Dance With Me

by Kristen Proby

  “There are two cops outside now.”

  “No way.” He kisses my neck, and when he pulls away, I let the curl out. “You already know everyone there.”

  “Except your parents.” I shake my fingers through my hair, smooth on some lip gloss, and then turn out the bathroom light. “Okay. I guess I’m ready.”

  “You’re gorgeous.”

  “I’m nervous.” I shrug a shoulder. “And I never get nervous.”

  Once we’re in Levi’s car and on the road, I glance in the side mirror.

  “Your guys are following us.”

  “They’re following orders,” he confirms. “Another guy will go watch the house while we’re gone. Just in case.”

  “I would say this is too much, but I don’t think it is.”

  “Did you get another email?”

  “How would I know? You made me give the guy at the office my password, and I’m not allowed to use it.”

  “You opened a new email,” he points out, and I roll my eyes.

  He pulls into his parents’ driveway and cuts the engine, but rather than getting out of the car, he rubs his palms up and down his thighs.

  “I thought you said there was nothing to be nervous about?”

  He smiles at me. God, he makes butterflies take flight in my belly.

  “I’ve never brought a girl home before.”

  Before I can answer, he hops out of the car and hurries around to open my door.

  I’m staring at him with a dropped jaw.

  “What?” he asks.

  “Never?”

  “Never.”

  He takes my hand and leads me to the front door. He walks inside without knocking.

  “Hey, girl,” Lia says with a smile. “Come on in. I already made you a lemon-drop martini.”

  “I don’t usually drink,” I say but take the glass from her. “But I’ll have just one. For courage.”

  “You’re going to be great,” she whispers before Levi leads me through the spacious house to the kitchen.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Starla.”

  “Oh.” Levi’s mom stares at me in surprise, and then a huge smile breaks out over her face as she hurries over to hug me. “Well, hello.”

  “Hi.”

  I don’t know if I’ve ever been hugged this tightly. I might lose all lung capacity if she doesn’t let go soon.

  “I’m Melody,” she says when she finally pulls away. “And this is my husband, Linus.”

  “You’re the birthday boy,” I say when I reach out to shake his hand, but I’m pulled in for another hug. This one is gentle. Linus is a big man, like his sons. But where Levi has salt-and-pepper hair, Linus’s is all white.

  “That’s me,” he says with a kind smile.

  “What can I do to help?” I glance around and stop cold. Levi’s mom isn’t cooking.

  “Absolutely nothing,” Melody says. “As you can see, Linus requested pizza for dinner.”

  “Cheeseburger pizza,” Linus says with a wink. “But there’s other stuff here if you’d rather.”

  “Are you kidding? Cheeseburger pizza is my jam.”

  And just like that, all of my nerves are gone. Levi’s parents are warm. Kind. Much like their son.

  When we all have full plates, we settle into the informal family dining room. The boys are chatting, drinking beer and giving each other shit about nearly everything.

  “I’m Mom’s favorite,” Jace says with a simple shrug. “It’s really that easy.”

  “In your dreams.” Wyatt glares at his brother. “She tolerates you at best.”

  “I love all of my children equally,” Melody says with a sigh. “Every time. We go through this every time.”

  “No one ever argues over my love,” Linus says, and I smile at him.

  “I think I’m your favorite,” I tell him, and laugh when he winks and holds his fist out for a bump.

  “That you are, darling.”

  I think I might have a little crush on Levi’s dad. Not in a weird, fetishy way. But in a he’s-a-cool-dad way.

  I smile smugly at Levi just as my phone rings.

  “I’m sorry, everyone. This is Donald.” I turn to Levi. “I have to take it.”

  “Absolutely,” he says as I accept the call and step away from the table and into the living room. “Hi, Donald.”

  “How’s my favorite girl?”

  I smile, thinking of the conversation happening at the table.

  “I’m good. How are you?”

  “I’m great. Just calling to let you know that 20/20 wants to do a show with you. It’ll be Diane Dobson doing the interview. This is big, baby. Primetime TV.”

  “Sounds like fun, actually.”

  “Perfect. They want to do the interview at your home in LA on Friday.”

  “Of this week? That’s fast.”

  “That’s what they want. So get your sexy ass to LA by Friday.”

  “Uh, Donald, I’m not coming to LA right now.” I bite my lip, seeing the look Donald gives me whenever I dare to tell him no.

  “Did you not hear the part about Primetime TV?”

  “I did, and I’m happy to do it, it’ll just have to be in Seattle.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Please.”

  “I’ll see to it, and email you with the specifics.”

  “Here, let me give you my new email address.” I rattle it off to him.

  “Why the new address?”

  “Too much spam in the other one,” I lie easily.

  “Okay. I’ll be in touch.”

  He hangs up, and I sigh. I hope Nat and Luke don’t mind me having the interview in their house. I know Luke is intensely private. I’ll have to talk with them about it.

  When I return to the dining room, everyone is pretty much done with their pizza, and there’s a cake sitting in front of Linus with six candles lit.

  “Now, we can sing,” Melody says, leading the birthday song. When we’re finished, Linus squeezes his eyes shut as if he’s making a wish, and then blows out the candles.

  “What did you wish for?” Joy asks.

  “For Starla to sing with me in the living room after we eat this cake.”

  All eyes turn to me. “Really?”

  “If you’re up for it,” Linus replies.

  “Sure, that would be fun.”

  Linus shocks the hell out of me.

  After dessert, we’re in the living room, and Linus has an old guitar on his knee. He begins playing the opening notes of Fire and Rain by James Taylor, and I join him, singing harmony to his melody.

  “How did you know that’s one of my favorite songs?” I ask when we’re finished.

  “Because you’re my favorite,” he says with a wink.

  ~Starla~

  I don’t know why I’m nervous.

  Nat and Luke have been my friends for a long time. Luke is in the business. They’ll understand.

  Or, if they don’t, I’ll just rent a suite at a hotel for the interview. Either way, it’ll work out.

  I knock on the door, and Natalie answers it, holding a baby on her shoulder.

  “Hey, Starla, come on in.”

  “Thanks.” I close the door behind me and follow Nat to the large living room off the kitchen.

  “Livvy’s in school, and the others are napping. I just finished feeding this little one, and she should be asleep soon.”

  “Can I hold her?”

  Nat looks at me in surprise but then smiles. “Of course, you can.”

  She carefully lays the sleepy baby in my arms, and I sit in the rocking chair, looking down into green eyes. The girl’s little fist closes around one of my fingers, as sure as if it was directly around my heart.

  “Oh, you’re a charmer, aren’t you?”

  “Just like her mama,” Luke confirms as he walks into the room and scoops his wife into his arms, planting a passionate kiss on her. We’re all used to Luke’s blatant affection for his wife.

  The baby’s eyes are heavy, and as I rock her back and
forth, she falls asleep, still gripping onto my finger.

  “She’s out,” I whisper. “Is it okay if we still talk?”

  “Of course,” Nat says in her normal voice. “If we had to be perfectly quiet during every nap time, I’d never get anything done. She won’t wake up. What’s going on?”

  “I need to run something by you.” I brush my fingertips over the baby’s soft hair. “I got a call from my manager last night.”

  I tell them about the phone call, and my reluctance to go to LA right now.

  “Levi thinks I’m being followed, and I’m not convinced he’s wrong. I mean, I don’t think someone can follow me twenty-four-seven, but they have taken photos of me while out with friends. He has the cops watching me all the time. In fact, one of his officers drove me over here because I’m not supposed to be alone.”

  I look up, mortified. “Oh my gosh. I promise you, I haven’t brought anything bad to your home. I swear, I don’t think they’re really following me all the time.”

  “This place has more security than Fort Knox,” Natalie assures me.

  “Are you asking if you can hold the interview at Nat’s place?” Luke asks with a frown.

  “Yeah. I am. And I know about your intense need for privacy, so if the answer’s no, that’s okay. Honest. I can rent out the penthouse at a hotel or something.”

  Nat and Luke exchange a glance. Natalie smiles in that serene way she has that never fails to put someone at ease.

  “I don’t have an issue with it as long as it’s stated on-air that you’re vacationing at the time of the interview, and no identifying images of the house are used,” Luke says. “No shots of the front of the house.”

  “That won’t be a problem.” I smile down at the baby. “I would never do anything to hurt your family.”

  “We know,” Nat says. “It’ll be great. It’s exciting that they want to interview you.”

  “I’m not sure why they do,” I reply honestly. “Frankly, I’m not in the middle of a tour, I don’t have a record dropping anytime soon. Hell, I’m not even in the studio. Although, I have some songs finished that I’d love to record, and I’m thinking of asking Leo if I can use his studio.”

  “Oh, I’m sure he’d let you,” Nat says. “They’re home for a while now. You should call Sam.”

  I stare at her and then laugh, trying not to be too loud so I don’t wake the baby. “You do remember that there was that one time, back in the day, that Leo and I saw each other naked, right? I don’t think Sam likes that, and I can’t say that I blame her.”

  “Do you plan to be naked with him now?”

  I hold Luke’s gaze with my own. I know he’s intensely protective of his sister, as it should be. “Of course, not. I have a feeling that Levi will be the last person to ever see me naked.”

  Natalie grins again. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Luke demands, making me laugh again. Luke’s only the most romantic man ever born in the history of men.

  “I mean, it’s pretty romantic,” I agree with a snort. “Leo’s a great guy. A good musician. And four-thousand-percent married to Sam. I’m not interested in anything more than music.”

  “Say it just like that, and Sam won’t have an issue,” Luke says with confidence. “She’s not stupid. Regarding the house, we’re good there. We trust you.”

  “Thank you.”

  I don’t know why I suddenly have tears in my eyes. It’s ridiculous. I have an amazing life. There’s no reason to cry.

  Maybe it’s the relief that these people that I care about and respect, trust me. Perhaps it’s the stress of the stalker.

  Maybe I’m about to start my period.

  I don’t know.

  “I think you need a huckleberry treat,” Nat announces as she stands from her seat. “I have some huckleberry delight in the fridge. Do you want a piece?”

  “Yes.” I swipe a tear away and smile at both of them. “Yes, that sounds amazing.”

  “There are too many people coming in and out,” Levi says for the third time. “It’s a safety issue.”

  “This is a production crew,” I repeat. “And I have security. I have you and Aaron.”

  I point at the security guard my company sent up. He’s currently standing by the front door, looking down at his phone.

  “Are you serious?” Levi asks. “They sent one guy, and he’s not even paying attention.”

  A man walks through the front door carrying cables looped around his shoulder.

  “He didn’t even glance up,” Levi says, pointing. “That dude could have been a murderer.”

  “Right.” I pat his shoulder. “Calm down, tiger. There are at least twenty people around.”

  “Damn it,” Aaron mumbles. “I can’t believe that dude killed me.”

  “You’re on the fucking job, and you’re playing video games?” Levi says, stomping toward Aaron. “What the hell?”

  “Who the fuck are you?” Aaron asks.

  “Who am I? You met me, asshole. I’m Levi Crawford, SPD. And you’re fired.”

  “I don’t work for you, asshole,” Aaron sneers. “You can’t fire me.”

  The two men are in the middle of a stare down, and I simply roll my eyes and leave, headed up to the guest room where the production crew has set up hair and makeup.

  Men are ridiculous.

  “Hi, Starla, I’m Yvette. I’ll be doing your hair and makeup today.”

  “Hi.” I sit in the high director’s chair and sigh. “It’s blissfully quiet up here. I thought my boyfriend was going to murder that security guy down there.”

  “Well, the security guy is a dufus,” Yvette says with a smile and pulls my hair back into a ponytail, exposing all of my face and neck. “I walked through four times before he asked me who I was.”

  “So they didn’t send the valedictorian of the security class.” I shrug a shoulder. “It’ll be okay. This feels good. It’s been a while since I’ve been in hair and makeup. I need a spa day. Maybe I’ll do that this weekend.”

  “Good plan,” Yvette says, spreading primer on my face. “I could use a facial too, now that you mention it.”

  Over the next half hour, we discuss our favorite spas in LA, and which treatments we prefer. Just when she gets my fake lashes applied, Levi walks through the door.

  “Good timing. Makeup’s done, so now we just have to do hair.” My smile fades when I see his face. “What’s wrong?”

  “I had Aaron fired.”

  I sigh and close my eyes in defeat.

  I’m dating an overbearing, overprotective cop.

  “He was my only security, Levi.” Yvette discreetly exits the room, closing the door behind her. “And just like you always remind me, I have a stalker. Now I don’t have anyone here to protect me.”

  His brown eyes narrow as he leans into me, speaking low.

  “I can protect you better with my eyes closed than that idiot. If you think anything’s going to happen to you on my watch, you have another thing coming, sweetheart. He wasn’t helping anything. He was a liability. I’ll be sticking with you, and my guys are outside. We don’t need him.”

  “I feel like I should be paying the Seattle Police Department for all of the man hours I’m taking away from law and order.”

  “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a generous donation.” His lips twitch as he leans in closer. “I’m going to kiss you.”

  “Don’t you dare!” Yvette yells from the other side of the door. “She looks perfect the way she is.”

  I giggle. “Yeah, keep your lips to yourself, Detective.”

  He presses his lips to my ear. “I’m going to do a lot more than kiss you as soon as all of these damn people leave.”

  “It’s a date.”

  “Is there anything you don’t want me to ask today?” Diane asks before we begin filming.

  “I never talk about my family,” I inform her. “Aside from that, we’ll see how it goes.
”

  Diane smiles. I’ve met her before. She’s interviewed me at least a half-dozen times. “Fair enough.”

  “And, action.”

  “Good evening,” Diane begins, staring right into the camera behind me. We’re outside by the pool, both mic’d up, and there’s a large boom mic over us. “I’m Diane Dobson, and tonight we have a special guest on 20/20. I’m thrilled to be in Seattle, Washington, with the pop megastar, Starla. Thank you for letting us crash in on your vacation, Starla.”

  “Thanks for crashing,” I reply. “I’m just happy you have sunny weather.”

  “It is a nice day,” Diane says, but I can see in her eyes that the small talk is just to get me to relax. I’ve seen it dozens of times before. This isn’t my first rodeo. “We thought this would be a good time to catch up with you since you’re between tours and albums right now. You’re usually a very busy woman.”

  “I do like to stay busy, yes.”

  “How is vacation going?”

  “I have to be honest, relaxing doesn’t come easy for me. And because I can take my job anywhere, I find myself working, even though I’m on a break.”

  “Working how?”

  “Writing songs, mostly. I had my piano shipped up a few weeks ago, and I’ve had time to enjoy the artistic process of writing.”

  “You’ve stayed in excellent shape, if I may say so,” Diane says.

  “Thank you. Being active is a big part of my career. I enjoy tumbling through the air and dancing. Putting on an exciting show is important to me, so I do my best to stay in shape, even when I’m not actively touring.”

  “I’ve seen that show, and you’re a crazy woman on that stage.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Will you play us some songs on that piano before we go?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Diane looks down at her card.

  “Do you mind if we get a little personal here?”

  I cock my head to the side. “Let’s get personal, Diane.”

  “Have you recovered from Rick’s death?”

  I take a deep breath and look up at the trees. “You know, grief is a journey, not a line in the sand. It’s been a long journey, and while I will always mourn the loss of Rick, I can honestly say that I’ve healed a tremendous amount.”