Bella was about to add that Jack should visit sometime, but she felt a pair of hands come from behind her, cover her eyes, and heard “Guess who?” in her ear.
“Robert!!” Bella turned to the man standing behind her, squealing with joy, and wrapping him a tight hug. “I thought that was you on stage, but I wasn’t sure. What are you doing here, how did you end up with Darcy?”
Robert Brandon returned Bella’s hug, as he replied “Her bass player got sick and had to pull out of the tour last minute. They called me up and I had time, so here I am. I texted the girls about catching up at the Dallas show, but they told me you’d be at this one, and how to find you. How are you luv?”
Jack’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the handsome Englishman. For some reason it irritated him to see his arm around Bella, and that of course made him even more irritated for being irritated. Bella quickly filled Robert in how she’d come to be at the Houston show.
“Oh, where are my manners? Robert, this is Captain Jack Calloway, commander of the next Diana mission to the moon. Jack, this is Robert Brandon.”
Shaking Robert’s hand, Jack greeted the man who kept his arm still around Bella.
“How do you two know each other?” Jack asked, trying to figure out a way to put some space between those two.
“Robert was in the same band as my late husband, Iron Fist.”
“Iron Fist? Your husband was in Iron Fist? I used to listen to them all the time. Wait. Jasper Wilde, the drummer who died. That was your husband?”
“Yes, that was him.”
“Jasper was a damn good drummer, best I’ve ever played with, and damn fine man too. I still can’t believe he’s gone,” said Robert.
A rock star. Her late husband had been a rock star. It makes sense - she’s kinda got that rocker vibe about her, but in a classy way.
A few more minutes of chit chat and Robert left, with hugs and promises that Bella would meet up with him & his wife when she was next in London. Before Jack could say anything else the lights went down and Taylor hit the stage. Bella made her way to the front of the suite to get a better look at both the stage and the big screens set up on either side of it so everyone in the stadium got a good view, regardless of where they were sitting. Singing and dancing along to all the hits, plus the newer material from Taylor’s latest album, Bella, Sloane, and Piper were having so much fun, and soon it was time in the set for the surprise songs. Bella heard the strains of “False God” start up, one of Taylor’s sexiest songs, and became acutely aware of Jack standing closely behind her. She didn’t even realize he’d made his way up front with them. Feeling self-conscious, she stood while the song played, afraid she had looked silly dancing in front of him. The song finished, and then it was on to the next one - and it was her favorite, “Cowboy Like Me.” Another sexy one. She stopped trying to hold it in, and gave herself up to the music, singing along silently to the lyrics.
It was crowded in the suite, and Jack stood closely behind Bella, so close that he could feel her body up against his as she moved, hips swaying gently in time to the music. Suddenlythe person next to Bella stumbled and bumped into her, and Jack’s hands automatically reached out, grabbing her waist to steady her. He could feel the heat of her skin through the silk of her cami, and his hands lingered, not wanting to break the connection. Two more songs, and the show was over, with the lights coming on in the suite, and Jack quickly dropped his hands.
What was I thinking? You weren’t thinking. The girls are standing right here. Did they see that? What if they saw that? Will they hate me? What is Bella thinking? She didn’t push my hands away, did she notice? She was probably being polite. I hope she doesn’t think I was trying to cop a feel. Damn, it’s been so long since I’ve done this, I don’t even know what I’m doing. Why am I even doing this? I’m not even remotely interested in her like that.
Bella took a few deep breaths, trying to still a heart that felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. His hands on her had felt good.He was being polite. It didn’t mean anything - there’s a suite full of people.
“Wow - that was a great show, did you like it Ms. Genovese?”
“I did, it was fantastic. And please call me Bella. I’m so glad you let me hang out with you. Can we exchange bracelets before I go?”
“Do you need a ride back to your hotel? We pass by it on our way home” Jack asked.
“No, I arranged car service, and it’s waiting in the designated pick-up area, but thank you for the offer.” After exchanging bracelets Bella put her jacket back on, grabbed her purse and made a fast exit.
It’s a good thing I’m going back to Dallas in the morning, and I won’t have to see him again. Awkward much?
It's a good thing she’s going back to Dallas in the morning; I don’t need this distraction right now.
Chapter 9
Bella arrived back in Dallas late afternoon on Friday, dropped her case off at home, gave Primmy a big hug and played with her for a bit, fed her dinner, before a quick freshen up at home to meet Jackie for dinner - Bella’s treat as a thank you for watching the house and Primmy that week. Grabbing a table at The Speakeasy, which served pub style food and had a fantastic cocktail menu, Bella and Jackie placed their order, and the moment their drinks arrived Jackie started in.
“Tell me everything. Were there hot astronauts? Did you get to go in the floating chamber thing?
Try on a space suit?”
“Nothing fun like that, but I did get to catch one of the Taylor Swift shows while I was there, so it wasn’t all work. It’s really cool though; the space center is so much bigger than I thought it would be!”
“Bella. What about the astronauts? Hot or not?”
“There were several women crew members, did you know this mission is going to have the first woman to walk on the moon?”
“Okay. Now I know for sure there was at least one hot one because you are totally avoiding my question. Now give it up - don’t make me break out the thumbscrews.”
