didn't tell me he wanted to sleep with you."
"He doesn't. He's just being bossy."
Her mother's raised eyebrows challenged that particular piece of bullshit. Kat sighed. Her mother was right. Bruce Harrison definitely wanted to sleep with her.
He wanted it bad.
Crap. This was not good. Not good at all.
He'd already given her more solos than the other girls. Now this? It wouldn't look good to the rest of the band.
It already didn't look good to her.
"Well, either way, I think he's out maneuvered you sweetie."
Kat nodded. He had. But she didn't have to wear these clothes until Vegas. Then it would be part of the act. If she wore them now, it would be a sign that she caved in too easily. Kat ran her hand over a dark green silk gown. It was deceptively simple. She recognized the brand from the fashion magazines she flipped through on occasion. The color would look spectacular on her she knew. It was the exact shade of her eyes.
And Bruce had picked it out for her. She knew without trying any of it on that it would all fit like a glove. How had he done that?
"This is a disaster."
Her mom pulled her down to sit on the couch surrounded by bags and shoe boxes.
"Oh come on sweetie. So what if he wants to bed you? That's what makes the world go round. Besides, there's no rule that says you have to do it. If I were you though, I'd be tempted."
She laid her head on her mothers shoulder. Her mom patted her gently on the head, just like she did when Kat was just a little girl. After a few minutes Tommy woke up from his nap and crawled onto the couch with them. Kat felt buoyed by their love, even if her life was a disaster, she had this.
She had them .
"I will give the man this. He has exquisite taste. In clothes and in women."
"Thanks mom."
She kissed her forehead and stood up.
"It's true my little Kitty Kat. You are one of a kind. Now, I'm going to go and make dinner."
***********
Bruce dropped to the sand and did another set of pushups. He'd already ran five miles down the beach toward Santa Monica. Now he was doing his sets before he ran back.
With each thrust of his arms he felt his determination increase. He would bend this girl to his will. He would find a way to make her his.
He would have her.
His workout was particularly vigorous this Sunday. Yesterday he'd spent the day shopping for Kat. He'd turned down the cute little stylist, who was young enough to be his daughter. Then he'd come home and made himself dinner and watched a movie.
Alone.
He was getting tired of being alone, even if it was easier. Less complicated. Nobody to cause drama, or make demands, or expect him to be 'Bruce Harrison, Rock Star' at every moment.
That was exhausting. Still, he had to admit, he was feeling particularly lonely this weekend. Because of her.
Sometimes he wondered why he didn't take more women up on their offers. It wasn't like his sex drive was lagging. Judging from his reaction to Kat, it was through the roof. He just didn't want the same old cheap thrills that could be had by indulging in sex with strangers, no matter how attractive they might be.
That sort of thing was much easier when you were drinking anyway.
Or lying to