Chapter 7
Stephanie felt better after talking to Ronnie, who then called Annie. She felt like she had people on her side.
Now back to face Kevin's family.
She got off the elevator and saw the guys waiting for her.
She walked up to Brian and asked "I have to go to the airport. Can I take the limo or should I call a cab?"
Nick paled. "You're leaving?"
"Nope, I'm going to get my friends. They'll be here in about an hour and I want to meet them."
They heard the challenge in her voice. She wasn't a part of their family so she was bringing her own.
"Look, Stephanie, I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean..."
She cut AJ off. "You didn't mean to get caught saying what you said, AJ. That's the only reason you're even in my face with this bullshit ass apology. Look, I told you guys before I don't want Kevin's money, nor am I looking for fame from him. You can believe whatever the fuck you want, but that's the truth. Forget the limo. I'm gonna take a cab."
"Howard. Call the limo and have them meet Ms. Manning downstairs. Make sure she gets to the airport safely, picks up her friends and returns safely. You are coming back, aren't you Stephanie?" It was more of a statement than a question.
She smiled at Kevin's Mom. "Yes ma'am. I just have to pick up my girls. We'll be back as soon as possible."
She gave the guys one last stinging look and headed back to the elevator bank.
"Stephanie, please can I go with you? I'd really like to talk to you."
"Sorry Nick, Kevin warned be about those puppy dog eyes, and I don't do blondes. I'm out. Miss Ann, I'll see you when I get back."
The elevator doors closed on the young blonde and his counterparts.
She was furious! Damn them! Why in the hell would they think she wants anything from Kevin?! Find out how many times I come, HA! He couldn't handle the number of times, I come! Hell, Kevin had barely been able to handle it.
The limo driver meet Stephanie in the garage and escorted her to the car. She jumped in and told him to head back to the airport.
"Do you have the flight info ma'am? If you do, I can drive up to that airline on the tarmac and we can meet your friends their."
"Um Yes, it's USAir Flight 1565 Non-Stop."
"Great! Well be there shortly then."
"Thank you."
Stephanie sat back in the car and lost herself in her thought. She remembed meeting Kevin. Now that was a day to remember.
She was at Justice, an eclectic music store. She'd finally found an old Prince album she'd been looking for and as she reached for it...
"Excuse me miss, I'm sorry. I didn't see you."
She really didn't care as long as the guy let go of the cd, but his voice made her knees weak. She looked up to find out where that accent came from. She'd never seen eyes so green in her life.
"Huh?"
He laughed. "I didn't realize you were headed for the Prince cd. You're a fan?"
Her brain finally kicked in. "Prince...yea. I'm a fan. I've been looking for this for a while, but you can have it." What the hell are you doing? She thought to herself. You've been chasing this cd for over a year and now you're giving it to some pretty...really pretty...damn fine assed green eyed guy. Her brain decided the arguement wasn't worth it. The guy was gorgeous.
"Well actually it looks like they have two, so we can both get one." He handed her one and kept one for himself.
"Oh that's cool, thanks." Can I lick you? she thought. You look like you'd taste yummy.
"Excuse me?" He had a huge grin on his face.
"What?! What'd I say?!" Oh lord please let me not have said I want to lick him!
"You said something about yummy. Are you hungry? I'd be happy to take you to lunch."
"Are you asking me out?"
He's blushing...oh lord, I wonder if he blushes in other places?
"Yes I am."
"Umm Sure. You want to go to the food court?"
He wrinkled his nose at that suggestion.
"No. I'd really like to take you out for a meal. Lunch, Dinner...Breakfast?"
Stephanie's eyebrows nearly left her forehead! "Breakfast? Hmmm lets get through dinner. Is tonight good for you?"
"Yea...uh...no it's not. I have a prior engagement. Tomorrow would be excellent. Is that ok?"
Just as she was about to reply she heard a scream. She thought someone was being hurt or killed. Her instincts kicked in and she ducked. This was Miami, after all, live first, ask questions later!
She grabbed the handsome man who had to be a tourist and pulled him down on the floor with her.
"Are you nuts? When people start screaming like that in a mall you get out of the way! Duck, hide, do something, but don't be a target!"
He smiled at her. Something about that smile made her heart beat faster. It also seemed famliar, but she couldn't place why.
"Well that might work for most people, but not for me."
"Why not?"
He held out his hand. "Hi. My name is Kevin Richardson. I sing with the Backstreet Boys."
Stephanie just looked at his hand for a second. She shook it. She was dumbfounded. Here she was talking to Kevin Richardson and she hadn't even known it. Who the hell is Kevin Richardson and what's a Backstreet Boy?
He laughed at her face.
"You have no idea who I am do you?"
"No. I'm sorry. Are you insulted? Are we still going to have dinner?"
"I think it's perfect and we are definitley having dinner. Come with me."
He stood up just in time to catch his bodyguards attention. The man ran towards Kevin and guided him and Stephanie to the freight elevators. The doors closed just before the fans noticed where he went.
"I usually sign autographs, but I really want to talk to you." He was blushing again. Stephanie didn't realize what a turn-on that was.
"Ok, clue me in to what a Backstreet Boy is. Wait a minute. Backstreet Boy...BSB? I want it that way, Everybody rock your body??
He laughed heartily and she squirmed. Laughing wasn't supposed to make you wet!
"Yea, that's us."
"Oh I know you guys. Yea, that's a cool cd. I like it. I get a lot of crap about having it but I don't care. You guys can really sing."
"Thank you but what do you mean you get a lot of crap about having our cd?"
Stephanie hadn't heard what he'd said. She was thinking about wrapping her hands in his long thick black hair and pulling him in for a kiss.
"Huh? Oh, uh yea a guy I know said that 'real black' women don't listen to five white boys singing. I told him that's exactly why I listen to you all, because you can sing. You're not cussing, and all that other crap. Are you married?" Please god let him say no!
"No. Are you?" She was gorgeous. Just a little shorter than him but a bit curvier than he usually dated. Her figure was lush, round, and firm.
"Ha! Nope no hubby. Ok so when are we going out to dinner. Not tonight right? Tomorrow maybe?" She really wanted this guy! Yea, she thought, I gotta lick him!
"Tomorrow is good. I'll let the guys know...
"Oh my God! I'm in such trouble! Shit!"
"What? What's wrong?"
Stephanie fished around in her purse and pulled out her cell. She shushed Kevin and quickly dialed a number.
"Ronnie! Where the hell are you girl?! I've been looking all over this damn mall for you!" Kevin giggled and she mouthed "Quiet!" at him. "I know you! You've met some guy and you forgot all about me haven't you! Where's Annie? No she walked off with you remember? Oh I can't believe you ditched me for a dude!" Kevin had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Stephanie lightly hit him in his arm.
"Listen, you call Annie and find her. I'm headed to the theater. You got five minutes or our friendship is over, girl. You got all kinds of nerve, you know that don't you?! Yea, yea, whatever...what do you mean where am I? I'm headed for the theater and you need to beat me there! Now Bye!" She hung up the cell and exhaled.
Kevin laughed hard. There were tears in his eyes. "I can't believe you did that to your girlfriends."
"Please, we do that to each other all the time. I just happened to do it first this time. Look." She took out a small address book and wrote down several numbers.
"These are my phone numbers. Home, work, cell and my pager. If you call the home number and a guy answers, don't freak out. It's my dad. You call me tomorrow and let me know what time we're having dinner and where we're going, ok?"
He nodded and took her phone book and pen. "These are MY contact numbers. My cell and my pager number. I have no idea what the number is to the hotel were we're staying, but this is the best way to reach me. Do you like Italian?"
Ok, Stephanie thought. I don't screw guys on the first date, but he's going to make me break my rule! He's fine, and he said Italian! Lord help me!
"God I love Italian food. I know just where we can go. Is it ok if I pick the place?"
Now it was Kevin's turn to not hear. He wondered what she'd taste like in a long slow kiss. Damn, I'd really like to taste her.
"Kevin? You look hungry already, man." She laughed
You have no idea, he thought. "Yes, you can pick the place. I'll call you at about 12 or 1, ok?"
Kevin did call the next day, and the day after and the day after. He called a few times a day and they talked for hours at nite.
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Chapter 8
