Love Music
Sunday, September 28, 2003
 
Chapter 2
Chapter 2

It happened so quickly, Dylan did not have the time to stop Khrystine. One minute, he was looking into those lovely mysterious eyes, and the next minute, she abruptly turned to him and coolly told him that if he wanted to talk business ‘have her people call his people’. Then she’d pranced away, carrying her luscious long legs, and her incredibly curvy, yet slender physique with her, long straight black hair blowing behind her like oriental silk.

He scratched his long brown mane, and rubbed his chest. It was difficult to tell where he’d went wrong, but it seemed that much of what he heard about her in the press so far was true, she was feisty. As angry as her sudden aggressiveness made him, he also found it compelling, like those mysterious eyes of hers. She was even more beautiful in person than he ever could have fathomed in a video. It wasn’t that he’d never found black girls attractive, but he’d never seen any girl quite that attractive, irrespective of race. Heck she could have been a model if she hadn’t wanted to sing. Even in the beginning when she’d warmed to him a little she seemed moody, mysterious. Like the kind of girl who wore a perpetual pout. As strange as it sounded, her surliness toward the end of their brief meeting made him even more curious about her.

Granted, he was sorry that they’d ended on such a sour note. If he had offended her, he hadn’t meant to do so. He only wanted to talk to her a little bit, and see just why she was into G-Note-Flat, and wish her luck with her budding career. Okay, so part of him wanted to see those long legs in close proximity, and another part of him nearly salivated at the swell of her breasts in her golden sheath of a dress, but he was sincere in wanting to get to know her as a friend and wish her well. Perhaps he’d made it too obvious he was staring at her body. That was never a problem for most girls, but apparently it was for Khrystine. Some girls even offered to help him get a better look, though he flatly refused in most cases. He was a rock star, but somehow, empty encounters with women he didn’t know had never intrigued him like they intrigued Ant and Larry. She was different, that Khrystine Morgan. It made him inquisitive to say the least, but it bordered on intrigue.

He heard the door to the other room open, only because it carried with it the extremely loud sounds of the party in the room next door. Larry and Ant came stumbling into the room where Dylan was sitting.

“Hey man, where’s the chick. That Khrystine,” demanded Ant.

“Khrystine. Oh she’s gone,” he said absentmindedly drawing patterns into the palm of his hand, as though he was suffering a great loss.

“She cut out that quick, what was your breath bad or something?” teased Larry.

“Yeah she cut out that quick,” frowned Dylan, his thin lips curling into a pout.

“You let her leave before we could check out her legs in person. Is she really stacked,” demanded Ant.

“Alright cut it out you two. Khrystine is a human being. You are sitting around assessing her like she’s a classic vet’ or something. She also had a lot to say. She listens to some kicking bands, and I think she’s gonna be a real big star really soon. She’s not just a package. Okay, so she’s hot, but you know what, she’s more than hot. She’s a really pretty girl,” said Dylan ending his speech.

“Woah man, she must have given you something. Really self-righteous with this she’s more than just a package crap. You’ve never had problems discussing the assets of ladies before you met Khrystine. You sound like you’re in love,” teased Ant, leaning on the chair and fluttering his eyelashes the way he imagined a girl that looked like Khrystine would bat them.

“I’m not in love with her. I don’t know her. I’m just trying to give you butt brains a bit of class when it comes to dealing with ladies. Looking at racks, and legs, and all that type of thing is bound to get you in trouble, and chicks are more than that,” added Dylan now playing with his fingernails, suddenly philosophical about the way women should not be looked at as objects, after meeting with Khrystine.

“Well…umm…who forgot their preparation H. It’s not like we know her. She’s just some girl that’s cut a few records. And she doesn’t know us either. You’re defending her like she’s your long lost friend. Okay, talking about her legs and boobs was probably not in the best interests of getting to know somebody, but it’s not like we’ll ever hang out with her. We’ll talk about Khrystine with more respect in the future sir,” said Ant with a fake army salute.

“You guys are really funny. Aren’t there some groupies, or some gophers calling you right now,’ said Dylan with a sarcastic snicker.

“Actually your mom is calling me. No but seriously, comments about her incredible hotness aside, why did Ms. Khrystine leave so suddenly,” added Ant.

“Um, I don’t know. I wish I had an answer for that. Convo was going along smooth sailing, and all of a sudden, she cut her eyes at me, they looked like daggers dude and she was out the door. I’ll admit I might have been watching her body a little hard, because she was hot. Maybe it made her uncomfortable,” added Dylan, for the first time dropping his head in shame.

He was lying to himself. It wasn’t the fact that she was so hot that made him ogle at her. It was that she was heart wrenchingly beautiful along with being hot. Not just beautiful for a black girl. The epitome of what any beautiful woman should look like, perfect features, smooth skin, gorgeous hair, pretty white teeth, he could go on and on forever about all the things that were lovely about her. She smelled like sweet cinnamon, and the pout of her mouth was beyond perfect, gorgeously shaped, with just a hint of fullness.

“So you were checking her out. She needs some preparation H if she has a problem with that. That’s what dudes do when a chick is hot. We’ve got eyes. It’s not like we’re in it to marry them, at least not a girl like Khrystine anyways. Maybe she was uncomfortable back here. Maybe under different circumstances,” suggested Ant wiggling his eyebrows.

That comment made Dylan grow very quiet and think. He wasn’t near thinking about marrying anybody but he wondered what Ant was inferring when he said we’re not in it to marry them, at least not a girl like Khrystine. Why wouldn’t Ant consider a girl like Khrystine a suitable marriage partner, after getting to know her? Was it because she was black, or was it because she was an r&b star, or a combination of the two. He’d never given a thought to something like that before, frankly because he’d never been that attracted to a black girl before. It didn’t really matter to him what color people’s skin was, but the thought of getting to know a black girl never entered his mind. Seeing his circumstances, and the little comments that people like Ant, though he loved Ant like a brother made, he wondered if it getting to know even a creature as attractive as Khrystine was worth the hassle. Thinking luscious thoughts about Khrystine however, was completely harmless, he had enough visions of those gorgeous legs in person to ponder for all of his days. Daydreaming about beautiful women was what a growing boy should do, he thought smiling wryly. He needed a cold shower.

***

Khrystine sat on the couch after the G-Note-Flat show and her experience backstage with Dylan. She’d known it had been a mistake to go back there. It had quickly turned from a friendly getting to know you conversation to a bold and outright flirtatious situation in her opinion. She hated herself for colliding into him as she was trying to make her escape after rethinking her decision to meet him backstage. Envisioning his chest as she ran smack dab into it wasn’t something that she wanted to do, but it was hard not to think about those tanned, rippled pecks. Why did he have to go around bare chested anyway. He wanted the women to ogle at him. She could still see his large, but neat hands draped over the edge of the sofa, as his body edged closer, and closer to her. And that sweet musky scent she inhaled when she walked smack dab into his chest, a mixture of the smell of a sweaty male, and sweet, spicy cologne. It was hard to pinpoint weather she hated Dylan, or just the fact that he felt as though he could come right out and call her beautiful. What had he expected to happen after he uttered that statement. It seemed to her that he was really the playboy the tabloids portrayed him to be, and he was out to see if she was easy.

The telephone rang and Khrystine picked it up. It didn’t surpise her that it was Monique.

“How as the show?” asked Monique.

”G-note was good. The asked me backstage,” said Khyrstine.

“What was it like backstage? Do you still think Dylan is cute,” asked Monique.

“I never said Dylan was cute. He was okay. He was really friendly. Too friendly almost. That Dylan Taylor seems to be a huge flirt to me,” added Khrystine.

“Well why would that surprise you? You know that Extra always has some brand new story about the new woman he’s bedding? He probably thought the two of you would be off to a seedy evening somewhere by now. I mean, I don’t even think you should talk to JaQuon. Avoid this Dylan dude like the plague. You know he is shady and has one thing on his mind,” added Monique.

“It’s not even like that. He ogled me, and he called me beautiful, but he didn’t try to step to me like that. Me, and Dylan, please, you have lost your mind. Even he is sane enough to know that we are from two totally different worlds, its not even the color issue. He’s, he’s a Harley loving rock star for crying outloud, and I’m a Audi driving R&B star. I don’t think he felt a love connection. I think he thought that I might be up for some meaningless fooling around though. I do think that JaQuon would at least do me the honor of pretending to be in a relationship,” snickered Khrystine.

“Leave both of them alone, and find an honest, millionaire real-estate developer, while you sing your heart out,” added Monique.

***

The next few weeks were even busier than usual for Khrystine, as she was shooting a music video on location in Los Angeles. They had actually blocked off a section of a busy Los Angeles street for part of the video shoot where she did a dance routine. Even in a white mini skirt, and white high heels, her dancing groove blew the director, and her manager’s minds. Granted, she had learned choreography moves at Studio 11, but she’d given them a soul all of her own.

“God man, is there anything you can’t do, and do it better than anyone else?” asked JaQuon after the shoot was over.

“Oh come on JaQuon, you are really trying to flatter me. Thank you. I just hope that the radio and the music television stations grab onto this one like they grabbed onto the last one. We could be on our way to double Platinum. I can’t believe it,” sighed Khrystine, running her fingers through her now wet black mane.

“I can’t either. You are really talented, and you look darn good doing your thing too. When are we gonna go back in the woodshed and come out with some more tunes for the next record. You know Gold Tone is gonna be asking about that soon,” said JaQuon.

“Next record? Well I’ve already been thinking about some songs for it, but I haven’t done anything serious yet. Mike has told me that Sean was going to push at least two more singles off the album,” said Khrystine.

“For Real? That’s unheard of for a new artist on Gold tone. He must know they can sell that stuff like hotcakes. Sean must believe in you, because he has been known to be very excited over a new act, and bail out on them, not promoting the record after the first single. I think that for your career, you couldn’t be with a better record company, or a better president, because he believes in your stuff. When he believes in your stuff, he’ll promote the heck out of it, ” said JaQuon.

“I really like Sean. He listens to my ideas, and actually tries to see what I’m good at. I told him that I wanted an even more dance oriented video this time, and he listened even though he was originally going to release a ballad next from the album,” added Khrystine.

“Hey that reminds me, Sean probably didn’t get around to telling you this, but he’s hosting a record company party at his house this weekend, on Saturday. You’ve gotta go. I know he would want you there. His house is the mother of all mansions, and if this is anything like last years party, there will be seafood and spirits galore. And bring your bathing suit. He has a huge swimming pool. You’ll meet a lot of other artists on the label. You need to go Khrystine,” said JaQuon.

“You know, I was going to really go into the woodshed this weekend, and do something with the lyrics that have been popping into my head, but oh well, I’ll go, just tell me what time to be there,” added Khrystine.

“I’ll pick you up at seven,” said JaQuon, brushing off her request to drive herself.

“But I don’t want you to pick me up, it will be going out of your way,” said Khrystine.

“Believe me, I don’t mind. Since when has a fella minded going anywhere with a gorgeous woman, I’ll pick you up at seven,” he insisted.

“Here you need this,” he said grabbing a towel off the director’s chair and wrapping it around Khrystine’s shivering frame.

The video shoot had included a scene where the dancers opened a fire hydrant, and they all danced in the spray of the water. Even though it was a hot Los Angeles afternoon, Khrystine was beginning to shiver now that the water was starting to dry on her body. It had soaked her mini skirt, and tube top ensemble.

“Thanks,” said Khrystine sniffling.

“No problem. You need to cover up that beautiful body anyway when you’re not on the set. I don’t want other men looking at you and thinking thoughts. That’s only for me,” said JaQuon threading his arm around her neck.

“Shut up, and get off of me,” said Khrystine flinging his arm back at him.

“I love you too baby. See you Saturday. Pick you up at seven,” he said blowing her a kiss.

“I don’t love you too. I’m only going with you because, I don’t know anyone else and won’t know how to get there. You better be on time too,” said Khrystine, switching off to her trailer. She wanted to get out of those wet clothes, and into some dry gear so that she could begin rehearse for her appearance on The Late Night Show with Rickey Allen the following week.

***

Dylan did not want to go to Gold-Tone records industry party. It wasn’t that he didn’t like parties, he just didn’t like these events because they felt staged. Even though he wasn’t on the Gold-Tone roster, his manager suggested that he go because he was doing a Soundtrack that would be released on Gold-Tone records. His manager suggested he get to know Garage Boys, the hardrock band they were collaborating with, before they jammed in the studio.

When he arrived at Sean’s mansion, the staff directed him to the party in the backyard. As he quickly glanced around the area out on the lawn, by the tennis courts, and in the pool, it appeared that every artist on the Gold-Tone roster had shown up.

Ant and Long Armed Larry were following closely behind him, and he could hear them muttering and pointing about who they saw. It wasn’t long before they’d spotted the legendary shrimp on the buffet table, and were helping themselves.

It suited him fine. He really wanted to talk to Garage on his own, serious talk, and really see if they were the kind of band he wanted to collaborate with. They made some kicking records, but he didn’t want to go in the studio with some winey face prima donnas. Only beautiful women could be prima donnas. He grinned to himself because at that moment, a thought about Khrystine popped into his head. It was strange that when he even thought about the ideal woman, her face flashed across his mind, the small well defined forehead, cute pert nose. And her eyes, exotically shaped, like almonds, they gave her an oriental look, especially when coupled with the darkness of their color. He couldn’t even see the irises. Mysterious, but beautiful, and that’s what Khrystine was to him.

He looked around for Garage, for the lead singers characteristic wild blonde hair, but he saw no sights of the band.

He walked back around the other side of the pool to the buffet table where Ant and Larry were now helping themselves to what looked like quiche. Although they were digging into the quiche mindlessly, they were staring straight ahead, and from the leering grin that was plastered on both of their faces, he knew what they were doing, checking out a “babe” in the pool. Curious to see what all the commotion was about, he made his way over to his friends. As soon as he stood face to face with them, they each looked like fat Cheshire cats that had swallowed two baby canaries.

“What’s up?” asked Dylan.

“Nothing,” Said Ant looking guiltiest out of his pair of friends.

“Don’t tell me nothing. I’ve known you for ten years. Who are you checking out?” Demanded Dylan, reaching for one of the giant, oversized shrimp stuffed with crabmeat.

“Well um…No one,” said Ant smiling slyly.

“Oh cut it out Ant. You know he’s gonna find out soon enough anyway,” he said pointing his long finger in the direction of the Jacuzzi that sat on a brick embankment, elevated above the pool.

“Oh wow,” he said, and then stifled his words embarrassed by the statement, and hoping he was hiding the utter wonder in his eyes, that made him choke on his shrimp.

In the water sat Khrystine Morgan, laughing and goofing off with what looked like a man and two other women. He was too far away to hear what they were saying, but once again he found himself fascinated by her beauty. He could see that she had on a white bikini like top, and he loved the contrast of it against her deep brown skin. The oriental black silk that was her hair usually was straight, and hugged the middle of her shoulders, but it was crinkling up under the water so that it was wavy. His mouth dropped open a little and he leaned closer, watching her. He didn’t know she was signed on the Gold-Tone label, and he hadn’t expected to see her, so the surprise made his heart flutter.

The rigidity he had seen when she was meeting with him backstage was gone. In its place was a vibrant, playful beauty, flicking water at her friends, and tipping her head back giggling. And when she tipped her head back, and he saw all of those pearly white teeth, even from a distance they were radiant. He wondered what was whiter and clearer, her beautiful teeth, or the whites of her eyes. God she was breathtaking. And she had the audacity to have a luscious figure too.

Apparently, the man had said something that made her playfully angry because she sort of floated behind him and put him in a headlock, and innocent one, cramming his head near her neck. He could hear the man’s laughter float toward him. What he wouldn’t give to be the man that tickled her that much, and be trapped with his head close to that long graceful neck.

“Stop it Khrystine, you’re choking me woman,” demanded the deep voiced man.

He was the kind of man that would turn up his nose at Dylan. Though he was only wearing swimming trunks, he didn’t need a suit to show that he was the type of man who tried extra hard to be well dressed, slick, and overly articulate in an effort to impress all types of ladies. His neck was swiveling from side to side trying to take in the goodies in the Jacuzzi, his head darting from the luscious Khrystine, to her pretty counter part. If Dylan were in that water, he knew there would be no problems at all keeping his eyes only on Khrystine, and he’d never, ever felt that way before about being close to any woman. She was a vision. He shook his head, because he had to get that chick off of his mind. They were worlds apart, and even if it wasn’t startlingly clear just by appearances, it was crystal clear after the backstage episode.

“So you gonna go talk to her?” asked Larry.

“I don’t know,” he snapped digging for another shrimp.

“Geez, what crawled up your butt dude? Let’s go see if Garage is here. Dylan seems to be having marital problems with Khrystine. You can’t even say her name around him without it becoming like, a court case or something,” teased Ant.

Somehow, Ant knew just how to take a laceration and jab his finger in it so it hurt a little worse sometimes.

“Go already,” replied Dylan, growing really miffed.

He wanted to stare at her a little while longer, but he didn’t want his friends to know. He liked this Khrystine that he saw who was now doing the bump with the other girl in the water, and giggling. It would have been wonderful to see this happy free creature backstage. Maybe it was because as she’s said when she’d stormed out of the room, switching away with her perfectly rounded backside ‘I don’t even know you Dylan Taylor”.

Two very long legs perfect legs stepped gingerly out of the water after she’d hoisted her body on the side of the Jacuzzi.

Khrystine shook the water out of her hair, and darted out, running toward the other side of the pool as the other woman ran behind her. The strength that was in her running told Dylan that she must have been athletic, she was quick, and sharp, even as her voice was filled with giggles, calling the girl with a wave of her hand. She held her nose and dived into the pool, and Dylan watched as the two girls swam two consecutive laps in a race. Khrystine could have been a mermaid, she swam as though the water was her second home. When she got closer to him, and he saw the perfectly round backside, and the long legs, flex on either side of her with the swimming motions, his mouth dropped. How did god get so much gorgeous into one girl.

She was closer, and now he could hear her feminine, yet sexy voice.

“See told ya I could swim faster than you. You aren’t hungry enough girl, I was hungry. I kept telling myself there is no way I’m going to let Cinnamon beat me,” said Khrystine playfully.

He recognized the name Cinnamon. She was another new R&B artist on the label, but she wasn’t as popular as Khrystine. Nor was she anywhere near as beautiful.

Dylan did not want to talk to her while she was entangled in a conversation with the other budding star. He wondered if they already knew each other and that was why she seemed so relaxed around Cinnamon. It didn’t matter, she was truly a another Khrystine. She still seemed different than the ordinary women that he knew, super sophisticated, but she was a much more playful Khrystine. A human Khrystine, and not an all powerful beautiful diva with the pipes of an angel.

Cinnamon galloped out of the water and into the poolhouse.

Now was his perfect chance to talk to Khrystine before someone else arrived, and he quickly positioned himself in her direction, trying to skirt near the side of the pool.

When he realized she was getting out of the water though, he opted to stay behind the juice bowl and quickly devoured his shrimp. He didn’t want to miss another chance to see the gorgeous creature get out of the water. Further, the area near the punch bowl was less heavily trafficked. He wanted the opportunity to see what went wrong a few weeks ago.

Obviously she still didn’t see him, her spirity switching walk carrying her right to the cooler, where she picked up and cracked open a diet coke can.

“Straws. Straws,” said Khrystine outloud to herself.

Yeah, she looked like a woman to perfect, and girly to sip from a coke can without a straw.

Dylan fished around the punch bowl and as though an omen, he felt a whole box of straws.

Khrystine moved further and further towards him, and he managed to get from behind the flowing punch bowl, and to the side of the table where she was standing. He held out the straw to her as a peace offering, but she was so busy looking for straws she didn’t see him almost directly in front of her.

He cleared his throat, and she turned toward him.

She looked utterly shocked.

He literally saw the diet coke can tremble in her hands, and suddenly he was overtaken by the urge to sweep her in his arms, and let her know that everything was alright.

“Hey. I heard you about the straw. Here,” he said extending it to her. When he handed her the straw, her fingers grazed his, and the touch of her skin was so smooth and perfect, he just ached to clutch her hand and make sure she had a good grip on the straw.

“Thank you,” said Khrystine absentmindedly.

“What, what are you doing here,” she said and he immediately saw her fold her arms across her chest as though she was trying to cover herself.

“Nice to see you again too,” teased Dylan.

“I’m sorry. But I didn’t know you were on Gold-Tone. Label switch,” she inquired shakily.

“No actually, I’m doing a soundtrack album with the garage boys, who are on Gold Tone, and obviously not here yet, and so I was told to come, and talk to them,” said Dylan matter-of-factly.

“Oh, alright, nice seeing you. I have to go,” added Khrystine, walking away from him backwards.

He scratched his brown mane of hair.

“Hey look, last time I met you, I talked to you one hot minute, and you did a disappearing act. I would like us to chat a little longer this time. Five minutes maybe? I really need to talk to you,” said Dylan. He wanted to apologize for whatever he’d done wrong, though he thought it had something to do with checking her out.

“I don’t really feel like I’m dressed for a conversation Dylan,” said Khrystine.

He saw Cinnamon walk by and Khrystine grabbed the girls arm.

“Walk with me to get my coverup. It’s in the poolhouse,” added Khrystine.

“I’ll be out later,” said Khrystine, and she turned on her heels, and walked way, this time with her fingers locked together, and folded over her bottom.

Funny that she hadn’t seemed shy in the bikini earlier, not that she should have been with her beautiful body. Now all of a sudden, she was in a hurry to cover herself up. He must have truly made her uncomfortable the other night. It pained him to think of those luscious curves on that slender body obscured from his view for the rest of this social event. If he had behaved earlier, backstage, she probably wouldn’t be so hesitant to be in beachwear around him. Most of the other girls were wearing swimsuits and bikini’s. And none of those other girls held an ounce of his attention, only Khrystine. Defeated, he picked up another shrimp stuffed with crabmeat, munching on it and wondering if Khrystine would really come out later and talk to him.

***

Khrystine walked into the pool house and quickly tied her white cover up around her hips. When she’d been standing close to Dylan, she’d felt embarrassed, as though she was walking around naked instead of being covered by the swimsuit. The thought of him looking at her in such revealing clothes made her blush, but she never usually felt embarrassed to wear a bikini at the beach, or at parties. She wondered what made her feel so nervous about it now. Perhaps it was the look he had given her with his beautiful hazel eyes, when she felt them burning through her skin when their eyes met. His fingers had been large, and manly, yet they held the straw so delicately and very gently placed it between her fingertips, the skin on his fingers soft, but worn. They felt like the hands that loved to tinker around with cars and things of the like. Why was she thinking about his hands, and his eyes.

“Cold,” inquired Cinnamon.

“Yeah, a little,” said Khrystine, just snapping out of the daze of her daydream.

“That heavy metal dude was checking you out when I walked past. I mean, his eyes were dancing when he was talking to you,” she added.

“He’s not a heavy metal dude. He sings hard rock music. It’s different. I think he’s a big flirt too,” added Khrystine.

“Well he didn’t look flirty to me, just like he was very fascinated when he was talking to you. When I saw him he was watching your face, looking at your eyes. It seemed that way,” said Cinnamon straightening Khrystine’s coverall.

“Really?” inquired Khrystine. That shed some new light on this Dylan person. Maybe he wasn’t always staring boldly at women’s figures and calling them beautiful.

Still a nagging voice in her head told her that he was a playboy.

She skirted around the perimeter of the pool, sipping yet another Diet Coke through a straw.

JaQuon introduced her to more industry people, and even though she hadn’t thought about putting on the cover up before her encounter with Dylan, she was glad that she was covered a little. She stood talking to various industry execs for a long time, as soon as she was done meeting with one, another one took her arm and funneled her away. There was even a director that approached her about sending her some scripts. This was quite an evening and it was making her head spin. And she was glad for so much confusion gathering around her, because then she didn’t have to think about Dylan Taylor.


A few hours later, the party still in full swing, Khrystine retreated, her networking with the executives over, dangling her feet in the shallow end of the pool. She was very shocked when Dylan Taylor strutted right behind her and sat beside her, slipping his feet in the water right beside hers. As though she wasn’t embarrassed enough that he’d caught her talking to herself, and got to ogle her as she wore only a skimpy bikini, he had the nerve to seek her out in the crowd. Being so close to him made her a little uncomfortable, because he was shirtless, and wearing cutoff jeans that accentuated the muscles in his thighs and calves. She wouldn’t dare look at him, lest she see those cute thin lips, and hazel eyes boring straight though her. As silly as it was, she kept looking straight ahead, as though she didn’t see his large, but neat feet dangling beside hers in the water.

“Khrystine,” he said, swiveling his neck and looking at her.

“Yeah, what do you want,” said Khrystine softly, just a hint of irritation in her tone.

“Why do you sound angry at me? I should be the one mad at you. This is the second time you bailed on me. And this time you promised to come back, but you lied to me. What I want is the opportunity to make right whatever it was that went wrong backstage, ” he said, with warmth in his tone.

Though her voice had been irritated, his voice sounded full of tenderness, and she felt a little guilty, looking at him. When she did, she caught sight of his hazel gems, hidden in a large nest of black curls, and though it was hard to keep looking at him without melting, she smiled at him.

“Nothing went wrong Dylan, I had to go. I had a commitment,” said Khrystine.

“Commitment at 11:30 at night,” said Dylan.

“Yeah, don’t we all have commitments at strange times in this business,” asked Khrystine? His probing questions were beginning to irritate her. She didn’t know why he had to be so persistent.

“Come on. I wasn’t born yesterday. It was twenty-three years ago. Our convo was moving along great, and then all of a sudden you glared at me, and if looks could kill I would be in ICU right now, and you bailed. What was that all about? You know what, nevermind, I don’t even have to know what it was about. All I want to do is apologize if I somehow made you mad at me. Whatever it was, I wish a million times I could take it back, and we could keep sitting backstage, and talking, and I could offer you a soda or something,” said Dylan shrugging his shoulders and kicking his feet in the water.

If Khrystine felt guilty before, when she snapped at him, and he’d done nothing wrong, it paled in comparison to the guilt she felt right now. She’d never known any man that would apologize for doing something wrong, even though he wasn’t altogether sure what went awry.

“Dylan, I’m sorry. I should apologize to you. If you, If you really want to know what’s bugging me, I didn’t like it when you called me beautiful,” said Khrystine examining the ends of her hair. She didn’t know why she was revealing this to him, but those hazel eyes could beat the truth out of a criminal.

“That’s what’s getting to you?” demanded Dylan raising both eyebrows.

“Well yeah, It wasn’t so much you calling me beautiful, but it was strange and it made me feel awkward. The more we talked, the cozier it got, and so I just needed my space, and I needed to leave, because I don’t know you like that,” she said looking directly at him.

“Well I’m sorry that I made you feel weird backstage, truly I am, but, really, you should be used to people telling you that you are beautiful by now. I know I’m not the only person who has told you that,” probed Dylan.

“No. You aren’t. Dylan it felt like a pickup line to me, to be honest, and I wasn’t trying to be approached in that manner,” said Khrystine.

Something about Dylan’s conversation style, his demanding of answers from her, when she explained herself to no one, made her so angry, her skin felt hot and prickly. Yet she was compelled to continue talking to him.

“Aaaaaaah. I see. You thought that was a pickup line? Although I wouldn’t mind getting to know you better, if you thought that was a pickup line, you haven’t been dating the right guys. Please. Not that I use pickup lines but, I would have made you melt,” said Dylan with a rougish grin.

“I think you might be a little out of line there. You couldn’t make me melt,” snapped Khrystine turning away her head.

He had the nerve to say he could make her melt, of all things. This proved he was cocky, sure of himself, and wanted to see how many girls he could make weak for him.

“I think that I could. Even if I can’t, you could make me melt. Okay, Okay, so you don’t like being flirted with by me. It makes you uncomfortable, and I’m sorry. I’ll stop it. You’re just really pretty to me, and I enjoy our conversations, so that’s my way of letting you know that. Can we just be friends, shake on it. Seriously. There’s no funny buzzer or exploding ink in my hand. I just want things to be right between us,” babbled Dylan.

There was something about him that wouldn’t let her remain angry with him, no matter how much she willed her mind to do so. Her heart was taking over now. There was something about someone as successful in the music business, and good-looking as Dylan stuttering, and trying to apologize that warmed her insides, and made her call a truce.

Against her better judgment, she extended her hand, and the very warmth, and electricity that engulfed her hand, and trickled to her stomach and down below, startled her, and she quickly pulled her hand away after he’d pumped it with a gentle strength.

“Now will you get out of my hair?” asked Khrystine. This time she was smiling. She was being playful and she hoped Dylan got the hint.

“I’m just beginning to get in your hair,” laughed Dylan.

“I was actually going to come back earlier, but I got hung up with those executives over there,” lied Khrystine.

“Uh-oh, watch out, they are going to run your career from now, and your life, until you either retire with a rock-and-roll hall of fame award, or wind up in the cutout bin at Sam Goody. Somehow with you, I think it will be rock-and-roll hall of fame,” said Dylan, aiming his feet closer to her in the water.

“No one runs Khrystine Morgan,” said Khrystine, arching her eyebrow.

“I believe you. Anyways, I love it when you do that. That’s when you’re starting to get mad,” said Dylan mimicking her.

“Well then both of them would mean you should go away,” said Khrystine, half kidding half serious as she bucked her eyes at him.

“Even doing that, you’re still attractive, which is a miracle. Oops, I said it again. Said you were hot. That’s a No-No in this friendship,” said Dylan.

“Who said we were friends,” said Khrystine.

“Anyone, who is as mean as you pretend you are right now wouldn’t continue talking to me if she wasn’t at least beginning to consider me as a friend. And I know you aren’t really this standoffish acting. I can tell by looking in your eyes,” he said softly.

There was something about those eyes that scared the heck out of her, while tantalizing her at the same time. Maybe he really could use them to see inside of people, because he had pulled her card, and she didn’t like it one bit.

“You don’t know me Dylan Taylor. Who says I’m not pretending,” said Khrystine.

“Well, you tell me. Who’s the real Khrystine. Is it the playful girl I saw flicking water, and boasting about her swimming skills giggling with her friends, or is it the untouchable glamour queen, and singing sensation that frowns her eyebrow the second I say something she doesn’t like,” teased Dylan.

“Every other word that comes out of your mouth makes me so angry I could punch you,” she said playfully making a fist and falling prey to chuckles.

He had been watching her. The thought made her stomach flutter, and then she felt embarrassed hoping she hadn’t looked silly at any point during the evening. Then she wondered why she cared. She wasn’t in love with Dylan Taylor.

“I can tell. And yet you keep talking to me,” said Dylan, spreading his hands as though he’d won a great victory.

“Yeah, I’m strangely compelled to talk to you for some reason. I guess I’m a sucker for irritation,” chuckled Khrystine.

“At least we are off on a better foot now,” said Dylan with a grin.

“Yes we are. And your feet keep moving closer,” said Khrystine looking down in the water.

“So they do,” he said touching her big toe with his toe.

Even feeling his toe upon hers under the water made her feel a strange tickling heat crawl up her skin.

“Touch me again with your foot and die,” said Khrystine folding her arms.

“I believe you, and I’m too young to die,” he said playfully kicking water at Khrystine.

“Well trust me. If you touch me with your big toe again, you’re gonna die,” said Khrystine chuckling.

“Like you tried to kill your friend in a headlock over there. I see. So tell me, what is in the cards for the talented Khrystine Morgan in the upcoming year musically. Are you gonna cut an album, go on tour, what’s shaking in your camp?” inquired Dylan.

“Musically? Well, the label is going to pitch two more singles off my album, which means two new music videos. They will be shot over the next few months, and we will release one every four months or so after the radio picks it up. Then its off to the American Music Awards, and then I’m going to do the talk-show rounds. After that, we tour Stateside, Europe, and Japan, a 30 city tour, which should last about half a year, and head straight in the studio to cut the next album,” said Khrystine, beaming, not even stopping to catch her breath.

“I can tell that this is what you like to talk about, because you are grinning from ear to ear. You remind me of myself. You’re gonna be one busy woman for the next couple of years, but take it from someone who’s been in the business a few years, take time to stop and smell the roses,” said Dylan grinning.

“Music is the roses,” said Khrystine.

This was what she’d wanted to do since she was a little girl, and she didn’t see the need to take a real breather to smell the roses. Work, even twenty hour stints in a day was a vacation when she could sing her heart out. And in the words of Quentin she liked to look darn good doing it.

She allowed herself to get lost in Dylan’s conversation. Every now and then he said something that irritated her, and made her raise her eyebrows, or square her shoulders, which he seemed to love to point out to her. However, more often she found herself enjoying their talk, because Dylan was such an easy-going personality. While little ruffled his feathers, he also seemed to be a fun loving guy, able to get along well with others. This was evident when he shared some of his tales about life on the road, and the humor he looked at some of those events with. And although they were really from two different worlds on multiple levels, sometimes, maybe it was their tie to the music business, she found herself nodding her head, and laughing, as though she’d known Dylan all her life. As long as she didn’t concentrate on the electric sparks that seemed to shoot across her forearm when Dylan kept accidentally brushing her with his arm as they both curled their hands on the side of the pool, she felt at ease chatting with him. He was quite a character, and now that he wasn’t trying to hit on her, she was enjoying his company.

They talked for about an hour, but soon Khrystine saw the need to make a retreat. The eyes of the industry executives were beginning to glance over in their direction, as were some of the other partygoers. She didn’t want to give others the wrong impression, quickly excusing herself.

“It was nice talking to you Dylan, and I’m glad we were able to get off on a better foot,” said Khrystine, extending her hand to him.

He shook her hand.

“I’m glad we were able to set matters straight too. This is the conversation you owed me from backstage the other night,” he teased.

“So it is, and I’m glad I was able to cough the respect that you should show a lady out of you,” chided Khrystine back.

“Oh, I like how you came back with that one,” he said covering her hand with his.

Khrystine quickly withdrew her hand from under his own. The prickly heat she felt between her legs when he covered her hand with his soft, yet strong masculine hand was too much.

“I’ll see you around,” said Khrystine quickly getting out of the water.

“Hey wait a minute. You’re always darting away,” said Dylan gently grabbing her arm.

Dylan’s touch to her arm made a warm shiver rise up her spine. She liked the feel of his hands. They felt gentle, and yet husky. She could feel that Dylan was good with his hands, and thinking about that made her blush.

“I’m not always darting away. You are always grabbing me Dylan,” said Khrystine chuckling softly.

“That’s cuz I have to grab you to keep you from floating away. If I don’t hold on to you tight enough, you’re gonna float away. And that’s true of all things that are too beautiful to be of this world,” said Dylan with a soft smile.

She had to wonder when he was murmuring about her being beautiful if he was truly sincere, or just wanted to see how far he could get with her. They way she felt when his hazel eyes stared into hers, she really wanted to believe in him. She lightly stroked the hand that was grabbing her arm.

“You aren’t gonna abide by the rules of this friendship are you,” said Khrystine grinning.

“I can abide by anything, as long as you give me your number before you leave this evening,” said Dylan gently letting go of his grasp on her arm.

Khrystine missed the contact of his hand on her arm, and she looked gently into his eyes.

“You didn’t have to let go of me Dylan. And you don’t have to always follow the rules. I’ll let you know when you get out of line,” she said, licking her lips softly, grinning at him.

She was flirting with him, but something about the way he was looking at her, and what she felt when she was close to him left her powerless to resist the urge.

“Please do that Khrystine. Make sure that you straighten me out. I would really enjoy that. Here’s a pen. I’d really like your number Khrystine I’m serious,” he said his cherry colored lips forming an even bigger smile, and handing her a pen.

“Give me your hand,” said Khrystine gently taking his weathered hand and turning it face up on her knee.

She knew that reservations about giving a notorious ladies man like Dylan her telephone number were in order. But there was just something about his smile and his charm that wouldn’t let her resist giving him her digits. So what if they talked, there would be no harm in that. If things got too heated, or too serious, she would know how to get Dylan to back off. She would use the same tactics she used when other guys began to get more serious than she was comfortable with. She couldn’t let anyone get to close to her. Every time someone got too close, it made problems for her. It hurt too much.

“I’m giving you my cellphone number. I don’t usually give guys my cell number, but I’m giving it to you because I want to make sure we stay in touch,” she said after scrawling the digits on his palm.

“You have great handwriting. And I shouldn’t be surprised, you just look like the type of girl that would have that beautiful penmanship. Thank you Khrystine. And thanks for not running this time. I’ll definitely keep in touch,” said Dylan softly.

“Yes please do that. I want to know what you and G-Note are up too. But I really gotta go now. Nice talking to you again,” said Khrystine.

“Yeah, same here,” said Dylan looking down at the hand she wrote the number on.

Khrystine saw the need to make a retreat. The eyes of the industry executives were beginning to glance over in their direction, as were some of the other partygoers. She didn’t want to give others the wrong impression, quickly excusing herself. Nosey onlookers would probably try to make something more out of their innocent conversation than had really occurred. The last thing she wanted was an untrue headline emblazoned on the cover of the LA times.



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