Chp 7
The next few weeks, everything went better between them. Howie loosened up and tried not to push the issue, and Rose started acting like her old self. Her old, ultra-flirtatious self. It was like she knew what to do and say to drive him crazy.
It was the beginning of December when they finished her demo tape. He decided the next plan was to get her signed to a great manager. He knew that The Firm held annual Christmas parties in the Orlando area, and it only took a few strings to get two invitations.
The night of the party, he grabbed her tape and when he pulled up to get her, he didn't even have to get out of the car before she came bounding outside. Her hair looked metallic gold, pulled back on one side by a tight gold claw thing. He usual glitter and lipstick, then a glittery black shawl wrapped tightly around her. He could see only part of the god dress she had on, seeing it came to just below her knees. He was surprised she didn't fall on the huge stilettos she wore but she was wearing them with confidence.
"Lets get this over with" she huffed as she got in. She looked over his suit and smiled at him. "You look hot in that suit"
"So now I'm hot?" he asked. She laughed.
"Yes. Um, I don't think these people are going to like me"
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because of who I am. I don't look like everyone else."
"I like you."
"But you didn't at first" she pointed out.
"I did too!" he protested.
"You did not. You thought I was weird"
"Ok, well, maybe a little weird."
"Exactly."
"Well, I like you now."
They came to a huge house. A valet took the car and she accepted Howie's offered arm.
"Oh, damn." She muttered, holding her shawl.
"What?"
"I didn't want to take my shawl in."
"The valet will hold it" he said. Rose ran back and handed the shawl to him. It seemed like slow motion as she took the shawl off and exposed most of her back. He could hear her thank the young man, whose eyes were popping out of his head. She turned around and sauntered back to Howie. Howie couldn't help his jaw dropping as he caught sight of the whole package. The front had a hole down the front, and when she moved a certain way, he had a view that could almost be considered illegal. His brain told him to either drag her back to his car like a caveman, or insult her.
"Did you give him part of your dress?" he asked sarcastically.
Rose smirked. "You know you like it. The little valet sure did."
He just grunted but he couldn't help but think that the valet almost got his ass kicked. They went in and were immediately pounced on.
"Howie! I'm so glad you could come! Pierre said you wouldn't come, but I knew you would." A tall slender brunette air kissed him then assessed Rose like she was a piece of cattle.
"I don't believe we've met, dear. I'm Ang, I used to be on the team that managed Howie's group. Such a shame about that, but Dave said Howie couldn't help it. Howie's always been my favorite. I do love that dress, very chic." She talked quickly and with a slight accent.
"This is Rose, Ang. I'm producing her"
"You've started producing? How magnificent! Do you have representation?" She asked Rose.
"No, we just fished my demo."
"Well, we'll have to arrange a meeting, I'll listen to your tape."
"It just so happens I brought her demo with me." Howie said, pulling it from his pocket. Rose looked stunned as he handed it over.
"Howie, you are a smart one. I'll give you a call. If your voice is as good as your style, well be very interested." Ang hugged Howie and squeezed Roses arm companionably. He smiled at her and they went into the main room. Howie scanned the crowd for anyone he knew, and he saw David standing in the adjacent room. Howie directed them towards the door. David saw Howie and waved. They got to the doorway and the entire room practically turned.
"Mistletoe!" David yelled loudly. Howie looked overhead and inwardly groaned.
"I don't think..." Howie protested a bit.
"C'mon, you have to kiss her" someone in the crowd remarked.
"For heavens sake." Rose muttered. She put her arm on the back of his neck and turned his face to hers and kissed him. The entire room cheered then went on with their business. Howie couldn't even hear him, or anything else for that matter. Just that one soft sweet little kiss had blown him away. He had to remind himself he was in public and his hormones couldn't overreact in an embarrassing way. All he could do was look at Rose who seemed as stunned as he. She smiled, her eyes brighter then he'd ever seen them. She reached up and brushed the pad of her thumb over his bottom lip.
"You had a little lipstick on you." She said softly, as if they were already lovers. It was so gentle, so much more intimate then anything he'd ever done, and he could feel his heart do little flips inside his chest. He knew something had changed between them. She let go of him and walked towards David. It took him a few moments to get his senses back and when he did he could see Rose and David were getting along just fine. He motioned to Rose that he'd be right back and she nodded. He wandered off to find something to drink. He saw several old friends on the way so it was at least 20 minutes until he made his way back with 2 glasses of champagne. He heard Rose laugh loudly and went to the doorway to see what was going on. He saw instead of David, some tall skinny guy was chatting with Rose. The guys back was turned, and Rose had her hand resting lightly on his arm. He couldn't help the feeling of jealousy that swept through him like wild fire. He resented the guys height, his expensive suit, and his stupid long brown hair. Even though he himself fit 2 of those criteria. He made his way over, trying not to be totally unpleasant.
"There you are! I was beginning to worry" Rose said, extending her hand to him. "Howie, I want you to meet" As she searched for the name the guy turned around.
"Nick?" Howie almost dropped his glass.
"Shit! Howie!" Nicks response was equally as shocked as Nick hugged him tightly.
"What the fuck! Man, I can't believe you're here!" Nick exclaimed. Howie just stared. This was not the same Nick. He'd lost a lot of weight, his face was thinner and his hair was long and a much darker color then he'd ever expected.
"I lost a little weight" Nick said, grinning, patting his stomach.
"Uh, hello..." Rose interjected feeling completely out of it.
"I'm sorry, Rose. I'm not surprised you didn't recognize him. This is Nick. You know, the Nick you've heard about." Howie said.
"Nick? Good, lord, I wouldn't have known in a million years." Rose said.
"So, what's going on? What have you been up to?" Nick asked.
"Well, my company..."
"He's producing me. He's also writing for me." Rose interrupted.
"Really? That's great, man." Nick said, hitting Howie's shoulder.
"Oh my god, I think that's Fred Durst. I have to go introduce myself!" Rose squealed and ran off.
"So, you've started producing? That's really great."
"Well, yeah. She isn't signed yet but I have a feeling shell be big."
"She seems really friendly,"
"She's great" he responded, perhaps a tad too fondly.
"Uh-oh." Nick laughed. He knew Howie well enough and after Howie didn't smile for a second, he knew Howie was emotionally involved. "Are you serious about her? I mean, she's not your type at all."
Howie sighed. He heard Rose laugh from the other room and grinned. "She's not my type at all."
"I mean, she's nice and all, but she's a little weird."
"I know. She grows on you"
Nick just shrugged.
"Anyway, are you still with old what's-her-name?"
"No, we broke up. She was pissed when, um.." Nick couldn't bear to say it. When the group broke up.
"I know, man."
"So, um, have you heard from any one else?" Nick asked.
"Ah, no. I've heard stuff, but not from the horses mouth"
Nick frowned a little. "Me either. You know, I really miss everyone."
"Me too."
"Anyway, I'm trying to break out again. My manager thinks the look change will help."
"Who's managing you now?"
"New guy, named Craig Jones. He's great. Got a lot of cool ideas."
"You think he'd be interested in Rose?"
"Might be." Nick responded. "Well, anyway, I got to go, man. Give me your number again, we'll get together." Nick took out a paper and jotted down Howie's number. Howie watched as Nick made his way to where Rose was chatting with several men, including Fred Durst and Carson Daly. Nick whispered something to her and she laughed and said something back. She handed him something and he shook the guys hands and left. Howie made his way through the people. He tried to push the jealousy aside as he could see all the guys were totally engrossed in her. As he came up besides her, she looked over and smiled broadly.
"Hey" she said, drawing all her attention to him. He saw several puzzled looks go towards him. She grabbed his ram and looked back at her crowd.
"Is there dancing here?" she asked.
"Outside in the garden" a random guy responded. Rose thanked him and said goodbye to all of them. She started towards the back of the house. She grabbed another glass of champagne and downed it on the way out. There was a patio area for dancing and sprinkled throughout the garden were people. They got onto the patio and Rose wrapped her arms around him.
"It's so nice out here" she said dreamily. He looked up at her and smirked.
"How much champagne have you had?"
"4 glasses? 5? 3? I don't quite recall." She giggled. She was just about drunk, and her shoes made her 3 inches taller then him. She looked a him and giggled again.
"I'm sorry I wore my tall shoes."
"Are you saying I'm short?" he asked.
"Yes. But I like short men." She abruptly let go of him and twirled around and bent down to unstrap her shoes.
"No, no, no, keep them on." He said pulling her up. "I think its time to go."
"Aw, do we have to?" she asked pitifully.
"Yes, now pull yourself together so we can leave with dignity."
"I'm fine. I'm good. Lets go" She made it through the house fine, but she nearly collapsed on the valet. The boy helped Howie get her into the car.
"I met a lot of nice people tonight." Rose murmured as they drove off.
"You made some good connections"
"I never would have met half of those people if it wasn't for you." She reclined the seat and leaned back. At a stoplight he looked over to see her eyes closed, looking absolutely peaceful. At her apartment, he pushed her a little to get her to wake up.
"We're here?" she asked.
"Yes, and you need to get up and walk."
"Can't you carry me?" she asked.
"I'm not that strong" he responded. He grabbed her arms and lifted her up.
"Ouch" she laughed, holding her hand to her chest. "I guess that gets me back for calling you short"
He grinned. "Lets just say we're even" He watched her stumble up stairs and grabbed her shawl and followed her. At her door, the looked at him, a pout on her lips.
"I can get the door." He sighed loudly and gave her a look. She smiled meekly then leaned on him as he unlocked her door.
"If you're too tired to drive, you can crash here."
"Thanks for the offer" he said as he helped her into the bedroom. She sat on the bed and started to lay down.
"I'll help, you take your shoes off." He muttered as she tried to get under her blanket. He unstrapped them and tucked the blanket over her.
"Come back here a second" she said as he stood to walk away. He sat next to her and looked at her. She leaned towards him and planted her lips softly on his. He couldn't think, definitely couldn't move away. She pushed his lips apart with her tongue and deepened the kiss. She pulled back and smiled.
"I jus wanted a kiss goodnight" she said, flopping back on the bed. Howie sat still on the bed, trying to register what happened. The light from the half open door shone right beside her on the bed. He waited until he heard her deep breathing and closed his eyes to think, she was drunk and wouldn't remember it in the morning. She wouldn't remember causing the fire that shot through his veins. He smoothed down her hair and kissed her forehead. "God, I love you" he said aloud. He got up and went to her couch. After taking his jacket off and unbuttoning several buttons of his shirt, ha laid down and fell fast asleep.
Chp 8
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