Part 504
Sarah stood backstage listening as the guys performed a medley of their hits. She loved hearing them sing, especially a cappella. Their voices blended so well together and they held the audience under their spell…the same spell she was under too.
‘Mook’ put his hands on her shoulders. "You know, you’re as good as they are."
Sarah laughed as she looked over her shoulder at him, "Yeah, right and I’m the queen of England but thanks, ‘Mook’."
"So what’s the list for tonight, ‘Shorty’?"
"I’m starting with ‘Underneath Your Clothes’ and then the first three songs I do to start my set. I’m ending with a song AJ and I did but you guys don’t have to stick around for that."
"Is that why you needed Howie’s guitar?"
"Yeah."
"Sounds good. Don’t be nervous. You’re gonna be fine."
"That’s because I have a killer band backing me. Wanna quit BSB and be
MY band?"
‘Mook’ laughed, "I thought it was one and the same?"
Sarah laughed giving him a hug as they heard Kevin getting ready to introduce her. The band made their way out to take their places while Sarah took a deep breath. A minute later, she followed them out.
The crowd was on their feet charged from the guys’ performance and excited to hear Sarah.
"Thanks, Kevin," said Sarah taking her mike from him and giving him a kiss on the cheek. As Kevin left the stage, Sarah turned to the audience, "Hey! Hey! Denver! It’s SOOO good to be here. This town is just so awesome. I’m gonna start out tonight with a song that’s really special to me for a bunch of reasons. By far, the most important reason is because I wrote this song for a truly special man…my wonderful husband." Sarah’s eyes were fixed on Howie as he winked at her. "The second most important reason is because this song is gonna be my very first single and video set to be released October 23rd so PLEASE, check it out. It’s called ‘Underneath Your Clothes’."
The band started playing and Sarah sang. She sang to Howie, their eyes locked on one another and they mentally made love to each other. When the song was over, Howie wanted to climb on stage, take her in his arms, and carry her away. It always had this effect on him but tonight, for some reason, it was intensified. It might have had something to do with the fact that he knew they wouldn’t be going back to the hotel any time soon to make love.
The next three songs were up beat and Sarah had the crowd jamming with her. The energy was intense as the guys watched proudly. She didn’t need their advice any more….no, she’d listened to every word and gone a step further making her show truly incredible.
It was time for the last song and as instructed, the band left the stage as Sarah got a sip of water from her bottle and Howie’s guitar. "I’m gonna end tonight with another song that is special to me but I need AJ’s help. Alex…please, would you come up here with me?"
AJ made his way up and she handed him the guitar.
"Now, I need Howie." Howie shook his head ‘no’ but as Sarah pouted, the crowd urged him to join her. Giving in, he joined her onstage and took her hand as she held it out to him.
"’Angel’, we aren’t…"
"No. Just stand there and look gorgeous," she whispered. "This last song is a new one that only Nick has heard. AJ knows the melody because he wrote it but on my way into Denver, the lyrics came to me after Howie told me that he wanted to give me the world. ‘D’, this is for you."
Sarah nodded to AJ and he started playing. "I stare at your face, into your eyes / Outside there’s so much passing us by / All of the sounds / All of the sights / Over the earth and under the sky / Too much cold and too much rain / Too much heartache to explain / Who need the world when I’ve got you / Switch off the sun, the stars, and the moon / I’ve all I need inside of this room / Who needs the world when I’ve got you…"
Howie was smiling softly listening to the words she sang to him and the love in her voice. He remembered the night she’d written the song, the glow that she exuded and he understood. She had come so far since that day he’d first asked her out. He had seen the fear she had felt all those years she’d spent with Russell but he’d seen her strength too. He’d been right about her that night. Despite the tough front she put up for everyone, Sarah had her soft, romantic side, the side that simply wanted to be held close and showered with all the love in the world. He felt very fortunate that he was the one she wanted to be held by and the one that she wanted to spend the rest of her life loving.
As Sarah finished the song, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place, including Howie and her. He reached up to wipe her tears for her as she squeezed his hand. "I love you, Howie," she said in a tender whisper.
"I love you too, ‘Angel’," and as the couple kissed, the crowd gave their unquestionable approval of Sarah’s set. She was slowly building a following that would one day rival the Boys, or even surpass them.
The manager took the stage to thank Sarah and asked, "Do you two sing together?"
"Yeah, we do," grinned Howie as he held Sarah close.
"How about one more song...from you together? The crowd would love it."
Howie and Sarah looked at each other as Howie said, "We could do Shaggy’s song."
"One more and that’s it," agreed Sarah.
With that, the band came back, Howie told them which song, and the two did one last song together. As always, the number was hot and the way the two moved together was electric. And as always, it had both of them in need of each other when the song was over.
Backstage, Howie pinned Sarah to the wall running his hands over her stomach as he kissed her…the ‘I’ve gotta have you’ kind of kiss. Their tongues stroked each other fueling the flames of their desire as Sarah clung to Howie, her hands laced in his curls.
Breathlessly, Howie managed to say, "You’re gonna be the death of me."
"And I’m gonna enjoy every minute of it," cooed Sarah. "I want more but your angelic children are doing their own dancing on my bladder. I’ll be back in a minute."
"Meet us at the door. The guys want to head to the ‘Alley Cat’ next."
"No problem. Grab my coat please."
"Of course," answered Howie with another kiss.
He watched his wife disappear around the corner before he went back to join the others. There was no way for him to know what awaited Sarah around that corner.
Sarah floated down the hall, high from the euphoria of performing and the feeling Howie left her with whenever he kissed her. She was oblivious to the bulky figure that blocked her path and ran smack into him.
"Excus…" Sarah broke off realizing whom she was speaking to. "What are YOU doing here?"
"Came to talk to you. That was a very touching display I just witnessed. You’ve done an excellent job protecting Howie’s image. A trained actress couldn’t have done better."
"It’s not an act and you know it," snapped Sarah. "I love Howie and he loves me."
"Of course he does, sweetie," replied Lou in a condescending voice as he patted Sarah on the arm.
"Keep your filthy hands off me. You’re a pig, not even worthy of the contempt I feel for you. Move out of my way NOW before I have security call the police."
As Sarah tried to go around him, Lou grabbed her by the arm. "Look, young thing, you’re playing hardball with the big boys. You get Howie to drop this lawsuit or your nasty little secrets will be in every tabloid across the country."
"You don’t scare me, Pearlman. Try it and see what happens."
"What are you going to do, kill me like you did your ex-husband?" snipped Lou. "Missy, you can’t seduce me like you did him. I’m aware of all the tricks you little sluts have. You may be able to protect Howie but you can’t protect everyone in your life. Mark my words, drop the suit or someone very close to you WILL be taken down."
"You BASTARD," growled Sarah as she tried to slap him but he caught her arm.
Lou laughed and it was an evil, sick laugh that made Sarah’s stomach roll. Without another word, he turned to walk away stopping only to pull out his wallet. Tossing a hundred-dollar bill at her, he sauntered away feeling very triumphant.
Tears stung her eyes as the crisp, green bill fell at her feet. He had gotten to her and she’d let him see it.