Covered In Lace

chapter FIVE

Lacey registered at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston and settled into a suite on the top floor. She dropped her bag on the floor and walked to a wide expanse of window overlooking the lush Public Gardens. She had stayed at this hotel many times over the years and never tired of the view. She glanced at her watch and realized she needed to get going if she was going to make rehearsal on time.

Moments later, she was sliding into the backseat of a waiting limousine on her way to the Fleet Center. She thought about calling Flynn, but knew it was too early and didn't want to wake him. The image of his muscled body sprawled across his bed, long legs tangled in the sheets, made her heart race. Maybe he slept naked, she wondered, then cursed herself for allowing that visual to linger in her brain. At the rate they were going, she'd never get the chance to see him in all his glory.

The car came to a stop outside the VIP entrance at the back of the arena. Security was waiting for her at the door and handed her the proper credentials to hang around her neck. Her manager, Paul Hassett, greeted her halfway down the concrete hall with his arms held open for her.

“Lacey,” he said on a sigh, his brown eyes twinkling. “Sunbathing in the hills of Massachusetts suits you. You're positively glowing.”

Lacey accepted his hug and patted his back. “Thanks for the compliment,” she said. “I feel rested, but I also miss performing.”

“Then the gig with Annie should help scratch that itch,” Paul said.

Paul had been an important part of Lacey's life for almost a decade. He was there with a shoulder when she divorced her husband, helped her navigate through the landmines of career choices, and then some. And during those years they had become close - almost inseparable friends, and even briefly considered a romantic relationship, until Lacey decided it would be wise to revisit that idea when they were both sober. Turned out, Lacey needed him more as a friend than a lover.

“I see you got your security clearance,” Paul said, eying the badge dangling around her neck.

“Every year it becomes more difficult for me to show up for work,” Lacey said.

“And every year the nutcases wanting to get too close to you become more and more determined, Lace,” he said.

“I get it, Paul,” she said. “But I don't have to like it.”

Paul touched her elbow and directed her down another concrete hallway. “Do you want to talk business now or later.”

“What's to discuss?” she asked. “This is a charity event. Defer the money accordingly.”

“I'll take care of it,” he said. “Also, Ray is driving your guitars up from New York as we speak. He should be here in a few hours.”

“I'm not sure I'll need all of them, but I'll take them.”

“Beyond that, we rehearse today and tomorrow, and there will also be a walk through of the set. Show is at seven on Saturday.”

“Is Annie here yet?” she asked.

“She and Mike are in the dressing room next to yours.”

As they rounded the last corner, Annie was standing in the hallway with Michael. Two quick steps and Lacey was surrounding Annie with her arms in tight hug.

“You made it,” Annie said, and pulled Lacey into the dressing room. She shut the door, leaving Michael and Paul standing in the hallway.

“Okay, tell me everything,” Annie said. “What's going on with Flynn?”

Lacey plunked herself down into a soft chair and sighed loudly. “Flynn is still driving me nuts.”

“Is he still ignoring the fact he's crazy about you?” Annie asked.

Lacey smiled. “Well, we seemed to have moved beyond that point.”

“And??? Come on, Lace! I need details!”

“My feelings for him are getting stronger by the day,” she said softly. “And it scares me.”

“Why?”

A long moment passed and tears began to pool in Lacey's brilliant blue eyes. “This feels different. Bigger – and I'm not talking about his anatomy.”

Annie giggled and sat down in a make-up chair in front of the wall mirror. “I'm glad you clarified that.”

“Flynn is...unique,” Lacey said. “It's not about the physical stuff with him. He genuinely seems to want more. And that also scares me.”

“Don't you dare run from it,” Annie said. “You've spent the last decade running and look what that's gotten you. Maybe Flynn is the guy that makes you stop running, and then you can allow yourself to truly feel.”

“I invited him to the show,” Lacey said.

“Very good! I'm eager to introduce him to Michael.”

“I'm not sure that's a good idea,” Lacey said.

“It'll have to happen sooner or later,” Annie said. “Might as well get it over with now. If Flynn can handle Michael's third degree, then you'll know he's worth holding on to.”

“Michael can be a little overbearing,” Lacey said.

“He prefers to call it overprotecting.”

A knock on the door stopped their conversation.

“Are you two done with the girl-talk?” Michael asked, allowing the door to swing open and his head to pop inside.

“For now,” Annie said.

“Good, because the sound engineers want you on stage for a sound check,” he said. He stepped fully into the room and walked toward Lacey. He reached for her hand and pulled her out of the chair, then his arms slid around her waist in a relaxed embrace.

“How are you, Lace?” he asked, his cheek pressing to hers, the soft timbre of his voice massaging her skin.

“Better, now that I'm here with friends,” she said.

Michael kissed her forehead. “Family, Lace.”

“He means that, you know,” Annie said. “We may be a little dysfunctional, but we're family.”

They walked together toward the stage. The show director greeted them and walked them through the set-up for the show. When the tour was over, the sound guys took charge and ran Lacey and Annie through a long series of microphone and instrument sound checks. The process took forever, but finally Lacey and Annie were able to do a condensed jam session that really got them revved. Several hours later, Annie met Michael with a kiss at the side of the stage.

“How's dinner in town sound, Lace?” Annie asked. “Paul says it's his treat.”

It was nearly eight o'clock and Lacey really wanted to talk to Flynn. Surely he must be awake by now, she thought.

“Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of room service followed by bed,” Lacey said.

“You can't be serious,” Annie said.

“Unless maybe you have someone waiting for you in bed?” Michael asked.

“No such luck,” Lacey said.

“I'd pinch hit for you, Lace, but Annie doesn't like to share.” Michael laughed at his own joke until Annie slapped him hard in the chest.

“Not funny, Michael, and besides, you've already been down that road with Lacey. Remember?”

Michael's eyes darted to Lacey and held. “Ancient history. Right, Lace?”

“Old as dirt,” Lacey replied.

They said good-bye in the VIP parking garage and Lacey took the limousine back to the hotel. As soon as she got into the privacy of her room, she dialed Flynn's number.

Several rings later his groggy voice answered the phone.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” she said.

“Jesus! Is it morning already?” he asked.

Lacey laughed and settled onto the bed, resting her head into the thick depths of pillows at the headboard.

“It's a little after eight at night,” she said.

“You had me going there,” he said.

“You've been sleeping this whole time?”

“Afraid so,” he said, stretching beneath the thin cotton sheets.

“Hmmm, you laying in bed is a very sexy visual,” she said. “I wish I were there to wake up with you.”

“I don't think there would've been much sleeping to wake up from if you'd been here, Lace.”

God, how she loved the sound of her name when he abbreviated it, the way he elongated the end making it sound almost like a sigh. 'Lace' had never held such promise; such erotic tension. She closed her eyes and smiled. The heat his voice spread through her was difficult to ignore.

“Are you still there?” he asked.

“I was trying to get the image of you laying naked in bed out of my head.”

“Who said I was naked?”

“It was an assumption,” she said.

Flynn lifted the sheet and laughed at the enormous erection he had. “I never wear anything to bed,” he said. “It gets in the way of...things.”

“You're killing me with the visuals, Flynn,” she said.

God she loved this relaxed banter. It was way better than the tense conversations they had been having. But last night on the dock, things between them had changed; shifted, and feelings were shared. Lacey drew in a long breath and smiled. Her heart swelled at the possibility of what could be with Flynn. For the first time in what felt like forever, she had feelings for a man and with that came hope.

“Are you done with rehearsal?” he asked.

“Until tomorrow afternoon,” she said. “Everyone wanted me to go out with them tonight to celebrate.”

“Then why are you talking to me?”

“I wanted to make sure you were awake,” she said. “And I needed to hear your voice.”

“My voice?”

“It's comforting,” she said.

“Yours has more personality,” he said. “You've got that whole sexy lounge singer rasp thing going on. Smooth like satin. Soft when you want it to be, but always with that underlining sexual energy. Very hot.”

“You really think so?”

“It definitely has an effect on me,” he said.

“Shall I talk dirty to you?”

“You don't necessarily have to say anything dirty, Lace. The texture alone does the trick.”

“Have you had time to consider my invitation?” she asked.

“Remind me what it was again?”

“I asked you to be my guest at the show on Saturday night.”

Flynn chuckled. “I know. I remember. And I'm flattered you'd ask.”

“I want you to see what I do,” she said. “Plus, it would be nice to spend some uninterrupted time together.”

He was silent on the other end line and Lacey felt her stomach tighten.

“Flynn?”

“I'm here,” he said.

“You're awfully quiet,” she said. “And you still haven't given me an answer. So, what'd you think?”

“I think we shouldn't put any more pressure on this than there has to be.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“I'll come to Boston to see you, Lace, get to know you better, but beyond that...I don't think we should rush into anything.”

“That's very noble of you, Flynn, but you don't have worry. I'll still respect you in the morning,” she teased.

“I'm serious.”

“I know,” she sighed and nervously twirled her long hair around a finger. “I really like you, Flynn, and I don't want to mess this up.”

“I feel the same,” he said. “And that's why I'm being cautious.”

“I could really use a hug right now,” she said.

“You'll have to wait until Saturday for that.”

“It will be hard, but I'll do it.”

“Don't say hard, Lace.”

“Damn you,” she said. “You're going to leave me with that visual?”

“Two days,” he said. “It will go by fast.”

“Can I call you again tomorrow?” she asked.

“Call anytime you want.”