Off the Record (8 page)

Chapter Ten

A driver was waiting with her name on his board as she emerged from Sheffield Airport. He introduced himself as Derek and relieved her of her bags before leading her to a luxury people carrier with dark tinted windows. As he slid open the door she hesitated. Paul Brand lounged back against the leather upholstery, reading a paperback. As she stood frozen, he looked up and grinned.

‘Hey.’

For a moment she went hot, then cold. She shouldn’t be so pleased to see him. Kate didn’t like the way his lazy, sexy voice made her feel. She didn’t want to return his smile. She was here on business and could not – would not – allow herself to fall under this man’s sensual spell. ‘Hey yourself,’ she responded coolly. ‘Don’t you ever work?’

He looked pained. ‘Business meetings, rehearsals, and sound checks all morning, show tonight. Music ain’t no nine to five gig. A man’s gotta take time to relax when he can. So, are you gettin’ in, honey, or have you changed your mind?’

She bristled at his casual address and got in beside him. ‘I’ve told you before, I have a name. Please either use it or not, but do not make the mistake of addressing me as “honey”, or “sweetheart”, or “babe”.’

‘Or …?’

‘Or I may have to kill you.’

‘O-K. No cute endearments. I can do that, Armstrong. Anything else?’

She reached for her seatbelt, giving herself a moment to take a deep breath and try to relax. She was stuck in his company for the next three months, so starting out like a fish wife wasn’t a good idea. The belt jammed against her fierce tug, adding to her stress as she pulled at it again.

‘Damn!’ she exclaimed.

‘Here, let me.’ Paul put his book down and leaned across, his warm weight holding her prisoner as he took the belt from her hand. She stopped breathing as he gently pulled it out and fastened it.

Kate sat frozen as he moved back to his side of the car and refastened his own belt. Only when the car engine started did she begin to breathe again. Her heart raced to catch up with her wayward thoughts as she blinked to clear her vision of the image of his strong jaw and sensuous mouth so close that it would have taken no effort at all to taste him.

‘You OK?’

She nodded, unwilling to speak or to look at him, sure that he would laugh if he knew how the simple act of fastening her seatbelt had affected her. Instead she looked down at the book on the seat between them. It was by one of her favourite authors and was obviously well-thumbed.

Paul followed her gaze and reached out and picked up the book. ‘It doesn’t matter how many times I read this sucker, I keep finding more there. It’s a great book. Do you know it?’

‘Yes. It … it’s one my favourites. Have you read any of his others?’

By the time they reached their destination, Kate had relaxed. She loved reading and was pleasantly surprised that she and Paul Brand should have that in common. Their lively debate soon had her laughing.

‘That’s better,’ he commented as the car turned into the underground car park of the hotel where the entourage was staying. ‘I thought we were in trouble back there.’

She frowned. ‘What?’

‘I was sort of hoping you’d be pleased to see me, but I guess I over-estimated my charms.’

She shook her head. ‘Your “charms” are irrelevant. I’m here to work.’

‘And that stops us being friends?’

Kate looked at him, her green gaze challenging. ‘Is that what you want? Friendship?’

He grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. ‘If that’s what you want to call it, little lady, that’s OK with me.’

‘Oh for goodness sake!’ she snapped, as the car door slid open. ‘My work is important to me, and all I get from you is innuendo.’ She undid her seatbelt and left the car before he could notice the glitter of frustrated tears in her eyes. Without waiting for him she headed for the lift, blinking away the moisture.

It was anger at his cavalier attitude, she assured herself. She certainly wasn’t crying over some light-weight … entertainer! She was here to do a job which could move her career on in leaps and bounds, and he wanted to distract her with his sexy grin and paperback collection!

She almost made it. The lift door was just closing when he slipped inside. With a sniff she reached for the button for the ground floor, but he stopped her and inserted a key before pressing the one for the top floor instead.

‘I have to check in,’ she said, raising her hand to press the right button.

He took her hand, wrapping his fingers around her own, sending electric sparks shooting up her arm. ‘Already taken care of.’

‘Oh.’ She disentangled her hand from his and stepped away, pressing herself against the back of the car.

‘What’s goin’ on, Kate?’ he asked quietly. ‘One minute we’re having a good time talking about books; the next minute you’re biting my head off.’

She closed her eyes, ashamed. He had a point. It wasn’t his fault she was so mixed up. Or perhaps it was. But he didn’t need to know that. If he knew how vulnerable she was to him it would give him the advantage.

‘I’m sorry. I … It’s been a difficult day. This has all happened so quickly, and I’m a nervous flyer, and …’

‘And I scare the hell out of you.’

She gasped her denial, which he ignored as he drew her towards him. She should have pulled back, told herself she wanted to pull back, but his warm hand stroking her cheek held her captive.

‘But that’s OK,’ he whispered his warm breath caressing her face, ‘because you scare the hell out of me too.’

Her eyes widened in shock and then closed in surrender as his lips claimed hers and his arms enfolded her.

Kate had no idea how long it took for the lift to reach the penthouse suite. When the doors opened silently she was still lost in the magic of Paul’s kiss. A polite cough barely registered on her consciousness. Only the electronic voice declaring ‘Doors closing’ pierced the sensual fog.

Paul moved first, uttering a curse as he raised his head and shot out a hand to stop them from being enclosed again. He wasn’t quick enough, but the owner of the cough was, and a beefy hand prevented the doors from closing.

Kate barely glanced at the grinning face that appeared as they slid fully open. One minute alone with that … that man! How on earth was she going to survive three long months if he was going to keep on kissing her? With burning cheeks, she raised her chin and exited the lift with as much dignity as she could manage. Paul followed behind, muttering that he would see the other man later, before ushering her into the main room of the suite.

With a feeling of
déjà vu
, Kate looked around at the beautifully appointed room. Somewhere in the suite she could hear voices, but the room in front of her was empty. She jumped slightly as Paul closed the door behind them.

‘You OK?’ he asked quietly.

‘Not really,’ she responded tartly. ‘I’m a serious journalist, and every time I’m near you I’m in danger of being labelled a mindless groupie.’

Paul moved into the room, circling round to face her. ‘I don’t think you need worry about Jake. He’ll rib me for a while, because he’s known me for ever and we’re friends. But he’s discreet and he’ll show you nothing but respect, I promise you.’

‘That makes me feel so much better,’ she purred. ‘But it’s not the first time we’ve been caught like this, and it can’t happen again.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean,’ she advanced on him, poking a finger at his chest, causing him to retreat, ‘that some sleazebag paparazzo spotted you outside my office on Friday and I’m now being blackmailed by my boss. If he doesn’t like what I produce about this tour, he’s going to publish a picture of … us …’

‘Kissing?’

‘Oh, is that all it was? From the look of it, we were about to do the dirty deed right there in the street! I’ve worked so hard to be accepted as a serious journalist, and in a matter of seconds you’ve ruined my reputation.’

‘Kate …’

‘Do you have any idea what you have done? The whole office thinks I’ve come up here to finish what you started!’

‘Shit! Kate, I’m sorry … I …’

‘In that case, do me a favour, Brand. Keep your lips to yourself, OK?’

‘Shall I come back later?’

Paul and Kate swung round. Kate wanted the ground to swallow her up as Johnson walked into the room.

‘Hey, Dad.’

‘Son,’ he nodded, his expression thoughtful. ‘Kate, it’s good to see you again.’ He offered his hand, which she took silently, wondering just how much of their conversation he had heard. ‘Has Paul offered you a coffee? Or would you prefer tea?’

‘Er…no. I’m OK thanks. I … I … Would you mind if I freshen up a bit?’

‘No problem. Your room is just down the hall over there. Third on the right.’

‘I’m staying in your suite?’ she asked, eyes wide.
Oh no! No, no, no!

‘Just for tonight. When we move tomorrow you’ll be allocated a room like the rest of the team.’

‘Thank you.’ Still blushing, Kate headed across the room to the corridor he indicated. She didn’t dare look at either man, as they both watched her silently. If the first few minutes were any indication, this assignment was going to be pure hell.
Or pure heaven
, a tiny voice inside her suggested. She gritted her teeth to stop herself from moaning out loud. How on earth had she ended up in this mess?

‘Kate?’ Johnson’s voice stopped her. She turned slowly to face him, avoiding his son’s gaze. She needn’t have worried. Paul had turned towards the window and was busy looking out at the traffic below. She gave his father what she hoped was a professional smile. ‘Yes?’

‘We’ll have an early dinner, and then leave for the arena at seven. You’ll travel with me. OK?’

‘OK. No problem. I’m looking forward to it.’

‘Good. You rest up until dinner, and we’ll see you then.’

With a nod, Kate fled the room, relieved to have some breathing space. She knew she ought to call her mother, but needed to calm down first. The more time she spent in Paul Brand’s company, the more she understood her own mother’s teenage romance with his father. There was something in the Brand genes that was pure dynamite!

Behind her, father and son turned to face each other.

‘Want to tell me what that was all about, son?’

‘To tell the truth, Dad, I’m not sure I can.’

‘Is having Kate with us on the tour going to be a problem? I’d hate to have to explain a difficult situation to her mom.’

Paul blew out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck with a weary hand. ‘Hell, I don’t know. We only just met, but she’s already driving me crazy. I don’t know whether to kiss her or strangle her. I just don’t know what to make of her.’

‘Can I make a suggestion?’

Paul frowned at his father. ‘Why do I get the impression I’m not going to like this?’

‘Because you know I’m going to ask you to back off.’

‘It’s a long time since you tried to give me advice on dating, old man.’

‘And I’m not going to try now. I’m just asking. Give Kate and yourself some space. It’s obvious something’s going on with the two of you. But it’s also obvious neither of you is comfortable with it.’

‘What’s this all about, Dad? You worried I’m going to upset her and she’ll give us a bum rap in the paper?’

‘You know me better than that, son. Quit being a jerk.’

‘Or is it that you’re trying to figure out whether her mom – your
Dream Woman
– will give you a second chance? You’ve been looking mighty uncomfortable yourself since your visit to Wiltshire.’

Paul hadn’t liked having the spotlight on his own unresolved feelings for the green-eyed temptress now resting a few doors away. But, realising that his father’s concern probably had more to do with his own recent reunion, put the conversation in a different light. The fact that Johnson didn’t respond to his jibe told Paul that he was right. ‘Come on, Dad, what’s going on?’

This time it was Johnson who rubbed the back of his neck in an unconscious echo of his son’s earlier discomfort. ‘I just don’t know, son. I don’t know.’

‘She chase you off her property?’

He laughed and shook his head. ‘Nah. She was glad to see me. It was a good visit. We were talkin’ and teasin’ each other like … heck … like it was a few days and not almost forty years since we’d seen each other.’

‘Well, that’s good. Right?’

‘Right.’ He sighed and sat down, lounging back against the luxurious upholstery. ‘Except it
has
been the best part of forty years, and some things are never gonna be the same.’ He shot a glance at his son. ‘Did Kate tell you what Sandy does for a living?’

He shrugged. ‘Something about a family business.’

‘Yeah, she got me on that one too.’

‘What are you saying? That she lied?’

‘Not exactly. Both her parents worked for the same organization. The Church of England. She’s a priest.’

Paul sank into the chair opposite his father. ‘Wow! “The rock star and the priest”. Interesting headlines.’

‘Right alongside “The rock star’s son and the priest’s daughter”. You ready to put Kate through that kind of circus, son? ’Cos I’m not sure I can do that to her mama.’

The impact of his father’s quiet words hit Paul like a blow. This wasn’t about whether his pursuit of the daughter would affect his father’s chances with her mother. It was about exposing the two women to the kind of attention that the men had lived with for decades.

‘Oh man. You’re right. I need to think about this.’

‘You and me both, son. You and me both.’

Kate stood in the wings of the stage, spellbound.

Johnson and his band had the audience on their feet, singing and dancing along to his numerous hits. The laid-back, unassuming man she’d met and interviewed a couple of weeks ago transformed into a rock god the moment he’d walked on stage.

‘Having fun?’

Without looking round, she knew that Paul had come to stand behind her, leaning close to be heard above the noise. She nodded, trying to ignore the shiver that went down her spine as his warm breath bathed her neck. ‘This is amazing.’

‘The old man puts on a good show.’

‘Where does he get the energy?’

‘The crowd. Look at them. They worship him, he grows stronger. He’s pumped with pure adrenalin right now. He’ll crash later and sleep for ten hours straight. Time was when he could do this and stay up all night and the next day, then do it all again. But even the great Johnson Brand needs his beauty sleep these days, or he’ll get mighty cranky.’