“Yes.” He owns the theater. If anyone can get me backstage it’s him. I’d buy the place but I’m not sure I could make it happen before she is gone and out of the building. It would take more time to track her down. Either way I will find a way to meet her. It would be easier if I could see her tonight. Actually, now works best for me. I’ve waited too long already to have her.
My phone dings in my hand. I smile knowing that I’m going to get what I want. It may come with a price, but she is worth it. I’ll have to attend two charity events that will be hosted here in the next few months. Maybe I can come with Bunny on my arm. I think anything would be bearable if she was with me. She could light up the whole room without speaking a word—the same way she did my heart. Now that I’ve seen her brightness, I want to bask in all its glory.
“Mr. Price. If you’d follow me.” A man in a suit motions. “Mr. Banks said you’d like to go backstage. I’ll lead the way.”
“I get to meet her.” My mom claps excitedly. She’s about to burst. I wish I could say I was doing this for her but we all know exactly who I’m doing this for. Now that I think about it, it is kind of for my mom. I’m introducing her to her future daughter-in-law. I’m basically the best son ever.
“Yes.” I answer them both. We follow the man through the crowd of people standing near the doorway. Everyone is carrying on about the show. I don’t know why I can’t bring myself to call it a show. It was so much more than that. It’s something I can’t put into words. For a moment I thought she was dancing for me and me alone. That there was no one else in the theater. I could feel her every move down to my soul. She danced and played her way into my heart, making it so that living without her isn’t an option. I must sound crazy but I don’t care. I fight the irritation that tries to take hold of me, thinking that the other theatergoers felt the same way.
“You sure you’re okay?” My mom peeks over at me.
“I’m far from okay.” I sigh. I rub the back of my neck, wondering how this is going to go. I’m not even sure what the fuck I’m going to say. I feel like a school boy asking a girl out for a dance. She is clearly skittish from what I gathered from my mom. I’m the exact opposite, tending to be more on the pushy side. I’m used to getting what I want, but I can try to be patient with my Bunny.
“I’ve never seen you like this.” She smiles as she says it.
“I’ll take it from here,” I tell the man after he gets us past the security. At least they have this place locked up nice and tight. I still don’t like that I only had to make a call and was let back here. Money really can get you everything. I’d learned that quickly.
“If you need anything.” He nods. I notice his eyes flick to the door that has Bunny’s name on it.
“Go,” I bark at him. He jumps back before taking off. I’m a big man. It doesn't take much to get someone to back down. I’m not this size because I sit in boardrooms all day like everyone wants me to. I spend my time on the land. Getting things done. I feel more effective there. Mom has always been better at running the details. She enjoys it. Unlike my incompetent father, I listen to her advice.
“You going to knock or are we going to stand here?” I reach up to knock. Sounds of laughter pour from the room. I stop, listening for a moment. Even her laugh is sexy as fuck. Everything about her is. I want to be the one that brings a smile to her face every day for the rest of her life. The one that makes her laugh like she is now. It’s only fair since she’s ruined me for all others that she allow me to bring her happiness until the day I take my last breath.
How could I be so enthralled with a woman I’ve never talked to? I knock on the door. The laughter stops a moment before the door opens. The same woman that talked to me before stands there. The one who’d pulled Bunny off the stage. She tilts her head to the side, studying me. I can tell she’s taking in every detail, assessing if I’m a danger to Bunny.
“What can I help you with?” She doesn't open the door all the way. I have no doubt that my Bunny is inside the room, but her guard has no plans of letting me in.
“I wanted to meet Bunny Rose. I know it’s wildly inappropriate but my son here”—my mom puts her hand on my chest—“pulled some strings for his mom. He’s such a good son to me.” I fight a laugh at how thick my mom is laying it on. I am going to owe her another theater night and who knows what else after this.
“It’s okay.” Bunny steps out so I can see her. She’s already changed out of the skintight outfit that she had on. It hadn’t left anything to the imagination. Her beautiful curves had been on full display. There was no denying that she is all woman. Now in tight black pants and a sweater you can still see that. Her eyes go straight to me. I’m hard to miss. She licks her plump bottom lip.
Fuck me. She’s even more beautiful this close up.
“You sure?” The woman looks back at her.
“It’s okay, PJ.”
PJ gives me a look that tells me to watch myself before stepping back out of the doorway to let us in. My mom doesn't have to be asked twice. She drops her hand from me, making herself right at home as she enters what I’m guessing is the dressing room. There’s not much to it. I don’t know what I was expecting but my bunny deserves so much more than this. I’ll have to work on getting her something bigger and newer if she decides to continue performing after we’re married.
“You did wonderful, darling.” She holds her hand out. Bunny doesn't hesitate to take my mom's hand. Her eyes never leave me. I shift to the side. This is the one time I actually don’t care for my size. I don’t want to scare my little bunny away. She seems timid. I can see that she’s nervous. PJ doesn't stop giving me the stare-down. I don’t think she’s buying what my mom is selling but she’s not calling us out either.
“I’m Rebecca and this is my son, Jameson. He got me a ticket to come tonight. Even brought me.” She gives Bunny a giant smile. It makes Bunny smile, causing two dimples to appear in her cheeks. I want to pull her into me and kiss them both. Hell, I want to kiss her everywhere. Bunny holds out her hand for me to take.
“I’m Bunny Rose.” Her smile turns to me, almost taking me to my knees.
4
Bunny
He is here. He reaches out, taking my hand in his. My heart rate picks up a little. That feeling that I had on stage takes root inside of me again. I can feel my cheeks pinken. The feel of his hand is rough compared to mine. It doesn't match the rest of him. He looks well groomed in his fancy suit. It doesn’t go unnoticed that unlike everyone else, he has his suit undone because he doesn't want to be in it. That makes sense if he came for his mom. I find that rather endearing.
“Jameson Price. It’s nice to meet you.” He pulls on my hand, causing me to take a few steps toward him, or maybe I took them on my own. Again that pull that I felt draws me to him. My eyes stay locked with his. I can’t seem to take them off of him.
“Your eyes are breathtaking,” I tell him. I can hear myself saying the words but I almost can’t believe that they actually came out of my mouth. I usually don’t warm up to strangers quickly. Especially when it comes to men. But he has me doing all sorts of things that I’ve never done before. His eyes are such a contrast to his midnight black hair. It isn’t the only thing that’s breathtaking about him. He is handsome. His size was a little intimidating at first, but when his hand took mine I found it comforting.