All Chapters of BACKSTAGE ROMANCE.: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

* Jeff *Mom was all packed and ready to go when I arrived at her sprawling ranch house on the outskirts of town. I greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "Where are your things?" I asked."Already waiting in the Explorer. Come on, let's get your stuff loaded," she answered."I thought I was driving...""You? Behind the wheel in the snow? In a sports car? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?""It's going to snow?""Don't you watch the news?""I've been in rehearsal...""Jeff, I'm your mother, and I love you, and I'm very proud of you, but I do wish you'd plan ahead a bit more often." Remembering my first night with Daniel, I internally conceded she might have a point."Your father would have already checked the weather report three times, double-checked the tires, and planned an alternate route in case of delays," Mom continued."You divorced Dad.""Just because my marriage to Gary

* Daniel *I was standing on the terrace of the university theater again, looking out over the snow-dusted quad. The winter sun was hanging low and pale in the sky. Jeff stood beside me, holding my gloved hand in his. The breeze was chilly, but his body was warm next to mine. I pressed closer to him, drinking it in. He waved his free hand toward the view."It's all for you, Danny Boy. All for you. I'd give you the world if I could. You know that, babe, don't you? You're the one I've been waiting for. You deserve it all."My breath caught in my throat at the passion and sincerity in his words. Mark was wrong, he had to be, all he knew was the actor, not the man. He didn't know this side of Jeff, the side that cherished and protected and thought the world of me, little as I deserved it."I want you so much," I told him, the words coming more freely than I ever thought possible. "I don't need the world, I just need you. Don't ever leave me, Jeff."

* Daniel *When I woke, Jeff was lying on his stomach beside me, one arm slung across me chest. It was six o'clock. I had a meeting scheduled with Scott and Mark one hour prior to rehearsal. I wriggled out from under Jeff's arm, climbed out of bed, and got dressed. I hadn't brought any fresh clothes with me, and I wanted to make sure I had enough time to shower and change before I needed to be at the theater.Jeff was still sound asleep when I slipped away, planting a kiss on his head before I left. The note I left behind for him was deliberately casual. We had a difficult conversation ahead of us; I couldn't ignore Heather's and Kelly's advice, much as I wanted to, but at least I could spare Jeff any extra anxiety going into what already promised to be a stressful day.After washing the remnants of the night's lovemaking away in the shower at home, I tried some breathing and stretching exercises to ease the knot in my stomach. I wasn't sure whether I was

* Daniel *Jeff barked, "Come in," in answer to my tentative knock. I turned the knob and peeked around the door. He was pacing back and forth inside the dressing room, one hand rubbing the back of his neck. His forelock was waving distractingly in front of his narrowed eyes; I itched to push it aside. Was this how Jeff felt when I let my hair fall in front of my face?Jeff finally turned and saw me. "Oh, it's you," he said, blankly. Not the most encouraging greeting. But then he pulled me the rest of the way into the room and into his tight embrace. His entire body was rock-hard with tension."I was expecting Scott to come chew me out," he said. "I've never bitten it like that this close to performance."I stroked his back, trying to calm him the way Kelly had calmed me. "No, he sent me instead. And I'm not going to chew you out. Just talk to me. What's wrong, Jeff? What's going on?"He inhaled, one shuddering breath. Then, not releasing

* Jeff *Daniel slept late. Fortunately, we didn't have to be at the theater until afternoon, so I let him rest. After the revelations of the night before, I figured he needed it. When my bladder's complaining became too insistent to ignore, I managed to get out of bed without waking Daniel and took care of business. I had intended to do some light housework while he slept, but instead I wound up in the window seat, nursing a mug of coffee and watching him.He slept on his side, curled into himself, arms tucked neatly beneath his chin, hair falling across his face. His full lips were slightly parted. His long lashes fluttered occasionally. I drank in the sight of him, imagining the creamy perfection of his skin beneath the covers, trying to impress every detail permanently into my memory.Finally, he stirred, calling my name softly, and woke. I was already kneeling beside him when he opened his sleepy hazel eyes. He slowly focused on me."Morning,