Part 555

The buses pulled out shortly after dinner, and it was on to Las Vegas and the last show of the Black and Blue Tour. The buses rolled on through the darkness, and Nick sat quietly plucking out a melody on his guitar as Becca settled Garrett in for the night. Becca stood in the doorway for the longest time, just watching and listening as he concentrated on getting the notes just right. A shock of blonde hair fell across one eye and he sat cross-legged, his bare feet peeking out from beneath the legs of his jeans.

"That’s such a beautiful song," Becca said softly.

"Thank Sarah," Nick said with a smile. "She told me if I ever did an album on my own that I could have it."

"Who needs the world when I’ve got you…" Becca sang, sitting close to Nick and wrapping her arm through his as he played. Sighing deeply she said, "I almost melted when you sang that to me on my birthday."

"I’m surprised you can even remember that, Bec." Nick grinned, ducking behind the guitar for protection.

"Ha ha," Becca said sarcastically. "Very funny. I wasn’t that-"

"Drunk?" Nick laughed. "Baby, you were trashed."

Becca sniffed in indignation. "It was my birthday. A girl’s allowed to cut loose once a year."

"And you were so damn cute. Up there dancin’ on the table with AJ…"

"Geez," Becca groaned. "I’m never gonna live that down, am I?"

"Not if any of the rest of us have anything to say about it," Nick snickered.

Becca would have argued the point, but the ringing of Nick’s cell phone saved him.

"AC! Whassup?" Nick scooted away from Becca to avoid being swatted with something and laughed as he talked to his brother. "Huh?" Nick laughed again. "Nah, you didn’t interrupt anything. Can’t do that for another week yet."

Becca rolled her eyes, got up, and went to get a cold drink while Nick talked to Aaron. She smiled as she opened her soda, loving the sound of Nick’s laughter. He was crazy about his brother, and it showed. Becca chuckled as she caught bits and pieces of the conversation. It sounded like Aaron was filling Nick in about the plans for the video and the awards show.

"No man, I do NOT want to be on this show with you. Sure, I’ll come since Bec has to be there, but I just want to hang with you dude. I’ve missed you. Although … if Kathy’s there, I don’t think you’ll have too much time for your old, boring, married brother." He paused. "Why not? AC, you’re gonna spend all your free time makin’ out with Kathy. You have NO idea what effect that vid’s gonna have on her. I mean, damn, when we taped ‘Drowning’ the first time Becca was there and-"

Becca snatched the phone from Nick’s hand, her face a deep, deep red. "Aaron? We’ll see you in a couple of weeks. No, Nick has to go now. Bye!" Cheerfully she disconnected the call and jumped on Nick, straddling his waist and pushing him back against the cushions of the bench seat.

Nick smirked up at his agitated wife. "You might wanta save some of that anger, Bec."

"Oh? And why would that be?"

Nick’s smirk turned into a full-fledged grin. "AC tells me Willa is gonna be there, too."

Becca smiled angelically. "Oh goody. This time I’m not too pregnant to kick her-"

Nick stopped her tirade with his mouth, pressed firmly to hers. They kissed forcefully, tongues tangling erotically, their hands never still for a second. Finally they gentled, each sighing on an exchange of breath. Becca raised her head to look into Nick’s eyes. "One more week, Nick," she whispered, running her fingers through his hair.

"God, I love you," he whispered back, his voice cracking with emotion as Becca leaned forward to brush one more soft kiss over his mouth. "Come on baby, let’s try to get some sleep. We’ll be in Vegas in time for breakfast and tomorrow night’s gonna be crazy."

Becca climbed off his lap, took his hand and led him off to bed. She had no idea how true his words were.

Part 556       Index