Playing with fire

First Dates

Raegan's POV

I rounded the corner coming from the morning meeting at the station when I ran straight into what felt like a brick wall. "Oomph" was all I managed to squeak out when the brick wall spoke, "whoa! where's the fire at darlin?"  What a minute, I know that voice. I thought to myself. "BBBrantley? What are you doing here" I  stammered. "Well, princess, looks like I'm booked on your midday segment" he replied. So sorry this was the special guest my boss was talking about in the meeting this morning.

PJ started laughing, I looked over at him wondering what he was up to. Word has it that what PJ wants, PJ gets.

"So, Wildcat, last time I saw you you definitely weren't this speechless, in fact I believe you were yelling at Boss here to put you down as he had you tossed over his shoulder."  I felt the heat creep up my cheeks and knew that I was blushing. I slapped him on the chest and replied, "hush up OBG, I can dig up some of your secrets if you don't quit it!" I told him crossing my arms across my chest.

Brantley raised an eyebrow looking at me confused, How'd you know what we call him?"

"A girl never reveals all her secrets outlaw" I  replied turning on my heel as I led the way toward the studio.

"So, you're the special guest for midday huh?  Why didn't you say anything the other day when we talked?" I asked as I opened the door to the studio letting them go first. "No, ladies first" Brantley replied extending his hand motioning me ahead. "I just found out about it when PJ here gave me an updated schedule. We were at WAMZ yesterday afternoon.  I wanted to surprise you."

"You definitely did.  Well we have five minutes before we go on." I said as I put my headset on and waited for Mike to signal we were on air. Once that light turned on I figured anything was fair game and I'd mess with him a bit.

Good afternoon Lexington. You're listening to 98.1 The Bull, and we have a extra special guest in the house today, none other than country music's outlaw biker himself, Brantley Gilbert. I said into the mic.
"What's goin on Lexington?" He replied.
So, Brantley is it true that you are slated for Red, White, and Boom in September? 
As a matter of fact, yeah, just found out it was added to the list last week, it's my last show of festival season before the fall/winter leg of the new tour kicks off.
This is your first time playing the festival isn't it? 
Actually it is, we've played a lot of festivals in the past, but haven't done RWB.
So, this just came across my desk, is it true you have to have a Snickers before every show?  Brantley busted out laughing, and PJ decided he wanted his radio time.
Yeah, Raegan it is, Brantley has to have a Snickers before he goes on, usually after his VIP session.
There you have it, Lexington, Brantley has a sweet tooth, PJ, his head of security confirmed it.  So, what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you on stage? 
Thatt's another hard question to answer because I'm pretty hard to embarrass at this point. It just, you know, there's always going to be things that happen that aren't supposed to. But I always say we played a show in Cancun one time and the stage was right up against the water when the tide came in nobody really took into account that there was going to be a lot of water on the stage and there weren't any rugs out. So when I came bouncing out of the back, you know I was all amped up and excited and I tripped and I fell, but I fell like three times in the same fall, if that makes sense. And I stood up and I said, 'I'll tell you what if nobody puts that on YouTube I'm gonna be angry.'  Everyone in the studio was rolling.
I'm gonna see if I can dig that up on YouTube, PJ I'm sure with your skills you could find it for me.
Now, now, I'm sworn to secrecy on that one. He chuckled.
So, since your here, can you play us your new single?
Well, I don't got my guitar in here with me.
Actually, you do. I responded as PJ handed him his guitar.
Well, I guess I do. I've always said, I'm not much of a singer, I'm just a songwriter, but here you go.

And with that he played Let It Ride. I was completely mesmerized, I felt a tear slip down my cheek as I absentmindedly wiped it away. Dammit! Why did this man get to me so much, and after the first time I saw him in six months?  PJ noticed my tear and came over and squeezed my shoulder and I patted his hand. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "he's got it bad Wildcat" I smiled at him.  As Brantley strummed the last chord, he stared deeply at me.

There you go Lexington, Let It Ride the new EP from Brantley Gilbert, and make sure you go see him at Red, White, and Boom in September!  Tickets on sale now!  Thanks for coming.
Thank y'all for having me. And we were out. I took my headset off and stood up and stretched. I knew I completely blindsided him by having him play, but hey, it's radio and good entertainment right? 

We walked out into the hallway, PJ went on ahead of us, Brantley placed his hand on the small of my back and I got butterflies. We walked out to the lobby, and he stopped me. "Have dinner with me" he stated, looking into my eyes. 
"Okay, when?" I asked, trying to contain my excitement. 
"Tonight, I don't have another radio show until early next week I think" he replied.
"It's a date" I smiled.
"I'll pick you up at seven"
"I'll see you then." I replied. He hugged me by and kissed me on my forehead, he smelled of leather and smoke. The minute I was in my arms I felt like Home.  I missed you. He whispered in my ear. "I missed you more." I replied. We released each other and he headed out to his bus. I was scheduled to get off in thirty minutes, so I went back up to the studio and wrapped up a few last minute items before clocking out.

I made my way out to my Mustang, and I saw a note on my windshield under the wiper, odd I thought to myself. I grabbed it, praying it wasn't some death threat or something, and unlocked my car. It was June, and sweltering. I turned the ignition and cranked the air up then read the note. Looking forward to tonight, can't wait to see you beautiful. -B. I smiled, but how did he know what car was mine?  Never mind, PJ. I giggled. I pulled out my phone and sent him a quick text telling him I got it then headed out down New Circle Rd toward the mall.

I probably spent two hours trying to find the perfect outfit for our dinner. With each outfit I tried on I sent Sara a text, she finally said that the black sundress and wedge sandals was the best one, which I agreed. I made my way back home, traffic was a nightmare and I have bad road rage, and driving a 5-sp in traffic sucks.

At 6:55 my doorbell rang, I walked to the door still putting my earring in. I peeked through the peephole and all I saw was a black hat, and my heart started racing. I opened the door, and I swear he took my breath away, dark blue wash jeans, tight black shirt that showed off every ripple of muscle, cuffs, rings, chains, black boots.  "You look beautiful" he said as he kissed my cheek. "Thank you, you're not so bad yourself." I closed the door and locked up. We walked to the truck I'm assuming he rented for the night and he opened the door and helped me in, then walked around and hopped in. "So where we going?"  "It's a surprise" he replied and pulled out of the drive.