Deep (Stage Dive 4)

“You’re the best.” He gave me a pat on the knee. “Lizzy, you talking to me today?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I said.

“Isn’t much of it left, baby momma. Better make up your mind.” He smirked. “Benny-boy know you’re here?”

“I don’t have to report my whereabouts to him,” I sputtered.

Mal laughed. “No? This should be interesting.”

“Tell him, Sam.” I chugged down my lemonade.

“Miss Rollins is a fully grown, independent adult,” the security man reported dutifully.

“Puh-lease,” said Mal. “Fifty says he hauls her ass out of here within the next five minutes.”

“You’re on.” Sam shook his hand.

Screw them both. If I had to choose, however, Sam would get the win. With no grace but with great purpose I wriggled and lifted, maneuvering my way up and out of the chair. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

“Oh now, c’mon. You can’t hide from him,” cried Mal. “That’s not fair.”

I just smiled.

“Benny-boy, look who’s here! Why, it’s sweet little Liz, and she’s up way past her bedtime. Don’t you think you should do something about that?”

The asshat. With swearing ruled out, I flipped Mal the bird. No way was he winning the bet. I’d talk to Ben when I was damn well good and ready. With all due haste, I ducked my head and made for the bathroom. The great thing about pregnancy is the way you basically always need to pee. It makes for such an awesome hobby. Sam took up guard duty outside as I opened the door and slipped in, shutting and locking it.

And wow, how about that. The bathroom was occupied.

“Hi.” I raised a hand.

“Liz, hey.” Vaughan laughed, one hand going down to cover his abundant essentials. “Guess I forgot to lock the door.”

My face was on fire. “Guess so. Sorry to barge in.”

“My bad. But good to see you.”

“Good to see you too.” And to see so very much of him. I stared, stunned. Whoa, the man was built. What this did to my already hormonally needy-in-the-sexwise charged state was a worry. “Yeah. Ha.”

“Been wanting to catch up with you. How are you?” he asked, running a spare hand through his wet hair, all relaxed-like.

“Good.”

“Heard you were sick,” he said.

“It was just a cold. I’m fine now. Feeling great.” And horny. Wildly horny. The boy didn’t understand how close to being attacked he was.

“That sucks. Glad you’re better.”

“Thanks.” As long as my eyes stayed on his face I was fine. It’d just been a while since I’d seen any downstairs action. No need for my cheeks to go thermonuclear. How uncool to get all fussed. Clearly the man himself had no such hesitation about nudity. “How’s the tour been going?”

“Great. Really good.”

“Excellent.” I studied the floor. “Yeah. Should I leave?”

“No, stay. Fuck knows when we’ll get another chance to talk alone.”

“Ah, okay, sure. You maybe want to wrap a towel around your waist or put on some pants?”

“In a minute. I want to ask you a question first,” he said, dimple flashing in his cheek. The man was seriously cute. Also, nice to know he was a natural redhead. I didn’t mean to look, it just happened. A bare, unintended glimpse when I first walked in. A real live naked man smiling at me invitingly—my body liked the notion all too much. Crazy-ass hormones.

“Shoot,” I invited, my face firing up yet again at the thought of his groin. Holy crap.

“You really pregnant?”

“Yes, I am.” I flattened the oversize shirt again over my belly. Soon there’d be no chance of hiding it.

“Damn. And I take it the daddy’s Ben, huh?”

My mouth stayed shut.

“Not so hard to figure out.” He reached for a towel off the rack, wrapping it around slim hips. “There’s tension between him and Mal, but no one’s saying why. Then you come on tour.”

I shrugged. Not my business to admit to anything on Ben’s behalf. It was only on the part of my big mouth that Vaughan knew anything was afoot. Or abelly. I guess it should really be abelly.

“Dude definitely didn’t like it last time we talked,” he said.

“True.” But who could explain why Ben said and did half the things he did when it came to me? I highly doubted even he had a clue.

“Then the parties move to here because you’re sharing his room, all of a sudden. Even I could figure that one out, and I’m apparently not the most perceptive.”

I narrowed my eyes, outraged on his behalf. “Who said that? I think you’re great.”

“Thanks.” He grinned, hands on hips. It might have been my imagination, but I’m pretty sure his towel was sliding down. Man, if I could just stop looking. Me and my hand needed some alone time. Again.

“I think you’re great too,” Vaughan said, his eyes going soft as he stared at me. “Sucks that the situation’s the way it is.”

“Yeah.” Or did it? How often did I get a pass from a very nice man with such enviable assets? “I mean, he and I aren’t together together. I’m single. But yeah, definitely pregnant.”

We both jumped at the sudden knocking. Then Ben’s deep voice boomed out from the other side of the door, “Liz, you in there?”

Vaughan and I looked at each other, something uneasy stirring deep inside of me. God, was that guilt? I had no reason to feel guilt. None at all. Though the idea of explaining how I accidentally stumbled in on a wet, naked Vaughan could probably wait for later. Forever would also be fine.

“Be out in a minute,” I called back.

“’kay.”

“He treating you right?” asked Vaughan, his voice dropping in volume.

“I think he’ll be a good father.”

“Not what I’m asking.” He took a step closer, studying my face intently. Outside, the music took a dramatic jump in volume. Good timing.

I didn’t know what to say. Or think. “I, um, I’d appreciate you not saying anything about the baby to anyone yet.”

“’Course.”

“I better go.”

“Sure,” he said. “Ben’s waiting.”

“Right. Yes. Going.” I fumbled behind me for the door handle, giving him a slightly dazed smile.