Chapter

"And, what if I said it wasn't," Kevin asked, as he chuckled into the phone.

"Well then...I guess I'd just have to hang up...and wait even longer to see if Mr. Richardson was ever going to call....," Kaylee replied.

"Ya know woman...I am only a minute late...and if someone hadn't kept me up so late..."

"Oh just a minute there....I recall walking out of the lounge and SOMEONE wanting to go ride the swings," she interrupted before he could say anything else.

"Admit it....you had fun. It's not everyday I fall off the swings, ya know? That had to count for something."

"Yes," she giggled, "it certainly did. For someone that has all those moves on the stage, you're...how do I say this.....not quite.....hmmm...as SMOOTH on the playground."

"Really now...and here I thought I was pretty smooth. Gotcha to lighten up and lay in the grass, didn't I?"

"Oh real smooth caveman Kevin....you could've just flung me over your shoulder for all the smooth moves you had."

"Ya know...you keep taking shots at my smoothness .. I'm just gonna hang up this phone, and you'll have to spend the afternoon by yourself....so there," Kevin said in mock indignation.

"Gee...I didn't realize I had plans with anyone this afternoon," Kaylee replied in a soft voice.

"Well....you do! And, they're with ME! Half an hour and I'll be knocking at your door...ready or not."

"Yes sir! I'll be ready.....and, one question....what are we doing? How should I dress?"

"Casually and that's two questions.......now get ready.......bye darlin'," Kevin said playfully as he hung up the phone.

Kaylee just stood looking at the phone in her hand.

"Kaylee....yoo hoo....," Ali called to her friend, "was that Kevin?"

"Yes...it was...and he just hung up on me," she replied with a smile. "He said he'd be here knocking in half an hour...to dress casually....and goodbye. I don't have a clue what we're doing though.....he....he just hung up! The shit!"

Ali saw the look on her friend's face and said, "Kay....it really doesn't matter what you're doing, does it? I can tell by the smile on your face."

"No....no...it doesn't," she said with a sigh, "well...I'm certainly glad I showered earlier. Thirty minutes isn't alot of time...I gotta get moving."
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Kaylee had finished getting dressed and was now pacing in the room.

"Why am I so nervous again, Ali? I spent hours with him last night...I shouldn't be like this today."

Ali glanced up from her laptop and looked at her friend.

Kaylee had opted for jeans with a burnt orange long sleeved tee shirt, and she let her hair dry naturally. Unsure of where they were going, she opted for a comfortable pair of Keds sneakers.

"You look perfect, Kay....don't worry about it. I mean...I understand you being nervous. This isn't something that happens everyday. But, you said yourself....he seems like a nice guy....so just let yourself go and enjoy him.....have fun."

"I know Ali....he is a nice guy...but, if you remember....I also said...it scared me to think what he'd be like if he was trying...and something tells me to be scared today," she said with a smile, "and...it's daylight...my god...I haven't seen him in the light of day yet!"

"Ya know Kaylee...he hasn't seen YOU in the light of day yet either! Give yourself a break...he may knock your socks off...but.....you're going to knock his off, too. OK?"

Just then..Kaylee heard a knock on the door and thought her heart would beat out of her chest.

"Breathe Kaylee....and relax! I got it," Ali said as she walked past Kaylee on her way to open the door.

As Ali reached for the locks on the door, she saw that her hands were shaking, and realized that it might not have been a good idea for her to open the door, but it was too late. She had pulled the door open already....and found herself face to chest with Kevin Richardson.

"Ali," the deep voice asked.

Ali looked up and made eye contact with the most amazing eyes she had ever seen. She
remembered what she had heard people say, that pictures of Kevin did not do him justice...and at that moment...she realized that they most definitely did not!

"Yes...that's me....and...you.....you're....Kevin. It's really nice to meet you," she said shakily.

"Same here....," he replied as he reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly.

Kevin looked over her shoulder at Kaylee. He had been a nervous wreck getting dressed...and now seeing her smile at him, he finally relaxed.

"Hi," she said almost in a whisper, as he took a few steps toward her. She found herself staring. He looked incredible. He had on black jeans and a black tee shirt under a green v-neck sweater, that made his eyes stand out even more. His hair was pulled back in a pony tail with a few stray pieces falling onto his cheeks.

"Hi yourself," he said as he took her hands and pulled her into a gentle hug, "you look great."

"Thanks...you look great yourself," she said, as she stepped out of his hug.

Kevin was again furious with himself for blushing. He found that he blushed quite often when he was around her and it made feel like a teenager.

"So....ummm....you ready," he asked.

"Uh huh....ready when you are."

"Oh...before I forget and end up freezing later....can I borrow my jacket?"

Kaylee and Ali both laughed remembering how Kaylee had slept with it the night before.

"Sure.....here ya go," she said as she handed him his jacket back.

Kevin opened the door, and reached for her hand.

"Ali...it was great meeting you....don't worry about your friend. I'll take good care of her and I'll have her back before dark," he said teasingly.

"You two kids have fun," Ali said with a laugh, "and Kevin...it was my pleasure...really."

Kevin never let go of Kaylee's hand as they walked to the elevator.

"Kevin.........ahhh...isn't someone missing? Where's Luke??"

"Downstairs....waiting outside the elevator. I told him I could get you all by myself. And, see...I did!"

They got into the elevator...Kevin reached over to push the button....and the doors closed.

Kaylee could feel his eyes on her, and she looked up at him...taken aback by the sudden rush of warmth she got from the way he was staring at her.

"Kev.....Kevin.....you.......never did tell me where we're going," Kaylee spoke, suddenly becoming very aware of everything about HIM again. She suddenly didn't know what else to do or say.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "it's a surprise. But, it's something I really wanted to do while we were here...and now seemed like the perfect time to do it."

Shit, Kaylee thought to herself....is he going to make me dizzy all day..cause I'll never make it. Damn him....he better just take two steps back away from me.....no.....crap........shit......forget that....stay close...oh shit......

She jumped at the sound of his voice.......

"Kaylee...you gonna stand there all day...or are you gonna come with me," he asked as he tried to step off the elevator.

In deep concentration, Kaylee hadn't even realized that they were at the lobby, the doors had opened and Kevin was attempting to get out.

"I'm sorry....I was just thinking......and I better stop doing that....it's making me crazy."

Luke was waiting at the elevators, and when he heard Kevin's voice he moved toward them.

"Good afternoon you two.....ready to go? There's about 20 people in the lobby...no one around the back.......the van can go either place.....which is it gonna be boss?"

Kaylee realized that it was not a time to make conversation with Luke, he had a job to do and was intent on doing it right. He had effectively blocked them from the lobby so that they were not visible to anyone at the moment.

"I snuck out the back yesterday, Luke...I will NOT do it today......we go out the front."

That said, Luke went to Kevin's side and lead him into the lobby...keeping one arm on Kevin's back...and one eye on Kaylee, at all times.

It took about 15 minutes for the group to make their way out the door. Kevin obliged all picture and autograph requests, and again Kaylee was amazed at the depth of his feelings for the fans. Luke got them in the back of the van, and he took a seat in the front.

"Wow...that's really amazing...I know I said that last night, Kevin...but, you're really good with your fans....you're sweet," she said, looking over at him.

"Yeah...sweet...that's him.....makes ME crazy...but the fans think he's sweet," Luke replied sarcastically.

Kevin glared at the back of Luke's head until the van started to move and Kaylee's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"So... I still have that one same question for you..........where are we going?"

"Well," he sighed, "I may regret doing this, but it IS a weekday, and it is a slow time of year...so...hopefully no one will bother us, but I thought we'd hit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I went there with the guys last time we were here, and swore that if we came back to Cleveland...I was going again."

Kaylee nodded her approval and just watched how animated Kevin became when he was talking about their plans. She had noticed the night before that he spoke alot with his hands and she saw today that he spoke with his eyes too. He was talking about something he loved, music, and his eyes were sparkling. She had never been so intrigued by a man as she was by Kevin. And, it scared her. He was someone she definitely wanted to get to know better, but she had to face reality, they lived in two different worlds.

She sighed and shook her head.

"Hey pretty lady...are you ok," he asked as he took her hand, "you must have been a million miles away. Here I go again....rambling about me. We have a way to go yet...tell me about you. Let me learn more about Kaylee Barrone."

"There's not much to know....I live a fairly boring life...not much to tell. I'm just an average person...living an average life."

He leaned over to her and placed a gentle kiss on her head. Then he rested his chin on her head and said, "there's not a damn thing average about you darlin' and don't you ever say that again. You're beautiful, funny...bit of a smart ass at times, but I like that...you sure don't take shit from me...and I like that too. I'm tired of women that just sit and stare at me...or want something from me. Now it's MY turn...now I want something from you! I want you to tell me about you...like you said to me last night...I want to know what you were like as a kid, what are your hopes...your dreams...everything. Talk to me Kaylee."

Kaylee noticed that the mood around them had changed ever so slightly. She was so touched the he seemed to genuinely want to get to know her. She slowly started to tell him the little things he had asked about, and before too long the mood had shifted back to light hearted talk and laughter. Before she knew it, they were getting out of the van at the entrance to the Hall of Fame, and she had told him everything about her life.

Everything that is except two things, her mom and Jeff. One had broken her heart. The other had broken her spirit. Now was not the time to tell him about either of them. She was enjoying the moment for what it was, and she hoped and prayed that the time would come when she could tell him, but she was too afraid to think that far ahead. Afraid to think of the return to reality that was coming in a couple days.