Chrissy had finished her work with Erica, got the tracks for the new video and made her way out of the studio. Jacob and the guys were just pulling up in their Excursion to begin their day recording. Chrissy saw the blue eyes that kept her up the last few nights. The blue eyes that made her heart beat faster when she thought about him, the same blue eyes that for the first time in a long time made her feel life. She introduced herself to the other guys as they made their way into the studio. Jacob lingered outside getting the courage to ask Chrissy out, Chrissy getting the courage to ask Jacob out.

�How long are you recording tonight?� Chrissy asked breaking the silence between them.

�We should be done around 8.� Jacob said shifting his feet.

�Would you like to go out!� The two of them said, both looking at each other laughing.

�How long have you been wanting to ask me that?� Chrissy said smiling.

�Since we first met.� Jacob said taking in her smile.

�Same here.� Chrissy said shyly. �I would love to have dinner with you.�

�Good.� Jacob looked at Chrissy wanting to seize the moment, kiss the lips that have been embedded in his memory.

�Jacob, I have been�� Chrissy stopped putting her head down. She couldn�t say it, the words were there but she feared being hurt.

�Chrissy, I have been thinking about you. I would really like to get to know you. I know that you don�t know me from Adam��

�But I would like to know you more then Adam.� Chrissy smiled. �That didn�t sound good, did it?�

�It was perfect.� Jacob took her hand and held it. �I hope you don�t find this forward but�you are so beautiful.�

�Thank you.� Chrissy said her face red from the compliment.� It had been so long since she had heard the words, the emotion, and the thought of Jacob being close to her. �I find you�� Chrissy again looked down.

�What is it, Chrissy?� Jacob reaching his hand under her chin and raised it, their eyes meeting.

�There is just so much that I am feeling right now and I just don�t want to get hurt.� Jacob moved closer to her, his hand trailed down her arm to her back. He gently pulled her closer to him. �I am sorry, I know that we haven�t even talked but�� Jacob leaned forward, their lips so close.

�I would never hurt you.� Jacob said, placing his lips on hers. He was gentle, tender. His lips were soft, Chrissy slightly opening her mouth, Jacob moving his tongue in. She embraced him tightly, their bodies touching. Jacob slowly rubbed her back in the emotion, Chrissy pressing harder on his lips.

�I just felt your soul.� Chrissy said leaning back from Jacob, their arms still around each other.

�Good.� Jacob said smiling.

�Jac!� Trevor yelled standing in the doorway. �Erica needs you in the studio.�

�Be right there.� Jacob called back.

�I don�t want to keep you.� Chrissy said smiling. �Tonight?�

�You bet and I plan on kissing you more tonight, if that is okay?� Jacob asked tracing her cheek with his finger.

�Please.� Chrissy said a smile permamently on her lips. The two lingered one last time in each other arms, a quick stolen kiss and then saying good-bye. Chrissy drove back to her office, Jacob�s kiss still fresh, the feelings raging inside of her. So much stirred within her, so much excitement but strangely enough, she didn�t fear the feelings. Jacob walked into the studio, stood next to Dan who was lost in Erica�s eyes, again.

�Your turn.� Jacob said smiling, Dan returning the smile. But knowing that he would never be as brave as Jacob, Erica would have to be admired from a far.

***Trans Cons. Office***

Sherry had her head down, walking to Kimber�s office. She went over and over in her head on what she needed to say. She hated being the one to deliver bad news but it was better coming from her. She rounded the corner, Kimber�s office in view when she heard her name being called behind her, and she turned around to find the bluest eyes that had haunted her since the tearful goodbye.

�Bryan.� Sherry said faintly, his smile radiating approaching her.

�I thought that was you walking fast.� Bryan said standing before her. She looked beautiful, the same eyes, the same lips.

�I was on my way to see Kimber.� Sherry said not sure what to do. He was better looking then she had remembered. �You look great, Bry.�

�Thanks, so do you.� Bryan took a step forward wrapping his arms around her. Sherry tensed at first not wanting to give in to the warmth but found herself no longer resisting. She wrapped her arms around him, embracing him, taking in his smile.

The two stood for a moment, time standing still until finally Bryan broke away.

�I was on my way to the studio to see Erica.�

�It�s down the hall at the end.� Sherry said. �Chrissy, my partner was there talking business with Erica.�

�You have done very well for yourself.� Bryan took her hand. �I am very proud of you.�

�Same to you. Westlife had done very well. And Erica is a wonderful girl.� Sherry said a lump forming in her throat.

�Thank you.� Bryan looked into her eyes, seeing what he had missed. There was silence between the two, not awkward silence but just silence. Thoughts, feelings rushing back to each other, time apart coming to an end.

�I should go see Kimber.� Sherry finally said.

�Yah, I need to go and see Erica.� Bryan said smiling. �Will I see you before the video shoot?�

�Orlando is big but not that big. I�ll be around.� Sherry said smiling loving the idea of seeing Bryan again but knowing what it would do to her.

The two said goodbye, Bryan watched Sherry walked into Kimber�s office. His heart following her, once again, she had his heart.

***Trans Con. Executive Building, Kimber�s office***

Sherry nervously paced in Kimbers� office. The silence was deafening, Kimber waiting for the important news. She had cleared her morning to talk to Sherry and was now regretting it. Sherry had rehearsed her words last night; it had taken her a week to get up the nerve to talk to Kimber. She was still in denial with the news, trying to give Kevin the benefit of the doubt. But Nick saw the two of them together and Kevin laughed when Nick asked him about it. Sherry�s stomach turned, her throat tightening up. Why did she have to be the one to tell but if the roles were reversed, she would want to know and then kick Nick�s butt out the door.

�Damn it, Sherry, tell me.� Kimber said her words stopping Sherry in her tracks. Sherry finally sat down across from Kimber.

�I�m just going to say it.� Sherry said looking at her. �Kevin is having an affair.�

�What?� Kimber asked, leaning back in her chair.

�He�s having an��

�I heard you, Sherry.� Kimber said standing up. � Let me guess, with Michelle?�

�You knew?� Sherry asked surprisingly.

�Didn�t know but suspected. Michelle has that reputation. I just never thought�. my husband would be the trap.� Kimber walked over to the couch. She sat down, her head in her hands.

�I am really sorry, Kimber.� Sherry said sitting down next to her.

�How did you find out?� Kimber said in-between sobs.

�Nick told me.� Sherry gently rubbed her back, wishing she could take away her pain. � It has been going on for awhile.�

�I know. God! I am so stupid!� Kimber yelled standing up. �Why did I think that marriage would change him?�

�Hopes, Kimber. And you loved him.� Sherry said trying to help her.

�Well, I�m not going to be the fool anymore.� Kimber walked over to her desk grabbing the phone and began dialing.

�The guys are in route to California. You should reach Kevin��

�J?� Kimber said her back to Sherry. �I will meet you tonight.� Sherry�s eyes widened standing up. �The Trax club at 8.� Kimber continued. �Good�I�ll be the one looking damn sexy and ready to party.� Kimber hung up the phone, shaking from her actions.

�What the fu��

�Like I said, I am not going to be the fool anymore.� Kimber patted Sherry�s back and walked out of her office. �Come on, Sherry, I need to buy the perfect outfit for tonight. Something that J would never be able to resist.� Sherry followed her out amazed but also proud of her friend. She was not going to be the fool.

***Trans Con Studios***

Erica and Dan stood around the soundboard going over the music; trying to be professional and not let any feelings get in the way. The recording was going well, Erica was lost in her work, standing next to Dan, stealing glances. She thought he was so handsome when he sang, his eyes shining in the notes. She was growing to love his expression when he would hit each note. Dan also stole glances at Erica, being mesmerized by her smile, trying not to reach out to her, holding her hand. Silently wishing they could go back to Germany. He told her his heart, never regretting it; he just wished he knew hers. There was more to Erica then Bryan, Dan could see it.

�Where�s my girl!� Bryan yelled making his entrance. Erica turned around, all eyes upon her.

�Bryan, what the�� Erica said, Bryan rushing to her, picking her up and twirling her around the small room.

�Baby!� Bryan yelled finally putting her down and placing his lips on hers.

�You got in early.� Erica said his blue eyes bringing her back to reality of loving him.

�I ran the whole way here.� Bryan said kissing her again. �God, I�ve missed you.� Erica laughed in his excitement trying to hide her hurt in knowing about Sherry.

�I am assuming you are Bryan.� Dan said his hand reached out to him.

�Bryan McFadden.� Bryan said shaking his hand.

�Dan Miller.� Dan smiled glad to know that Bryan was at least a gentleman.

�You are so lucky getting to work with my girl.� Bryan said kissing Erica�s cheek.

�I am but you are the lucky one. You get to spend the nights with her.� Dan said winking at Bryan who wasn�t sure how to take his comment.

�Um�yeah. So are you almost done?� Bryan asked putting his hand around Erica�s waist.

�Yes. You can just sit over there and watch.� Erica said leading him to the couch. �Now behave.�

�Not when you are in the room.� Bryan said patting her butt. Erica continued her work with Dan as Bryan watched. He watched the two of them work but was seeing something more between them then work. It was the way they looked at each other, the way that Erica would flip her hair back when she would laugh with Dan. Bryan saw how close Dan stood next to Erica, how he slightly placed his hand on her back when they looked at the sheet music. Bryan was not blind, he was not stupid. He saw the emotion and tension between them. It was then that he realized that he better ask Erica the question before it was too late. But would he be prepared for the answer?

***BBMak Tour Bus***

�Yes, T. I am engaged and you should see the ring!� Kristina screamed the light hitting the huge diamond on her finger. �No, we haven�t set a date but it won�t be until after the touring is done.� Kristina sipped her orange juice as Tonya told her the news of her and Shane. �Maybe we can have a double wedding.� Kristina laughed.� �I miss you too, T. How is M?� Kristina asked listening to Tonya tell the events of the girls night out at the pool and what was all said. �Mark had an affair. That asshole!� Kristina said. �I can�t believe M didn�t dump his ass.� Kristina cleaned out her cup as Tonya continued the story, Shane listening to the whole event. �M deserves someone better, T. She can�t stay with him. I don�t care if they have been together�� Kristina stopped feeling her own hurt when she heard about Devin cheating on her. The hurt, the disbelief and the betrayal of his act. She felt terrible for M, knowing how she must feel but Kristina also knew that she couldn�t stay with Mark, he would never change�men don�t�

�Baby, they need us in the stadium,� Mark said taking her hand. Kristina looked at Mark, her heart filled with joy knowing that she found her man, her devoted man. She smiled, kissed his cheek and said her goodbyes to Tonya.

�Are you okay?� Mark asked as they walked into the building.

�I love you.� Kristina said quietly. �I love you and thank you.� She lightly kissed his cheek and continued in the building, Mark thankful that he did ask the question.

Chapter 13

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