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| Chapter 44 |
Ali couldn't believe her eyes when she walked into the living room. Kaylee and Kevin...still in their clothes from the night before... their legs intertwined, Kevin's head on Kaylee's chest, hair in his face, his arm wrapped around her waist..and snoring......loudly. She smiled to herself, and shook her head. "Wow," she muttered, "this is too strange...even for me. Kevin Richardson..asleep..on our couch...snoring in my best friend's ear. I think I need coffee and...maybe even the newspaper." The smell of brewing coffee proved to be a perfect wake up call for Kaylee. As she opened her eyes she looked down and saw the mass of dark hair on her chest. "I know there's eyes under there somewhere," she whispered, as she gently smoothed his hair off his face. "Mmmm...," he mumbled as he picked his head up. "Good morning sleepy head," she whispered against his forehead. "Morning," he answered, his voice sleepy and sexy. As she continued to run her fingers through his hair, he snuggled back down, mumbling incoherently. "Kevin...c'mon sweetie..I want to get up." "Why...don'tcha like me? Don'tcha like it here?" She gently swatted his arm, "yes .. I could actually stay here all day...but...." "Then stay here....no buts," he smiled, as he tightened his grip, never opening his eyes. "Well mister...if YOU want to stay here all day...you'll have to stay here ALONE," she laughed as she made another attempt to move. "Damn....you're no fun woman....," he raised his arms over his head, attempting to stretch, "owww...this sleeping on couches...." Kaylee sat up and smiled, looking down at the sight next to her. Morning stubble covered his face, his hair was everywhere. His tee shirt had risen exposing his taut abdomen, and she found herself wanting a repeat performance of yesterday when all he had on was a towel. Her eyes wandered down a little further and opened wider when she realized that even if Kevin himself wasn't fully awake..something else definitely WAS. He opened one eye and saw her blushing. "What," he asked, confused. "Nothing," she muttered as she climbed over him, "I've got to get up..and get some coffee...yeah..I need coffee." As she brushed over him, he chuckled, suddenly realizing why she was blushing. He sat up, put his chin on the back of the couch and smiled as she walked away. Damn..she's beautiful in the morning.............. "G'morning sunshine," Ali piped in, giggling, "sleep well?" "As a matter of fact...yes...I had a great body pillow" Kaylee laughed. "Hey..I heard that...you sayin' I'm fluffy...like a pillow," Kevin answered back, as he made his way into the kitchen. "No honey..you are certainly NOT fluffy," Kaylee whispered into his chest as he pulled her into a hug. "Ummm..you two...I hate to do this...but.....I think you need to see this," Ali interrupted pushing the morning paper toward the pair. There on the front of the entertainment section were two pictures. The one captioned, "Backstreet Boy Romances Local Woman", was taken when Kevin's arms were wrapped around Kaylee from behind as he kissed her head. The second captioned, "Kevin Richardson: A Backstreet MAN to the Rescue", was taken at the worst possible time...just as Kevin's fist was raised to Jeff's face. "Shit...," was all Kevin could say, as he studied the newspaper. "Kevin...I'm so sorry.....," Kaylee answered in a choked whisper, on the verge of tears. "For what," he snapped. "Why are YOU sorry," his voice raised, as he turned and walked across the room, raking his hands through his hair. "This is really none of my business....so I'll leave you two alone," Ali interrupted as she slipped from the room. "Kevin...please...don't do this," as she reached for his arm, he pulled it away, and turned away from her. She tried to stop the tears from falling, but she couldn't. "I am sorry ...," her voice muffled as she tried to speak. His broad shoulders lifted and he let out a shaky breath as he slowly turned back to face her. His eyes glistening...his gaze penetrating to her soul. He took two steps toward her and opened his arms. When she hesitated.. he let his own tears fall, "c'mere," his voice breaking, as she pitched forward into his arms. He held her tightly, pressing her head to his chest. After a few minutes had passed, he took another deep breath, and gently lifted her chin with his finger. He spoke with such tenderness, "no...I'm sorry. It's just....aw shit Kaylee...I don't give a damn about the first picture...I don't care who sees that one...believe me..I figure there's gonna be a whole lot more of those kind of pictures surfacing," he smiled softly. "Really," her voice breaking, hoping she understood him. "Yeah..really ...," he dropped his head, pressing his lips to her forehead. "Then what made you so mad Kevin...tell me." "Look....it's the second picture...that's the one...," he spoke, suddenly getting very emotional again. "Luke did some checking .. and .. dammit Kaylee... now Jeff knows...." "What...what do you mean Luke did some checking...and what does Jeff know," she asked shakily, the tone of his voice making her nervous. "Luke found out that Jeff was fired because of a drinking problem, that he probably blames you for,...and now...he knows who I am baby....and...that....dammit...that I'll be gone in a couple days.....," his voice trailed off, as he let her go..walking across the room again. "THAT is what pisses me off...what makes me want to fucking kill him Kaylee...," he took a deep breath, "THAT is what scares me." Kaylee took a moment to compose herself before finally speaking. "What do I do Kevin? I will not let him stop me from living my life." "I don't know darlin'..I just don't know. I'm hoping Luke will have some answers. But, while I'm here...you ain't leaving my sight....." "Kevin....you can't do that," she interrupted. "Try me," his voice determined, his jaw set. Kevin had never been more sure of anything in his life. He would move heaven and earth for this woman....whatever it took...whatever he needed to do. Kaylee could see that Kevin meant what he said. "Kevin..I would love nothing more than to spend all my time with you. But what happens when you leave?" "Come with me." "I can't and you know it. I need to be able to deal with Jeff without running away." He crossed the room, took her hands in his, and held them to his chest. "But Kaylee..." "NO....no buts Kevin...you can help me..but you won't live my life for me. I NEED to do this...not to mention...we don't even know that he'll do anything, do we? I mean, really....his face is in the paper. Luke, AND you, even though Jeff won't admit it, put a scare in him. Admit it..it would be pretty stupid to do anything knowing he'd be the first person blamed...right?" Kevin couldn't believe the strength of the woman in front of him. He just shook his head. "OK....at least let me have Luke keep checking around...maybe get you some security....." "NO KEVIN! I draw the line there.......no security. Luke can investigate or whatever the hell it is he's doing...but NO....no security." He sighed and reluctantly agreed. "You just have to be really careful ok? Don't go out without your cell....make sure Ali knows where you are....and like I said....while I'm here," he draped his arms over her shoulders, touching his forehead to hers, "you are stuck with me. Understand?" She smiled warmly at him, placing a kiss on the corner of his mouth, "yes sir...I understand...and I think I can take being stuck with you," as she continued to kiss along his jaw. "Now..about tonight...I was wondering....." Kevin's mind was swimming...his heart racing...shit, some simple kisses and I'm gone again....think about something else....don't go there Kev...don't..... Too late.... "Stop it!" "Excuse me...stop what Kevin?" "Shit....said that outloud didn't I," his hands running nervously through his hair. "Yeah," she laughed, "you did...stop what?" "Ummm...stop being so....," his face turning redder by the second, "so YOU. You make me crazy....now....what about tonight...the show?" Kaylee was puzzled, but let it drop. "Yes..the show....I was wondering...it would mean so much to Ali....you know...her little brother....he's a big fan....and..well...he really wanted to get a ticket...but...." "Yes....," he answered as he pulled her closer, "bring them with you..hell..bring her mom, too...don't know if dad would like it...but....." "You are a wonderful man Kevin Richardson......thank you." "YES...YOU ARE A WONDERFUL MAN," Ali yelled from the other room, "I'm calling them right now." All three of them started to laugh as the mood lightened, and thoughts of Jeff were pushed to the back of Kaylee's mind as she watched Kevin... in the kitchen... singing, dancing, and making pancakes. You are a wonderful man Kevin Richardson.....and dammit...I do love you....... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When it came time for Kevin to leave, Kaylee promised him that she would not leave for the venue alone...that Ali, Michael and Mrs. Hughes would accompany her. Mrs. Hughes was actually thrilled to attend the concert, partly for the music... but, more importantly, to see and meet the man that had captured Kaylee's heart. And, Michael...he was torn. He loved the music, but knew he would be coming face to face with his "competition". Kevin left their names with security, and Kaylee was to call Luke's cell phone when they were at the door. He arranged for them all to be backstage before and after the show. He was excited and nervous to be meeting the woman Kaylee called her "surrogate mom". The show went off without a hitch and Michael was finally able to concede Kaylee's affections to Kevin. As much as he tried, he couldn't dislike Kevin.....in fact..he liked him......A LOT. Michael also enjoyed meeting the other guys and couldn't believe he actually had a conversation with AJ McLean. As the time to leave the venue approached, Kevin pulled Kaylee aside, "your place or my room?" "Damn.....pushy aren't you?" "Baby," he leaned his head to hers, "I told you....you're stuck with me while I'm here. SO...it's either my room.....or your townhouse..take your pick." Kaylee studied his face and saw the concern. This wasn't the time to make jokes, or to question his intentions. "Well...you guys are done here now....so....why keep a hotel room....just come to my place." Kevin let out the breath he'd been holding and sighed deeply. "Perfect....your couch is alot more comfortable than the couch in my room." With that decision made, everyone said their goodnights. Mrs. Hughes took Kevin aside wanting to speak to him privately. "Thank you so much for everything tonight Kevin. I hope to be seeing more of you when all this craziness is done." "I'd like nothing more than that, Mrs. Hughes...and it was my pleasure," he said as he pulled her into a fierce hug. "You mean the world to Kaylee...and she means the world to me." "Be good to her young man...I love her like I love my own daughter," her voice emotional, "she's been through so much...and now..to have someone like you in her life....well...she cares about you more then I think she's ready to admit." "Don't worry about a thing....," he paused to gather his thoughts, "she IS my world...she's everything that is right in my life...I would never hurt her." Mrs. Hughes patted his cheek, "you know Kevin....I believe you. "Thank you," he spoke softly as he placed a kiss on her cheek, "it means alot to me." "Kevin," Luke called from across the hall, "let's move it. Where we goin?" Kevin walked toward Luke, and motioned him closer. "We're going to Kaylee's house, and I need to check into flights out on Tuesday." "Already done boss. I thought you'd want to stick around here...got you booked on a mid-day shuttle...got your duffel bag..got a rental car...and, I told Mike to take the bus and get outta town." "Damn....you're good," Kevin smiled as he patted Luke's arm. "Well...save the smile until you hear me out...I'm staying too...shut up..not a word." Kevin shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Dawg, I gave up arguing with you...and frankly...it's a good idea." Ali, her mom and her brother made their way back over to Kevin, offering more thank yous before they headed out to Ali's car. Ali opted to go back to her mom's house, knowing that Kevin and Luke would be staying at the house. Kaylee and Kevin climbed into the backseat, and Luke drove the rental car back to her house. Kevin had wrapped his arm around Kaylee..and it wasn't long before her head was on his chest and she was sleeping. He ran his fingers through her hair and brushed his knuckles along her cheek. "We'll get through this together baby," he whispered into her hair, "we will. And in a couple weeks...when I get you out of here...alone...when I take you to my home ...then I can show you...show you what it's like to really be made love to..." She burrowed her face a little deeper into his jacket, and he smiled. Damn girl...you're a match for me when it comes to sleeping. He sighed and dropped a kiss on her head. "When we get to Kentucky...if you'll let me...I'll make love to you with my whole heart and soul." He barely heard the soft whisper that came from within his arms... "Yes Kevin......there's nothing in the world I want more." His heart leapt into his throat...Can't this tour be over tomorrow?????? BACK HOME NEXT |