FALLING FOR SHAWN

Chapter 20 - A Very Dangerous Spider

The support act for the European leg was a girl group out of Britain, and they had done a great job in London and Amsterdam, until two of the girls came down with a really bad virus and they had to pull out. Camila's team didn't muck around, they had back-up options for just such an eventuality and by the time they made it to Berlin for the next show, there was a new support act set up, a boy band she knew of, they had a hit song out at the moment. She made it down to sound check to meet them. There were five of them, they were British, all around twenty years old. They were cute.

"Camila, this is Baker Street," Verne, her tour manager introduced her. "Ruben, Cris, Will, KB and Mikey." She hugged each of them with a smile. As she reached Will, she was surprised as the hug lingered a little too long. She pulled back and looked at him.

"Nice to meet you," he said in his lilting West African accent. He was quite beautiful, and the look in his eyes was more than friendly. They were dark brown, almost black, and she felt a jolt at the familiarity in his expression and touch. Surely everyone knew about she and Shawn? She felt uncomfortable and pulled back, making a note, as she gave the other two young guys a hug, to keep her distance from him. She felt his eyes following her as she walked back to talk to the dancers.

"They are a whole box of snacks," one of the girls said, looking at the boys as they took their places on the stage.

"I think at least one of them is my flavour snack, honey." Blaze, one of her dancers, who was gay and proud of it was eying off the boys.

"Too young for you, sweetie," Camila said smartly.

"I dunno," Iris said. "That Will looks like he'd like you to take him under your wing."

"I think he wants to be under her something, not necessarily her wing," one of the others said and they laughed. Camila felt uncomfortable and blushed.

"Hey guys," Sara said sternly, seeing her friend's discomfort, "that's enough ok?"

They wandered off and she stood with Sara. "Sorry baby," her choreographer said. "They are just teasing you." She followed Camila's gaze. "He is pretty fine though."

"He's a baby, Sara, and I am well and truly taken, two reasons why what they're suggesting is inappropriate."

"OK, OK, I agree, I'll tell them all to zip it."

Camila felt bad. "It's fine, I know they're not serious, but to be honest, he was a bit handsy when I hugged them all and I got a predatory vibe from him."

Sara frowned. "Well, be careful around him then, make sure you don't encourage him in any way."

Camila snorted. "I won't."

The show that night went really well and Camila was impressed with Baker Street who broke the traditional "boy band" mould by playing their own instruments on some numbers. They still weren't a traditional rock band but more a hybrid thing that kind of resonated with audiences. A lot of her audiences were young girls, and they loved these cute and talented boys, and they were a good foil for her own style, so she was happy they could fill in at such short notice.

After they came off stage she hi-fived them, careful to be just as casual with Will as with the others and not to make eye contact, but it seemed worse, because she felt like her avoidance was obvious and she heard him chuckle. She saw them in the VIP section during her set, dancing and singing, but a couple of times she saw Will standing there brooding as he watched her and she felt an odd shiver run down her body.

Back in her hotel room, she showered longer than normal, feeling almost dirty, and then she sat fresh faced at 2am and rang Shawn, as arranged. He picked up first ring and she saw his face appear.