Chapter 14

Howie Dorough waited and watched the arrival gates for Southwest Airlines. Brian and the two guests he was bringing with him would be walking out of those gates any moment now, and, because Howie had arrived in New York the day before to complete other business he had, he had decided to pick them up. Glancing at his watch and the monitors above that indicated Southwest flight 1063 had arrived on time, Howie wondered what could possibly be taking them nearly forty-five minutes to get out of the airport.

Then, he spotted Brian and the two women he was walking with and waved them over. As they drew closer, Howie’s breath caught at the beauty of the jet-haired woman, who was laughing at something Brian had just said. He knew the woman on Brian’s right side was Sienna, as Nick had described Brian’s new friend to him in detail. Nick was definitely infatuated with her, but it was more awe, Howie knew. So, the beauty on the other side of his friend had to be Olivia Taylor, Sienna’s best friend Brian had told him was coming.

“Hey, D,” Brian greeted him.

Howie blinked then smiled at Brian. “Hey, Rok. Glad you all got here in one piece. How was the flight?”

“Long,” Sienna answered. Then, she held out a hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Howie. Brian has run my ears off about you and the others. I bet you’re nicer than he is, though.”

Howie grinned. “I bet I am. I like this one, Brian. Can we keep her?”

“Uh-uh. She’s all mine. Go find your own friend. By the way, this is Liv, Sienna’s friend. I convinced her to come join the crazy circus with us this weekend,” Brian smiled at Liv, who swatted him then held out a hand to Howie.

“Nice to meet you, Howie,” she said in the Kentucky drawl Howie had become used to in Kevin and Brian. Although, he found hers downright sexy.

Howie shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” Then, he turned to the other two. “Shall we?”

“Absolutely,” Sienna and Brian said at the same time. Then, “Jinx!”

The ride to the hotel was spent with the two of them arguing about who said “jinx” first, and who owed who a soda. Howie rolled his eyes and met Liv’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

“Are they always like this?” he asked her.

She grinned. “Usually. I don’t know how they’re friends with all the bickering they do. It’s like they’re a married couple or something. Or a couple of kids.” She shook her head at the pair. “So, tell me, Howie, what is it you do when you’re not being a Backstreet Boy?”

“Well, I guess we’ll start with the producing…” Howie began.

“Oh my God, Si,” Liv sighed dramatically and stretched out across one of the luxurious beds in their part of the suite Brian had rented in the Plaza Hotel.

“Yes?” Sienna glanced over at her friend as she meticulously folded and stowed away her clothes.

Liv sat up. “Howie Dorough has to be one of the sweetest guys I have had the opportunity to meet. And, as you know, I have met very few.”

Sienna sat on the bed next to her. “What makes you say that? You’ve known the guy for all of about an hour.”

“Well, I think it’s his eyes. He listens and sees you, not other parts of your anatomy, if you get my drift,” Liv explained.

Sienna nodded. “Yeah, but you talked to him for, what, twenty-five minutes? Wait until at least after dinner to turn him into the man of your dreams.”

“Please,” Liv rolled her eyes. “You said the same thing to me after you talked to Brian for an hour. And look at the two of you. I don’t know how the two of you have managed to keep your hands off one another. He looks at you like he’d love to eat you in one, neat bite, and you keep pretending you don’t notice how attracted you are.”

Sienna threw a pillow at her. “You’re making that up!”

“Am not!”

“Are too!”

Liv dodged the next pillow and slid off the bed. “Fine. We’ll have dinner with Howie, AJ, and Kevin. Then, I’ll get Howie by himself, and we’ll see what’s what.”

Sienna clapped her hands. “There. I knew the independent, damn-the-rules Livvy was in there somewhere. Go for it, tiger!”

Kristin joined them for dinner at Tavern-on-the-Green, which made for a party of twelve. AJ had brought his mother, his friend Rene, and his cousin Brianna. Pollyanna and John Dorough, Howie’s older brother and sister, had come with him, and then there were Brian, Sienna, and Liv. The maitre d’ was astonished to see four of the Backstreet Boys arrive in his restaurant but said nothing.

As they sat down to eat, Howie ended up maneuvering himself into a place between John and Liv. Pollyanna ended up being on Liv’s other side, which left Liv feeling a bit trapped in the Dorough family. Then, Pollyanna began talking to her, and, when the topic turned to what Liv did for a living, she managed to relax a little. Pollyanna was amazed at the culinary talent Liv possessed, and she promised to come by the restaurant in Lexington next time she went to visit Brian’s parents.

Sienna watched the interaction between her friend and the Doroughs and smiled. Brian leaned over.

“Whatcha smiling about?” he murmured in her ear.

Ignoring the shiver that ran down her spine from his breath on her, Sienna quietly gestured at those sitting across the table. “Liv’s out to get Howie. She’s developed a thing for him. And, if I’m not wrong, Howie’s out to get her, too. Or, should I say, charm her.”

Brian watched Howie and Liv, then he smiled, too. “Shall we play matchmaker, darling?”

Sienna grinned, mischievously. “You read my mind.”

By the time appetizers had arrived, AJ, Kevin, and Kristin knew what was going on, and, along with Sienna and Brian, began to stir the pot. As dinner wore on, Liv blushed more often, while Howie’s grin turned from triumphant to a little bashful. During dessert, he turned to Liv.

“I think it’s a little stuffy in here, don’t you? Would you like to go for a walk? Central Park’s not far from here,” he added.

Liv looked up at him and smiled. “Absolutely. Excuse us, everyone,” she said to the rest of the table, who nodded.

When the couple had made it out of the restaurant, the rest of the table burst into laughter.

“Did you see them?” Pollyanna chuckled. “I swear, Howie was trying to keep his hands off her the entire time. And, if I’m not mistaken, she was doing the same.”

“Oh no, you’re not mistaken,” Sienna told her. “She’s been going on all afternoon about Howie after only talking to him for half an hour. I’ve never seen her like this.”

“Well, I think it’s a nice change,” Kevin said. “Howie’s never had much time or inclination towards dating, until now. I’ve never seen him like this in the last eleven or so years. So, good for him.”

Kristin covered his hand with hers. “Well, while we’re all in a good mood, I’d like to make an announcement.” She smiled at the confused look on her husband’s face. “In about seven months or so, Kevin and I will be making AJ, Brian, Nick, and Howie uncles.”

Brian caught on first. “You’re pregnant! Kris, Kevin, this is amazing! It’s fantastic! Congratulations!”

Kevin was still watching his wife. “When did you find out?” he asked her quietly.

“This morning. Remember how I hadn’t been feeling well? The doctor figured it out. Kevin, we’re going to be parents!” she squeezed his hand.

Kevin grinned back at her. “I can’t believe this! Us, parents!” and he kissed her as the others toasted them. “So, no more alcohol or caffeine of any type, right?”

“Keep the cats away, too,” Denise McLean reminded them. “I’m so proud of the two of you! Now, if only Alex were to find a nice, young woman and settle down…”

“Mom!” AJ groaned, while everyone else laughed.

“Well, I’m just saying…”

Sienna laughed as Brian unlocked the door to their suite. She plopped down on one of the couches set in the living area and grinned up at him.

“So, Uncle Brian, tell me. How does it feel to know you’re going to be an uncle?” she asked.

Brian sat down across from her. “Pretty good. God, I can’t believe it! The first Backstreet Baby! I hope it’s a girl,” he added.

Sienna cocked her head. “Why? I thought you’d want a boy. You know, the sixth Backstreet Boy and all.”

Brian shook his head. “Nope. Girls are more fun to spoil, and you can buy all those cute little baby things for them. The headbands, hats, cute shoes, and all.”

“You surprise me again, Mr. Littrell. Who knew you would want a little girl to give her all those accessories?” Sienna stood and walked to the bar to pour herself water.

Brian watched her as he’d watched her all evening. She wore a simple, sleeveless black dress that fell to her knees. The scooped neckline showed off a ruby necklace she’d told him had belonged to her mother. Her hair was up in a bun, which left her tantalizingly smooth neck bare. Brian had never wanted her more. He knew it was treacherous ground he tread, especially if he wanted to keep her friendship over everything else.

He stood. “Well, I think I’m about beat. I think I’m going to go to bed, now.”

Sienna stared at him. “Are you kidding me? It’s only nine-thirty! The night is still young. There’s still a lot we could do.”

“I’ve been up since six this morning,” Brian began.

“Yeah, and I’ve been up since four. You don’t see me turning in,” Sienna pointed out. “Okay, why don’t we go see a movie or something. Get ice cream? Walk around Times Square?”

“Attract fans and celebrity seekers?” Brian suggested. “No thanks.”

Sienna pouted. “Fine. Why don’t we watch one of those PaperView movies? That way, we can order up room service and not leave the room at all? Does that work for you, Mr. I’m Tired and Don’t Want to See Fans?”

Brian shrugged, then relented.

They ended up watching “A Walk to Remember,” during which Sienna fell asleep with her head resting on Brian’s shoulder. He reached over and flicked off the television. Then, he lifted her up, carried her to her bed, and tucked her in. In sleep, Brian thought she looked amazing. True, her lively eyes were hidden, but peace turned her face into something out of Sleeping Beauty. If only he could wake her with a kiss, he thought. Then, rolling his eyes at his own corny self, he quietly shut the door of the room behind him, just as Liv came waltzing in the other door.

“Hey!” she called out to him.

Brian held a finger to his lips. “Sienna’s sleeping.” He sat down on the couch again, and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, letting himself breathe a little easier. Then, he grinned over at Liv. “So, how was your night?”

Liv sat down next to him and grinned back. “Really good. In fact, I’d have to rate it a nine point nine nine. Repeating.”

“Wow. Uh, go Howie?” Brian wondered.

Liv laughed. “Absolutely. You have an amazing friend. He’s everything I thought I never wanted in a guy.”

“Really?” Brian raised a brow. “How so?”

“Well, he’s sweet, laughs at himself, humble despite the celebrity factor, funny, and actually watches chick flicks without being forced into it,” Liv explained. “And the whole kiss good night deal? He kissed my hand. How fucking romantic is that?!”

Brian grinned. “Well, I can’t say that I’ve done that one. But, yeah, that sounds like Howie D to me. You know you’re the first woman Howie’s shown any interest in forever. So, congratulations.”

“Why, thank you! And, now, I think I’m going to get to bed. Howie and I are going shopping tomorrow—which is another thing I like about him. He likes to shop,” Liv said, excitedly.

“Yeah, that’s Howie. He loves to shop and is good at it, too. AJ and Howie would go shopping all the time and bring back stuff they thought would look good on the rest of us. Surprisingly, and embarrassingly, they were usually right,” Brian admitted.

Liv smiled. “Well, good. I’m shopping with a pro! Good night, Brian.”

“’Night.”

***

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