�Howie�s club Tabu,� Aaron replied, as they went inside.
�Aren�t we underage though?�
�Howie always lets me in on Fridays and Saturdays since he doesn�t open until, like, seven or something like that.�
�Oh I see.� Aaron smiled and they walked to the farther end of the club.
�I thought we could get something to eat also.�
�Sounds good, because I�m starving.�
�Same here.�
�Hey, AC,� came a male voice and they looked over to the bar.
�Hey, Alex,� Aaron said, as they walked over.
�Who�s the babe?� Alexander wanted to know kissing MyKenna�s hand.
�This is MyKenna Jackson,� Aaron said. �MyKenna meet Alexander McLean, Kevin Richardson,
and Brian Littrell of BSB.�
�Hi,� MyKenna said smiling.
�Hello to you,� Alexander said. �Where�d you find her?�
�On the beach,� Aaron replied. �There she was in her baby blue bikini.� MyKenna looked at him. �The hottest girl on the beach.� MyKenna rolled her eyes.
�When was this?� Kevin asked.
�Monday,� Aaron replied.
�You got Frack out of the house?� Brian questioned.
�Yeah,� Aaron answered. �I think he�s thankful I did.�
�Why?� Alexander wanted to know.
�He was just in here a few minutes ago with a pretty brunette,� Kevin explained.
�That�s why,� MyKenna said.
�You lost me,� Alexander said.
�My brother found a very extremely great girl,� Aaron stated. �I haven�t seen him this happen since we were kids�well before Mandah.� They all smiled.
�I�m Kristin,� a short-haired blond said extending her hand MyKenna shook it. �And that�s Leighanne.�
�Aaron always seems to forget us,� Leighanne said shaking hands with MyKenna also.
�Nice meeting you,� MyKenna said.
�Same here,� the two girls said.
�What are you guys doing here?� Aaron asked.
�Nick, I can�t do this,� came Dakota�s voice and they looked.
�Is that the girl?� Brian asked.
�Yeah,� Aaron said.
�Dakota Jacobson,� MyKenna added.
�210% in love with Nickolas Gene Carter,� Aaron said.
�No, more like 2,000,000,010% in love with him,� MyKenna corrected him.
�For who he is or what he does?� Kevin questioned.
�Who he is,� MyKenna and Aaron said and Aaron added, �Don�t mention anything about her just using him because she�ll totally spaz out.�
�She did on BJ,� MyKenna added.
�Nickolas, I can�t,� Dakota said and they looked again. �There�s no way I�m going in there.�
�Calm down alright,� Nickolas said. �Just be yourself. If you get nervous just picture me doing the interview.�
�I-I-I can�t. I go in there I�m going to throw up.�
�No you won�t; you�ll be fine. D�s just a regular guy.�
�Whose picture happens to be on my bedroom wall by the way.�
�Well he doesn�t know that.� She looked at him. �Just take a deep breath and good luck.� He gave her a kiss. �Plus one for good luck.� He gave her another kiss. �I�ll be right over there when you�re done. You can come tell me how it went. Howie�s not going to bite. He�s too sweet for that.� He grinned and she just looked at him. He took the ring off his finger. �Here.� He undid her necklace and put the ring on it.
�What�s this for?�
�Good luck.� She looked down at it. �I don�t want ya to be nervous. Forget Howie being a world wide star and just a regular business owner.� Her kissed her again and walked away.
�Nicky?� He looked back at her and continued walking over to the others. She took a couple deep breaths and knocked on the door.
�It�s open,� came Howard�s voice and Dakota slowly opened the door. She walked in and Howard looked. �May I help you?� He smiled.
�Um�Nick called earlier and said he set up an interview,� Dakota said.
�You must be DJ then?�
�Yeah.�
�Come in and close the door.� She did as he requested then just stood there. �Don�t hover and come sit down beside me.� He smiled again and she walked over and sat next to him on the sofa. �Did Nick tell you what I was looking for?�
�Uh�a personal assistant.�
�Yeah; I go on the road a lot and sometimes run out of time to do the things I need to do. I get the smaller stuff done, but the big stuff takes a few days with my schedule.� She nodded. �You seem nervous.� She nodded again. �Don�t be; I�m a very nice guy.�
�I know.� He smiled again and winked.
�I know about all of Nicky�s friends, but I never seen you.�
�Well we just met on Monday.�
�I see. Are you from Florida?�
�Pennsylvania.�
�Moving here then?�
�I am now.� He looked at her. �I had some bad luck the past couple days and can�t make it home.�
�Out of cash?�
�More like robbed, but nothing I can�t handle.�
�That sucks.� She gave a little grin. �What about family?�
�Long story there and I don�t want to get into it.�
�Alright, just covering the basics, because this job requires going on the road with me.� She nodded. �You seem like a nice girl and I think we�ll get along fine.� He smiled again while winking and she grinned.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�It�s been 45 minutes already,� Nickolas pointed out. �What�s taking so long?�
�Maybe they�re getting it on,� Alexander suggested snickering.
�He better keep his hands off her and vice versa,� Nickolas warned.
�She just wants you Nicky,� MyKenna said. �No one else.�
�Why is she in there anyway?� Brian asked.
�An interview,� Nickolas replied. �She�s having some trouble and I told her I�d help her out.�
�What kind of trouble?� Kevin asked.
�Uh,� Nickolas began, but wasn�t sure if he should say anything or not.
�Her family hates her,� MyKenna blurted out. �She was robbed and her family won�t send her any cash to get back home.� They just looked at her. �So she ain�t going back home when she does get the money. She looks at it this way; if they�re going to treat her like shit then they don�t need to see her.�
�She shouldn�t think like that,� Kevin said. �Family�s important.�
�You have to know, DJ,� MyKenna said. �And if you hear how they treat her then you�d understand. She ain�t happy back in PA.�
�And where are you from?� Alexander asked.
�Where do you think?� MyKenna asked in return and they laughed.
�Forget I asked,� Alexander said. �But are there anymore as beautiful as you?�
�Nope,� MyKenna said. �I�m the only one.� She smirked.
�Don�t you just love her?� Aaron asked and they all gave him a weird look. �She�s just great and fun to be with.�
�The kid who said he ain�t falling in love,� Nickolas said.
�Takes after his brother,� Kevin said and Nickolas glared at him.
�But I didn�t fall in love yet,� Aaron said and they all looked at Nickolas.
�What?� Nickolas questioned.
�Little Nicky fall in love?� Alexander asked and Nickolas didn�t say anything. �That�s so sweet.�
�What is?� Nickolas asked.
�You being in love,� Brian said.
�I never said I was,� Nickolas stated. �And I never said I wasn�t.� He looked at them.
�Are you?� Kristin asked and Nickolas just continued looking at them.
�I really don�t think that�s anyone�s business,� Nickolas rebutted. �Just my own.�
�Sorry,� Brian apologized.
�He�s not in a good mood,� Aaron said.
�Why not?� Kevin asked.
�Some Tiffany girl keeps calling him,� MyKenna said. �DJ answered the phone each time and got all upset.�
�Why?� Alexander asked.
�Apparently this girl is saying she�s Nick�s girlfriend,� Aaron said.
�I don�t know any Tiffany,� Nickolas stated. �I�m going to soon get her ass for harassment.�
�Just a crazed fan with nothing better to do,� Leighanne said.
�I just want to know how she got my numbers,� Nickolas said. �Pisses me off.�
�Of course it would,� Kevin said. �Excuse me though; I have to check the food.� He walked away.
�Nick!� Dakota yelled and he looked. �I got it.� She hugged him. �Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.�
�You�re welcome,� Nickolas replied, as she kissed him. �Were you nervous?�
�At first, but we did the whole �lets-get-to-know-each-other-first� thingy and then after that it was a breeze.�
�I told ya you�d do fine. When do ya start?�
�Next Monday.�
�Whatcha doing?� MyKenna asked.
�Howie D�s personal assistant,� Dakota replied.
�Better watch it, Nick,� Alexander started, �he might take her from ya.�
�I don�t want Howie,� Dakota said. �Just Nick.� She smiled and he kissed her. �So where are we going for lunch? I�m starving. I told you at the house like three hours ago.�
�Kev�s making veal parmesan,� Nickolas said. �It�s the best.� She nodded. �Is that good for you?�
�I don�t care,� Dakota began, �just as long as it�s food.� They laughed. �I didn�t eat breakfast. I ate a granola bar on the way up here, but it didn�t fill me.�
�And whose fault is that?� MyKenna asked. �I offered you some of my room service, but you declined it.�
�I wasn�t hungry,� Dakota said.
�You were just in a hurry to go see Nick,� MyKenna said and Dakota smiled.
�I believe the last thing I ate was Nick�s�� Dakota began, but interrupted.
�Chicken Noodle Soup,� Alexander finished.
�Haha funny,� Nickolas said. �I made her dinner last night.�
�And what was it?� Brian asked. �Macaroni and cheese?�
�Perhaps fish,� Aaron chimed in.
�You guys are hilarious,� Nickolas said sarcastically. �Tell them what I made, DJ.�
�He made lasagna,� Dakota stated smiling.
�And I bet it tasted like dog food,� Alexander said.
�No it didn�t,� Dakota rebutted. �It was very good in fact that I had three pieces; one more than Nicky.� She smiled.
�It was just a show,� Brian said. �You actually thought it sucked.�
�I did not,� Dakota said. �You guys are so mean to him. I watched him make it. He�s a maniac in the kitchen.�
�I wouldn�t say that,� Nickolas said.
�Since when do you cook?� Kristin asked.
�I have to learn, because mommy can�t come over everyday to do it for me,� Nickolas said. �And I can�t live on canned goods the rest of my life. And if I get married I can�t rely on my wife to cook every night.�
�No,� Kristin and Leighanne said and they laughed.
�Hey, guys,� Howard said.
�Hey,� everyone said.
�Thank you,� Dakota said giving him a surprise hug.
�Whoa!� Howard said returning the hug. �You�re welcome.�
�I really thank you,� Dakota said. �You have no idea how much this means to me.�
�No I don�t, but my guess is a lot.�
�Yes a lot.� She left him go. �Thank you.� She hugged him again. �Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.�
�Again, you�re welcome.� Dakota left him go again.
�That�s enough,� Nickolas said and Dakota looked at him.
�Sorry,� Dakota said then smiled. �I thank you too.� She kissed him and he gladly returned the kiss, as Howard looked at them.
�Yes, D,� Alexander began, �they�re together.� Howard just looked at them.
�We didn�t say anything,� Dakota started, �because I didn�t want ya to hire me just because I�m dating one of your best friends. I wanted to earn it on my own.�
�I probably wouldn�t have hired ya then,� Howard said smiling and winking. �Why should Nicky have the pleasure of having his girlfriend on the road with us?� Dakota just looked at him. �You still have the job so don�t worry.�
�Phew!� Dakota said. �You had me worried.�
�Nah,� Howard said. �Nicky has a right to be happy.�
�It�s Nick,� Nickolas rebutted. �Not �Nicky�.�
�Kota calls ya �Nicky�,� MyKenna pointed out.
�She�s allowed,� Nickolas said smiling.
�Right,� everyone said.
�What is Kev making?� Howard asked.
�Veal Parmesan,� Kristin replied. �We ladies volunteered to make it, but Kev insisted he make
it.�
�There�s a surprise,� Howard said sarcastically. �Nothing�s better than a home cooked meal by the one and only Kevin Richardson.� They laughed.
�Except you�re not at home,� Aaron said.
�Close to it,� Nickolas said. �This is Howard�s second home�well I should say third.� They laughed. �He has a home of his own, but is always at mommy�s.� They laughed again. �He�s pathetic.�
�I love my mommy,� Howard said.
�I think a little too much,� Brian said and they laughed again.
�You guys are so mean to me,� Howard said pretending to wipe away a tear.
�Whatever,� Alexander said.
�Dinner is served,� Kevin said bringing out a cart with food on it.
�Finally,� Alexander said and they all laughed.
CHAPTER 35