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“Thanks,” she said.
“The next band is the one that Roger recommended to me. I think you’ll like them.”
“Why?” she asked. She wanted to know what Henry thought she’d like and why. Did he really know her? It had only been a few weeks, though she’d come to know him pretty well since they’d spent so much time together?
“Because they have a nice sound with a pop groove but there’s something retro about their lyrics. They talk about real emotions, which I’ve noticed you like as I’ve been listening to the tapes of the bands you want me to sign.”
“I noticed you noticing,” she said. Over the past two weeks he had paid a lot of attention to her at work, asking her opinions on bands, giving her decision-making power on booking groups for radio tours and whatnot. Mostly he’s treated her like a respected peer, and that was all she’d needed.
“Good. I wanted you to see that I’m not like Daniel,” Henry said.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I’m going to kiss you again, Astrid, and this time I don’t want you to run.”
She felt foolish when he said it like that. But then she was human, she thought. And resisting temptation, especially the type that he offered, was too hard.
“I’m not going to make another foolish mistake,” she said, not sure if she meant the words for Henry or for herself.
“Good,” he said. He reached under the table and took her hand in his. His big hand completely engulfed hers. They announced the band XSU. Sounded like some American university band and the guys looked the part.
In their denim jeans and faded vintage T-shirts they looked as though they were meant to be singing to university crowds instead of this very upscale and trendy club in London.
They introduced their first song and the music was … sex-disco. A pulsing beat that made her want to get up and dance. She was tapping her feet and noticed that Henry was moving to the beat, as well. The dance floor, which had been crowded before now, seemed to be a single solid wave of dancing bodies.
Henry used his grip on her hand to tug her to her feet. They were in the middle of the swaying crowd. Henry’s body brushed hers often as they danced, each brush reminding her that she’d done a poor job of keeping the distance she’d wanted between them.
She tried to be stiff, tried to keep a part of herself locked away but it was impossible. She wanted Henry. And this music reminded her that life was meant to be lived, not hidden away from.
She stopped thinking she had to be professional and just relaxed, allowing herself to just be herself. And that moment changed her. She looked into Henry’s impossibly blue eyes and saw more than she’d thought to see.
In taking the measure of the man, she knew that no matter what happened between them, she’d never regret the time they spent together.
Five
Something had changed in Astrid when XSU had started playing. She seemed to sparkle with life as she moved on the dance floor, and Henry wanted to be the only one who basked in that glow.
He kept one hand on her hip as they danced. Her body brushed against his, teasing him with each rhythmic move she made. He wanted more than those fleeting touches. He wanted her breasts pressed solidly against his chest, his hands holding her hips and that tempting mouth of hers under his.
The music stopped, but he scarcely noticed. The crowd applauded, and in the back of his mind Henry realized that he’d found the first group he’d sign to the Everest Records label, and he’d use a similar path to the one he developed with Steph Cordo. But he’d also found something else, he thought.
Astrid watched him with those big brown eyes of hers, and he leaned in and kissed her. He didn’t think about consequences or warnings. Didn’t think about winning or business. Just thought that this woman was temptation incarnate and he was tired of denying himself.
He lingered over her mouth. The last three weeks had been too long as far as his body was concerned. Blood flowed heavier through his veins. Her hands came to his shoulders, anchoring her as she rose on tiptoe to deepen their kiss.
The crowd swayed around them as the band moved on to the next song, but Henry felt the world narrow until he and Astrid were alone.
She tasted tangy and sweet and of something that was uniquely Astrid. There was an energy between them, and when he lifted his head she tunneled her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and brought their mouths together again.
She sighed as he kissed her. “I’ve been dying for your kiss.”
He took her hand and led her off the dance floor. “Have you?”
She nodded.
“I’m tired of pretending that I don’t want you, but that doesn’t mean I think this is right. You already guessed that my relationship with Daniel complicated my last job. I can’t afford to let that happen again.”
“What can I say to change your mind?” Henry asked.
“I’m not sure. I just … I’m not saying I don’t want you, just that I’m not sure it’s wise for me to get involved with you, Henry.”
“We will figure it out,” Henry said. “I want to go talk to the band. Want to come with me?”
She nodded.
He held on to her hand and he no longer felt that she was just his assistant. Now he knew she was his. And he liked that. He needed to make love to her before he’d really feel she was his.
The band had a small group of women hanging around them as he approached. Henry used his celebrity to get closer to the band. He approached the black-shirted bouncer protecting the backstage area, who was turning away scantily clad women and overzealous fans.
“I’m Henry Devonshire, and I’d like to speak to the band.”
“Henry Devonshire. I saw you score a converted try in the last minute of the London-Irish game—your last one.”
“That was a great game. Stan got that penalty and I thought we were going to lose.”
“But you didn’t. You were brilliant.”
“Thanks,” Henry said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d let us back to see that band.”
“Sure thing, mate.” The bouncer stepped aside and let them through.
“Henry Devonshire,” he said as he approached the lead singer.
“Angus McNeil,” the young man said, shaking Henry’s hand.
“I like the sound of your group.”
“Thanks, man. We’ve been experimenting with a lot of different influences and I’m not sure we have it right yet.”
“I’d like to talk to you a little more about that. I’m in charge of Everest Records now,” Henry said. “Do you guys have a manager?”
“Yes. B&B Management.”
“I’ve never heard of them,” Henry said. He glanced over at Astrid to see if she were familiar with the company, but she shook her head.
“It’s actually my older brother and one of his mates,” Angus said a little sheepishly. “No one wanted to talk to us unless we had a big deal going. So Bryan went to the library and got a few books…. Ah, man, you don’t want to hear all that, do you?”
“Yes, we do, Angus,” Astrid said, stepping forward. “At Everest Groups, we like to know everything about the artists we sign.”
“That’s why we are here,” Henry said. “Do you have another set or can you guys come with me to talk?”
The other band members had wandered over to their group and milled about exchanging glances. Henry decided he should step away and let them talk.
“Here’s my card. I’m going to be out in the club for another hour or so. If you have time to talk tonight, great, if not, no problem. Call tomorrow and we will set up something.”
He led Astrid back to the VIP area, but he was restless and didn’t want to sit and wait. He ordered drinks for both of them and Astrid put her hand on his.
“I can feel the energy crackling around you. What are you thinking about?”
Henry didn’t like to share his most intimate thoughts so he kept silent until he realized that Astrid would give him the distraction he needed. “That you still haven’t told me your secrets.”
“Well, that will have to wait for another time. A noisy nightclub is no place for an intimate conversation.”
“I disagree. This is the perfect place. There’s a feel of anonymity to being here. The background noise keeps others from hearing.”
She tipped her head to the side and then leaned forward so that their noses almost touched. “It wouldn’t keep you from hearing.”
He arched one eyebrow at her. “Good. Tell me your secrets, Astrid.”
She shook her head. “Not unless you tell me yours. Not the stuff I can read in Hello!, but the real Henry’s secrets. Why are you so restless right now?”
Henry didn’t want to share that with her. He was reluctant to let anyone know about the impulses that had always driven him—the need for immediacy in every area of his life.
Astrid was still almost high on her new sense of self. She had always let the men in her life … well, Daniel, set the tone and the pace of their relationship. And she knew if she was going to have any chance at making any kind of relationship with Henry work, she needed to change.
Instead of focusing on hiding her own secrets, she wanted to know about his. What had shaped Henry into the man he was today?
He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her closer to him. “I’m not restless, love. I want to be alone with you so we can finish what we started on the dance floor.”
She shivered as he spoke straight into her ear. The warmth of his breath against her neck sent electric pulses flooding through her body. She wanted him, too.
And that scared her. Lust she could deal with but this was more than lust. She liked Henry. Liked the man who was more than his press bio. And she was afraid to trust that gut-deep feeling about Henry. She thought he was different, but there was no guarantee any relationship between the two of them was going to last more than a few months.
“What’s that look for?” he asked her.
“I’m scared that I’m in over my head,” she said in a moment of candor. She might regret it later, but if she’d learned anything it was not to pull her punches. There was no “safe-route” in any relationship.
“My first year as a professional rugby player I was constantly terrified. My stepdad was the coach and I knew that if I screwed up, he’d come down on me. And I played from a place of fear for the first three games, before one of the guys said to me, ‘I heard you were good, but now it looks like that was all bullshit.’”
“That wasn’t very nice.”
Henry shrugged. “I was giving in to the pressure from every avenue, so I made a decision that I was going to play for myself. Not for Gordon or for the crowd. Just for myself.”
“Did that work?” Astrid asked.
“Yes, it did. My playing started improving and eventually I was made captain.”
“Good job,” she said.
“I used that same theory off the pitch. I live my life on my terms.”
“I’m trying to do the same, but there is always a fear—”
“Stop worrying, Astrid.”
He glanced over her shoulder and stood to greet someone else—a tall dark-haired young man whose shaggy hair reached his shoulders.
“I’m Bryan Monroe. I represent XSU.”
“Glad to meet you. This is Astrid, my assistant. Would you like to sit down and join us for a drink?”
“Love to.”
Astrid sank back into her seat and just observed Henry doing his thing. People came and went from his table, which was the norm for Henry, but he kept his attention on everyone. He always had a glass of seltzer water on the table in front of him. She’d quickly realized that her boss didn’t drink on these long nights out. And he had a work ethic that would put anyone to shame.
Daniel had often used other people to make things happen. She had observed him leaving clubs early with groupies while his underlings stayed and talked details. Every minute she spent with Henry made her like him a little more.
She started to get tired and fought to keep from yawning at about two in the morning. She signaled to Henry that she was going to leave.
“Wait for me,” he said to her.
Thirty minutes later, they walked out of the club together. “I think we’re going to get XSU.”
“Definitely. Bryan sounded very encouraging. I’ll follow up with him first thing tomorrow.”
“I’ll give you a ride home,” Henry said.
“Not necessary. I drove Bethann’s car today.”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I appreciate the fact that you are always giving me a ride but it seemed important to have my own way home.”
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Because I always want to invite you up to my place and that’s not a good idea, is it?”
Astrid didn’t regret her candor. They both knew the attraction between them was growing. There was nothing they could do about it.
“I think inviting me up is a fine idea. Why haven’t you?”
“Because you’re my boss, Henry,” she said. The night breeze was cool and a little crisp as she tipped her head back to stare up at the stars.
“Why is your name Henry?”
He laughed a soft sound. “It was my mum’s dad’s name. What about you, Astrid?”
“My mother got it from a book. Bethann was named after my mum’s mum and me … I get a name from a book,” she said.
