Kevin paused slightly at the entrance to the lobby to see who all was around. A few stragglers remained, but they were talking and didn't notice him. The lounge was just behind French doors to his right, and he headed in that direction. The doors were closed, but when he tried the handle of one, it opened easily. He quickly slipped inside. As soon as he did, however, he noticed that he wasn't alone. Sitting at the piano with her back to him, was a young woman, playing softly.

Disappointment washed over him, as he realized that he wouldn't be able to play. He had really been looking forward to it. He stood there trying to decide what to do now. He still didn't want to go to his room. But as he stood there, he slowly became conscious of the music he was hearing. It was very pretty, but he didn't recognize the melody.

There were a few chairs placed around the room, and he sat down in one. He continued to listen, allowing the music to flow through and around him, as though his emotions were being transferred to the piano keys through the hands of the woman who sat there.

The music stopped. The woman let out a big sigh, and turned to get up from the bench. Suddenly she gasped.

Kevin realized he had been spotted.

Kevin stood to move toward Kelly. He hadn't meant to startle her, he was just so mesmerized by her music.

"I'm sorry.......", they both started to say at the same time, and then laughed. The laughter broke the tension.

"I was going to say, I'm sorry.....I didn't know anyone was there, " Kelly said. The man was standing in the shadows, and she was unable to get a good look at him.

"I didn't mean to startle you," said Kevin.

At the sound of his voice, Kelly's next words got stuck in her throat. It couldn't be. But she had heard that voice, with its slow southern drawl, too many times on her CD. She had the All I Have To Give Conversation Mix memorized. It was Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys! Be calm, she told herself. The last thing you want to act like is a star-struck fan.

"It's okay. I'm fine," she said to him as he began to move closer. But she held onto the edge of the piano anyway.

"What was that you were playing?" asked Kevin as he moved into the light. "It was beautiful."

Kelly's mind went blank. "It was......ummm........a song," she stammered, then realized how stupid that sounded. "A song I.......um......wrote," she went on. Panic flooded through her as she realized what had just transpired. Kevin had heard her playing! How long had he been there? How much had he heard? What did he really think? He had said it was beautiful, but maybe he was just being polite. It wasn't like he would actually tell her if he thought it was terrible.

But Kevin didn't sound like he was just being polite as he said, "You wrote that? Do you have lyrics for it or just a melody?"

"Yes," she replied timidly, increasingly aware of those green eyes gazing down into hers. He was standing right in front of her now, and she was trying very hard to keep her breathing steady, and concentrate on what he was saying. "I mean, yes there are lyrics."

"Sing them for me."

Kelly shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I can't. What I mean is, well, I'm not really much of a singer." It sounded lame even to her ears, but it was the best she could come up with on the spur of the moment.

She watched him back away slightly, almost imperceptibly. She was afraid she had offended him. Now he would probably leave and she would never get a chance like this again.

Kevin didn't think her lack of singing ability was the reason for her reluctance, but he thought he understood. His songs always came from his heart, and sharing them was like sharing a piece of his soul. It was still hard for him, despite the fact that one of his songs was played for the world at every concert.

It's okay," he said. "I understand." He paused. He wasn't ready to let her go yet. "Could we at least sit down and talk for a while? I don't have any other plans, how about you?"

She shook her head no, and he led her over to a chair, and then sat down in the one next to her. Kelly resisted the urge to pinch herself. If this was a dream, she didn't want to wake up. She wasn't quite sure what to say, so she waited for Kevin to speak. She didn't have long to wait.

"I don't believe we've been introduced," he said, as he took her hand in his. "I'm Kevin..."

"Richardson. Yes I know," interrupted Kelly, wanting to kick herself as soon as the words left her mouth. Now he would know she was a fan. "I mean....I'm Kelly. Kelly Madison."

"Nice to meet you Kelly," he said. "So you're a fan of the Backstreet Boys?"

Kevin knew that sounded presumptious, but he was at a loss for words. All he wanted to do was get to know this lovely auburn-haired girl better, and he didn't want that to be hindered by the fact that he was a Backstreet Boy.

"Yes, I admit it. I am a fan. Does that bother you?" she asked, hoping he would say no.

Kevin sighed. "I can see that we're not starting off very well. How about we start over and pretend I'm not Kevin Richardson, Backstreet Boy. I'm just plain old Kevin, a man who is very interested in getting to know a beautiful lady."

Kelly agreed. In her mind, she wasn't sure that would be possible, although she was certainly willing to try. But Kevin immediately put her at ease as he asked her to tell him about herself.

Kevin and Kelly spent the next few hours talking and getting to know each other. By the end of the night Kelly felt as if she had known Kevin all of her life.

And to Kevin, Kelly was the most interesting woman he had met in a long time.

Someone was sitting there.

Chapter 4
Chapter 2
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