no one appeared threatening. Colin chatted with the woman for a few minutes, then he took her hand again.

  “You’re really good with your fans,” she said.

  “They buy my music. If I didn’t have fans I wouldn’t have success.”

  *

  Kelly sat and enjoyed the last place Larry took her, Midtown East’s Greenacre Park.

  “Who knew there was a waterfall in Manhattan,” she said, sitting on a bench.

  “We keep these things secret to most people. We don’t need any more tourists than we already get.”

  “I bet this isn’t in most tourist guides.”

  They’d spent a great afternoon together. She’d gotten to know another side of Larry and she had to say she enjoyed the time with him. Was there a future? Maybe too soon to tell.

  “We have about a half an hour before we need to meet Colin and Tamra.”

  “We should bring wine or something.”

  “We’ll get wine, but Colin doesn’t drink,” Larry said.

  “No?”

  “Diet Soda is his vice.”

  “Wow.”

  “You need to be in good shape to keep up his schedule. He puts his all into any show he performs.”

  “I guess if we don’t sort this out before he tours, I’ll get to see it.”

  “You’ll be backstage I hope. I have an investment in him that I need to protect.”

  “Why did you sign him? What did you see in him?”

  “He was hungry. He had a determination and I knew he’d succeed. And his energy level is so high I was sure he could make it,” Larry said.

  “Interesting. He does have an energy about him. He gives it off even while sitting still.”

  “It comes through in everything he does. I saw some of the initial pictures for that magazine shoot he did. You can see the energy in him there also.”

  “Has Colin seen them?”

  “No, but the magazine is going to combust with the sexual tension between Colin and Tamra.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’ve been afraid I’d catch on fire being in the room with them.”

  Larry laughed and Kelly had to join in. Then they stopped, their gazes locked on each other. She leaned in and tilted her head. She wanted to kiss him more than anything. He obliged and it was a tentative and sweet kiss. The tone of it surprised her. She didn’t think Larry was tentative about anything.

  “That was nice.”

  “Yeah, it was,” he said.

  ***

  “They’re on their way up,” Colin said.

  Tamra sat at the kitchen island, sipping a glass of wine. She was hungry from their afternoon of shopping. Colin hung up the wall phone, then went back to his chopping.

  “Can I do anything?”

  “No sweetie, just sit there.”

  “Okay, but I’m not one for sitting around,” Tamra said.

  “Yeah, I know, but I know you’re tired.”

  “Gee, I wonder why?”

  “Was that last lovemaking session too much after a few hours of shopping?”

  “Might have done me in,” she said.

  He leaned across the counter and kissed her on the nose. “I’ll be gentler next time.”

  She laughed.

  “Get a room, guys,” Larry said from the doorway. He put flowers in front of Tamra. “These are for you.”

&n
bsp; “Thanks.”

  “There’s a vase in the closet in the hallway,” Colin said.

  When Tamra returned with the vase, Kelly was sitting with a glass of wine. “What’d you guys do today?”

  “Larry showed me some places in New York that most people don’t get to see. How did your shopping trip go?”

  “Okay. I haven’t looked at anything yet since I’ve been home,” Tamra said.

  Colin had dropped the bags, then dragged her into the bedroom. She walked over to one of her bags and noticed a piece of paper in it. “What is this?”

  Kelly rose. “What?”

  “Holy shit.”

  On the piece of paper was written, “Are you safe?”

  “Where’d that come from?” Larry said. He stood close to Kelly.

  “The only time I was the least bit distracted was when one of Colin’s fans accosted us,” Tamra said. “That was the only time someone could have slipped that into there.”

  “We need to get this to the police,” Kelly said. “You have a bag we can put it in?”

  Colin found a plastic bag and Tamra put the note in it. Kelly dialed the local police station. The four didn’t say much until the cop arrived.

  ***

  Colin didn’t know what to think after the police left. Tamra filled them in on what had been happening and who to contact at the apartment where he’d been renting. Someone had been following them. He didn’t see it, but that was hard to do in Manhattan.

  Now he was truly spooked. The person was close enough to put their hand into one of the shopping bags he was holding.

  “It had to be when I was talking to that woman, Kendra,” he said.

  They were gathered around a table by the floor to ceiling windows. The tone of the meal had been subdued and each was trying to avoid the topic at hand. Of course, Colin would be the one to bring it up.

  He hated dancing around the subject.

  “That’s the only place I can figure it happened,” Tamra said.

  “Did you get the woman’s name? Maybe she was a set-up,” Kelly asked.

  “Only her first name. I consider most fans innocuous,” Colin said.

  He rubbed the back of Tamra’s neck. He could feel the tension in her muscles. He knew she was beating herself up internally for this happening.

  “No more trips out,” she said.

  “I can’t hole up here. I have an album to record. Songs to write.”

  “Then you’ll do that from whatever place I find you, but that’s it,” Larry said.