| �Tour...� Brad was obviously confused. �He�s the lighting and pyro design for some big rock band. I forgot their name, but their music�s pretty good. He�s taking me on tour with him for my vacation.� Brad nodded. �Not like it�ll actually be a vacation. I mean, from what I understand, touring is pretty stressful.� �Not if you�re a groupie,� Brad said with a sly smile. �I�m not a groupie, unless you consider my cousin a group. Yeah, he�s got a shitload of moods, but he�s definitely not a group.� Brad laughed and she wiggled her fingers at him. �I�ll see you in a minute,� he said. �I�m gonna check in at the restaurant.� She nodded. This was his ritual. He didn�t need to explain himself. She knew him all too well. She sighed as she walked up the stairs. �Brad hitting on you again?� Micah, the receptionist, asked. She nodded. �As always. Adds a little pick-me-up to my day though. Even if he is thirteen years older than me.� She laughed and headed up the second flight of stairs. With a sigh, she settled in front of her computer and returned her full attention to a settlement brochure for a car accident client. At five o�clock, she printed out the demand letter, binder clipped the medical records and bills behind it, and dropped it into John�s box. With an exhausted sigh, she turned off her computer and left the office. She glanced into her box on her way out and chuckled. �E - make sure to check your email while you�re gone and take these case files with you. I�ve got a copy of them for me. I know it�s not exactly a vacation, but I don�t know what I�d do without you. There will be a check waiting for you when you get back. John.� She sighed and smiled to herself before adding the case files to her bag and leaving the building. *** �You about ready?� Sean called from the bottom of stairs, resting his hands on his hips. �Yeah, in a minute,� she replied, stuffing the last of her clothes into her duffel bag. She slung it over her shoulder and started down the stairs, tossing her curls over her shoulder. She winked and tossed him the keys to the Jeep. He caught them and opened the door for her, locking it behind them. She tapped her foot nervously as they waited in line for their boarding passes, cracking her knuckles while looking around. �You okay?� Sean asked, concern written on his face. She nodded. �Yeah, just a little nervous.� His eyebrow rose. �I hate flying.� He chuckled and took her hand, leading her through the security checkpoints toward the gate. They sat down and waited, for what seemed like hours to �ibhleann. *** Mark nodded to Sean as he walked into the stadium, not breaking a beat. The girl he escorted on his arm caught his eye - she was slender and tall, her black hair falling in tight spirals around her shoulders. A twinkle appeared in his eye as she watched sound check, and he made a conscious effort to show off. �What�s your deal, Tremonti?� Scottie asked quietly once safely backstage. �Did you see that chick Sean brought with him?� Scottie nodded. �She�s gorgeous.� Scottie laughed and shook his head slightly. �That�s his cousin, man. With as close as they are, I�d be careful. Sean could easily kick your ass.� Mark�s smile fell as he sent Scottie a look. Scottie laughed again and walked away, making a beeline for the food table. Mark cleared his throat and followed. Sean appeared seconds later, his cousin still on his arm. Mark watched out of the corner of his eye as Sean introduced his cousin to the surrounding people. Her smile mesmerized him. He caught himself staring, and quickly turned his attention back to his food. �Hey, Tremonti.� He looked up and into a pair of dazzling green eyes. He smiled. �What�s up, Sean?� �This is my cousin �ibhleann. Ayvee, this is Mark Tremonti.� She nodded and smiled, extending her hand. He took it into his own and stared into her eyes. She cleared her throat and removed her hand, letting Sean lead her away to meet some more people. Mark stared after her. �Hot stuff, huh?� Stapp said, plopping onto the couch next to Mark. Mark turned and nodded, an evil grin spreading across his lips. �I�d be careful if I went for her though,� Stapp warned. �Sean�s liable to beat the crap outta you.� Mark laughed and shook his head. *** �So who�s this Mark guy?� �ibhleann asked, sighing as she removed her shoes and collapsed onto the bed. �He�s Creed�s guitar player,� Sean said, sitting on the edge of her bed next to her. She glanced around the hotel room, taking the decor in. She nodded slowly. �Why do you ask?� �Just wondering.� He nodded, a slight smile on his face. �He�s cute.� Sean sighed. �Still single, I take it?� She nodded, saddened somewhat by his comment. �Yeah. The only guys I come into contact are at least twelve years older than me.� Sean chuckled. �But they�re loaded.� She laughed. �That they are, and full of themselves, and definitely too busy for me,� she said with a frustrated sigh. �Look, I know I�m not your brother or anything�� �Sean,� she interrupted, �I don�t have a brother.� �I know. But I just want to warn you about Tremonti. I mean, he�s a famous guy, and I know him. He barely has enough time for himself, and I don�t want you to get hurt.� She rolled her eyes. �Sean, I�m twenty-four years old. I think I can take care of myself by now.� �I�m not questioning that. I just want to warn you so you know not to get into anything serious.� Her eyebrow rose, and she shook her head. �Look, Sean. I haven�t had a boyfriend in way too long. I�m not asking for a relationship. Hell, I�m not even asking for a date. I�m just saying I could look at him all day long. I doubt he�d go for me anyway.� Sean rolled his eyes. �Not the �I�m not attractive� spiel again,� he groaned. �Yeah, yeah. But it�s true.� �Bullshit. You are absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.� She sighed as he took her hands into his, her gaze dropping to the wild pattern on the bedspread. �Look at me,� he insisted. Her eyes met his and locked. �You are a gorgeous woman, inside and outside. You just haven�t met the right guy yet.� She shook her head. �I�m beginning to wonder if there is a right guy, Sean. I mean, I thought Ben was the right guy, and look what happened.� He sat back, and she sighed. �Honestly, I don�t think I�m ready for another relationship yet. I just want a vacation from everything I have to deal with on a daily basis.� �And that�s why you�re here.� �Exactly. And that�s why you�re going to take me to the store, buy me a big �ol thing of peach ice cream, and let me watch movie in peace.� He smiled and stood, pulling her to her feet. She pulled open the door and felt as though she�d hit a brick wall. �Oops,� a deep voice said. �Sorry. You okay?� She looked up into a pair of warm brown eyes and smiled. �Yeah, fine.� �Hey Mark,� Sean said. �What�s up?� Mark shrugged, tearing his gaze from �ibhleann�s eyes. �Just wanted to talk to you about the pyro setup.� Sean nodded. �Well, we were on our way to the store. Wanna join us?� A smile lit Mark�s face, reaching deep into his eyes. �ibhleann admired the sincerity of the smile, and unconsciously returned it. �Sure,� he replied, nodding slightly. |