Chapter 18

Over the next few days Brianna was kept running learning the routine of a tour and her place in it while keeping the peace between Jon and......everyone else. Luckily, Jon was making an effort as well and seemed calmer.

As she watched him, Brianna started to wonder if it was the music that soothed him – which made sense, since God knew it had worked for her many times in the past. The only time he seemed truly at ease was when he was on stage.

And if watching him up there, doing what he did so well, was anything but soothing for her, well, she – and her libido – were just going to have to suck it up and deal. While the swirling stomach and spreading warmth further down were her body’s typical reaction to seeing him in concert, it wasn’t exactly the appropriate response of an employee to her boss.  Of course, if he didn’t strip off his sweaty shirt and toss it at her every time he left the stage it would be a bit easier.

After DesMoines and Chicago they had a couple days off and headed home. As soon as they landed at Teterboro and Jon climbed into the car, Brianna pulled out her phone, feeling like a relay participant handing off a hot potato.

“Dot? Hi. He’s in the car and headed home.”

“Okay, thanks. How was your introduction to tour life?”

“Not too bad. After that first day he made an effort to control the temper and focus on work.” Brianna answered.

Dorothea chuckled. “I was asking about you not him.”

“Oh. It was okay. I’m still trying to adjust to the vampire hours and figure out exactly where I fit into the routine, but I’m learning.”

“You’ll find your place quickly, I’m sure. Are you enjoying it?”

“It’s only been a few days, but....I am. It’s exciting and challenging and I love it!” And if Dorothea was healthy and Jon was happy it would be perfect.

“I’m glad. Don’t let the guys give you a hard time.”

Brianna laughed. “So far so good.  Although I get the feeling they’re still seizing me up.” She’d noticed Richie and David in particular watching her a lot. Her ego would like to think they found her attractive, but her rational side said that they were evaluating her abilities.

“Probably looking for a good way to punk you. Be on the lookout.” Dorothea warned her.

“I will.”

Two days later the process reversed.

“Tag. You’re it.” Was Dorothea’s greeting when Brianna answered her phone.

Brianna laughed and gave Vicky the thumbs up. This flight would be on time. “You sound like you’re feeling pretty good today.”

“I am. This round hasn’t been as bad as the last one. Plus I finally got a couple nights of solid sleep and that helped.”

Dorothea’s upbeat mood and voice gave Brianna a ray of hope that the treatments were working and there might be a happy outcome after all. “That’s great!”  It also meant that Jon was probably in a better mood as well and that made everyone’s life easier.

Her premonition was proven right an hour later when Jon arrived and bounded up the stairs and onto the plane. “Everybody here? Good. Let’s go. Paul! What have you got for me?”

With a collective sigh of relief, the mood of the plane lightened considerably, and everyone settled in for the short flight to Cleveland.

Arriving at the hotel, Jon turned to Brianna. “Bri could you bring me the report on that project with Habitat please?”

“Do you want email or hard copy?”

“Um....hard copy....with your notes.” When she started digging in her bag, he waved a hand. “Get settled in your room first and bring it by my room later.”

“Okay.”

Behind them David and Richie exchanged glances.

With the tour routine back on track, Brianna could focus on defining the boundaries of her role. The guys and the crew were more than happy to help her. Sometimes they were helpful, sometimes she knew they were messing with her......and sometimes she just wasn’t sure.

“Bri!” Jon opened the door to his dressing room and yelled down the hallway.

“Yes?” Brianna stepped out of the control room where she’d been waiting for Jon to shower after the show. She was looking forward to going back to the hotel, having a glass of wine and putting her feet up. She might even manage to get more than 4 hours sleep.

“I’m out of deodorant!”

“Do you have any at the hotel?”

“No, I’m out there too.”

“Okay.” She started to turn away when two more doors opened.

“If you’re going Brianna, I could use some toothpaste.” Richie called.

“And I’m out of shaving cream. The kind for sensitive skin.” David added his request, one hand rising to stroke his chin. “I have a very delicate face.”

Brianna snorted and stared at them, trying to determine if they were serious. Finally she decided it didn’t matter and sighed. “Anything else?”

At their negative reply, she turned and headed for the nearest door. “Could they let me know this afternoon? Or anytime before the show? Nooooo.” She grumbled to herself. “They have to wait until midnight and the majority of the stores are closed, just to make it more challenging for me.”

“Hey Brianna, where you going?” Mike, the head of security stopped her as she passed him in the hallway. “We’ll be heading out soon.”

“I’m heading out now. Have to find an all night drugstore or a variety store or something. I’ll find my own way back to the hotel.”

“Are you sure? Do you want someone to go with you?” He didn’t like the idea of her wandering around a strange city at this time of night alone.

“No, that’s okay, I’ll be fine. I’ve got my phone.”

“Okay, but be careful.”

She smiled. “I will.”

Hopping into a cab, she asked the driver to take her to a 24hr drugstore. Inside, she hit the toiletry aisle, thankful she’d taken note of Jon’s preferred brands when she set up his dressing room. As for the other two….if they were going to send her out at midnight they were going to have to take what she got them.

Arriving back at the hotel, she found a bag full of laundry leaning against the door to her room. “You’ve got to be kidding me! We’ve only been away from home for four days!  There’s no way he’s got this much laundry already!” It wasn’t stage wear – that was done by the wardrobe department.

Opening the bag, she frowned at the pair of jeans that were on top. Something didn’t look right. Pulling them out, one glance at the long length of the legs told her what was wrong. The shirt underneath had her growling….since she’d seen it on a certain curly haired keyboard player just yesterday.  “Hey!”

Suddenly her frown slowly turned into a grin. “Okay. If you want to play it that way….game on!”

After grabbing a few hours sleep, Brianna went in search of the concierge. “Hi. Can you tell me where a decent laundromat is?”

“We’d be happy to take care of that for you.” The concierge assured her.

“Thanks, but this is something I need to take care of personally.”

At the laundromat, Brianna surveyed the vending machine options. Detergent, fabric softener…..ah, here we go...bleach and starch.

When Jon climbed onto the stage for sound check, he couldn’t help but notice David having trouble stepping up onto his riser. It was like his leg wouldn’t lift that high. Turning to Richie to crack a joke, he found his wingman walking like he had a pole up his ass.

“What’s wrong with you two?”

“What do you mean?” Richie asked.

“Why are you and Lemma moving like your legs or your backs are broken?”

Richie exchanged a glance with David before answering. “You’ve had Brianna do your laundry before, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Ever had any.......problems with it?”

“No, why?”

“Well, we kinda snuck our laundry in with yours outside her door last night.”

Jon was beginning to see where this was going. The corners of his lips started to lift. “What did she do to it?”

“Put so much fucking starch in my jeans I can’t bend my legs!” 

“Is that all?” Jon was a little disappointed. He was expecting more.

David grimaced. “Well.....no.”

When he didn’t elaborate, he had Jon’s full attention. “Well? What did she do?”

With another exchanged glance, Richie and David both undid their jeans, turned their backs to Jon and pulled them down to their knees.

Centred on their asses were perfectly shaped hearts bleached into their dark boxers.

What started as a snicker quickly escalated into full out laughter. “How did she get them so perfectly shaped?”

“Nevermind that! What are we going to do about it?”

“Maybe next time you assholes should ask her to help, instead of just dumping it on her and expecting her to.” Tico suggested as he stepped up behind his kit.

There was a moment of silence while his bandmates considered that idea.

“Naw!”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Jon shook his head. “If you guys piss her off and push her into quitting, I’ll kick both your asses!”

“And she’s already drawn you the targets.” Hugh pointed out.

Standing to the side and slightly behind the stage, Brianna listened to the men’s conversation and grinned. This was exactly what she’d been hoping for when she applied for this job. Challenging, interesting work, and fun people to work with. She just hoped it stayed this way.