Cover Me(ROCK GODS)(4)

She looked utterly beautiful in her threadbare black clothes, her chin held high as she sang her heart out. That was the thing about the girl. She never did half measures.

Hell, he was singing his heart out too. The lyrics were hitting home in a big way.

The song was about a hard headed woman.

He couldn't think of anything more appropriate.





5





"Katrina!"

"What mom?"

"I think you better come out here."

Katrina ran into the living room and stopped in her tracks. A limo was parked out front. Stacks of shopping and boxes were already piled high on the stoop. A young thin blond was unloading even more.

She walked up with the driver behind her, both of them carrying armfuls of bags.

"Hi, I'm Bree. Where can I plug in my steamer?"

"Uh, over here."

Katrina stepped aside and watched as the girl ran back to the limo for a steamer and a rolling rack. The driver helped by lifting it onto the stoop. Then they started piling even more bags into the living room.

The girl rolled a rack into the kitchen, staring around with what could only be described as distaste. Then she started pulling clothes out of the bags. Beautiful clothes. Katrina and her mother exchanged a glance.

"What is this?"

"Your new wardrobe. Bruce picked everything out himself."

Katrina's jaw nearly hit her shoes. Bree didn't seem to notice.

"You are so lucky. He is so gorgeous. And generous! These are all pre season- nothing off the rack."

"I'm not his girlfriend. We work together, that's all."

Bree gave her an assessing glance and shrugged.

"Oh. Too bad for you."

An hour later the rack was full of dresses and silk shirts. There was a stack of neatly folded jeans. Another stack of sweaters and t-shirts. There was lingerie. There were shoes and handbags. And boots. My god, were there boots.

Ankle boots, knee high boots, cowboy boots, designer boots.

He had her style figured out to a T. And then he'd upgraded it. By a lot.

She couldn't accept it though. Any of it.

"Keep the rack. Oh I almost forgot. Here's your luggage."

Bree waved the driver in with a full set of Hermes leather bags.

"Do you want me to help you pack?"

Slowly Katrina shook her head.

"One last thing. Here you go. Have a lovely day."

Bree handed her an envelope and walked out. Katrina was still standing there ten minutes later before she realized she hadn't opened it.

It was a hotel reservation for Sunday- Thursday. In the back was a note.





I expect you to stay near the rehearsal space for the remainder of our time in LA. The clothes are off duty wardrobe and also non negotiable. Check your contract.



-Bruce



Wordlessly she handed her mother the note.

"You 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 yourself.

Bruce had given up both after the accident.

He sure as shit wasn't lying to himself about how badly he wanted his sultry little back up singer. He was going to win her over, no matter what the cost to his bank account or to his pride. To Hell with it. Maybe the little minx would even make him happy.

He knew a certain body part that would be very, very happy.

Ooops, better not think about that too much in public. Yeah, there was definitely nothing wrong with his sex drive…

Bruce adjusted himself and jogged the five miles back to his beach house.





6





Katrina wasn't used to being away from Tommy. That's all it was. She dialed home for the third time today. No answer. Again. What if something was wrong? No. Her mom had the studio number and the hotel's number. They were probably at the playground or something.

Still… she picked up the phone in the break room and dialed again.

"Who do you keep calling?"

Bruce was standing right behind her. Kat nearly jumped out of her skin. She hung up the phone abruptly.

"Just home. I needed to check up on a few things."

"You don't have a phone?"

She ignored him.

"Katrina. Do you not have a cell phone? You need one for this job you know."

She turned to face him. Could the man seriously not take a hint?

"If you buy me a cell phone I will never speak to you again."

He grinned at her. She could tell he was going to ignore her wishes entirely. The man was infuriating!

"I'm serious! I will get one with my first paycheck okay?"

He held up his hands.

"Have it your way. Most people would kill for a company phone… company clothes… a company car… where are those new clothes anyway?"

Her face turned white.

"Don't even think about it. Please… Mr. Harrison, I'm serious."

He put his hands in his pockets and walked away whistling. Now she had a terrible feeling he was going to buy her a car. What on Earth was wrong with the man? She wasn't a lost puppy. He was treating her like some sort of project. Or a mistress. Hot tears started to form behind her eyes.

"Katrina? We need you in here. Starting the next song."

She nodded at Harry and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hands. They were dry thank God. Kat followed Harry into the studio.

Scott handed out music sheets. When he got to the singers he pulled Kat to the front and put a different set on her music stand.

"Another solo?"

He shook his head.

"No, this one's a duet."

Kat stared down at the music. It was one of Bruce's most famous songs. It was about young love. In the original he'd sung both sides of the story. Apparently they were splitting it up. She was going to sing the woman's part. It was a full song, ten times longer than any other solo in the show.

And she was going to be singing with him.

It was a huge break in her career. The kind of thing that could get her discovered.

It was a disaster.

She could feel the other singers eyes boring into her back. Thank God she hadn't worn any of her new clothes yet. Then they'd know for sure. Then it would be stamped across her forehead.

Tramp.

She grabbed a bottle of water and chugged it, thinking furiously.

She couldn't turn the duet down. She wanted the part. Of course she did. But singing with Bruce- singing to Bruce- about love was- oh God- that made her more nervous than she'd ever been in her life.





***********





"There's no way she isn't banging him."

"Great. Good luck getting any decent stage time with that hoochie around."

Bruce stood stock still in the darkened studio. They had just finished up for the day and the door was open a crack. It was clear that Betsy and Linda hadn't realized there were still people in there as they passed by on their way out.