Chapter Twelve #2
He gently turned her around until her back was to him and they faced a full-length mirror. He let go of her arms. He spoke quietly, tenderly, and she couldn’t deny the stirring she felt with his mouth so close to her ear. He reached up and ran his hands through her thick hair.
“You know what I see here? I see long, thick, wavy hair. Women spend thousands of dollars buying extensions to get hair like this. Yours is natural.”
“But—”
He shushed her. “I’m not finished. He moved his hands to her hips, and she gasped. He gave a little squeeze. “You know what I see here?”
“Childbearing hips?” Her mom had always teased that the women in their family came with good childbearing hips, and she should be glad because giving birth would be less painful.
“Sexy hips. Hips that would give me an orgasm to last a week.”
“Austin!”
“I’m telling it like it is, Chrissy.”
“You date girls like Phoebe who have no hips.”
“And there’s nothing wrong with that. But, Chrissy, God made women in all shapes, and that’s the beauty of it.”
“Okay, but—”
“I’m not finished.” He slowly moved his hands up to her waist. Then around to her tummy. Her stomach wasn’t big, but it was soft. She hated sit-ups and crunches. Despised them. She’d never have a six-pack. She flinched when he touched it and tried to pull his hands away.
“Don’t touch me there.”
“Why?”
“’Cause I’m flabby.” He pushed her hands away and reached around her again.
“You are not. And it’s nice to touch a woman’s stomach and not feel like my fingers might break.”
Christine giggled. You could bounce a coin off Phoebe’s body.
Christine looked up and saw Alicia pass by. She’d forgotten the door was wide open. Alicia made eye contact before quickly looking away.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” Austin said. “You can choose to believe what you read on social media, or you can believe me and friends like Julianna. But eventually, you just have to believe in yourself.”
In the mirror, she made eye contact with Austin and felt her heart miss a beat at the sensuality of the moment. Then she caught movement in the hall and briefly saw Matt as he looked at them while closing the door.
“No!” she yelled, upset Matt had caught her in a compromising position with Austin. She headed for the door, wanting to explain, but Austin reached out for her arm, pulling her back.
“Yes. Now enough beating yourself up. If my fans, groupies, stalkers, or whatever they are want to bash you, let them. But no more bashing yourself. Okay?”
Christine didn’t hear him. She was thinking about what she could say to Matt to fix what he’d just seen.
“Okay?” Austin said again.
“Huh? Yes, Okay.”
“I’m not kidding, Chrissy. Tell me that from now on you’ll believe in yourself.”
She focused on Austin. “From now on, I’ll believe in myself.”
He nodded. “Bring it in for a hug, girl.”
She turned around and hugged Austin. If any other guy had touched her the way Austin just had, she’d have slapped him. But this was Austin. A man who cared about her. And he’d accomplished what no male ever had. The hottest guy in country music had just convinced her she was attractive.
“Thank you,” she said.
“You’re welcome.” He pulled back and looked at her. Then he kissed her cheek. His mouth moved to her neck and started to trail down to her chest.
Her mind ran to Matt and then started its endless circle: Matt has a girlfriend, and Austin is right here, and I really like Austin, and if I can’t have Matt, why not have a fling with Austin?
But if Matt ends up single, will I have a chance with him if I sleep with Austin?
And will sleeping with Austin make it awkward to work together, thus messing up my career?
And . . . The same old record was spinning and spinning through her brain.
No, this was a bad idea. It could ruin everything.
“You’re dating Phoebe.”
“We aren’t exclusive.”
“It’s too weird, Austin. She’s kind of my friend.”
“I’m your friend,” he said, still trailing kisses across her face, landing on her ear.
It took every ounce of resolve she had, but Christine knew she couldn’t have sex with Austin if she was ever going to have a chance with Matt. Her body was on fire, throbbing, wanting to have sex right that minute. It had been so long. She sighed and pulled away.
“We can’t. We have to show respect to our friends,” she said.
“What friends?”
“Phoebe.”
“That’s one friend. Singular. And she’s probably getting laid as we speak. I told you, we aren’t exclusive. What other friend are you talking about?”
Christine needed to think fast. She couldn’t say Matt. “Um, Julianna, of course. She and Phoebe are very close, and this would put her in the middle of us. That’s not fair.”
Austin stopped. “I want you.”
“In this moment, I want you, too. But when the moment passes, I think we’ll regret it.”
“I won’t.”
“Okay, I think I’ll regret it.”
Austin stepped back. “Damn you, woman. You are unlike anyone I know.”
“Is that good or bad?”
“Usually, it’s good. Right now, not so much.” He smiled to show her he wasn’t angry. “I’m going to take a cold shower.” He hugged her, and she lightly kissed his cheek.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t ever apologize for telling a guy no when you don’t want to do something. And if he doesn’t listen, kick him in the nuts. Even me.” He grabbed a towel and walked into the bathroom.
Christine stood in shock. She’d never told Austin her high school story.
His words further validated that she’d done the right thing that night.
She liked hearing that Austin had so much respect for women.
Further proof that not all guys were like Bryan.
Christine left the dressing room wondering what was wrong with her that she’d pass that up.
One day, she’d either get a chance with Matt and be glad she’d said no to Austin or she’d forever regret turning him down. She prayed it was the former.
AFTER NIAGARA FALLS, THEY played to a packed house in Toronto and then made their way to Ottawa.
Matt and Christine were standing by the buses discussing the day’s logistics.
Matt now depended on her to be his right hand.
As much as she enjoyed song plugging, road life brought a different level of excitement.
Christine loved hearing the songs come to life onstage and watching the audience react by singing every word to every song.
And the screams of appreciation as each song ended were so loud you could barely hear the next song starting.
No wonder artists lived for these moments. It was a high no drug could offer.
Christine wore a parka, knitted cap, scarf, and gloves. She was bundled up from head to toe trying to stay warm.
“How do I know it’s you in there?” Matt asked, lightly pulling on her hood.
“I’m not one of those cool chicks who can wear barely any clothes in subzero temperatures and seem fine. I’d rather be warm than cute.”
“Stupid chicks, if you ask me. And you are cute,” Matt said. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. She trembled. “Am I making you colder? That was supposed to help warm you up.”
“Oh, you definitely warm me up. I mean, warmed me up.”
“I’m okay with both.”
Christine looked into his eyes. They were having a moment. Or at least she was. Christine usually focused on Matt’s mouth, finding eye contact too personal. She was afraid he’d see how much she wanted him. Then again, staring at his mouth made her want to kiss it.
A commotion near the security gate at the top of the driveway brought her attention to two women in skintight clothing with tiny jackets and little scarves.
“See? Tell me they aren’t freezing,” Christine said, breaking eye contact.
One of the women was gesticulating wildly and flashing a laminate.
“God, what now?” Matt said. “Come on. Let’s go see what’s up.”
Christine followed him halfway up the drive.
“Matt, wait a minute,” Christine said, stopping him before the women saw them.
“What?”
“Do they look familiar to you?”
“Um, I don’t think so.” The two women shifted so they were facing Matt and Christine.
“Tell me I’m not seeing who I think I’m seeing,” Matt said.
“You are,” Christine said.
“Oh, Lord. Phoebe doesn’t surprise me, but Cait? This isn’t like her.”
Christine’s heart bottomed out. Of course he knew what she was and wasn’t like. She was his girlfriend.
Phoebe saw them and started pointing and waving.
“Guess we can’t run away, can we?” Matt asked.
“Nope.”
“Let’s go.” They walked to the security gate and Phoebe launched into her complaint before Matt could say anything.
“Mr. Canada here won’t let me in even though I have an All Access pass,” Phoebe said.
Matt reached over and gave Cait a quick hug.
Christine looked away.
“We’re using a different laminate on this tour. He didn’t acknowledge it ’cause it’s not an approved one on his list,” Matt said.
“Oh. Well, he could have explained that,” Phoebe said.
“I did,” the security officer said, folding his arms and widening his stance. “Are you accepting responsibility for them?”
“If I have to,” Matt said, causing Phoebe to huff and Cait to blush.
“I’ll handle it. Thanks,” Matt said to the security guard before turning to the ladies. “What are you doing here?”
“We wanted to surprise our men. Thought we’d come keep you warm,” Phoebe said before turning to Christine. “Hello, Christine.”
“Phoebe. Hey, Cait.”
“Hey, Christine. So sorry to cause a problem,” Cait said.
“We aren’t causing any problems. Rent-a-cop there is causing the problem. We have every right to be here,” Phoebe said.
Matt’s cell phone dinged. “I’ve got to go deal with something. Christine, would you take them to production and get them some laminates?”
“Should we put our suitcases on the bus?” Phoebe asked.
“Suitcases? How long are you staying?” Matt asked.
“The rest of the tour,” Phoebe said.
“Where’s your car?”
“We don’t have a car. We’re not going to be some diesel sniffers across Canada. We’re the girlfriends, not the fans. We’ll ride the bus,” Phoebe said.