“JC...” Francesca was putting the finishing touches on her light make-up in the bathroom when he re-entered to put his towel back on the rack. She didn’t even want to think how much like long-married folk they seemed.
“Yeah, babe?” JC smiled at her in the mirror. Did she realize how comfortable they were in each other’s space? They were like two old shoes. Yet they had known each other less than twenty-four hours…
Being able to read his thoughts was even scarier. This man meant to stay in her life. It filled her with equal parts dread and anticipation. “Is it so bad for you?”
“Is what bad, honey?” He moved behind her, putting his hands on her waist.
“Celebrity.”
“Most of the time, no. It makes dealing with people hard sometimes — especially with women. You don’t know their real motives.”
Which why he was alone if she didn’t miss her guess. Just who was he? She scarcely went to movies and rarely watched television, so he could be an actor... She liked music, though her taste leaned more towards jazz and oldies, so he could be an entertainer. She was fairly certain he wasn’t an athlete with his slender build and his professed lack of skills... “Okay, we already know I’m in it for the sex, not your fame... So who are you?”
He gave her a pained smile at her ‘in it for the sex’ comment. “Is it okay that I would rather you didn’t know?”
Her smile spoke of understanding. “I suppose so, but be reasonable. I’ll find out at this game, won’t I?”
JC had forgotten that factor. “Wanna stay here?”
“Chicken.” Francesca made a clucking noise that had him laughing.
He sobered quickly. He realized she had to know eventually. “Promise it won’t change a thing about us, Gypsy.”
“I promise. If I was going to be impressed I would already know.”
“Yeah, I guess.” His eyes caught and held hers in the mirror. Big dark hazel eyes full of sincerity. “Ever heard of pop group *NSYNC?”
Had she? Vaguely maybe. A boy band. Hadn’t they been three or four of them out at around the same time in 2000 or so? “I think so.”
Meaning not really. JC’s smile returned. “Well, I was in that group.”
“Was?”
“We haven’t recorded or toured together in a couple of years.”
Slicking on lip-gloss, she was done. She turned to him with a saucy grin. “I still don’t have a clue who you really are. You were the sex symbol, right?”
JC chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I was the serious one who liked to sleep.”
With a wink she moved passed him. “So that’s what they like to call it these days... Sleeping.”
“No, I actually fell asleep — a lot.”
Francesca snorted inelegantly.
Watching her gather her purse in preparation to leave, JC decided he was in love — or something damn near like it!
Again the shouts of “JC!” and the crush of people. Francesca decidedly didn’t care for that. She and JC were bustled into an ‘official’ Challenge For the Children SUV and the door slammed shut behind them. She didn’t envy him that sort of adulation. When her work was appreciated she usually got a thank you note or a potted plant.
“Sorry, babe.” JC wrapped his arms around her to pull her close.
“Not fun.”
“When we get to the arena I’ll set you with Mom and Dad—”
“Your parents?” Whoa! Let’s talk major discomfort!
“Yeah, they’re local now. My mom even does organization with your mom... You were in the paper today.”
“You knew who I was and I had to ask about you?”
“I only know about you ‘cuz I said your name and my mom knew shit about you. Then she told me you were in the Trib...”
Just great. She had forgotten about that. “So you are from around here?” A local boy done good didn’t sound so bad...
“No, Orlando via Bowie, Maryland.”
Well, there went the local angle.
“Francesca, I’m just a guy. The same guy I was last night.” The guy who was at least a little in love with her.
“I know... I know...” Except last night he had been a mere club fuck. Today he was already more than she had envisioned him to be. He was a celebrity. His life was under constant scrutiny. Women followed him around. He had security. She was going to cheer him on while he played basketball badly in the name of children’s charities. His parents — she was going to meet his parents. JC Chasez was way more than he was supposed to have been — and she needed to put a stop to it. So why didn’t she?
“Baby, are you mad at me?” JC asked when she went quiet. He could almost see the wheels in her head spinning. What was it now? The fact his parents were going to be at the game? Or that he knew her identity before she knew his? There were so many reasons for her to make a break for it. Hell, they could get to Allstate and she could hail a cab back to the city and be done with him. She did seem the type to walk away from someone who overcomplicated her life. Sure, sex was a good diversion, but it wasn’t necessary. She didn’t need a man for much else. She had her own money, her own sort of fame, her own full life. “Gypsy?”
“I’m not mad,” she answered finally. Her smile was brave.
“I’m glad.” He brushed his lips against her temple.
“JC...”
“What?”
“Mmm... never mind.” What she had been about to suggest would have had incredible ramifications.
“Promise me something, Francesca.”
“Depends.”
“Promise you won’t run off. I mean promise you won’t just up and leave without letting me know.”
“I can certainly promise you that. I’m no coward.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
The first order of business was the introduction to the rest of the NSYNC members. The two on the Knights team seemed to be JC’s real friends. She liked Joey Fatone with his flirtatious, out-going personality. He reminded Francesca of her younger brother Johnny. Lance Bass was an odd match as Joey’s best friend. The deep-voiced blonde seemed much more serious and business-like. Both men had genuine affection for JC. Joey appeared to be more physically demonstrative — part of his Italian heritage no doubt.
Perhaps it was the fact they were on the opposing team, but she didn’t sense the same closeness in the remaining members. Chris Kirkpatrick was clownish enough, though she suspected something much deeper and darker in him. So Justin Timberlake had been the sex symbol not JC... Whatever! To put it plainly, Francesca didn’t like him on sight. His disingenuous smiles put her hackles up. As far as she was concerned, Timberlake needed to stay the hell away from her.
“I just don’t see it,” Francesca murmured as she slid her arms around JC’s waist.
He smiled down at her, liking her easy show of affection. “See what?”
“That he was the sex symbol,” she said of the man she eyed warily.
JC chuckled. “We were kids. He had the blonde curls, blue-eyes, and a six-pack. I sure as hell wasn’t up for the role.”
“The word smarmy comes to mind.”
“Francesca...”
She winked saucily. “And look at you now... What they don’t know.”
Again he had to laugh. “We’ll just keep it between us then.”
“Okay,” she responded brightly.
Her son looked happy and comfortable, Karen Chasez noted as she and her husband entered the room where family and others had gathered pre-game. JC and Francesca Carlisle had their arms loosely around each other in a familiar embrace. He was laughing at something the young woman said. She’d rarely seen JC so relaxed unless he was home.
“JC!” Roy Chasez called to catch his son’s attention.
“Dad!” JC grabbed Francesca hand and towed her over to his parents. Releasing her hand, he embraced his parents warmly. “Glad you could make it.”
“We wouldn’t miss it — especially since it came here,” Roy assured him.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Francesca.” JC introduced his gypsy girl proudly, reclaiming her into the crook of his arm.
“Nice to meet you, Mister and Missus Chasez,” Francesca said politely. “I can’t say I’ve heard a lot about you — yet.”
“We’ve heard plenty about you, young lady,” Karen stated with a warm smile. “And not from Josh.”
“Josh?” Francesca questioned.
“Joshua Chasez — JC. Long story,” JC mumbled.
“And fascinating no doubt,” she teased.
This made JC grin. “Not really.”
“So...” Good Lord what did one say to the parents of her weekend fling?
“Babe, I gotta go suit up.” JC didn’t truly want to leave Francesca’s side, not when he felt her unease.
Karen reached for the younger woman’s hand as she said, “You go do that, Josh. The three of us will go find our seats.”
“Francesca is sitting right behind me.” Despite her promise, JC wasn’t letting her be separated from him anymore than necessary. He brushed a quick kiss on her lips then moved away with a show of great reluctance.
“Now, JC did tell you basketball isn’t his sport,” Roy said as the three of them started toward the arena seating.
Francesca laughed. “He did say he ‘sucked’ at it.”
“The boy has lot of energy, but no talent when it comes to sports.”
She begged to differ. There was one indoor sport in which JC excelled.
His lady could yell like an Italian fishwife, JC mused as he heard Francesca loudly proclaim her support for the Knights team and JC in particular. If volume meant a thing, his team should be winners. No one could mistake which team was hers. And she could shout down the best. Well, Chicago did have a multitude of sports teams and Chicago fan did tend to be fanatical. It was just that sort of racket was unexpected from her sweet mouth. A couple of times his father had caught his eyes with a laughing shake of his head, Francesca had won Roy Chasez’s approval readily.
Whether she realized it or not, Francesca was a natural mate. When Chris Kirkpatrick’s elbow met JC’s mouth, she had cooed and petted, trying to soothe him. It had hurt like hell, but being the sport he was, JC played it down. It wasn’t as if Chris had meant to hurt him. Still if possible Chris would have been incinerated by the hostile glare Francesca sent his way. She was like a feral animal protecting her fallen mate — and JC would have bet good money she didn’t have a clue others saw exactly that.
Panic set in just before half-time. JC looked up to see Francesca’s empty seat. Where the hell?... What if some stalker-like fans got a hold of her? She didn’t know how militant and cruel they could be. Hell, she didn’t even know who NSYNC really was — how huge they had been just years ago. If anyone hurt her...
He indicated he needed a replacement in the game and ran to the bench. “Dad!”
Roy Chasez leaned forward, seeing JC’s distress.
“Francesca... Where is she?”
Karen had the answer. “She excused herself to go to the bathroom.”
“Where? How long ago?”
“About fifteen, twenty minutes.” She pointed up, indicating Francesca had headed for the regular arena restrooms.
Damn! JC had neglected to tell her about the VIP area. “Dad...”
“I’ll go fetch her, son.” Roy could see JC would go as far as to leave the game to rescue his damsel.
“Thanks, Dad.” JC sat down heavily as his father moved away. If anything happened to Francesca...
“Francesca is a very capable young woman,” Karen reminded him.
“Yeah, but she doesn’t know what she is dealing with.”
Roy found JC’s young lady in the center of a group of JC’s fans, women of varying ages. She was now wearing a Challenge For the Children visor and listened intently to what the other women were saying. She hardly looked as if she needed a rescue.
Francesca was learning the tale of NSYNC from fans that had been there since the beginning. From JC’s and Justin’s Mickey Mouse Club days to when the group decided to take a break in 2002. Justin went solo. Chris had worked on his fashion line. Joey went into acting. Lance had joined the Russian space program. JC had just wanted to relax and reconnect with family and friends who had been neglected during the years of struggle and success. Justin, it seemed, had done very well and had become the record label’s golden boy. JC had later decided to do a solo project, but on his own terms. Time and again the release date had been delayed. Then there was the Superbowl debacle that sent the FCC into a tailspin. JC’s album had been doomed by the delays and lack of promotion. It appeared the record company had their shining star in Timberlake — JC had been left to twist in the wind.
No wonder Francesca detested the younger man on sight!
“Francesca,” Roy said quietly to catch her attention.
Several of the women greeted him with courtesy and respect.
“Hello, ladies. I came to retrieve Francesca before JC has a heart attack.”
“Ooops... Sorry... My bad…” Francesca went to his side. “Thank you all for you information and time, ladies,” she said in parting. She game them a little wave as she was being escorted away.
“She’s nice,” one woman announced. “JC deserved someone nice this time.”
Roy smiled down at JC’s errant date.
“Mister Chasez... Can I ask you something?” The women had given her much to ponder.
“Sure. I’ll answer if I can.”
“JC’s solo album...”
“You want my opinion? It was tanked. It was delayed time and again. Then it was released after Nipplegate when the FCC was skittish. Jive didn’t support or promote it. JC ended up playing in clubs. It didn’t matter. 200 or 200, 000 the boy gave his all. The tour lost money and JC paid for it.”
Francesca repeated what one of the women had said, “Fuck Jive?”
Laughter boomed from Roy. “Exactly.”
When she returned to her seat, Francesca was on the receiving end of a scolding ‘Don’t-ever-do-that again!’ glare from JC.
“I was fine.”
He twisted in his seat to face her. “I didn’t know that!” he hissed.
First she stuck her tongue out at him, then she puckered up and blew him a kiss. Her actions broke the tension.
Chuckling, he turned back to face the court. “Nice hat.”
If anyone cared to look, Francesca shot daggers at Justin with her eyes the remainder of the game. Her catcalls when he took the court were particularly harsh. JC gave her a questioning glance askance.
“I don’t have to be a good sport,” she stated smugly. “You do.”
“I like your young lady,” Roy told his son when the two men were alone following the game.
“Even though she has a mouth like that?” JC had been surprised and amused by Francesca’s apparent rabid sports fan persona.
“I’d say she’s a loyal one.”
JC thought so too.
“One of your fans said she was nice — and that you deserve some one nice. I agree.”
“Yeah, but does Francesca think I deserve her?”
“I think she will if she already doesn’t. She was expending a lot of emotional energy on your behalf.”
“We’re back,” Karen announced as she and Francesca rejoined the men.
It amazed JC that Francesca didn’t hesitate when he pulled her to him. He was hot and sweaty and it didn’t seem to faze her.
“I’m starved,” Francesca stated. “When are you going to get around to feeding me?”
“As soon as we get back to the hotel. I’ll let you loose on room service while I shower.”
“Oh, goodie!”
JC wasn’t sure what that meant — ‘oh goodie’ he was taking a shower or ‘oh goodie’ for the food. The only answer he got was a secret wink.