~ Chapter 32 ~
When Loreto awoke 30 minutes later, Kevin was gone. She glanced at the bedside clock and saw a note propped up against it.
Loreto,
Sorry I had to leave. We have to leave for the venue. I want to see you again. I'll catch you backstage tonight.
- Kev
Loreto read the words over and over again. Their sexual encounter replayed in her mind. Part of her wanted to scream, "What the hell have I done?!?!" while the other part was thrilled. 'I had sex with Kevin Richardson.' She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
She stood up and made her back to the shower. Feeling revived again as the warm water cascaded down her body, she thought about her actions that night and what all this meant to Kevin. Was he developping feelings for her or was she just another warm body? There was no way in hell she was going to let Kevin be with anyone else now. They may not be in a relationship, but she wasn't going to let him get away. Her mind wandered to the forbidden zone. She knew she shouldn't be thinking this, but she wondered if Kevin was high when he came to her door.
Washing her hair, she smiled to herself when she thought back to the offer The Firm had made her. Working full-time for them. She thought she would have to move out to Los Angeles. Turns out they wanted her situated in Orlando. She hadn't given them her answer yet. She wanted to think about a few things first. Shae, Brian, and Leighanne were thrilled and told her to go for it. Now she knew she had to. She and Kevin were meant to be.
Backstage at the venue...
"So Kev, did ya get any action?" Brian asked him, coming up behind Kevin as the guys waited for their cue to take the stage.
Kevin grinned as Loreto's seductive smile loomed at the forefront of his mind. "Yea, I did."
"Who was she?" Howie asked. He was still pissed at Kevin, but decided to remain neutral for the time being.
"One of the dancers," Kevin answered. He didn't want them to know about Loreto. He knew they'd be pissed. Everything he did pissed them off.
"One of our dancers?" Howie shrieked. "Which one?"
"The blonde one, ok." He looked at Howie irritatingly. "Is this an inquisition?"
Howie shook his head. "Nah. Sorry." He walked away from Kevin before his temper got the better of him.
Nick hugged the guys for good luck, ignoring Kevin. Nick spotted Shae standing off to the side talking to Denise and Nancy (make up/wardrobe). He went over and she gave him a hug, smiling broadly. "Break a leg, blondie."
"You gonna watch the show from back here?"
"No. Lo's out front. I'll go join her."
"Great! Watch me. I'll be singing to you." He grinned down at her, tweaked her cheek, and went to join the others.
Shae's heart soared as she watched his retreating back. He was so good to her.
She didn't realize how big she was grinning until she noticed Denise and Nancy staring at her, amused expressions on their faces. "What?" she asked, her cheeks flushed.
"You like him." Nancy didn't get out much. Who didn't know that?
Shae laughed. "Yea, well it's common knowledge around here."
Nancy looked woebegone. "Darn! And here I thought I discovered a secret."
Denise pulled Shae aside. "Honey, I need to say this."
"What?" Shae picked up on the concerned note in Denise's voice.
"You and Nick. I remember when AJ was telling me that all you two did was argue. Now in the past few weeks, I've noticed myself that you've become inseparable. I know you like Nick. Like is probably too mild a word. You love him. I can see it on your face every time he's anywhere in the vicinity. I notice the way you watch him. Your eyes follow his every move. I think you need to be careful. Protect yourself."
Shae looked at her in confusion. "Protect myself from Nick?"
Denise nodded. "Not in the sense that he would physically harm you. But your heart, Shae. Protect your heart. You must know that Nick was involved with a girl for three years?"
"Yes, I know all that. She dumped him for someone else. What does this have to do with me?"
"He loved her with all his heart. Then this Angel came along while he was in the hospital. I don't know much about this, but she's all Nick talks about. If and when he finds her..."
"He won't need me anymore," she finished for her.
Denise sighed. "I know it sounds bad, but it's true. You already have feelings for Nick. It's gonna be hard to let go."
"Denise, I appreciate the pep talk, I do, but I can't help the way I feel. I loved Nick long before I met him. I never dreamed that I would ever meet him so just the fact that we're friends, good friends, is a dream come true. I won't leave Nick. He needs me. If he ever this Angel person, I'll deal with it then. Thanks for your concern."
Denise smiled wanly as the young girl walked away. She had a bad feeling about this. And her feelings were always 99% accurate.
After the concert, Kevin ran backstage looking for Loreto. He couldn't find her so he decided to go to his dressing room to shower.
Kevin stopped dead in his tracks as he caught sight of Loreto sprawled, naked, on the couch. He shut the door, locked it, and advanced slowly towards her.
"You approve?" she asked seductively.
His head bobbed up and down. "Oh yea. A naked woman waiting for me. That's all a man can ask for. I need to go shower. Care to join me?"
Loreto shook her head. "I want you all hot and swearty. I wanna smell your animal lust, feel your shiny, wet body as it slides down mine."
That's all it took for Kevin to lose control. He tore his clothes off and threw himself on top of Loreto. It didn't take him long to thrust inside her and make her lose control right along with him.
"What did ya think of the show?" Nick asked Shae. He opened a can of Coke and took a big swallow.
"Must we go through this after every concert?" Shae asked, rolling her eyes in mock frustration.
"I like your opinions. They're honest."
"Nick, I tell you the same thing every time. Must I stroke your ego yet again?"
Nick grinned. "Hey I like feedback."
Shae remained silent while Nick put all the stuffed animals and other gifts he received from fans in a bag.
"Nick, were you serious when you asked me to come work for you?"
Nick stopped what he was doing and sat down beside her. "I wouldn't of asked you otherwise."
"What exactly would I be doing?"
"I already told you. I need someone to look after the house, the dogs."
"Maybe you should hire a maid!" she shot out darkly.
"I don't want some stranger poking her nose into my business. You seemed ok with the idea when I brought up."
"Yea, but I don't know if I wanna spend my days doing laundry, housework, and washing pee out of the rugs."
Nick chuckled. "The pugs won't pee on the rugs if you take em out for a walk."
She looked aghast. "You expect me to walk five dogs?? And what will you be doing? Sunbathing?"
"I'll help you out when I can. I never knew it would be this hard living on my own. The dust bunnies are threatening to take over the living-room and I can't find one of my old Segas. It's buried under something in one of the spare rooms. I'm afraid to go in there. I might not make it out alive."
Shae laughed at him. "Why did you get a four bedroom house when you're alone?"
He shrugged. "It's on the water. Good investment. Quiet, safe neighborhood."
"You could have bought a condo."
"Come on Shae. Don't change your mind. Please. I need someone to take care of me."
Shae took one look at his face and muttered an oath under her breath. 'Damn him and those puppy dog eyes!'
"Ok, before I make a final decision, there's two things I need to say."
"Yes?" he grinned, hopeful.
"First of all, stop pulling that little boy look on me! Second, what happens once you find Angel?"
Nick's eyes grew wide with surprise. "Angel? Why are you bringing her up now?"
"Because she's here, Nick. She's always here!" Shae exploded. "She comes in between us. I don't want to be a 3rd wheel to you and your lover when you find her."
"What the hell's gotten into you? How can someone who's not here come in between us? And there is no US, Shae-Lyn! Do we have to go through this again? We're friends. That's it, that's all. Maybe I shouldn't be so nice to you. You're obviously getting the wrong signals." He stood up, and started ramming things into his backpack.
Shae-Lyn dissolved into tears. "F**k you, Nick Carter! If you think I'm gonna play nursemaid, feed your dogs, not to mention your damn ego, until someone better comes along, you'll be waiting an awful long time!"
She stood up and almost made it to the door, but Nick grabbed her arm. "Don't you dare walk out on me! And stop crying." Now he felt like shit for saying what he said.
"You hurt my feelings. Damn you! Why do you do that to me? You can't have your cake and eat it, too! You want me around because it's convenient for you. I make you feel good because I'm always stroking your ego. Until Angel or some other drop-dead gorgeous girl comes along. Then you won't even remember my name."
Nick let go of her arm. "That's not true. You're my friend. You're the one who needs to stop doing this to me. Trying to make me feel guilty cause I don't return your feelings."
"That's not what I'm doing," she sniffled.
"Shae, I know how you feel. I know what it's like to want something so bad and not be able to have it. I'm sorry if I'm the one putting you through this."
"Don't apologize, Nick. I just have to watch out for myself. I'm the one who's gonna end up hurt in the end."
"Shae, I may not even find her. Ever. It's been over a year and no one's been able to find out anything. So stop freaking out and just come live with me. Please."
Shae sighed. Against her better judgement, she replied, "Alright. I will."
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