*Trisha*

Nate and Mila don't need me hovering over them for the Meet and Greet. It's right outside this venue, anyway, so I hang back in the rec room with Noah, my old almost-something. 

"Well, hey there." Noah grins as he enters the room. He pulls me into a hug. No hesitation, no second thoughts.

"You look good, Trish."

"As do you, Fireman Noah. I'm glad you're not wearing a Nate Hollan Tour T-shirt this time."

God, he's hot. 

"But it's my favorite!" He teases and looks down at his powder pink T shirt and worn jeans that make his ass look Ah-maze-ing. He flashes me his perfect smile and I fucking melt.

"Sorry things... fizzled a little." The words come out before I can decide if I really wanted to say them. I should apologize, right? We never meant for this thing between us to be a one-night stand, but that's what it became. The guy lived in Paris for God's sakes. How were we gonna make THAT work?

Noah shakes his head. "Don't be. I get it. Things have been a little crazy for you all these past few months." His smile fades slightly, gaze dropping to his Styrofoam cup of coffee. "I'm sorry about James."

"Yeah." Sadness fills me.

 "How's Julia handling it?" Aaandd, the sadness is gone. He's thinking about Julia right now?? "I mean, they were close, right? Best friends?"

"James was everyone's best friend," I say, too sharp, too fast. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just.." I exhale hard and run my hands through my hair. "Stressed out."

"I can imagine."

"Anyways, how are you? Your kids....Alexa and Andrew, right?" I look up to meet his eyes which now seem a bit shocked.

"You remembered their names. Impressive."  Noah laughs. 

"Oh you should see that caveman," I nod my chin to Evan who stands by the entrance in bodyguard mode. Since Mila has like.... a hundred and twenty bodyguards... Nate let Evan stay behind and watch over me instead. And Evan is clearly listening to our conversation right now.

"He can recite the dictionary word for word." I get an eye roll from Evan which I find rather cute.

"Is that so... " Noah raises his brows and nods his head at Evan, not intimidated by the man in the least. "The kids are great. Growing like weeds. I'm here  for a few weeks while they are on spring break."

"Nice. What hotel are you staying at?" I watch Noah shift in his seat a little, like he is embarrassed to answer my question.

"Hotel ex-wife, Mindy. One star rating. Awful reviews. But cheap and a place to lay my head."

I laugh loudly at that one. "You're staying with your ex-wife?!"

"Unlike the salaries of celebrities, a fireman's income is ... lets say...modest by comparison." He sighs "The reporter jobs give me some extra cash, but I don't do it as often as my sister would like. I'm pretty picky...let's be honest, celebrities are total divas." He waves his hand in a flamboyant way making me laugh harder.

"Oh God, and you said yes to Hollan? He's the biggest diva out there." I snort. Having him interview Nate was the best decision I've made all week.

Ok,  I have to admit. I really like Noah. Funny, hot, down to earth. What's not to like? Jesus, when was the last time I got laid?

"Soooo," Noah breaks eye contact with me and looks back down at his cup. "Have you been seeing anyone lately?"

Way to get right to it, Fireman Noah.

"No." I inhale sharply. "I was kinda back and forth with my bodyguard until he decided to fucking fall in live with Julia Moretti." I blurt out then shake my head at my boldness. 

Noah looks up at Evan wide eyed. 

"No, not that one." I wave Evan off. He just stands there like a statue. "For chrissakes, Scofield, sit down or something. You creep me out when you just stand there."

"Yes, ma'am." He fucking smirks letting me know he called me that on purpose, before sitting his sexy ass down on the couch.

"Paul. He's been Nate's bodyguard since Nate was sixteen. We sort of had an on-again, off-again thing. But then, when we were on- Paul decided to confess his love to Julia."

"Ouch." Noah leans back in his chair a little. "That's... something. There's that weird soap opera feeling I'm having." He chuckles. Noah really does have a great laugh.

"Yeah, it's something all right." I say sarcastically. "You?'

"No. You know. Mindy was my high school sweetheart until things went south. My fault. Addiction got the best of me for awhile. And... I don't really date.. and um.." He scratches the back of his head. 

I remember how shy Noah was.  A little rusty, unsure of himself, and that only made him more attractive. It's one thing to look that good, but nothing kills the thrill faster than muscle wrapped around arrogance. He is the opposite. I also remember how nervous he got when things turned real that night in Nate's tour bus. Hesitant, careful. Not a player. He may flirt like Nate, sure. But he's not cocky at all.

"Fireman Noah," I whisper and lean into the table a little. "Was I the last person you've been with??"

Noah's face flushes bright red, and he gulps hard before looking away. He doesn't answer my question. He doesn't need to. All he does is give me a little shrug of the shoulders.

There's something about him. I'm not one to sleep around...certainly not like Hollan, who treats romance like a competitive sport...but Noah makes me do things I don't usually do. Like that time we had phone sex while I was in the shower.

And right now? Watching him sit there, hopelessly flustered, looking like he might pass out if I breathe in his direction? God help him. Because it is taking every ounce of restraint not to absolutely ruin this man. And it's REAL hard to ignore the aching sensation deep in my gut letting me know how much Noah turns me on.

I gaze at him. Wanting him but not sure how to really approach it without scaring the guy off.

"Stop looking at me like that." He whispers so Evan can't hear him and nervously rubs the back of his neck. 

"Like what?" I smirk then sit up straight. "Evan, I'm gonna show Noah around the venue. You can stay here...the place is empty." I don't break eye contact with Noah as I talk.

"Miss Banks, I can't—" Evan furrows his brows, already moving to stand.

"Scofield." My gaze flicks to him, sharp. "I'm gonna show Noah around the venue. Stay. Here."

Evan inhales slowly, holding it for a beat before exhaling.

"I sign the checks. I'm telling you to stay." I rise, grabbing Noah's hand, pulling him to his feet alongside me. Evan's eyes widen. He gets what I'm doing now...still, he doesn't let it go.

"Ma'am," he says, still being professional, "if you'd like to show him Mr. Hollan's dressing room, I can walk you down, make sure it's clear, and leave you to it. But I can't let you roam freely."

Wow. He really did catch on. And yet...he's still doing his job, still maintaining protocol. Ok, I respect that.

"Fine. Noah, let's go check out Nate's dressing room." I tug his hand and start walking.

I'm actually doing this. And poor Noah...his nerves are practically radiating off of him as we head down the hall. His hands are clammy in mine and  he's biting the inside of his cheek. 

Nate's dressing room is right around the corner, and I know he won't be back for a while. Evan had a good idea...though I feel bad he had to come up with something in the first place.

We watch him open the door to the dressing room and do his job. Scanning the space, checking the bathroom, making sure it is completely safe before walking back to the door. Evan clears his throat, maintaining a completely professional demeanor and nods his head, his gaze fixed solely on me, never once glancing at Noah.

"All set, ma'am."

I aim for a sly smile, something light, but it falters the second I catch the look in Evan's eyes. Sadness or hurt. Not overwhelming, not obvious. Just enough to unsettle me. I've never seen that from him before, and I can't quite place it. Can't tell if it's about this...about me...or something else entirely.

A flicker of guilt worms its way in before I shove it down, ignoring the weight of it. Whatever it is, I'm not letting it stop me. I pull Noah into the room, shutting the door behind us, locking it.

"Trish, I-" Noah begins but I turn around and stop him there.

"Shut up and kiss me, Noah."

Again, Noah swallows hard, stuck in his own head.

"Noah......"  I take a step closer and he looks down at me with lust filled eyes and leans in, cupping my face with those big fireman hands of his. His eyes darken, his hesitation vanishes, and he presses his lips firmly to mine.

I had forgotten how good of a kisser Noah is. How good he feels against me. His kisses are feverish, desperate, letting me know it's been far too long for him. And I match him, intensity for intensity, letting him know it's been a while for me too. It's messy and breathless, like we're both a little starved. Because we are. 

Clothes scatter around the room as if they were on fire, desperate to be taken off in hurry. Noah doesn't miss a beat now, pulling me against him without breaking the kiss, taking control and pushing my body up against the wall that separates us from Evan. 

Noah doesn't ask me if "I'm sure about this," like last time.

 He knows I am.

********

This is it. This is the moment. Nate has waited so fucking long for this and I can't help but smile proudly at him. His name is chanted through the crowd, swelling louder and louder as the anticipation builds. He looks nervous but excited at the same time.

"Are you ready, Mr. Hollan?" I smirk up at him and tuck up a lock of his hair while Holly powders any shine on his face. Leslie stands our side with her large binder, clipboard in her arms and a smile on her face.

"Ready as I'll ever be!" Nate yells over the noise, takes a deep, cleansing breath and locks eyes with me. I lean up close to his ear so he can hear me.

"You've got this, Playboy. Go sing your heart out."  My eyes begin to tear up, knowing Nate is making his dreams come true. All our hard work is paying off.

"Ready, Hollan?" Tommy falls into line beside the bandmates, and Nate follows suit. They huddle together like they always do before a show, bouncing, and getting pumped up.

I watch Nate flip his IEM into one eat while the other dangles around his neck, looking sexy as fuck right now. Before running up the stairs, he turns back and gives me a wink. I nod and smile proudly, then watch him run up onto the stage.

When I say the crowd roars, I really mean it. The sound is unreal...piercing yet incredibly beautiful all at once.

"He's back." Leslie shares the same proud smile I do while we both stare at Nate's back from behind the stage.

"He sure is." I smile. He sure is.

******