First Meeting

Nick Russell

The second he'd heard Kelly's car in the driveway, Nick's mind had gone into neutral.

He allowed himself a few minutes to indulge in thoughts of the way she'd looked yesterday. Pretty in a natural kind of way. Not in a Hollywood kind of way. She'd always been that way, but then she hadn't been in Hollywood long enough for them to get a good hold on her, he reflected.

He'd met her backstage at a concert in Los Angeles. A sell-out, like all of his concerts were and, because it had been LA, more than a few celebrities there. People like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in the first few rows. Some of those gals from Desperate Housewives gracing a row to the right of the stage. Plenty more--some he recognized, some he didn't..

Despite all the problems he'd been having, it had been a great show. The last one he could remember having. On that tour, just like most of the others, they'd picked some people at random out of the audience to come backstage and meet Nick and the band. Most of them women. Most of them gorgeous and sexy and more than willing to spend a night with him or any one of the other band members.

Nick had been exhausted and tired of all the press hassling them, even though he knew it was part of the job and expected of him. But this tour had been long and this was one of the last dates. And all of the problems he'd been having made the exhaustion worse. Pete had known that and had tried to get him out as quickly as he could--avoid most of the mob.

It was on his way to the door, trying to disguise himself in a baseball cap and pass himself off as some roadie, that he had seen Kelly, sitting quietly in a corner by the door. She looked out of place. Everyone else was drinking, smoking, high on something. Kelly was looking around at all of it as though she were in amazement.

Much as he was looking forward to getting the hell out of there, Nick detoured over to her, Pete protesting as he did. But her whole look and demeanor drew him in. When he reached her, he took off the sunglasses, trying to keep his back to the rest of the room.

"Nick Russell," he murmured quietly to her, leaning in close and holding out his hand.

"Yes, I know," she spoke equally quietly, as she took his hand.

Not letting go, he pulled her up with him, putting the glasses back on with his other hand. "I'm goin' somewhere quiet." He spoke right into her ear. "Come with me." He'd pulled her along, used to women going along with whatever he wanted to do.

Just outside the door, with Pete waiting to get him in the car, she'd pulled back on his hand. Nick stopped and looked at her.

"I'm supposed to get in there with you?" She gestured toward the car, a nondescript Japanese model with Pete himself waiting behind the wheel. "You don't even know my name!"

He grinned at her. "So, what is it?"

"Kelly Scott." She still looked doubtful.

"Well, come on, Kelly Scott." Nick pulled at her hand again. "Before someone in that mob figures out I'm here."

He'd seen the doubt in her eyes, but ignored it. He guided her into the car and got in after her. "Get going, Pete. No one's figured us out so far."

The two of them were sitting in the back and Nick laid his head back against the seat for a moment, giving a long sigh. Then, he turned his head and smiled at her.

"Kelly Scott," he said slowly, looking at her more carefully. "I recognize you. You were in that movie- Uh- Damn! What was it called?"

"Hero Worship," she answered, the fact that he'd recognized her not doing anything to calm her nerves.

"Yeah. You been on TV a coupla times too." Nick raised his head to meet her eyes. "What were you doin' sittin' in the corner in there?"

"The same thing you're doing now," she grinned. "Trying to find someplace quiet."

He liked her smile, her soft brown hair, her blue eyes, and the fact that she seemed to like quiet. Returning her grin, he said, "Got it covered. We'll be there in 20, 30 minutes or so."

"Where are we going?" Kelly looked cautious again.

"One of the few places I can get away from all this. My house."