| Kevin called at midnight, just like he promised. And, he called again, every single day. They found a comfort level with each other that Kevin had never felt with Trish. He couldn't remember ever laying in bed....talking on the phone...and not wanting to fall asleep. Kevin shared everything that happened on the tour, and then had to force Kaylee to tell him about her life. "Baby...I don't know why you think that I don't want to hear about this," he could recall saying to her over and over. He knew that Kaylee thought her stories...her life...couldn't compare to his. She couldn't have been more wrong. Kevin craved the normalcy that she brought to his life. The longer he knew her, and the more she shared with him...the more he wanted from her...the more he needed from her. Kaylee felt her heart start to slip as she let her defenses down even more. She couldn't help it, because Kevin was nothing if not true to his word. The flowers started showing up at her office that first Tuesday, only because it took all day Monday for him to find out where to send them. He didn't want to ask Kaylee for her work address, so he had to talk to Ali. And, this proved to be more difficult than he imagined. They were always home together. He finally got lucky Monday night, and caught Ali while Kaylee was in the shower....step one....accomplished. Every other day...another bouquet would arrive. Her co-workers were amazed, and pressed for details. "I don't owe you people any explanations," Kaylee said, while trying to read the note attached to the most recent delivery. Lisa had worked with Kaylee for the last two years, and knew her probably better than anyone, except Ali. She saw the way Kaylee's eyes sparkled with each delivery, and the way she blushed uncontrollably when someone questioned her. "Kaylee...c'mon...what the hell happened when you went away," she finally asked when the two went out to dinner later that night. Kaylee had reached into her wallet and was looking at the most recent note. Kevin must've had Luke take the note to the florist directly, because it was in his handwriting. The other notes were pretty standard delivery fare...but this one....this one was different. "Kaylee....do you have any idea what you've done to me? I don't think you have a clue. One amazing week together...almost... two weeks on the phone....and only one more week until I can set my eyes on your beautiful face again...until I can hold you... until I can touch you. You've brought me back to life, baby. Thank you.......there's no other words....just...... Thank you. Love, Kevin" "Shit......," she muttered softly. "Love....Love Kevin....shit......what the hell does that mean? Love???" "Yoo hoo...Kaylee...I'm still here...what are you mumbling about," Lisa asked. "N...nn...nothing," she replied, but her hands were shaking and she was blushing furiously. "OK...fine...nothing...look, do you want to talk about this, or not? Because you can't mumble about it and not expect me to be curious. Something is going on...and for God's sake Kaylee...I've known you for how long now...and I've never seen you this shaken by anything...or ANYONE!" "Look....IF I talk....you have to promise me you will NOT tell another soul, got it?" Lisa was startled by the intensity in Kaylee's eyes when she said this, but she nodded her head in agreement. "Kay...I have NEVER betrayed anything you've EVER said to me..and I sure won't start now....tell me....if you want. If you don't...I'll still love you .. ok?" Kaylee nodded, took a very deep breath...and handed the note across the table. "THIS is what is going on in my life, Lisa....a man....," she sighed, "and feelings that I swore I would not allow myself to feel again." "Wow....Kaylee.....just....wow," Lisa whispered as she looked up at Kaylee. "This is beautiful...and....this Kevin...is he......" "Yes Lisa...ALL the other flowers......he sent them, too. I...I met him in Cleveland. We spent almost an entire week together.....," she sighed deeply again, "and he's why I stayed longer." "Oh my God Kaylee...just look at you. You really...REALLY like him, don't you? I've never seen you this flustered over a man before....well...Jeff was such an asshole...but...tell me......who is this man......details...I need details woman!" Kaylee took another deep breath....looked her friend straight in the eyes, and said two words...... "Kevin Richardson" Lisa stared at her friend, not quite making the connection. "OK...that name sounds so familiar...but why...who is he Kaylee?" Kaylee reached back in her purse...and slid a picture across the table...a picture of her and Kevin, taken at dinner the night of the second show. "Remember how I told you we went to see the Backstreet Boys? Well.......THAT is how you know his name Lisa......he IS ........" Lisa interrupted Kaylee before she could finish her sentence. "HOLY SHIT Kaylee........holy holy shit! KEVIN! No wonder I recognized the name. He's....this....the note........it's from...........Kevin?!?!?! Kevin Richardson??? The Backstreet Boy? Oh my lord...I thought he had a girlfriend?" "Sssshh....would you let me talk now?" That said, Kaylee then told her friend everything that had happened to her in Cleveland, only leaving out how drunk Kevin was the night they first met. "Kaylee....he sounds kind of serious sweetie. I mean......about you. What about you...is this something you want to pursue? Hell......he is one gorgeous man...and I've heard he's a sweetheart...true???" "Lisa....pictures don't do him justice....nope.......gorgeous is not the word. Stunning....handsome...," she sighed, "beautiful....he's beautiful. His eyes....I swear.....damn, he can see straight through to a person's soul with those eyes...and you can see everything in HIS eyes...the world...the whole world in his eyes...and....his voice....dear God...shit.....I miss him Lisa." Lisa saw the tears in her friends eyes, and was thankful that Ali had finally arrived. When Kaylee saw Ali, she handed her the note from Kevin, and cried even harder. "God Ali....I miss him so much. I didn't think this would happen to me.....shit," Kaylee said, while looking at the picture of her and Kevin. "Well...isn't this just the most touching scene," came a voice from behind Kaylee causing the color to leave her face, and making her blood run cold. "What the hell do you want," Ali asked, staring the man down from across the table, "you weren't invited...and you're not welcome here." The man put his hands on Kaylee's shoulders and leaned down, the smell of alcohol overpowering her. "Miss me sweetheart? I sure missed you.....haven't had me a good fuck since you left." "Leave me alone Jeff......please." "Whatsa matter....don't you miss me? C'mon Kaylee.....I just wanna talk to you." "You heard her Jeff.....get lost before I call the manager....or maybe the police," Ali said, while standing and looking around the room. "What the hell are you.......her protector? Or .. no....wait.......who's this Kaylee," he said as he grabbed the picture of Kevin and Kaylee out of her hands. "Don't you two look cute," he said with an icy tone. "Who's the guy, huh?" "Nn...nnn....no one you know.....he's a friend.....now please.....go away," Kaylee whispered. "Aww...a friend....sure he ain't who you're fucking now? Yeah......that's probably it, isn't it?" "Please.......Jeff......Kevin's a friend......," she said as she started to cry, "just leave me alone and give me my picture back......" Ali had seen enough. She turned, only to find the waiter and manager walking toward them. "Excuse me sirs...but, could you please get him out of here? He's harassing my friend and he's drunk. Either you can do it......or I call the cops." The two men had seen most of what had occurred, and they moved toward Jeff asking him to leave. "We don't want any trouble here sir, but, could you please leave or we WILL call the police." "Yeah...yeah...sure......I'll go.....but Kaylee.......when HE gets tired of fucking you....let me know.....you were pretty good.....oh......and here.......here's pretty boy ....," he sneered as he tore the picture into pieces and threw it at her. The manager and waiter led him out and Kaylee put her face in her hands, and asked to be taken home. Lisa scooped up the pieces of her picture, while Kaylee stood and Ali put her arm around her shoulders and helped her to the door. They drove home in silence and Lisa walked in with them to make sure Kaylee was alright. She hugged her friend, handed the picture pieces to Ali and said goodnight. Kaylee took the torn picture from Ali, and walked to the bedroom to change into her pajamas. She emerged a few minutes later clutching the torn picture pieces tightly in her hands. She sat on the couch and put the pieces on the table in front of her, desperately trying to put the picture back together. She was ready to give up when she moved one torn piece and found a section with Kevin's face gently smiling up at her....untorn. She gently picked it up, and started to cry. "Ssshh...ssshhh....it'll be okay. C'mon Kay...it's getting late....almost 10:30....Kevin will be calling soon, right? Please don't cry.....here...have a glass of wine...and try to calm down." "Y...yy....yes," she sniffled, "he will be...but.....I don't think I want to talk to him. I feel so sick right now...I just want to drink that glass of wine.......and go to bed." "Awww sweetie......don't do that.....you NEED to talk to Kevin. He needs to know what happened tonight." "No Ali....he doesn't. See.....how can I tell him about tonight....when I never told him about before...about what Jeff did to me....how...hell....he'd never understand me not telling him." "I think you underestimate him honey. I may not know too much...but I know what I see...and he's crazy about you...whether you see it or not....he is.....," she paused and took a deep breath, knowing she was treading on thin ice now, "and Kay......he has a right to know." "NO! He wouldn't understand......I mean......he wouldn't understand why I didn't tell him before. He told me so many things Ali......so many personal things...and I didn't tell him about Jeff. Shit...he told me about his ex......HIS EX dammit.....and what did I do??? I didn't do or say SHIT about mine! And, you think I can just tell him now.......no......I don't think so......" "You listen to me....and you listen good," Ali looked her straight in the eyes. "You HAVE to tell him....you can't have a secret hanging over your relationship Kaylee. He deserves to know all of you....the bad with the good....how you were hurt before....why you're so afraid now. Either you tell him when he calls tonight......or I WILL! Be fair with him Kay.....do you really think he won't understand? Really??? He's a good man....and he cares about you so much. Don't you see that? Do you feel the same way toward him? Do you??" Kaylee looked at her through tears and sighed deeply. "Ali.....you have no idea......," she said emotionally. "Do I care about him? Oh God......do I. Ali...I think I'm falling in love with him....does that answer your question? But, I'm scared...and it's so much more than Jeff. It's HIM......HE scares me Ali.....does that make sense? I'm falling in love with Kevin.......and I'm afraid." Ali held her friend and let her cry, trying to reassure her. "Kay.......why are you afraid of him? Because of who he is? Does he have a temper...I mean...well...you know why I'm asking." "Gosh no Ali.....that's not it at all. Well...not completely... I mean..no...it's not that he has a temper...no.....Kevin Backstreet scares the SHIT out of me. What the hell would I be getting into with him.....but Kevin Richardson....," she sighed and continued, "I.....oh God.....I DO love Kevin Richardson....I just don't know how to fit Kevin Backstreet into it all.......and......shit........I don't even know where I fit into it.....would he want me? Could he love ME?" "You poor dear thing.......you have no idea do you? Honey...I saw how he looks at you....hell...I SAW him kiss you at dinner....he's falling alright. YOU are everything he seems to want and need in his life. Don't sell yourself short. Kay....I'm betting that Kevin is scared to death......and.....that he could be falling in love with you, too. Just be honest with yourself..........and him, ok?" "I don't know..........I just.......aw shit! Why is life so hard?" "Because you've been hurt.........but so has he. And, like I said....," Ali caught herself getting emotional as she continued, "I saw how he looks at you Kaylee....I wish a man looked at me that way.....he looks at you like you're his sun, moon and stars.....all put together in one beautiful package. Tell him........." Kaylee brushed her tears away....finished her wine...and stood up. "I love you Ali....thank you......and God I hope you're right....if I put my heart out there and he kicks it back at me.....I don't know what I'll do....I really don't......." "Kay......trust me......if you put your heart out there for him.....he's going to take it and hold it so close to his that you'll feel his heart beating WITH yours." Kaylee walked back to her friend and gave her a hug. "Again....thank you.....you're the best friend a person could have....and I love you! Now.....g'night .. I'm pooped." "Anytime Kay......and aren't you forgetting something," Ali asked as she picked up the cordless phone. "I could never forget Ali......never," she replied softly as she took the phone.....and walked into her bedroom where she promptly crawled under the covers...holding the phone close to her. "Kevin.....I do...so help me God... I love you......and I just want you to love me back," she whispered in the dark, "and...Ali's right...I have to tell you. I hope you understand." Kaylee started to drift off to sleep never putting the phone down. At midnight.......she would have the chance to start opening more of her heart to the man she now knew she loved. She was dreaming of him loving her when the ringing of the phone woke her. "Hey baby," came the slow deep voice from on the other end of the phone line. Two words....two words started the process of unlocking and giving her heart and soul to this man.....a man that she prayed would take it......and then give his back to her. |
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| CHAPTER 34 |