Heart Of A Star

Chapter 18 - Natalie

EIGHTEEN

Natalie

I had almost finished my trek down the long hallway back to my room when I ran into Dax, almost literally, who was headed in the opposite direction. "Wrong floor." I informed him. "You want the high class rooms nearest the top of the building. Don't want to get caught mingling down here with the rest of us..."

He tossed me a crooked smile then caught me around the waist as I intended to walk right by him. "I was looking to mingle."

I slid the key card through the slot and pushed open the heavy hotel door. "Hope you weren't looking forward to mingling with Rachel." The room was empty, and it appeared that the cleaning crew had just done their daily sweep, as the beds were freshly made, and crisp towels were folded in the lemon-fragranced bathroom.

Dax made himself quite comfortable by flopping down on Rachel's bed, his long legs stretched out so that top to bottom, he almost took up the entire length of the bed. "How do you sleep at night? These mattresses are shite..." He immediately sat up and cracked his neck, as though he needed to seek the therapy of a chiropractor immediately for the slight infraction that he had just suffered.

I mouthed the words "fuck you" to him, then flopped down on my own bed, stretching out comfortably. "You've lost touch. These beds are the bees knees."

He laughed out loud. "An' here I thought yer lost the Londoner in ya."

I feigned a scowl from where I lay on the bed. "Never."

An instant smile appeared on his face. That smile melted hearts around the world, mine included. There was just something about Dax Crowley that would always linger in my heart. He was my first crush, my first fantasy. I wasn't sure that would ever really go away. The fact that I knew him personally never took away from any of that.

"So I know this is a big birthday for you, and I didn't want you to think that I forgot." He reached into his pocket and extended a small, neatly wrapped package in shiny blue and gold paper. I took it without saying a word, just letting the surprise in my eyes speak for themselves. "Just between you an' me, a'ight? You know how wives, an' brothers and boyfriends an' all get. But I thought you deserved something special for a special birthday, that's all."

I still hadn't opened it, just held the box in my hand in pure amazement, treasuring the thing like the wrapped box was the gift itself. "Dax..." I said, not sure what was about to come out of my mouth next.

He offered some assistance. "See, ya gotta take the paper off..."

I rolled my eyes as I pried at the tape, muttering all the while. Whatever breath I had was taken away as I lifted the lid on the box. Underneath revealed two stunning diamond earrings, each just a little larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser. Without being much of a diamond connoisseur, I knew enough to be aware that the sparkle radiating off of them was worth more than any jewelry that I already owned.

He stood up, his hand on the doorknob. "Now ya gotta little something to wear on stage in Houston. Might help ya feel like a rock star."

Before he could escape to the hallway, I was on my feet and throwing my arms around his neck, thanking him.

"Yer welcome." The door closed shut behind him, and my jaw was practically on the floor as I eyed up the diamonds. They were exquisite, and I couldn't wait to wear them. It made the allure of being on stage in Houston even more enticing.

I wasn't sure what to make of the whole thing, truth be told. I wondered briefly how Jules Crowley would feel knowing that her husband just bought his best friend's kid sister enough diamonds to pay off the car that she drove down here in. But it was all innocent, I assured myself. Dax was another big brother to me, and that was the end of it.