Page 66 of Just What She Needed

Drew snickered. “I’ll just leave you two to get acquainted.” He lowered his voice. “You should know that David lit out of here with a brunette about fifteen minutes ago.”

“Of course he did,” Rhys said as Drew strolled off. “Where in Texas?”

“Dallas.” She couldn’t help but grin as he continued Drew’s ruse.

“I love Dallas.” He took a step closer to her. “In fact, Dallas seems to have everything I want. Would you like to see the rest of the backstage area?”

Rhett widened her eyes. “I can do that?”

“You can if you’re with me.” He grinned and held out his hand.

She took his hand. “I’d love that,” she almost purred.

As he led her toward the door she caught Sara’s eye. Putting on her best fangirl expression she pointed at Rhys with her free hand and mouthed “Rhys James!” Sara burst into laughter that almost bent her double and Rhett grinned at her as they left the room.

Once in the hallway Rhys released her hand and put his arm around her shoulders. “Well done,” he murmured as he pulled her close.

“I’m sorry I broke the rules.” Well, she was a little sorry, but not a whole lot. At least they weren’t in that stupid hospitality room anymore.

“What rules?” Confusion colored his voice.

“To stay against the wall and leave you alone.”

Rhys laughed under his breath. “That’s not a rule, love. As long as you didn’t try to stay stuck to me every minute you were free to go wherever you wanted. Sara just prefers to stand aside until Ross is ready to leave.”

“Well, shoot.” She huffed out a breath. “Wish I’d known that before.”

They reached the backstage door that led outside and were joined by Terry Baker who came up from behind them.

“You done for the night?” he asked Rhys as they stepped outside.

“More than done,” Rhys replied.

Once they’d descended to the parking lot Terry veered off toward the third bus. “See you in New York then.”

“Right,” Rhys said and led Rhett to the bus where Sara had taken her earlier to change her shirt and escorted her on board.

Under Rhett's feet a gentle vibration from a generator or motor, she wasn't sure which, powered the lights and the blessed heat that caressed her. It had grown cold enough that the walk to the bus chilled her through.

"Hang on a second," Rhys said once they were on board. "I'm going to see if David beat us back here." He slipped through an open doorway in the middle of the bus behind which four curtained-off compartments lined the narrow walkway. After a moment he returned, his expression both frustrated and resigned.

“What is it?” she asked.

“There’s a bed in the back lounge and I was quite looking forward to showing it to you. David’s already claimed it so that’s out.” He gave her a rueful smile. “Guess we’ll make do with the couch. Are these yours?” He indicated her bag and jacket.

“Yeah, Sara told me to just leave them here. Rhys, if you don’t get to sleep in the bed do you always have to make do with the couch?”

Finished transferring her belongings to one of the swivel chairs, Rhys took her hand. “If I don’t get the bed or the couch I make do with one of the bunks.” He led her into the narrow hallway and motioned to the compartments she noticed earlier.

“Bunks?” She stared at them aghast. “Those aren’t bunks, those are coffins.”

“Apt description,” Rhys laughed.

Rhett gave one of them a closer inspection. “There’s not room in there to turn over. Can you even stretch out in there?”

“No. I have to curl up like a bloody shrimp.” He led her back to the couch and pulled her down on it. “We do have a schedule for the bed and mostly stick to it. Mind you, I said mostly. Those of us not scheduled for that night end up fighting over the couch.”

“Doesn’t seem like a good way to travel,” she observed.