Chapter

Fortunately for Luke, and Kevin, during their little tussle for power...Kevin ended up facing the wrong way. So when he took off, he was actually heading back to the hotel.

The combined affects of the alcohol and his wild emotions made it fairly difficult for Luke to keep up with him. But what Luke saw, when he finally caught up to Kevin, will be embedded in his mind for a long time to come.

Upon realizing that he was right back where he started, in front of the hotel, Kevin let out a baleful moan and then yelled out to no one and everyone, "Fuck! Why can't I get anything right?" He just kept yelling, "why.....why....???", and all the while backing up against the wall. When Kevin felt the wall against his back, he leaned against it and slid to the concrete below him. There he let out all the tears and pain that he had been trying to hold in for hours now. He hid his face with his large hands and drew his knees up to his chest. His shoulders began to heave and the sobs were gut-wrenching.

Kevin, absorbed in his grief, never saw, or heard, the woman approach him.

"Excuse me...sir....are you alright?", she asked, in a soft, yet concerned, voice.

"N..no....noooo..... jus' leave me be", Kevin choked out between sobs, never raising his head.

The woman was not going to give up. There was something painfully wrong with the man in front of her. It was very obvious that he was not a street vagrant. She could see the leather pants and coat he wore. She set her shopping bags down on the ground and slowly crouched down next to him.

"Umm...if you don't mind me saying this...but you aren't fooling me! Is there anything I can do...or anyone I can get?", she asked him. As she got close to him, she could smell his cologne, mixed with the smell of alcohol. "Ok", she thought, "so he's a very fashionable and great smelling drunk! A very fashionable, great smelling, drunk, emotional wreck! Wonderful, just what I need!"

Kevin finally raised his head and tried to focus on the figure in front of him. "Hell, you're as tall as me! I can look right into your eyes," he muttered, slightly louder than he thought.

"Umm...we aren't standing," she said with a laugh, "aaaa...you're sitting on the ground, and I'm kneeling in front of you. I really think you need some help!"

Kevin paused for a moment and mulled over what she said. "Shit, I'm drunker than I thought," he said, the sobs slowing down, and a slight smile appearing on his face, "Oh oh....Luke! He is gonna whoop my ass!"

The woman could finally see the man's face. She let out a slight gasp. Even though his eyes were very red and tear filled, she found herself face to face with one of the most gorgeous men she had ever seen. Even red rimmed, his eyes were breathtaking. But, there was a sadness in them. His long hair had fallen around his face and was now stuck to his cheek with his tears. She fought the urge to reach over and tuck the strands of hair behind his ear. "Oh my god," she thought, "he's gorgeous. What could be wrong? And, STOP thinking the things you're thinking!" Her head was spinning. "Pull yourself together Kaylee, he needs help", she thought.

"Aaahh..sir, if you don't mind me asking, who IS this Luke and why is he going to whoop your ass? Is he the reason you're so upset?", she asked. (and, I really hope you do not have any idea what I'm thinking right now!)

"L...L...Luke ummm...he...aahhh....kinda watches me", Kevin replied, not really quite sure how to explain his body guard to someone who obviously didn't have a clue as to who he was. Actually Kevin wasn't really sure he would have been able to even if he could.

She reached out and touched his arm. "C'mon, try to stand up. You can't stay down here forever."

Kevin just stared at her hand on his arm. After what seemed to be an eternity, he looked up into her face. If he tried hard enough, he could focus on her face. Problem was, he couldn't. She seemed nice enough for someone with at least 4 eyes and 2 noses.

"Here," she said, while slowly standing, "let me help you up." She then stood up and extended her hand to the handsome man.

Kevin took her hand and managed to raise himself off the ground. It was at this moment that Luke appeared from around the corner. He stopped a safe distance away and just watched the scene unfolding in front of him.

Kevin got to his feet rather unsteadily, but managed to stay upright. "Thank you," Kevin said softly to the woman in front of him, "ummm....I'm Kevin, by the way."

Kaylee wanted to kick herself. She was 27 years old. She was long past this giddy girl feeling. But, she couldn't help it. Her eyes followed him up. Wow, she thought, he IS tall. Kaylee was near 5'9" and always noticed tall men. But, more than him being tall, was the fact that he was so handsome. He seemed to have an almost "royal" air about him. And, that VOICE...that accent. It was so deep and sexy. "What could be wrong with this man?", Kaylee wondered. Kaylee had always loved men with long hair. But too many times the men she knew with long hair were...just...different, to say the least. This man had beautiful...thick wavy hair. He was dressed impecibly. Lots of leather, and he sure wore red well! And why am I standing here thinking about what is under those clothes?? I don't even know him, for gods sake! But it's obvious that whatever is under those clothes is VERY nice!

She knew she had to try and find her voice again.

"Well, Kevin, I'm Kaylee. I think its nice to meet you", she said. "Will you be ok?," she asked.

"Yeah...physically I'll be just fine. Other than the huge headache I'm going to have tomorrow. Mentally is a whole other story. So, unless you have hours to listen, we'll just say yes...I'm gonna be ok!"

Kevin was studying the woman in front of him. She was fairly tall, but not too tall, a brunette with the deepest brown eyes he'd ever seen. She had on a pair of Levi's with a yellow tee shirt and a Levi jacket. On her head she had a baseball cap. Casual, but yet Kevin could see the classiness under the jeans. Kevin caught himself thinking that at a different time....a different place....he'd like to get to know her better. But, this was not the time. They were two people, literally passing in the night.

"Umm..Kaylee, you asked who Luke was.....well......Kaylee, meet Luke", Kevin said just as Luke reached the pair.

Kaylee extended her hand to the huge man. Wow, what a night she thought. I don't usually meet one guy taller than me...let alone two all at the same night!

"Luke, nice to meet you! I'm Kaylee Barrone.", she said while extending her hand.

"Kaylee Barrone, its really nice to meet you too, and I DO thank you, but...Kevin, we gotta go!!", Luke said as he took Kevin by the arm.

"Kaylee, thanks for caring. Really! Doesn't seem like too many people care about me these days. Especially the one person I thought cared the most........", Kevin sighed. And he reached for her hand.

"Really Kevin...that's ok. You just looked so lost and alone. Who could ignore you?", she replied shyly.

Kevin took her hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss to it....a kiss mixed with the tears that were still falling. "Thank you", he said softly against her hand.

Kevin and Luke turned and walked into the hotel.

"You're welcome," Kaylee murmured, "wow...this was one of the strangest things that has ever happened to me". Her hand was burning where he kissed it and she wasn't sure she could even keep standing, let alone walk back into the hotel. "Oh my god...the hotel. He's at the same hotel as me! And, I don't even know his full name," she mumbled to herself as she picked up her shopping bags and headed into the hotel.

Kaylee walked into the hotel just in time to see Kevin and Luke enter the elevator. Kevin held up his hand and tried to smile as the doors closed.